Mar 12, 2014 - Naomi Johnson, Chief Superintendent, Calgary Board of Education .... Social media savant and lawyer Ken C
College of Alberta School Superintendents and Alberta Education Learning Symposium 2014: Leading the Learning Transformation
March 12-14, 2014 The Coast Plaza Hotel 1316 - 33 Street NE, Calgary, AB
College of Alberta School Superintendents and Alberta Education
CASS/Alberta Education Learning Symposium 2014: Leading the Learning Transformation This is the fourth year that CASS has worked collaboratively with Education Program Standards and Assessment (EPSA) and Learning Supports & Information Management (LSIM) from Alberta Education to host the symposium. The theme for the 2014 Learning Symposium is 'The Educated Albertan of 2030: An Engaged Thinker and Ethical Citizen with an Entrepreneurial Spirit.' The four goals of the Alberta Education Business Plan (Excellent Start to Learning, Success for Every Student, Quality Teaching and School Leadership, & Engaged and Effective Governance) are the areas of focus of this year's Learning Symposium. Participants at the Symposium include CASS members, System Education Leaders responsible for curriculum and student services, school leaders and Alberta Education staff. Many principals and lead teachers have attended and presented in the past. The symposium is open to all school authorities including private and charter schools as well as First Nations school authorities.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 3:30 – 5:00 pm 6:00 pm 7:00 - 8:00 pm 8:00 – 9:30 pm
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12 Annual North/South Hockey Challenge, Village Square Leisure Centre – Arena 1 (2623 – 56 Street NE Calgary) Registration Foyer Welcome – Barry Litun, CASS Opening Address -- Greg Bass, Deputy Minister Reception – Sponsored by MindFuel
Main Plenary (Plaza 1-2) Main Plenary
THURSDAY, MARCH 13 7:15 am
Registration
Foyer
7:30 – 8:15 am
Full Breakfast
Main Plenary
8:15 – 8:30 am
Welcome / Announcements – Barry Litun, CASS
Main Plenary
8:30 – 9:30 am
Leading the Learning Transformation – Engaged Thinkers Moderator: Larry Jacobs, CASS President
Main Plenary
Panel Presentation:
Dr. Sharon Friesen, Vice Dean and the Associate Dean of Professional and Community Engagement (PACE) in the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary Dr. Sharon Friesen is the Vice Dean and the Associate Dean of Professional and Community Engagement (PACE) in the Werklund School of Education. She has been a researcher in the area of cultivating the intellect, the role of digital technologies and education for the past thirty years. Finding ways to define, create and study the emergence of what are now called communities of practice has been her life work. Sharon's experience as a teacher includes kindergarten, elementary, junior high and high school. From the outset she has systematically created, studied and published first from within her own classrooms (K – Graduate students) and more recently from within the work of the Galileo Educational Network which she co-founded and from where she, along with a team of consultants, support teachers in face-to-face and online environments as they break down the isolation of the self-contained classroom and learn the power of working in community. Dr. Friesen has most recently completed several funded studies (CCL and Alberta Education) that investigated intellectual engagement across of variety of learning contexts. Three of these studies were longitudinal, employing design-based research methodologies in which ideas from the learning sciences figured prominently. Building upon previous studies, these longitudinal studies examined knowing knowledge deeply, technology-rich participatory learning environments, complex pedagogies and engagement in learning. Her primary research interest consists of investigating the ways in which intellectual engagement emerges within contemporary learning environments.
Stephanie Nemcsok (Professional Learning Specialist, SPARK Telus Science Centre Stephanie Nemcsok is a museum educator with a passion for social responsibility rooted in a background of international development. Her practice has included work in science centres, galleries, encyclopedic museums, archives, university museums/galleries, and historic sites in several provinces and in South Africa. She has survived and thrived in the cultural sector transition from traditional programming philosophies to inquiry-based learning, collaborating with educators and curators to develop programs and materials pushing boundaries. Stephanie has worked for TELUS Spark, The New Science Centre since 2011 and is just stepping into the role of Professional Learning Specialist, Education. She holds a Master of Museum Studies from the University of Toronto’s iSchool, a CELTA from the British Council in Malaysia, an undergraduate degree in International Development Studies from Queen's University, and her learning journey continues.
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Dr. H. J. (Tom) Thompson, President Olds College Now in his 13th year as President at Olds College, Dr. Thompson has taken a leading role in post-secondary education for the past thirty years. Dr. Thompson is recognized for serving on numerous initiatives to enhance education, leadership, governance, entrepreneurship, and community service. He represented Canada at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Conference on Re-engineering Technical Vocational Education in China and has contributed to exchanges of education and governance “best practices” in Africa, Russia, New Zealand, the Middle East, USA, Japan, China, Vietnam, France, Spain, Croatia and England. Dr. Thompson obtained his Doctorate in Higher Education Administration, with a policy governance research focus. His professional development continues with completed educational and leadership programs at Harvard, Oxford, and the WestPoint Academy.
