Wishing you the best of the season.......


Science teacher replaces homework with "quests"

A high-school teacher in Iowa has adopted a hands-on teaching technique in her biology and human physiology classes in which students complete "quests," rather than homework assignments. Instead of setting deadlines for assignments, students are given quests that they must work on until they get 100%, with papers containing errors returned for corrections. Katie Bunce said the technique allows her to better understand how her students learn while removing much of the tension about grades.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20121202/COMM/312020029/1024/prep_insider/?odyssey=nav%7Chead&nclick_check=1


Inquiry for division 4

http://engagingstudents.blackgold.ca/index.php/division-iv/


Be sure to check out Projects to Ponder  under  the more tab on the home page -  then Inquiry ....



Professionalism
Have you ever had a bad experience at a retail outlet, restaurant, or hotel? When someone has a bad experience you often hear the phrase, “That wasn’t very professional.” We expect to be treated in a professional and courteous manner when we are shopping, dining, or paying money for an overnight stay. Tax payers also expect professionalism from school staff. What does the term professionalism look like in education? Professionalism in its most basic definition is treating others the way you would like to be treated. - read more here 
http://edge.ascd.org/_Professionalism/blog/6488400/127586.html

“Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” 
—Calvin Coolidge



Connected conference - Spread the word
http://connectedcanada.org/
2013 ConnectEd Canada Conference is open through the Calgary Regional Consortium: http://www.crcpd.ab.ca/programs/category/28#programs 
Topics submitted for this year include: Inquiry Based Teaching, Innovation and Creativity in the Classroom, Effective 1 to 1 initiatives, Re-Booting Empathy in schools, Project Based Learning and Collaborative Inquiry, Learning Commons and more.

Learnist: A Helpful Tool on the Road to Inquiry
It's like a Pinterest for education, as it allows users to collect web resources and add them to "Learnboards" to educate an audience about a particular subject.
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/learnist-in-the-classroom-hauna-zaich


Using Infographics with Student Learning Plans
http://calgaryscienceschool.blogspot.ca/2012/11/using-infographics-with-student.html


Introduction to Inquiry Based Learning
by Neil Stephenson

“The meaning of ‘knowing’ has shifted from being able to remember and repeat information to being able to find and use it.” 
(National Research Council, 2007)
http://teachinquiry.com/index/Introduction.html


MATH
An awesome problem bank developed by some brilliant mathematicians in Cambridge
The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.
http://nrich.maths.org/frontpage


Five characteristics of an effective 21st-century educator
Readers say key skills include foresight, lifelong learning, and the ability to evaluate new technologies
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/09/09/five-characteristics-of-an-effective-21st-century-educator/3/?

Homework - An Unnecessary Evil?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alfie-kohn/homework-research_b_2184918.html

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/25021727

Waking the Sleeping Giant in Our Schools
In the words of Napoleon Hill, plans are useless without sufficient power to translate them into action. Where does that power come from? That power comes from the proverbial "sleeping giant" of untapped potential and genius in our buildings, that when organized effectively is a professional learning community. On a team having the title of professional learning community and actually being a professional learning community where trust exists, there is a spirit of collective inquiry, and ongoing learning and collaboration is what makes the difference between success and progress.
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/learning_forwards_pd_watch/2012/11/by_shera_carter_sackey_recently.html

The schools that recognize the power of connection are incredibly courageous. It is courageous to stand in the face of shrinking budgets, increased class sizes, and expanding mandates, and recognize that together we are better and that we have the ability to activate our collective power. They are courageous because although they are incredibly busy, they honor their commitment of strengthening the larger  professional learning community and transferring that knowledge into the everyday practice into their buildings. They are courageous for highlighting their problems of practice and being open to feedback.

The Wild Rose bus status app for iPhones is now available free from the iTunes store. Download it now at itun.es/i6DR3KB.

SCIENCE

Special Opportunity: Student Science Experiments VC Series for Students and Teachers

Check out [email protected] for more information


Did You Know...That 2Learn.ca's Web 2.0 Tools site has a brand new section on ebooks? Check it out athttp://www.2learn.ca/web2/ebookT.aspx

ASSESSMENT for learning through Teacher collaboration

Hear from education expert Jay McTighe about why he feels staff collaboration is imperative to understanding what students are learning. He explains that working together as a team allows teachers to come up with a better game plan to improve the learning experience.

New Education Act
http://www.education.alberta.ca/media/6811056/highlights.pdf