Curriculum and Resource Updates

• Alberta’s Distributed Learning Strategy—Discover Phase Update
• New Distributed Learning Resources

Alberta’s Distributed Learning Strategy—Discover Phase Update
Since April 2008, the project team, expert working groups and steering committee for Alberta’s Distributed Learning Strategy have been involved in a comprehensive public involvement process to gather information on:

• the current state of distributed learning in Alberta 
• perceptions and emerging trends in this area 
• possible futures for distributed learning in Alberta. 

Overall, the public involvement activities included the following: 

• Online surveys (English and French) were accessed by 1774 respondents.  Participants and respondents were contacted through open invitations to school jurisdictions that encouraged involvement of current distributed learning stakeholders as well as non-users. 
• There were 28 focus groups.  These groups included teachers; principals; home educators; Treaty 6, 7, 8 First Nations educators; school authority technology contacts; high achieving students; and representatives of the College of Alberta School Superintendents (CASS), Francophone school authorities, industry, private schools and an institutional program for students at risk.
• There were 21 site visits spanning all six zones in the province.
• Sixty-seven interviews were conducted as follows: 21 parents, 5 technology vendors, 16 professional development providers, 12 post-secondary professors/administrators and 13 experts in the area of distributed learning from across Canada.  The experts included representatives from the National Research Council – Institute for Information Technology and from education ministries in Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Ontario and Yukon.  They also included researchers from the University of Manitoba, Mount Royal College, La Cité collégiale and the Centre for Distance Learning & Innovation in Newfoundland/Labrador.

Preparations are now underway for the Alberta ECS-12 Distributed Learning Forum, to be held online from October 20 to November 3, 2008, and live in various locations across the province on November 4, 2008.  View the Alberta ECS-12 Distributed Learning Forum brochure.  Interested participants are encouraged to register for the November 4 forum and to participate in online discussions through the Distributed Learning Forum Online Community.

Details regarding information collected during the Discover Phase will be made available on an ongoing basis, prior to the Distributed Learning Forum, through the Distributed Learning Forum Online Community.

For more information regarding Alberta’s Distributed Learning Strategy, contact Hélène Fournier at 780–674–8700.  To be connected toll-free inside Alberta, dial 310–0000.

New Distributed Learning Resources
Several new distributed learning resources are available, including resources for mathematics, science and social studies.  To view details regarding these resources, click the relevant link below:

• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies

For more information regarding Alberta Education’s distributed learning resources, including details on how to obtain these resources, refer to the May 2008 edition of Connection.

Note:  Links to other sites are provided as sources of information to users on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind.  Alberta Education is not responsible for maintaining these external sites.

Recently Authorized Resources
Review new resources authorized between May 7, 2008, and October 2, 2008:
Grade 10–Grade 12 

Search for authorized ESL resources.

• Upcoming Conferences
• New Resource Kits
• Guides to Implementation
• Course Withdrawals
• Recently Authorized Resources
• Contact

Upcoming Conferences
The Second Languages and Intercultural Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association will be holding its annual conference in Edmonton at the Sutton Place Hotel on October 24 and 25, 2008.  View further details.

An assessment conference for FSL teachers will be held in Calgary on January 29 and 30, 2009, at the Greenwood Inn.  For more information, contact the Calgary Regional Consortium.

The Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers (CASLT) is holding its annual conference in Edmonton from May 21 to 23, 2009, at the Mayfield Inn Conference Centre.  Further details are available through the CASLT Web site.

New Resource Kits
L’Alberta, ma province, a Grade 6 kit for the nine-year program of studies, is available and can be directly ordered from the Learning Resources Centre (LRC).  

Tool kits for grades 4–6 are in the final stages of development for the field of experience "Four Holidays and Celebrations."  A tool kit for each grade is being developed and will be made available later in the school year.

Guides to Implementation
In August 2008, the French as a Second Language Nine-year Program of Studies Guide to Implementation—Grade 7 to Grade 9 was sent to all junior high schools in the province.  Additional copies may be purchased from the LRC.  Please note that the audio and video segments cited in the document are available only in the PDF version.

Interim copies of the senior high school nine-year and three-year guides to implementation are also available online.  Content will be added to these guides as it is developed, and completed documents will be sent to schools later in the school year.

Course Withdrawals
Please note that French 13 is no longer available.  Senior high school students who have no prior experience in French, or who have had limited exposure in elementary and/or junior high school, are to register in French 10-3Y. 

The 1991 course sequence of French 13, 10, 20 and 30 is being phased out one year at a time.  See the Guide to Education (page 47) for the sequence phase-out schedule.

