Session 16

Title: Lessons Learned from Practitioners of Online Learning

Session Description:

Online education is emerging as a means not only to supplement existing programs, but to sustain small schools in rural and remote settings. However, most published research on the topic of online learning focuses on higher education. While some of the post-secondary findings can be applied to secondary milieus, there remains a significant gap in applicable research for practitioners in high schools.

This session will present findings from a field research study conducted in rural Manitoba in 2009. Participants included secondary teachers and administrators involved in online learning in southwestern Manitoba. The presenters will use the research participants’ own words as a vehicle for examining the themes that arose from the interview transcripts:

• Policy
• Technology
• Support
• Time
• Instruction & Design
• Instructor Characteristics
• Learner Characteristics

The qualitative study was conducted in partnership between the Brandon University Centre for Aboriginal and Rural Education Studies (BU CARES) and southwestern Manitoba school superintendents. The purpose of the study was to explore the delivery of online secondary courses in rural schools. The themes that emerged from the findings will be of interest to educators, curriculum specialists and administrators in secondary school settings

Presenters: Mike Nantais, M.Ed., Clark Gawletz and Dr. Marion Terry


Mike Nantais, M.Ed., Assistant Professor in the Department of Teacher Education, Brandon University since August 2008. He teaches Educational Technology & Senior Math Methods. Previously, Mike has been a public school teacher, ICT Leader and Administrator for 30 years in rural Manitoba.

Mike is also a PhD student at the University of Manitoba. Mike's research interests lie in examining how Educational Technology is transforming the teaching and learning process.

Clark Gawletz is the library assistant for Brandon University’s Northern Teacher Education Program (BUNTEP).

Clark is currently completing his Master of Rural Development and is also a student in the Master of Education Program at Brandon University.

Dr. Marion Terry is an associate professor in Brandon University’s Faculty of Education. She has been a high school and adult education teacher and administrator for 32 years. Currently, she teaches M.Ed. research and writing courses, and is the editor of the BU Journal of Graduate Studies in Education.

Dr. Terry has developed graduate courses for online delivery, and was instrumental in analyzing the data from the research project upon which this MADLAT session is based.