PDAF Successful Profiles - Senior Level
Click on the project title in the table to view the profile.
2015-2016
Building Capacity for Connections at the High School Level
15-16/03/S
School: All South Shore Regional High Schools
Grade: 10-12
School Board: South Shore Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Lindsay Welsford
Team Members: Connie Bird, Ann Wentzell, Catherine Rahey, Stacey Kosiba
This project provides a means to engage marginalized students who demonstrate social deficits and are enrolled in the PSP. We will use an interest-based, experiential approach to enhance feelings of belonging, mastery, and independence. Students participating in PEERS-based programs will be matched with student volunteer mentors, who will be trained in effective communication, resilience, collaborative problem solving, and empathy. They will also participate in interest-based activities with other high schools. Through the development of enhanced relationships, the project will promote a sense of community within and among participating schools - engaging students and maintaining a positive connection with school culture.
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Chrome Keys
15-16/15/S
School: Duncan MacMillan High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Tracy Walsh
Our project will enhance the delivery of the Options and Opportunities (O2) Curriculum at Duncan MacMillan High School. We will purchase Google Chromebooks with the funds granted. Our students will use these Chromebooks to access mandatory and supplemental training programs, such as First Aid, WHMIS, OHS; personal development resources, such as interest inventories; employment market information and trends; interactive career guides, such as Career Cruising, Career in Gear, Jobs People Do; post-secondary school information; and a wealth of other resources to help them develop personal, educational and career goals.
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Réinventer les technologies
15-16/18/S
School: acadienne de Truro
Grade: 12
School Board: CSAP
Project Coordinator: Guy Desgagné
Team Members: Anne Bastarache, Robert Carreau
Le projet permettra l’achat de matériel technologique de pointe afin de présenter des projets intéressants et motivant pour les élèves des cours de technologie qui seront en lien avec l’industrie. Les équipements seront aussi accessibles aux élèves, au personnel ainsi qu’aux membres de la communauté. Les buts du projet sont:
- encourager le leadership;
- proposer des projets motivateurs et enrichissants pour les programmes d’études de technologies et sciences de tous les niveaux;
- travailler la communication orale française à travers de projets authentiques.
Nous prévoyons acheter:
- une imprimante 3D;
- des équipements de robotique;
- des équipement d’électronique;
- une caméra GoPro et ses accessoires;
- un drone;
- un Makey Makey;
- un Raspberry Pi.
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WHEC Adventure Education Intitiative
15-16/31/S
School: West Hants Education Centre
Grade: 10-11
School Board: Annapolis Valley Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Angela Pound/Dylan Irvine
Project Team Members: Brian Wong, Janice Munroe Dodge
West Hants Education Centre is an experiential school of the AVRSB with hands-on, adventure learning opportunities in many different high school curriculum. Success metrics include both immediate and long term outcomes which include leadership, positive self-concept, interpersonal skills, adventure and academic improvement. Canoeing is a part of our regular curriculum. The goal is to purchase canoes and supplies which will allow the school to be self-sufficient when taking students on canoe trips. This fund will allow WHEC to explore more areas of Nova Scotia, adding to accomplishing outcomes in these subject areas to a greater depth.
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The Skies of Tomorrow
15-16/35/S
School: Dalbrae Academy
Grade: 9-12
School Board: Strait Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Stan Cameron, Duncan Campbell, Ed Dunphy
Dalbrae Academy’s PDAF proposal includes the development of a small microelectronics lab that will complement the physics and technology course offerings while allowing access to robotics applications to the school and communities. We will create and implement a program where students progress from basic circuit theory to the building, testing and applications of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and remote operated vehicles (ROV). Services such as building and site inspections, the monitoring of crops and livestock in agricultural settings, or the use of UAVs and ROVs to do routine maintenance and troubleshooting in applications for farmers and fishers will be offered.
