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Circa 1948: History in 3D
Looking for a unique way to encourage your students’ interest in history? Internationally renowned artist Stan Douglas and the award-winning National Film Board’s Digital Studio Vancouver have produced an immersive art app that brings history to life. Students will enter the shadows of postwar Vancouver, BC and discover two locations that no longer exist: Hogan’s Alley, where immigrant workers, drifters and dreamers rubbed elbows with politicians and cops on the take; and the old Hotel Vancouver, a crumbling grand hotel occupied by newlyweds, grifters and homeless war vets. With carefully recreated and photorealistic 3D illustrations, this app is a great teaching tool.
Circa 1948 is referred to as a “storyworld” and features an interactive free art app for iPad and iPhone, an interactive installation and an interactive photo essay.
ATA’s Educational Leadership Academy (ELA)
Calling all principals, assistant principals, department heads, consultants and teachers. If you are an educational leader or aspire to be one, this six-day, in-residence interactive conference is for you. Participants improve their leadership abilities through a variety of interactive strategies, including hands-on experiences, group discussion, individual consultation and personal action plans. Keynote speaker Linda Lambert will “share her expertise on building leadership capacity in school cultures, particularly in professional learning communities,” explains conference director and ATA Member Services staff officer Val Riewe. This year’s ELA takes place at Lily Lake, near Legal, and runs from July 25–30. For registration information, contact Leslie Kaun at Barnett House. Telephone: 780-447-9410 in Edmonton or toll-free 1-800-232-7208 from elsewhere in Alberta or e-mail: lkaun@teachers.aba.ca.
Online courses on child and mental health issues
Alberta Health Services offers online courses for educators that focus on child and youth mental health issues. Over the past year, the program Mental Health Online Resources for Educators (aka MORE) has offered 12 free online courses to more than 1,300 registrants. Learn more by calling Barbara Vigar, an education consultant with the program, at 403-955-8467, or by visiting the MORE website at http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/9167.asp
Teacher Growth, Supervision and Evaluation seminar
Do you know the ins and outs of the Teacher Growth, Supervision and Evaluation policy? What is a principal’s role in ensuring the policy is implemented? What type of supervision do teachers require, and how can professional growth be encouraged? Attend the two-day Teacher Growth, Supervision and Evaluation seminar to learn more about principals’ critical roles and the duties they must perform as outlined in the School Act and the policy.
The seminar will be held at Barnett House in Edmonton August 18–19, 2014. For more information, including details on the topics that will be covered, contact Executive Staff Officer Joyce Sherwin at joyce.sherwin@ata.ab.ca.
Connect with other educators of indigenous students
Indspire is a peer support initiative that connects educators of indigenous students across Canada. If you are an educator of indigenous students and you’d like to increase student success, the Indspire Educator Coaching Program may be just what you’re looking for. This professional development opportunity connects emerging educators with coaches who have years of experience working with indigenous students and a proven track record of creating positive outcomes. Whether you’re an educator looking to receive guidance throughout the academic year or an educator who is willing to provide support, Peer Support: Educator Coaching can assist. For more details, visit http://indspire.ca/programs/peer-support/.
Learning about our oceans
The Huntsman Marine Science Centre is a not-for-profit research and science-based teaching institution located in St Andrews, New Brunswick. The organization aims to raise awareness about the importance of the world’s oceans through a variety of in-person and online school programs. For example, SeaWords, the organization’s newsletter, makes marine biology accessible to students across the globe. The most recent edition includes classroom activities on ocean currents, sea creature facts about copepods and a link to their blog. Learn more about the Huntsman Science Centre school program at www.huntsmanmarine.ca.
Welcome to Camp fYrefly!
Camp fYrefly is Canada’s only national leadership retreat for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-identified, two-spirited, intersexed, queer, questioning and allied youth. The camp, which was founded in 2004 by Dr André P Grace and Dr Kristopher Wells, is designed to help youths develop the leadership skills and personal resiliency necessary for them to become agents for positive change in their schools, families and communities. Camp fYrefly exists because caring adults believe that all young people are entitled to a world that embraces diversity rather than fearing it. For four days each year, the camp creates a world that lives out the fYrefly acronym, which stands for fostering, Youth, resiliency, energy, fun, leadership, yeah!
Whether you are interested in attending as a camper, youth leader, adult volunteer or workshop presenter, visit the camp website at www.fyrefly.ualberta.ca or phone 780- 492-4909.
