The producers of Learners Portal are committed to the underlying principles of the Foundation for the Atlantic Canada Social Studies Curriculum and the Framework for Essential Graduation Learnings in Schools (http://apef-fepa.org). We believe that this curriculum provides the basis for the highest quality education for the youth of Atlantic Canada and Canada as a whole. We are therefore committed to insuring that our learning activities and lesson plans meet the specific outcomes of the Essential Graduation Learnings in schools, in relation to all the approved grade levels. In addition, our vision of education is based on the following principles:

* There is an underlying connection between the personal, the local, regional, national and the international dimensions of history and humanity. Canada and the world are intimately connected and this sense of connectedness binds each and every individual to all of humanity both in the past, the present and the future. We believe that this fundamental reality should be developed in the social studies curriculum in order to help students become aware of their connection to history and to their place in the nation and in the world. Using personal experiences and familiar points of reference to connect with the unfamiliar and sometimes very distant and even exotic aspects of human culture and history has always been a valuable teaching tool. It helps create a high degree of interest in any subject under study and, therefore, it enhances the learning process. Learners Portal activities have a strong personal relevance for students and we believe that this makes them very effective in achieving the appropriate social studies learning out-comes.

* The Canadian history and social studies curriculum should be culturally inclusive in content and approach. Canada is a nation of immigrants and our population is becoming increasingly diverse in its cultural make-up. Most histories of Canada acknowledge this fact but they often fail to provide a comprehensive treatment of the many cultures that have contributed to Canadian history and identity. In extending the approach and content of The Peopling of Atlantic Canada CD ROM, Learners Portal focuses on various aspects of Canada's cultural diversity. In acknowledging the importance of our nation's aboriginal roots, for example, we expand the time horizon of Canadian history from a mere 500 years to well over 10,000 years. This expanded view of our history brings into focus the importance of the relationship between culture, climate and the geography of Canada. The interrelationship between these three dynamic elements provides an enduring theme in our history. Adopting a culturally inclusive approach to the teaching and learning of Canadian history also involves the use of culturally specific teaching resources and strategies. A curriculum that includes aboriginal content, for example, should stress the importance of oral narrative as a source of historical evidence and valuable supplement to other forms of recorded history. Including aboriginal content should also include the use of activities such as story telling and learning circles as effective learning strategies.

* Canadian History should be fully integrated. History that is truly inclusive and multicultural should also be fully integrated. As with The Peopling of Atlantic Canada CD ROM, we are committed to the effort of weaving together the many voices of our past into a contextually integrated whole. We believe no particular cultural group should be marginalized from the mainstream of Canadian history and that students should feel a common sense of ownership in relation to all the cultures and histories that have made Canada. The history of First Nations, like that of African Canadians, Acadians and all other cultures in the Canadian mosaic, should be taught to all students within a single and integrated historical context.

* Teachers should have access to the latest research and resources in Canadian history and social studies. Traditionally, there has been a wide gap between Academic historians and teachers of history. In many cases, for example, it takes a number of years for academic research to filter down to classroom teachers and by the time this research becomes a part of the curriculum text book, it may be outdated and or subject to major revision. Learners Portal is intended to provide teachers of Canadian history and social studies with direct access to current research. Our producers are well established academics and they have a wide range of contacts within universities and other research institutions in Canada and in other countries of the world.