Curriculum and Program Update

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS CONFERENCE

2010 10 30

Inspiring Action on Education

• Inspiring Action on Education, a discussion paper that advances– a twenty-year vision of an educated Albertan– a framework to discuss the vision, principles and key policy directions

• Inclusive Education, Coordinated Approach to Early Learning, Personalized Learning with Flexible Timing and Pacing Through a Range of Learning Environments, Student-Centred Education, Responsibility for High Standards and Performance, Research, School Boards, Curriculum—Programs of Study, Balanced Assessment, Teaching and Learning Resources, Technology for Learning and Innovation, Parental and Community Engagement

• Supported by new legislation and regulations (School Act Review)  

ATA Courage to Choose

• p 32 Informed Transformation: Cocreating a New Narrative for Learning in Alberta Schools

• p 36 Navigating the Paradoxes of Informed Transformation

• p 41 Learning Our Way to the Next Alberta—Can We Do It?

• p 42 A Framework for Informed Transformation

Informed “Curriculum” Transformation• Primacy of teachers in designing curriculum based on

provincial frameworks• Recognition of different learning styles and approaches

so that all students can learn effectively• Multiple-track choices for high school students • Processes for curriculum development based on four

principles– less is more in terms of curriculum objectives– Problem based work rather than content-dominant design– scope for each school to have significant local components and

locally designed curriculum, and– professional teacher-based assessment for all levels

Teachers and the Teaching Profession

• Enhancing the professional responsibility of teachers

• Sustained assistance for the Association’s efforts to provide professional development and supports for teachers and school administrators

• Profession’s ability to set and maintain professional standards

• Sustain and support networks of innovative communities of practice through the Association’s specialist councils

Setting the Direction for Special Education

• The Setting the Direction Framework and recommendations are moving forward– www.settingthedirection.alberta.ca

• Setting the Direction Framework Government of Alberta Response, June 2010 and Summary of Key Actions (Kits)– The Inclusive Education Online Planning Tool– A publication on Learning Coaches– Early Learning Pilots – Develop a regional service delivery model– develop a new funding model

• Association and Special Education Council completing Background Paper on Learning Coaches

• For more about what an inclusive education system means go to http://education.alberta.ca/media/1296822/inclusiveeducationfacts.pdf

2010/2011 Programs of Study – Links and Schedules

Overall information on Education Website at http://education.alberta.ca/• 26 Programs of Study • Implementation schedule and quick reference chart for 2010–20101

– www.education.alberta.ca/media/449087/impshed.pdf and www.education.alberta.ca/media/449109/impshed_ref.pdf. 

• Parent handbooks and summaries– www.education.alberta.ca/parents/resources/handbook.aspx

www.education.alberta.ca/francais/parents/resources/handbook.aspx• Learn Alberta

– http://www.learnalberta.ca/Home.aspx

To be connected toll-free inside Alberta dial 310–0000

LearnAlberta Update

LearnAlberta.ca Passwords

• Reminder: There will be no change in the LearnAlberta.ca usernames and passwords for jurisdictions for the 2010/2011 school year at this time. Teachers are encouraged to sign up for a personal account so they can access all materials on the site. Users who do not know their user names and passwords may contact LearnAlberta.Feedback@gov.ab.ca 

Career and Technology Studies • Completed major review and revisions with emphasis on

pathways for 28 occupational areas• Organized around five clusters

– HRH: Health, Recreation & Human Services– MDC: Media, Design & Communication Arts– NAT: Natural Resources– BIT: Business, Administration, Finance & Information Technology– TMT: Trades, Manufacturing & Transportation

• Implementation– English – September 2010– French – September 2011

Career and Technology Studies • Information to support implementation of the pathways

model is available on the CTS Learning and Teaching Resources page on the Education website– www.education.alberta.ca/teachers/program/cts/resources.aspx

• Learning and teaching resources CTS program are listed in the Authorized Resources Database– www.education.alberta.ca/apps/lrdb/

• Implementation support from Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia– www.carcpd.ab.ca/CTS_PD/index.html

CTS Learning and Teaching Resources• Red Deer College Library (403-342-3344)

– All resources authorized for the Health, Recreation & Human Services (HRH); Media, Design & Communication Arts (MDC); and Natural Resources (NAT)

• Juno Beach Academy/Lord Shaughnessy High School, Room 111, Calgary, (403-777-8750, Ext. 2232) – All resources authorized for the Business,

Administration, Finance & Information Technology (BIT) cluster and the Trades, Manufacturing & Transportation (TMT)

English as a Second LanguageEnglish Language Learners

• A revised version of the ESL Proficiency Benchmarks scheduled to be available on the Education website– www.education.alberta.ca/teachers/program/esl/resources.aspx – www.learnalberta.ca

Literacy First: A Plan for Action• Alberta Education literacy webpage (English and French)

– http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/program/literacy.aspx

• Alberta Education’s commitment to work with its many partners and stakeholders to improve the literacy skills of Alberta’s K–12 students– http://education.alberta.ca/media/4970645/literacyfirst.pdf

• Government’s coordinated strategies and actions that will support the vision, values and goals in Living Literacy: A Literacy Framework for Alberta’s Next Generation Economy (September 2009)– www.aet.alberta.ca/community/publications/framework.aspx

Professional Learning Literacy Pilot

• Professional learning opportunities to further develop teacher understanding of what literacy is and of how to enhance literacy practices within their subject disciplines

• ARPDC is working with Pearson Education Canada on a pilot to increase teachers’ understanding of literacy development and the use of effective instructional practices

• Pilot involves six school authorities across the province– Lakeland Catholic, Aspen View, Livingstone Range, Golden Hills,

Calgary Catholic and Red Deer Catholic Regional.

