What is the best canadian university for the distance learning? THNX.

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by sari, Oct 6, 2002.

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  1. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    They got to keep the initials, eh.
    Waterloo Lutheran University became Wilfrid Laurier University.
     
  2. Orson

    Orson New Member

    Yes, but Peter,

    YES, but Peter, all that local flavor has its price in poverty.

    Take Europe, for example. Its price for selling its soul to EU bureaucrats is that all the cost-advantages they have hoped to reap from unification are eaten up through regulation.
    Consequently in 15 or so years, Euros are STILL one-third poorer than Americans.

    It seems "Proud" Canadians/Canadiens are also destined to live out their example and fail to learn from experience. How much do they cut their nose to spite their face? I grew up on the border (US side), and the price of Anti-Americanism would be too high for me. (Sigh.)

    Which reminds me of a recent poll in Britain that revealed that despite their anti-Americansim over foreign policy, a majority would emigrate if they could. Their number one destination? U.S.
    Why? Jobs, (wealth, income--opportunity).

    --Orson
     
  3. dlkereluk

    dlkereluk New Member

    You must not get out of Toronto that much, then.
    I've travelled enough to have heard Athabasca mentioned as a leader in distance education in Canada. Also, two other important institutions in the field are the OLA (BC) and Mount Saint Vincent (NS).
    I guess that the U of T does rate much in this field, which is a pleasant and welcome surprise. See, Virginia, there really is a part of Canada outside of the GTA.

    Darren.
     
  4. P. Kristian Mose

    P. Kristian Mose New Member

    Right on many counts, Darren.

    1.Yes, I'm stuck in Toronto too much of the time.

    2. And if you meant to say that the much-touted University of Toronto is *not* a player in the distance-learning game, I agree with you.

    3. And I also agree that Athabasca would certainly be invoked in any discussion of distance learning in this country, as a leading light school.

    But I meant its *general* reputation, not in DL or even wider educational circles.Virtual schools everywhere still have name-recognition problems, even before you get to issues of their quality or perceived quality. I daresay 9 out of 10 Canadians have never heard of Athabasca University, and if I am right, that includes 9 out of 10 employers, and 9 out of 10 people you meet at parties, etc.

    If name-recognition matters to a potential student, my advice would be to look elsewhere. If not, choose Athabasca if you like its intellectual content and the friendliness of its profs and staff.

    Peter
     
  5. levicoff

    levicoff Guest

    Dearest Peter . . . I would never eat in a Pizza Hut in Montréal; this was on the road between Ville Quebec and Montréal - something to carry back to the hotel after a long day at Charlevoix. When in Motréal, I try to stick to the better (read "non-tourist") restaurants on St. Denis, although I do confess a weakness for "Monsieur Soumarin" (Mr. Submarine) at St. Catherine & McKay.

    Nonetheless, the real reason I respond is regarding your earlier comment about not having previously heard of Athabasca.

    This is no surprise, nor should it be an item of concern, even if dlkereluk gets out of Toronto more than you. Here in the States, the "big three" in distance education are Thomas Edison State College, Excelsior College, and Charter Oak State College. I dare say that most Americans have not heard of any of them. That, perhaps, is because most Americans (like most Canadians) are geared toward the brick-and-mortar campus.

    For better or worse, those who have discovered the wacky world of alternative education are "we few, we happy few, we band of brothers..." I am impressed when I find that someone has graduated from a program like Edison, Union, or even Athabasca. Having been there and done that, I know that it takes more motivation to get through a self-directed or independent study-based program of any name. But quite naturally, most Canadians will not be intrinsically familiar with Athabasca. That does not make it any less credible, nor more credible, than other schools; it simply indicates that the average mind does not key into nontraditional eduation.

    - Steve
    Happily playing student once again,
    enrolled in a Canadian university with
    brick and mortar and distance education
    (with a healthy dose of residencies).
    But I'll still never tell which one.
     
  6. OracleGuy

    OracleGuy New Member

    I'm not sure where non-traditional comes in to play. Athabasca does have a brick-n-mortar campus. Very nice actually, not sprawling, but nice. If my degree was stamped "Queen's" would you consider that non-traditional? Or would that be determined by the number of residency courses vs. D/L courses taken?

    IMHO, there is nothing "non-traditional" about distance learning today. It's an alternative to a classroom setting, but given the millions of students world-wide participating in D/L in some capacity, I'd say D/L is very mainstream.

    >> But quite naturally, most Canadians will...

