Page 117 - Lakeland Catholic Technology Plan

Research and Innovation Studies ("Best Practices")
The department has commissioned several Technology Implementation Studies: Best Practices for Alberta School Jurisdictions over the past few years. They include:
• Computer Network Security
• FOIPP and Technology
• Implementing and Managing Web Site Development in Education
• Managing Technology Funding
• Network Design
• On-line Learning
• Preparing to Implement Learner Outcomes in Technology
• Professional Development for Teaching Technology Across the Curriculum
• Technical Support Planning
• Technology Implementation Review: Grande Yellowhead Regional Division No. 35
(GRYD) and Wolf Creek Regional Division No. 32 (WCRD)
The documents have been distributed to all school jurisdictions and also are available on Alberta Learning's web site. Additional priorities for study have been identified by the School Technology Advisory Council and projects are in the development process, including ICT Sample Scope and Sequence Frameworks, Wireless Wide Area Networks, and Total Cost of Ownership for Technol- ogy.
Key Contact: Bonnie Brooks: phone (780) 415–1148; e-mail bbrooks@edc.gov.ab.ca 3. Curriculum and Assessment
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Program of Studies
In response to the recommendations in the Framework for Technology Integration in Education, the department established the Technology Outcomes Project to develop a set of technology out- comes
for students at the end of grades 3, 6, 9, and 12. A Framework of Learner Outcomes in Information and Communication Technology was distributed to all Alberta schools and school systems in No- vember 1997. An Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Kindergarten to Grade 12, interim program
of studies was approved in June 1998 and optional implementation began in September 1998. Final release of the program of studies is planned for June 2000, with provincial implementation commencing
in September 2000 and fully implemented by June 2003.
Key Contact: Doug Knight: phone (780) 422–9342; e-mail dknight@edc.gov.ab.ca
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Support Resources
To support teachers in their implementation of the ICT program, resource documents—Illustrative Examples to Accompany the Information and Communication Technology Interim Program of Studies, Grades 1–6, Grades 7–9, and Grades 10–12—were developed and distributed to Alberta schools. A two-phase Call for ICT Resources was sent to publishers in the spring of 1999. Phase 1 of the two-phase resource review has been completed and Phase 2 will be completed by May 2000. The Call process will help the department to identify and authorize published materials that support the ICT program of studies. A parent brochure, Learning Technology in Alberta's Schools: Information for Parents, provides an overview of the new ICT program.
Key Contact: Doug Knight: phone (780) 422–9342; e-mail dknight@edc.gov.ab.ca
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Assessment
A classroom assessment program to develop assessment tasks for the ICT program is underway. Assessment tasks for Divisions I, II, III and IV will be finalized before the 2000-2001 school year. Key Contact: Doug Knight: phone (780) 422–9342; e-mail dknight@edc.gov.ab.ca
4. Professional Development
TELUS Learning Connection (TLC)
The TELUS Learning Connection: An Educational Internet Alliance is now in its third year of opera- tion. It was established in May 1997, as a partnership including Alberta Learning, the Alberta Teachers' Association, the Alberta School Boards Association, the College of Alberta School Super- intendents and the TELUS Bright Futures Foundation. The mandate of the TELUS Learning Con- nection (TLC) is to provide Internet inservice and resources for Alberta’s teachers through a "cas- cade" model in which 250+
identified TLC teacher-leaders are provided with significant release time to work with colleagues. The goal of the project is for every school in Alberta to have at least one teacher as a resource who models the effective use of the Internet for both students and teachers. TLC provides:
• Teacher inservice: In the past three years, the TLC provincial core team has completed four provincial inservice sessions (over 10 days) for the TLC teacher-leaders. Through these inservices, jurisdictional teacher-leaders learn new processes and develop their own skills and strategies for cascading inservice opportunities to colleagues in their districts.
• Resources: The 2Learn web site at http://www.2Learn.ca. The web site
features five strands: Curricular Resources, Telecollaborative Project Centre, Research Skills and Strategies, Teacher Tools, and Professional Growth and Mentorship. The 2Learn web site enables the TLC team to deliver "just-in-time" professional development, curricular resources, online processes and workshops, all of which serve the needs of teachers and students.
• Support and Mentorship for Teachers: The TLC Team offers support to all teachers, at the provincial and jurisdictional levels, in their use of online resources and processes within a curricular context. In addition, TLC facilitates the
development, implementation and funding of exemplary telecollaborative learning projects through the Project Centre@2Learn.ca. Coordinated through TLC, Industry Canada's Grassroots Program committed $350,000 during the 1998/1999 school year for 400 project lead teachers in Alberta who developed Internet-based, interactive classroom projects. The GrassRoots Program has committed an additional $523,500 for the 1999/2000 school year for Alberta teacher projects.
Key Contacts: John Hogarth (TLC Board Chair): phone (780) 427–9042; e-mail jhogarth@edc.gov.ab.ca or Catherine Kullman (TLC Team Leader): phone (780) 493–4816 or e-mail catherine@2Learn.ca
116