Workshop Opportunity: MakeFashion

MakeFashion is a fashion show that takes place annually here in Calgary, and is on the bleeding edge of innovation in terms of smashing together high fashion with technology. Fashion designers are paired with technologists and engineers, and the collaborative work that results is pretty incredible!

Photography: Rafal Wegiel Photography | Models: Millie Jayne, Natalka Lewis | Makeup: Ivonne Arsenault

As you can see, this gown is a true team effort. The team is:

Virtually Vogue team is:

• Catherine Hazin: Team Lead. Fuelled by her fine arts degree and a passion for bridal fashion, Catherine designed the Virually Vogue layered pencil skirt ensemble, and is acting project manager for the team.

• Dan Damron: Lead Engineer. He is responsible for researching and sourcing most of the electronics, and for programming and writing all of the code required to make the dresses function.

• Kelly Hofer: Designer/Engineer. In addition to co-designing the Victorian inspired hoop dress, he was also responsible for troubleshooting much of the technical design. Kelly learned his making skills on the hutterite colony where he grew up. With a wide range of skills from 3d design, lighting design, some programming, electrical engineering, sewing, metal work and many others.

• Dianne Gibson: Master Sewer/Fashion Designer by trade, specializing in custom corsets. Her level of experience and expert skill are apparent in the garments construction.

Information about this gown from Virtually Vogue.

The CBE is so fortunate to have a great relationship with the minds behind this incredible event. We have all agreed that this would be an incredible opportunity for students to become involved in - it is a true and authentic example of interdisciplinary work in action. 

To that end, we are offering a workshop for teachers and students on Wednesday, February 24th. Our MakeFashion friends will be hosting us at ARCHEloft (formerly Endeavour Arts Gallery), which is located at #200 1209 First Street SW. The workshop will be from 4:30 - 7:30pm. The workshop will be hands-on, and will teach you how to incorporate various technologies into clothing and fashion.

From this workshop, there may be an opportunity for several participants' students to create a design for the MakeFashion runway - an incredible, world-renowned opportunity for students to add to their portfolio.

There is no cost for the workshop, though the technologies we use during the workshop will be available for sale.

Note: Should students wish to attend, please ensure they have their own transportation to and from the event. This is not a CBE-sponsored field trip.

If you have questions, please contact Tracy Dalton or Erin Quinn.

Thinking, Making, and Improving with Robotics at Wildwood

by Erin Quinn (elquinn at cbe dot ab dot ca).

I was invited to go to Wildwood School to work with the grade 4s on an introduction to robotics. I brought along our Cubelets, a modular robotics system that snaps together with magnets.

I had an hour with each group. We started with six cubes: a battery, a distance sensor, a light sensor, a flashlight, a set of wheels, and a passive block.

Before I let them go, we talked about the three thinking processes they would focus on today: Think-Make-Improve (T-M-I), a simplified design thinking process borrowed from the invaluable book Invent to Learn: Making, Tinkering, & Engineering in the Classroom.

We started by having groups of students just play with the six Cubelets. Pretty quickly, the students realized the Cubelets must be put together in order to function - a pretty great metaphor for the kind of collaboration the students would be required to approach this kind of learning. They played for a bit, and figured out that when they put them together, the cubes would move, light up, spin, etc. They just weren't sure, yet, how they worked.

I stopped them after they'd had a chance to play and we talked a bit about sensors. We talked about what a sensor is - they understood sensors were things that told something about the environment around it - and link to the root of sense, pointing to our five senses. They gave examples of sensors in our world - a motion sensor on a garage light, the automatic doors at the grocery store, the faucets in the mall bathrooms.

To learn more about sensors and how they work, we focused next on three cubes: the battery, the distance sensor, and the wheels. I did not tell them they had a distance sensor - I just asked them to select the black cube that had two dots on it that kind of looked like a face. I told the students that one of these three blocks was a sensor, and that their challenge was to try to figure out which one was the sensor, and what kind of sensor it was. Nearly all groups were successful with this and identified the black cube as the sensor, and many were very close in determining what kind of sensor it is - most said it was a motion sensor. I asked them to play more with these three blocks, and see how many different ways they could figure out to make it move. They got it to go away from them, come towards them, go in a big circle, do little donuts, amongst other moves.

From there, I gave them a challenge: Create a robot that does a job for humans. Some of their amazing inventions can be found below in the Storify of the Tweets we created during the session - I'm quite partial to the desk-cleaning robot myself!

After the exploration, the students took some time to reflect on the T-M-I thinking they did using this graphic organizer I created to help the students reflect on their learning. Please feel free to use it. If you do, connect back with us to let us know how it worked!

As for me, I was blown away by the incredible problem solving students were employing as they were exploring these robots. This was a perfect example of how using their hands activates their brains - by moving, tweaking, changing the robots, the students were able to gain understanding of computational thinking. Something else stood out to me: the groups of students who truly collaborated, and worked together rather than individually or in parallel with each other were far more successful. Something for me to keep in mind and puzzle around: how can we, as instructional designers, scaffold the skills of collaboration when we're designing maker challenges?

