UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
MINUTES
2010 11 02
The Program Committee of Upper Grand District School Board met on Tuesday,
November 2, 2010, in the Boardroom at 500 Victoria Road North, Guelph, starting at
7:00 p.m.
Trustee Moziar presided, and the following Trustees were present: Borden,
Busuttil, Gohn, Schieck, Topping, and Waterston, along with Student Trustees
MacDougall and VanderVlugt. Present from the Administration was Director of
Education Dr. M. Rogers, Principal of Program B. Talbot, Communications Officer M.
McFadzen, Chief Information Officer J. Shanks, and Executive Officer of Human
Resources J. Rose, along with Superintendents Benallick, Boswell, Fyfe, Kelly, and
Wright.
AGENDA
Trustee Schieck moved that the Agenda be approved as printed, combining
items #5 and #6 into one presentation.
The motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Trustee Waterston moved that the Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday,
October 5, 2010 be approved as printed.
The motion carried.
PLANS FOR K-12 MATHEMATICS
Elementary Curriculum Leader Mary Kay Goindi and Secondary Curriculum Leader
Paul Costa provided a presentation entitled, “UGDSB Moving Mathematics Forward: K-12
– Elementary and Secondary”. Ms. Goindi detailed the aligned plans, designed to target
student achievement by supporting teacher learning around effective mathematics
instruction. Responding to feedback from a survey sent to teachers and administrators,
elementary and secondary plans have been organized into 5 categories for teachers:
teaching through problem solving, teaching through 3-part lessons, implementing
assessment for learning, professional and collaborative discussions and actions, and
integrating the mathematical processes. As teachers explore those categories, students
will simultaneously be led to: investigating, discovering and constructing new
understandings, consolidating new learning with existing schema, self-assessing in
relation to learning goals and success criteria, collaborating as members of math - talk
communities, and reflecting upon, reasoning about and proving their mathematical
thinking. For self-identified numeracy schools, several professional development
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models have been offered and include the Kindergarten Hubs and Networks, the
Teaching-Learning Critical Pathways (TLCPs), and the Collaborative Inquiry Learning
Model (CIL-M). For the administrators of schools that have chosen a numeracy focus,
Breakfast Learning Teams have been arranged so that they are better able to support
their teachers in this new learning. It was also noted that for all teachers throughout the
board (teaching at numeracy or literacy schools), after-school workshops have been
scheduled to explore techniques of effective mathematics instructions and these
optional workshops have been filled to capacity. Mr. Costa went on to point out that the
foci of the elementary projects continue into the secondary initiatives. Teachers in the
intermediate and senior panels are investigating and practising the same high-leverage
instructional strategies through their work in School-Based PLC’s, math coaching PNC's
and the data-informed TLCO's. Finally, it was said that curriculum leaders are also
continuing their professional learning through attendance at CAMPPP (Collaborative
Actions for Mathematical Professional Learning, Precision, Personalization), participation
in Professional Learning for Mathematics Leaders and Coaches (PLMLC), as well as
membership and active participation in both OMCA (Ontario Mathematics Coordinators
Association), and OAME (Ontario Association for Mathematics Education).
RECOMMENDATION #1
Trustee Schieck moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
presentation entitled, “Plans for K-12 Mathematics” be received.
The motion carried.
HOMEWORK HELP PILOT PROJECT 2010-2011 AND eLEARNING INITIATIVES IN
THE UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Superintendent of Education Erin Kelly provided background to new eLearning
projects within Upper Grand and introduced ICT Consultant Bill MacKenzie and
eLearning Contact Steve Wynen. Through a PowerPoint presentation, Mr. MacKenzie
detailed credit achievement through eLearning by engaging students “anytime,
anyplace, any path, any pace”. The project is available online at any time and is
beneficial for continuing education, alternative education, credit recovery, and university
bound or travelling students. Data was provided to indicate online learning in secondary
schools around the world and its growth over a 4-year period. Set in motion within our
Board in 2006, the project was a provincial strategy funded by the Ministry of Education.
