Partners in Learning
Posted
Oct 27 2009, 03:24 PM
by
Microsoft Canada Co.
86fd01f4 17e7 422b 900b 9df551cb8ab9(Canada's 2009 Innovative Teachers at the Innovative Education Forum in Salvador, Brazil)
Partners in Learning
Partners in Learning (PiL) is a global initiative designed to actively increase access to technology and improve its use in learning. Since 2003, PiL has launched in 110 countries and has impacted almost 130 million students. At the heart of the program is Microsoft's firm belief that education and access to technology are key to economic development and competitiveness.
Innovative Schools - This program helps build communities of schools with a common interest in transforming education and preparing students for the rapidly changing, connected world. Microsoft offers technology expertise, development tools and online and regional training.
Innovative Teachers - Informed and empowered teachers are at the heart of meaningful and effective teaching and learning. More than a million Innovative Teachers worldwide share great ideas, best practices, and professional development resources through Innovative Teachers Forums and the Innovative Teachers Network.
· Every year Microsoft Canada recognizes a select number of Innovative Teachers for their groundbreaking work in integrating technology into the classroom to prepare students for today's and tomorrow's workforce and for a lifetime of learning. These teachers have the opportunity to participate in Worldwide Innovative Teachers Conferences.
· Canada's Innovative Teachers traveled to the Worldwide Innovative Teachers Conference in Salvador, Brazil from November 3-6, 2009. Click here to read their blog and click here to download a list of all of Canada's Innovative Teachers: List of Innovative Teachers 2006-2009.pdf
· A group of Innovative Canadian Teachers attended the 6th Microsoft Asia Pacific Innovative Education Forum in Singapore on March 9-11, 2010. Lesa Scott, a teacher from School District 15 in New Brunswick was named one of 18 winners out of 200 participants. Click here to read Lesa Scott’s blog about the experience.
(Mr. Nathan Toft, grade five teacher from A. Lorne Cassidy Elementary School in Stittsville, Ontario, presenting at Microsoft's Innovative Education Forum in Salvador, Brazil)
(Video from the 6th Microsoft Asia Pacific Innovative Education Forum in Singapore, 2010)
Innovative Students - The program aims to provide students with access to programs and curriculum to help integrate technology into learning at home and school. Initiatives include Digital Literacy Curriculum, Microsoft DreamSpark and Beginner Developer Learning Centre.
New Brunswick:
- The Province of New Brunswick and Microsoft Canada announced a renewed partnership in early 2009. The Department of Education will develop an innovative learning zone in school districts and two schools will be designated Innovative Schools. Schools and educators will also have access to an online network complete with teaching aides, professional development tools and a live web portal.
(Left to Right: The Honourable Kelly Lamrock, Minister of Education, overlooking, the Honourable Shawn Graham, Premier of New Brunswick, and Mike Parkhill, Director of Academic Sector, Microsoft Canada)
- In 2004, Microsoft Canada donated software and teacher training valued at $250,000 for the province’s Dedicated Notebook Computer Research Project. The project was designed to help the New Brunswick Department of Education determine how computer technology affected the learning experiences and teaching in middle school. Five hundred grade 7 and 8 students and teachers were given laptops and were tracked for two-years. The project was highly successful and resulted in a significant level of sustained student engagement between students and teachers.
Manitoba:
- In April 2009 the Province of Manitoba and Microsoft Canada signed Phase II of a five year agreement which includes elements of the three PiL pillars with a particular focus on math and science. In addition to helping the province develop an Innovative School, Microsoft Canada is providing licenses for MARVIN educational software to support Indigenous students and students with special needs.
- Manitoba was the first jurisdiction in North America to become involved in PiL in 2004 The program has supported the integration of technology into Manitoba schools in tangible ways including, training over 5000 teachers, providing the opportunity for educators to participate in educational leadership programs around the world and hosting Canada’s first Innovative Teachers Conference.
About MARVIN
As part of its Partners in Learning program, Microsoft Canada facilitates free access to MARVIN, animation design software, to schools and students across Canada. Designed by Australian animation guru J. Easterby-Wood, the software is an avatar-based animation tool which allows for the simple design of animated computer characters along with animation segments.
Teachers across Canada have integrated MARVIN into the classroom giving students the opportunity to create personalized characters and animation to tell and share stories. Designed for novices, children easily use the software to design animation in minutes, creating a positive and interactive educational experience.
Studies have shown that the use of avatars in training, education and information services leads to better uptake of information. MARVIN helps increase student engagement, familiarizes students with technology, and fosters peer-to-peer learning.
In Canada, MindSet (the Manitoba Network for Science and Technology) is piloting the program and provides a training course which enables participants to act as trainers for fellow teachers in the province and across the country.
Information on MARVIN is available at http://www.marvin.com.au/
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