    There is a world beyond Ontario's western border and I dare say that if you mention Athabasca University in our world, only 1 in 10 would not know about Athb. U. Of course, that 1 of 10 would likely be a newly arrived Easterner here to get a job!

    Sorry to have a "tone" Steve, but I'm tired of anyone east of Winnipeg telling me what "most Canadians" think, feel, or are familiar with. The *only* thing keeping Alberta in Canada is the lack of a credible Moses. But he or she will emerge one day and I for one can't wait.

    Not to worry however, Athabasca will surely continue to take foreign students; even from Ontario.

    Randy
     
  7. Dennis Ruhl

    Dennis Ruhl member

    OracleGuy

    It ain't goona happen. When oil topped out at $ 40 - 50 per barrel in the early 1980s the thieves from Eastern Canada confiscated all but $ 9 per barrel. They used the "peace, order, and good government" clause in the constitution and the supreme court bought it.

    It is estimated that the Alberta government and oil companies lost $ 100 billion dollars. This in a province of 3 million. Our economy spent 10 years in the toilet.

    We didn't leave then, electing only one separatist representative to the provincial legislature and we still elect a couple Liberals of doubtful parentage to Parliament.

    I think more federal grant money goes into the Prime Minister's Quebec constituency than goes into the three prairie provinces.

    Will it change soon? Where is the constituency of Paul Martin, the man expected to be next Prime Minister? Montreal, isn't it?

    I hope, for his sake, that Levicoff doesn't hang around long enough to file a Canadian tax return. It isn't pleasant.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 15, 2002
  8. levicoff

    levicoff Guest

    Puh-leeze . . .

    Of course Athabasca has a campus, just as Union has a campus (two buildings in Cincinnati, notwithstanding that they recently acquired a real campus when they took over Vermont College), Edison has a campus (the Kelsey Building, plus some renovated adjacent townhouses), and other non-traditional institutions have a "campus."

    You know, as well as everyone, I trust, that when we speak of a "brick-and-mortar" campus, we're talking about a traditional school that has non-traditional programs.

    As for Alberta . . . never heard of it.

    (All together now, "Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!")

    Lighten up, eh?
     
  9. Dennis Ruhl

    Dennis Ruhl member

    Re: Puh-leeze . . .

    Its the place with more oil than Saudi Arabia. Just takes some twigging to get much of it out of the ground.
     
  10. P. Kristian Mose

    P. Kristian Mose New Member

    That Levicoff is always a tease. Brilliant, perhaps, but certainly mercurial.
    We're pleased that he's attending a Canadian university, as he coyly discloses, and we admire his rugged DL individualism.

    But now he tells us that when in Montreal he patronizes a Mr. Submarine franchise for his dining pleasure. As a way of apologizing for a previous posting that mentioned his eating at a Pizza Hut. All this in a province of affordable French cuisine.

    You can give this guy degrees, maybe even dress his up, but you can't legislate his taste. Regrettably.

    Peter
     
  11. OracleGuy

    OracleGuy New Member

    Re: Puh-leeze . . .

    Works both ways, eh.

    Cheers...R
     
  12. levicoff

    levicoff Guest

    Why, Peter, I'm delighted that you are concerned about my palate, but there is no need. You see, the more education one receives, the more one can appreciate the simple joys of gastronomy - even at "Monsieur Soumarin." Besides, I'm usually there iin weather that is too cold to enjoy dining al fresco.

    No, mon ami, I'm afraid that the closest I get to French cuisine these days is the croissant sandwiches at Tim Horton's. Frankly, I cut up my Eaton and Ogilvie charge cards years ago - around the same time I closed my account at the Banque du Montréal. But what do I know . . . I even bought my Hudson Bay blanket in the States.

    You see, each time I go to Montréal these days, I speak French for about the first four hours. Then I get this kick-ass AmeriCAN at-tee-tude and can't wait to cross the border back to the States.

    Which, perhaps, is partially why I chose an English-speaking university in Canada. Less pretentious, and much more fun.
     
  13. Howard

    Howard New Member

    Which, perhaps, is partially why I chose an English-speaking university in Canada. Less pretentious, and much more fun. [/B][/QUOTE]

    Careful, Steve, you are narrowing down the choices we have to choose from as to your present educational pursuits.........
     
  14. P. Kristian Mose

    P. Kristian Mose New Member

    I'm with you, Howard. "Fun, unpretentious, English-Canadian university." Obviously Levicoff is studying at the University of Toronto. And he shore ain't studying either French or culinary arts, from the sound of it. Maybe a degree program in American Populism....

    Peter
     

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