BREAK THURSDAY, MARCH 13
9:30 – 9:50 AM SESSION 2
Competency – Focused Curriculum: An Alberta Transformation
9:50 – 10:50 AM Plaza 1
It is intended that the vision for the educated Albertan of 2030 (the engaged thinker and ethical citizen with an entrepreneurial spirit), will be realized, in part, through students’ development and application of the ten competencies as outlined in Ministerial Order #001/2013 (signed on May 6, 2013). This session, grounded in Curriculum Redesign, explores the work currently underway to transform learning experiences to a competency-focused approach; enabling students to develop and apply competencies within appropriate contexts across subject/discipline areas. Presenters: Competency Indicator Project Team: Jocelyn Lamoureux, Roxanne Rachinski, Wendy Malanchen, and Catherine Walker Competency Indicator Project Team: John Loree, Southern Alberta Professional Development Consortium Brent Allen, Learning Network Keith Millions, Alberta Education
Changing Leadership for Teaching Excellence
Plaza 2
The transformation of Alberta’s education system to achieve the Inspiring Education vision of education requires inspiring leadership at the school, district and provincial levels. This session will consider the extent current leadership practice is able to fulfill this need. The results of the 2011 School Leadership Framework Study will inform this session. Presenters: Bob Garneau, Senior Manager Teaching Excellence Branch, Alberta Education
Governance for a Learning Organization
Plaza 3
This presentation will examine issues and tensions of school board governance through the development of governance processes and policies in the Calgary Board of Education in recent years. It will highlight the impact of the governance model on the roles of the Chief Superintendent and Board of Trustees, on student learning, operational decisions and community engagement. This presentation will also explore the tensions that arise between governance policies and the daily work of leading a school jurisdiction and a community of public thought. It will engage participants in raising questions and possibilities for principles-based governance consistent with the vision of Inspiring Education. Presenters: Naomi Johnson, Chief Superintendent, Calgary Board of Education Dennis Parsons, Superintendent – Learning Services, Calgary Board of Education
Moving Forward with Improving Professional Practice Through Online Professional Growth Planning Tools
Plaza4
The Alberta Teachers’ Association supports improving professional practice through continued lifelong learning of its members. In this session, participants will learn about a recent initiative of the ATA, with financial support from Alberta Education, to design and develop an online professional growth planning tool consistent with the Alberta Teaching Quality Standard (TQS). A robust self-reflection/self-assessment tool, based on the knowledge, skills and attributes of the TQS, provides a teacher with a personal profile to guide them in developing their annual professional growth plan as well as tracking and storing progress for the annual review. The tool is currently in the first year of field testing in six school sites. The Association is presently developing the School Leaders Online Tools for field testing in the fall of 2014. An accompanying two-year research component will look at how an online professional growth planning service enhances and influences teacher professional growth. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide their thoughts/feedback to the tools and this initiative Presenters: Gary J Heck, Project Manager Dr. Mark Yurick, Professional Development Staff, The Alberta Teachers’ Association Joni Turville, Professional Development Staff, The Alberta Teachers’ Association Carol Koran, Principal, Catholic Central High School, Holy Spirit Roman Catholic
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The Connected Educator
Plaza 5
We are living in a time of exponential change in education. Connecting with others in order to successfully navigate these changes is more important than ever. This presentation will offer suggestions on how you can expand your Personal Learning Network. Presenters: Greg Miller, Assistant Superintendent HR, Grande Prairie & District Catholic Schools
The Alberta Approach to Early Childhood Development – Putting Ideas to Action
Garden Court
Early Childhood Development has been identified by Premier Alison Redford as one of six focused agenda items that will drive transformation change and build a better Alberta. Human Services, Education and Health are working together to change how we work across government and with communities to make decisions, design programs, deliver services and allocate resources that will create an integrated ECD system. This session will highlight preliminary findings of the “Together We Raise Tomorrow: An Alberta Approach to Early Childhood Development” public consultation and next steps. The session will engage participants in discussion about how they can contribute to an integrated ECD system in Alberta. Presenters: Kelly Hennig, Senior Manager, School Accreditation and Standards Branch, Alberta Education Deborah Hopkins, Senior Manager, ECD Priority Initiative Management Team, Alberta Human Services
BREAK THURSDAY, MARCH 13
10:50 – 11:05 AM SESSION 3
Review of Alberta’s High School Credentialing
11:05 – 12:05 PM Plaza 1
Session repeated on Friday A review of Alberta’s high school credentials is underway to ensure that provincial credentialing continues to meet the changing needs of students, post-secondary institutions, business and industry. This review is about ensuring future high school credentialing supports an inclusive education environment for all students in our province – one that is flexible but still maintains Alberta’s high standards. As we move forward with the review, input from our education partners is vital to shaping new Alberta high school credentialing for our 21st century Alberta students. Information that has been gathered to date and the next steps for future possibilities will be highlighted. Presenters: Shirley Douglas, Director, Education Program Standards & Assessment, Alberta Education Pam Halverson, Director, Learning Supports & Information Management, Alberta Education
Building System Strength to Support Inspiring Education
Plaza 2
In the enacting of Inspiring Education it is important to establish system readiness through leveraging capacity and confidence in moving a change based agenda forward. This presentation will focus on Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools' pathway to prepare for curriculum re-design and establish an assurance of conditions within the classroom that will further the success of implementing Inspiring Education within our schools. Presenters: David Keohane, Superintendent of Schools, Greater St. Albert Roman Catholic Separate School District Colleen McClure, Associate Superintendent - Student Services, Greater St. Albert Roman Catholic Separate School District
Fostering an Entrepreneurial Spirit in Elementary Schools
Plaza 3
This session will focus on creating meaningful partnerships between schools and business and community organizations. Using the design thinking process students become problem finsders in their communities and collaborate to offer solutions. Community classrooms offer a unique off-campus learning experience. Presenters: Reagan Weeks, Principal, Elm Street School, Medicine Hat School District Terry Freeman, Director of Programs and Instruction, Medicine Hat School District No. 76
Early Years Evaluation: What have we Learned?