Recently Authorized Resources
Review new resources authorized between May 7, 2008, and October 2, 2008:
Nine-year Program: Grade 10–Grade 12 

Contact
For more information regarding FSL, contact Lisa Caouette at 780–422–7792.  To be connected toll-free inside Alberta, dial 310–0000. 

• Program Implementation
• New Provincial Achievement Tests
• Resource Update
• Knowledge and Employability Symposium (2009)
• Contact

Program Implementation
Knowledge and Employability Social Studies Grade 9 and Social Studies 20-4 were implemented in September 2008.  Social Studies 26 and all remaining Integrated Occupational Program (IOP) courses, with the exception of Agricultural Production 36, Natural Resource Services 36, and Fashion and Fabric Services 36, were withdrawn effective September 2008.  Course codes for senior high school courses are reflected in the Guide to Education.

New Provincial Achievement Tests
Three new achievement tests that reflect the Grade 9 outcomes in new knowledge and employability programs of study have been developed.  The knowledge and employability English language arts, mathematics and science achievement tests are to be provincially implemented in 2008–2009.  These achievement tests will be administered according to the same schedule as the regular Grade 9 achievement tests.  View more details regarding the Grade 9 Knowledge and Employability Provincial Achievement Tests.

Resource Update
Recently Authorized Resources:  Review new resources authorized between May 7, 2008, and October 2, 2008.

Search for authorized knowledge and employability resources.

• Programs of Study
• Guides to Implementation
• Recently Authorized Resources
• Authorized Resource Lists
• Contacts

Programs of Study
The following new programs of study have been posted on the Alberta Education Web site:

• Chinese Language and Culture Nine-year Program, Grades 7–8–9 (May 2008 Field Validation Draft)
• German Language and Culture Nine-year Program, Grades 7–8–9
• Japanese Language and Culture Nine-year Program, Grades 7–8–9
• Punjabi Language and Culture Nine-year Program, Grades 7–8–9
• Spanish Language and Culture Nine-year Program, Grades 7–8–9 (May 2008 Field Validation Draft)
• Ukrainian Language and Culture Nine-year Program, Grades 7–8–9

Guides to Implementation
The Speak Globally:  International Languages Support Resources CD–ROM includes guides to implementation, assessment materials and other resources and links to support international languages.  A copy of the CD–ROM is scheduled to be distributed to all school jurisdictions this fall.

The final version of the Italian Language and Culture 10-3Y, 20-3Y, 30-3Y Guide to Implementation is scheduled to be available for purchase from the LRC and for downloading from the Italian Web page later this fall.

Authorized Resource Lists
Learning and teaching resources for the Chinese, German, Japanese, Punjabi and Spanish language and culture nine-year programs, grades 7–8–9 have been authorized.  Updated authorized resource lists are now available through the International Languages Programs Web pages. 

Elementary Spanish language arts resources have been realigned to the program of studies.  An updated authorized resource list is scheduled to be available later this fall on the Spanish Web page.

• Literacy Forum
• K–12 Literacy Discussion Paper
• Contact

Literacy Forum
Alberta Education and Alberta Advanced Education and Technology cohosted a Literacy Forum entitled Literacy:  Never Too Early, Never Too Late on April 14–15, 2008, in conjunction with the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) Pan-Canadian Interactive Literacy Forum.  Alberta Education partnered with Literacy Alberta, the Community Learning Network and the Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium to provide Alberta stakeholders with the opportunity to discuss literacy issues that affect all Albertans.

From the Forum, Alberta Education and Alberta Advanced Education and Technology have produced two documents:  A Literacy Framework for Alberta and the Summary of Input on a Literacy Framework for Alberta.  Both of these documents were sent out electronically to interested education stakeholders in June 2008 for feedback and further input.  Both documents are available on the Literacy Web site (Alberta Site).

If you were unable to attend the forum, you can view the keynote addresses as well as the opening and closing remarks on CMEC’s Literacy Web site.  This site will be updated frequently and will include local content from each forum host site. 

K–12 Literacy Discussion Paper
Alberta Advanced Education and Technology is leading the development of the provincial literacy framework and is working on a consultation plan.  Alberta Education is working on a plan for literacy for K–12 to align with the provincial framework. As part of this plan, Alberta Education is developing a literacy discussion paper for K–12 and planning provincial consultations to improve the literacy of K–12 students.    

Contact
For more information regarding literacy, contact Shelley Magnusson at 780–422–3259.  To be connected toll-free inside Alberta, dial 310–0000. 

Note:  Links to other sites are provided as sources of information to users on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind.  Alberta Education is not responsible for maintaining these external sites.

