RCAC Symposium 2013

The Western Regional Computer Advisory Committee (RCAC) Symposium was held in London, Ontario on Thursday, December 5, 2013.  Great Day!

Travis put into words my thinking.  He began by stating that it is not about putting technology in place of what we are already doing in the classroom but we need to think differently and use technology to enhance what we do.  Check out his initial Youtube video he made after using his first SMART phone in a class in his high school to help him keep organized

Gary highlighted that one good prompt is worth a thousand words (i.e. one good question).  It is less about us and more about them (the student).  The most powerful idea of all is the idea of powerful ideas.  Gary went on to say there is an epidemic of whole class instruction (i.e. too much focus of teacher directed instruction).  Check out his blog http://stager.tv/blog/?p=1857

















Did a lunch & learn with Kyle Pearce (http://tapintoteenminds.com/about-me/).  Very interesting.  Anybody who references Dan Meyer (http://blog.mrmeyer.com/) can't be all bad.  

Kyle Pearce is a Secondary Math Teacher and Intermediate Math Coach with the Greater Essex County District School Board leading a Ministry funded part-time, one-to-one iPad project. He is an Apple Distinguished Educator and Authorized Apple Education Trainer who leads professional development in both math and technology in his district and beyond. Teaching secondary mathematics at Tecumseh Vista Academy K-12 in the morning, Kyle shifts his focus to the Middle Years Collaborative Inquiry (MYCI) Project in the afternoon.
Join Kyle as he shares his journey of creating a digital learning environment. In Kyle’s secondary one-to-one iPad math class, the goal was to effectively deliver a 3 -part math lesson while eliminating wasted time copying useless facts. This resulted in increased student engagement and high levels of student
success. Positive results from the one-to-one iPad math classroom have led to the introduction of a One iPad Classroom model for instructional use through the Middle Years Collaborative Inquiry Project for intermediate teachers in 29 schools. Both one-to-one and One iPad Classroom models continue to grow as GECDSB educators strive to redefine digital learning in mathematics.