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
| International Systems
Developers (Typically a presence in GTA)-focus on systems |
| IBM |
| Cisco |
| Sun Microsystems |
| Oracle |
| Accenture |
| PeopleSoft |
| Large domestic
corporations are more focused on content |
| Thomson |
| CAE Inc. |
| CDI Education |
Source: E&B DATA, E-Health
and e-learning in the Greater Toronto Area, March 2003.
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:
| Algario Communications |
Oakville |
Fully integrated
communications and training solutions that enhance employee
performance |
| AME International |
Toronto |
E-learning system
for accountancy |
| B Wyze |
Richmond Hill |
Provides e-learning
tools that "educate" and that "train" |
| Benchmark Performance |
Toronto |
Designs training
that simulates the classroom experience via interactive
satellite or the web |
| Biographix Corporation |
Toronto |
Desktop Simulation-based
Training (SBT) delivers complex training simulations to
your desktop computer |
| CanTrain Development
Corporation |
Toronto |
E-learning system
on the Web |
| CE Network |
Toronto |
Total e-learning
solution for continuing education for brokers and real
estate agents |
| Centrinity |
Richmond Hill |
Messaging and communications
solutions to schools and school districts, educational
organizations, and businesses |
| Claymore |
Toronto |
E-learning solutions
for job specific training |
| Corporate Communications
Interactive |
Toronto |
Provider of products,
professional services, technology, and innovative channel
programs to the global education and training industry |
| CTC Computer Training
Centres |
Toronto |
Provider and developer
of technology-based training, complete line of e-learning
products |
| Embanet Corporation |
Toronto |
Provider of fully
hosted and supported e-Learning solutions to educational
institutions |
| Essential Skills
Software |
Markham |
Software developed
by teachers for the classroom and home schooling |
| MindLeaders.com |
Mississauga |
Provider of a complete
suite of integrated e-Learning solutions to businesses
and government agencies via industry-standard Web browsers |
| NewMindsets |
Toronto |
E-learning company
providing online education and training resources in the
field of leadership and management development |
| Renaissance Learning
of Canada |
Aurora |
Integrated, web-based
information system that brings together all student data |
| Synrevoice Technologies |
Markham |
Provides communication
enhancing solutions that fully utilize the potential of
both voice and data channels, with a strong focus on the
educational community |
| The Trainers |
Mississauga |
Software that provides
hands-on and self-directed training solutions |
| Training Alternatives |
Toronto |
Designs, develops
and deploys of web-based knowledge/skills training with
tracking and analysis tools |
| Training Space |
Toronto |
Online training
company for new homebuilders, interior finish contractors
and manufacturers |
Source: E&B DATA, Greater
Toronto Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) Industry
Profile 2004.
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.
| Universities |
|
| University of Toronto |
Dynamic Graphics
Project |
| |
Knowledge Media
Design Institute |
| |
Knowledge Management
Laboratory |
| |
Office of Teaching
Advancement |
| |
Resource Centre
for Academic Technology (RCAT) |
| |
Adaptive Technology
Resource Centre |
| |
Education Innovations
Laboratory |
| |
Centre for Instructional
Technology Development (CITD) |
| |
Laboratory Network
for Innovation and Technology in Education (LNITE) |
| |
Department of Curriculum,
Teaching and Learning |
| |
Centre for Applied
Cognitive Science |
| |
e-Presence |
| |
Centre for Instructional
Technology Development (CITD) |
| |
Multimedia Centre
for Learning in the Humanities |
| York University |
Institute for Research
on Learning Technologies |
| |
Office of Technology
Enhanced Learning (OTEL) |
| |
Instructional Technology
Centre (ICT) |
| Ryerson |
Centre for Learning
Technologies |
| |
Digital Media Projects
Office (DMP) |
| Colleges and other
institutions |
|
| Seneca |
Centre for Distributed
Learning |
| Canadian Education
Association |
Canadian Education
Research Information System |
Source: E&B DATA. Greater
Toronto Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) Industry
Profile 2004.
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.
| Cisco systems Canada launches
the worlds ‘first Cisco Cisco: Systems E-learning Centre
of Excellence |
IBM-Lotus launches Learning
Space – Virtual Classroom Thomson e-learning Alliance
with IBM |
CDI Education Corporation acquires
Gilmore (Both GTA-based) Bell Canada wins the Brandon
Hall gold award in best practices for e-learning |
NewMindsets (Toronto-based)
and Tibbett Britten Group receive Brandon Hall Gold Excellence
in E-learning Award |
Source: Brandon
Hall Excellence in Learning Awards
Note: Brandon Hall is one of the e-learning industry’s
leading research and consulting firms in North America.
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