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CMTN to offer distributed learning for entire 2020-21 academic year

Jul 23, 2020

Coast Mountain College (CMTN) will be offering the fall and winter 2020-21 academic year in a Distributed Learning format to ensure that students, staff and faculty have certainty in how classes will be taught throughout the academic year.
 
“It is important that students know what to expect so they can plan for the whole year,” says CMTN president, Justin Kohlman. “More than 90 percent of our faculty have done additional training to ensure our students are able to get a rich and engaging learning experience in a distributed format. With our small class sizes, our expertise in online experiential learning, and our learnings from the spring, I’m confident our students will have an excellent experience.”

Distributed learning uses tools that include web-conferencing platforms, online videos, social media, textbooks, print modules, experiential tasks and many other innovative ways to engage students. 

Coast Mountain College prides itself on experiential place-based learning and faculty are working hard to ensure those experiences are still available through a mix of online and face-to-face elements where possible. For instance, some faculty are offering voluntary experiential elements that can be done in a controlled and safe manner.

“Students in my program will have online classroom content and labs combined with optional face-to-face components,” says geoscience coordinator Gordon Weary. “This means that students may head out to collect and identify rocks and also shoot video for their classmates. While different than what we’ve done historically, this model has been successful in providing experiential place-based learning during our recent summer semester courses.” 

When students need to come face-to-face for practical components it will take place in a regulated manner that meets all the necessary health protocols as outlined by BC’s Provincial Health Officer. Those students who need to be on campus will also get priority in registering for student housing.

Coast Mountain College has been developing a safe operations framework over the last several months. This framework is in alignment with the Go Forward Guidelines set out by the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training and are in line with recommendations issued by BC’s Public Health Officer. Any in-person training will follow strict social distancing guidelines, regular handwashing and will regulate the number of people occupying spaces on campuses. In addition, where face-to-face programming can not accommodate physical distancing, non-medical face coverings are required.

“The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff is at the centre of the work we are doing to ensure that when any in-person classes resume it is done in a measured and safe way,” says Kohlman.

Electrical foundations, enhanced welding, heavy mechanic, professional cook and millwright have successfully completed with these strict regulations in place.   

“One of the benefits of being a smaller institution with diverse programming is we have one program per space so we can better isolate programs,” says associate dean Kelly Swain. “We have learned from these experiences and will continue improving the online and face-to-face elements for trades in the fall and winter semester.”
  

To apply or register:

1.877.277.2288
coastmountaincollege.ca/apply

Media contact

Justin Kohlman
President and CEO of Coast Mountain College
250.641.4056
jkohlman@coastmountaincollege.ca