Futures Forum “Classroom”

1. Futures Forum“Classroom” Waterloo Region District School Board June 2, 2010

2. Background • Stakeholder Consultation • Community(Communitech)/Student Voice • Senior Administrative Advisory Group • System Success Plan Goal • Communicate thinking in writing • Project Focus • Increase grade 10 credit accumulation (boys) • Increase knowledge/expertise integrating technology to engage students • 5 high yield, instructional strategies, tools, techniques

3. Engage students utilizing technology mediated approach with interdisciplinary, inquiry-based (passion) learning Personalize learning that utilizes student strengths, interests, readiness and learning styles (DI) Teacher professional learning through collaborative networking (learning cycles/PLP) Principles

4. Futures Forum Classroom • Implementation February 2011 • Technology Focus • Interdisciplinary, Integrated Approach • One Teacher • Application Process • Networking Across Schools • Grade 10 Students • Integrated: Academic English, Careers, Civics

5. Futures Forum Supports • Curriculum Content and Course Design • Assessment, Evaluation, Reporting • Instructional Content Pedagogy • Effective Use of Technology • Suite of Tools (LMS, OERB, Moodle, Facebook, Ning, Twitter, Library Learning Commons, Blogs/Wikis) • Technical Infrastructure • Student Hand-Held Devices, Internet Access

6. Future Forum Supports • Vice-principal Instructional Leaders • Central Support Partnership • Information Technology Services Staff • Learning Services Staff • Critical Friends (Metrics/Monitoring) • Universities: WLU and UoIT • 4 Networked Teams • Schools (admin & teacher), Central Staff Leads

7. Metrics • Student, Teacher, Administrator, System • Profile: Student/Teacher • Quantitative • Credit Accumulation, Grade 10 OCA, Report Card Results • Qualitative (Perceptual) • Engagement, Effectiveness of Interdisciplinary Approach, Effectiveness of Technology Integration for Learning, etc.

8. Next Steps • Project Management Plan • Timelines, Identify Milestones, Teacher Working Groups • Communications Plan • Board, Teachers, Administrators, OSSTF • Budget Implications • Technology Supports, Curricular Supports

9. Where We Were! • Need for Focus – goal, tools, pedagogy, content, practice, supports, infrastructure, working relationships • Understandings – unveil mythology and reveal possibilities related to new literacies and Web 2.0 integration/community building?

10. Now! • Board wide initiative • Mobilization - resources, thinking and supports • Emerging Understandings - Limitations and vulnerabilities - Opportunities and potential • Alignment and consolidation - thinking and action

11. Next! • Document and Assess • Scalability and Applicability • Communication Plan • Process for refining a Vision for Learning • Strategic Enabling Strategies towards Vision • Opportunities – ELKP, Mainstream/special populations – choice, voice, passion, personalization

12. Learning! • Learning is ongoing • Why ? - Clarity of goal (learning) and rationale (how the new literacies and Web 2.0 integration/ community building are better) • How ? • Integration and assimilation of new literacies, and Web 2.0 tools systemically, is complex and can only be contemplated if the rationale is sound and supported.