Plaza 4
The Early Years Evaluation (EYE) is a screening tool designed to assist in the creation of a teacher driven planning and instruction process identifying children at risk for learning delays. The tool also helps identify the appropriate service delivery model to address a child’s learning needs. The EYE project, sponsored by Alberta Education, was designed to provide data to inform teachers, parents and multidisciplinary team members with the delivery supports and services. These supports and services were broad based, targeted or specialized supports, depending upon the learning needs of the child. How the data from this tool provided valuable information to inform educational programming for children in the 11 school jurisdictions will be discussed and successful strategies for using the EYE will be shared. Presenters: Raelene Finlayson, Manager, Learner Services, Alberta Education Corine Gannon, District Principal, Edmonton Catholic Schools Elizabeth Gouthro, Director, Calgary Board of Education
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Will our approach to Mathematics make us or break us?
Plaza5
The current Alberta Mathematics Program of Studies has recently come under a fair bit of criticism. What makes this document controversial and what are some of the responses we can provide for those who are not ready to embrace its philosophy? Presenters: Jessie Shirley, Assistant Superintendent, Grande Prairie and District Catholic Schools Annette Rouleau, District Lead Teacher, Differentiated Instruction Alicia Burdess, Classroom Teacher and Mathematics Lead Teacher
Preliminary Work on the Directional Shifts for Curriculum Redesign: Insights From Michael Strembitsky School Session Repeated on Thursday, 2:15-3:15
Garden Court
In September 2012, Michael Strembitsky School (Kindergarten to Grade 9) opened with a vision focused on authentic learning for a 21st century world. In an effort to reconceptualize teaching and learning, the faculty at Michael Strembitsky School partnered with Alberta Education in an effort to inform Curriculum Redesign, particularly through practices that support competency development as outlined in Inspiring Education and the Ministerial Order on Student Learning. Learn more about this school’s vision for and approach to professional learning, scheduling, resource acquisition, curriculum mapping, project-based learning, competency development to support the 3 Es, parental and community engagement, and more. In this session, Lisa Wright from Michael Strembitsky School and Wes Irwin from Alberta Education will share key learnings, preliminary successes, and unanticipated challenges. Presenters: Wes Irwin, Team Leader, Programs of Study and Resources, Alberta Education Dr. Lisa Wright, Principal, Michael Strembitsky School, Edmonton Public Schools
LUNCH
12:10 – 12:55 PM
THURSDAY, MARCH 13 12:55 – 1:55 pm
Leading the Learning Transformation – Ethical Citizenship Moderator: Brenda Sautner, CASS
Main Plenary
Panel Presentation:
Ken Chapman, Executive Director, Northern Initiatives, Edmonton Economic Development Corporation Social media savant and lawyer Ken Chapman, past Executive Director of the Oil Sands Developers Group, is always looking for the next narrative in a sweeping range of interests from business and environment to social concerns and community development. Often called a game changer and divergent thinker, Ken passionately believes in the power of citizen engagement and participation in the democratic process. And this accomplished raconteur is as comfortable brainstorming over a bowl of soup with cultural creatives as he is helping guide decisions and policies in corporate boardrooms and government committee rooms.
