Enrolment in Online Courses (Particularly Teachers)

Question

I have a researcher who is looking for the number of people (particularly teachers) who are enrolled in on-line courses across Canada (and, if possible for urban vs rural areas).

So far, I have found the following:

Canadian Internet Use Survey (CIUS) – Has variables for use of the Internet at home for educational purposes and for urban/rural. Does not seem to capture Internet use at work or occupation.

Access and Support to Education and Training Survey (ASETS) – Publication based on this survey seems to indicate variables for distance education use, including delivery by Internet, and occupation.

Adult Education and Training Survey (AETS) – The Training File has variables for mode of delivery, and the Main File has occupation variables.

Some specific questions:

1. A message on the DLI list indicated that work on the ASETS PUMF would start April 2010. Is there an anticipated release date? It is not included in the DLI product release dates list on the DLI site…

2. For AETS, there are two files: the Training File and the Main File. The Training File population seems to be a subset of the Main file population, and there are CASEIDs. I am assuming that the CASEIDs can be used to link between the two files to allow for analysis of variables between files. Can this please be confirmed?

3. Is there anything that I may have missed (as up to date as possible) that can answer this researcher’s question?

Answer

Our contacts for CIUS have provided the following information about data on use of the Internet for educational purposes that were collected via the Canadian Internet Use Survey (CIUS) 2005. If these data are of interest to your client, I would be pleased to refer you to an Account-Executive who can provide additional information on the tables that could be produced, a cost estimate and a production timeline.

"Please note that the Canadian Internet Use Survey (CIUS) is a biennial measure first conducted in 2005. The 2005 CIUS included a questionnaire module on using the Internet for education, training or school work. Please see EU (Education Use) questions on page 18 of the questionnaire: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/imdb-bmdi/instrument/4432_Q1_V6-eng.pdf

Only those survey respondents who answered yes to the filter question ...SU_Q06 During the past 12 months, have you used the Internet at home? ... for education, training or school work ... were asked the more detailed EU module questions. Based on these responses, the following analytic work was prepared: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-004-x/2007004/10375-eng.htm

For the 2007 and 2009 surveys, the EU module was not asked but the filter question remains and it is on the 2007 PUMF. Another limitation is that only home Internet users are asked questions about their personal Internet activities. As such, a school teacher using the Internet to take course either to upgrade skills or required for terms of employment are not technically using it for personal reasons. That said, we have the occupation of survey respondents as the CIUS is a Labour Force Supplement."

I have also asked our education contacts to advise with respect to questions #1 and #2 below and will follow up with more information as soon as possible. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any other questions or if you would like me to put you in touch with an Account-Executive for additional information on custom CIUS tables.