Thursday, January 26, 2012

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In this issue:
• What’s The Story?
• Diversity in Alberta Schools: The Journey to Inclusion
• Upcoming Events
• Research
• Provincial Approach to Student Information (PASI) Update
• iPads for Learning Trial – Australia
• LearnAlberta.ca Update
• Leadership Webinar Series
• Technology and Assessment Webinars
• Microsoft Launches Partners in Learning

What’s The Story?

Last Tech.News, we requested your stories about how technology is making a difference in your school or school authority.  The following story illustrates the power of technology in helping students communicate with each other.

Imagine living in a silent world while those around you are chatting and laughing with each other. This was a daily reality for an Alberta student living in a small northern town.  Up to the age of 13 this student had very little interaction with peers, managing to communicate minimally through body language, gestures and pointing.  He had one friend who had learned a minimal amount of sign language.

Then, with the aid of an iPad and the Sign4Me app, his school experience changed.  At first he was fearful to try this new technique, unsure how others would react.  After mulling it over for a day, he decided to give it a try.  He found that his peers were excited to introduce themselves for the first time and get to know him without the help of an adult.  Now, he interacts with his peers on a regular basis in both structured and unstructured settings.  He can socialize like an average teen! In wrestling practice he uses the tool to video moves and techniques and communicate with the coach and teammates.

This young student has embraced this technology to become more engaged in his school life, with his peers and in his extracurricular activities.  He is becoming fully integrated into the classroom and school.

Do you have a story about how technology has made a difference in your school or school authority?  Contact Wendy Nero at wendy.nero@gov.ab.ca to share your story.

Diversity in Alberta Schools: The Journey to Inclusion

On January 13, 2012, Education Minister Thomas Lukaszuk launched a new video, Diversity in Alberta Schools.  This video shows inclusive education in action in Alberta schools.  Throughout the video are examples of how technology can support students in an inclusive environment.  More details about Alberta Education’s Action on Inclusion are available online.

Upcoming Events

Jurisdiction Technology Contact Events – by invitation only

May 3, 2012 – Fantasyland Hotel, Edmonton

Destination Innovation 2012 Conference

August 19 to 22, 2012 - The Banff Centre

The goal of the Destination Innovation 2012 Conference is to advance educational innovation by exploring imaginative practices for learning with technology.  Early bird registration has been extended to February 29, 2012. 

>> Information on an out of this world speaker for Destination Innovation is available here.

Research

Alberta 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.

• Student Reactions to Learning with Technologies: Perceptions and Outcomes –  2012
• Beyond Textbooks – Year One Report - 2011
• Beyond Textbooks:  The Learning Return on Investment – October 2011
• Assessment and Teaching of 21^st Century Skills - 2012
• The Unique Challenges Facing the IT Professional in K-12 Education – 2012

>> More information on these reports available here.

Provincial Approach to Student Information (PASI) Update

This month’s PASI update includes information on:

• The three-tiered model for PASI-integration before the 2013 deadline;
• Advice on communicating with vendors on roll-out timelines; and
• Update on progress in signing and submitting the PASI Usage Agreement.

>> For more details, click here.

iPads for Learning Trial – Australia

The Victorian Department of Education, Australia, is researching the effective use of iPads in education settings through an iPads for Learning trial.  This trial is building on evidence that engaging and innovative learning environments are needed to connect with today’s students and equip them for tomorrow’s world.  As part of the trial, over 700 iPads have been distributed to students at nine schools. 

Students are using iPads with wireless Internet access at school, and can use them at home with or without Internet connection.  The iPads are loaded with specially selected apps chosen by the Department of Education, but can be supplemented with apps that the students select for their own use.

An external researcher is conducting a formal evaluation of the iPads for Learning trial.  Schools will monitor and review the use of the iPads, infrastructure available to support the use of the iPads, and improvements in student learning.

Each participating school has been provided with support material.  An interactive version of the In Their Hands:  iPads for Learning Trial 21 Steps to 1-to-1 Success publication is available online.

For more information on this project, visit their website.

LearnAlberta.ca Update

Visit LearnAlberta.ca for digital learning and teaching resources that support Alberta's K–12 programs of study. Among the newest additions are the CBC News in Review video clips, available by search or through the Online Reference Centre. The French version, 90 jours en 60 minutes, is coming soon.

Many of the resources on LearnAlberta.ca are mobile compatible, such as the wide range of videos. There are over 3500 videos available through LearnAlberta.ca. The LearnAlberta.ca team is working toward providing solutions for other digital teaching and learning resources that are not yet mobile compatible.

For more information regarding LearnAlberta.ca contact Kim Brockhoff at 780–422–0781. To be connected toll-free inside Alberta, dial 310–0000.

Leadership Webinar Series

The Calgary Board of Education and Council of Alberta School Superintendents (CASS) are offering an educational leadership webinar series for superintendents, principals, assistant principals and other school leaders.  The focus of this series is to explore and examine technology and educational reform and their impact on student engagement.

>> For information on upcoming webinars, click here.

Technology and Assessment Webinars

The Alberta Assessment Consortium and the 2Learn.ca Education Society are collaborating to provide a series of webinars on technology and assessment.   Two webinars are scheduled for February 1 and February 13, 2012 and will cover assessment and Web 2.0 tools and visual literacy.  More information is available at http://www.aac.ab.ca and www.2Learn.ca.

Microsoft Launches Partners in Learning

Microsoft has re-launched its Partners in Learning website, which is used by over 4 million teachers and school leaders in 115 countries.  Partners in Learning provides tutorials and free tools for educators to engage students in the classroom. 

Through connecting educators to a global community, the Partners in Learning website is meant to foster a culture of innovation in schools that helps students reach their full potential.  With hundreds of learning activities created by educators, the website provides opportunities for collaboration for teachers and school leaders.  It provides opportunities for teachers to build student skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration and creativity.

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School Technology Sector
Alberta Education
10th Floor, 44 Capital Boulevard
10044-108 Street
Edmonton, AB T5J 3S7

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