tech.news February 29, 2008 Vol. 7, No. 6

tech.news
February 29, 2008
Vol. 7, No. 6

CONTENTS
1.  Alberta Education Invests in Technology Enhancement
2.  Alberta Education Staffing Update
3.  Videoconferencing Updates
4.  LearnAlberta.ca Updates
5.  Tools for Teachers Updates

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1.  Alberta Education Invests in Technology Enhancement

On January 31, 2008, Alberta Education Deputy Minister Keray Henke sent out an e-mail to all school jurisdiction superintendents regarding the department’s $35 million investment to support technology enhancement in Alberta schools. This funding will help jurisdictions meet the strategic directions for ICT in education in Alberta and increase the opportunity for students to access technology to enhance teaching and learning.

The allocated funding was broken down into Technology Infrastructure ($25 million) and Technology in the Classroom ($10 million). The Technology Infrastructure funding could be used for technology infrastructure projects such as centralizing technology services or implementing wireless local area networks (WLANs). The Technology in the Classroom funding could be used to purchase classroom technologies that enhance teaching and learning, such as laptops, data projectors, and electric whiteboards. The Deputy Minister’s e-mail provided each school jurisdiction with information on the amount of funding that they will receive for these initiatives.

The Stakeholder Technology Branch (STB) has developed several resources to assist jurisdictions with technology enhancement initiatives they might implement with this funding. In particular, the Wireless Guide can help jurisdictions that are implementing WLANs. The Wireless Guide is available on the Learning and Technology website at http://www.lnt.ca/technology/pdf/WirelessBestPracticesGuid.pdf. Alberta Education has also negotiated the lowest pricing for classroom technologies through Education Standing Offers (ESO).

For further information, please contact Bette Gray, Director, Stakeholder Technology Branch, by e-mail at Bette.Gray@gov.ab.ca or by phone at (780) 427-1509.

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2.  Alberta Education Staffing Update

On January 15, 2008, Alberta Education Deputy Minister Keray Henke announced the appointment of Wilma Haas as Assistant Deputy Minister of Learning Supports, effective February 4, 2008.

Wilma has significant executive management experience in both operational and strategic/corporate services capacities in the Alberta Public Service, and has most recently served as acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Corporate Services with Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture. Other senior positions she has held include Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Alberta and Corporate Registries with the former Government Services department, and Executive Director with the Personnel Administration Office.

Stakeholder Technology Branch (STB) is located within the Learning Supports Division. The Division provides support services for program implementation to support students in the Kindergarten to Grade 12 education delivery system and is focused on capacity building within the learning system to support student needs.

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3.  Videoconferencing Updates

Professional Development Sessions for Videoconferencing

The Videoconferencing Regional Leads Network (VC RLN) is working with the Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium to provide videoconferencing professional development to teachers and administrators who are using videoconferencing or planning to use videoconferencing. The following upcoming sessions are being offered in Edmonton:

• Videoconferencing 101, “Videoconferencing Basics” is being offered on March 13, 2008 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm;
• Videoconferencing 102 , “Curriculum Enhancement with Content Providers” is being offered on April 10, 2008 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm; and
• Videoconferencing 103, “Collaborative Videoconferencing Projects” is being offered on May 1, 2008 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm.

The cost for the sessions is $15 each. To register, or for more information, please visit http://www.erlc.ualberta.ca/programs/default.php.

Elevate 2008 Keynote Speakers Announced

Alberta Education is hosting Elevate 2008, an international educational videoconferencing event, August 24-27, 2008 in Banff. This conference focuses on educational applications for videoconferencing and related technologies.

Elevate 2008 will feature four leading-edge keynote presenters:

• Dr. Etienne Wenger , a globally recognized thought leader in the field of communities of practice and co-author of the “Technology for Communities” weblog;
• Carol Daunt, an experienced educator and businesswoman who has been a visionary in the design, application and effective use of eCollaboration technologies;
• Julia Shildmyer-Heighway, the Director of Content Services for the Centre for Interactive Learning and Collaboration, who works with over 140 organizations that deliver educational programming to schools through videoconferencing and supportive technologies; and
• Ted McCain, an innovator and pioneer in technology education, who has written or co-written numerous books on the future and effective teaching with technology.

A special registration fee of $375 for Elevate 2008 is in effect from now until May 20, 2008.  Please visit http://www.vcalberta.ca/elevate2008 for more information or to register.

