In the Classroom

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View Presentation Recordings from IT4K12 2018

Did you attend a great session during IT4K12 and want to use it as reference material? Didn’t make it to a session you were hoping to see? Visit the Presentations & Sessions page on the IT4K12 website now to view recordings. Find information on the event including exhibitors, program and more. Share this information with colleagues who were unable to attend.

Reminder: IT4K12 2019 will take place November 14 – 15. Thank you to everyone who attended the 2018 event and we hope to welcome you back next fall.

January 7, 2019

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Register now for Winter & Spring 2019 Webinars for Educators

The Winter & Spring 2019 Webinar Series for Educators schedule is now available on the ERAC website. This series of webinars explores resources offered in the BC Digital Classroom Collection. If you missed the previous webinars, or are interested in a deeper look, register now. Register for one, two or all of the webinars. Share this information with your colleagues.

December 27, 2018

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New Generic PIA Available for School Cash Online

A new Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template for KEV Group – School Cash Online is now available to download and personalize for your district.

Completion of PIAs ensures Districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs.

You can download this PIA template and access additional privacy and security information at bcerac.ca/pia-templates.

December 13, 2018

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New Generic PIA available for West SchoolMessenger

A new Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template for West SchoolMessenger is now available to download and personalize for your district.

Completion of PIAs ensures Districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs.

You can download this PIA template and access additional privacy and security information at pia.bcerac.ca.

September 25, 2018

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IT4K12 Session Highlights

Canoe Kids: Exploring Indigenous Cultures Through Authentic Indigenous Voices

Join the creators of Canoe Kids, as they share experiences and images of working within Indigenous communities to support people in telling their stories, of their culture, history and experiences. The team travels to work within a community over a period of time and the result of this authentic process, is the development of digital and print publications which brings voice to each unique community.

Security and Compliance with Office 365

The Security and Compliance Center inside of Office 365 provides an excellent set of tools and controls to establish and monitor policies within your school district. In this two-hour session, we’ll take a tour of the Office 365 SCC and more.

What’s Your Comfort Zone? Supporting Aboriginal Education

In this session, we explore through a guided conversation where participants are in their Aboriginal educational journey and their understanding of the new curriculum. We will also highlight key resources and services that ERAC provides to member districts. We encourage audience members to bring their questions, challenges and successes to make this a rich and engaging experience.

Beyond Engagement: Transforming Student Learning Through Virtual Reality

This will be a follow up expansion session to last year’s presentation which focused on the VR app, Google Expeditions. This year will focus on lessons learned and specific strategies to incorporate VR experiences into teaching and learning, with concrete examples, tools and lesson ideas.

Cyber Security Directions in K-12: How it Impacts Everyone

Districts and classrooms are vulnerable to cyber criminals. This session will help educate and increase awareness for IT personnel and educators on strategies BC districts are adopting to try and stay ahead of the ever changing cyber security landscape.

Actioning the Applied Design Skills and Technology (ADST) Curriculum Across the District

At this session, David Vandergugten, Assistant Superintendent of School District No. 42 will share how their district deeply integrated the ADST curriculum into K-12 classrooms. He will discuss Design Thinking as a pedagogy and how it can be used to bring hands-on learning into all classrooms.

Cloud IT in B.C. Education (Whiteboard Session)

As school districts make progress in their digital transformation journey, the challenges and opportunities of mobility are usually top of mind. Come join us and explore the new cloud technologies that are unlocked as part of Microsoft 365 – specifically Enterprise Mobility + Security.

Gartner Services to MyEd School Districts

The Ministry of Education has partnered with Gartner, the world’s leading research and advisory company, to provide a district subscription to Gartner for Technical Professionals (GTP) as an additional free service for those districts utilizing MyEducation BC.

SIP trunking with Thinktel

Learn how to leverage SIP Trunking technology (a resilient VoIP Protocol) to harness the Unified Communication Tools available in Microsoft Office 365 in the modern school setting and reduce expenditures.

Finding the Right Portfolio

For the past 5 years SD 47 has been working on improving Communicating Student Learning via the use ePortfolios. Come join the conversation surrounding the journey we have been on in investing 5 approaches to portfolio based communication. What we have learned, and where we are headed.

Bridging Worldviews: Creating Entry Points into Aboriginal Education

Participants will explore the new curriculum through an Aboriginal lens. Utilizing the Aboriginal Worldviews and Perspectives framework, educators will create and plan their entry point into meaningful professional development, sharing and learning. We will explore our own identity and interests and connect our personal knowledge to Aboriginal culture. This will be supported through the use of culturally responsive and authentic resources.

For more session details, scheduled times and speaker information, visit the IT4K12 Program Page.

Don’t miss out on this year’s event. Register now!

Book your stay at the special event rate before it expires on October 18 through the online reservation system. This special rate is available three days prior to and after the event.

September 24, 2018

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Newly Evaluated Novels – August 23, 2018

September 13, 2018

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2018 IT4K12 Conference

Program Now Available & Deadline to Book Your Guest Room Fast Approaching!

Check out the IT4K12 Program Page to view the most up to date session information. See details on the many presentations and workshops being offered at this year’s event along with presenter information.

Have you registered to attend this year’s IT4K12 Conference? Join your colleagues and ERAC members from across BC by registering now. Limited space remains available to attend the special pre-conference event Wednesday November 21^st at Science World, highlighting The Science Behind Pixar exhibit. To reserve a spot, select the option to attend during registration.

Book your guest room at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel to take advantage of the special event rate. Book by October 18 through the online reservation system. This special rate is available three days prior to and after the event.

Keynote Highlight

A Conversation with Dr. Helen Papagiannis

Dr. Helen Papagiannis, the keynote speaker for IT4K12 2018, is the author of The Augmented Human, an introduction to advancements in Augmented Reality (AR). In the book she explores how AR technologies can enhance the ways a user experiences their environment.

ERAC had an opportunity to talk with Dr. Papagiannis about what led her to the field of AR.

She reflected on her early exploration of visual arts media during her secondary school years at Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts in the Toronto District School Board. This education provided her with rich experiences in working with design, photography (darkroom!), life drawing, sculpture, and printmaking. She found printmaking to be an early entry into the concept of layering. Both printmaking and sculpture helped her to develop the ability to think spatially in different ways, and to value touch and materiality. She has continued to explore those concepts in her study with AR.

We wondered what interested her most about the future of AR.

She is interested in the potential for creating multi-user experiences, and the opportunity for immersive storytelling. She speaks of learning to design with intention. Reality needs to be ‘the star’…and AR should enhance our existing reality, not supplant it. It can create a sense of amazement, bringing together visual and tactile worlds, layering multi-sensory experiences.

Last comments?

“It’s about wonderment. Wonderment is the gateway to curiosity and learning. If we can design experiences that enhance our lives and add delight to someone’s life through AR…that would be a huge success.”

Join us at IT4K12 to hear more about this fascinating view of what it might mean to ‘be human’ in the future.

Session Highlights

ADST Lesson Planning

With the advent of the new ADST Curriculum, SD 47 Powell River created a template that can be used by teachers in their unit and lesson planning activities. Attend this session to explore these templates and consider their use in your own classroom and district.

Design Thinking

Join Leslie McBeth from Future Design School for a hands-on, action packed workshop that will teach participants to leverage the design thinking process to solve strategic challenges in their schools.

K-12 The Most Difficult IT Support Challenge

Supporting Technology for K-12 is more difficult than virtually any other organization. Come for some stories and tips on how to do it and bring a story or two of your own!

Explain Your Thinking

Participants leaving this session will be able to discover amazing tools to help students communicate their understanding. This session will look at Flipgrid, Sreencasting, Google Slides and other tools that help students explain their thinking. All tools shared are cloud-based and integrate nicely with Google Classroom.

How to Host a Hack-a-Thon

This workshop will present a simple workflow for hosting a Hack-a-thon. You will get the chance to try out different coding platforms that are grade appropriate. We will present a format that can easily be implemented into your classroom to get students excited about problem solving, computational thinking and coding.

Unified Communications: The Key to Successful Teamwork Throughout the Organization

The challenges we encounter in our work require us to communicate with people outside our immediate team, department or organization. However, communication is easier for some people than others, which creates gaps in our efforts and erodes success. Find out how unified communication can be support improved communication in your district.

