User:Lucaswarren/Alberta Distance Learning Centre

Alberta Distance Learning Centre (ADLC) is an accredited Alberta Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) school that specializes in education by correspondence, or distance education.

Origins
ADLC was founded in 1923 by the Alberta government as the Correspondence School Branch of Alberta’s Department of Education.

Correspondence School Branch of Alberta's Department of Education
In 1921, the Government of Alberta pledged to overcome the obstacles to education in the province’s rural and remote areas. Education minister Perren Baker directed the Department of Education to begin distributing lessons by mail to students in isolated rural communities. In 1923, the provincial Department of Education established the Alberta Correspondence School, located in a back office of the provincial Legislature. The goal of the school was to provide education to children located in remote areas of the province, housebound individuals, and adults interested in pursuing education. Elizabeth Sievwright served as Correspondence School Director from 1923 to 1930.

During the first two months correspondence service was available, lessons were sent to one hundred families across Alberta. Within five years, over 1,000 grades Grades 1- though 8 students were receiving lessons from the Department of Education. As enrollment grew, the Correspondence Branch outgrew its offices in the Alberta Legislature Building, moving first in 1937 to Edmonton's Terrace Building ; and then again eight years later to an office on Stony Plain Road, Edmonton. In 1939, the Correspondence Branch began offering education for Grades 9 - 12, contributing to a further spike in enrollment.

When the Second World War created a teacher shortage in the province the Correspondence Branch turned to radio instruction. In 1940, the first lessons were broadcast on the CKUA Radio Network—the University of Alberta's radio station As the demand for high school services surpassed elementary / junior high, the school teamed up with the province’s educational television station, ACCESS television (current CTV Two Alberta, to begin televised instruction for a brief time in the early 1970s.

Alberta Correspondence School (ACS)
In 1973, to mark the 60th its 60 anniversary, the school was officially designated the Alberta Correspondence School (ACS) by the province.

On October 27, 1980, the education minister announced that the school would be moving to the town of Barrhead, Alberta. In preparation for the move, the province commissioned the construction of a new building, situated in the north industrial area of Barrhead. The Alberta Correspondence School opened its new doors in September 1983.

Alberta Distance Learning Centre (ADLC)
The school functioned as the Alberta Correspondence School until 1991, when it changed its name to become Alberta Distance Learning Centre (ADLC). The name change reflected the shift from print-based correspondence education to distance learning using both print and non-print media.

Association with Pembina Hills
In 1996, the Alberta Distance Learning Centre joined with Pembina Hills School Division's Vista Virtual School to create the ADLC Online School. In 1997, ADLC was divested to the Pembina Hills Regional Division. The move reflected a trend under Ralph Klein's government towards decentralization.

ADLC continued to share a building with Alberta Education, who retained control over the development and design components of the operation. In 1998, ADLC opened a Calgary office. In 1999, Distance Learning Options South (DLOS) joined the ADLC. In 2006, DLOS dissolved and ADLC absorbed DLOS.

Learning Network
In 2014, Alberta Distance Learning Centre launched the ADLC Learning Network, replacing the former Solutions for Schools program. The Learning Network (LN) is comprised of two components: Teacher Support (TS) and Student Instruction (SI). Teacher Support provides instructors with customizable resources, including sample lesson plans that can be used to deliver various courses to students. The Student Instruction component features courses directly taught by ADLC teachers. When used in a school setting, SI courses require a facilitator to enroll students. Students can also enroll directly in SI courses.

Education Delivery Models
ADLC offers the following education delivery models in an asynchronous environment – there is no specified start or completion schedule to adhere to:


 * Print: Print service is for students preferring printed materials, or lacking internet access. Access to ADLC teachers can be provided online, over-the-phone, or in-person. There is usually one assignment booklet for each module booklet, with around six to eight modules per course. Students are assigned a teacher and a marker for every course. Frequent communication between students and teachers is encouraged. Students can email, phone, Skype (etc.) their teachers from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm during the week. Students may have to wait a few weeks to receive their marked assignments due to the mail schedule.
 * Online: ADLC’s online service offers materials on screen, to students who prefer working on computers and internet. Students must have sufficient access to the internet. Designed to simulating the classroom experience, online programs allow students flexibility in terms of schedule and location..
 * Blended: This is a combination of print and online delivery modes. Blended learning involves adaptation of the services of ADLC to schools and students. ADLC provides blends of print with online delivery using varied combinations of e-mail, website interaction, Teacher Support, and/or online synchronous teaching.

Campuses
ADLC has campuses in the following Alberta locations: Barrhead |  Calgary  |  Edmonton  |  Lethbridge

Notable faculty


 * Dr. Frank Kozar, Biology and genetics instructor at Grande Prairie Regional Collage
 * Dr. Berthold Figur, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta
 * Brandon Baddock, Hockey Player (WHL, NHL Prospect