Centre for Extended Learning (CEL)
East Campus 3 (EC3)
195 Columbia St. W.
Waterloo, ON
519-888-4567, ext 44050
extendedlearning@uwaterloo.ca
For prospective students
For current students
For instructors
The Centre for Extended Learning was proud to celebrate our 50th Anniversary in 2018!
From our humble beginnings as a correspondence program in 1968 we grew to be one of the largest providers of online education at a University in Canada.
Take some time today to:
J.D. Leslie in the early days of the correspondence program
JD Leslie pitches the idea of correspondence courses to Howard Petch (Academic VP) in order to help high school teachers upgrade their education.
Physics gives Jim Leslie 00 to buy a tape duplicator, hire one part-time secretary, and provide technical support training.
40 x 40 minute taped lectures, on 5-inch reels: "can be used on a 4-track stereo tape recorder by turning down one channel".
Students are allowed to take two correspondence courses per year towards their degree.
Economics, English, Psychology, French, Classics, Ecology 1, Genetics and Evolution, and Human Biology.
Lectures are sent out on 2-track C90 cassettes.
Bursaries available for seniors to take courses for free.
First use of Telidon (interactive television system) in ENGL 251.
Staff members telegramed over 4000 correspondence students during the strike. This cost the department a little over 00. Exams were sent via courier, bus, rail express, and airplane.
0 scholarships for part-time and correspondence students became available.
We send a quarter million cassette tapes to distance students.
Athabasca University beats University of Waterloo for "largest correspondence program" in terms of course enrolments, but they only have 100 courses to our 168.
In January, they cut the (cassette) tape at our new location in Annex 2 (156 Columbia Street).
First video cassettes (VHS or Beta) are used in a Calligraphy course to demonstrate techniques.
First 50 students pick up laptops for CS 100; only students living close to the University were eligible.
New duplication machine! 300-400 tapes a day created per operator; Introduction of floppy disks and Alex (Bell Canada's interactive videotex service).
The Correspondence program receives 3,000 from Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities.
Coincides with a soft transition from Correspondence to 'Distance Education'.
Environmental Economics was the first fully web-based course offered.
CD-ROMS also started to replace tapes for audio lectures.
Office moved to Gage Avenue and our name changed to 'Distance and Continuing Education'.
Distance education courses marketed outside of Canada in Hong Kong.
Founder JD Leslie was named an honorary member to the University.
Converted remaining physical formats, such as tapes and CDs, to MP3 format.
Quest platform is developed allowing students to enrol in courses online.
First Learning Management System (LMS) called Angel or UW-ACE is purchased to deliver courses and course information to students online.
High speed Internet was not a requirement, so Flash files were also mailed on CD-ROMS.
Laid the foundation for modernization of what CEL is today.
Professional Development launched its first in-class certificate programs: Leadership and Project Management.
Distance Education becomes 'Centre For Extended Learning'.
All courses are moved from UW-ACE to a new LMS Desire2Learn.
Professional Development offers its first online certificate program in Supervision.
Online learning embedded in Waterloo's Strategic Plan.
eCampus Ontario (eCO) is founded, which over the next few years, awards us with over million in development and research grants.
CEL moves from Gage Avenue to EC3 on the North East side of Waterloo's Campus.
CEL hosts the Canadian Association for University Continuing Education (CAUCE) Conference.
CEL works towards converting all Flash-based presentations to more device-friendly alternatives.
Centre for Extended Learning (CEL)
East Campus 3 (EC3)
195 Columbia St. W.
Waterloo, ON
519-888-4567, ext 44050
extendedlearning@uwaterloo.ca
For prospective students
For current students
For instructors
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Office of Indigenous Relations.