Explore the World with Google Cardboard

Never heard of Google Cardboard? Many folks haven’t! Cardboard is a relatively new Google product taking VR (Virtual Reality) to a whole new level of cool. With a cardboard viewer box and a smartphone, you can explore the world. In this session, we’ll talk about the technology behind Cardboard, which apps are available, and you’ll have a chance to give it a test drive!

Learn about its potential in the classroom. From virtual field trips around the world to swimming with sharks, Google Cardboard is the next big thing in education.

BC Digital Classroom Sessions at IT4K12

Gale In Context Suite (Canada, Science, Global Issues)

This session will look at the current, media rich content of the In Context Suite of databases from Gale. These three databases work well to support the redesigned BC curriculum at the grade 8-12 level. We will investigate tips, tricks, Lexile reading level search functions and the on-demand text and voice translations with the intention of supporting diverse learners in the classroom. If you need online resources for the secondary level, these three databases provide support for most curricular areas in grade 8-12.

Harness the (Science) Power!

Grades: 5-8

Supplier: Not Available

Felicity Pickle and her sister Frannie Jo have lived in many towns across t…

August 2, 2018

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New PIA available for All the Right Type 4 Online

A new Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template for All the Right Type 4 Online (ATRT4) is now available to download and personalize for your district.

Completion of PIAs ensures Districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs.

Grades: 8-12

Supplier: Not Available

This resource covers some of the biggest innovations and inventions through…

Grades: K-3

Supplier: Not Available

This colourful picture book in rhyming text tells the simple truth that we …

Grades: 4-6

Supplier: Not Available

L’album Vivons le monde en Océanie contribuera à enrichir le programme d’ét…

Grades: 10-12

Supplier: Not Available

This autobiography of Elsie Paul, a member of the Sliammon First Nation, co…

July 20, 2018

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New PIA available for Microsoft 365 A3

A new Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template for M365 A3 is now available to download and personalize for your district.

Completion of PIAs ensures Districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs.

You can download PIA templates and access additional privacy and security information at pia.bcerac.ca.

July 16, 2018

Grades: 3-7

Supplier: Not Available

The simply designed, clearly written website provides information about Ear…

July 5, 2018

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Technology Leadership Advisory Committee

ERAC’s Executive Committee has appointed the following individuals to the Technology Leadership Advisory Committee for a term beginning in June 2018 and continuing through to July 2019. This is an ongoing committee with annual reconfirmation of appointments.

The role of the committee is to provide advice to ERAC’s Executive Committee as to IT directions, policies and initiatives of benefit to consortium members.

ERAC welcomes these representatives to the committee:

Tim Agnew – Director of Information Technology SD22 Vernon
Cheryl Fernandes – Director Information Systems and Technology SD35 Langley
Ted Owens – Network Analyst/IT Manager SD54 Bulkley Valley
Ted Pennell –Director of Information Technology SD61 Greater Victoria
Jennifer Roberts – District Principal of Transformative Learning and Technology SD5 Southeast Kootenay
Stephen Whiffin – Director of Instruction/CIO SD43 Coquitlam

May 30, 2018

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Grades: 8-12

Supplier: Not Available

Six Californian teenagers have unique powers with both positive and negativ…

May 23, 2018

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New PIA Available for Follett Destiny Library Manager

A new Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template for Follett Destiny Library Manager is now available to download and personalize for your district.

Completion of PIAs ensures Districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs.

You can download PIA templates and access additional privacy and security information at pia.bcerac.ca.

May 16, 2018

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Act Now: ERAC Discounts on Canoe Kids

ERAC has reached an agreement with Canoe Kids to make Volumes 1, 2 and 3 available to members at discounted prices. Canoe Kids digital magazines celebrate the differences and similarities among Indigenous cultures. The stories, themes and extraordinary photography are a valuable resource for teachers and students in developing an understanding of First Peoples perspectives and knowledge.

The materials are suitable for elementary and secondary levels. This agreement includes:

Volume 1: The Ojibwe
Volume 2: The Haida
Volume 3: The Mi’kmaq

Both digital and print versions are available at preferred pricing for ERAC members.

Digital versions can be ordered directly through ERAC and we will invoice you for the number of schools in your District.

If you are not ordering digital versions, print copies can be ordered via the Canoe Kids online store, using the ERAC member discount code.

For full details of this agreement, including confidential pricing information, an order form and the discount code for print copies, click here.

May 5, 2018

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ERAC Extends Follett Agreement for One Year

ERAC’s agreement with Follett School Solutions for Destiny Library Manager has been revised and renewed for one year. The agreement offers discounts for districts that purchase an annual license for specific Destiny products and services. This agreement includes the following components:

Destiny Library Manager software and services – including implementation, data conversion, initial training and project management
Options for self-hosted and vendor-hosted Destiny
Discounted renewal prices for Destiny Library Manager and Textbook Manager

For agreement details, check here.

May 2, 2018

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ERAC Renews Agreement with West Education

The ERAC-West Education group agreement on SchoolMessenger Communicate (formerly SchoolConnects from Synrevoice), the fully hosted version of the company’s popular communications system, has been renewed until April 30, 2020. The agreement between ERAC and West’s Education group remains focused on the SchoolMessenger Communicate Hosted Service. The West Education group will also offer ERAC member districts a discount on the new SafeArrival solution.

May 2, 2018

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Microsoft Agreement Renewal

On Friday, April 6, 2018 ERAC awarded the reseller agreement for the new Microsoft Provincial Licensing Agreement to Softchoice and immediately launched the renewal process. The Enterprise Desktop (E Desktop) suite has been replaced with the new Microsoft 365 A3 (M365 A3) suite. You can find details on the agreement here.

All Districts and most independent schools have already been sent renewal information and ERAC Contacts are advised to return their Commitment to Participate form to ERAC as soon as possible so that we can process your renewal.

Grades: 4-7

Supplier: Not Available

Zack souhaite fuir très loin de son village de Saint-Là-Là-du-Bout-du-Monde…

April 30, 2018

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Les élèves de la 4e à la 6e année peuvent apprendre à défendre leurs données grâce à un nouveau

Le jeu Protecteurs de données montre aux enfants comment les courtiers en publicités tentent de recueillir leurs renseignements personnels, et leur présente des stratégies pour assurer la confidentialité de ces renseignements.

Au fur et à mesure que les Canadiens en apprennent davantage sur la façon dont les entreprises recueillent et utilisent leurs renseignements, notamment en influençant les votes et en vendant des produits, ils sont de plus en plus préoccupés par la protection de leur vie privée. Mais les adultes ne sont pas les seuls exposés à un risque : les spécialistes du marketing ciblent aussi les enfants, qui sont moins bien outillés pour se protéger. Le jeu Protecteurs de données est un outil opportun pour aider à enseigner aux enfants des leçons importantes sur la vie privée en ligne.

Le jeu en ligne comprend des guides pour les parents et les enseignants ainsi qu’un plan de leçon pour les élèves de la 4^e à la 6^e année qui renforce encore davantage l’apprentissage en matière de vie privée. Tout le matériel, y compris le jeu, peut être consulté gratuitement sur le site Web de HabiloMédias.

La création du jeu Protecteurs de données a été rendue possible grâce aux contributions financières du Commissariat à la protection de la vie privée du Canada.

April 4, 2018

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Kids Grades 4 to 6 Can Learn to Defend Their Data

Kids Grades 4 to 6 can learn to defend their data with a no-charge new privacy game from MediaSmarts. Data Defenders shows kids how ad brokers try to collect their personal information and offers strategies to keep that information private.

As Canadians learn more about how companies collect and use their data, from influencing voting choices to selling products, they are increasingly worried about their privacy. But it’s not just adults who are at risk – marketers also target children, who are least equipped to protect themselves. Data Defenders is a timely tool to help teach important lessons about online privacy to kids. The online game is accompanied by parent and teacher guides and a lesson plan for grades 4 to 6 that further reinforces privacy learning. All materials, including the game, can be accessed free of charge on the MediaSmarts website.