Rick Hanson, Chief of Police, Calgary Police Service Chief Rick Hanson joined the Calgary Police Service in 1975, and has extensive experience in a number of different investigative and operational areas. For more than half of his law enforcement career, Chief Hanson has worked at a senior management level, both within the Calgary Police Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Chief Hanson has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Sciences from the University of Calgary, and an Honorary Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from Mount Royal University. He is also a graduate of the University of Calgary's Executive Development Program, the FBI Leadership in Counter-Terrorism Program, and the Canadian Police College Executive Development Program. Before returning to the Calgary Police Service in 2007, Chief Hanson was the RCMP "K" Division Chief Superintendent in charge of Integrated and Federal Policing. Constantly in contact with the community he serves, Chief Hanson has tight ties to organizations supporting the city's homeless, victims of domestic violence and programs geared towards youth intervention and education. He is also a strong advocate of establishing effective diversion and treatment programs, and aligning the Calgary Police Service with other important agencies to address social disorder and addictions at the earliest stages.
Mark Howell, Head Coach, University of Calgary Dinos Men’s Hockey Team Mark Howell was appointed the eighth head coach in Dinos Hockey history on June 3, 2009. Mark joined the Dinos with extensive experience as both a coach and general manager at the junior and midget levels. In 2010-11, Mark was named the Canada West and CIS coach of the year. Mark played three seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Seattle Thunderbirds and Medicine Hat Tigers before moving to Red Deer College, where he played for Mike Babcock. He spent one season with the University of Alberta Golden Bears, winning the 1992 University Cup title, before injuries forced him to retire. The Red Deer native began his coaching career at the midget level while working as an officer with the Calgary Police Service, working with the Calgary Buffaloes. Prior to his appointment with the University of Calgary, Mark coached the Calgary Midget ‘AAA’ Flames, SAIT Trojans, Brandon Wheat Kings, Drayton Valley Thunder and the Westside Warriors in British Columbia. Mark also has experience at the provincial and national team levels, including a stint as head coach of Team Alberta for the 2007 Canada Winter Games, winning a bronze medal. He was an assistant/video coach with the Canadian men’s national team at the 2000 IIHF World Championships, fulfilling the same role for Hockey Canada at three consecutive World Junior Championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Page 5
BREAK THURSDAY, MARCH 13
1:55 – 2:15 PM SESSION 4
Success for Every Student: Building Foundations of Literacy and Numeracy
2:15 – 3:15 PM Plaza 1
The Ministerial Order on Student Learning states that one of the goals for an inclusive Kindergarten to Grade 12 education is to “enable all students to employ literacy and numeracy to construct and communicate meaning.” In this session participants will deepen their understanding of the foundational role literacy and numeracy play in student learning and how this will inform and transition curriculum and instruction. Presenters: Shelley Wells, Team Leader, Education Program Standards and Assessment, Alberta Education Beverly Milobar, Manager, Education Program Standards and Assessment, Alberta Education
Provincial Resource Strategy
Plaza 2
Alberta Education is working with stakeholders to develop a Provincial Resource Strategy for Kindergarten to Grade 12. New and innovative types of resources and approaches to how students access resources are emerging. To help enable the shifts outlined in Inspiring Education, Curriculum Redesign and the Learning and Technology Policy Framework, we need a strategy that will provide clarity with respect to what types of digitally-based resources are required to support student learning on a go-forward basis, and what are the roles and responsibilities of the department and the field with respect to resource identification, development and access. This session will provide an overview of our work to date. You are invited to share your thoughts on the critical elements we need to consider as we move forward in developing the strategy. Bring your best thinking to this interactive solutions-focused conversation! Presenters: Paul Lamoureux, Executive Director, French and International Education Services, Alberta Education Derek McCurdy, Director, School Technology Branch
Want to Help Your Students Achieve the Vision of Inspiring Education? Try Performance Assessment!
Plaza 3
Performance assessment tasks have been part of the work of AAC since its inception in 1994. From their modest beginnings, the AAC tasks have undergone significant change over the years and in their current format, provide a wealth of support for sound instructional and assessment practice. On the newly designed AAC website, the tasks are easy to find and even easier to use! Within the context of Inspiring Education, performance tasks will take on a new level of importance in a balanced classroom assessment program. AAC performance tasks are based on high priority Alberta learner outcomes; engage students in their learning; develop critical thinking and metacognitive skills; encourage innovation and problem solving; provide opportunities for formative and summative assessment; provide quality assessment evidence; and are time savers for busy teachers! Take a new look at AAC performance tasks through the lens of the 3Es and see how easy it is to help your students become Engaged Thinkers and Ethical Citizens with an Entrepreneurial Spirit. This session will be of interest to instructional leaders at both the school and jurisdiction level. Presenters: Pat Lore, Field Services Facilitator, Alberta Assessment Consortium Sid de Haan, Field Services Facilitator, Alberta Assessment Consortium
Realizing the Vision - Leadership and the New Learning and Technology Policy Framework
Plaza 4
Today’s students need a learning environment in which technology is seamlessly integrated and accessible to them to support and personalize their learning. This is the vision described in Inspiring Education and expanded on in Alberta Education’s new Learning and Technology Policy Framework (LTPF). The LTPF’s Policy Direction 4: Leadership recognizes that real change in the classroom must be supported at all levels of leadership. In this session, leaders will have an opportunity to work with the latest draft of Education’s LTPF toolkit and think critically about how their decisions can support schools to realize this important vision. Presenters: Karen Andrews, Senior Manager, School Technology Branch, Alberta Education Ralph Luedtke, Senior Manager, School Technology Branch, Alberta Education
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Student Attitude and Achievement
Plaza 5
The Student Orientation to School Questionnaire (SOS-Q) was developed by Alberta Education to measure students’ affective relationship to school. This session features data from the 2013-14 Alberta Healthy School Communities Wellness Fund project in Rocky View Schools. This project identifies students at risk of school disengagement and, in response to low SOS-Q profiles, initiates specific re-engagement supports. The session highlights creative practices by school staff who use SOS-Q data in strategic decisions targeting improvements in school environments and student outcomes. Also, the role of non-cognitive assessment data as an innovative step in building student information systems will be discussed. Jeff Chalmers, Principal and Denise Weaver, Assistant Principal will present representing Muriel Clayton School with Rocky View Schools. Presenters: Dr. John M. Burger, Director of Schools - Research, Rocky View Schools Dr. Anna Nadirova, Director/Principal, Practical Data Solutions, inc.
