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December 7, 2014Ebony MorganYukon Education
1000 Shadowfax Blvd.Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 3H9
RE: ANCESTRAL TECHNOLOGY 10 BLENDED LEARNING PILOT PROJECT
Dear Ms. Morgan,
The Technology Assisted Learning and First Nations Programs and Partnerships units are
seeking the support of Yukon Education to implement the Ancestral Technology 10 Blended
Learning pilot project during the first semester of the 2015-2016 School year. The objective of
the program is to enhance Yukon First Nation student engagement and achievement by
integrating traditional ways of knowing with contemporary technology to create an authentic
learning experience that connects students to their cultural roots while they actively participate in
cultural preservation and revitalization. The program will keep students in their home
communities while they pursue their secondary education and engage them in culturally relevant
programming designed to improve First Nation student outcomes and close the gap between First
Nation and non-First Nation student achievement. The Ancestral Technology 10 Blended pilot
program is the most practical and cost effective way to accomplish this objective.
Funding in the amount of $13,700 is requested for project implementation to cover the travel
expenses for students and teachers to attend the week long experiential camp, materials and
honoraria for elder-experts to guide the creation of ancestral technology in the schools and the
cost of hiring a teacher to create an online Moodle component for the Blended Learning pilot.
We acknowledge the work of Yukon Education in improving outcomes for First Nations students
by developing holistic programs that support the intellectual, social, emotional and cognitivedevelopment of each learner and believe that this program would complement this work.
Thank you,Zoe Ravensong
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Ancestral Technology 10 Blended LearningPilot Project: Enhancing First NationStudent Engagement and Achievement
Submitted to: Director Learning Support Services, Yukon Education
Date: December 7, 2014
Zoe RavensongTechnology Assisted Learning Support OfficerYukon Education1000 Shadowfax Blvd.
Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 5V1(999) 667-1968
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Ancestral Technology 10 Blended Learning Pilot
The Rationale: Enhancing First Nation Student Engagement and Achievement
Comprehensive research and consultation have documented the disparity between First Nation
and non-First Nation student achievement with First Nation students achieving lower completionrates and lower achievement rates overall. (Yukon Education Strategic Plan 2014-2019) The
objective of the Ancestral Technology 10 Blended Learning pilot program aligns with the
strategic goal of Yukon Education to enhance First Nation student engagement, achievement and
future opportunity. First Nations, Inuit and Mtis advocate learning that includes their own ways
of knowing, cultural traditions and values. Without reflecting this vital connection to cultural
roots in our educational environments, First Nations learners will be unable to find relevance and
meaning in their academic pursuits. The overwhelming consensus [is] that improving
educational outcomes is absolutely critical to the future of individual Aboriginal learners, their
families and children, their communities, and the broader Canadian society as a whole
(Canadian Council on Learning 2007 Report: Redefining how Success is Measured in First
Nations, Inuit and Mtis Learning, p. 2) Educational environments that reflect two ways of
knowing1, foster the necessary conditions for nurturing healthy, sustainable communities and
closing the gap between First Nation and non-First Nation achievement. The success of the
Ancestral Technology 10 Blended pilot program will be a crucial step in improving outcomes for
First Nation learners while acknowledging the value of Aboriginal holistic lifelong learning as
an essential human endeavour that can benefit us all (p. 3). (See Appendix A: The Ancestral
Technology 10 Resource List for a graphic representation of the holistic lifelong learning model)
The Initiative: The Ancestral Technology 10 Blended Learning Pilot Program
The Ancestral Technology 10 Blended Learning pilot proposal targets three rural Yukon
community schools that belong to the Northern Rural Hub2and are presently participating in the
second wave of Blended Learning pilot programs (2014-2015). These particular schools are well
suited for selection to this initiative because they fit crucial criteria: isolated rural Yukon schools
1Learning that affirms their own (First Nations) ways of knowing, cultural traditions and valuesalongside Western knowledge and skills required for active participation in Canadians society.
2The Northern Rural Hub is an interconnected group of schools that was created to encouragerelationship building across diverse populations that share a common goal.
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with a modest number of predominantly First Nation students, the schools are located in
communities that have high speed Internet (fiber optic infrastructure support), the students have
access to and are familiar with proposed devices (have been assigned a MacBook Air for the
2014-2015 school year), have experience with online courses delivered via the Yukon Moodle
Learning Management System (LMS) and have access to highly qualified elder-experts and the
support of their communities. The pilot project will facilitate the exploration of cultural traditions
and values while creating a community of learners, in essence, finding ways for Indigenous
forms to play a role in emerging technology and contemporary modes of cultural expression
(Robbins, 2010, p. 118). The pilot will utilize the existing Yukon Moodle as a framework for
course delivery with support from established technologies that facilitate communication (Skype,
Mobile Technologies, videoconferencing), collaboration (Yukon Moodle, Web 2.0) and
community building (Skype, videoconferencing, Mobile Technologies). The pilot program will
make use of readily available technologies many of which are currently used in the target schools
and include:
Yukon Moodle Learning Management System
Mobile Technologies (iPads, mobile phones)
Personal Web Conferencing (Skype)
Room-Based Videoconferencing (Tandberg)
Web 2.0 technologies that facilitate blogging, wikis, mind mapping and othercollaborative and creative tools. Ex. Learning Journey App. for documenting the
Ancestral Technology 10 journey.