• Implementation of Revised K–9 Program of Studies
• Grades 10–12 Mathematics
• Resource Update
• Contacts

Implementation of Revised K–9 Program of Studies
The revised Mathematics Kindergarten to Grade 9 Program of Studies is available.  Provincial implementation of Kindergarten and grades 1, 4 and 7 began in September 2008.  English-language and French-language resources are available to support provincial implementation.  Optional implementation of grades 2, 5 and 8 also began in September 2008. English-language resources are available to support these grades, and French-language resources will be available in the spring of 2009 in preparation for provincial implementation in September 2009.

The second Mathematics Summer Institute (MSI), held on July 7–9, 2008, in Edmonton, was a huge success.  Almost 300 teachers participated in large- and small-group sessions to look closely at the vision, philosophy and outcomes of the revised program and at impacts on their teaching.  Topics included “Building Conceptual Understanding” and “Thinking Algebraically.”  Planning is under way for the 2009 MSI for grades 3, 6 and 9.

Off-campus Education Manual
The new Off-campus Education Manual is in its final draft stage.  The manual will replace the Off-campus Education Guide for Administrators, Counsellors and Teachers and the Registered Apprenticeship Program Information Manual.  Information from both of these publications has been revised and incorporated into the new off-campus manual, so that details on required procedures and processes are easier to find.

Definitions in the Off-campus Education Manual clearly indicate the type of activities allowed to be included in off-campus education.  All participants involved in off-campus education are expected to adhere to the procedures and processes described in the new manual.

Workplace Health and Safety Teacher’s Toolkit and Teacher Resource Binders
Plans are under way to distribute the Workplace Health and Safety Teacher’s Toolkit and teacher resource binders to all Alberta junior high schools.  Professional development opportunities related to using these materials are planned as well.

The NRC’s Teachers’ Corner also includes interactive activities, image galleries, glossaries and teaching and assessment strategies and tools for topics in Astronomy and Space Science, Life Science, and Physical Science.  This information is relevant particularly for secondary students and teachers.

Contacts
For more information regarding science programs and resources, connect with one of Alberta Education’s key contacts for science.

Note:  Links to other sites are provided as sources of information to users on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind.  Alberta Education is not responsible for maintaining these external sites.

Search for authorized science resources.

• Program Implementation Schedule and Professional Development Opportunities
• Kindergarten to Grade 12 Resources Update
• Social Studies Online Guide to Implementation (English)

Program Implementation Schedule and Professional Development Opportunities
The new social studies program of studies for Kindergarten to Grade 12 is available online.  The provincial implementation schedule for social studies, Kindergarten to Grade 12, is as follows: 

The summer institute was held in Edmonton at Grant MacEwan College from August 12–14, 2008.  This institute was designed to support educators implementing grades 6, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the new social studies program of studies.  The institute also worked to support teachers of knowledge and employability social studies.

Additional professional development opportunities are being provided by the Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia. Contact the consortium in your region for information on sessions (English or French).

• Cheryl Przybilla at 780–422–3282 (K–12 English-language program)
• Keith Millions at 780–422–1899 (K–12 French-language program)
• Debbie Mineault at 780–415–9305 (Aboriginal content).

To be connected toll-free inside Alberta to any of these contacts, dial 310–0000.

Authorized Resource Lists: Authorized resource lists for K–5, 7 and 8 and for Social Studies 10-1 and 10-2 (including student basic, related teaching and student support resources) are available.  New support resources will be added to these lists soon.

Support resource reviews are also currently under way for grades 6, 9 and 11; lists of authorized resources from these reviews are scheduled to be available later this fall.  A support resource review for Grade 12 is scheduled for December 2008, with a list of authorized support resources scheduled to be available by the summer of 2009.

Resource Availability Schedule:  A Resource Availability Schedule for K–12 student basic and related teaching resources (English and French) and for K–12 English-language support resources is available.

Grades 6 and 9 Student Basic and Related Teaching Resources:  Two different English-language Grade 6 student basic resources were authorized in April 2008.  Two different English-language Grade 6 related teaching resources and one Grade 9 student basic resource were authorized in June 2008.  The accompanying Grade 9 teaching resource was authorized in September 2008 and is available digitally on Nelson Education's Web site.  Copies of the Grade 9 teaching resource are available for purchase from the Learning Resources Centre (LRC).

One French-language student basic resource for each of grades 6 and 9 is available for purchase from the LRC.  For the start of the 2008–2009 school year, PDF files of the first several chapters of French-language teaching resources for grades 6 and 9 have been made available online.