Homework Help is a 1-year Ministry funded pilot project with a goal of enhancing
achievement in mathematics through online learning. The province-wide project is an
online live tutor available for login Sunday to Thursday from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Mr. Wynen
illustrated various resources within the site including a whiteboard, scientific calculator,
audio chat, glossary and other interactive tools. This free service is anonymous and
safe for student use. Mr. Wynen highlighted a Learning Management System and how
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it would look to a student. A “live look” at an Upper Grand teacher’s course outline
included communication and discussion options, a video, email tool, content page,
assignment page, and online resource options. The course is delivered and submitted
through an electronic drop box, by way of a secure website. Currently Upper Grand
offers 8 courses delivered by teachers within our Board. The Upper Grand is a member
of the Ontario eLearning Consortium, a common registration and reporting system of 20
participating Boards. Mr. MacKenzie displayed a chart of students enrolled and
students on a waitlist over a 4-year period which indicated the demand has exceeded
the supply with a 50% growth rate. Mr. Wynen reviewed the Ontario Educational
Resource Bank (OERB), which is a growing repository of teacher and parent resources.
To date there are over 22,000 learning objects for grades K-12, offered in over 100
courses. A chart of OERB usage indicated a great deal of growth over the 4-year
period. UG2GO ensures that student learning material is available anywhere in the
world at anytime. All material can be downloaded and is available in 3-week packages.
UG2GO also provides resources to basic subjects. The Blended eLearning pilot project
was created with a goal to increase student and teacher capacity in using eLearning
resources within a limited access community. Currently available at Minto-Clifford and
Centre Peel Public Schools. Blended Learning allows the student’s regular teacher to
work along with the student in the classroom, using the eLearning program. Mr. Wynen
continues to promote these initiatives within Upper Grand schools and through the
Parent Learning Fair.
RECOMMENDATION #2
Trustee Borden moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
“Homework Help Pilot Project 2010-2011 and eLearning Initiatives in the Upper
Grand District School Board” presentation be received.
The motion carried.
OPSBA REPORT
In Trustee Bailey’s place, Trustee Borden reminded Trustees of the upcoming
Central West Regional Council meeting being held on November 13, 2010 and hosted by
Hamilton Wentworth DSB. Trustee Borden will post a welcome memo, from OPSBA to
the new Trustees, in the Trustee conference.
RECOMMENDATION #3
Trustee Waterston moved that this Committee recommend to Board that the
verbal OPSBA report be received.
The motion carried.
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REPORT FROM STUDENT TRUSTEES
Student Trustees MacDougall and VanderVlugt provided a PowerPoint
presentation of upcoming events. The Student Trustees look forward to attending the
OSTA-AECO Fall General Meeting from November 11-14, 2010. Keynote speakers
and topics were reviewed. A 10-year Anniversary Gala on November 13, 2010 will
include an address from the Minister of Education. Trustee VanderVlugt led the
Committee responsible for rebranding OSTA-AECO. Along with rebranding is a new
website and the release of the organization’s first newsletter “Echo” on November 5,
2010. The next Student Senate meeting will be held on November 16, 2010.
Information will be brought to the January, 2011 Program Committee meeting.
RECOMMENDATION #4
Trustee Busuttil moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
Student Trustee presentation be received.
The motion carried.
OTHER BUSINESS
Trustee Borden advised Trustees that the Board has moved to an enhanced
voicemail system and all Trustee mailboxes have been eliminated, however, the Board
Chair will still have a voice mailbox. Trustees were reminded to register for the
upcoming Ministry of Education Orientation Seminar scheduled for November 12, 2010
at E.C. Drury School in Milton.
ADJOURNMENT
Trustee Waterston moved that this Committee adjourn at 8:50 p.m. to report to
the Board.
The motion carried.
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