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Updated: 08/26/2004
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CONTACT NORTH/CONTACT NORD LAUNCHES LEADING EDGE e-LEARNING TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM LINKING NORTHERN ONTARIO COMMUNITIES Sudbury and Thunder Bay (Monday, August 9, 2004) – Contact North/Contact Nord, Northern Ontario’s Distance Education & Training Network, will officially launch its new, leading edge e-learning technology platform at a special ceremony in Sudbury on Monday, August 9, 2004, at 1:00 p.m. The launch will take place at Contact North/Contact Nord’s Northeast Regional Coordinating Centre at 410 Falconbridge Road, Sudbury. The Honourable Mary Anne Chambers, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, and the Honourable Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Northern Development and Mines, will join students and community leaders in Sudbury and Thunder Bay as the first learners to participate in a virtual classroom hosted by Contact North/Contact Nord’s new real-time e-learning technology platform, powered by Centra Software. (Top of the page) Centra is a leading provider of specialized solutions, delivering software and services for online business collaboration. Centra’s solution for Collaborative Learning provides the virtual classroom technology that comprises Contact North/Contact Nord’s e-learning platform. Easily accessible to students through their Internet browser interface, Centra brings together voice, video, data, graphics and other rich multimedia and tools to facilitate highly interactive group learning and collaboration over the Internet. Centra complements Contact North/Contact Nord’s existing audioconference and videoconference platforms. Combining the rich and powerful features of the Internet world with existing technologies will provide enriched learning experiences to meet the unique needs and circumstances of learners across Northern Ontario. The completion of the project positions Contact North/Contact Nord to take advantage of the evolving world of IP (Internet Protocol) to further enrich the learning experience. "This accomplishment will allow Contact North/Contact Nord to provide an enriched learning experience for residents of Northern Ontario," stated the Honourable Mary Anne Chambers, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. "This technology enables users of the Distance Education & Training Network to capture the capabilities of the Internet to enhance the educational experience for students. I congratulate Contact North/Contact Nord for completing this important initiative." "This launch marks another important milestone in the history of Contact North/Contact Nord, Northern Ontario’s Distance Education & Training Network," stated the Honourable Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Northern Development and Mines. "This new platform is but another step in improving access to education and training opportunities for residents of Northern Ontario. A highly skilled workforce is the key to building a strong and prosperous economy across Ontario." (Top of the page) "Contact North/Contact Nord facilitated more than 14,000 course registrations in 735 programs and courses offered by Northern Ontario’s colleges, universities and school board in 2002 – 2003," noted Maxim Jean-Louis, President & Chief Executive Officer of Contact North/Contact Nord. "Distance education is a cost-effective way to provide access to education and training programs in more than 100 small and remote communities across Northern Ontario." "We are pleased to welcome Contact North/Contact Nord to the more than 1,300 organizations that are using Centra’s online collaboration solutions to connect geographically dispersed people, employees, partners and customers over the Internet in real-time to transfer knowledge, work smarter and increase productivity," said Paul R. Gudonis, President and Chief Executive Officer, Centra. "Learners using the Contact North/Contact Nord Network will now be able to fully leverage the power of the Internet through Centra to receive an enriched learning experience." (Top of the page) In many communities across Northern Ontario, Contact North/Contact Nord is the only means for residents to access post-secondary education opportunities without having to leave their communities. Contact North/Contact Nord provides an opportunity for learners to pursue their education goals and upgrade their skills while continuing to make an economic and social contribution to their community. Centra will be available for students pursing the education and training goals via the Contact North/Contact Nord Network in September 2004 in over 100 communities across Northern Ontario. -30- (Top of the page) Information: Louise
Gaudrault About Contact North/Contact Nord Contact North/Contact Nord, Northern Ontario’s Distance Education & Training Network, facilitates access to the education and training opportunities offered by Northern Ontario’s colleges, universities and school boards via audioconference, videoconference, audiographics and Internet technologies in more than 100 small and remote communities across Northern Ontario. In many communities, Contact North/Contact Nord is the only means by which residents can access post-secondary education and training programs in their community. For more information please visit the pages on this site. (Top of the page)
Contact us at 1-800-561-2222 Northeast
Regional Coordinating Centre, Unit 1 Northwest
Regional Coordinating Centre, Suite 104
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