The pilot program will be launched at a weeklong experiential camp at Nanak Cheholay, the
traditional meeting place of theTr'ondek Hwch'in First Nation where relationships will be
established, ancestral technologies examined and knowledge acquired that will provide the
foundation for the Ancestral Technology 10 modules that follow. Students will continue their
individual journeys in their home communities with the knowledge that counterparts are within
reach by Skype, videoconferencing, email, and discussions on the Yukon Moodle. Group
videoconferencing sessions at strategic intervals throughout the course will encourage
community building and strengthening of relationships. Existing Yukon Education support
systems for this initiative include the First Nations Programs and Partnerships Unit (FNPP),
Technology Assisted Learning Unit (TAL), Information Support Services Unit (ITSS) and a
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2. Mobile Technologies
Mobile Technologies are an integral part of daily life and the majority of pilot participants will
already be experienced users. Students and teachers will have access to a global network of
information anywhere, anytime on devices that are simple, intuitive and have a common
interface across all Yukon Education platforms. (Mac) Using Mobile Technologies provides
authentic real-world experiences that will prepare students for active participation in an
interconnected world that is becoming increasingly complex.
3. Personal Conferencing
Skype, our personal conferencing platform of choice, has been extensively used in education in
fact, 98,808 teachers use Skype in their classroom worldwide. (Skype, 2014) Skype is free,
multifunctional (chat, videoconferencing, text chat, file exchange), is ultra simple to use,
ubiquitous and the majority of students and teachers are experienced users. Skype works on all
devices with an Internet connection and is an exceptional tool for communicating, collaborating
and building relationships between individuals and communities. The simplicity of Skype allows
students to take an independent role in their learning tasks and promotes the development of self-
directed learning. Peer mentorship can provide a bridge between experienced and novel users.
4. Room-based Videoconferencing
Tandberg videoconferencing equipment has been used in community schools successfully forover 10 years, is constantly being upgraded and support is available from the ITSS and TAL
units. Room-based videoconferencing facilitates group meetings with multiple connections and
has the capability for onscreen graphic presentations. The platform is highly user friendly and
many teachers are experienced users. All community schools have videoconferencing suites and
adequate high-speed Internet connections to use the platform. Having larger group meetings at
strategic points in the program strengthens relationships and builds a sense of community.
5. Web 2.0
Web 2.0 technologies are multi-functional, multifaceted and interactive. They facilitate
collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking and reflection through blogging, wiki
creation, creative product development, curation and peer feedback and assessment. The majority
of students and teachers have experience with Web 2.0 applications and skills are highly
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transferable from platform to platform. Tools are intuitive, easy to use; facilitate collaborative
group tasks and holistic, self-paced, independent learning. Tools work across platforms and
devices and multiple apps are available at all community schools. The use of Web 2.0 tools
promotes the development of vital contemporary learning skills that will allow our students to be
active and effective participants in the global knowledge economy. (See Appendix A: The
Ancestral Technology 10 Resource List for resources that define the rationale)
Evaluation: How Success will be Measured and Future Implications
Comprehensive program evaluation will be an integral component of course delivery, occur
continuously throughout the pilot project and include qualitative (anecdotal) and quantitative
assessments (completion rates). Observations and interviews during consultant visits to program
schools along with an online course evaluation questionnaire and course completion data will
provide a framework for assessing if program goals were achieved and for making
recommendations for the future of Ancestral Technology as a blended program. A meeting will
be scheduled with participating consultants, support staff, teachers, a student representative and
the Director of Student Achievement to review the data collected in preparation for the final pilot
project report, which will inform the development of future programs that target enhancing First
Nation student engagement, achievement and future opportunity.
References
Canadian Council on Learning. (2007).Redefining how success is measured in First Nations,
Inuit and Mtis learning. Ottawa, Ontario.
Fullan, M. & Langworthy, M. (2014)A Rich Seam: How New Pedagogies Find Deep Learning.
London: Pearson.
Fullan, M. (2013). The New Pedagogy: Students and Teachers as Learning Partners. LEARNing
Landscapes. 6(2).
Government of Yukon. (2014). Yukon Education Strategic Plan: 2014-2019.
Robbins, C. (2010). Beyond preservation: New directions for technological innovation through
intangible cultural heritage. International Journal of Education and Development using
Information and Communication Technology. 6(2).