Data Defenders was made possible by financial contributions from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

Grades: 4-7

Supplier: Not Available

Zoélie est une jeune fille attachante livrée à elle-même. Elle a 11 ans et …

March 27, 2018

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Learn360 – 197 New Titles Added

New titles have been added to your BC Digital Classroom subscription from Learn360. Click here to view a full list of the new titles. For the first time, MARC records are now available for Learn360–providing a free, convenient, and effective way to increase usage by linking users directly into the Learn360 platform! The MARC records are available in your Admin Portal and can easily be integrated into your library’s catalog system by downloading them and adding them to your records. Contact your Learn360 rep.

Grades: 8-10

Supplier: Not Available

In this fantasy world, a blood fever has killed all adults who contracted i…

March 12, 2018

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New PIAs available for Access Learning, Rosetta Stone and EVERFI

PIAs for Access Learning, Rosetta Stone (French), EVERFI – Future Goals: Hockey Scholar and Ignition: Future Goals are available to download and personalize for your district. Completion of these PIAs ensures Districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs. You can download your PIA templates and access additional privacy and security information at pia.bcerac.ca.

February 28, 2018

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Bringing Virtual Learning Experiences to Your Classroom

Explore the possibilities to engage your students in real-time learning. You can find a short video to inspire you and tips to get you started. Identify your learning purpose and connect with an expert to arrange a session or join a pre-arranged virtual learning experience. You will find everything here.

February 8, 2018

Grades: 1-6

Supplier: Not Available

This vividly illustrated picture book focuses on the connection between hum…

Grades: PreK-3

Supplier: Not Available

A young girl eagerly anticipates her upcoming birthday and asks question af…

February 6, 2018

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New! Learning Resource Selection Course

Wondering How to Select Resources for Your Classroom?

Whether you are a beginning teacher or a veteran, Learning Resource Selection for K-12 Teachers will support your decision-making process so you feel confident that you’ve exercised due diligence in choosing appropriate resources for your classroom. Developed by ERAC, in partnership with Open School BC (https://www.openschool.bc.ca/k12/), this course contains four modules and is designed to guide you through a resource selection process. Create your ERAC account, and login to the course here. Completing the four modules should take approximately 45 minutes.

December 8, 2017

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IT4K12 Attendees

Here are your 2017 Post Conference Highlights Thank you to all our members and exhibitors who attended this year’s IT4K12 event. It was another successful year of learning together and technology. Our post conference website is now live! View recorded sessions, lists of exhibitors, prize winners and more. We have kept the program up, so you can identify sessions and presenters. Feel free to forward all this information to your colleagues who were unable to attend. Whether you joined us at IT4K12 2017 or not, we hope you find this post conference material useful. We look forward to seeing you again at IT4K12 2018 which will be held November 22 & 23, 2018.

Grades: 11-12

Supplier: Not Available

Au gré de ses pérégrinations dans Paris, Jean Bosmans se remémore « des bri…

December 4, 2017

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Trimble SketchUp License Change Notification

If your School District held a 2015 license for SketchUp Pro, please note that it expired November 20, 2017 and you will need to upgrade to a newer version. Either 2016 or 2017 version are still available and ERAC has provided a PIA template that you can personalize for your own district. SketchUp will be offering access to its latest version 2018, later this fall. Please note that the 2018 version has not been reviewed for Privacy Impact Assessment, and the deeper integration with Google Drive and Classroom will present complications for classroom use by students, under B.C. privacy laws.

November 1, 2017

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When We Were Alone

Grades: K-4

Supplier: Not Available

In this sensitively written Canadian picture book, a young First Nations gi…

November 1, 2017

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Educators! Apply to Become an ERAC Evaluator

Posting deadline extended. See more information here: http://www.bctf.ca/opportunities/ERACCommittees.aspx Consider applying to become an ERAC evaluator. Successful applicants are appointed to a 3 year term. Evaluators are trained in resource evaluation criteria and processes, and provided compensation for carrying out their assignments, from home. Provide value to your provincial colleagues while building your own professional expertise.

October 5, 2017

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More Session Highlights

Sessions to Support District Strategies and Planning for Ed and Tech Professionals

Moving into 21st Century Infrastructure by creating a IT strategic plan that addresses the educational and administrative needs of a School District, with a focus on student learning and teachers enhancing classroom experiences. Find out how one district is developing a responsive approach to providing IT support and functionality to further ADST and other curriculum.
Get the Inside Look: Modeling Project Planning Through an RFP Process Planning for an RFP process related to technology infrastructure requires leadership from a multi-department team including technology and education. This session will provide practical tips and considerations for developing an RFP process, using a Wifi network upgrade as an example.
An Education on Privacy Risk

Sessions for Technology Infrastructure/Systems

Layer 3 Switches and LAN Topology Best Practices The demands on school district’s Local Area Networks are increasing as connectivity becomes critical to teaching and learning. Are your school LANs capable of meeting the challenge?
First Steps into the Cloud Building off the experiences that SD42 had in moving to the public cloud we will share our early easy wins, some of the issues we ran into, and how we solved them. Microsoft will bring similar stories from customers across Canada. You will bring your questions and experiences to share
Leadership on the Front Lines
Network Traffic Shaping for NGN QoS on Palo Alto Firewalls

Sessions to Support Curriculum Implementation and Innovation in the Classroom

Instructional Samples for K-12 Teachers – The Ministry of Education will showcase instructional samples that follow a pedagogical framework that includes: connections to the curriculum, First Peoples Principles of Learning, and classroom assessment. Also included is an overview of Taking Making into Classrooms, an online course that serves as an entry point into the ADST curriculum.
District Wide Implementation of Computational Thinking
Office 365 Cool Uses in the Classroom
LibGuides – Connecting Learning to Digital Resources

October 5, 2017

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IT4K12 Conference – Program is Now Available

Check out the IT4K12 Program Page to view the most up to date program. Here you will find details on the many presentations and workshops being offered at this year’s event as well as presenter information. There are two views to choose from so you can easily plan your time at the conference.

Have you registered to attend this year’s IT4K12 Conference? Join your colleagues and ERAC members from across BC by registering now. Limited space remains available to attend the special pre-conference event Wednesday November 8^th at Microsoft Vancouver. To reserve a spot, select the option to attend during registration.

Grades: 5-7

Supplier: Not Available

Twelve-year-old Annabelle lives in an American farming community in the 194…

Raven Tales

Grades: 1-7

Supplier: Not Available

This highly engaging, award-winning series of 26 videos is suitable for stu…

Les légendes du corbeau

Grades: 2-5

Supplier: Not Available

Cette ressource humoristique s’adresse plus particulièrement aux élèves du …

Grades: PreK-5

Supplier: Not Available

This picture book, written in rhyme, demonstrates the possible creations th…

ABORIGINAL

Canoe Kids: The Haida of Haida Gwaii

Grades: K-12

Supplier: Not Available

This Canadian magazine-style resource has a number of illustrated short art…

Art of Being Métis, The

Grades: 4-12

Supplier: Not Available

This Canadian video follows the building a birch bark canoe from selecting …

Boreal Herbal, The: Wild Food and Medicine Plants of the North

Grades: 8-12

Supplier: Not Available

This engaging, illustrated, and easy to use resource discusses the wild foo…

Drum Story, The

Grades: 3-7

Grades: 6-9

Supplier: Not Available

Zafir moves with his family from Dubai to war-torn Syria, and struggles to …

September 7, 2017

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A Curated List of Websites for Classroom Use to Save You Time

The collection will include Canadian websites that add value for students and educators. Today’s learners engage with a variety of media, including games, videos, web casts and interactive online tools outside the classroom. Using similar tools in the classroom will increase student engagement with the BC Curriculum and the intended learning outcomes.

As online resources expand, teachers have the daunting job of choosing resources that fit the criteria that makes them suited for classroom use. This new collection of online resources meets a baseline set of criteria that ensures each online resource is suitable for classroom use:

Free to access
Free of advertising
Accessible without authentication
More than edu-tainment
Curriculum support

Resources that pass the preliminary criteria then go through a deep evaluation by teams of trained evaluators who are practicing BC teachers to ensure that they are relevant to students, accurate, timely, and appropriate as well as meet core and curricular competencies based on the BC Curriculum.

