Classroom Connections Project
EXCITING NEW LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RURAL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS!
The Rural Education Network will continue to offer the Classroom Connections Projects in 2008-09. This is a unique opportunity for students and teachers of remote schools to participate in an exciting series of educational programs, through the use of Elluminate. The Classroom Connections series are not courses but rather programs that are intended to complement the program provided by the classroom teacher. The technology enables the students and teachers on the network to watch, listen and speak with the presenter and each other. There is a 'How To' guide available to help you get started.
What are some possibilities?
• Enrichment programs
• Music
• Art
• Science topics
• Writers club
• Math club
• Technology
• Topics of interest to youth
If you have ideas for the series, please send these to Bruce Jansen.
Teachers are invited to register their class for one or more of the series programs, which will be based on the ideas collected from the Rural Schools Conference. The schedule for the series will be posted here once developed.
Register for a class or program by emailing Bruce Jansen, or calling him at 250-283-2241. Once registered, you may join a session by clicking the link at the beginning of each session.
See the archives from 2007-08, which include the following:
Series Title: Creating a Digital Storybook with Michael Haworth and Norbert Kaspar.
Series Description: Storyboards are graphic (and text) organizers such as a series of illustrations or images displayed in sequence for the purpose of pre-visualizing a motion graphic or interactive media sequence, including website interactivity. As such they are an integral part of the writing process and story telling. Add the advantages of technology to the mix and you have a powerful tool that you can give to your student to tell their stories.
A full description of the series is available here.
Series Title: Music for Primary Students featuring Sherrill (Shé ) Mair of Munchkin Music
Series Description: The goal of the three classes is to demonstrate how musical experiences can immerse students in language, stimulate intellectual growth and promote social and emotional development. Lesson 1 focuses on music and emotions. The children will identify with their own feelings as they listen to the songs.
A full description of the series is available here.
Series Title: Literature Circles with Aboriginal Authors - Richard Van Camp, Drew Hayden Taylor and Jennifer Storm
Series Description: Join authors Richard Van Camp (The Lesser Blessed), Drew Hayden Taylor (The Night Wanderer) and Jennifer Storm (Deadly Loyalties) for five sessions in which you and your students will read one or more of the titles. You will work with the author through the weekly Elluminate series and through emails if you have questions. The students will be given weekly assignments which will be posted onto a blog so that the work of each student can be shared and discovered by all. (Students are asked to only place their first name on their work with no school identification.) The series has been designed so that a student can read all the books and participate in all three weekly Elluminate sessions.
Series Title: Nature’s Patterns – Art for Intermediate and Secondary Students with Annerose Georgeson
Series Description: Join artist, Annerose Georgeson, for three sessions in which your students will create paintings and other art that is inspired by patterns in nature. You will look for and identify different types of nature's patterns (such as radial and branching patterns) that are found in tree bark, leaves, animal markings, etc. In each session, Annerose will demonstrate the activity and show related artwork.
Students will also study the art of other artists who have been inspired by nature's patterns as well. All materials required should be easily found in a regular classroom. Participants will have the opportunity to post their artwork and discuss it on a secure site with restricted access.
A full description of the series is available here.
See the archives from 2006-07, which include the following:
Series Title: An art class on drawing delivered by Annerose Georgeson from Vanderhoof.
Series Description: Over the space of three weeks students watch presentations about various mixed media techniques including drawing, painting and mixed media. After each presentation they will create artwork, on the theme of identity
Series Title: Music with Primary Students, featuring Sherrill Mair of Munchkin Music
Series Description: The goal of the three classes is to demonstrate how musical experiences can immerse students in language, stimulate intellectual growth and promote social and emotional development. Lesson 1 focuses on music and emotions. The children will identify with their own feelings as they listen to the songs.
Series Title: Creative Writing with INTERMEDIATE Students; presented by writer and teacher Randy Wallace
Series Description: This program will introduce students to creative writing. They will use their personal experiences as inspiration for their creative works. The class will discuss some of the assignments and work will be assigned following those discussions. Students will develop an appreciation for their experiences and the experiences of others as valuable assets for creative writing.
Series Title: Creative Writing with SECONDARY students with teacher Patty Borek
Series Description: This program will see students and teachers participating in an online unit of study dealing with poetry. Teachers will meet with the facilitator prior to the start of this unit to determine details of the unit (resources, assessment tools, learning outcomes, etc.) The facilitator will be using PowerPoint Presentations and Elluminate Live V-Class technology to present the material to the students. A Discussion Forum will be created as a place for students to post their work, and make comments.
Series Title: Aboriginal Heroes, featuring Victor Reece
Series Description: For 30 years Victor Reece has been bringing the wisdom and the art of the Tsimphsian people into classrooms. Victor is a master carver and gifted story-teller who shares his culture in an open and gentle way. Victor believes in making the cultures of the Northwest Coast People accessible to everyone.
Session Title: A Virtual Journey to the Vancouver Aquarium, hosted by Darcie Hook
Session Description: The Vancouver Aquarium will present a 40 minute interactive predator prey demonstration. The instructor will provide information about marine invertebrates, poll the students for their predictions on how animals will react in a predator prey situation, create the experiment, and test the hypotheses. The session will wrap up with an interactive question and answer session
Session Title: Aboriginal Heroes, featuring story-teller Richard Van Camp.
Session Description: In this session Mr. Van Camp, a published author and a proud member of the Dogrib (Ticho) Nation in the NWT, will share good medicine stories about his life and what he has learned from his Aboriginal heroes, including his elders.
Presented by
