The Development of Virtual Schooling in Newfoundland and Labrador

Abstract

K-12 online distance education is growing rapidly and many organizations focus on virtual schooling in Canada. The centre for Distance Learning and Innovation (CDLI) was established in 2000 in Newfoundland and Labrador and has been offering numerous opportunities to rural high school students through online distance education. In this paper, the authors have outlined the historical development of distance education in Newfoundland and Labrador. The concept of distance education in NL is not a new phenomenon. It can be traced back in 1930s. Since then, several efforts have been made to enhance equality of educational opportunities to rural students. Despite the tremendous impact that the CDLI has had on distance education few related research documents or associated scholarly articles exist. At the end of the article some recommendations are made to improve virtual schooling in the province.