I'll be heading back to Wildwood to work with the grade 4s in about a month to do some more robotics work with them, now that they've gotten the basics under their belt. Can't wait to have them blow me away again!

participate | Hour of Code

We are challenging CBE schools to participate in the Hour of Code to celebrate Computer Science Week December 7 – 13. This challenge asks students to spend one hour over the course of the week learning how to code. It is for all students, of all ages, in any discipline. Computer programming and coding is becoming an increasingly important skill for learners and job seekers to know.

If you accept the challenge, here’s how to do it:

step 1 | sign up

Visit the website https://hourofcode.com/ca to sign up your school.

step 2 | plan logistics

First, watch this “How To Run an Hour of Code” video. This activity can be done as a whole school, in select classrooms, or by select students. Decide if you want this to be a whole-school event, or if it will take place in certain classrooms or clubs.

step 3 | plan technology

Ensure that all students participating have a way to access technology (a tablet, computer, or other mobile device will work) for one hour a week to participate in the Hour of Code. You can even participate without access to technology with activities teaching the basics of computer science without the use of any technology.

step 4 | prepare your educators

It’s okay if you and your students are brand new to coding. The Hour of Code uses tutorials that students can progress through at their own pace. The tutorials use various different programming languages to take students through the process of creating code. It is recommended that teachers take the time beforehand to go through the tutorial they select for their students so they can help troubleshoot during the event. Another helpful resource is this Slideshow sharing best practices from educators.

step 5 | promote

Get kids, parents, and community excited about the Hour of Code! Send e-mails to parents! Put up posters around the school! Show inspirational videos!

step 6 | celebrate

Celebrate your students’ accomplishment by giving them a sticker, certificate, or by simply acknowledging their hard work. Share their Hour of Code throughout the world with the hashtag #hourofcode or throughout the CBE with the hashtag #cbehourofcode (making sure you are in accordance with the CBE’s Web 2.0 guidelines). Make this learning visible!

Support is available to help you and your school take on this challenge.

1.     The Hour of Code website includes everything you need to get started.

2.     CBE’s Learning will be offering a webinar to help you get ready, outline resources available to you, and answer your questions on Thursday, November 19^th from 4 – 5pm. Please sign up for this webinar through EAMS.

3.     CBE’s Learning specialists are available to help you troubleshoot any issues you run into during the week of December 7 – 11^th. Please contact them at:

Matt Armstrong, mgarmstrong@cbe.ab.ca
Tracy Dalton, tadalton@cbe.ab.ca
Erin Quinn, elquinn@cbe.ab.ca
Tracy Rand, tmrand@cbe.ab.ca
Christos Sagriotis, chsagriotis@cbe.ab.ca

Maker Meetup

The Teacher Exploration Lab in the Future of Learning Lab at the Education Centre is a place where teachers and students can explore innovative approaches to teaching and learning. This space serves as a Makerspace where we can explore concepts such as maker education and design thinking. Learning Specialists will be hosting a Maker Meetup in this space for teachers and instructional leaders to come together to explore these pedagogies and tools, share ideas, and connect with each other.

what | Maker Meetup

who | CBE teachers and instructional leaders. The maker education approach to learning is applicable to all grade levels and subjects.

where | The Future of Learning Lab in the Carl Safran Building at the Education Centre (1221-8th Street, SW)

when | Thursday, November 26th, any time between 4 – 6pm

details | 

• This is a drop-in event. Come whenever works for you (between 4 and 6pm). Please check in at the information desk when you arrive.
• bring | Lesson ideas to share, tools & equipment to showcase, a problem of practice to puzzle through, etc. The more you bring to share the more everyone will get out of this event! But don’t worry if you are brand new to this – this event is for you too!
• Please sign up using EAMS.

 We hope to see you there!

Make It!!!

Did you hear about Ahmed Mohamed, the boy who brought a clock he built himself to school and was arrested because they thought it was a bomb?

Ahmed Mohamed. In a NASA shirt.

Ahmed's clock

We stand with Ahmed! We believe in every child's right to create, to make, and to share.

Speaking of sharing, a great opportunity is coming up at the Calgary Public Library.

Invite your students (and come yourself!) to make some robotics and then take them apart! Sounds like something Ahmed would love.

invite | Sylvia Libow Martinez at the Calgary Mini Maker Faire

Through our district strategy of personalization, learning is transformative, engaging, and active. One approach to teaching and learning is called “maker education,” where students are using tools, technologies, and materials to build to learn, rather than learn to build. Many Calgary Board of Education teachers have been exploring how these concepts open up opportunities for students to build competencies and curricular understandings.

In keeping with this strategy, the Calgary Board of Education wishes to give teachers and school staff an opportunity to see a keynote speech by Sylvia Libow Martinez at the Calgary Mini Maker Faire on Saturday, September 12 at 11am. Sylvia Libow Martinez, along with Gary Stager, is the co-author of the book Invent to Learn: Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom. This accessible and practical book explores the maker movement and how it might be embraced in the classroom. It explores the idea that when new technologies and old, hands-on traditions are combined, a powerful approach to learning can emerge. This engaged, authentic way of setting and solving problems aligns very closely with our district strategy of personalization and the Ministerial Order on Student Learning.