Fast Track Students to Quality Content

For example, the resource A Journey into Time Immemorial is from the SFU Virtual Museum and offers “an in-depth look at the culture and customs of the Sto:lo people” according to the ERAC review. The content supports grades 4 through 12 in a variety of subject areas and “is a rich source of non-fiction texts.”

The number of websites from a Google search, many of which have commercial interests, make finding suitable and safe digital learning experiences and resources challenging for teachers. Even within one site, such as NASA, finding the materials suitable for your students can be overwhelming. Having a curated collection of pre-selected sites – with specific URLs to the exact resources you are looking for – saves time and ensures that students can access digital resources that will engage and educate them.

Many interactive sites exist in a variety of subject areas including science, coding, space and language arts. Consider Storyline Online, which has celebrated actors reading to students in an engaging manner with images and illustrations included. Many students will recognize Elijah Wood from the Lord of the Rings reading Me and My Cat by Satoshi Kitamura. Each book comes with an Activity Guide that suggests ways of working with the book in the classroom including information regarding both the author and the reader.

This collection will include virtual tours, videos, web casts, demonstrations, games and more.

How To Access the New Collection

Go to the K12 Resource Collection website and apply the website search filter to see the collections’ newly added website titles.
- To access the complete review, click into the resource and use your district or school email address to sign in to your ERAC account. If you do not have an account, please create one by visiting the ERAC homepage.
Access the collection using the K12 Resource Collection App

June 2, 2017

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IT4K12 Registration is Now Open!

Looking to collaborate, share and learn from colleagues all around BC? Then you don’t want to miss this! IT4K12 2017 is taking place November 9^th & 10^th at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel in Richmond, BC. The only event of its kind, this conference brings together leaders in education & IT allowing them to share their knowledge and expertise along with learning what’s new and exciting in their respective industries.

ERAC is working hard on the program (it promises to be the best one yet!) but we have some exciting details to share in the meantime:

Motivation & Inspiration

Sue Gardner, the former Executive Director of Wikimedia (which runs Wikipedia) is delivering the keynote address. She is one of a few women who has headed up a top ten website. A formidable speaker on new media, Sue looks to the future of collaboration on the web. How will the new knowledge economy—where content is free, and everyone’s a contributor—affect our education, our journalism, and our democracy?

Connect on Multiple Levels

Introducing a new attraction to this year’s event, the ERAC Connect Lounge! This comfortable work space will provide the perfect spot to catch up with colleagues, fast-charge your mobile devices in the brand new Brightbox Station, enjoy specialty treats to keep you energized and more. Be sure to stop by and check out all the lounge has to offer.

Want even more ways to connect before, during and after the event? ERAC is excited to partner with Quickmobile bringing you a customized event app just for IT4K12. The app will include features such as community boards, individual profiles, games and a one click social media sharing tool.

ERAC members can register by visiting this page.

Attention Exhibitors

If you are a vendor looking to exhibit at this conference you have multiple opportunities to choose from, each providing a unique set of benefits. Click here for more information and to register.

Grades: 4-6

Supplier: Not Available

When her parents cannot care for her, Charlie is forced to leave her family…

May 25, 2017

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ERAC Has an APP for That

ERAC has an APP for the K-12 Resource Collection. Educators now have access to the only searchable collection of BC educator-evaluated resources from any Apple or Android device. Find it in your APP store by searching for BCERAC. The APP allows for on-the-spot collaboration by groups of teachers; working with grade level teams, subject specialists, and with the support of teacher-librarians. Together, teams can quickly evaluate whether a resource fits with the core and curricular competencies, and whether social considerations might support or detract from student learning in order to select the best resources for each classroom. Time spent choosing resources at vendor displays can be reduced by using the resource collection to preview key information. Reviews include Curriculum Fit, Social Considerations, General Content, Technical Design, suggested Classroom Usage and any Additional Comments by your peer-reviewers. If the resource is not in the collection, you can request that it be reviewed by submitting an online form. The BCTF selects practicing BC teachers to evaluate the resources in the collection. ERAC trains all new evaluators and provides mentorship as they start their three-year term. Two or more educators are assigned to that specific resource, based on each team member’s area of expertise. The review team, representing a broad spectrum of perspectives, develops a cohesive evaluation of the assigned resource. This is a unique collection of resources reviewed by BC educators, linked to the BC Curriculum with corresponding grade and subject areas. Currently, ERAC offers five curated collections: Aboriginal, ELL, LGBTQ, Professional, and Novel. You can search the collection by Title, Author or Keywords. If you are looking for novels that include LGBTQ perspectives, characters or themes, start by searching the LGBTQ Collection. Add the keyword ‘adventure’ and you will see three resources to consider. One resource, Better Nate Than Ever, offers an “opportunity to open dialogue and discussion with students regarding gender difference and preferences, and sexual orientation” according to the Social Considerations Comments. As for Curriculum Fit, Better Nate Than Ever can be used to support the core competencies of reading and social responsibility and is suitable “as a novel for guided reading selection or independent novel study in a classroom or library setting.” Entering the keyword ‘women’ in the Aboriginal collection in the search field will present the resource Great Women from our First Nations. This resource is an authentic First People’s text and a Canadian resource suitable as “a standalone resource… in a classroom library or as examples of biographical writing excerpts” according to the Suggested Classroom Usage section. It includes a teacher resource with suggested lesson plans. In order to access the full reviews, create an account on the ERAC homepage by entering your name along with your district or school email address to validate your membership. Once you have an account, find a resource you are interested in and log in to get the detailed review.

Supplier: Not Available

Wadjda, a spunky young Muslim girl in Saudi Arabia, yearns for a green bicycle so she can race with her best friend, who is a boy. She is faced with a problem: it is improper for girls to ride bicycles. Frustrated by the many expectations and constraints placed on girls in her culture, she is resourceful and comes up with many schemes to raise money to buy the precious bike. This informative and relevant novel for students in grades 6-9 allows for exploration of personal identity, understanding diversity, and presents opportunities to discuss Muslim

May 1, 2017

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Improving Access to Digital Resources for Students and Teachers

Wondering how and where you can access the BC Digital Classroom Collection in your own district? There are several options. 1. ERAC provides direct access to the BC Digital Classroom resources through the Access page. Within a school site, any student and teacher can visit the Access page and will be directly connected into the resource database collection. Note that home access requires a login and password, available from your District Contact page. 2. District-customized Access page: Many districts have also created their own landing pages to allow teachers and learners to easily access the BCDC and other district-licensed or free digital resources. Check with your District Contact to see whether your district has done this.

April 7, 2017

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BC Digital Classroom Supports the New Curriculum

Curriculum Connections Provide Starting Points

This website provides over 100 examples of starting points connecting curriculum to the BC Digital Classroom (BCDC) collection resources. The starting points highlight the Big Idea, Learning Standards, lesson topic, and a seed activity idea. Each starting point is linked directly to the relevant website within the BCDC resource, allowing the teacher to spend less time browsing and searching. In addition, the team has created some starting points which highlight First Peoples Principles in Learning and Aboriginal Worldviews and Perspectives.

These starting points are just that – a place to support teachers as they explore the connection between these digital resources and the curriculum, and a way to spark the creation of new lesson connections using the BCDC collection.

F2F Professional Learning Events Provide Deeper Exploration of Resources

ERAC’s Professional Learning Team has provided in-district workshops and professional opportunities to district teams around the province, and supported teacher librarians, consultants, and helping teachers in planning for professional learning in their own districts.

At these F2F sessions the Team presents an overview of ERAC services and resources, and offers an in-depth exploration of the resources and tools within the BC Digital Classroom Collection.

The Professional Learning Team also highlights the K-12 Resource Collection where members can access full information on evaluated resources, such as novels, videos, and websites. Download the BCERAC app for Apple and Android to have quick mobile access to search the database.

These on-site sessions allow districts to maximize the value of their membership in ERAC and are actually enabling ERAC to expand support to other districts by sharing the exciting work being done across the province.

