Research Question

In what ways can establishing a Professional Learning Network (PLN) of geographically isolated professionals committed to using 21st Century Technology empower teacher and student learning and connect communities and students in a rural district?

Description of the Innovation

Technology helps to create an open and transparent classroom where all community members can be a part of our learning. Within our PLN, each educator is developing a unique curriculum based project that has a family engagement component. Our family engagement goal is that families move from being project observers to project participants. This project endeavors to compile a team of educators from across our rural district that will become collaborators and resources not only to each other but to other schools, districts and global communities as well. Our view of community for the purpose of this project, is not limited to the communities in which we live; it includes the larger community of global and rural teachers.
As a group of educators we are committed to learn from each other and adapt the new knowledge to fit our high school and elementary classrooms. Our PLN members subscribe to Siemen’s principle of connectivism and believe that technology will help make communication within our group easily accessible and more collaborative. The task of each member of the PLN is to:
• create a classroom specific inquiry project using the same technology
• share their findings with the group
• commit to use the other members’ ideas within their own classroom

By using similar technology (ipod/ipad/livescribe pen) students will develop cross curricular connections and transferable skills that are not project specific.
Literature cited refers to the process of learning, both for educators and students, as a building of knowledge based on connections and experiences.

Individual Projects

Sarah Soltau-Heller – Grade 1 Classroom Teacher
Creating Digital Student Portfolios for Cross Curricular Assessment & Evaluation
Students will create digital portfolios of learning using Evernote as the host. Students & teacher will use technology to record, provide feedback and reflect on skill progress and provide parents with an authentic picture of their child’s learning.

Jillian Walkus – High School English, English First Peoples, and Alternate Program Teacher
Bringing Community Into the Classroom — Student Ethnographers
Students in English 10 and English First Peoples 10 will be taught the necessary skills to interview, record and document stories from family and community members. Students will listen to and reflect on the archived knowledge and then categorize it using the First Peoples Principles of Learning (from the EFP 10 IRP) as classification strands.

Christina MacDonald – Grade 2 Classroom Teacher
Technology and the Primary Science Classroom
Students will create a digital record of their learning in Science over the school year that they will then share with other students and their parents. The digital record will include a reflection on their learning as well as demonstrate their use of scientific vocabulary for assessment purposes.

Melody Watson – Grade 2 & 3 Classroom Teacher
What’s Up at AJ? – Student Created News Program (Tech Club grades 2-7)
Students in grades 2-7 will create their own news show and post regular episodes on a blog that will be shared globally. The students will be responsible for all aspects of the show including: story development, script writing, set design, directing, producing, camera work, sound, lighting, editing, and they will also be the onscreen talent.

Jill Cook - Elementary School Principal and Teacher (Grades 3-7)
Empowering Students in Oral Language
Students will use technology to tie local knowledge in the community together by encouraging elders, community members and each other to share their knowledge orally, using technology. After gathering the information it is our intent to share our acquired skills and knowledge worldwide by compiling the information on the world-wide web.