Education Core Values

With the hiring of an Education Coordinator in May 2007, the Real Estate Council of Alberta launched a new focus on industry member education. The focus has continued to grow with the introduction of the online version of the Real Estate Associates’ Program (REAP), and more recently, with the development and launch of Understanding Designated Agency and Transaction Brokerage as a classroom and online course, and the Introduction to a Career in Property Management online course.

RECA’s delivery of professional licensing (and re-licensing) education programs follows a number of core values. Keeping these core values at the heart of course design and development ensures that RECA offers education from which industry members, and potential industry members, can benefit the most.

RECA’s core education values include:

Accessibility
RECA Education must be available regardless of the individual’s location or ability to attend classes when scheduled. This “anytime, anyplace” approach to industry education means a strong commitment to e-learning.

Learner focus
RECA Education programs should be appropriate and relevant to the learning objective, with the potential for customization. Additionally, education programs need to recognize that adult learners are a diverse group who bring a wide variety of expectations and experiences to the learning process.

Flexibility
RECA Education courses will be developed with modular content. This ensures they are easy to update and more available for the on-demand learning needs of industry members. In order to best meet the needs of individual learners, courses will also be designed to be self-directed and self-paced.

Instructional media
Today’s instruction goes far beyond classrooms and textbooks. RECA Education will use content-appropriate media, which may include text, audio, video and online instructional methods designed to encourage active learning.

Engagement
Today’s education programs should be designed from a learner-centred perspective. This approach ensures that courses provide a variety of active learning opportunities with application-oriented exercises. Additionally, RECA Education will be designed to facilitate an individual’s understanding through instructional engagements.

Messaging
RECA Education will take into account that today’s learners want to know why they need to know information and how it will relate to their current or future practice as industry members. Instructional design will encourage the development of an individual’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Goal-driven
The goal of today’s instruction goes beyond information-sharing. It now strives to achieve a solid skill set, upon which future programs and education initiatives will continue to build. RECA Education will encourage the learner to take responsibility for their learning, as well as develop an on-going appreciation for continued professional development.

Perspective
Today, learning is accepted as part of life and a requirement for career enhancement and advancement. As a result, learners are taking more responsibility for their learning, while demanding more flexibility and control over their learning. Today learning is focused on training-transfer, ensuring that knowledge and skills gained in the training context are transferrable to the workplace. RECA Education will support this perspective.

As RECA moves forward with further course development, industry members will see these core values reflected in RECA courses and education initiatives. This will help to ensure that industry members have the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to a strong industry, and to work in partnership with consumers.

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