Students Rock! the Pan Canadian Literacy Forum

4/14/2008 11:07:00 pm

Chris and I were invited by Cheryl Prokopanko, along with six of our students, to participate in a panel presentation at Canada's first Pan-Canadian Interactive Literacy Forum.

Preparing for today led to a collaboration that involved introducing my students to Box.net, where we shared our evolving presentation slide decks in a space where we shared access, and several skype calls with Chris.

Cheryl opened the presentation with an overview of Manitoba's new Literacy in ICT curriculum continuum which has evolved over the last several years (next year is the first year implementation is required by all schools in the province). It began with this video ...

Then Cheryl introduced Chris and I and our students. Chris and I bookended the kids presentations. Chris made some opening remarks, I made some closing remarks (actually, it was an invitation). But the highlight of the entire event was the kids. They so rock! Watch and see ...

... and it continues with my students, then me, here ...

We ended off with a question and answer session (Podcast: 16.8 Mb, 27 min. 55 sec. Now available as a slideshow with photos from the presentation) which you may find interesting. Some of it is hard to hear but there are some really great moments; like when one of the grade 8 students explains texting to a 63 year old member of the audience.

When it was all over the kids were swarmed by people who wanted to chat with them and hear their thoughts. Chris and I hung back and just left them to soak up all the well deserved accolades they collected. Each kid spoke for about 5 minutes and each kid must have spent over 5 hours preparing for it; and it showed. Chris and I are so proud of them.

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3 comments

  1. Anonymous15/4/08 19:26

    Hi Darren,

    You've every right to be more than proud of their work and presentation!!!

    Chris, Graeme, and Mark, I would not have guessed I was viewing slides and hearing the voices of students! You were articulate and knowledgeable; your choice of images for your slides were perfect; you definitely engaged your audience. I just know that many more students will have similar opportunities to develop digital and network literacies as their teachers reflect upon your presentation and begin to adapt and adopt similar strategies for their classrooms.

    Darren, the 3 stories and your passion in the presentation were compelling! It’s a privilege to be allowed to tag along on your exceptional professional journey via your and your students’ blogs. Your engaging pedagogy, your incredible teacher persona, and your very special ability to make the ordinary extraordinary really make for one great trek!

    Thanks to you, Darren, for making such a difference in the lives of so many students and educators.

    Kudos to you, Chris, Graeme, and Mark, for always making and exceeding the bar that Mr. K continues to raise for you.

    Best wishes,
    Lani

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  2. It's great to give students the opportunity to talk about their learning with others. They have a lot to be proud of in their work. Thank you for placing it in your blog.

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  3. Wow! What an inspirational post. I agree with everything that Lani and Ann have said here. I decided to feature my comments in a post on my blog http://tinyurl.com/3ndf8z. Three cheers to Mr. Harbeck, Kate, Karen, Angelo, Mr. Kuropatwa, Chris, Graeme, and Mark! Your stories are worth retelling. As Darren comments in the closing, as teachers you are reaching out to touch the lives of your students, but by sharing your stories with us, each of you, students and teachers, are reaching out to touch the minds of learners across the planet who will connect with your learning regardless of space and time. Let me say it again, inspirational! Thank you.

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