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Can Social Networking Boost Literacy Skills?
Can Social Networking Boost Literacy Skills?
The findings of two recent literacy studies in Great Britain will come as no surprise to many parents and may also help to explain why students are reluctant to do homework. These studies reveal that most young people never pick up a book—at least not outside of school. In fact, about one in five reads blogs and magazines only. But these findings shouldn’t be interpreted as meaning that young people don’t read. It’s just that students browse social networking sites, blogs, websites and magazines much more frequently than they read books.
Both of these studies on the reading and writing habits of students were undertaken by the National Literacy Trust. One study surveyed more than 2,000 students aged 7 to 15. The other involved more than 3,000 students aged 9 to 16. According to these studies, 20 per cent of students never read fiction or nonfiction books, but about 67 per cent surf websites weekly, 55 per cent read e-mails and 46 per cent read blogs.
Flannel Stories | Flannel
Flannel is the nonprofit behind the BASIC, NOOMA, and Ed’s Story films. We are a group of people committed to giving everyone a fresh look at the teachings of Jesus. We’re just a small company that is donor-supported and loved. We are not affiliated with any church, denomination, religious organization, or religious movement. Please click here to view our statement on doctrine.
via Flannel Stories | Flannel.
CCSA Digital Citizenship presentation resource.
Cybersmart – About Cybersmart – Australian Cyber Awareness Program
What is Cybersmart?
Cybersmart is a national cybersafety and cybersecurity education program managed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), as part of the Australian Government’s 2008 commitment ($125.8 million over 4 years) to cybersafety. The program is specifically designed to meet the needs of its target audiences of children, young people, parents, teachers and library staff.
Cybersmart aims to:
Inform children, young people, parents, teachers and library staff about cybersafety issues
Educate audiences through information, resources and practical advice
Empower children and young people to be safe online.
The program includes:
The comprehensive Cybersmart website and a range of information and resources designed to meet the needs of children, young people, parents, teachers, and library staff. All resources are provided free of charge in Australia.
The Cybersmart Outreach Professional Development for Educators program – a cohesive, full day program, tightly structured to meet the researched needs of the teacher audience.
The Pre-Service Teacher program for trainee teachers, educating future teachers on the trends and issues that will affect their students online, in school and in the home.
Online Professional Development program, Connect.ed, designed to complement our face-to-face Professional Development for Educators program.
Internet Safety Awareness presentations for teachers, parents, teens and children –targeted one hour presentations, available in metropolitan and regional centres throughout Australia. These sessions provide topical and targeted information about the risks confronting children online and offer appropriate tools and strategies to help make their experiences safe and positive.
Interactive Shared Learning programs Cybersmart Detectives and Cybersmart Hero, educating young people in an engaging and interactive format, and encouraging them to think for themselves about solutions to cybersafety issues.
The Cybersmart Online Helpline – a service for young people who have experienced issues online.
The Cybersafety Contact Centre—a national telephone centre providing online safety information, advice and access to resources for all Australians.
FOSI – Family Online Safety Institute
Welcome The Family Online Safety Institute is an international, non-profit organization which works to make the online world safer for kids and their families. FOSI convenes leaders in industry, government and the non-profit sectors to collaborate and innovate new solutions and policies in the field of online safety. Through research, resources, events and special projects, FOSI promotes a culture of responsibility online and encourages a sense of digital citizenship for all.With roundtables, forums and conferences around the globe, FOSI plays an important role in driving the international debate. Keep up to date on the latest online safety issues with FOSI’s widely-acclaimed events, or check out the latest on our YouTube channel.
via Welcome.
Great You Tube video providing Internet and media statistics.
Alberta Time Travel Adventures – CCSA Author Presentation – Rob Lennard
The Alberta Time Travel AdventuresAgora Films options Alberta centennial bookOne of Alberta’s centennial books is now destined to become an animated feature. Agora Films International Inc. has signed an option on the Children’s book The Alberta Time Travel Adventures of Family Day Ray, Roxy & Jasper. Now in its third printing, the book and CD song lyrics are written by Calgarian Rob Lennard.
via Alberta Time Travel Adventures.
http://www.helpingyougetpublished.com/new.html
Does handwriting have a place in today’s tech-driven classrooms? – Canada – CBC News
Does handwriting have a place in today’s tech-driven classrooms? – Canada – CBC News.
The practice of students endlessly copying letters and sentences from a chalkboard is a thing of the past. Teaching perfect strokes and proper curves in cursive writing is no longer at the top of a teacher’s lesson plan.
With the advent of new technologies like tablets and smartphones, writing by hand has become something of a nostalgic skill.
However, while today’s educators are incorporating more and more technology into their teaching, many believe basic handwriting skills are still necessary for students to be successful — both in school and in life.
Virginia Berninger, professor of educational psychology at the University of Washington in Seattle, says it’s important to help children acquire the skill of writing by hand almost as they would a second language.
“I think it is wise to continue teaching handwriting,” Berninger said. “We need to continue to help kids be ‘bilingual’ by hand.”
CASS Keynote Speaker – Fail Forward – April 27th 2012
Dr. Sam Shaw, then President and CEO of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), was appointed Honorary Colonel of 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, Edmonton, AB in January 2010. He currently is Vice-President, Natural Gas Policy Development with Encana Corporation in Calgary.
