Page 16 - 2022 Feb Report

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February Report 2022
Martin Family Initiative report (4)
First Goal for Year 1: Conceptualization
This initial stage focused on collaborating with Small Economy Works (SEW) to co-create a digital learning strategy and collect the information required to develop e-learning assets for the EY-1 pilot. SEW was selected given their focus on local contexts to develop digital education and training solutions that are most effective in rural, remote and northern communities.
In September 2020, MFI Early Years began working closely with Small Economy Works (SEW) to develop a digitization strategy for the EY-1 course. Two core values were identified to inform this strategy: the centring of Indigenous culture through course content and delivery; and the valuing of the experiential knowledge of all learners, with the target learner profile for course participants being Indigenous early learning professionals. The details of this strategy were outlined in SEW’s Analysis & Digitization Strategy report, which was finalized with the Early Years team in December 2020.
Following the establishment of the digitization strategy, the Early Years Curriculum and Training team collaborated with SEW to design and develop the e-learning assets for the EY-1 pilot. The EY-1 pilot consisted of four course modules with a number of sessions in each module. Working from the EY-1 Instructor’s and Learner’s manuals, SEW developed storyboard drafts for each course section, designed e-learning activities
to support session topics, and implemented the content and activities into an online learning platform hosted by the learning management system (LMS) Brightspace.4
4 Brightspace is a learning management system (LMS) used for creating and hosting learning resources. It was selected for its features and tools that support the creation and delivery of custom content and courses for educational institutions. As an LMS often used by post- secondary institutions, it is well-recognized in the e-learning field.
Second Goal for Year 1: The Pilot
In the second stage, the learning platform for the implementation of the training program was set up and piloted in the Cree communities of Maskwacis, where it was delivered by trained Early Years course facilitators.
Working with the Early Years Curriculum and Training
team, SEW adapted the online EY-1 pilot for the four Cree Nations of Maskwacis, Alberta, in collaboration with Maskwacis Health Services, the community health centre that serves the communities. Existing content from the EY-1 course previously delivered in person in Maskwacis was digitized to create an interactive online course that integrated videos, Cree language audio files, discussion boards, knowledge check activities, journal writing, artwork creation and Early Years Toolbox card spotlights. The Early Years Curriculum and Training team worked closely with SEW to ensure that content presentation, tone and style would be accessible to the communities and consistent with Early Years branding.
The pilot version of the online Maskwacis Health Services
EY-1 course was approved for the first cohort of three learners beginning in March 2021. Rebecca LaRiviere, the Early Learning and Child Care Lead for the MFI Early Years team, supported the learners remotely throughout the training. Charlene Rattlesnake, the Maskwacis Early Years Family & Cultural Support Coordinator, co-facilitated the course. Upon course completion, the Early Years team coordinated the evaluation of the pilot course through learner and facilitator reviews via surveys and facilitated feedback sessions. The online EY-1 pilot evaluation process was documented in a report written by SEW in May 2021.
THE EARLY YEARS | 2