One example is Maple Ridge School District 42, where, through the hard work of Irene Gibeault and their team, the district has developed an online resources page: http://schools.sd42.ca/onlineresources/. It is well-organized for primary, intermediate, and secondary teachers to access ERAC, the BCDC Collection, and other licensed databases. A value-added aspect of this site is the identification and annotation of magazines available through EBSCO resources. See example of intermediate magazines here.

Providing Online Professional Learning Supports

Because not every district or every ERAC member can attend a F2F session, the Team has created short video clips and PowerPoint templates that educators can use to further explore and customize presentations for your district or school.

The ERAC Beyond Databases – Presentation Format Slides includes an overview of the complete BCDC Collection and speaking points for the slides. The PowerPoint templates have been separated into sections to focus on the attributes of specific resources such as World Book K-3, EBSCO 4-7, Gale 8-9, Global Issues in Context, and KnowBC. Watch for more updates to this page by September 2017.

District Contacts and PSA representatives – Please request and book your Professional Learning Team workshop by contacting Kevin Amboe.

Grades: 4-12

Supplier: Not Available

This well-designed, lavishly illustrated resource will support ELL students at the starting and emerging levels in both mainstream classroom settings and ELL classrooms. Its key vocabulary words and basic concepts in a variety of content areas will allow ELLs to take part in regular classroom activities at an adapted level, and in an ELL classroom will aid development of general and academic vocabulary. Each chapter provides a variety of useful activities, and the extensive “Reproducible Activity Book” (purchased separately) provides teachers with an array of activities to extend student learning, including activities with a greater degree of differentiation and adaptations for ELL

March 29, 2017

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Annual Renewal of Microsoft EDesktop Agreement

It’s Annual Renewal Time for the ERAC Provincial Microsoft Licensing Agreement. The Microsoft Enterprise Desktop (E Desktop) Suite gives all participating ERAC members access to the latest versions of Office Professional, Windows operating systems and the ECAL Suite. April 1, 2017 marks the beginning of Year 3 of this 3-Year agreement which expires March 31, 2018. Participating Districts and Schools that have not yet submitted a Purchase Order Number to Softchoice should do so immediately. Subscribers to Enterprise Desktop and/or Office are reminded that during the transition to Year 3 of this agreement, while new licenses are being processed, the Microsoft Home Use Program (HUP) will not be available for a few days. Staff trying to access HUP should do so before March 31, 2017 or after April 5, 2017. If you have questions about the annual renewal process, please contact us at info@bcerac.ca as soon as possible.

Supplier: Not Available

Margaret raconte son retour difficile dans sa communauté, après avoir vécu deux ans dans une école résidentielle. L’accueil qui lui est réservé n’est pas celui auquel elle s’attendait. Elle a oublié la langue de son peuple et est devenue une étrangère parmi les siens. Elle décrit son apprentissage pour retrouver sa place et réconcilier son ancienne personnalité avec la nouvelle. Cette fillette de dix ans nous plonge dans un monde difficile où elle doit concilier deux cultures. Elle nous fait découvrir ses deux identités et cherche à rapprocher le monde des Blancs et celui des Inuits. Ce récit autobiographique aborde ce cheminement de manière très

Shi-shi-etko

Grades: 5-10

Supplier: Not Available

Shi-shi-etko devra bientôt quitter sa famille, sa maison et son village pour aller au pensionnat. Elle raconte ses derniers jours avec les membres de sa famille, alors qu’elle s’imprègne de toute sa culture et de toute la beauté de son environnement avant de partir. Elle en savoure chaque détail. Shi-shi-etko trouve du réconfort dans tout de qui l’entoure à la veille de cette grande déchirure. Elle se fait la promesse de se souvenir. Cette histoire très émouvante révèle une partie de l’histoire canadienne. Elle décrit l’expérience dévastatrice vécue par les enfants des Premières Nations qui ont dû quitter tout ce qu’ils connaissaient pour aller vivre en pensionnat. Avec un encadrement approprié, elle permettra aux élèves de mieux comprendre les épreuves qu’ont dû traverser les peuples autochtones

March 2, 2017

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Why “Taking Your Seat at the Fire?”

After a moment of silent reflection, Leona Prince states, “When thinking about the journey of Aboriginal Education in the province of BC, we are starting to understand the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing. Aboriginal culture is polyphonic, meaning that it requires many voices to sustain it, and therefore so does Aboriginal Education. These voices need to be a network of diverse narratives if we are going to truly begin the work of reconciliation. ‘Taking our Seat at the Fire’ is a vision of all of us taking our seats together and being inspired by our similarities and differences. It is a call for all of us to take ownership of the responsibility of contributing equally to our future in education.”

The new BC curriculum reflects the broader societal growing awareness of the rich history, traditions and cultural practices of Aboriginal people and their role in the country. Classroom and students are a way to bring broader awareness and understanding to the future. “Through the process of reviewing the Ministry of Education document Aboriginal Worldviews and Perspectives and staying true to the framework of the FNESC guidelines for the First Peoples’ Principles of Learning, we were able to find a way to contribute to BC Educators in a meaningful way” states Prince.

As part of the Professional Learning Team, Monica Berra and Leona Prince, presented at the IT4K12 2016 “Taking Your Seat at the Fire – Continuing the Conversation Around Culturally Responsible Resources”.

“We began this work 3 years ago, as colleagues in School District No. 57 and ERAC supported our work around culturally authentic and relevant resources,” states Berra. This was first defined by FNESC in their 2008 publication English 12 First Peoples. ERAC redefined how resources were evaluated with these added criteria in 2014 and restructured the process by which Aboriginal Resources are evaluated. At IT4K12 2015, Prince and Berra presented on Culturally Authentic and Relevant Resources, which highlighted the work done to date. As momentum grew within the organization around Aboriginal Education, it culminated in the creation of the ERAC ABED Support Site.

“The site framework of the natural elements, although grounded in the ideals of the Medicine Wheel, was chosen because of the inclusive nature of fire, water, earth and air. We all have our own personal connections to each of these, especially in BC where we have these in abundance. It really emphasized the privileges as residents of BC to have such beautiful natural surroundings, but also the responsibility to the land,” Prince relays.

The idea for the presentation was rooted in both Monica and Leona’s connection to their personal histories, their families and the lands that they both grew up on. Every detail in the presentation speaks to the importance of connection and collaboration. The photos of Leona’s two daughters on the lake side home where Monica spent most of her life highlights the importance of shared knowledge and collaboration. It is also a nod to the cover of Bev Seller’s ‘They Called Me Number One’, a story of personal significance to Berra.

Both Monica and Leona are storytellers and they weave for us a journey and invite us to come along. “Speaking with the audience at our sessions truly gave me an understanding of the cross section of educators across BC and the challenges they face,” states Prince. “It was humbling. For us to change our practice, we need to change the way we think and confront our biases and I believe we are well on our way. It is important for us to give, all those that are interested, an entry point into imbedding Aboriginal ways of knowing and being.” The session includes culturally authentic and relevant resources, the BC digital classroom, Aboriginal Ways of Knowing and also highlights technology in the classroom from a cultural perspective.

To begin your journey in Aboriginal learning, Prince encourages educators to find someone that complements them so that they can learn from each other. Berra agrees, noting that her practice has been brought forward by talking with others and learning from them, especially from working with Prince. The mutual respect and camaraderie is palpable between Prince and Berra and this continually opens the door for more conversations.

“Our ERAC consortium is an invitation to the conversation,” encourages Berra. “Let’s keep those conversations going.”

Each of their sessions ends with this poignant question, “Who is sitting at your fire?” It is a call to action for each of us, as educators, to take ownership of your own learning journey and to find those that share common goals.

Check out more by taking a walk through ERAC’s Aboriginal Education Support Site or connect directly with Leona Prince at lprince@sd57.bc.ca or Monica Berra at MBerra@sd57.bc.ca for more information. As part of ERAC’s professional learning team you can schedule this professional learning session through info@bcerac.ca.

March 2, 2017

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February & March 2017 Deadlines

Don’t miss these important upcoming deadlines for the next two months: Group Média TFO Short Term Offer on IDÉLLO – expires March 31, 2017 Follett Software – Destiny Library Manager – expires March 31, 2017

January 26, 2017

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Bring the World to Your Classroom Through Virtual Field Trips

If you’ve always wanted to go to Space, then best start saving now as the price tag for commercial space travel will cost you around $75,000 to reserve your seat. A better option is to join Mark Hauk and Merle Ross on a virtual field trip! Besides experiencing the International Space Station via a live interview with the astronauts, you can also go on an archaeological dig with scientists or a deep-sea dive with professionals off the coast of Australia, or scale the peaks of Mount Everest alongside an explorer…just to name a few!

