802+topics+-+2012

In this space, give your project a title and give us a brief description of what it will be. Here are the topics from last year's class if you want some ideas.

Glenn Nowosad:**Just in Time Technology and Instructional Support** This chapter will discuss TCO, timely deployment, inventory, support and maintenance of the equipment used by teachers and students in order to support 21st century skill acquisition in a K-12 environment. It is extremely important to develop the infrastructure, application and operating system environment settings in collaboration with the instructional staff so the technology can be customized to best meet the needs of the students and staff. To that end ICT support teachers can focus on working with teachers within the classroom environment in order to develop, model and evaluate various instructional strategies that incorporate technology. [|Noteshare Research Site] [|Concept Mapping] [|Department Wiki - Blog] [|Wordpress Research Site] [|Joomla Instance]

Brent Larwood: **Apple in a vegtable world.** I guess this will be my first blog. My project is going to be based on trying to get my school and division to move towards incorporating apple products into the classrooms. We currently have an ipad trials in place, but no concrete template or goals to know where it is going for the whole division. And of course we are very PC based and run into server/language problems which put a damper on developing further. Ever since taking part in the Apple Learning Tour this spring, I have been hooked on where Apple wants to take education.

JR Dingwall: ICT in Education This could be a chapter in the book or a stand alone piece that I plan to integrate into a larger project. At this time it will be important to define ICT Literacy, and even what is meant by ICT. I think an important piece of this project is to examine the integration of ICT tools into the classroom over a significant period of time. With this in place trends in accepting or rejecting these tools will hopefully be evident.

Dion Furber: **A New Era** My blog will be about the use of technology in my grade 6 English Language Arts (ELA) classroom. I will post about the experiences, successes, and failures with trying to implement technology into the ELA curriculum. Most of the technology that is in school is foreign to me so trying to make use of has proved to be a challenge. Follow my blog at [|http://dfurber.blogspot**.**ca/]

Crystal Chief: Since the period of colonization in North America, the Indigenous peoples were often subject to investigate reports and research conducted on behalf of colonial authorities and later the government, as well as, academia who followed empirical standards of the scientific model. However, with increasing number of Aboriginals acquiring post-secondary education, skepticism has emerged as to the Eurocentric bias of data collected on Canada's Indigenous and Metis peoples. The stark contrast between cultures helped sharpen this skeptical inquiry where a revival of a distinctive Aboriginal epistemology and pedagogy emerged as a credible alternative to the presumed objectivism of mainstream academia. For instance, traditional epistemology is based on a holistic approach where the individual is viewed as interconnected within a web of interactions that include integrated mind, body, spirit in relation to others, community, environment, and the universe. Given this cultural context, elders, healers, spiritual traditions, rituals, oral story-telling, and interaction with environment are key to acquiring and transmitting knowledge. Since this type of knowledge emphasizes meaningful interpretations from the 'standpoint' of the 'knower', the epistemology draws upon qualitative dimensions not easily codified or measured according to strict scientific standards. Furthermore, there is social interest in using such knowledge to the benefit and well being of the Indigenous and Aboriginal peoples as well as the larger community. Research that is founded on these epistemological principles therefore can serve to collect qualitative data, offer interpretive meaning, and raise awareness as to Indigenous issues. With this background in mind, the question arises as to whether or not computer programs (used to compile, code, quantify data) would compromise holistic epistemology. The subject shall be explored through an essay that gives context to holistic approach and then examines the potential compatibility of this alternative methodology with existing technological tools used for research (audio/video recordings computer programs, etc). For instance, is it possible to maintain the integrity of "oral story telling" if this is transferred and stored in print on the computer where it will be further interpreted and categorized. Will this compromise the cultural meaning and the ethics of the Aboriginal community? or are these strategies and ways by which to counter these possible threats, as community-based research, one holistic methodology, would imply? Moreover, could various technological devices actually contribute to and enrich the holistic approach to research and learning? (eg. use of internet to connect with other Indigenous peoples and also to share knowledge and raise awareness with the larger global community).
 * An Examination of Holistic Learning and Technology**

Jennie Green: **Why Can't We Be Friends?** My blog will focus on social relationships found in school settings and how to incorporate social networking in schools. I will examine the challenges and positive aspects of social networking. It will also give me a chance to explore some of my successes and challenges with technology since this is a totally new forum for me too! Follow my blog at [|http://jennieggab.blogspot.ca/]

Mark Behrend: **Mature Learners and New Technology: Overcoming the Fear Factor** My blog will look at mature learners, people who are going back to school after, for many, what feels like a lifetime. Dealing with all the new technologies surrounding on-line learning can be daunting. Things don't come as quickly or as intuitively to older people as to younger ones. I will be posting my own experience through videos, audio clips and stills and by doing so hope to encourage others to post their experiences as well. I'm not sure where this is going but I hope it will be informative, inciteful and helpful. http://goldenyearlearners.wordpress.com

