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Your Federation: A Roundup of Federation News
- ETFO Members who are innovating with technology are taking part in a new professional development program, Innoteach. At their first meeting, each member of the core group submitted one technology-based curriculum document or learning object for discussion. This peer review will continue as they work online to further refine and clarify their proj- ects. The final products will be made available on the ETFO website. Having received training in the process of critiquing and refining their practice, the original team will become men- tors and leaders for the next generation of par- ticipants. Innoteach is one of the projects made possible by professional development funding from the Ministry of Education.
- Charles (above left, with ETFO President David Clegg), the province’s early learning advisor, attended the March meet- ing of the ETFO Executive to discuss his mandate. Pascal is to make recommendations on how the province will implement the full-day kindergarten program promised in the 2007 election. He will submit his first report to Premier Dalton McGuinty next year.
- Perfecting Your Presentation Skills Consultants and coordinators who are ETFO members had an opportunity to learn about the theory and practical aspects of creating effective presentations from Lynn Sewell and Robert Garmston, internationally renowned facilitators. Participants learned about techniques to deliver highly effective presentations and about how to read and respond to audience cues, and they experienced a variety of proven strategies to engage all types of participants.
- Rod Michano, Francesca Dobbyn, Colleen Purdon, and playwright David Craig, (shown from left), as well as Shirange Raje, and Dawnmarie Harriott are featured in ETFO’s one in Six documentary. The title reflects the statistic that one in every six Ontario chil- dren live in poverty. The film is designed to heighten teachers’ awareness of poverty and its impact on their students. Its launch at a special screening at the National Film Board of Canada included a question-and-answer session with the participants who represent the groups most affected by poverty – Aboriginal people, single women, immigrants, and people with disabilities. A DVD of the documentary was distributed to every public elementary school in Ontario this spring. To view the film, speak to your school steward.
- Beyond the Workshop Presenter’s Palette is Part 2 of a program designed to polish members’ presentation and facilitation skills. Participants were experienced presenters who wanted to re-energize and refine their presentations.
- The Opportunity to Improve the way they use computers in the classroom drew 100 women members to etfo’s Information and Communication technology (ICT) Conference in February. The conference helps members increase their comfort level with various aspects of technology. Among the variety of workshops offered were those showing members how to create websites, blogs and podcasts and how to integrate them into classroom practice.
- Educators From Benin came to ETFO for a three-day workshop on early childhood education and the role of play. Offered in collaboration with Right To Play, the workshop focused on brain development, child development, research on best practices in early childhood education, integration of play into curriculum documents and curriculum implementation. Right To Play representatives from Benin and Rwanda also took part.
- …And Still We Rise The eighth annual leadership and personal growth conference for women was attended by 400 members from across the province. Participants heard from Laura Robinson, a former member of the national cycling team and an award-winning writer and filmmaker. Janet Romero-Leiva, who immigrated to Canada from Chile at the age of seven, presented a dramatic storytelling. Members took part in leadership skills and personal growth workshops. The conference also featured a variety of women artists and performers.