Preliminary Work on the Directional Shifts for Curriculum Redesign: Insights From Michael Strembitsky School
Garden Court
In September 2012, Michael Strembitsky School (Kindergarten to Grade 9) opened with a vision focused on authentic learning for a 21st century world. In an effort to reconceptualize teaching and learning, the faculty at Michael Strembitsky School partnered with Alberta Education in an effort to inform Curriculum Redesign, particularly through practices that support competency development as outlined in Inspiring Education and the Ministerial Order on Student Learning. Learn more about this school’s vision for and approach to professional learning, scheduling, resource acquisition, curriculum mapping, project-based learning, competency development to support the 3 Es, parental and community engagement, and more. In this session, Lisa Wright from Michael Strembitsky School and Wes Irwin from Alberta Education will share key learnings, preliminary successes, and unanticipated challenges. Presenters: Wes Irwin, Team Leader, Programs of Study and Resources, Alberta Education Dr. Lisa Wright, Principal, Michael Strembitsky School, Edmonton Public Schools
BREAK THURSDAY, MARCH 13
3:15 – 3:30 PM SESSION 5
The 5 Ws of Student Learning Assessments Session repeated Friday
3:30 – 4:30 PM Plaza 1
The introduction of the Student Learning Assessments as an alternative to the current PATs marks an important opportunity. This session will provide an overview of the new Grade 3 SLAs to be piloted in the fall of 2014. The session will focus in particular on the SLAs as a classroom tool for planning instruction. The session will conclude with an opportunity for feedback. Presenters: Deanna Wiens, Team Leader, Grades 3 Literacy SLAs/PATs, Alberta Education Ken Marcellus, Director, Achievement Testing Program, Alberta Education
What does learning look like that prepares students for their future? How do we transform teaching, schools and systems to actualize the Inspiring Education Vision?
Plaza 2
In this session we will open a dialog exploring these essential questions by sharing illustrations of constructivist authentic learning from our classrooms and chronicling Rocky View Schools’ efforts to foster a culture of innovation and inquiry. Key strategies that we will highlight in this narrative are building design thinking capacity across our organization and inspiring a practice of making learning visible. Presenters: Joshua Hill, Learning Specialist, Rocky View Schools Barry Allen, Learning Specialist, Rocky View Schools
Developing comprehensive professional learning to support inclusive environments
Plaza 3
School authority leaders responsible for supporting teacher capacity have the opportunity to be supported by numerous Alberta online resources developed to support implementation of inclusive education and enhance communities of practice for teacher excellence. Making the best use of learning opportunities to support job embedded and personalized learning will be shared. Two school authority leaders will share how they use current ARPDC resources to enhance their districts professional learning program and leverage access to free “Made in Alberta” learning opportunities. www.inclusiveeducationpdresources.ca and http://reachingallstudents.ning.com/ Presenters: Karen MacDonald, Director - Student Support Services Elk Island Public Schools and Jody Beck, Learning Services Supervisor - Inclusive Education. Grande Yellowhead Public School Division Val Olekshy, Executive Director, Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium
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Strategic Roadmap for K-12 International Education
Plaza 4
Within the context of Inspiring Education and the new Government of Alberta International Strategy, Alberta is renewing its strategic direction for international education in the K-12 sector. Alberta Education is leading the development of a Strategic Roadmap for K-12 International Education that will provide direction and guide collaborative work among stakeholders and partners and will: identify actions and outcomes to enhance and strengthen international education in Alberta; engage students and teachers in international education activities directly connected to the competencies in the Ministerial Order for Student Learning, including demonstrating global and cultural understanding; provide ideas on how to leverage international programs, activities and opportunities within existing resources; and include identification of innovative practices, areas for enhanced collaboration and shared understandings of roles and responsibilities of government, stakeholders and partners. The intention of this session is to engage CASS members on the directions, priority actions, and program outcomes envisioned for the Strategic Roadmap. Presenters: Waldemar Riemer, Director, International Education Services, Alberta Education David Driscoll, Superintendent, Livingstone Range School Division
Career and Technology Foundations (CTF): Scaling up to Implementation
Plaza 5
