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NLIS 1 July 24, 2003 (Industry, Trade and Rural Development) NLTA pilots web-based IT training for rural teachers Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and Judy Foote, Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development (ITRD), today announced $234,900 to the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers� Association (NLTA) to pilot the delivery of a web-based professional development course in Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The ICT will be a component of the NLTA�s online Virtual Teacher Centre (VTC), www.virtualteachercentre.ca and will facilitate the use of computers and the Internet to enhance classroom learning. Community organizations will also participate in the training sessions. "ACOA is pleased to support the NLTA in its effort to provide all teachers, especially those in remote communities, with professional development in this important area of technology," said Minister Byrne. "In their dual role as educators and community leaders, teachers with strong IT skills are essential to imparting the information and skills needed for rural communities to thrive in an increasingly knowledge-based economy." The pilot ICT will consist of 20 online modules to be delivered first through face-to-face training sessions with 24 teachers in two school districts: the Northern Peninsula-Labrador South School District and the Baie Verte Central Connaigre School District, and 24 representatives from two regional economic development boards (REDBs). ICT modules will range from an Introduction to the Web to Web Page Design and Development. The VTC will also purchase 12 laptop computers to facilitate the delivery of ICT in other communities in the future. "The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador supports investment in information technology training for Newfoundland and Labrador�s educators. This is an investment in regional economic development and education," said Minister Foote. "The Virtual Teacher Centre will provide our teachers with IT skills that they can pass on to their students and their communities, with a view to developing the capacity and capability within communities to shape their own futures and grow their own economies on a regional basis." The Virtual Teacher Centre was launched in 2001 and is the first of its kind in Canada. The VTC has a mandate to provide educators with quality online learning experiences in support of children�s learning. In addition, the VTC functions as a portal to educational web resources and as a knowledge-management tool for teachers. "Approval of this project helps establish the Virtual Teacher Centre as a key player in education," said Winston Carter, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers� Association. "The NLTA is pleased that this initiative has been approved. Professional Development is a priority for the NLTA and the Virtual Teacher Centre is an important vehicle that will help address the professional development needs of educators in this province." The ICT project is funded under the Canada-Newfoundland Comprehensive Economic Development Agreement (CEDA), and is cost-shared with the Government of Canada providing 70 per cent of the cost and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador providing 30 per cent. CEDA is administered federally by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and provincially by the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development. For more information, please contact:
2003 07 24 10:00 a.m. |
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