RIMOUSKI, October 25, 2018

A new distance learning project, implemented by the Commission Scolaire du Fleuve-et-des-Lacs, was rolled out last September. It’s the first of its kind in the Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine regions. Two students from the Vallée-des-Lacs High School, located in Saint-Michel-de-Squatec in Témiscouata, are currently receiving a distance education in Mathematics.

It is impossible to teach groups on-site given the insufficient number of students enrolled in the school. Distance learning was therefore the ideal solution.

Implementing the Project

As Nancy Couture, the school board’s Director of Educational Services points out, “Given the reduction in the number of students enrolled in this school, we felt it was important to find alternative solutions. Last June, after preparing for one year, we realized that the project was in fact doable with the support of FADIO and staff members.”

The concerted effort of several key players, parents and students, is essential when implementing a project like this one. “This first distance learning initiative has been well received by parents and their children. Technical support is available at all times. We gave ourselves a month at the beginning of the program to ensure that the students from both Saint-Michel-de-Squatec and Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac (Cabano) were supported during the lessons. We wanted to make sure that everything worked well and that we could intervene, if necessary, in the event of a technical failure or for pedagogical needs,” mentioned Julie Bélanger, Educational Adviser and Project Coordinator.

Progress

The concerted effort of several key players, parents and students, is essential when implementing a project like this one. “This first distance learning initiative has been well received by parents and their children. Technical support is available at all times. We gave ourselves a month at the beginning of the program to ensure that the students from both Saint-Michel-de-Squatec and Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac (Cabano) were supported during the lessons. We wanted to make sure that everything worked well and that we could intervene, if necessary, in the event of a technical failure or for pedagogical needs,” mentioned Julie Bélanger, Educational Adviser and Project Coordinator.

What’s Next?
An evaluation will be carried out at the end of the school year, and recommendations will be made to the higher ups. The distance learning project may be developed for other subjects. What’s more, some FADIO partners are hoping to develop similar projects in their own communities. In fact, the experiment in Témiscouata will be very helpful for developing other distance learning programs in high schools where low enrolment rates make it difficult to create on-site groups.

Source :
Mylène Simard, Coordinator
60 Rue de l’Évêché Ouest, Local F310A, Rimouski, Quebec, G5L 4H6
Telephone: 418-723-1880 ext. 2189 mylene.simard@cegep-rimouski.qc.ca
www.fadio.net