Mathematics Update • September 2010 - Provincial Implementation of grade 3, 6 and 9 (E&F) • September 2010 - Provincial implementation of 10-C and 10-3 (E&F)• Current information about programs of study, assessment standards, an

easy-to-use authorized resource list, information fact sheets , etc. at www.education.alberta.ca/math

• Information regarding mathematics resources posted on www.learnalberta.ca

• Post-secondary institutions entrance requirements available at www.alis.alberta.ca/ec/ep/aas/ta/mathreq.html

• Implementation support via the Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia with the next two High School Mathematics Institutes tentatively scheduled for January 26, 2011 and June 24, 2011

Mathematics Course Structure

Social Studies Update• Revised K–12 Social Studies Program of Studies in

place as of September 2010. • Access to digital learning and teaching resources

correlated to specific outcomes within the programs of study at www.learnalberta.ca

• High school social studies K&E instructional support resource (for 10-4 and 20-4) under development

• Implementation of the social studies program will continue to be supported through professional development opportunities offered by the Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia

Education Tech News and Links

• Subscribe to Tech News Monthly Newsletterhttp://education.alberta.ca/admin/technology/research/technews.aspx

• Useful Technology Links• Alberta Education - Technology section• Emerge One-to-One Laptop Learning • Technology and High School Success• Supporting Innovative Classrooms• LearnAlberta.ca

Connection• Three editions of Connection: Information for Teachers

will be made available in the 2010–2011 school year– http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/resources/connection.aspx

• October, January and May editions include– include the latest details regarding curriculum, authorized

resources, assessment, technology, special education, career initiatives, and Aboriginal education as well as professional development opportunities

• Subscribe to receive notification of new editions by clicking on "Subscribe to the Connection newsletter" at the Web address given above.

Education Partner Links

• Alberta Education http://education.alberta.ca/

• Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortium (ARPDC) http://www.arpdc.ab.ca/

• Alberta Teachers Association (ATA) http://www.teachers.ab.ca/Pages/home.aspx

• Alberta Assessment Consortium (AAC) http://www.aac.ab.ca

• 2Learn Education Society http://www.2learn.ca/

Off-Campus Education Handbook

• The off-campus education handbook (2010) is optional for the 2010/2011 school year

• Mandatory for September 1, 2011 (English and French)– http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/program/off-campus.aspx

Alberta Education Committees• Inspiring Action: “students and educators have access to a

comprehensive technology platform for learning when and where they need it”

• Alberta Education has struck five working groups to develop its “Technology Platform for Learning”. ATA on three:

• Student Owned Devices—the technical and pedagogical issues related to students bringing their own computing devices to schools.

• Technology Strategy—overall technology strategy and policy issues.

• Synchronous and Asynchronous Collaboration—investigating collaboration tools for learning.

Children and Youth in Care• September 10, 2010, the Deputy Ministers of Education and

Children and Youth Services signed the Success in School for Children and Youth in Care, Provincial Protocol Framework (PPF)

• Shared responsibility to increase educational success for children and youth in care through– Timely information sharing– Involving students in decisions that affect them– Ensuring students feel welcomed, valued, accepted, supported and respected

in school – Development of a Success in School Plan that meets their individual needs – Collaborative team approach is employed as evidenced by strong

communication, relevant and appropriate information sharing, and collaborative planning

– http://education.alberta.ca/admin/crossministry/ppf.aspx

Provincial ConsortiaNRLC - Karen Egge - karen.egge@gppsd.ab.ca780-882-7988 or 1 (800) 864-4140www.nrlc.net

CRC - Jean Hoeft - jhoeft@crcpd.ab.ca403-291-0967www.crcpd.ab.ca

LN - Rene LaFrance rene.lafrance@learning-network.org780-623-2248www.learning-network.org

CARC - Donna McRae - dmcrae@carcpd.ab.ca403-348-8194www.carcpd.ab.ca

CPFPP - Madeleine Lemire - mlemire@cpfpp.ab.ca403-692-2023 www.cpfpp.ab.ca

SAPDC - Jody Rutherford - jody.rutherford@sapdc.ca403-381-5575http://people.uleth.ca/~sapdc/

ERLC - Val Olekshy - val.olekshy@erlc.ca 780-444-2497 ext 227www.erlc.ca

 

To Access or Downloadthe Presentation

• http://www.teachers.ab.ca/News%20Room/WebExtras/Pages/WebExtras.aspx