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Dartmouth High School Physics You Tube Channel
15-16/41/S
School: Dartmouth High School
Grade: S
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Shane MacLeod
In an attempt to enhance student engagement and increase support, a YouTube for Dartmouth High School's Physics classes was developed. There are three main goals with the channel; first, to work through concepts and examples for students to review after covering material in class as well as to offer some concepts via a “flipped” classroom model where students will be able to view the material and then review in class. Finally, a variety of interesting physics concepts that are not necessarily covered in the class will be presented to enrich student learning. The grant will be used to purchase improved audiovisual equipment in order to improve the quality of the videos.
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Combating Stigma with Literature - A Multi-Genre Mental Health Themed Unit for English 10
15-16/48/S
School: St. Mary’s Education Centre/Academy
Grade: 10
School Board: Strait Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Deena Jewers
This project is a multi-genre mental health themed unit taught in an English 10 classroom. Students will be exposed to fiction and non-fiction literature with a mental health concentration. Through exposure to literature and media, students will have the opportunity to understand mental health and know where to seek help if needed. Students will also be exposed to fictional characters that are struggling with mental health issues with the purpose of fostering empathy for those characters. Students will also create posters, information pamphlets and/or public service announcements, collaboratively through the use of Chromebooks and google docs/slides, to promote mental health to the school community.
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Wearable Technology
15-16/50/S
School: Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School
Grade: 9-12
School Board: Strait Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Danielle Boyd-Farrell, Janie Lumsden, Jyl Boyle
Wearable technology incorporates programing and sewing while enabling students to develop and expand upon 21st skills and aptitudes. Using Raspberry pis, Arduinos, embroidery machines and a variety of hand tools and materials, students will collaborate to create clothing that is controlled through computer programing. This will build on some students’ prior knowledge of programing and will also serve to spark student interest in programming as they are able to see first-hand the effects of changes in code while completing fun practical projects.
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Teaching Computer Aided Design Through Laser Cutting and Engraving
15-16/69/S
School: Millwood High School
Grades: S: 9-12
School Board: HRSB
Project Coordinator: Lawrence Rigby
Team Members: Shane Shaw, Gary Gorringe, Dan Cudmore
At Millwood High School we offer several courses incorporating Computer Aided Design. As a complement to these courses we are using PDAF funds to purchase a laser cutter/engraver system. This endeavour is designed to increase student engagement and to spark an interest in the growing field of CAD. The versatility and ease-of use of a laser cutter/engraver will provide our students with an opportunity to complete the full design process from the initial idea to the manufacturing of a physical artefact. The laser cutter will not only provide an extension to what the students are already doing but will also allow us to develop “real world” experiences to better prepare our students for the post-secondary world.
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Reaching All Learners: iPads in Special Education – Learning the way to Differentiated Instruction Using Technology for all Students
15-16/77/S
School: Glace Bay High School
Grade: S: 9-12
School Board: Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Dawn Spracklin
Team Members: Michelle Vokey, Margot O’Leary
The Classroom as an Active Learning Environment will purchase 3 Spark Fly bikes and 8 Alphabetter Stand-Up Desks for use in the learning center classroom.
Integrating physical activity into educational programs and practice is a way to facilitate learning for students of all abilities across all grade levels. The use of these bikes and stand up desks will help those children, who are in dire need of physical release during class time, to get it without disrupting the flow of regular class routine. It will also increase student engagement and student achievement by allowing the students to remain in the classroom instead of making frequent trips to the bathroom, walking around the building and tapping pencils on the desks disrupting others.
The use of the bikes and desks in the classroom will help the students to develop self -regulation strategies and allow them to manage their energy states, especially in situations where they are required to focus on a task or when they are stressed.
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Perspectives – Through ROSC Coloured Glass (2nd yellow, 2nd purple, and green…)
15-16/81/S
School: Charles P. Allen High
Grades: S: 9-12
School Board: HRSB
Project Coordinator: Heather MacFarlane
Team Members: Calum Leadbeater, Paul Wozney, Shannon MacFarlane
Through this project students at CPA High School will participate in the actual making of a colourful multi-layer fused glass artwork that will be permanently installed at Charles P. Allen High School. The glass piece will be based on infographics designed to explore the perspectives of students in the school community on a variety of issues. The process will be documented with video and images in an online gallery available via QR scan code for students to scan with their phones.