We would like to offer all CBE staff the opportunity to attend Sylvia Libow Martinez’s keynote, as well as take in the rest of Maker Faire, for a special subsidized rate. Along with Sylvia Libow Martinez’s keynote presentation, there will be an Education Stage with many teachers and educators (many of whom teach in the CBE) sharing how making has transformed learning in their classrooms. Please distribute this invitation to all staff you feel would be interested.

When: Saturday, September 12^th & Sunday, September 13^th (Sylvia Libow Martinez’s keynote is Saturday, September 12^th at 11:00am in the Dome Theatre) from 10:00AM to 5:00PM.

Where: Telus Spark

What: Maker Faire is billed as “the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth.” Calgary’s mini Maker Faire showcases the creativity of artists and engineers and everyone in between.

Cost: The cost for CBE staff is $20 plus service fees, which is a $35 savings. This pass will let you into Sylvia Libow Martinez’s keynote presentation, as well as get you a weekend pass into Maker Faire.

How: Please visit http://www.makerfaireyyc.ca/educator/ to order tickets. Please ensure you use your CBE e-mail address when ordering.

For questions about this opportunity, please contact:

Erin Quinn, Specialist, elquinn@cbe.ab.ca or

Tracy Dalton, Specialist, tadalton@cbe.ab.ca

Sincerely,

Jeannie Everett

Superintendent, Learning

Ed Tech Updates - June 2015

Get Ready for Fall - Digital Citizenship Planning

To support you in the process of creating your school's digital citizenship plan, we have developed a 4-step process. Schools will complete a digital citizenship plan by Oct 31 of each school year. School DC plans are to be revised annually in the DC section of the Technology Footprint and reviewed throughout the year.

Content Filtering Action Site

The CBE has launched the Content Filtering Action Site, which allows users to quickly and easily request a URL reclassification, a school filtering level change, or access further supports. To access the site while in a school, go to contentfiltering.cbe.ab.ca or access it through the Technology Footprint.

Dragon Dictate and Dragon Naturally Speaking

As of September 2015 Dragon will no longer be offered as a system license. Licenses can still be purchased at a school level. Communication regarding this has been sent to Principals.

SMART Notebook Software

SMART Notebook 11.4 is the system-supported software for use with all SMART boards, including the new SMART 6065 flat panel board. Notebook 11.4 also remains available for home use. For home use installation information please go to http://www.cbe.ab.ca/programs/technology-for-learning/Pages/default.aspx

One license of SMART Notebook 2015 comes with each SMART 6065 board, which gives the school the option to install the software on 4 devices. Schools may use Notebook 2015 if they wish to investigate and evaluate its features and value. Client Technology Services and Learning Innovation will work alongside schools to gather Notebook 2015 feedback.

Adobe Software

The CBE has now signed the agreement with the province, for the next three years, which gives access to the entire Adobe Creative Cloud Suite and Elements versions of the software for all schools and Service Units across the system, as well as a teacher home use agreement. The student home use piece is still in negotiations.

The bundles of Adobe software will be available in the third week of September.  CBE has received the license keys and the Client Technology Services Team is now in the process of building and testing the software packages that will be needed to do the installations at schools. This is a necessary first step to ensure that the software will be usable within our network. Once the installation packages are ready, school based technology services specialists will be able to guide schools on where to find them, the choices available, and how to deploy them effectively.

The current Digital School Collection (Elements) and Adobe CS6 licenses will no longer work after July 2015, and these installations will be automatically removed.  Schools should plan for access to begin deploying the new Creative Cloud version of the software in late September, 2015.

Information  about where and how teachers can access the home use agreement for the new contract is not yet available. As soon as it is available, it will be communicated to the system.

Brightspace by D2L

In 2015-16 Brightspace will be open for business starting August 10!  This will be exciting news for our modified calendar colleagues.

Don’t forget to end-date or inactive your courses before you go home for Summer. You can find out more about how to inactivate courses in our Blog. http://www.cbeilc.info/D2L-support/course-management-inactivate-shells/

Read more about what we are working on for next year, including professional learning for August. http://www.cbeilc.info/D2L/?p=757

Questions about D2L? Email tadalton@cbe.ab.ca.

Future of Learning Classroom (Education Centre)

The Future of Learning Lab is a room in the Education Centre that houses many innovative technologies and teaching tools. School staffs can book this space to engage in professional learning in the areas of technology, maker education, design thinking, CTF, or any other topic that might benefit from a collaborative, innovative space. Teachers may also arrange to bring students to the Future of Learning Lab for field trips. Teachers and students can explore everything from 3D printing to robotics to low tech tinkering. Please contact Erin Quinn at elquinn@cbe.ab.ca to discuss booking.