Welcome to the December CANeLearn news. This issue offers some great resources and interesting reading material for the holidays.  From all of us at the Canadian eLearning Network we wish you the best for a restful holidays with some much deserved time with family, friends and a good book.  Scroll down to get your holiday reading started!

Featured Events

2017 CANeLearn Symposium (& BC DL Conference): April 5-7, Vancouver BC

• The program is shaping quickly and will be announced in January
• Featured Speakers and CEA Award Winners along with practical skill sessions and focused dialogue

Stay Connected!

• Use #CANeLearn to stream specific items of interest to members. Join the conversation!
• Join CANeLearn – only $50 for associate membership! – information at https://new.canelearn.net/membership-account/membership/

In the news…

The EDEN Interviews: Bates, Daniel and Moore

• Steve Wheeler recently interviewed the three founders of distance education – Dr. Tony Bates, Sir John Daniel, and Dr. Michael G. Moore
• Find out how they see the evolution of online and blended learning from distance education, and if they all agree
• Read more and watch video here…

New blended learning approach gives students flexibility

• Carihi School Chemistry teacher Thomas Diesch has been at the leading edge implementing new curriculum introduced to BC schools this fall
• His teaching philosophy is based upon the concept of blended learning that to Diesch involves “leveraging technology to give students choice in the pace, place, and content of their learning”
• He has also been leading professional development on blended learning and curriculum adoption at his school and district
• Read more here…

PISA 2015 Results Shows High Levels of Achievement by Canadian Students

• The Canadian results from PISA 2015 are a success story for provincial education systems:
  • Canadian 15-year-olds placed well above the OECD average and remain among the top performers in science. Of the 72 countries and economies participating in the assessment, only three -Singapore, Japan, and Estonia-outperformed Canada.
  • Close to 90 per cent of Canadian students performed at or above Level 2 in science, which is the baseline level of proficiency required to take advantage of further learning opportunities and participate fully in modern society. The OECD average was only 79 per cent.
  • In mathematics and reading, Canada was also one of the top performers: only one country-Singapore-surpassed Canada in reading, and only six countries and economies performed better in mathematics.
• Read more here…

From Canadian Education Association – The Spiral Playbook

Leading with an inquiring mindset in school systems and schools

• Produced by C21 Canada – Canadians for 21st Century Learning and Innovation – The Spiral Playbook offers a framework for collaborative inquiry that puts evidence about learners at the centre of decision making.
• Developed by researchers Judy Halbert and Linda Kaser, the spiral of inquiry is a way to spark professional curiosity and inspire informed action and is grounded in 20 years of research and rigorous field testing with inquiry-minded educators in Canada and around the world.
• This report offers key insights that have emerged so far.
• Download The Spiral Playbook here (PDF)

44 New Cool Websites and Apps to Learn Something New

• Have some spare time over the holidays?
• Check out Kristyna Z’s list here…

Worth a look…

Online Learning & Teaching graduate Diploma (OLTD)
Are you interested in…

• Rethinking your f2f delivery to engage a blended learning model
• Integrating emerging technologies into your practice
• Becoming a leader in distance learning design and delivery
• A fully online graduate program with no residency requirements and summers off
  …then OLTD is for you!

For information visit oltd.viu.ca or email mary.oneill@viu.ca

Why come to the 2017 symposium and BC digital learning conference?

1. Theme – Blending Boundaries: Leading Digital Disruption, Innovation & Equitable Learning https://new.canelearn.net/symposium/
   1. Classroom practice using online spaces, Online practice using virtual, synchronous, and onsite spaces are the focus
   2. Strategies for engaging students through online learning environments through technology is the underlying purpose and outcome
   3. Networking, sharing, challenging, and learning is the purpose of the gathering
2. Program https://new.canelearn.net/symposium/
   1. Wednesday half-day pre-conference focus is on skill building (tech, design, coding, etc.)
   2. Thursday focus is on students – and networking
   3. Friday focus is on featured speakers – and putting IT together in your own practice and program
3. Proposals https://new.canelearn.net/proposals/
   1. 60 minute, 45 minute, and 5 minute Ignite sessions available along with structured open dialogue sessions
   2. We encourage everyone who has had success in engaging students to put in a proposal
   3. The committee will fashion the program to ensure sharing and dialogue
   4. Your proposal could be part of an Ignite session, a facilitated dialogue session, a 45-minute presentation, or a 60-minute dialogue
4. Registration https://new.canelearn.net/symposium/symposium-registration/
   1. Close to half of the hotel block is booked – secure your rooms now
   2. Early bird registration closes November 30 – get your group registrations in now – names can be sent later (use a “TBD”)