Statistics Canada
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Online learning popular

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Fully 6.4 million adult Canadians, or 26% of the population aged 18 and older, used the Internet from home for education, training or school work in 2005.

The most common type of education-related use of the Internet is to research information for project assignments or to solve academic problems. A total of 4.2 million adult Canadians—two out of three who went online for education, training or school work in 2005—used the Internet for these activities.

One out of four who used the Internet for education-related purposes went online for distance education, self-directed learning or correspondence courses. Other types of education-related uses are to communicate with administration, to obtain transcripts, and to communicate with teachers or peers, which includes turning in school work.

Eight out of ten full‑time and part‑time students reported using the Internet for education, training or school work in 2005.

Urban residents are more likely than those in rural areas and small towns to go online to research information for assignments (66% versus 62%). However, urban Canadians are less likely than those from rural areas and small towns to report using the Internet for distance education, self-directed learning or correspondence courses (25% versus 29%).

Although slight, the differences in the percentage of users living in rural areas and small communities and those living in urban areas indicate that rural Canadians have a greater propensity to use the Internet for distance learning. This suggests that online learning may help overcome the barrier of distance that many students face in rural areas.