TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTS RURAL STUDENT LEARNING

Technology	Cost	Description
Provincial Learning Network (PLNet)	$22.4 million	Provides high-speed broadband and Internet access to every school in the province.
Wireless laptop pilot project	$2.1 million	Students use the computers to access textbooks, assignments and research materials electronically.
Webcasting and webconferencing capabilities	$1.5 million	Allow students to take courses that otherwise would be unavailable because of limited enrolment or the absence of a specialty teacher in that subject area.
Computers for Schools	$1 million	A partnership between the provincial and federal governments and private industry that collects, repairs and delivers surplus computers to B.C. schools.
Anti-virus software	$800,000	The anti-virus software agreement was negotiated by the Educational Resource Acquisition Consortium, a group-purchasing program that represents 52 school districts.
E-learning research sites	$675,000	Two or more classes of students connect with each other to take full courses together using real-time, interactive video or other technologies that can help students learn.
Software purchasing consortium	$750,000	A group-purchasing program that represents 52 school districts. Participating districts get volume discount prices.
Connected learners	$546,000	A teacher delivers lessons by live streaming video from a central site to students’ computers. Students interact with the teacher and other students through a live chat program.
Webconferencing tools and software	$230,000	This provided the technology and training needed for students and teachers to use web conferencing for courses delivered through BCEd online.
Total	$30 million

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Media contact:	Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Education 250 356-5963

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