Advanced Education (News Archive)

2005 News Releases

December 2, 2005

NAIT using SuperNet to train apprentices in their communities

Edmonton... Classes are underway and going well for 21 apprentices taking training through videoconferencing over Alberta's SuperNet. The pilot project, which is offered through NAIT and is the first of its kind in Alberta, allows apprentices to take the in-class portion of their training without having to leave their jobs, families or communities.

"More tradespeople need access to training opportunities in their communities - this is one of the themes I heard loud and clear during the recent A Learning Alberta Minister's Forum. This leading edge technology helps remove barriers for Albertans in rural and remote areas who wish to realize their potential in the skilled trades," said Advanced Education and Technology Minister Dave Hancock. "It is also another great example of the Alberta SuperNet working for Albertans and the advanced learning system."

Fifteen welder and six electrician apprentices from Edson, Drayton Valley, Grande Cache, Hinton and Jasper are taking part in the pilot project, which is funded by the Alberta government, offered through NAIT, and delivered through the Pembina Educational Consortium and the Yellowhead Region Educational Consortium. The program is called NAIT DATE, which stands for NAIT's Distance Apprenticeship Training and Education. The videoconferencing classes are held twice a week for each trade in the evenings.

"NAIT is always looking for innovative ways to deliver its training," said NAIT President Dr. Sam Shaw. "Thanks to Alberta's SuperNet we can train more apprentices, which, in turn, helps industry because it ultimately increases workplace productivity. The inception of this pilot project means: apprentices won't have to leave their homes or work sites to come to NAIT for extended periods of time, student access will increase, and NAIT will continue to deliver the best technical training anytime, anywhere."

"This pilot project is one example of how the delivery of apprenticeship technical training is changing to be more responsive to employers and apprentices, while still maintaining high industry standards," said Brian Bickley, Chair of the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board.

Thanks to the videoconferencing technology, apprentices have live and real interaction with their instructors, meaning the quality and rigor of the courses is maintained. Instructors use teaching aids - including live video, presentation slides and computer animation. Shortly after a class is finished, NAIT offers students digital copies of the class, to be used for review. Once the theory portion wraps up, apprentices can receive their hands-on apprenticeship training near their homes as well. NAIT instructors will go to the communities to provide instruction or the NAIT in Motion trailers will be deployed to the communities.

For more information on NAIT DATE, visit www.nait.ca/naitdate. For more information on apprenticeship and the trades, visit www.tradesecrets.org and www.advancededucation.gov.ab.ca/.

Backgrounder

NAIT DATE - additional information

The NAIT DATE pilot project will be reviewed following the completion of the current session. It is anticipated that the range of courses and number of training sites across the province will expand as the program gains popularity.

There are currently about 46,000 apprentices registered in 51 trades throughout Alberta. This represents a 33 per cent increase since 1999.

Alberta Advanced Education and Technology provides $2,500 per apprentice in NAIT DATE, which goes into a programming fund to support curriculum development and course administration. This is the same per student funding that is provided for conventional apprenticeship training.

Alberta SuperNet

Alberta SuperNet is a broadband network linking approximately 4,200 government, health, library and education facilities in 429 communities across the province at affordable and sustainable costs to the Government of Alberta. Additionally, Alberta SuperNet creates a competitive market for the delivery of broadband services by private Internet service providers throughout the province to rural retail customers.

Through Internet service providers, SuperNet now has the capacity to bring high-speed access to more than 86 per cent of Alberta's population, making SuperNet a key factor in rural Alberta's social and economic development. For more information, visit www.albertasupernet.ca

Community Consortia

Community consortia operate in areas of the province where there are no nearby post-secondary institutions. They are associations of post-secondary institutions working with community members, and sometimes other educational partners, to provide post-secondary opportunities for local residents.

Types of programs offered include business, academic, administration, trades and university transfer programs.

Alberta's four community consortia are:

  • Big Country Educational Consortium (Drumheller);
  • Chinook Educational Consortium (Blairmore);
  • Pembina Educational Consortium (Drayton Valley); and
  • Yellowhead Region Educational Consortium (Hinton).