Career and Technology Foundations (CTF) is leading the learning transformation through the collaborative scaling up of the draft CTF curriculum for grades 5 through 9. Scaling up to implementation, a collaborative process between Alberta Education and school jurisdictions, is being used to refine and validate the new CTF curriculum. Through our presentation, participants will learn more about this collaborative process, including the involvement of partners and the current status of CTF. Presenters: Dave McCann, Team Leader, and Danielle Amerongen, Team Leader French, will represent Career and Technology Foundations, Alberta Education Representatives from the Calgary Board of Education and Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools will contribute to the presentation
Curiosity, Curriculum, Collaboration: Moving Forward with Documentation
Garden Court
As a district, our Kindergarten and Early Learning teachers are exploring the world of learning through play and honoring the child by focusing on the environment as the third teacher, teacher as facilitator, emergent curriculum and documentation. The image we hold of children shapes our interactions with them and influences the environments and the tasks we create for them. Documentation is a powerful tool for assessment and for communication. It provides a means for our students to reflect upon their experiences as learners, and for us to reflect upon our own teaching. What does the emergent curriculum and documentation look like in action? We have embarked on a city wide project in collaboration with our community partners to create and publish A Children’s Guide to the City of Medicine Hat. We will be sharing how wondrous questioning and documentation has brought us to this point of our journey from the perspective of some of our youngest citizens. Presenters: Judy Hillier, Director of Primary Services, Medicine Hat School District Joanne Stockman, Early Learning Coordinator, Medicine Hat School District
FRIDAY, MARCH 14 7:15 AM
REGISTRATION
Foyer
7:30 – 8:15 AM
FULL BREAKFAST
Main Plenary
8:15 – 8:30 AM
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS – BARRY LITUN
Main Plenary
8:30 – 9:30 AM
Leading The Learning Transformation - Entrepreneurial Spirit Moderator, Raja Panwar
Main Plenary
Panel Presentation:
Gord Bontje, President, Laebon Homes Gord Bontje is the president of Laebon Developments Ltd., a company that builds homes and develops land throughout Central Alberta. A long time supporter of education, Gord spent twelve years as a trustee for the Red Deer Catholic School Division, the last six as board chair. For the past twelve years Laebon has co-sponsored a program with Note Dame High School in Red Deer that allows students to build a home while considering construction related career opportunities.
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Justin Reimer, Assistant Deputy Minister, Innovation & Advanced Education Justin Riemer is the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Enterprise Division in the Ministry of Innovation and Advanced Education at the Government of Alberta. His division is focused on policies and programs to promote economic development and improve Alberta’s global competitiveness. This is accomplished by work on regional and industrial economic development, the development of first-class economic information products, and through tools and policies that enhance entrepreneurship in the province. Justin also acts as Government liaison with the Alberta Economic Development Authority. Since 1996 the Alberta Government has been Justin’s employer of choice, where he has worked in a variety of areas including industrial competitiveness, international marketing, strategic planning, and trade policy issues. Justin holds a Master Degree in International Affairs from Carleton University. Justin is married and a proud father of 2 boys ages 14 and 18.
Drew Zieglansberger, Senior Vice President, Operations Shared Services, Cenovus Energy Inc. As Senior Vice-President, Operations Shared Services, Drew is responsible for the oversight and management of all Operations Shared Services throughout Cenovus. This includes Operations Training, Technical Services, Operations & Production Services, Field Accommodations, Earthworks, Geophysical Acquisition, Drilling and Well Delivery, Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Business Excellence. Drew began his career as a drilling rig roughneck in the early 1990s before establishing his own oilfield services consulting company. He joined one of Cenovus’s predecessor companies in 1999 as drilling coordinator for the SAGD pilot project beginning at Foster Creek. He has over 18 years of oil and natural gas experience in drilling, completions, stakeholder relations and managing capital projects and operations. Drew has an Advanced Executive Certificate from Queens University and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Canadian Heavy Oil Association. He also has a Global Energy Executive MBA from the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business.