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Creative Connections Clay Studio
15-16/85/S
School: Sackville High School
Grades: S: 9-12
School Board: HRSB
Project Coordinator: Alison West
Team Members: Meaghan LeMoine, Nick Crowe, Diana Fiske
For this project we will develop a clay studio business within Sackville High School that is organized, advertised, and run by Visual Arts students of all levels. Students involved in the running of the studio will develop leadership, employment, and entrepreneurial skills and use them to help guide staff and students with their projects. The studio will provide all students and staff with a place outside of the regular classroom setting where they can interact and express themselves by making and decorating clay products in a safe, positive, and upbeat environment.
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Math and Fitness in the Learning Centre
15-16/88/S
School: Auburn Drive High School
Grades: S: 10-12
School Board: HRSB
Project Coordinator: Anne Sangster
Team Members: Frank McMahon
The funds requested will be used to purchase a class set of wearable fitness trackers to be used by Auburn Drive High School (ADHS) students supported by the Learning Centre. Using these trackers during exercising and basic physical activity during the school day, data will automatically be displayed in various forms which the students will be able to access on a phone, tablet or PC. The ability of the data to be displayed for the students graphically lends itself to be used in supporting math and science Individual Program Plan (IPP) outcomes and in teaching by math and science classroom teachers, as well as the Learning Centre teaches-teachers with whom these students often work under an IPP. The graphs canthen be interpreted as a math outcome, the activity and related heart rates as science, and so on. The possibilities are extensive, and the registration methods of the data can be anonymized to protect the students’ privacy.
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The Learning Launch Pad
15-16/91/S
School: Oxford Regional Education Centre
Grades: S: 10-12
School Board: CCRSB
Project Coordinator: Kendall Black
Team Members: Duane Starratt, Stephanie Keezer, Tracy Swan
The Learning Launch Pad project will include the design and construction of a gazebo at the start of our 3km trail system. Landscaping the surrounding area will add to ongoing purposeful, curriculum development that will create a welcoming area for instruction and relaxation, offering opportunities for all students (p-12) to engage with their environment. The nature of this project gives students the opportunity to contribute both at the idea and the production stages in ways that otherwise they would be unable to experience, creating a project that not only enhances the school, but increases the positive interactions and experiences that the community has with the school and its students.
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2014-2015
Brighter Futures One Cup at a Time
14-15/15/S
School: Sackville High
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Nick Crowe
Team Members: Diana Fiske, Melissa Doherty, Carolyn Jessome, Theresa Jennings
This cross-curricular project involves several classes at Sackville High that will be working together to create the Kingfisher Cafe, where students of diverse abilities will be learning how to run an actual cafe/smoothie bar and operate all of its equipment. Not only will these students be building their resumes and their transferable skills, they will also be creating partnerships among students in the Learning Centre and students in traditional academic classes. Healthy Smoothie bars and Cafes are two booming enterprises. The Kingfisher Cafe will allow our students to be well positioned to access these opportunities after graduation.
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Outdoor Leadership/Duke of Edinburg
14-15/39/S
School: Horton High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Annapolis Valley Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Krista Campbell
Our first task at hand is to book our Bronze level practice and adventurous journey dates for this spring and purchase our required equipment. We plan to engage in a school based activity to expose/educate students of required gear and equipment used in outdoor explorations. We will then decide on our adventurous journey dates and focus and participate in an overnight excursion to meet the Duke of Edinburg requirements. We also hope to incorporate a few school based outdoor educational activities that can benefit students both in and out of the Duke of Edinburg program.
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Forests of the Future
14-15/43/S
School: South Colchester Academy
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Chignecto Central Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Jennifer Fisher
This project is aimed at creating a mobile classroom for a locally developed course, Forestry Management 12. The course is designed to work with government and industry professionals to both engage and educate students about management practices and employment in the local forestry industry. Students will use their technology in the field, gaining authentic experience in this field of study. This project will also allow students to interact directly with virtual lessons, and assessment both on and off site. It will also ease the collaboration between students, teachers and the industry partners.