Faron Hrynewich: Trends and Issues in Distance Education I intend to do a blog. Having taught a distance education calculus course for 9 years, I learned a huge amount through trial and error and loved every minute of it. I am curious to learn about what new developments are occurring in distance education, about new modes of delivery including blended, flipped, synchronous and asynchronous models, and how (or if) social media is keeping parents involved with their students learning from a distance. My blog is titled FaronAtETAD (I plan to use it again later in my program hence the generic title!) My blog is located at www.FaronAtETAD.blogspot.ca

Colette Delainey: My blog is titled: "from expression to impression" I plan to explore the issues that surround teachers and their on-line identity. My blog is located at [] Please join in the discussion if you have time.

Ryan Banow: Blended Learning - Flipped Teaching I intend to do my writing in a blog format. I have been blogging for years, but have never done much formal posting. I look forward to starting a a blog of my thinking and explorations and hope to carry it on after the class ends. My blog is at http://ryanbanow.blogspot.ca. The topic I am choosing to explore is Blended Learning with a focus on Flipped Teaching. Blended Learning seems to be a very broad term, so I am hoping to get a more focussed definition of it through my readings. I have also been using Flipped Teaching in my math classes this semester, but I am just using it in a very basic way. I want to explore more ways that Flipped Teaching is being implemented, especially how it is being used in areas other than Math and Science. Also how it may be used in elementary or post-secondary settings. If I have the time, I would also like to look at iPads in the classroom and using tablets as textbooks. I am not really sure where these six weeks will take me!

Julian Screawn - ScratchProgramming.org A few years ago I discovered **educational programming language** called **Scratch**. It allows students to learn computer programming concepts by **creating personal visual media rich projects**. Students **ages 8 and up** can **create** **animations, games, simulations, stories, music and more**. Scratch fits nicely into a **constructivist learning environment**(learn by design). I fell in love with the program and have been teaching it for a few years now. I decided to register the domain [] and to **develop a site for educators and learners**. Scratch has been one of my motivations for taking on this Masters program. I hope to develop the site for my Masters project. I thought it would be a good opportunity to get started on the site by adding a blog to the site. []

Amanda Unruh: Sexual Health Education and Technology I have been working as a sexual health educator in both high schools and universities for the past 4 years and the use of the internet as a source of information on this topic has exploded in that time. As a result, one of the first things someone will do when they have a sexual health question is to look it up on the internet. From sexualityandu.ca and public health websites to various tumblrs and youtube channels run by youth health educators, the internet is filled with sexual health information. For my project I am starting a blog, [|sexedandtech.tumblr.com], and each post will cover a medium that seeks to educate about sexuality and how it does so.

Jennifer Brokofsky: Learning Out Loud I have come to believe that teaching is no longer about presenting students with information in bite sized pieces to be consumed. That era ended when Google was born. Today students have access to an outstanding amount of information whenever they need it. Google, and YouTube are becoming common place in their lives. Information is everywhere, and often easier to access outside of the four walls of the classroom. So what can we, as teachers offer our students if it is not information? LEARNING. Teachers are learners. We are in the profession of learning about learning and our insights and understandings can support students as they navigate through an ever-growing mountain of information. I believe our job is more about teaching students how to learn, then what to learn. So through my blog I plan to learn out loud. My hopes are to share my insights, thinking and mistakes. I also plan on highlighting how technology can support learning out loud, and feature others who have taken learning out loud to new heights. Let the learning begin. []

Jana Scott Lindsay: Driving Me To Think When I came across this quote I felt like I had finally stumbled upon a starting place to really dig deeply into my role as a educator. Not to mention, it is also fast becoming the lens through which we can envision authentically creating the right conditions for learners to thrive and grow. I plan on investigating some key questions as a means of guiding, challenging, and making sense of my thinking on the journey:

What does it mean to be a lead learner? What type of shift do we need to see in our current education system to make this happen? How do we create a culture of engagement & life long learning? What barriers do we face as we implement a new way of thinking and doing? Why is it essential we reimagine how, when, where, and who we learn with? What does it mean to be a digital citizen? What is 21st Century Learning?

//I look forward to the opportunity to connect, collaborate, & share as a community - Here's to the beginning of an exciting adventure!//

[|Driving Me to Think]

__**Aaron Hansen: Higher Ground**__

I am also planning on writing and maintaining a blog about my learning for this course (and beyond).


 * My topic: technology and gifted education**. Given that I teach in a congregated setting for "academically talented" students, this is a logical step for me to take. Furthermore, gifted education is often overlooked in education, and I feel that this is an area that should no longer be passed over; hence, using technology to assist students in reaching higher ground. You can visit my blog here.