Curriculum Redesign: Helping to Bring Inspiring Education to Life
Main Plenary 9:30 – 10:00 AM
Curriculum Redesign is one of the Ministry’s initiatives helping to bring Inspiring Education to life. We’re building a dynamic curriculum that includes both the basics and critical 21st century competencies, such as innovation, communication and critical thinking. Presenters: Ellen Hambrook, Assistant Deputy Minister, Alberta Education Merla Bolender, Executive Director, Alberta Education Joan Engel, Executive Director, Alberta Education
BREAK FRIDAY, MARCH 15
10:00 – 10:20 AM SESSION 1
Working Together – A Balanced Approach in Mathematics
10:20 – 11:20 AM Plaza 1
Do students still need to know their multiplication facts? Why don't students learn traditional ways to add, subtract, multiply and divide? The answers might surprise you. This session will focus on learning mathematics in Alberta, misconceptions about the program, how Education and its partners are supporting students' success, as well as opportunities for mathematics as part of Curriculum Redesign. Please bring a web-enabled device to participate in the sessions' interactive components. Presenters: Amaya Ortigosa, Team Leader,, Mathematics K–9 Diane Stobbe, Team Leader, Mathematics, Alberta Education John Scammell, Field Services Facilitator, Alberta Assessment Consortium
The Assessment Capacity Project
Plaza 2
This session will provide attendees with foundational information about the Assessment Capacity Project. The focus of the presentation will be on the relationship of Assessment Capacity to Inspiring Education and curriculum redesign as well as its origin, scope, goals and objectives. Representatives from Michael Strembitsky School will provide their perspectives on the progress and challenges they have experienced in integrating competencies into both instruction and assessment. There will be time in the session for feedback and questions. Presenters: Tim Coates, Director, Assessment, Alberta Education Connie Spasiuk and Vanessa LeCaine, Assistant Principals Michael Strembitsky School, Edmonton Public Schools
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Transforming Literacy Learning Through the Use of Technologies
Plaza 3
Inspiring Education supports a vision of success for every student in an inclusive education system. Achieving this vision requires focusing on the learner, and leveraging technology to support the creation and sharing of knowledge. In today’s classrooms, a wide range of technologies are also creating new options for differentiated instruction and for the inclusion of students with disabilities. This learning opportunity will explore how the flexible use of technologies (text-tospeech, word prediction, speech recognition, visual learning tools, symbol-supported text) can reduce barriers to learning and enhance literacy learning and the success of all students. Alberta Education has recently negotiated several Education Standing Offers for educational technologies that support students with diverse learning needs. This session will provide information school leaders can use to choose educational technology solutions that will enable individual students to more fully participate in learning and literacy activities. Presenters: Sandra Gluth, Manager, Inclusive Education–Cross Curriculum Infusion, Alberta Education Belina Caissie, Field Experiences Associate, University of Alberta
Locally Developed Courses and Dual Credit Opportunities for Alberta Students
Plaza 4
The session will provide an overview of dual credit opportunities for Alberta High School students, as facilitated through the use of Locally Developed Courses. With these courses, students have the opportunity to earn credit toward their high school diplomas, while simultaneously fulfilling some or all of the requirements for external credentialing. Recent years have seen an expansion of this credit, with closer relationships developing between colleges, industry and school districts to increase the focus and the impact of dual credit work in the context of Locally Developed Courses. Presenters: Sharon Styles, Team Leader, Locally Developed Courses, Alberta Education John Macnab, Manager, Locally Developed Courses, Alberta Education
Conditions Required for Successful Implementation
Plaza 5
What does effective implementation look like? We continue to invest time, energy and money on the implementation of educational policies, curricula, priorities, programs and initiatives. We can make the most of these investments by created a culture of learning, sharing responsibility for implementation and addressing seven essential conditions for successful implementation, namely shared vision, leadership, research and evidence, resources, teacher professional growth, time, and community engagement. This session will provide examples of how A Guide to Support Implementation: Essential Conditions has been used, result of the research completed reporting use of the tool and one school authorities story of how the guide framed their story of successful practices supporting FNMI student learning. This session is intended to explore use of the guide for planning for implementation of the intent of inspiring education including initiatives such as curriculum redesign, high school flexibility, and inclusive education. Presenters: George McGuigan, Superintendent of Schools, Fort McMurray Catholic Schools Val Olekshy, Executive Director, Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium.