All grades 6 and 9 student basic and related teaching resources are available for ordering through the Learning Resources Centre (LRC).  To set up appointments to view the resources prior to making final purchasing decisions, contact the identified publishers directly, contact your regional consortium Social Studies Project Coordinator or contact the LRC.

Piloting of the grades 6 and 9 draft provincial achievement tests occurred in identified pilot classrooms in May/June 2008.  Two different forms of the Grade 6 and Grade 9 provincial achievement tests will be administered in the 2008–2009 school year.  One form will be based on the 2007 program of studies and the other form will be based on the 1990 (Grade 6)/1989 (Grade 9) programs of study.  In the 2009–2010 school year, all students will write achievement tests based on the 2007 program of studies.  The new Grade 6 and Grade 9 provincial achievement tests will contain both written response and multiple-choice questions.

Grades 11 and 12 Student Basic and Related Teaching Resources:  Two English-language Social Studies 20-1 student basic resources and one Social Studies 20-2 student basic resource were published by June 2008.  Two English-language Social Studies 20-1 related teaching resources and one English-language Social Studies 20-2 related teaching resource are scheduled to be published by October or November 2008.  One French-language student basic resource for Social Studies 20-1 is available for purchase from the LRC, with the print version of the related teaching resource scheduled to be available by November 2008.

PDF files of the first several chapters of 20-1 (French and English) and 20-2 (English) teaching resources are available online.  View files for the French-language teaching resource.  View files for McGraw-Hill Ryerson's English-language 20-1 and 20-2 teaching resources.  View files for Oxford University Press's English-language 20-1 teaching resource.

The Social Studies 30-1 and 30-2 Resource Review and Diploma Examination Piloting Project Teams (English language) completed their first semester of field testing the new custom-developed draft resources (English language) in June 2008.  The student resources are scheduled to be published in English by April/May 2009, with French-language resources scheduled to be published by August 2009.  The related teaching resources are scheduled to be published in English by the summer of 2009 and in French by the fall of 2009.  Participating Grade 12 teachers also piloted the new draft diploma examinations for Social Studies 30-1 and 30-2 in June 2008 and will continue to do so in the 2008–2009 school year.  Students in classes that participate in the diploma examination pilot will be exempted from writing the current diploma examinations and will receive a school-awarded mark for their appropriate course.  Teachers who participate in piloting the new diploma examinations will also be involved in marking the new examinations.

Digital Resources on LearnAlberta.ca:  Several new digital resources are available for social studies on LearnAlberta.ca.  Included are some provincially licenced video resources from the Alberta Education authorized support resource list that can be streamed directly to your school/classroom.  View details regarding these resources.

New Distributed Learning Resources: Several new distributed learning resources are available for social studies.  View details regarding these resources.

For more information regarding social studies resources (English language), contact:

• Corinne Sperling at 780–422–8906 (Kindergarten, grades 1–7 and Social Studies 20-1 and 20-2)
• Ann Marie Lyseng at 780–422–0820 (grades 8 and 9 and Social Studies 10-1, 10-2, 30-1 and 30-2).

For more information regarding K–12 social studies resources (French language), contact Keith Millions at 780–422–1899.

To be connected toll-free inside Alberta to any of these contacts, dial 310–0000.

• Revision of K–12 Wellness Programs of Study
• Daily Physical Activity (DPA)
• Nutrition Guidelines
• Physical Education
• Health and Life Skills
• Career and Life Management (CALM)
• K–12 Wellness Team

Revision of K–12 Wellness Programs of Study
To achieve improved learning and wellness outcomes, a review of the current wellness-related programs of study (K–9 Health and Life Skills, Career and Life Management, and K–12 Physical Education) has been initiated.  A comprehensive literature review and stakeholder consultations were completed between November 2007 and March 2008 and indicated a need for a moderate to major change to the current wellness-related programs of study.

Key findings from the literature review include the following:

• Current health and physical education programs are not aligned with the factors identified by the World Health Organization as important to successful health and wellness promotion in schools.
• Drawing upon innovative strategies for curriculum design and implementation developed in Alberta and around the world will provide schools with the opportunity to affect the health of students in profound and long-lasting ways. 

Key themes that emerged from the stakeholder consultations include the following:

• Although much of the content from the current programs of study would be appropriate for a new wellness program, some changes could be made to better meet the needs of students.
• Wellness is multidimensional in nature and includes elements such as physical, emotional, spiritual and mental health.   
• Significant overlap between the current programs of study and opportunities for integrating outcomes into other subject areas should be addressed. 
• Implementation of a revised wellness program needs to be supported in a variety of ways to ensure the successful delivery of a quality program.