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iPad Technology and Student Success in a Differentiated Core French Classroom
14-15/44/S
School: Cobequid Education Centre
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Chignecto Central Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Matt Fullerton
Team Members: Hillier Cormier
"High school French students will work with iPads to promote oral production, listening comprehension and literacy, and to help decrease the anxiety often associated with sharing their work with others. They will accomplish these goals by hearing, seeing, reading and manipulating iPad-based models before creating, with their devices, their own products that they will then share with their peers in interactive ways. This process will encourage active listening and speaking and help decrease anxiety, a growing impediment for students in today's classrooms. Such activities will be followed by students assessing their own work and the work of others."
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Creating in the Arts: Perceptions of Me
14-15/45/S
School: Auburn Drive High
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Melanie Kennedy
Team Members: Catherine Thompson, Stephen Cameron, Dan Ray
We have a new course at Auburn that is a combination of a support class for students with special needs and a course called Creating in the Arts. This class is comprised of students from our learning centre. Mainstream students will come into the class and we will all create something together, starting wherever the personality and ability levels of our group meet. The grant money will purchase equipment to aid in the music and art portions of my class, most particularly an instrument called the Skoog that is ideal for students who are differently abled. It allows students who cannot play traditional instruments to make and even compose music.
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Math in the Garden
14-15/57/S
School: Parrsboro Regional High School
Grade: 10
School Board: Chignecto Central Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Paula Rochon
Team Members: Matt Cole, Shawna Shiers, Susan Stevenson
The 2015 Math Essentials 10 students of Parrsboro Regional High School are in Phase 1 of their “Math in the Garden” project. Students are applying geometric aspects of design, purchasing and measurement skills to design, cost estimate and construct a green space for Parrsboro Regional Schools. Gardening offers hands-on, experiential learning opportunities in a wide array of disciplines. Garden activities can help engage students in learning in a way that is more difficult in the classroom. This space will include raised garden beds, cold frames and a living wall that can be utilized as a supplementary resource for students from P to 12 while beautifying the school grounds and allowing these math students to feel a sense of connection to their high school.
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2013-2014
Collecting, Analyzing and Disseminating Weather Data
13-14/06/S
School: Sydney Academy
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Ron Mazzocca
Team Members: Janet Beaton, Barry Holloran, Kevin O’Neil, Bruce Dalzell, Jane Gillis, Greg Callahan , Jamie Broderick
The project “Collecting, Analyzing and Disseminating Weather Data” will enable any student at Sydney Academy to gather data on the weather systems influencing the local area. This project emphasizes the first hand collection of weather data by high school students using sophisticated electronic equipment. This data can be accessed by all students, any day, at any time, from any location with internet service. This information may be creatively used by students to post local weather reports for the surrounding community over the schools electronic message board. The project will allow student to learn basic skills in collecting, analyzing and communicating information in an enjoyable and engaging manner.
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YouLearn: Using student generated content to increase student engagement
13-14/13/S
School: Amherst Regional High School
Grade: 9, 11, 12
School Board: Chignecto-Central Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Erika Carruthers
YouLearn allows students in Biology 11 & 12 the opportunity to create content in various forms for use in Science 9 classes employing a flipped classroom approach. There are instances of overlap within the curriculum that allows students to deepen their understanding of concepts. YouLearn will create an authentic learning experience in which this happens. Science 9 students will be able to consume this content as an introduction, review or reinforcement while seeing relatable role models. The technology use by both groups will serve as a tool of engagement, an opportunity for further problem solving and way to represent learning.
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Multi Cultural Art Kits “MAKS”
13-14/19/S
School: Bridgetown Regional High School
Grade: 9-12
School Board: Annapolis Valley Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Lori Whitman-Price
MAKS, "Multi Cultural Art Kits," is a selection of portable, multi-culturally themed art kits that contain a wide variety of learning materials and resources for students in the BRHS senior high art program. These kits will promote cultural diversity and reflect various cultures within our society, on both a local and global scale. The essential aim of MAKS is to expose art students to a greater sense of multiculturalism through hands on learning experiences. Students will explore the cultures of the world as well as those that make up our student population during each unit of study we cover in the art studio.
