Ontario Extend is a capacity building initiative that is grounded in the belief that the impact on learning should be the primary motivator for creating technology-enabled and online learning experiences. In other words, student learning is our focus and we think that technology can help if we use it right. For some more background information about this project, head on over to the original Ontario Extend project site.

Let's say it's a flexible, "choose your own adventure" style experience that can be used by educators in Ontario (and beyond) as a springboard to enhance their teaching with technology in a connected learning, networked, perhaps even connectivist approach.

The framework for Ontario Extend is a model by Simon Bates (2014) Anatomy of 21st Century Educators and supported by six modules: Teacher for Learning, Technologist, Curator, Collaborator, Experimenter and Scholar. The exploration of these modules is done via a networked learning model using the Extend Studios: online tools, resources, and social media.

Completion of the activities within the modules earns you badges, and completing all six modules entitles you to the coveted Empowered Educator badge, and a special version specific to completing this mOOC. If badges motivate you, go for them, but if you just want to choose your own path of interest, and make connections with colleagues, take the independent route.

Ontario Extend is being offered to educators in Ontario (and beyond) starting in January 2019 as a "medium sized Open Online Course" (mOOC) via the support and communication tools of the edX platform hosted for us at EDUlib.