10 Day Challenge

Key learning or key learning's?  It's really, really challenging for me to pick just one!  Throughout the PQP Part 2 experience, I gained considerable insight from the conversations and informal learning that happened from the knowledge, trust, and overall sharing from the group.  If I had to be completely honest, I learned very little from 10 day challenges.  Now, before you read too much further and you think that perhaps sounds conceited, or you think that I don't have the stance of a learner, let me explain!

My current role in my school board is Technology in Learning Consultant.  This means that from the Ministry of Education's viewpoint, my role includes these responsibilities and scope as both the TELT Contact and DeLC position.  My job is to work collaboratively with various groups and stakeholders to support equity of access and use of the VLE by students and educators for the implementation of blended and e-learning. This occurs within the context of transforming of learning and teaching in the physical and virtual classroom enabled by technology for innovative opportunities that expand what, how, when, and where students and educators learn.

My TELT position (Technology Enabled Learning and Teaching Contact) position is responsible for fostering a culture of co-learning and collaboration in a culture of change. As a leader of technology enabled learning and teaching I:

• develop a shared understanding of the enabling role of technology in expanding how, when, and where learning takes place;
• support innovative teaching practises enabled by technology to more precisely engage and address the learning needs of all students;
• build individual and collective capacity through ongoing professional learning for educators;
• facilitate the development of resources in school boards to support technology enabled learning and teaching;
• provide equity of access and use of the VLE by students and educators for the implementation of blended and e-learning, Homework Help, and the digital resources and tools provided by the ministry;
• communicate pertinent information from the ministry related to the work and learning being done in the school board related to technology enabled learning and teaching.

As our board's District e-Learning Contact (DeLC) I provide technical expertise and support for the infrastructure of the VLE with a pedagogical lens. The DeLC is primarily responsible for the management of their board’s Org.

The duties may include but are not limited to:

• managing courses, course shells and course components as well as user enrolments - including scripting and automated nightly processes
• managing users - creation, enrolments and access through roles/permissions, nightly importing and manually processes
• branding and layout of the ORG log in page, homepage, course shells, navigation bars and themes
• configure, support and maintain all 3rd party ORG integrations , branding and customizations
• knowledge of school board information systems to work cohesively with your board’s VLE, through various automated nightly scripts and processes
• support equity of access and use of the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) by students and educators for the implementation of blended and e-learning, professional learning, and digital resources and tools provided by the Ministry.
• managing the various default setting ORG variables which affect the VLE look and feel, user experience and impact usage
• work collaboratively with Board assigned TELT Contact to develop their ORG to meet the needs for staff and students.
• support monthly vendor updates by testing various enhancements and fixes, using the school board assigned Test and Production ORG

To see a complete list, you can visit either of these links to really describe what a TELT or a DeLC does.

So, taking all that learning from TELO, as well as my own professional learning, including being an ISTE member, attending the ISTE conference for the past three years, being involved with the Bring It Together Conference, the Educational Computing Organization of Ontario, and the Connect Conference, as well as presenting with and for Ontario Teacher's Federation at the Pedagogy Before Technology Summer conference, I feel that I am truly well versed in this particular area.

So, again, that leads me to the learning that happened.  As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog post, much learning came from the conversations and rich discussion that happened due to our cohort being from three Catholic School boards.  It was interesting to see our similarities, differences and I truly value understanding how other schools or boards do a variety of things from the tools and resources that they have available to them.

However, I'm wondering about the model provided and question if there could be multiple pathways or entry points for these challenges?  I truly felt this way in part one of the 10 day challenge, and felt somewhat like this was needed in part two of the challenges.  Is there a way to include Technology Enabled Learning Ontario in the challenges?  Or by diving into any of the professional learning modules that are available already to educators and staff in the province of Ontario?  A little voice and choice to ensure that everyone is gaining new and pertinent information is critical to moving lead learners forward.  Just my food for thought.
















Both of these roles work