Independent Learning Centre

Last updated
TVO ILC (Independent Learning Centre)
Location
Canada
Information
School type Distance Education/Homeschool/High School
MottoOntario's Designated Provider of Distance Education
Founded1926
Grades 9 to 12 (Secondary)
Enrollment22,000 (2014 approx.)
Language English
French
Campus Ontario
Website www.ilc.org

TVO ILC (Independent Learning Centre) is the Canadian province of Ontario's designated provider of distance education and the exclusive provider of General Educational Development (GED) Testing in Ontario. [1]

Contents

TVO ILC has a mandate from the Ontario Ministry of Education to provide: an alternative source of public education in English and French; services that are complementary and equivalent to public school boards such as delivering credit courses, providing student support and granting the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), technology-enhanced education using new media to deliver online learning resources and facilitate student support in a blended learning format and GED Testing. [2]

Service model

Courses

TVO ILC offers Ontario Ministry of Education approved distance education courses including high-school credit courses listed in the e-guide, [3] credit and non-credit courses in English as a Second Language (ESL). [3]

Students can earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma upon successfully completing an ILC high school course. Courses are available in all pathways: Academic, Applied, and Open for Grades 9 and 10; College Preparation, University Preparation, Workplace Preparation, and Open for Grades 11 and 12. The ILC can help students arrange to complete the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test and community involvement activities. [4]

GED Testing

GED Testing permits adults, aged 18 and over, who have been out of school for more than one year, and not completed high school the opportunity to demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge and skills associated with, and comparable to high school completion. To earn the GED Ontario High School Equivalency Certificate a candidate must complete a series of tests covering mathematics, science, reading, writing and critical thinking skills. TVO ILC administers GED Testing at locations around Ontario. [5]

Educational services

TVO ILC provides prior learning assessment and recognition advice for mature students (PLAR), to assist adult learners in acquiring credits by having their prior learning experiences, gained outside of an Ontario high school, assessed and recognized as equivalent to Ontario secondary school credits. [4]

Awards

History and origins

The ILC was founded in 1926 when Ontario's Department of Education established correspondence courses for elementary school children living in isolated communities in northern Ontario. A "Railway School Car Program" serving children in isolated areas but along railway lines was also established that year. [2] "the teacher and his family lived on the train car, which was part of CP Rail... They went from stop to stop, teaching the children of miners and loggers who lived in communities along the railway tracks." [8] The programs had a common objective – to bring education to children in isolated communities.

By the 1950s, the correspondence course program had expanded to include a complete set of secondary school courses allowing for students to receive a high school diploma entirely through distance education. [2]

On April 1, 2002, the ILC was transferred from the Ministry of Education to the Ontario Educational Communications Authority which also operates TVOntario. [2]

In recent years TVO ILC has evolved its service offering to include the latest software and internet-based delivery techniques. The ILC serves approximately 20,000 Ontarians a year, and learners can do all their coursework either offline, online or a combination of both. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Student</span> Learner, or someone who attends an educational institution

A student is a person enrolled in a school or other educational institution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CEGEP</span> Publicly funded colleges in Quebec

A CEGEP is a publicly funded college providing technical, academic, vocational or a mix of programs; they are exclusive to the province of Quebec's education system. A loanword from French, it originates from the French acronym for collège d'enseignement général et professionnel, sometimes known in English as a "General and Vocational College"—it is now considered a word in itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in Canada</span>

Education in Canada is for the most part provided publicly, funded and overseen by federal, provincial, and local governments. Education is within provincial jurisdiction and the curriculum is overseen by the province. Education in Canada is generally divided into primary education, followed by secondary education and post-secondary. Education in both English and French is available in most places across Canada. Canada has a large number of universities, almost all of which are publicly funded. Established in 1663, Université Laval is the oldest post-secondary institution in Canada. The largest university is the University of Toronto with over 85,000 students. Four universities are regularly ranked among the top 100 world-wide, namely University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, McGill University, and McMaster University, with a total of 18 universities ranked in the top 500 worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Educational Development</span> High school diploma test

The General Educational Development (GED) tests are a group of four academic subject tests in the United States and Canada certifying academic knowledge equivalent for a high school diploma. This certification is an alternative to the U.S. high school diploma, as is HiSET. Passing the GED test gives those who do not complete high school, or who do not meet requirements for high school diploma, the opportunity to earn a Certificate of High School Equivalency or similarly titled credential. GED Testing Service is a joint venture of the American Council on Education, which started the GED program in 1942.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twelfth grade</span> Twelfth post-kindergarten year of school education in some school systems

Twelfth grade is the twelfth and final year of formal or compulsory education. It is typically the final year of secondary school and K–12 in most parts of the world. Students in twelfth grade are usually 17–18 years old. Some countries have a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International General Certificate of Secondary Education</span> English language based academic qualification

The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is an English language based secondary qualification similar to the GCSE and is recognised in the United Kingdom as being equivalent to the GCSE for the purposes of recognising prior attainment. It was developed by Cambridge Assessment International Education. The examination boards Edexcel, Learning Resource Network (LRN), and Oxford AQA also offer their own versions of International GCSEs. Students normally begin studying the syllabus at the beginning of Year 10 and take the test at the end of Year 11. However, in some international schools, students can begin studying the syllabus at the beginning of Year 9 and take the test at the end of Year 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adult High School (Ottawa)</span> School in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

The Adult High School is an Ottawa-Carleton District School Board high school for adults in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is the only regular secondary school entirely for adults in the province of Ontario.

