And They're Off!

ERAC's Digital Media Test Drive is underway, with over 60 teachers from 16 Elementary and Secondary schools registered to participate in an evaluation of Digital Media learning resources! In Peace River, Fort Nelson, New Aiyansh, Prince George, and Prince Rupert in northern and central BC; in Comox, Nanaimo and Sooke on Vancouver Island; and in Chilliwack, Delta, Kamloops and Vancouver in southern BC, teachers and schools will be evaluating a variety of digital media solutions.

Schools are being "connected" to digital media products from nine national and international vendors, with matches being made based on grade levels and subject areas. While that is happening, teachers in the 16 schools are presently participating in the online course Introduction to ERAC Resource Evaluation. It is expected that this will be completed by mid-March. In-service on vendor products is already beginning and will proceed throughout March and into April, with follow-up support from both vendors and ERAC.

Digital media solutions that are part of the test drive include:

• interactive media on-demand services
• high-quality curriculum-based digital content
• digital professional development resources
• online adaptive mathematics learning environments
• interactive literacy resources
• video-rich broadband teaching resources with student activities
• powerful digital science and social studies curriculum resources.

Digital media have become pervasive and as common in the lives of today's students as pencils and notebooks were to their parents. Digital media are also increasingly present in our schools as teachers embrace new online learning resources to reach out to students who live in a digital world. Digital media are even now transforming the way students access content area knowledge and develop 21st century skills. We'll update you regularly as the Digital Media Test Drive continues!