moodling in ontario a professional learning approach final
TRANSCRIPT
Moodling in Ontario:A Professional Learning Approach
Anita Drossis Nathalie RudnerABEL Professional Learning Lead ABEL School Lead Science and Math Teacher Assistant Head of
Science Vaughan Secondary School Thornhill Secondary School YRDSB YRDSB
ABEL and Moodle
Professional Learning
Community
ABEL
PartnersYork RegionDistrict School
Board
What is ABEL?
Advanced Broadband Enabled Learning Founded in 2002 Led and funded by York University (Toronto)
and the York Region District School Board (YRDSB)
Provides educators with innovative approaches to teaching and learning based on research
Provides a Professional Learning Program in the quest to integrate technology in the classroom
ABEL Values
“The ABEL program values INNOVATION, advancing new ways of learning that impact student achievement; COLLABORATION, connecting people effectively and efficiently through networks and partnerships, where they share their knowledge and expertise; TRANSFORMATION, creating values and opportunities for people and organizations.”
ABEL’s 5 Core Activities
1. Delivering professional learning2. Providing access to learning tools
and services3. Providing access to learning
resources4. Building effective and beneficial
partnerships5. Driving innovation through research
ABEL Website and Members Portal
Online Professional Learning Community for members at www.abelearn.ca
In the ABEL community, members can:Access resources for ABEL toolsRegister for professional learningRequest access to tools
ABEL Moodle Data
ABEL Moodle courses as of March 2009: 329 Professional Learning: 32 Durham District School Board: 4 Simcoe County District School Board: 30 Toronto District School Board: 147 York Region District School Board: 116
ABEL Moodle users as of Feb 2009: 5822 ABEL Moodle teachers as of Feb 2009: 303
Implementation of Moodle has been facilitated through the ABEL Professional Learning Program
ABEL Professional Learning Program
Offers a variety of professional learning opportunities through:
Training days at York U Job-embedded professional learningABEL Summer InstituteDigital Literacy Leadership SeminarABEL streaming
Training Days at York U
Half day training sessions for Moodle Hands-on Moodle workshops Release time is provided to YRDSB teachers Easy registration through ABEL portal or YRDSB Connect2Learn
Job-embedded Professional Learning Occurs in the schools ABEL staff and ABEL
school teams work on Moodle with teachers at the schools
“Moodle Month” initiative focused on provided training for several schools in two districts
ABEL Summer Institute (ASI)
Annual conference hosted by ABELhttp://asi.abelearn.ca/
Moodle Highlights include:Presentations on using Moodle in the
classroom½ day Moodle Hands-on WorkshopModeling Moodle using ASI Moodle
ASI Moodle used during conference
Digital Literacy Leadership Seminar
Moodle is used as platform for DLLS Participants are teachers and leaders
in their school Structured as a series of 5 Moodle
modules linked together with a Meta course of resources for the modules
Offered throughout the year
ABEL Streaming
ABEL Webcasts are used to share best practices among the ABEL community
Two separate Moodle webcasts were produced this yearMoodle in the Classroom: Designing your
Course HomepageMoodle in the Classroom: Assessment
for Learning Link to Moodle Webcast
ABEL provides easy access to Moodle and supporting resources through:
Tools request page for ABEL members Access to the ABEL training Moodle ABEL Moodle Pages Technical support through
ABELhelp@yorkU
Tools Page for ABEL Members
The tools page in the ABEL community provides a direct link to request access to Moodle and to elevate to course creator status
ABEL receives ~ 20 requests per month.
September is the busiest!
The ABEL Training Moodle
The ABEL Training Moodle allows teachers to experience the different Moodle tools
Different tools modeled in the training Moodle
ABEL Moodle Pages A step by step instruction guide on how to
create a Moodle For teachers, by teachers
ABELhelp@yorkU
Help desk staffed by York University IT personnel and a computer resource teacher from YRDSB
Approximately 110 emails per month for Moodle support
Peak times for support are the beginning of the school year and February (start of second semester)
YRDSB and Moodle
Professional Learning
Community
ABEL
PartnersYork RegionDistrict School
Board
York Region District School Board YRDSB has a long history of innovation
and expertise in information technology and curriculum.
The district's mission is to inspire and prepare learners for life in our changing world community.
YRDSB and ABEL work together closely to help teacher effectively integrate technology in the classroom
YRDSB Moodle Data Piloted in 2006-2007 school year (mostly
elementary) Launched November 2007 As of February 2009:
34 000 + moodle user accounts (27 000 in use since Jan. 1st)
~3200 individuals with course creator status
3200+ courses ~1900 secondary level ~1200 elementary ~ 100 other (Leadership, curriculum,
etc.)
YRDSB provides easy access to Moodle and supporting resources by:
Providing all teachers and students with Moodle accounts in order to support student learning and student achievementTeachers seamless with Board emailStudents uses school network logins
YRDSB Moodle Closed Moodle Only YRDSB Staff and Students Messaging and Blogs disabled Minimal plug-ins currently spellcheck, math
symbol editor, Turnitin
Professional learning opportunities through YRDSB include:Consultation with Computer Resource
Teachers Digital Literacy and Moodle Training
Sessions Professional Development days Job-embedded LearningSupport for participation in ABEL training
Consultation with YRDSB Computer Resource Teachers
4 regional Secondary CRTs 4 regional Elementary CRTs Provide formal and informal training and
support to staff using technology in the classroom Topics range from “Overviews of Moodle” to the
use of specific tools such as Databases Respond daily to Moodle inquiries in person
or online
Training Sessions
Group sessions All levels: beginner
advanced Teachers register
through “Connect2learn” professional learning tracking system
Professional Development Days
Moodle presentations and workshops at subject specific PD days, for example: Moodle in Science : Engaging Students online
In-school PD day Moodle sessions facilitated by CRT’s and/or ABEL program
Job-embedded Learning
Teachers at schools coordinate with ABEL and CRTs to provide in-school professional development such as hands-on workshops
Teachers share best practices at staff meetings
Experienced “Moodlers” mentor teachers new to Moodle
Support for participation in ABEL training
Teachers are:
Encouraged to participate in ABEL programs
Encouraged to use ABEL release time
Moodle Resources Moodle
All teachers are enrolled in “Moodle Resources”
Contains training videos, “Moodle Pages”, Moodle Links
Partners
Professional Learning
Community
ABEL
PartnersYork RegionDistrict School
Board
The ABEL program engages in and maintains successful and beneficial collaborations that have allowed the program to transform practice and to improve results.
Some partnerships include: York University York Region District School Board Orion Learning Connections
York University
York University is a lead partner in the ABEL program
York University helps provide support for ABEL members through ABELhelp
York University server hosts ABEL Moodle pages at: http://moodle.abel.yorku.ca
Orion
Orion partners with ABEL to provide PL webcasts to teachers across Ontario
Orion webcast series goes live in February 2009 with Moodle in the Classroom as one of the first webcasts
View webcast at: http://abeldb.abel.yorku.ca/webcasts/
Learning Connections
The Ontario Ministry of Education's Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat-sponsored Learning Connections project is a networked learning community and professional development program open to K-8 educators across Ontario.
ABEL provides LC members with access to their tools including Moodle
ABEL provides LC members with Professional Learning opportunities for ABEL tools
Moodle in Ontario
Professional Learning
Community
ABEL
PartnersYork RegionDistrict School
Board
Network of teachers who share best practices through the ABEL community
Differentiated Professional Learning Resources and support Partnerships Opportunities for leadership within the
community Promotes dynamic and innovative uses of
technology in the classroom
Keys to the ABEL Professional Learning Community