Results from the K–12 Wellness literature review and stakeholder consultations are available through the Health/Career and Life Management section of the Alberta Education Web site.  A draft K–12 Wellness Framework is currently being developed in French and English and is anticipated to be released by January 2009 for consultation.  Education stakeholders will have an opportunity to provide feedback through a variety of methods, including face-to-face meetings and online interactive feedback forums throughout the 2008–2009 school year. 

Daily Physical Activity (DPA)
The Daily Physical Activity Survey Report recommendations included creating a series of topic-specific booklets in French and English to complement the DPA Handbook.  Alberta Education has provided a grant to Ever Active Schools to develop, print and distribute these booklets.  The first issue is scheduled to be ready for distribution in November 2008.  Copies of the Daily Physical Activity Survey Report can be found online through the DPA Web page.

To assist you in promoting DPA in your school, Alberta Education has developed DPA brochures.  These brochures can be used to communicate the benefits of DPA to parents and community partners.  A sample brochure will be sent to all grades 1 to 9 schools in November, with details for ordering additional copies. 

Nutrition Guidelines
The Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth, released in June 2008, have been developed to assist organizations in providing young people with healthy food choices from the time they enter daycare right through to senior high school.  The Guidelines will be sent to school authority central offices, and two copies will be sent to each school later in the fall of 2008. 

The Guidelines have divided foods into three categories:  Choose Most Often, Choose Sometimes, and Choose Least Often.  Categorizing foods will allow schools to make nutritious foods more accessible and limit the availability of foods that are less nutritious in the school environment.  The Guidelines also include information to help school boards develop nutrition policies.  Nutrition policies that include eliminating the sale of junk food should use the Choose Least Often category to define junk food.

For additional information about the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth, contact Gail Diachuk at 780–644–5274 or Patricia Martz at 780–427–5249.  To be connected toll-free inside Alberta to either of these contacts, dial 310–0000.

Physical Education
Recently Authorized Resources:  Review new resources authorized between May 7, 2008, and October 2, 2008:
Kindergarten–Grade 3
Grade 4–Grade 6
Grade 7–Grade 9
Grade 10–Grade 12

HPEC Journal:  View details regarding the HPEC Journal Runner.

Health and Life Skills
Recently Authorized Resources:  Review new resources authorized between May 7, 2008, and October 2, 2008:
Kindergarten–Grade 3
Grade 7–Grade 9

New Digital Resources on LearnAlberta.ca: New digital resources for health and life skills are available on LearnAlberta.ca. View details regarding these resources.

Career and Life Management (CALM)
Alberta Consumer Champion Awards—Youth Consumer Poster Competition:  The Alberta Consumer Champion Awards was introduced by the Alberta government to honour Albertans who go above and beyond to contribute to a fair and balanced Alberta marketplace by promoting consumer protection and education.  This year a new award has been added—the Youth Consumer Poster Competition.  This competition is open to youth aged 15–18 and encourages them to gain a better understanding of how to protect themselves from the risks of identity theft, renting a place of their own, consumer contracts, Internet shopping and buying a car.  Entrants must design an original poster and complete a research questionnaire to become eligible for awards of $1000, $500 or $250.  Submissions must be received by November 28, 2008.  For more information, contact Service Alberta’s Consumer Services Branch at 1–877–427–4088 or visit the Alberta Consumer Champion Awards Web page.  

Learning Clicks 2008–2009:  View details regarding the redesign of the Learning Clicks program for 2008–2009.  This program is designed to help Albertans get ready for education and training beyond senior high school.

Recently Authorized Resources:  Review new resources authorized between May 7, 2008, and October 2, 2008.

K–12 Wellness Team
The following individuals are part of Alberta Education's K–12 Wellness Team:

• Michelle Kilborn, K–12 Wellness Program Manager, Curriculum Branch
• Lori Olson-Johns, K–12 Wellness Program Consultant, Curriculum Branch
• Gail Diachuk, School Health and Wellness Manager, Alberta Education and Alberta Health and Wellness
• Alan Chouinard, K–12 Wellness Program Manager, French Language Services Branch
• Lin Irvine, K–12 Wellness Resource Manager, Learning Technologies Branch
• Jeff Bath, K–12 Wellness Resource Manager, Learning and Teaching Resources Branch
• Candace Long, Project Management Coordinator, Distributed Learning Resources Branch

Note:  Links to other sites are provided as sources of information to users on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind.  Alberta Education is not responsible for maintaining these external sites.

Search for authorized physical education, health and life skills, and CALM resources.