Conference highlights Alberta school ingenuity
Educators share best practices for improving student learning
Edmonton...When it comes to new ideas for improving student learning, educators are once again showing made-in-Alberta solutions are second to none.
More than 40 innovative and creative Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI) projects in areas such as assessment, high school completion, effective professional development, literacy, and numeracy will be highlighted at the sixth annual AISI conference, February 12 and 13 in Calgary.
The conference, AISI-Leading & Learning: Scaling New Heights will give educators from across Alberta the ability to learn about school improvement projects developed at the jurisdiction and school level. AISI is a provincially funded initiative to enhance student learning. School boards decide how to improve student learning by fostering projects that address local needs and circumstances.
“AISI is a unique program and has become an integral part of Alberta’s world-class education system through a focus on innovation and a dedication to continuous improvement,” said Education Minister Ron Liepert. “We have an opportunity now to share what has been learned in schools right across Alberta and integrate effective practices for the third cycle of AISI.”
AISI is developing effective strategies that support the way teachers, parents, students, and administrators work together to provide first-rate student learning and achievement for tens of thousands of Alberta students.
AISI partners include: Alberta Education, the Alberta Home and School Councils’ Association, Alberta School Boards Association, Alberta Teachers’ Association, Association of School Business Officials of Alberta, College of Alberta School Superintendents and Alberta faculties of education.
Since 1999, about 1,300 AISI projects were funded through an annual grant from the Alberta government. Approximately 400 new projects are planned for this next round which began in September 2006. In 2006/07, $71 million will be allocated for these projects. All Alberta funded school authorities are eligible to participate in AISI.
About 700 educators and administrators from across the province are expected to attend the conference. For more information visit: http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/special/aisi/
Backgrounder
AISI conference highlights Alberta school ingenuity
Event Details
| Event: | AISI* Conference – Leading & Learning: Scaling New Heights |
| Location: | Hyatt Conference Center, Calgary, Alberta |
| Date and Times: | February 12, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| February 13, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. |
In addition to 30 showcase sessions and 10 poster presentations that highlight more than 40 projects now in Alberta schools, the conference will feature sessions that will emphasize topics such as school improvement, leadership, and innovation.
What is AISI?
Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI*) is unique as a province-wide, funded initiative to enhance student learning. The initiative allows local authorities to decide how to improve student learning by supporting projects that address local needs and circumstances. AISI recognizes that one size does not fit all, that needs vary across the province, and that there are many different ways to accomplish the same goal, to improve student learning and performance. Since 1999, education professionals across Alberta have embraced this opportunity and have created almost 1,300 innovative projects that meet students' needs in local communities. Approximately 400 new projects are planned for Cycle 3 which began in September 2006. Project themes include assessment, high school completion, effective professional development, literacy, and numeracy.
Quick Facts about AISI
- Funding for AISI comes from annual grants from Alberta Education. AISI funding is provided to school authorities for specific local initiatives that are focused on improving student learning.
- Most of the projects run for three years. All Alberta school authorities participated in cycle 1 (2000-2003) and cycle 2 (2003-2006). Cycle 3 began in September 2006.
- AISI projects span Grades K-12 and are based on research. Implementation of effective instructional strategies is the heart of AISI projects. AISI is a vehicle for testing the effectiveness of these approaches in the Alberta context.
- Most projects use two or more teaching strategies. The most widely used strategies are small groups, individual student programming, and teaching to accommodate different learning styles, which includes learning through experience.
- Projects use a variety of measures, including Provincial Achievement Tests, to determine the impact these new instructional strategies are having on student learning.
Lessons Learned:
- Through AISI, teachers are sharing effective practices and using results to assess the impact of these strategies, enabling teachers to determine what worked well and supported student learning.
- Applied research, based on classroom experience, provides opportunities to learn new skills and knowledge.
AISI conference featured speakers
Jim Hayhurst is the founder of The Right Mountain Inc. and an internationally-recognized inspirational speaker who has inspired individuals and teams to attain their purpose. He combines his experiences in advertising and corporate consulting to help hundreds of organizations around the world define and achieve success.
Dr. Lorna Earl is currently Director, Aporia Consulting Ltd. She has worked for over 20 years with schools and school boards and, as a leader in the field of assessment and evaluation, has been involved in consultation, research, evaluation and staff development with teachers' organizations, ministries of education, school boards and charitable foundations in Canada, England, Australia, Europe and the United States.
Dr. Lucy Miller is the Superintendent of Educational Programs and Child Care Services for the Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board and a part-time professor at Queen’s University and the University of Ottawa in the Faculty of Education. Lucy has been a teacher, a curriculum consultant, and a school principal with a keen interest in effective professional development.
Dr. Jim Parsons has been a teacher-educator at the University of Alberta for 31 years. During the past seven years, he has worked with AISI and has been the Director of the Masters of Educational Studies program in the Faculty of Education. His future work will be to engage what he believes are the three keystones to AISI ¬ community, agency, and service – more widely throughout both pre-service and in-service teacher education programs.