The 5 Ws of Student Learning Assessments
Garden Court
The introduction of the Student Learning Assessments as an alternative to the current PATs marks an important opportunity. This session will provide an overview of the new Grade 3 SLAs to be piloted in the fall of 2014. The session will focus in particular on the SLAs as a classroom tool for planning instruction. The session will conclude with an opportunity for feedback. Presenters: Deanna Wiens, Team Leader, Grades 3 Literacy SLAs/PATs, Alberta Education Ken Marcellus, Director, Achievement Testing Program, Alberta Education
BREAK FRIDAY, MARCH 15
11:20 – 11:30 AM SESSION 2
Review of Alberta’s High School Credentialing
11:30 – 12:30 PM Plaza 1
A review of Alberta’s high school credentials is underway to ensure that provincial credentialing continues to meet the changing needs of students, post-secondary institutions, business and industry. This review is about ensuring future high school credentialing supports an inclusive education environment for all students in our province – one that is flexible but still maintains Alberta’s high standards. As we move forward with the review, input from our education partners is vital to shaping new Alberta high school credentialing for our 21st century Alberta students. Information that has been gathered to date and the next steps for future possibilities will be highlighted. Presenters: Shirley Douglas, Director, Education Program Standards & Assessment, Alberta Education Pam Halverson, Director, Learning Supports & Information Management, Alberta Education
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Fort McMurray Public Schools – Early Literacy Framework
Plaza 2
Literacy in the early years can be defined as communication through various mediums such as: music, movement, dance, storytelling, visual arts, drama, talking, listening, viewing, reading, and writing. Literacy is also the way in which we interpret these forms of communication. This session will highlight Fort McMurray Public School District’s Early Literacy Framework for early childhood educators to purposefully choose the learning environment, strategies, and instructional practices that support young children in developing foundational literacy skills that better prepare children for reading, writing and developing the future competencies of a 21st century learner. Presenters: Dr. Brenda Sautner, Associate Superintendent, Education & Administration, For McMurray Public School District Mrs. Myrna Matheson, Literacy Coordinator, Fort McMurray Public School District
Best Practices in Meeting Educational Needs of All Children in Inclusive Classrooms: A Multi-tiered Evidence-based Approach
Plaza 3
The presentation will detail a multi-tiered evidence-based approach for serving the needs of all children in schools, including children with disabilities, in inclusive environments. Combining knowledge gained from response-to- intervention (RTI) and cognitive/neuropsychological empirical literature, this resource efficient approach has been shown to effectively meet the needs of all children. Using a standard protocol RTI approach (Tier I) problem-solving RTI (Tier II), and comprehensive evaluation for non-responders prior to individualized service delivery (Tier III), this approach combines the best of empirically-based educational practices that are cost efficient and maximize academic outcomes for all learners in inclusive environments. Advocated by major leaders in the field of learning disabilities, this model has the potential to revolutionize educational service delivery. This presentation will provide a rationale for system reform, a description of the multi-tiered model, the evidence-base for its support, the professional consensus and advocacy efforts in support of it, and the presenter's own prior research showing its utility. Potential future directions for implementation and educational policy development will be discussed. Presenters: Dr. (James) Brad Hale, Professor, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute
Pathways to the Future: Dual Credit Opportunities in Alberta
Plaza 4
This session will provide an update on the exciting progress of Year One of the Provincial Dual Credit Strategy and the diverse dual credit opportunities being offered in Alberta. Representatives from two different Dual Credit opportunities Chinook’s Edge School Division, Olds College and a representative from Rockyview School Division partnership will provide an overview of their dual credit opportunity, giving participants a glimpse into how dual credit can open up unexpected pathways to the future. Presenters: Lana Rissling, Team Leader, Citizen and Career Pathways, Alberta Education Deb Vance, Provincial Dual Credit Strategy Coordinator, College of Alberta School Superintendents Barb Mulholland, Director of CLC, Chinook’s Edge School Division & Olds College Tataianna Reynolds, Career Practitioner, Sprinbank High School
What does professional learning for transformation look like in the field of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit education?
Plaza 5
The fundamental goal of the Provincial First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Professional Learning Strategy is to establish a provincially cohesive process for educators to create learning plans that center on professional learning opportunities with the intent on building educator capacity, engaging learners, and creating paths for success. In the spirit of creating an educational culture which is open-minded, respectful, and collaborative, the Provincial First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Professional Learning Strategy calls for educators across the province to take actions to develop their understanding of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit perspectives and content so they can better serve all students. Presenters: Solange Lalonde, Provincial First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Professional Learning Facilitator, Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia Karen Egge, Executive Director, Northwest Regional Learning Consortium
Engaged and Effective Governance- Building the “First Team”
Garden Court
The Inspiring Education report of the steering committee describes in section 5: Implications for Governance the required shifts to improve governance in supporting transformation of our education system. The new Education Act defines these shifts in section 33: Responsibilities of boards. ASBA in its task force report, Reimagining school board governance, which engaged trustees, system leaders and the public recommended in its call to action: 11. With a focus on improving student success, the school board and superintendent should work together to align and assign work and responsibility with a view to clarifying what is in the superintendent’s bailiwick, what falls to the school board and, most importantly, what initiatives will be shared work. The report also recommends that ASBA, CASS and ASBOA work together to support this transformation. This session will focus on the shifts required to transform school board governance, describe examples where superintendents have provided support to their boards to improve governance practices and ask participants to consider how they may support their boards. Presenters: Terry Gunderson, Education Consultant, Alberta School Boards Association Karl Germann, Superintendent, Grande Prairie Catholic Schools
LUNCH Conference Reflection/Door Prizes Page 11
Main Plenary
12:40 – 1:30 PM
Thank you for attending and Safe Travels!
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