Born in Halifax NS, Honorary Colonel Shaw holds a BA from Chaminade University of Honolulu, an M Sc from Dalhousie University and an M Ed and Ph D from the University of Toronto. Dr. Shaw is also a graduate of the Harvard University Institute for Educational Management, and earned a Chartered Director designation from McMaster University and The Conference Board of Canada. Additionally, Dr. Shaw is a past-recipient of Alberta Venture’s Businessman of the Year award and has twice been recognized as one of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People.
Honorary Colonel Shaw has served on the staff of a number of Canadian Institutes and Colleges including Ryerson University in Toronto, Universities of Manitoba in Winnipeg and the Mitchener Institute in Toronto. Prior to coming to NAIT, he was President of what was then Keewatin Community College in The Pas, MB. In the 13 years at NAIT, Honorary Colonel Shaw spearheaded the expansion from 1100 staff to 3300 and from a budget of $110 to over $300 million serving more than 84,000 students around the world in 2010. He continues to be involved in teaching courses for NAIT and Cape Breton University on a part-time basis.
Honorary Colonel Shaw is the author of numerous articles and publications focusing on technology, human resources management, strategic planning and small business enterprise. In addition, he is a frequent presenter at conferences in Canada and around the world.
Honorary Colonel Shaw has also received the Distinguished Leadership Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education District VIII, is a member of Industry Canada’s Science, Technology and Innovation Council, served as Chair of the Canadian Advisory Committee TC232 of the Standards Council of Canada, is Chair of the Alberta Career Education Network, Board Member and Chair of the Human Resources Committee of the Canadian Commercialization Corporation, a member of Alberta Economic Development Authority and an Advisory Board Member, Industrial Research Assistance Program.
Honorary Colonel Shaw and his wife Claudia reside in Calgary, his daughters Robyn and Amanda attend NAIT in Edmonton and his son Clayton works for Graham Construction in Ontario.
http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/or-re/hc-ch/nr-sp/index-eng.asp?id=10380
Management Trends:
Top down management
Lean Production
Teams Empowered
Collaborative
Technology Integration
CEO Average Comp 1.2 Million
Need to start looking at why top managers are getting the salaries they are getting. The gap between the top and the bottom is widening. 4% of the elite will account for 60% of the income by 2020.
70% of the 1955 Fortune 500 companies don’t exist today.
Government is no longer employer of last resort.
Redefining Social Contract. No Federal Minister of Eduction. Need to look at the Canadian Education structure. No longer having the answers. Government is facilitating the dialogue what is best. Listening to the what the solutions are.
Global context needs to be the focus.
Right policies are still the central role of government.
More part time employees. Retired staff are coming back.
Salary Private vs Public Gap. Video – More than Money
Redefining Roles – Programmer – Ethic Hacker - Customer Service – Genius
1/3 of North Americans functionally marginally or completely illiterate
Hope of being trained is out of reach for the majority
How to use resources. We take that for granted. Do the students do that? Interpersonal skills and teamwork.
Taught a course at Ryerson. Teaching team work in the chemistry classes.
Courses on IT – Social Media. Are we using Twitter for teaching. It absolutely imperative to teach the communication styles and ethics. Critical Thinking for research. How do we think about things?
Foundation Skills focus. Develop a clear vision for k-12 and post secondary.
We need a Canadian Energy Strategy and a Canadian Education Strategy.
Build on our strengths – Think outside the Box – Not the same old same old – Re – invent
Make it the norm for innovation – experiment like crazy – don’t focus on the failures, focus on what we have learned. The question is what learned and how we move forward. Don’t fear failure. Fail forward. If you don’t succeed what have we learned how do we move forward. Do more what we are go at.
Xerox life long learning
Heinz risk taking
What is the risk of outdated standards?
Pixar – cross training. 10-20 year you won’t have the silos of faculties. Redefine how we look at multi-disciplines
Define innovation
63% of Alberta Business are SMEs
85% OF THESE HAVE EMPLOYEES OR LESS
95% OF QUEBEC BUSINESS ARE SMES
89% OF THESE HAVE 20 EMPLOYEES OR LESS
2025 Canada will face a skilled labour force deficit
Birth rates and retirements are creating the shortage.
Post secondary skill sets are what we need
2013 64% of all new jobs created in Canada will require some level of advanced education
Expression and Communication
Evaluation
Analysis and Synthesis
Application
Knowledge
Skills development must be a priority, Education must leave no one behind, Every employee can be a source of innovation
Partnerships development are getting more difficult, it is about creating a Win – Win – Talent in the making
Brand Recognition
Source of Summer Employment
Resource and Captial
Assisting and making Education Better
Talented staff
Mentors
Source of information and industry
Applied Research – Knowing what others want and delivering it
Skills shortage is here
Schools have much to offer
Industry is a prime partner
Training is one of the main focuses at Encana
Sam.shaw@encana.com
April 27th – 2012
TED-Ed Lessons Worth Sharing
TED-Ed’s commitment to creating lessons worth sharing is an extension of TED’s mission of spreading great ideas. Within the growing TED-Ed video library, you will find carefully curated educational videos, many of which represent collaborations between talented educators and animators nominated through the TED-Ed platform. This platform also allows users to take any useful educational video, not just TED’s, and easily create a customized lesson around the video. Users can distribute the lessons, publicly or privately, and track their impact on the world, a class, or an individual student.
via TED-Ed | About.