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Green Screen Studio
13-14/36/S
School: Auburn Dr. High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Tim Coombs
Team Members: Kirt MacCormack
Traditionally, when students are asked to be creative when creating video projects, there options have been limited due to limitations they have. The background of their videos is always the school and surrounding areas. In order to unleash their full creative potential, our PDAF grant will be used to purchase a green screen backdrop and a high quality camera and lighting system in order to allow our students to think outside of the box and then put themselves virtually inside that box. The possibilities are limitless!!
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Food for Thought
13-14/37/S
School: Auburn Drive High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Catherine Thompson
“Food for thought” is a group mural project that is intended to provoke thought, positive behaviour and perhaps personal growth. The project will reflect the PEBs (positive, effective, behaviour and support) matrix and the artwork will promote the theme: Auburn has respect for S.O.L.E. (self, others, learning and the environment). Students will be pairing a positive word with an item of healthy food to create a whimsical yet educational mural for our school cafeteria. We will be asking members of our school community to give us words they feel will promote healthy mind, body and soul of our students as they view the mural day to day.
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Second Language Acquisition through Technology
13-14/43/S
School: Charles P. Allen High School
Grade: 11-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Kevin Schofield
Second Language Acquisition through Technology involves the use of technology (tablets) to permit students an authentic experience in learning a second language, in this case Spanish.
Students are able to access videos (audio) of native speakers, current articles from newspapers and magazines, popular music, and much more current content catered to their interests. Cultural awareness will be readily accessible. Applications are now available for learning languages and dictionaries that aid in pronunciation. No longer are the dictionaries’ pages silent.
In addition, the ability to record and save students video presentations permit a running dialogue of their progression - digital documentation. As a diary of sorts, recording progress from beginner to advanced acquisition allows for teacher and self-evaluation. Presentations show authentic experiences, demonstrate their creativity, and showcase lingual abilities.
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Math Mini Lessons
13-14/48/S
School: Cole Harbour High
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Matthew Serieys
Cole Harbour High is developing a video library of mini lessons designed to help teachers differentiate instruction within the classroom using I Pads and applets. Teachers are going to take short videos as mini lessons and use these to support students learning. In order to support connections to previous knowledge or to help develop a deeper understanding of the subject area some videos will produced in advance. Other videos will be made in-class of student work with their own commentary; promoting further classroom dialogue and exchange of ideas. In addition, teachers will use math applets as aids to improve students’ visualization and increase student engagement.
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Threads
13-14/57/S
School: Charles P. Allen High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Ann Whalen
Team Members: Ashley McCusik, Heather Michael, Krista LeBlanc
This project is called Threads. It is conceived as a multi-disciplinary project that will see students across four disciplines working together around the conceptual theme of threads. “Threads” will be a collaboration of communication Technology, Fibre Arts, Biology and English classes. We will do a combination study and expression of photography, textiles, human science and literature as it relates to what links us to each other. We will create large scale collaborative photography transferred onto cloth (4ft x 20ft), embellished with text and fiber applications that express the concept of threads and looks aesthetically very cool.
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“Now You Don’t See Me, Now We Do”
13-14/62/S
School: Auburn Drive High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Preman Edwards
It is the intention of the project to make math more accessible in my classroom for my students by infusing the technology with the current math curriculum. Through the use of the brand new mimioProjector and MimioPads and the necessary software, the students and I will be able to move wirelessly around the classroom, sharing, discussing and projecting their thoughts, questions and knowledge with the entire class. Students will be able to use the MimioProjector and MimioPads to interact directly with the lesson on the board. This is a very exciting proposition as for the first time students will be able to ask a question directly or without having to identify themselves.
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Drawing from Plaster Cast Sculptures
13-14/67/S
School: Yarmouth Cons. Memorial High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Tri-County Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: David Baldwin
"Drawing from Plaster Cast Sculptures" is a project inspired by the Belevedere Torso, a classical sculpture studied by Michelangelo in preparation for his Sistine chapel ceiling paintings, and for many of his marble carved sculptures. This project will provide students in our senior high art program access to three plaster cast sculptures for observational study and art media for drawing and painting of realistic human forms and portraits. Students will experience and appreciate the significance of museum and gallery resources, a method of artistic learning used by Renaissance artists. The plaster casts, including a reproduction of the Belvedere Torso, a plaster cast of Sophocles, and a plaster cast of Madame Pompadour will be on permanent display in the art room, and used during student-centered art projects.
