Informations & Communications Technologies (ICT)

E-Learning

Industry Size and Composition | Labor Force | Business Competitiveness | Innovation

E-learning businesses in the GTA benefit from leading teaching institutions, innovative private and public sector initiatives.

E-learning companies can also take advantage of the third largest pool of ICT workers in North America and the 18.000 talented and creative workers in the interactive digital media industry (iDM).

Cisco systems Canada, Thomson, IBM, CDI Education, NewMindsets have positioned the GTA in the forefront of innovation in E-learning while the University of Toronto is a leader in public research with 14 e-learning related research centres.

Industry Size and Composition

Companies enabling the development of the e-health industry across the GTA

Type of GTA companies involved in E-learning

For instance, CAE (flights simulators) operates its new aviation-training center in the GTA. Cisco Systems Canada has launched the world's first Cisco Systems E-Learning Centre of Excellence in the GTA.

For instance, CAE (flights simulators) has opened its new aviation-training centre in the GTA. Cisco Systems Canada has launched the world's first Cisco Systems E-Learning Centre of Excellence in the GTA.

Thomson has also launched an e-learning alliance with IBM, and new major domestic firms are growing through increased sales and mergers (e.g. CDI Education Corporation and Gilmore).

Also, several other firms are gradually rising with an international reach (e.g. Newmindsets and ThinkPath, who were recently purchased by IBM).

Description of selected e-learning companies in the GTA:

The GTA offers industry support to e-learning companies

E-learning companies, especially small and medium businesses, can be eligible for iDM related incentive programs.
Examples:

• Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects (OCASE) Tax Credit
• Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit
• CANARIE E-learning program

For more information on these incentives programs, go to: Government support programs

Support organizations

Canadian Society for Training and Development (CSTD) is Canada's national organization dedicated to the profession of training, workplace learning, and human resources development. With over 1600 members, CSTD represents learning and performance professionals in both the public and private sectors. CSTD has a network dedicated to e-learning and 4 chapters within the GTA that cover: Durham region, Toronto, York region and Peel/Halton regions.

Interactive Multimedia and Arts and Technologies Association (IMAT), provides industry research, professional development, marketing, promotion and international trade opportunities for the New Media industry. IMAT was a major partner of the e-Literacy On Target held in September 2003.

Labor Force

A ready-skilled human resource capital
E-learning companies can take advantage of several educational institutions to hire new talents: 44 university-level programs and 39 college-level programs related to ICT have been identified across the GTA. 76 private training schools also offer ICT education.
(Source: E&B DATA, Greater Toronto Information and Communications Technologies Industry Profile 2004).

The total ICT labor force in the GTA is 148 thousand workers.
Click here for information on ICT labor force in the GTA. Internal link to ICT/Labor Force section

Business Competitiveness

Go to ICT industry sector for information on operating costs in the GTA and to IDM industry sector for information on labor costs.
Internal links to ICT/business competitiveness and IDM/business competitiveness

Innovation

A Selection of e-learning related Public Research Centres in the GTA

The GTA boasts 21 public research centres in e-learning.

Focus on selected research centres:

The Resource Centre for Academic Technology (RCAT) located at the University of Toronto supports the use of emerging technologies in teaching, learning, & research. The Adaptive Technology Resource Centre, which is part of RDCAT, has the following current projects:

• LDRC (Learning Disabilities Resource Community) is a virtual community for those affected by a learning disability. The site enables visitors to find resources, gain knowledge, discover new teaching and educational tools, and develop a greater understanding of this hidden disability.
• ATutor is an Open Source Web-based Learning Content Management System (LCMS) designed with accessibility and adaptability in mind. ATutor's availability as Open Source makes it a cost effective tool for both small and large organizations presenting their instructional materials on the Web, or delivering fully independent online courses. With ATutor, students learn in an adaptive learning environment.

The digital media projects office at the Ryerson University supports the effective use of new media for instruction by working in partnership with faculty and staff as they explore and use educational technology. DMP Office offers a range of services including: project consulting and management, production assistance, a place to work with advanced multimedia tools…

The Institute for Research on Learning Technologies (IRLT) is a research unit based at York University. IRLT encourages the formation of links with faculty members across the university and with schools, government and industry to provide collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches to research problems and issues.

Innovative companies

GTA-based companies are continuously being recognized for their innovative programs and practices in e-learning.

Top of Page