Jan12young

Agenda

 * 1) Horizon School Division Learning Technology Goals
 * 2) UberAuthor
 * 3) HZSD Learning Center
 * 4) Destinations (Riverdeep)
 * 5) Discovery Education
 * 6) Rover
 * 7) Infusion Planning
 * 8) Student Showcase of other schools (in ubershare menu)
 * 9) Directions in Infusion
 * 10) See FirstClass conference - YoungInfusion

1. Horizon School Division Learning Technology Goals
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 * The Horizon School Division has recently approved a series of Learning Technology goals for the division.
 * When we talk about Learning Technology, it's not about adding a new program or a new class. It's about finding new ways to teach the same concepts: reading, writing, numeracy, and critical and creative thinking.
 * A series of goals have been developed that gives teachers realistic targets for infuse technology into their classrooms.


 * This presentation can also be found at the Horizon School Division Learning Center.
 * A summary of these goals can be downloaded at this link.

//**Rationale:**//
 * We need to prepare our students for their futures, not ours.
 * If 25 years ago, you were told that your first stop for information would be a computer, that you'd be in constant contact with your friends and family no matter where you go, that you'd be able to carry your photos, television shows, and thousands of songs with you everywhere you go... all on one pocket sized device.. you wouldn't believe it. If so much has changed, how much will change in the years to come?
 * Just to give you a sense at how accessible information will be in the years to come, check out this video:


 * So, with all of this, do our students need to remember large amounts of information? No. They need to be able to find information, evaluate it, process it, and apply it.
 * We are preparing our students for a future we cannot even fathom yet. We must be ready to try new things, even if it scares us a little.


 * // Questions, concerns, and comments??? //**

2. UberAuthor


UberAuthor is a new initiative undertaken by the Learning Technologists in association with the Curriculum and Instruction branch for the 2010-2011 school year. The premise is to publish student work in book form and put those books in our school libraries as a way of encouraging student writing, reading, and library use. There are a number of ways this can be done, but it is important to stress that this is not intended to be a new way of doing things, but a way of showcasing students' efforts in a lasting way. It can be seen as a way to cap off a years' work or to collect student writing into an anthology that they can look back on and the following year's students can aspire to.

Here is a short presentation on the UberAuthor program as it stands now.

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For more information, check out the link on the front page of this wiki or go to the UberAuthor page.

An from a student at Holdfast.


 * // Questions, concerns, and comments??? //**

**3. HZSD Learning Center**
The Horizon School Division Learning Center was designed by Ken Sogge in consultation with the learning technologists, Russell Munkler and Jim Swan. Karen Hrycan researched the math resources and keyed them to the outcomes of the renewed math curriculum. This Learning Center is a work in progress and more sections will be added.

The Learning Center can be accessed from this link: @http://hzsd.ca/learningcenter/.

In addition to the Learning Center, a wide range of web resources has been assembled on the Horizon School Division Library home page. Scroll down toward the bottom of the page to see the links to the resources.


 * // Questions, concerns, and comments??? //**

**4. Destinations (Riverdeep)**
//**What is Destinations?**//

Destinations is an educational learning portal that applies a teacher-assigned scope and sequence to be used to teach, reinforce, and evaluate student work based on curricular outcomes. It strongly focuses on reading and math activities for students from Kindergarten-8. Destinations allows teachers to assign a variety of reading and math activities to their class and monitor their progress and activity.



Teachers can go in and preview the lessons and assign the activities to their classes. Then, during a computer period, the class can go down to the lab and complete the lessons. Headphones are definitely recommended as it can get noisy.

There is a bit of work involved in getting students set up in order to get the most out of Destinations.
 * 1) Create a new class and add students to the class.
 * 2) Create an activity and assign it to the class or to chosen students.
 * 3) Create tests and assign them to the class or to chosen students.
 * 4) Generate reports (which can be helpful if the students have been using the program for a while. Reports can show progress).

//**Tips and Tricks:**//


 * Have students copy down key words at the beginning of each lesson.
 * Make use of the classroom print activities to supplement the online activities (or vice versa)
 * Each lesson is based on a four step process and we can view the progression on the bar at the bottom of the screen.
 * In some lessons, cool math tools are accessible.
 * It is possible to teach a concept by previewing the activity with the students.

If you are interested in using Destinations with your class, feel free to contact one of the learning technologists and we will help you get it set up.

//**Additional Resources:**//

Houghton Mifflin, the developers and publishers behind Destination Learning Management Software, has produced a wide range of resources to assist teachers in learning to use their product:
 * Destination Portal Quick Reference Guide
 * Teacher Reference Card
 * Destination Learning Management Support

In addition, there are many resources, including paper-based activities with answer keys, lesson plans, guides, scope and sequence documents, and other reference materials available on the main log in page. Click on the "Resources" link to see what is available.

We have also developed some training materials at http://courses.hzsd.ca. Log in a Guest to see the material.

Destinations can be accessed from this link: [|http://destinations.hzsd.ca]


 * // Questions, concerns, and comments?? //**

**5. Discovery Streaming**
//**How to use Discovery Streaming.**// Discovery Streaming is a online video service developed by the same people who brought you the Discovery family of channels on television. Discovery Education videos can be viewed online or downloaded and often have viewing guides, lesson plans, and blackline masters that can be used in class by the teacher.

I recommend downloading the program at the highest possible quality prior to class so that you don't have to worry about any internet disruptions forcing a sudden change of plans. If you have an account in the list but can't remember your password, then do this. If your name is not on the list, then you will need to get your school's passcode from Joe, Jim or Russell and then do this.

Here are some resources to help you get started: //You must first login to Discovery Education in another window before any of the above will work.//
 * 17 Short Instructional Videos
 * Quick Start Guide
 * Getting Started page

6. Rover

 * What is Rover?** Recommended Online Video Education Resources

The secure, on-demand ROVER system benefits educators and schools as it improves: · access to Ministry evaluated and recommended video resources that support provincial K-12 curriculum; · service by eliminating video order submissions, duplication costs, and wait times; · functionality to locate all recommended video resources for specific subjects and grades as well as capability to search for video resources based on title, content, or concept; and, · ability to preview videos prior to use in the classroom.



If you want to view videos here you now can just go on over to rover.edonline.sk.ca and you can then select the video(s) you want to watch. This site works on both wired and wireless internet, but please know that streaming videos over wireless internet may cause the videos to load a bit slower. **It is only accessible at school.**