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Friday, October 29, 2010 |
In this issue: |
GTEC AwardA project team from Alberta Education (School Technology Sector), the Canadian Space Agency and Palliser Regional Schools was awarded a gold medal at Canada’s Government Technology Event (GTEC) 2010 Distinction Awards gala in Ottawa on Monday, October 4. The gold medal was in the national Cross-Jurisdictional Partnerships category for outstanding work on Alberta’s International Space Station Event. Alberta Education, the Canadian Space Agency and Palliser Regional Schools formed a partnership to provide a science and technology education program for teachers and students. Alberta’s International Space Station program included professional development for teachers, videoconference science sessions for students and culminated in a live question-answer downlink between students and astronauts aboard the International Space Station in September 2009. The GTEC Distinction Awards celebrate innovation, excellence and leadership in managing information and information technology in the public sector in Canada. More information on the GTEC Distinction Awards is available on the GTEC 2010 website.
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Technology Platform for LearningAs Alberta Education examines transformational changes to the education system identified by Inspiring Education and Inspiring Action, it needs to consider the best ways of implementing technology to support these changes. The Technology Platform for Learning will develop a strategic roadmap for the use of technology in learning and teaching, with the ultimate goal of providing a learning environment that supports personalization, mobility and flexibility, and enables the learner to move across a variety of environments in a seamless and equitable way. For this to occur, the appropriate infrastructure, devices and applications need to be determined. To accomplish this, Alberta Education has formed a series of working groups, with representation from a cross-section of education stakeholders, that will examine specific emerging technologies and provide input into the design and implementation of a comprehensive Technology Platform for Learning. As a starting point, working groups will examine the following areas:
For more information on the overall Technology Platform for Learning initiative, contact Angie Tarasoff at Angie.Tarasoff@gov.ab.ca or by phone at 780-427-0253 (toll-free by dialing 310-0000 first).
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School Technology Services FrameworkThe School Technology Services Framework (STSF) is a comprehensive approach to the challenges associated with governing and managing information technology investments and assets. STSF will support school authorities in self-assessing their current status and developing competencies in the three key areas of IT Governance, IT Management and Information Security Management. To support the STSF Program, Alberta Education is in the process of publishing a document that will provide guidance to school authorities and their IT departments in all three areas of STSF. Additionally, courses are being offered to support the sharing of best practices and building capacity for IT governance and management in school authorities. The courses are offered at no cost to school authority personnel. >> For more information on the School Technology Services Framework Program, click here.
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Emerge One-to-One Laptop Learning Project UpdateAlberta Education’s Emerge One-to-One Laptop Learning project concluded in August 2010. This initiative investigated the efficacy of laptops for learning and teaching in the 21st century. The final report on this project is available by visiting the Emerge website. With the conclusion of the Emerge project, the publishers’ agreements for access to the digital resources have expired. Project participants who require further information can contact Ralph Luedtke, Education Manager with School Technology Sector, at Ralph.Luedtke@gov.ab.ca or by phone at 780-427-6961.
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Wireless Networks and SafetyAlberta Education has prepared a Wireless Networks and Safety fact sheet to provide school authorities with the information they need to make decisions about the use of wireless networks in their schools. In 2008, Alberta Education published the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Best Practices Guide, which is intended to provide guidance to IT staff in deploying and managing wireless related infrastructure and supporting laptops and mobile devices in the classroom. School Technology Sector is currently updating the Wireless Guide, which is expected to be released in 2011. Alberta Health and Wellness has conducted an extensive scientific review on the topic of wireless safety. In concurrence with Health Canada and the World Health Organization, the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Alberta Health and Wellness is of the position that there are no health concerns about wireless networks. Alberta Education will continue to monitor the available scientific research to ensure we have the latest information for school authorities.
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Speak Up 2010Each year Project Tomorrow, an education non-profit group, facilitates the Speak Up survey. This survey is an online research project that collects information on education, technology, 21st century skills, and schools of the future. Schools and school authorities can use the no-cost survey to gather information from students, parents, educators and community members. Alberta Education has arranged for all interested Alberta schools to participate in the Speak Up 2010 survey. The survey opened on October 18 and will close on December 17. Participating schools and school authorities will be able to access their data online, free of charge. Aggregate data will be available to schools in February 2011, and Alberta Education will receive a report of the aggregate data for the entire province. Visit the Speak Up website to learn more about participating in the Speak Up 2010 survey. The website includes how-to guides, lesson plans, promotion materials and more. The Jurisdiction Technology Contacts (JTC) in each jurisdiction will receive log in information at the Jurisdiction Technology Contact event on November 3.
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ResearchAlberta Education’s School Technology Sector is continually monitoring research on best practices in the use of technology for learning and teaching. Research articles or reports from outside sources that may be pertinent to the work of tech.news subscribers will occasionally be included in this newsletter. The information in the articles or reports does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Alberta Education. Digital Literacy in Canada: From Inclusion to Transformation (2010) The Technology Factor: Nine Keys to Student Achievement and Cost Effectiveness (2010) >> For links to these reports, click here.
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Upcoming EventsJurisdiction Technology Contacts Events – open to Jurisdiction Technology Contacts and invited guests only. November 3, 2010 – Delta South Hotel, Edmonton May 5, 2011 – Mount Royal University, Calgary Alberta Research Results: 21st Century Learning Environments Seminar – by invitation only November 2, 2010 - Delta South Hotel, Edmonton
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Professional Development OpportunitiesOnline Interactions in the Innovative Junior High Classroom The 2Learn.ca Education Society is offering this opportunity to explore the classroom use of online interactive and Web 2.0 tools. Access to Electronic Board Notes For Students with Low Vision Alberta Education’s Students with Vision Loss Initiative has been researching solutions for making electronic whiteboards accessible for students with vision loss. This workshop is on the data and information that has been collected over the last year. >> For more information on these PD opportunities, click here.
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I-Advance Professional Certification ProgramThe Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) is seeking input from leading organizations and industry professionals to help frame the new ICT certification program, I-Advance. Using the results from the surveys, ICTC can further validate the key competencies (knowledge, skills and abilities) required by ICT professionals. The ICTC is a not-for-profit sector council working to create a diverse and highly educated Canadian ICT industry and workforce. Any ICT professional wanting to have input into the development of the I-Advance program can participate in a variety of test developing activities, including participating in a 10 to 15 minute survey. The results of the survey will be compiled and made available to all participants. For more information, visit the ICTC website.
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Vol. 10 No. 3Tech.News is an electronic newsletter for Alberta's education community. It is produced by Alberta Education, School Technology Sector.Send your questions, suggestions, or article submissions to tech.news@gov.ab.ca Next edition: November 2010 LINKS: Alberta Education - Technology section Emerge One-to-One Laptop Learning Technology and High School Success Supporting Innovative Classrooms
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