Mark Hauk is the Virtual Field Trip Coordinator with SD23 and has worked within Education for the last 22 years. His colleague, Merle Ross is a Video Specialist, working with equipment and education television over the last 10 years. With their combined expertise and enthusiasm, and while working on the development of a course, they built a strong infrastructure which they used for blended learning. They saw the potential for using it in different ways and worked on rolling out virtual field trips over the next few years.

“Access used to be a challenge, it was all about bandwidth” explains Hauk. “But now there are many cost-effective options like Zoom which allows up to 50 simultaneous connections. This allows more opportunities for teachers and schools to participate. Generally, now all that is needed is a webcam and a computer with Wi-Fi.”

Hauk and Ross started connecting with a variety of people, finding all the options for students including a database they discovered that provided the info needed to connect with museums, zoos and other educational facilities. Some could be accessed for free while others charged a small fee. They would then set up a schedule and class would start with students gaining world class experiences without even leaving the classroom.

“For students that are unable to travel, or can’t afford the cost, or maybe just have anxiety issues, this option is a great way to introduce the world to them,” notes Hauk.

Students were thoroughly engaged when they interviewed an astronaut, live on the International Space Station. But it truly hit home when they were done the close-up interview with the astronaut and he let go of the microphone. It started rotating in mid air on its own, eyes went huge and students were all reminded of zero gravity in space.

“Kids love it and consider it pretty cool to connect with someone so far away,” explains Hauk.

“We grab Google Earth and show the students where on the planet we’re connecting,” notes Ross. “For instance, the Australian live dive took us 11,800 kms away from home which is 17 hours by flight, and 25 feet down in the ocean.”

They also interviewed a survivor of Auschwitz which was eye opening for the students as they got to ask questions and interact, unlike the learning experience obtained when watching a video or reading about it.

“Our next goal is to create a virtual reality experience,” explains Ross. “If we could give students a headset, they could be live on a tour of the Pyramids or stand with the explorer on the peak of Mount Everest while interviewing them.”

“The great thing is that technology is constantly growing, providing more opportunities,” states Hauk. “We’ll be bringing our program to thousands of more students over the next few years.”

Hauk and Ross shared their virtual field trip experiences during a presentation at the last IT4K12 event. They are always happy to share more and help get others on board so feel free to contact them at: mark.hauk@sd23.bc.ca and merle.ross@sd23.bc.ca.

Maybe someday, through connecting with space satellites, students will be able to take a virtual tour of another planet! This exciting future for our students is truly beyond the limit of the sky.

January 13, 2017

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Exchange Online Protection & Advanced Threat Protection

EOP Webinar On Thursday, December 8, 2016 ERAC, Softchoice and Microsoft hosted a webinar to walk through the Exchange Online Protection (EOP) implementation process and to answer other questions about this email filtering solution. As a follow-up to that event, we have prepared a recording of the webinar, a list of questions and answers from the webinar and a FAQ document for Microsoft Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) that some Districts were asking about. If you want to go directly to the recorded EOP Webinar, click here. For the Q&A document from the EOP Webinar, click here. Please note: the Government of BC has pushed the deadline for Districts to migrate off GEMS to January 31, 2017 so you do have extra time to make the transition. Microsoft Advanced Threat Protection During the EOP Webinar, a number of Districts asked about the additional functionality included with Advanced Threat Protection. You can find out more about Microsoft ATP here. While EOP is included at no cost as part of the ERAC EDesktop solution, ATP is only available at an additional cost per user. The costs can be quite significant for a full District deployment but a full District deployment is not required for ATP – Districts can identify high-risk groups and license only those groups if they choose. ERAC is working with Microsoft to negotiate discounted faculty/staff pricing for Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) and to get student accounts included at nominal or zero cost. An offer should be available by mid-January. If you are planning to purchase ATP, we suggest you hold off on that purchase while we try to arrange volume discounts for ATP. January 31, 2017 is the new deadline to migrate from GEMS so you do have time to wait. You can help ERAC negotiate a better discount for ATP by sending an email to psheaves@bcerac.ca indicating whether you are interested in purchasing ATP and for approximately how many users. This will help us estimate volume for the ATP negotiations. For more information, please contact info@bcerac.ca.

January 13, 2017

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Short-Term Offer for IDÉLLO from Group Média TFO

ERAC is pleased to announce a new Short-Term Offer for ERAC members on the evaluated resource IDÉLLO from Group Média TFO. IDÉLLO is a French Language digital learning platform. It offers a wide variety of thematic files, applications, games, educational tools and videos in French. You can find details of the IDÉLLO offer here. District Contacts must sign in for confidential pricing information.

January 13, 2017

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January 2017 Deadlines

Don’t miss these important upcoming deadlines for the next month: Matific Offers ERAC Discount on K – 6 Math Resource – January 31, 2017

January 13, 2017

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Made the Grade – January 2017 Newly Evaluated Resources

Viens Avec Moi: Nous Apprendrons Ensemble!

Grades: 4-6

Supplier: Not Available

Sheyenne Jumbo, une petite fille de la Première Nation des Dénés, dans les Territoires du Nord-Ouest, nous fait découvrir les richesses de sa communauté. Elle nous transporte dans son univers et dans son village en automne, durant la saison de l’orignal. Elle partage sa soif d’apprendre grâce aux histoires qu’elle raconte et elle permettra aux élèves de découvrir le mode de vie des membres d’une Première Nation, la géographie du Canada, l’environnement naturel, les valeurs traditionnelles, les histoires racontées par les Aînés et les plantes médicinales si importants dans sa culture. Les élèves apprendront tour à tour comment faire un panier en écorce de bouleau, identifier des plantes médicinales, cueillir des canneberges ou préparer de la vian

Teens 101 Addictions

Grades: 6-12

Supplier: Distribution Access

This powerful, current, and timely video presents a realistic, first-hand look at addiction, through the story of one teenager’s personal journey. Through this personal story, the students will see the realities of addition, the choices that lead to addiction, the consequences, and the challenges of overcoming addictions. This professional production will draw students in and keep them interested throughout. Teachers will appreciate the many ways that the video can be used in secondary c

Grades: 6-8

Supplier:

This poignant story of World War I is told from a unique perspective – that of Joey, a war horse. Joey must leave his beloved young owner, Albert, when financial pressures force Albert’s family to se… , horse , war , guns , trench , nations , World War I , survival , companionship , anti-war , War Horse , Western Front , 1914 , heroes

December 8, 2016

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Post Conference Highlights Are Up for 2016 IT4K12!

The IT4K12 Post Conference Highlights are up and we’re excited to share it all with you! View a list of our registrants and sponsors (sign in first to see list) and find out who won all the goodies! Presentations weren’t recorded this year but we’ve left the Program up for review. The presentations we do have are available on our new ERAC Vimeo Channel. Enjoy!

December 7, 2016

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Making It Easy to Access Your Resources

ERAC had a mission – to build a more visual interface to the ERAC online collection so members could easily see and access their resources. Well, we did it! Now when you access the collection, you will notice a fresh new look and feel. Simply click on the image to reveal a short description. Click on “Learn More” for complete synopsis and product details. ERAC members can select “Read More” to access information on social considerations, curricular connections and more. Register for your ERAC member login here.

December 7, 2016

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Building the Bridge of Communication Between IT & Education

“Is it plugged in?” are the four most common heard words that often bring mortified embarrassment to many. Yet, for others like IT professionals, they are the four most common words asked. Although our IT support teams help us with the simplest of issues like making sure our devices are plugged in, they also help with complex solutions that directly impact the classroom and our students. For this reason, it is important to have a solid, strong working relationship with your IT professionals, at least, that’s the way Lisa Read sees it.

Lisa Read is the IT Coordinator for SD79, Cowichan Valley, and is a member of ERAC’s Professional Learning Team. Most recently she presented at IT4K12 on the “Feed & Care of Your Nerdlings”.

“I’ve always said that pedagogy is the driver but I like to add that technology is the accelerator,” explains Read, “And when we meld those two worlds together, we’re going to have a strong educational impact.”

That impact is only as strong as the entire team and the efficiency of their communication. If the educational group can’t clearly identify the needs, then the IT team can’t properly address the issue or find a timely solution. Clear communication can help speed things along.

“Our situation is quite unique” notes Read. “In most school districts, you rarely have educators involved in running the technology department, but we do. It assists us in having an education lens or perspective when making and guiding decisions.”

To help get those conversations started, Read’s team holds a 10-15-minute meeting every morning. Tech staff can then ask more specific questions to help source out the problems and offer precise solutions.

“The conversations are much richer and make it easier to come to a resolution than just answering a ‘ticket’”, explains Read. “For instance, a teacher may be having a problem with a printer but when the technician understands it’s 30 elementary students using that printer at the same time, they get the bigger picture and realize the common solution won’t work in this instance.”

Ultimately, the end goal for our students is the same, but these groups can come at it from two different directions and that’s why it can be beneficial to find a better way to communicate. Increased empathy on both sides can go a long way.

“It’s important for IT professionals to understand the pressures educators have within the classroom,” advises Read. “Likewise, teachers should understand that there are multiple ways to address a problem and the technician needs to consider the best solution for the individual and the entire system—in other words, will it scale?”

Some of the ways that Read explains you can work with your IT team better is to: connect with the IT team through their preferred method of communication (they have created a system that works well for them, a combination of tickets, email and face to face check-ins); ask for help instead of trying to fix it yourself; try to differentiate the need for IT support ( is this a new problem, or an ongoing one that the team already knows about); give the team some time to work on the problem (double reporting can bog down the process); and (on the IT professionals’ wish list) it is also of great benefit if the people they support have a minimal level of technological understanding.

“I always encourage teachers to approach technology the way they ask their learners to,” explains Read. “Don’t be afraid to try a different approach if the first one doesn’t work and don’t be afraid to ask for support.”

There are also ways that IT professionals can help educators by understanding that teachers want what is best for their students, so if resistance is sensed it is most likely based in fear or uncertainty and they might not know how to properly ask for support. Read also encourages IT Professionals to go into the actual classrooms and see how teachers are using the technology so they can understand what is being asked of them.

Finally, the biggest challenge continues to be keeping up with classroom/staff support and keeping everything in place working well, while still pushing technology forward with new ideas and solutions.

“It’s the Tyranny of the Urgent,” notes Read. “Our techies are keen but time is our enemy. Technicians are naturally curious and find wonderful ideas and solutions but finding the time to implement them can be extremely challenging, as well as the potential lack of proficiency by users.”

If you have solutions that are working well within your school or district, feel free to contact Cathy Yeomans so she can share your story with others. She can be reached at cyeomans@bcerac.ca.

Lisa Read and all members of the Professional Learning Team provide support for the BC Digital Classroom resources. To arrange for a remote or face to face connection, please contact Kevin Amboe at kamboe@bcerac.ca.

December 7, 2016

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PIA Announcement for BC Digital Classroom Core Collection 2015 – 18

ERAC’s BC Digital Classroom (BCDC) Core Collection subscribers now have a generic Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template available for completion. Districts can ensure that their schools have completed due diligence regarding privacy and security for all staff and students by personalizing the downloadable document for their district. This PIA will help your District comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing an initiative or program(s) even if they do not include the collection of personal information. Best practices indicate Public Bodies should still complete Part 1 of the PIA and submit it along with the signature pages to their privacy office(r) even if it is thought that no personal information is involved. This process ensures that the initiative has been accurately assessed by the School District and has determined that the use of the BCDC Core Collection solution meets the requirements set out in the School Districts’ PIA as required under s.69 (5.3) of FIPPA. To download your BC Digital Classroom Core Collection PIA, go to: https://pia.bcerac.ca/

December 7, 2016

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PIA Announcement for Trimble’s SketchUp Pro

ERAC’s SketchUp Pro subscribers now have a generic Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template available for completion. Districts can ensure that their schools have completed due diligence regarding privacy and security for all staff and students by personalizing the downloadable document for their district. This PIA will help your District comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing an initiative or program(s) even if they do not include the collection of personal information. Best practices indicate Public Bodies should still complete Part 1 of the PIA and submit it along with the signature pages to their privacy office(r) even if it is thought that no personal information is involved. This process ensures that the initiative has been accurately assessed by the School District and has determined that the use of the solution meets the requirements set out in the School Districts’ PIA as required under s.69 (5.3) of FIPPA. To download your SketchUp Pro PIA, go to: https://pia.bcerac.ca/

December 7, 2016

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December Deadlines

Don’t miss these important December Deadlines for the end of the year: Smart Notebook Software – expires December 31, 2016 Smart Whiteboard Products – expires December 31, 2016

December 7, 2016

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Time to Connect – With the Curriculum!

With the new curriculum in place, teachers are searching for learning resources to support their instruction and we’re providing some help! ERAC has created more than 100 lesson topic examples for you through our new BC Digital Classroom Curriculum Connections page and the new Aboriginal Education Curriculum Connections page. Each lesson activity is focused on a Big Idea, includes a brief activity description, and highlights the relevant curriculum connections. Our ERAC team created these examples to spark your awareness of the quality, evaluated digital resources that are a click away for you and your students*. We believe this will be a great starting point to get you going. Enjoy!

November 24, 2016

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You Asked Us – November 2016 – Edmark Series

Q. I see that Edmark’s House Series is available free for ERAC members. How do I access it and does it require a login? A. Yes, Edmark’s House Series is available at no charge and is available to all teachers, students and parents. The four components/resources are available with no login or password required. Just click on the individual resource to gain access. You can find access to this early learning page through these agreement details.

November 4, 2016

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PIA Announcement for FreshGrade

ERAC’s member services have prepared and published a generic Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template for your school/district to complete. In conjunction with the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) for BC, ERAC provides you with a downloadable partially completed copy of the PIA. By completing the FreshGrade PIA it will help your District identify and address privacy and security issues while ensuring compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). As with the introduction of any new program or initiative that involves the collection, use and disclosure of personal information, a PIA must be completed. To download your FreshGrade PIA, go to: https://pia.bcerac.ca/

November 4, 2016

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Cultivating the Joy of Coding

The word “technology” or “coding” can drive fear into the hearts of some, especially if they are expected to teach it. Not so with Kara Dawson, Lead Information Technology Support Teacher of SD71, Comox.

“I’ve always dabbled in coding but am definitely not an expert,” explains Dawson. “During a project I was involved in over 13 years ago with Dreamweaver, we started a school district page and I found I loved working with code”.

That love for code has stayed with Dawson throughout her 20+ years of teaching, including the start of an Hour of Code that she has always promoted. Last year she noticed she was getting a lot of questions around coding so she created a workshop for her district. She was then invited to participate in ERAC’s coding project which she thoroughly enjoyed and came back to the district with more excitement and more focused coding goals.

“I started with Lego Minestorms which has lego pieces that include tiny sensors,” notes Dawson. “It takes a few days to put together and is challenging but was limited to the Lego code at the time.”

Wanting to expand on coding, Dawson integrated a different product, a Sphero. This ball robot was very durable and could be made to jump, move and change colours. Students were able to make light shows that worked in time with the movements and colours.

“As I was teaching myself to create a square and figuring out the calculations to do a 180 degree turn, I realized I didn’t need to know it,” explains Dawson. “The students were learning faster than me and were collaborating together.”

The children soon surpassed Dawson and they took pleasure in sharing their knowledge with others; students and teachers alike. And it wasn’t the kids you expected to excel, but rather some of the struggling students who shined when it came to coding and creating the robots. It ignited their enthusiasm and they enjoyed sharing their expertise with their peers.

“It’s always better to work in a group because different people bring different strengths to the table,” shared Dawson. “You have the mathematician that is able to think very linearly for the calculations, then you also have the creative student that is able to conceptualize the final product and take the lead in design, and so on. Doing coding can be frustrating if done by yourself.”