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Building Employability through Food and Hospitality Services
13-14/69/S
School: Bridgetown Regional Higl School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Annapolis Valley Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Jonathan Marshall
Building Employability through Food and Hospitality integrates food and hospitality service outcomes with the Employability Skills 2000+ Rubric. Students will be working together developing their Fundamental Skills (Communication, Using Numbers, etc.), Personal Management Skills (Positive Attitudes and Behaviors, Responsibility, Working Safely, etc.), and Teamwork Skills (Working with Others, Participate in Projects and Tasks, etc.). The main objective of this project is to give students access to real-life employability experiences that they can incorporate into their Life/Work Portfolio experience. Students will be engaged in practical kitchen and customer service skills that will serve them throughout life after high school while building upon their employability skills.
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Mi’kmaw Studies Textbook Collaborative Project
13-14/71/S
School: Memorial Composite High School
Grade: 10-11
School Board: Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Bryan Sweeney
Team Members: Kevin Burton, Peter Gnemmi
The 2014-15 school year will see students at Memorial Composite High School working in conjunction with high school students with the Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey to produce a Mi’kmaw Studies interactive textbook. This will be an ongoing project which will create a “living” textbook that can be continuously edited and updated with current and newly researched materials.
The project will have the students engaged in education through hands-on learning and discovery. Using existing and age appropriate computer software, students will compile information from a variety of Mi’kmaw sources and construct an interactive textbook for the iPad. The book will be published on the iBooks store and be available to all interested parties for free.
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2012-2013
Development & Implementation of an Age-neutral, Differentiated Functional Math Skills Pack for High School Students with Severe Disabilities
12-13/02/S
School: High Schools in SSRSB
Grade: 10-12
School Board: South Shore Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Catherine Rahey
Team Members: Lindsay Welsford, Connie Bird, Barbara Cochrane, Barbara Welsford, Gaston Comeau
Students on individual program plans are working toward learning outcomes tailored to their individual, developmental strengths and challenges. In order for students to meet their IPP outcomes and gain essential, academic and functional skills, they require specialized instruction. This includes providing concrete examples, differentiated instruction, repeat/re-teach/re-view material, checking for understanding, and a reduction of memory expectations while focusing on information use. This project is focused on increasing functional mathematical understanding of students in high school with mild to severe disabilities through the use of structured, sensory-based instructional methods, assistive technology, and manipulatives. Students will also be taught to apply their school-based math instruction in the home and community, increasing their independence and employability skills. All targeted areas in this math project will support the Individual Program Plans of a range of highest needs students.
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Midi Controllers in Music Production
12-13/05/S
School: Bridgewater High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: South Shore Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Allan Muir
This project will assemble a Controllerist DJ system within Bridgewater Junior / Senior High school. Controllerism, uses music in the form of a computer file, to create original works by mixing or enhancing the original file. This work is done with the use of midi controllers, which operate the computer remotely. Students will have the opportunity to experience an authentic learning opportunity, while creating, mixing, and broadcasting music at the school, and community events. Their original mixes will also be saved and broadcast on the Internet for public consumption.
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Painting Outside the Lines
12-13/15/S
School: Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School
Grade: 11
School Board: Tri County Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: David Baldwin
The project “Painting Outside the Lines” enables Production Tech 11 students at Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School to design and construct portable painting work stations for the Visual Arts 11 and12 courses at YCMHS. The project with an emphasis on small power tool use and assembly practices serves to provide Production Tech. students with a production project during a one year restriction on major machine use in our school due to the lack of a dust collection system. The project also provides an avenue to produce a product that is both functional and desired by other groups in our school.
