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Wednesday, December 15, 2010 |
In this issue: |
LearnAlberta.ca Video Delivery System UpdateIn September 2010, the Digital Design and Resource Authorization Branch began building a new video delivery system for the LearnAlberta.ca website. This work has been undertaken to take advantage of advances in video streaming technology that allows for much improved video playback for end users and addresses technical issues with the QuickTime for Windows Player. There have been two significant components to this work. The first task was to incorporate a new video player into the website. This also involved programming changes to the Content Delivery Network. The other major task was to ensure that all video files were in MPEG 4 AVC (H.264) format. All of the newer LearnAlberta.ca video content was already encoded to this format, but any video acquired prior to December 2008 needed to be re-encoded. LearnAlberta.ca hosts approximately 3,500 unique video titles, the vast majority of which have been processed and live on LearnAlberta.ca. There is a small amount of video yet to be reformatted, and it is projected that all video content will be switched over to the new system no later than January 31, 2011. For further information, please contact LearnAlberta.Feedback@gov.ab.ca.
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Network of 21st Century School SystemsThe College of School Superintendents (CASS) initiated the Network of 21st Century School Systems to build leadership capacity in Alberta schools. This initiative combines research and practical wisdom in four areas: a forward looking, shared vision of 21st century learning and teaching; transforming school and system leadership; IT governance; and school systems as knowledge building organizations. To support to this work, CASS has worked with Rocky View School Division to develop the Network of 21st Century School Systems website. Educational leaders from around Alberta are invited to use and contribute to the site as it grows and develops over the coming months. A second meeting of the network will take place on February 15, 2011, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Rocky View School Division Education Centre in Airdrie. Those interested in advancing 21st Century learning and teaching in their school systems are encouraged to participate. Further details will be available early in 2011. For information contact Jim Brandon at jim.brandon@cass.ab.ca or by phone at 780-293-3315.
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Provincial Approach to Student Information (PASI) UpdatePASI Enrolment Enhancements and Establishment of a New PASI Focus Group The Provincial Approach to Student Information (PASI) team is currently concentrating on enhancements and fixes as identified by schools and authorities. A PASI “What’s New” update has been distributed and is also available through the PASIprep application’s Help menu. This update describes the fixes and enhancements made to PASI in early December. An itemized list of the next release of enhancements and fixes, which are expected to be delivered towards the end of December, is also available through the PASIprep Help menu. The PASI team is planning the next phases of PASI. School authority staff members that participated in the PASIprep focus group have been invited to participate in a new focus group to identify the high level requirements for Course Marks and Diploma Exam Registration processes. Organizations that are interested in participating but have not received an invitation can send an expression of interest to pasi@gov.ab.ca. For general information and policy-related PASI questions, please call Sam Radke, PASI and Student Records Director, at 780‑427‑6930 (toll-free by first dialing 310‑0000) or by e-mail at Sam.Radke@gov.ab.ca. PASI operational inquiries and issues or requests for assistance should be directed to the Client Services Help Desk by e-mail at cshelpdesk@gov.ab.ca or phone at 780-427-5318 (toll-free by first dialing 310‑0000) or by fax at 780-427-1179.
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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. High Performing Districts in the Application of 21st Century Learning Technologies, Review of the Research (April 2010) Measuring up: Canadian Results of the OECD PISA Study (December 2010) A National Primer on K-12 Online Learning (October 2010) Premier’s Technology Council: A Vision for 21st Century Education (December 2010) >> For more information or links to these documents, click here.
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Professional Development OpportunitiesAccess to Electronic Board Notes For Students with Low Vision Professional Development Webinars - Learn to Read and Write Cree Syllabics >> To access information on these opportunities, click here.
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2Learn.ca Education Society Videoconferencing OpportunitiesVideoconferencing opportunities are available for Elementary, Junior High and Senior High classes through the 2Learn.ca Education Society. Professional Development opportunities are also available. These sessions will take place between January 30 and February 28, 2011. Registration will take place from January 3 to 13, 2011. >> For details on these events, click here.
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Vol. 10 No. 5Tech.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: January 2011 LINKS: Alberta Education - Technology section Emerge One-to-One Laptop Learning Technology and High School Success Supporting Innovative Classrooms
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