Barbour, M. K., Watson, J., LaBonte, R., Pottle, T., Canuel, M., & McCallum, F. (2022, April). Moving beyond pandemic policies & practices – What's next for online/blended learning? [Panel]. Canadian eLearning Network's Digital Learning Symposium, Burnaby, BC.

1. Randy LaBonte, Canadian eLearning Network
Michael Barbour,Touro University California
JohnWatson, Digital Learning Collaborative
Frank McCallum,VistaVirtual School
Todd Pottle, Ontario eLearning Consortium
Michael Canuel, LEARN
Moving Beyond Pandemic Policies & Practice:
What’s Next for Online/Blended Learning?

4. Remote Learning
Various learning models available during the 2020-21 school year
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
• Temporary “pivot” of
instructional delivery
• Shifting teaching solutions
designed for face-to-face
• Primary objective to provide
temporary instructional access
during a sudden closure
• Instruction not specifically
designed for remote access

5. Online Learning
Various learning models available during the 2020-21 school year
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
• Purposeful planning/pedagogy
• Systematic
• Administration
• Course development
• Support
• Selection of tools
• Consideration of medium
affordances/challenges
• Specific teacher training

6. Continuity of Learning
Canadian Responses for Continuity in Learning 2020-21
• Several jurisdictions offered remote learning for those not wanting
to attend in-class learning, class cohorts remained together
• Expectations for remote learning as a full-time option, or during
periods of lockdown, were the same as a regular school year
• While curriculum, assessments, and reporting continued,
standardized testing continued to be affected

7. Toggling
Preparing for COVID disruptions
While teachers were unprepared Spring 2020 for remote learning,
some jurisdictions were better positioned for continuity of learning
in 2020-21 and at the start of September 2021
• NS provided one week of specific teacher training Jan’21
• BC delayed implementing new policies to ensure existing
online programs continued to operate and expand capacities
• QC launched an online program for all anglophone students
with medical exemptions, learning from home, Sep’21

8. National Overview
Various learning models available during the 2020-21 school year

10. Canadian Overview
Time lost to province-wide school closures for each province or territory across Canada for the 2020-21 school year

11. Pandemic year one results
Toggling
• Some jurisdictions closed individual schools only
• Others locked down all schools (some for 14 to 16 weeks last year)
• Some provided robust online learning programs
• Others relied on remote learning
• All began 2021-22 with plans for in-person learning in schools
• Most delayed opening and/or started remote in January
Result?
• Inequitable learning experiences
• Varied policies, plans, and practices – only some successful

12. Highlights
Year two pandemic (2021-2022 School Year)
• All jurisdictions began the 2021-2022 school year with plans for a
normal or pre-pandemic normal, with some removing the
enhanced health and safety protocols, such as masks
• Some jurisdictions no longer offered remote learning as an option
with the alternative being to leave the school and attend either
homeschooling or enroll in full time online learning (BC)
• And now… Staffing shortages

13. Pandemic Pedagogy:
Successes, Challenges, Misses
Randy LaBonte, Canadian eLearning Network
Michael Barbour,Touro University California
John Watson, Digital Learning Collaborative
Frank McCallum,VistaVirtual School
Todd Pottle, Ontario eLearning Consortium
Michael Canuel, LEARN
1. Michael Barbour,Touro University California
2. JohnWatson, Digital Learning Collaborative
3. Frank McCallum, VistaVirtual School
4. Todd Pottle, Ontario eLearning Consortium
5. Michael Canuel, LEARN
6. Randy LaBonte, Canadian eLearning Network

14. Toward a ‘New Normal’
What does our future hold?
1. What will the K-12 distance, online, and blended learning
landscape look like?
2. How will the remote learning lessons of the pandemic inform
policy and practice in the future?
3. How have politicians and policymakers responded after the
past two years regarding short-term and long-term school
closures in preparation for the next disaster?
4. What effect will all this have on K-12 online learning?

15. Photo by Fanny Gustafsson on Unsplash

16. Links to Reports and Publications
Links
CANeLearn Remote Learning Research site https://sites.google.com/view/canelearn-ert/
CANeLearn research projects (including official publication site for all six reports):
Publications
• Barbour, M. K., LaBonte, R., Kelly, K., Hodges, C., Moore, S., Lockee, B., Trust, T., Bond, A., & Hill, P. (2020).
Understanding pandemic pedagogy: Differences between emergency remote, remote, and online teaching. Canadian
eLearning Network. https://k12sotn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/understanding-pandemic-pedagogy.pdf
• Barbour, M. K., LaBonte, R., & Nagle, J. (2020). State of the nation study: K-12 e-learning in Canada. Canadian eLearning
Network. https://k12sotn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/StateNation20.pdf
• Archibald, D., Barbour, M. K., Leary, H., Wilson, E. V., & Ostashewski, N. (2020). Teacher education and K-12 online
learning. Canadian eLearning Network. https://k12sotn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/k12ol-teacher-ed.pdf
• Barbour, M.K. & LaBonte, R. (2019). Sense of irony or perfect timing: Examining the research supporting proposed e-
learning changes in Ontario | International Journal of E-Learning & Distance Education / Revue internationale du e-
learning et la formation à distance. [online] Ijede.ca. Available at:
http://www.ijede.ca/index.php/jde/article/view/1137
Defining e-Learning in Canada https://k12sotn.ca/papers/defining-e-learning-in-canada/
Presentations https://k12sotn.ca/presentations/