Mission
“To transform the rural economy through leadership in information technology applications for economic development.”
Photo: Cape Spear Lighthouse, most eastern point in North
America [El punto más al oriente de América del Norte]
Theresa Pittman
Chair, Office of Distributed Learning
College of the North Atlantic
Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

Location / Ubicación
Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

Newfoundland & Labrador
• Most eastern point in North America / El punto más oriental de
América del Norte
• Area of 405,212 square kilometres (156,500 sq miles)
• Population / población 500,000
• 40% of population lives in capital city of St. John’s / 40% de la población vive en la ciudad capital de San Juan
• 700 rural communities / 700 comunidades rurales
• Province of Canada / Provincia de Canadá

1986 -1991
o First telecentre was established in Velmdalen, rural farming community in Sweden, in the mid-1980s, then western Europe, Australia,
North America; NL 1989 Fieldtrip to study
European Telecentres.
o First North American telecentre opened in
Clarenville in 1989.
o Newfoundland telecentre project received funding from government to open up six (6) telecentres with community partnerships.

1991-1997
Opened 6 telecentres
Outreach
Services
Labrador

1991-
1997
Clarenville, 1 st Telecentre 1989

1991-
1997
Goal of telecentre was to work to ensure people and communities without required skills, knowledge and financial resources could still get access to the technology.

1991-
1997
Rich
Fuchs
Enterprise
Network Telecentres
~ 1993
Theresa
Pittman

o Core Telecentre funding ended, change in government development policies, each telecentre divested back to community.
o Clarenville telecentre sponsored by
College of the North Atlantic o Pilot distance learning project started

2002-2011
• 2002 - Instructional Design Specialist with the Office of Distributed Learning, which has grown from the Clarenville Telecentre, and is located in the same physical space.
• 2005-2010 – Various positions within
College and Department of Education.
• 2010 - Accept new leadership role as Chair,
Office of Distributed Learning, College of the North Atlantic, Move back into my old
Telecentre Manager’s office!

2010- present o Main office of College Distributed Learning service locate in Clarenville even though the college has 17 other campuses and main headquarters in another town. This is because distance learning was a direct outcome of the telecentre. o Currently offer 10 fulltime programs, 250+ courses online. o 4500 course registrations each year

2010present
College of the North Atlantic
Office of Distributed Learning Team

My Reflections / M is reflexiones …
Change is the goal. El cambio es el objetivo .
People, leaders and committed team members, make the change happen. Las personas, líderes y miembros comprometidos del equipo, hacen que el cambio suceda.
Technology assists with change. Adapt technology to match the change you desire.
Tecnología ayuda a cambio. Adapta la tecnología para que coincida con el cambio que usted desea.
Learn from each others experiences – connect, communicate, build.
Aprender de las experiencias de los demás – mantenerse en contacto, comunicarse, construir.

1 Multi purpose
- Be diverse.
Ser diverso.
- Be adaptable to change. Ser adaptable a los cambios.
- Be eager to innovate.
Estar muy dispuestos a innovar.
2 Linkages to
Education
- Informal and / or formal linkages.
V ínculos formales/
Informales.
- Include learning in all aspects of operations. Incluir el aprendizaje en todos los aspectos de las operaciones
3
Community
- Form partnerships.
Crear asociaciones.
Reflect needs of community.
Reflejar las necesidades de su comunidad.

You may contact me at:
Me puede contactar en:
Email: theresa.pittman@cna.nl.ca
Website: cna.nl.ca
Theresa Pittman
Chair, Office of Distributed Learning
College of the North Atlantic
Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada