Workshop 1

Thursday May 6

Title: Strategic Planning for Connected Classrooms

Workshop Description:

Recent experience and research tell us that a change in methods and mindsets is required to help this and future generations live up to their potential in a global economy where collaborative knowledge creation is a way of life and constant discovery is the norm. The advent of Web 2.0 technologies is providing more options for students, educators, administrators, parents and industry to share, collaborate and to co-create knowledge through virtual communities and learning networks. We therefore have the opportunity today, through social learning, and content development networking technologies to create a supportive environment for continuous improvement in teaching and learning practice and to build teaching and leadership capacity for innovation in our schools, in our pedagogical approaches and in our administrative and decision-making practices. With such a shift comes an increasing need for new approaches to professional learning, teacher support, school and board administration, privacy and information management, and relevant modes of interaction. It is therefore imperative that school boards create a common vision of what the future school and classroom learning environments will look like and how to make the most effective use of technology within them for students and staff. In this workshop, participants will explore the possibilities and tools for developing a sustainable strategic plan to build teaching and leadership capacity while building connections beyond the classroom walls.

Presenter: Hélène Fournier

Hélène is currently the Director of Professional Learning Services at Curriculum Services Canada. Her main responsibility to source, develop and manage a variety of e-learning projects to support the learning needs of educators and other adult learners using a variety of e-learning modalities and format such as video production, web conferencing, social networking, online courses and interactive learning sites. Hélène previously worked as Project Director of Alberta’s Distributed Learning Strategy for Alberta Education. Prior to this, she played a leadership role in the design and development of e-learning materials for K-12 students, teachers and parents in Alberta. She has also worked at Red River College in Winnipeg as a Program Officer of the Distance Education Division, as well as at La Cité collégiale in Ottawa where she held various positions in the areas of e-learning and information management. She has worked for a variety of Canadian and overseas institutions as a trainer and consultant in the areas of distance and distributed learning. Hélène has both a Masters of Educational Technology and Post-Graduate Certificate in Technology-Based Distributed Learning from the University of British Columbia, and a Bachelor of Commerce Double Major from the University of Ottawa.