For more information, please contact Danny Maas at Daniel.Maas@gov.ab.ca or by phone at (780) 415-0820.

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4.  LearnAlberta.ca Updates

QuickTime issues for streaming media

QuickTime version 7.3.1, which was recently released by Apple, has impacted some of LearnAlberta.ca’s digital resources. If you have applied the update, the Flash media elements within the videos in these resources may not appear on the screen. While the majority of LearnAlberta.ca’s resources remain useable, some have been impacted, including:

• Chemistry 20
• Chemistry 30
• Chimie 20
• Chimie 30
• Applied Mathematics 10
• Applied Mathematics 20
• Applied Mathematics 30
• Mathématiques appliquées 10
• Mathématiques appliquées 20
• Mathématiques appliquées 30
• The Learning Equation 11
• The Learning Equation 12
• La Formule de savior 11
• La Formule de savior 12

Alberta Education’s Learning Technologies Branch is currently working on converting the affected resources. As repairs are completed, the affected resources will be reposted.

To avoid video playback issues with the affected resources, it is recommended that users do not update QuickTime and continue to use QuickTime 7.3, if possible.

New Resources

Quinze Minutes Plus – Episode 5: À table  (Grades 5 and 6)

This French language video shows young people from Guadeloupe and Dijon, France talking about food. They are shown shopping at a supermarket, preparing food, such as fruit salad, and attending a barbeque at the beach in Guadeloupe. They answer the questions: Quel est ton plat préféré? ; Quelle est la spécialité de Dijon? ; Qu’est-ce que tu aimes boire? Dialogue in the video focuses on French language phrases and vocabulary related to food and eating.

Quinze Minutes Plus – Episode 6: Au collège (Grade 5)

This French language video features students from schools in Guadeloupe and Dijon, France. They are shown performing an emergency drill, playing at recess, eating lunch in the cafeteria and doing school work. They respond to the questions: Quelle est ta matière préférée? ; Quelle est la matière que tu aimes le moins? ; Tu aimes la cantine? ; Qu’est-ce que tu manges à la cantine? ; Tu as beaucoup de devoirs? Dialogue in the video focuses on French language phrases and vocabulary related to school routines.

Quinze Minutes Plus – Episode 7: Les loisirs (Grades 5 and 6)

This French language video features young people from Guadeloupe and Dijon, France talking about their favourite leisure activities. They are shown participating in various sports and hobbies. They answer the questions: Qu’est-ce que tu fais le weekend? ; Quelle est ta passion? ; Tu fais quoi dans ton temps libre? ; Tu aimes quel sport? ; Qu’est-ce que tu collectionnes? ; Pourquoi tu aimes le kayak? Dialogue in the video focuses on French language phrases and vocabulary related to physical activities, sports and hobbies.

Quinze Minutes Plus – Episode 8: En fête (Grades 5 and 6)

This French language video shows young people celebrating Carnaval in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe and le Chandeleur in Dijon, France. They talk about why they enjoy these celebrations and what aspects they like most. They answer the questions: Le carnaval, c’est quoi pour toi? ; Qu’est-ce que tu fais à la chandeleur? ; Quelle est ta fête préférée? Dialogue in the video focuses on French language phrases and vocabulary related to celebrations.

Quinze Minutes Plus – Episode 9: La santé (Grades 4 and 6)

This French language video features young people from Guadeloupe and France discussing personal health. They talk about eating habits and activities that promote healthy living. They answer the questions: Tu manges des bonbons? ; Les bonbons sont bons pour la santé?; Et les dents, ça va?; Qu’est-ce qu’il faut faire pour être en forme? Dialogue in the video focuses on French language phrases and vocabulary related to health and well-being.

Strategies for Learning a New Language: Imitation (Grades 4, 5 and 6)

This interactive resource uses a classroom scenario to present strategies that can be used to learn a new language. Strategies include imitation of sounds and intonation patterns, mimicking words, and watching and copying what is said by other students. The resource includes a learning log in which students can watch a video and respond to questions related to the strategies.

Strategies for Developing Confidence (Grades 4, 5 and 6)

This interactive resource uses a variety of scenarios to examine strategies that students can use to help develop confidence and to reduce anxiety when participating in classroom activities. Strategies include listening to your body, watching and copying others’ actions, taking deep breaths, using humour and making positive statements. The resource includes a learning log in which students can access activities and respond to questions related to the strategies.

