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10
September 2015
Schools
Digital access extended to Rockridge Secondary School by
Beverly Pausche
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t’s official: as of September, all public secondary schools in West Vancouver have implemented a ‘Bring Your Own Device’ policy for Grade 8, which will be phased into higher grades as students progress through their senior years. Students have had access to digital learning platforms from Grades 4-7 throughout the district for several years, and the transition at the secondary level is part of a robust plan to use technology to enhance student learning. The district has been working with schools to incorporate professional development for teachers, along with individual and group pilots and library support, for the past three years. To date, the pilots have shown an increase in the use of collaboration software, such as Google Classroom and Google Apps for Education, a growing web presence for most teachers, the development of virtual field trips, and ‘flipped’ classrooms.
Rockridge Secondary.
A flipped classroom delivers some instructional content online outside of the classroom, and moves activities traditionally considered ‘homework’ into the classroom. Students collaborate in online discussions that are guided by the teacher. “One of the key goals for this work was to ensure that teachers have the training and expertise to guide students in responsible use of technology,” says Director of Instruction and Innovation, Sean Nosek. “It’s important that kids know that there’s a right place, time and tool for each task, and we were very careful to make this a priority throughout the implementation period.” Student feedback at West Vancouver Secondary and Sentinel Secondary, where digital access was implemented in September and January respectively, has been very positive. Grade 8 Rockridge students are being asked to bring a digital device for the 2015-2016 school year, but funding will be available for any student who may need it. Students will be supported in a 1:1 environment that will deepen learning, facilitate
Photo: Courtesy of WVSD
inquiry and engage students. The district is recommending a tactile keyboard, Internet connectivity and sufficient memory to allow for word processing, multi-media presentations and spreadsheet operations. Students will be given guidance on how to use these tools in an appropriate and safe manner that includes creating a positive digital footprint, direction around reporting inappropriate behavior, the importance of privacy protection and how to create, share and publish work over which they can take pride of ownership.
Nosek says parents can help students at home by encouraging them to take time away from devices, providing open space at home for a central charging area and keeping the dialogue about appropriate use very open. For more information on applying to West Vancouver Schools, please visit the district’s website at: www.westvancouverschools.ca
Art Contest! And the theme is music… Scarlet’s Art Scarlet Roth
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for creativity! The pictures here are of two guitars I painted this summer with acrylic paints on canvas. If you win, you will be published in The Beacon and get a Starbucks gift card, which is kind of awesome, so enter. Anyone in elementary or secondary school in West Van is eligible to enter. The deadline is October 5th. Direct message me your entry via Instagram @scarletart8.
t’s Saturday morning, the newspaper deadline is coming up, and my mom says I should get rolling, so here I go. I am Scarlet. I am obviously not an adult because I am still obeying my mother. I am twelve years old. I love art. That’s basically it in three simple words: I love art! I’ve been running art contests on Instagram for a while, and the contest will now be a regular feature in The Beacon, so, calling all artists! By art I mean drawing, painting, photography, etc. The theme this time is music. You can interpret this theme however you want. Whatever it means to you! I’m looking Guitars painted by Scarlet with acrylic paints on canvas. Photos: S. Roth