1. ERLC/Zone 3 Social Studies Advisory Committee
Social
Studies Advisory Committee
Activities:
- This committee met three times during 2009-2010: on September 17, December 17 and May 3. During 2010-2011 the committee met on September 8, and January 4, and a final meeting is planned for April 6.
- The social studies advisory committee met three to four times per year during the implementation period from 2004 to 2011.
- This group provided invaluable direction on the development and implementation of the project plan for the region, based on lessons learned in other curriculum areas and on their own district needs. It also advised on how the grant could best meet local and regional needs while fulfilling Alberta Education expectations for the Social Studies Implementation Project.
- The advisory committee meetings were very well attended and most districts were represented at all meetings. An example would be the meeting held on April 22, 2009 with 17 people attending representing 14 districts (including 2 via videoconferencing). Also in attendance was Robert Hogg of the AAC.
Picture from meeting of April 22, 2009 seated from left to
right: Robyne Wilock, Living Waters; Diane Lander, Parkland;
Marie Settle, Edmonton Catholic; Sharon Styles, Grande Yellowhead;
Pat Sachse-Brown, Edmonton Public; Standing: Lois Gluck, St.
Alberta Protestant Separate; Therese deChamplain-Good, Greater
St. Albert Catholic; Cindy Sanford, Pembina Hills; Harry Wagner,
ERLC social studies coordinator; Val Olekshy, ERLC Executive
Director; Gerald Knox, Elk Island Catholic; Leanne McMillan,
Sturgeon; Robert Hogg, AAC Executive Director; Wanda Newbury,
Northern Gateway; Via videoconferencing: Dorothy Walch, Ft. McMurray
Public; Julie Williams, Ft. McMurray Catholic.
Social Studies Advisory Committee Membership 2010-2011
Aspen View |
Bernie Giacobbo |
Black Gold |
Denise Harrison |
Edmonton Catholic Schools |
John Tidswell |
Edmonton Public Schools |
Corrie Ziegler |
|
Louise Osland |
|
David Evans |
Elk Island Catholic |
Maureen Duguay |
|
Gerald Knox |
Elk Island Public |
Faye McConnell |
|
Suzan Berwald |
Evergreen |
Dave Dempsey |
|
Michael Hauptman |
Fort McMurray Catholic |
Vic Steel |
|
Julie Williams |
Fort McMurray Public |
Ray Campbell |
Grande Yellowhead |
Sharon Styles |
Greater St Albert Catholic |
Therese deChamplain-Good |
Living Waters |
Jo-Anne Lanctot |
Northern Gateway |
Roger Lacey |
Parkland |
Diane Lander |
Pembina Hills |
Cindy Sanford |
St Albert Protestant |
Lois Gluck |
St Thomas Aquinas |
Michael Marien |
Sturgeon |
Leanne McMillan |
ERLC Social Proj Coord. |
Harry Wagner |
Executive Director |
Val Olekshy |
Alberta Assessment Cons. |
Sherry Bennett |
Highlights:
- The advisory committee provided important advice and direction on the best use of the grant to meet regional needs.
- Members represented a wide variety of organizations and positions within their organizations, such as rural and urban school jurisdictions, central office positions, classroom teachers, and education partners such as the Alberta Assessment Consortium (AAC).
- The ERLC region is not only large in its membership, but in its geographic size. Many of the committee members have had to travel very long distances to attend the meetings. With the creation of a videoconferencing suite in January 2008, committee members have been able to participate in advisory meetings without having to travel. Committee members from Ft. McMurray have participated in meetings via videoconference resulting in substantial savings of time and money and greater ease of participation.
- The meetings were crucial in providing time for districts to share ideas and develop relationships that facilitated networking.
- A plan was developed by the advisory committee based on beliefs of curriculum implementation. The comprehensive plan reflects the complexity of district needs and attention to sustainability through activities such as developing the capacity of school and district leaders, strengthening of professional networks and development of sustainability resources for professional development.
- Advisory committee models collaboration with conversations based on effective practices the group wants to see modeled in classrooms as teachers implement the program. The collaborative discussions align this focus on effective practice with adult learning approaches best suited to the practices being addresses.
Reflections:
- The advisory committee format allows for the ERLC to both complement the work being doing in districts and to be as responsive as possible to the unique needs of the region. It is an important structure in allowing the ERLC to be responsive to the changing needs of staff in the implementation process.
- Continue to develop the use of videoconferencing and other technologies in the advisory committee meetings so that those who have to travel long distances might have an option to participate at a distance.
- Continue to create activities and opportunities to facilitate sharing and networking among participants especially in the development of district plans for implementation.