BiologiX (Grade 12)

This collection of 43 videos correlates to the Biology 30 program of studies. A sample of subjects covered by the videos includes: The human genome project, Tactile and Chemoreceptors, Embryonic Development and Differentiation, Cell cycle and Mitosis, as well as The Ear – hearing and balance. Users may access the collection through the search term “biologix” to see the complete list of video resources.

Updates to Existing Resources

Chemistry 30 (Grade 12)

Chemistry 30 addresses numerous topics from the senior high school chemistry curriculum such as Thermochemical Changes; Electrochemical Changes; and Equilibrium, Acids and Bases in Chemical Changes. The resource presents videos from The World of Chemistry video series and interactive Gizmos licensed from ExploreLearning. It also includes several videos featuring chemistry experiments and laboratory demonstrations that are supplemented with lessons and extension activities.

Chimie 30 (12^e année)

Cette ressource est composée d'une série de vidéos conçues pour le cours de Chimie 30. Ces vidéos présentent des concepts et des expériences scientifiques reliés aux trois unités de Chimie 30 : les transformations thermochimiques; les transformations électrochimiques; l'équilibre, les acides et les bases dans les transformations chimiques.

Physics 30 (Grade 12)

Physics 30 addresses numerous topics from the senior high school physics curriculum such as Conservation Laws; Electric Forces and Fields; Magnetic Forces and Fields; and Nature of Matter. The resource presents interactive Gizmos licensed from ExploreLearning and interactive applets that simulate a wide range of physics experiments. It also includes videos from the following two series: The Mechanical Universe and The Mechanical Universe...and Beyond.

Physique 20 (11^e année)

Cette ressource comprend une série de leçons interactives qui correspondent aux modules du cours Physique 20: la cinématique; et la dynamique.

¡Hola Amigos! (Hello Friends) (Grades 4 and 5)

The last three scenarios - 16, 17, and 18 - have been added to this interactive digital resource that supports the Grade 4 and Grade 5 Spanish Language and Culture Nine-Year Program of Study. The 18 scenarios include activities that involve listening, reading, pronunciation, writing, and speaking. Each scenario starts with an animation that presents new linguistic and cultural content. Scenarios also include activities for additional explanation and practice, as well as one to two production activities. Students may follow a suggested sequence or access activities in any order. This resource exposes students to a wide variety of Spanish accents and cultural content from various Spanish-speaking countries.

Junior High Math Interactives (Grades 6, 7, 8 and 9)

Algebra, circles, fractions and tessellations have been added to this multimedia resource. Other activities include interactive math activities, print activities, learning strategies, and videos that illustrate how math is used in everyday life.

Math 3 Under the Sea (Grade 3)

New 3-D objects and 2-D shapes, data analysis, division, fractions, patterns, perimeters, and Time activities have been added to this resource, which contains concept lessons that address the key outcomes from the Alberta Grade 3 mathematics curriculum.

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5.  Tools4Teachers Updates

New Resources

The following resources have recently been posted to the Tools4Teachers site:

• Social Studies 5: PDFs of Module 7 Student Module Booklet and Assignment Booklets and all multimedia segments for Modules 4 to 9;
• Career and Life Management: PDFs of Part A: Human Sexuality and Part B: Relationships Student Module Booklets and Assignment Booklets and the Teacher’s Guide; and
• CTS: Enterprise and Innovation 1010 PDFs of Student Module Booklet, Assignment Booklets, and the Teacher’s Guide.

The Tools4Teachers website can be accessed at http://www.tools4teachers.ca. Login and password access to Tools4Teachers have been distributed province-wide to schools in September. This access information has been e-mailed to school administrators for their distribution to teachers as requested. To receive a password, contact your school administrator.

For more information, contact Linda Chase at Linda.Chase@gov.ab.ca or by phone at (780) 674-8752.

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LINKS:
Learning and Technology website: http://www.lnt.ca
LearnAlberta.ca website: http://www.Learnalberta.ca
Alberta Education website - Technology section: http://education.alberta.ca/admin/technology.aspx
Emerge One-to-One Wireless Learning Initiative website: http://education.alberta.ca/admin/technology/emerge.aspx

tech.news is a newsletter targeted to technology leaders in school jurisdictions and post-secondary institutions, and is available to all Alberta educators. Alberta Education's Stakeholder Technology Branch produces the newsletter.

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Next edition: March 2008

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