This is actually my first attempt at blogging, and I am very excited to expore this realm of communication. I have always been intrigued by the philosophy of mathematics and epistemology and since I started my career in education, I have seen the relevance of the foundations of mathematics in teaching practice. For my blog I would like to explore the connection between the foundations of mathematics education and educational technology. What are the foundations to various approaches and methods to teaching mathematics? Are they sound and reliable? Are we meeting curricular goals through our instruction and are those goals valid in the context of our society? What are students getting out of it in the end? Can we use educational technology to alleviate societal oppression? Certainly I will include research articles, videos and links on my blog but I also will include well-informed (hopefully) personal thoughts and opinions on the topic. Please check it out and respond if you get a chance! []
 * __Paul Lehmkuhl - Math and Educational Technology__**

__**Sheldon Guenther**__ My plan is to examine what current research is saying about best instructional practices and look at the impact technology has had, does have and can have on them. Themes will include such things as feedback, meta-cognition, motivation, and the flipped classroom to name a few. I see this assignment as a chance to research and explore the true nature of effective teaching today. Sounds a bit ambitious, perhaps, but I want this blog to be a starting point for discussion over the next few years, not just weeks. I am looking forward to your feedback. []
 * Topic: Examining the importance of technology and design in effective instructional practices**

__**Genna Wagner-Rodriguez**__ My blog is entitled "**CreATing Opportunities**". It is an exploration of assistive technology from how we can create awareness of the necessity of assistive technology, how we can properly train both students and teachers to get the most out of what the technologies have to offer, how to fund and acquire these technologies for children and young adults, and how to evaluate the effectiveness of these technologies. I also hope to do some feature posts of certain technologies I find interesting and/or useful. You can find my blog at: [] Please feel free to notify me of anything you wish to see me include on this blog. I am happy to keep exploring this topic.

My blog is entitled [|Digital Citizenship at the Elementary Level]. I would like to dive deeper into the resources available to teachers and make connections to their application to students in elementary school, particularly in grades two to five. I intend to explore concepts relating to curricula, various resources, lesson plans and guiding experiences, student needs/maturity of learners, using personal mobile devices, issues concerning citizenship, the role of parents and the larger community. I would also like to survey or have a discussion with my colleagues surrounding what they consider as the norms of technology use in our school and in their own experience, especially at the elementary level. My goal with this particular topic is to become a better teacher when it comes to teaching digital citizenship to my students as well as to get my colleagues talking about the subject and give them a resource with some information to help them get started as we teach our 21st century learners.
 * __Janelle Helfrick Martin__**

This term, I have chosen to blog about **Technology and the Elementary teacher.** Elementary teachers are the ultimate "jack of all tradespeople" and are tasked with learning and teaching many different subject matters. They also have to deliver the curriculum to the same audience every day all day, and need to use the most engaging methods possible. I believe the use of technology in the elementary classroom is different than in the older grades and is somewhat unique for many reasons, including the clientele(the students) and the type of teacher who is geared to teaching elementary school. My goal in this is to better understand what technology is being used and how they are employed, what facilitates the use of technology, and how it affects teaching and learning. I have grappled with the question of how to truly influence my collegues' practices, and how different technologies can make it in the classroom, and I hope the exploration through my blog will help to illuminate this question. Check out my blog. I would love your feedback! []
 * Theresa Spencer**

Tricia Shynkaruk: **Exploring the Provincial Recommendations for Technology Supported Learning**

As I am nearing the end of my etad journey I have decided to focus on what's happening as part of our provincial initiative in educational technology. In February, Alan November presented his findings for the Saskatchewan Educational Technology Association and the Sask. Ministry of Education with an "Overview and Recommendations for Transformation of Education and Technology Supported Learning". Two of the major recommendations for Sask. focussed on building capacity and digital fluency. Although there are many avenues I could pursue in relation to this document, I plan on blogging with the provincial strategies in mind surrounding digital fluency and illustrating examples of these recommendations from a local to a global stage.

@http://trishshynkaruk802.wordpress.com/

Kelly Wandler: Digital Citizenship I have chosen the topic of **Digital Citizenship** to create a a chapter in an epub. As an administrator, I often have visits from students who have been less than perfect when it comes to being a digital citizen. It takes a few minutes to educate them on the proper use of be it a computer or their smartphone. I feel this is a very huge issue with "tweens" and even older students. The internet is relatively new and smartphones are relatively new. I feel that one of my jobs is to educate students on how to use the internet; etiquette or "netiquette" as it is commonly known. I am really excited at the journey that I have chosen. I plan on using this assignment in my Connected Classroom at the start of the year. My students have access to 10 laptops and so we use the internet quite frequently. I have a few basic things that I go over and there are plenty of "teachable moments" over the course of the year. While those teachable moments are great opportunities, this epub will maybe lessen those times.