Agenda:

- VC presentation by a Rabi from Israel with a grade 7-9 class at Niton Junction School.

- Presentation by a teacher (Magi) from Grande Cache and her experience with teaching Math 31 (VC) to students at Jasper High School.

Some key points of interest:

- Gordon Booth has been the VC coordinator for approximately 10 years

- Every year his budget increases as requests for VC increase

- Budget funded by Regional Office/Central Pool not at the school level

- 640+ VC’s have occurred in the 2010-11 school year

- Various content providers services are used to supplement learning in the classroom

-  Approximately $150 dollars per session

- Set up endpoints at various locations (Hawaii).  This gives GYRD a deal on programming from those sites

- Some content providers will create assessments/programs based on the Alberta Program of Studies

- They have developed a document that pairs various VC presentation’s with the k-9 curriculum

Gordon’s Key Points:

- He does not believe in multipoint connections as students loose interest due to less interactivity

- Should have a printer/scanner in every VC classroom

- Online application to supplement course ie.  teacher pages

- Must have a lead teacher at every school that undergoes training which includes VC setup, test connections and content provider searches.

- Must provide those teachers who are interested in learning PD time by covering the cost of their release time.

PHRD

As a division we are ready to take VC to the next level.  We have the infrastructure and staff in every building who have tried Videoconferencing.

-Train key individuals at the school level to promote the use of VC (how to connect and book VC programs).

-There needs to be financial support available for release time and the booking of content provider programs.

-We are ready to try Team Teaching Via VC within our division

Buffalo Trail School Division Tour:  Stay tuned

Please note that the notebook file is sent to staff but I can only attach a pdf version in wordpress. Please send me an email if you want the original notebook file.

 Grade 3 Pat French SmartResponse

‘Every second year, as of the fall of 2007, a complete test for all achievement test subjects and grades (except grades 6 and 9 Social Studies; grades 3, 6, and 9 Français/French Language Arts; and Grade 9 Knowledge and Employability courses) will be mailed to school administrators in conjunction with the Assessment Highlights report for that year.’  

After I contacted Alberta Education I also received a link to the following website to assist with PAT prep.  Thank goodness for email  :)

https://questaplus.alberta.ca/

‘Hey Audrey,I am really liking your pat practice for S.S. and Math…. Do you

have any Science PAT Practice with student response system ect?? For Grade 6

Science’ Eleanor Hall Teacher

‘Thank you very much Audrey! You Rock!’ Eleanor Hall Teacher

‘Hi Audrey, Would you be able to get the Grade 9 Etudes Sociales

Pat questions also?’ RFS Teacher

‘Hi Audrey, Are there any Smart Response Gr. 3 Math PAT files

in French? (that you know of?)’ BES Teacher

Grade9SciencePDF

Please take a look at the following link for more information.  I will  be adding this page to my menu bar with the other educational tablets when I get a chance to research this product a bit more.  Thanks to Twitter for an update on this fabulous resource.

http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/201104/11-055E/index.html

This is a web 2.0 cartoon tool that allows students to create and publish cartoons. I will post what they have created after my session today.   Please take a look at an example that I have made (2 minutes) after using the program.  It is very user-friendly and easy for staff and students to register.

I also had the privilege of receiving an amazing letter from a teacher at this school in regards to my support of technology learning.  Please click on the link below to read the letter.   Wow I love my job, this put a smile on my face!

Letter

An  E-Portfolio is a purposeful collection of work and information that:

• represents an individual’s efforts, progress and achievements over time

• is goal-driven, performance-based and indicates evidence of the attainment of knowledge, skills and attitudes

• includes self-reflection

• Is a tool to facilitate life long learning and career development

Please take a look at the pages by clicking on the menu items above. Feel free to comment and provide feedback.  My E-Portfolio will continually be updated to represent my career as educator past, present and future.