Controlling something on a screen is much different from controlling a 3D object through coding and students found it very empowering. Dawson recommends the Tickle app as a great option for teaching coding to primary students and Lightning Lab has been beneficial for older students as a hub to create, contribute and learn with Sphero robots.

Dawson will be sharing more insights at her IT4K12 session “Demystifying Coding” on November 18^th at 11:00 am.

“Some people have a fear of code,” notes Dawson. “I hope through this presentation that attendees will feel that it’s more doable and that they’re more comfortable with it overall. My main advice is to not be afraid and just go for it!”

In Dawson’s role, she teaches students and teachers how to use technology in a meaningful way. You can see what she’s up to with her SD71 teachers through her personal site at Kara’s Corner.

November 4, 2016

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YUKON – ERAC Reaches Far and Wide

ERAC’s Professional Learning Team are busy! They have been connecting teachers through their face to face engagements sessions all across BC, and now the Yukon. Team Leader, Kevin Amboe, and team member Lisa Read, were recently in the Yukon and had the opportunity first-hand to see how excited the teachers became when they realized the depth of resources they were able to access. Their deep dive took teachers into specific resources and identified ways for students to access custom portions of videos, plus so much more, all while integrating BCDC resources into the classroom. Some teachers specifically asked about additional French resources. Kevin was able to provide them direction from within the BC Digital Classroom and print resources in ERAC’s online collection, as well as take the feedback and expand on future presentations, identifying and accessing French resources. The Yukon Department of Education added to Kevin’s information by providing a Yukon specific handout with passwords and instructions for home access to teachers and students. Having met the day before with education leaders provided insight for personalization of the ERAC presentation. It also provided a deeper understanding for these leaders of the value of ERAC to classroom teachers in utilizing the BC Digital Classroom within their schools. If you have questions or would like to book a session, please feel free to contact Kevin Amboe directly at kamboe@bcerac.ca. Bring on the professional learning!

Supplier:

The latest book by award-winning Canadian First Nations author Bev Sellars addresses misinformation and stereotypes that surround First Nations people. Sellars discusses the socio-economic divide bet… , Aboriginal , Indigenous , First Nations , BC

November 4, 2016

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Have a Resource with Potential Social Considerations? ERAC will Evaluate It

Are you wondering whether a novel is a good ‘fit’ for students in your district or classroom? First, check to see if the novel has received an ERAC evaluation in our online collection. Can’t locate it in the current database? Then submit an evaluation request form to ERAC to conduct a professional peer evaluation. The Social Considerations section (see Icon in this story) of our evaluation form highlights specific aspects of a novel that require teacher consideration and awareness. This allows them the opportunity to consider whether the resource is appropriate for that particular classroom. Perhaps there’s a new teen fiction title you’d like to use, we want to hear about it! Just submit the title through ERAC’s evaluation form. Thank you to everyone who submitted resources following our last request. We have received 42 evaluation suggestions and we will evaluate many of these over the coming months.

November 4, 2016

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Early Learning Support for Primary Classroom Teachers

Wondering where to find “Sammy’s Science House” to help you teach your budding scientists? ERAC can help! The Edmark House Series is available to teachers, parents and students at no charge. There are four titles to enjoy including reading, math, science and social studies. They also include supporting corresponding print materials like lesson plans and teacher guides. This series will assist your young learners in building basic skills, both prior to their entering school and throughout their primary years of learning development.

November 4, 2016

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November Deadlines

Don’t miss these important November Deadlines: Smart Notebook Software – expires December 31, 2016 Smart Whiteboard Products – expires December 31, 2016

November 4, 2016

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Play in the Big Leagues – Meet Your IT4K12 Heavy Hitters

Our heavy hitters of IT4K12 are lining up! We have some intriguing presentations that are now listed in our Program. Check out more details on your major leaguers below: Find out if your peers have already registered by checking the Attendee tab and get others on board by printing and posting your new Attendee Poster! Looking forward to seeing you at IT4K12.

Grades: 6-9

Supplier:

Les parents de Julien décident d’envoyer Marcel, son grand-père, dans un foyer de personnes âgées, car il commence à perdre la mémoire. Marcel ne veut pas y finir ses jours et il se lance dans une fol

October 12, 2016

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ArcGIS Available to ERAC Members at No Charge

If you’re looking for a complimentary geography based resource, then ArcGIS is a great option and available to ERAC members at no charge for educational purposes (only). ERAC has signed a license agreement with the Environmental Systems Research Institute (esri Canada) for the use of this product. ArcGIS Online provides a way to bring spatial literacy and geographic inquiry into the classroom. Students enjoy visualizing, analyzing and understanding geographic patterns and processes and can create and use maps that develop higher order thinking skills. To find out more, sign in and review the ArcGIS agreement.

October 12, 2016

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Be a Part of Something BIG – Sponsor at IT4K12

The annual IT4K12 event is growing every year and this year we have more room for attendees in the new ballroom at our venue. This means you’ll be able to meet with more of your target market. As always, we have created a strong sponsorship package to meet your needs for exposure at the event on November 17-18. This is your chance to connect with ERAC’s many public and private members. Our booths are already more than half filled, and we hope you’ll get on board soon. To find out why you want to be a part of this event, just check out our new IT4K12 Sponsor Poster! Sponsors can register here. Looking forward to seeing you there. Only 1.5 months left!

October 12, 2016

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Getting Students Engaged is as Easy as 1..2..3D

3D printing has come a long way. We can make model replicas of almost anything including prosthetic limbs and now with the use of hydrogels mixed with living cells, even human organs for transplant. Your students won’t have to go that far though to get engaged in a 3D project

Chris Gauvin, who is a grade 4/5 classroom teacher at Ecole Martha Currie Elementary, got interested himself in 3D printing four years ago. While watching some helping teachers experiment with it, he showed interest and wondered aloud about using it with elementary students, and soon he had a borrowed 3D printer for use in his classroom for three weeks

“After getting involved with it, I saw the huge potential for learning opportunities,” notes Gauvin. “So I, along with several of our district helping teachers, started researching what would be the best suited product for what our district needs would be.” That research paid off as Gauvin was soon provided a 3D printer for his class.

The students were excited and interested as none had seen or used a 3D printer before. The process in using a 3D printer is to take a digital 3D model and turn the digital file into a physical object. Tinkercad was the online computer automated drafting program used to create the three dimensional items. Two projects were soon identified; one a personalized keychain name tag, and the other, a project on symmetrical snowflakes to tie in with a lesson on symmetry and measurement.

The level of engagement was high and students soon started to see their own designs coming to life and handling their tangible creations. “There was a great level of interest,” explains Gauvin. “The students got to see what worked and what didn’t and to figure out how to change it to get the result they wanted.”

It was challenging for the students to wrap their head around the multiple dimensions of the objects and they were reminded to look at it in all the different angles. Gauvin specifically picked the projects that weren’t going to work so they could analyze it and come up with new design processes. For instance, some of the letters would fall off the name tags, or they had to correct measurements for the proper snowflake symmetry once in 3D. This provided another level of problem solving and accomplishment as students revised and finalized their products’. Students were able to personalize their name tags even more by colouring the plastic once printed.

“Overall, it was quite easy and is still quite a novelty with the students,” explains Gauvin. “There was a bit of a learning curve but they supported and helped each other throughout the entire process.”

The learning curve for the teacher can be quite a bit more but Gauvin encourages you to initially start with a buddy or someone who knows the product. This will help get you up and running faster.

Generally, the printing doesn’t take too long, depending on the size of the project and how fast the printer can print. Gauvin’s name tags took about 30 minutes to one hour and the snow flakes about one to two hours, depending on the intricacy.

So when your school gets the opportunity to obtain a 3D printer, grab it and get your buddy to help you set it up. There’s lots of creating to get started on!

To find out more about everything 3D, register for IT4K12. The theme this year is “Learn & Work in 3D – Ideate, Innovate and Integrate”. Come to learn and share with your colleagues!

October 12, 2016

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We Have TEN Reasons Why You Need to Come to IT4K12!

Haven’t registered yet for IT4K12? You won’t want to miss out and we have ten reasons why! Check out our attached poster on “Top Ten Reasons to Attend IT4K12” and feel free

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