Leading for Today's Learners

Sharon Friesen led a session for administrators across the province. Some of the highlights includes data from a number of studies.

1) ATA Study on Listening to Students
2) NELS Study
3) Five Standards of Authentic Instruction
4) e-Mints
5) Peer Coaching in Infusion of Technology
6) Student Engagement at School - Willms

One engaging teacher using inquiry processes and authentic intellectual work will provide a foundation for a child throughout their schooling. There are many models of inquiry including the one that Galileo Educational Network uses. Foothills has developed a living version that will include exemplars and explanations as the fit with the infusion of technology within Foothills School Division. It's under construction.

Pieces that Principals see as important wil be posted on Galileo Education Networks's site.

New on the Horizon

Recently I had conversations with some parents about technology and their kids. One of the interesting things they focused on was text books. I'm not sure if you've had a chance to look at Amazon's new wireless reading device called Kindle, but it's a step in the right direction. Students could very well have multimedia access to their books in a wireless environment today.

What's that hold for the future as we prepare each of our schools to be fully wireless by the end of this school year? We have some questions to answer about security and rogue access and bandwidth – but we'll have answers. I am already testing my I-Pod Touch in our environment to determine feasibility of these types of devices connecting to our network. They're only $349.00 this year – by next year we'll see that price drop considerably and then what? Blue tooth keyboards and these devices will work adequately for the big three (Internet, e-mail and word-processing).

Go from there!

James