A course credit is a measure of the size of an educational course, often used to determine whether the requirements for an award have been met, to facilitate transfer between institutions, or to enhance intercomparability of qualifications. Credit may be input-based – defined by the quantity of instruction given – or outcome-based – defined by the learning outcomes and a notional time to achieve those outcomes.

A school leaving qualification is an academic qualification awarded for the completion of secondary education. Depending on the country or region, it may alternatively be known as a high school diploma, senior secondary leaving certificate, high schools general certificate or school certificate.

The Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) is a vocational education provider with five campuses located in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. CIT is the largest Technical and Further Education (TAFE) provider in the Australian Capital Territory. Qualifications offered by CIT range from certificate to degree level. CIT has campuses across Canberra, located in Bruce, Reid, and Fyshwick. CIT also has two learning centres in Tuggeranong Town Centre and Gungahlin, which are primarily for students studying via flexible or distance learning. A Woden campus is currently under construction, due to be completed in 2025. CIT provides a wide range of education and training courses that focus on practical skills and formal, technical qualifications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peterborough Collegiate</span> Secondary school in Ontario, Canada

PACE at Peterborough Collegiate, formerly Peterborough Collegiate Vocational School, is a public secondary school located in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada and is a member of the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. It is one of the oldest public schools in the country and was the only public high school in the city of Peterborough until the opening of Kenner Collegiate Vocational Institute in 1952. Regular student programming ended at Peterborough Collegiate Vocational School in June 2012. The building was renamed Peterborough Collegiate and in August 2012 opened as a re-purposed facility offering alternative and continuing education (ACE).

The BTECLevel 3 diploma is a Further Education qualification and vocational qualification taken in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The qualification is organised and awarded by Pearson within the BTEC brand and it is equivalent to A-Levels. It is equivalent to the GCE A Levels, more specifically to three A2 awards and the AVCE.

The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) is a diploma granted to secondary school graduates in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is part of the publicly funded province-wide school system. It is awarded to all students who complete the Ontario education curriculum, including students in Special Education, the TOPS program, MaCS program, IB Program, and other focused secondary school programs.

Education in Ontario comprises public and private primary schools, secondary schools and post-secondary institutions. Publicly funded elementary and secondary schools are administered by the Ontario Ministry of Education, while colleges and universities are administered by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. The current respective Ministers for each are Stephen Lecce and Ross Romano. The province's public education system is primarily funded by the Government of Ontario, with education in Canada falling almost entirely under provincial jurisdiction. There is no federal government department or agency involved in the formation or analysis of policy regarding education for most Canadians. Schools for Indigenous people in Canada with Indian status are the only schools that are funded federally, and although the schools receive more money per individual student than certain provinces, the amount also includes the operation and maintenance of school facilities, instructional services, students supports and staff. Most provincial allocations per students do not include the maintenance and operation of buildings, as most provincial governments offer additional grants.

Halton High School is a coeducational, private university/college preparatory secondary school in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located in the Birchcliff community in the south eastern section of the city, Halton High School is registered and inspected by the Ontario Ministry of Education and offers a program leading to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Originally located in the Halton Region west of Toronto, the school offers a range of educational services including secondary school credit courses, course upgrades, tutoring, and guidance in University and College applications. Access to professional counseling and complete psycho-educational assessments is provided if needed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NorQuest College</span> Public community college in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

NorQuest College is a publicly funded, post-secondary institution in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The student body is approximately 12,435 full-time or part-time credit students, and approximately 7,876 non-credit or continuing education students. Approximately 1,879 students graduate each year.

In the UK education sector, there are a wide range of qualification types offered by the United Kingdom awarding bodies. Qualifications range in size and type, can be academic, vocational or skills-related, and are grouped together into different levels of difficulty. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, qualifications are divided into Higher Education qualifications, which are on the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) and are awarded by bodies with degree awarding powers, and Regulated qualifications, which are on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and are accredited by Ofqual in England, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment in Northern Ireland and Qualifications Wales in Wales. In Scotland, qualifications are divided into Higher Education qualifications, Scottish Qualifications Authority qualifications and Scottish Vocational Qualifications/Modern Apprenticeships, which are on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). Scottish Higher Education Qualifications are on both the SCQF and the FHEQ.

HSED or High School Equivalency Diploma or HEP is comparable to achieving a high school diploma instead of simply proving the skills by taking the GED. Sometimes it can be synonymous. When spelled HSed it can mean home schooled.

A high school diploma or high school degree is a diploma awarded upon graduation of high school. A high school diploma is awarded after completion of courses of studies lasting four years, typically from grade 9 to grade 12. It is the school leaving qualification in the United States and Canada.

Prospect College was a vocational college located in Washington, D.C. that offers programs in allied health and computer application software to residents of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Formerly named Technical Learning Centers, Prospect College was founded in 1997 as a non-degree post-secondary school and was licensed by the D.C. Licensure Commission. Prospect College's current CEO is Dr. Mark Toufanian. Prospect College ceased operations on January 31, 2023. For more information, call 202-223-3500.

References

  1. About TVO ILC - ILC.org
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Mandate - ILC.org". Archived from the original on 2017-09-25. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  3. 1 2 Courses - ILC.org
  4. 1 2 Service Model - ILC.org
  5. GED Testing - ILC.org
  6. "Interactive Media Award certificate". Archived from the original on 2022-10-05. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  7. "Interactive Media Council, Inc. The Awards - Overview". Archived from the original on 2022-09-04. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  8. Catherine Patch, "Evolution from train car to online teaching; Providing courses to students flung far and wide A path to higher education through independent study", Toronto Star , November 18, 2004.
  9. Carol Goar, "Secret education success story", Toronto Star, July 19, 2006.