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Agenda

 * 1) Horizon School Division Learning Technology Goals
 * 2) UberAuthor
 * 3) HZSD Learning Center
 * 4) Destinations (Riverdeep)
 * 5) Discovery Education/Atomic Learning
 * 6) FirstClass
 * 7) Maplewood
 * 8) School Server and File System
 * 9) Insight
 * 10) GGEC Website Development
 * 11) MS Publisher (Yearbook)

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:

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 * 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.


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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.

[|Here's an example] of an UberAuthor book from a student at Holdfast.


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**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.




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**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]


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**5. Discovery Streaming/Atomic Learning**
//**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.

First, check if you already have an account here. 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

//**H****ow to use Atomic Learning**// Atomic Learning is a video service that provides video on a wide variety of computer programs and websites. Their videos are set up as narrated tutorials that can enhance you ability to teach and use the computer systems.

If there is a computer program or a web service that you've been wanting to learn how to use, look it up on Atomic Learning. You can also use them to explain or demonstrate computer programs to your students so you can get on with teaching the content.

If you are interested in using Atomic Learning to learn how to use today's cutting edge software programs or would like to teach your students how to use the applications available to them on the school computers, check out the Getting Started Guide. If you'd like more information on how to use the Atomic Learning web site, see the Atomic Learning web site training videos.

The division has purchased a division wide subscription to Atomic Learning and Discovery Streaming, but the continuation of this is dependent upon usage. If you like what you see on these sites, **please USE THEM** so that they can continue to be available to the staff and students in the division.

If you do not remember your log in details for either service, or if you have never set one up, please contact myself, Jim Swan, or Russell Munkler and we'll help you get back in.

Discovery Education Video: @http://www.discoveryeducation.com/

Atomic Learning: @http://www.atomiclearning.com/


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**6. FirstClass**
FirstClass is our division's email and communication system. In addition to email, FirstClass allows users to communicate through conferences that can be viewed and added to by anyone who has the proper permissions and access rights.

One staff member in each school should be assigned the task of administering the school's FirstClass accounts. This individual is responsible for adding new students that arrive throughout the year, removing students that have left the school, and assisting students who have forgotten their passwords.

It is expected that all staff members check their FirstClass email at **minimum once a week**.

FirstClass can be accessed through the division website or through the client application. The client application can be installed on any staff member's home computer free of charge. Click here to download the FirstClass client for Windows XP, Vista, or 7, or check their download page for other operating systems. Check the [|Horizon School Division FirstClass User Guide] for configuration information.

//**Admin Forms and Procedures**//

One of the most common uses for FirstClass is to find digital copies of the division forms and procedures. To access these documents through FirstClass, follow these steps:

1. Once you've logged in selected the "**Division Conference**," select "**Admin Procedures**" from the sidebar.

2. In Admin Procedures, select "**Section 5 - Human Resources**."

3. Your forms are all in this folder in PDF format. The most common forms you may need are under the expense claims, mileage chart, and leave requests. You may not want to save the files as they change frequently.

FirstClass can also be used to create personal and school web pages. More on that later.

//**Adding an Attachment:**//

To submit your forms, you need to send them in an email to your principal or to the superintendent for approval. After you've filled out the form, you must save it. Saving it also provides you with a copy for verification later on. The saved file must then be attached to an email.

To attach a file to an e-mail please do the following: You can also drag and drop file files from their folder in your explorer window into the grey section above the message body.
 * 1) Create a new e-mail or open an existing one.
 * 2) Click the ‘Attach’ button or go to ‘File' ==> 'Attach…’
 * 3) Select the file(s) you want attached and click ‘Open’

More information about FirstClass can be obtained from the following link: [|Horizon School Division FirstClass User Guide]


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7. Maplewood
Maplewood has been the source of many questions over the course of this past year. Maplewood is the learning/student management software that the division has purchased to handle student records for the entire division. There have been a number of difficulties in getting Maplewood set up for the entire division.

The Student Information System can be accessed at [|sis.hzsd.ca/]. Select the "Staff" button under your school's name. Log in using your username and password.

Here is a handout for entering grades into the achievement section: [|Achievements Overview]. More support documentation can be obtained at []

The division has hired **Linda Kindrachuk** as a help desk operator for Maplewood related problems. She is based out of Wakaw.

At this time, I can answer some of your Maplewood questions, but it may be prudent to do a more in depth session on Maplewood at the start of the school year to make sure your staff is all on the same page.


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8. School Server File System
Your computer systems account allows you access to a number of different locations on the system hard drive.
 * 1) **'firstname.lastname' on GGEC-Master** - This is your home folder. You can save files to this location. It is also connected to the 'My Documents' icon on the desktop and in various other places.
 * 2) **'common' on GGEC-Master** - This is a location that both students and teachers can access. I don't believe that it is writable by the students, but they can open and access the files that are stored there. At PCHS, I've set up a folder for each teacher as well as a separate one for the yearbook. You can ask Chris to alter permissions on that folder for specific students if you need, but its perhaps better if the teachers administer the files. Using the teacher folder, you can place a file that all students can copy and edit in their own folder.
 * 3) **'teachers' on GGEC-Master** - this is like common, but only accessible by teachers. Files placed in here can be accessed, changed, or deleted by anyone in the staff user group.
 * 4) **'StudentDocs$' on GGEC-Master** - This file contains all the student folders, organized by first name. Staff can access, change, or delete any of these files as they see fit. Accessing these files is also handy when printing out student work on teacher-only printers and when trying to find a file. Kindergarten to Grade 3 do not have individual folders on the system since they use a common login.

It's important to know that the school computer systems are not private. I always tell students that I can view and delete their files if I have a reason to. However, I also tell them that my bosses can do the same to my files if they want. Therefore, the school computer systems are for school-related files.


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9. Insight.
The software loaded on the school machines is selected by the Technology committee and the technicians. One piece of software I get asked about all the time is Insight, which is our student network management software. Insight can be a huge help when you are teaching and may have a number of features you have not heard of before.

Insight Student is installed on all the student computers. This cannot be shut down by the student. The software allows their computer to be monitored and controlled, but also allows them to raise a question with the teacher by clicking on the little owl icon. One thing that is also helpful is being able to project your own teacher computer's screen onto the student machines either full screen (so the students have no ability to use their computers) or windowed (so students can use their own computers while seeing the teacher's screen as a resizable window.

Click here for the Insight user guide.


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10. GGEC Website Development
A school website can be a valuable tool that can connect the school more closely to the community and bring students, staff, and parents together. Horizon websites are implemented using our FirstClass communication infrastructure. Typically, one or two teachers are given the task of setting up and maintaining the website and the responsibility for keeping it up to date is shared among the staff. While the learning technologists, myself included, can help you get going on your website and troubleshoot problems you may be having, **Ken Sogge** is responsible for administering the websites and training staff to develop their schools' websites.


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11. MS Publisher (Yearbook Group)
Microsoft Publisher is a program designed to create documents for publication, such as signs, posters, brochures, calendars, business cards, and so on. It can be used to create yearbook pages with a little bit of work. Questions, concerns, and comments??? //**