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Skype in the Classroom. (2014). https://education.skype.com/
Sraub, E. (2014). Understanding Technology Adoption: Theory and Future Directions for
Informal Learning.Review of Educational Research. 79(2).
Project Implementation Framework
Goals and Objectives
The objective of the Ancestral Technology 10 Blended Learning pilot is to enhance First Nation
student engagement, achievement and future opportunity by focusing on three vital issues:
1. Providing an opportunity for students to complete their secondary education in their home
communities where they have the support of family and friends.
2. Creating culturally relevant and authentic educational experiences that connect traditionalways of knowing with contemporary technological innovation.
3. Creating a sense of community and providing opportunities for students to build relationships
across rural schools.
Ancestral Technology 10 Blended Learning Pilot Implementation Schedule
3 Steering Committee: Director of Learning Support Services, First Nations Programs and Partnerships,participating First Nations representatives, principals of the three schools involved in the pilot project,TAL Unit, ITSS Unit, Northern Rural Hub Curriculum and Technology consultants.
Activities
Submit Grant Proposal December 31, 2014
Expected Grant Notification January 31, 2015
Steering Committee Initiation Meeting February 9, 2015
TAL and ITSS Units TechnologyRequirements and Support Meeting
February 16, 2015
Curriculum and Technology Consultants PilotProject Strategy Meeting
March 1, 2015
AT10 Online Moodle Course is created bycontracted teacher
March 16-27, 2015 (Spring Break)
Steering Committee Meeting June 23, 2015
Moodle Training for Pilot Program Teachers June 10, 2015
Experiential Camp Steering CommitteeMeeting
July 25, 2015
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Ancestral Technology 10 Pilot Project Budget
The budget includes travel expenses for students and teachers to the weeklong experiential camp,
materials and honoraria for elder-experts to guide the creation of ancestral technology in the
schools and the cost of hiring a teacher to create an online Moodle component for the Blended
Learning pilot. Curriculum consultant visits costs are covered in the 2015-2016 budget.
Blended Learning Pilot Budget
Teacher Moodle Training 1 Day/3 teachers @ Whitehorse @$250 $750.00
Online Course Creation 10 Days @ $500/day $3,700.00
Experiential Camp Costs covered by the CHAOS Program. $0
Return Travel Costs forExperiential Camp
Haines Junction-Dawson returnCarmacks to Dawson return
$1500.00$750.00
Hardware/Software Purchases Existing MacBook Air Computers $0
Program Delivery and Support Covered in existing 2015-2016 budget $0
4CHAOS is an experiential program offered to Grade 9 and 10 students in collaboration with the FirstNations Programs and Partnerships Unit of Yukon Education. "CHAOS" stands for Community,Heritage, Adventure, Outdoors and Skills.
TAL/ITSS Meeting to Finalize TechnicalRequirements and Support
August 1, 2015
Steering Committee Meeting August 8, 2015
Experiential Camp at Nanak Cheholay August 24-28, 2015
Implementation Phase Begins/Pilot ProgramActivities
September 2, 2015
Consultant/TAL/ITSS Unit representatives onsite to support the start of the pilot
September 2 & 3, 2015
Consultants visit pilot schools for support/Assessment
October 15, 2015
Consultants visit pilot schools forSupport/Assessment
December 11, 2015
AT 10 Course End Date January 23, 2015
AT 10 Online Evaluation Questionnaire January 2329, 2015
Evaluation/Assessment Meeting February 12, 2015
Pilot Project Final Report/Recommendations February 28, 2015
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Elder-Expert Honoraria 10 days @ $100/day x 3 schools $3000.00
Ancestral Technology CreationMaterials
$1000/school x 3 $3000.00
Contingency Funds $1000 $1000.00
Total Budget $13,700.00
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Appendix A: The Ancestral Technology 10 Resource List
Ancestral Technology 10 Course Framework Templatehttp://www.yesnet.yk.ca/staffroom/pdf/13-14/da_atech_10.pdf
Ancestral Technology 10 In Depth Course Module Descriptionshttp://www.yesnet.yk.ca/firstnations/at10_modules.html
Ancestral Technology 10 Preliminary Test CampsMay and August 2013 Module VideosFeaturing Elder-expertshttp://www.yesnet.yk.ca/firstnations/ancestral_technology.html
First Nations Holistic Lifelong Learning Modelhttp://www.ccl-cca.ca/CCL/Reports/RedefiningSuccessInAboriginalLearning/RedefiningSuccessModelsFirstNations.html
Download the Holistic Lifelong Leaning Model PDhttp://www.ccl-cca.ca/pdfs/RedefiningSuccess/CCL_Learning_Model_FN.pdf
Holistic Lifelong Learning Model Graphic Canadian Council on Learning
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Appendix B: Ancestral Technology 10 Blended Learning Pilot Conceptual Map
Ancestral Technology 10 Concept Map PDF
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