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Wearable camera systems as an alternative video production method for Communications Technology
12-13/31/S
School: Auburn Drive High School
Grade: 11-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Tim Coombs
Team Members: Kirt MacCormack
Teaching the Video Production unit in the Communications Technology 11 and 12 courses has always proved difficult because the students also learn very similar skills in the Film and Video Production and the Applied Broadcast Journalism courses offered. Through the use of the GoPro Hero 3 camera system, Communications Technology teachers will be able to provide students with an alternative to traditional camera video production and will enable the students to achieve the outcomes without repeating concepts learned in other courses. Students will also be able to express their creativity in ways not previously possible.
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Conversations in the iCloud – Voice Thread in the French Classroom
12-13/32/S
School: Cobequid Education Centre
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Chignecto Central Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Martha Kenny
Team Members: Janice Trider, Hilary Cummings, Beth Doucette
With iPads and the application Voice Thread, we will bring authentic French language experiences to our classrooms. Students can conveniently record and e-mail their speaking tasks to teachers with the click of a button. Teachers can then access the students’ work, record feedback and send the comments to the students. By reviewing their recordings and teacher feedback, students will be able to improve their comprehension and fluency. The accessibility of Voice Thread makes for easy progress tracking and assessment. This project will provide students with opportunities to develop their oral production skills and prepare for assessments. We believe this project will help demonstrate to students that the device they use for communication and enjoyment is also a powerful learning tool.
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Sparking Creativity & Building Bridges: A Black Light Puppet Show
12-13/45/S
School: Auburn Drive High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Melanie Kennedy
Auburn’s AP English class will create children’s stories having the recurring motif of the ocean. Our grade 12 art class will then create puppets of all the characters in the stories. Once created, the grade 12 drama class will use them to create a series of black light puppet shows. The Journalism class will then help the drama class to record and edit the soundtrack. The production will then be toured to elementary schools and be a fundraiser for the Learning Disabilities Association of NS. One of the shows will showcase the learning centre students as performers and puppet creators.
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Implementation of Stability/Posture Balls in a High School Classroom
12-13/47/S
School: East Antigonish Education Centre - Academy
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Strait Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Maureen Sullivan
In the Spring 2013, Mrs. Maureen Sullivan’s high school math/science classroom at East Antigonish Education Centre and Academy will be replacing the traditional classroom chairs with WittFitt® stability balls. The goal of the alternative seating is to enhance student learning by allowing for “active” sitting. Research has shown that the constant movement provided by stability balls can increase academic performance by producing greater neural connections, which in turn leads to improved attention and concentration. Additionally, proper use of stability balls improves posture, flexibility, coordination, and balance. Lastly, through the educational training associated with the implementation of the stability balls, the students will gain a greater understanding of why their personal health and well-being is essential to learning and growing.
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“Bringing Math to the Tablet”
12-13/48/S
School: Auburn Drive High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Preman Edwards
Team Members: Edward Ingalls, Kevin MacNeil, Frank McMahon, Jennifer Branton, Mark Gillie, Lynn Johnson
Through the use of the tablets, students will be able to take a photo of their work and stream it to the board where the class will analyze and learn from each others work. This will allow the sharing of thoughts and ideas, while preventing students from moving further away from one another in this technological cyber world with limited human interaction. Also, with the use of necessary software and the Mimio technologies, teachers will be able to move wirelessly around the classroom. As well, teachers will utilize many of the great math applets on the web to increase visualization of mathematics. This will enable students to have a much more “connected” mathematical experience.
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Green Living Initiative
12-13/54/S
School: Avon View High School
Grade: 10-11
School Board: Annapolis Valley Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Greg Dalcourt
Team Members: Sean Connolly, Greg Wile
Avon View High School is developing a Green Living facility complete with a greenhouse and powered by solar and wind energy. The Project will be completed in steps starting with a storage facility for tools and construction materials. After the storage facility is complete a greenhouse will be designed and constructed followed by an ongoing implementation of green energy generation. Plans are in the works for fabricating wind turbines and assembling solar panels to charge a battery bank and power the facility. Once the project is complete it will be used by Avon View students in the warm months to brush up on their horticultural skills.
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Judges Daily Physical Activity Centre
12-13/69/S
School: J.L. Ilsley High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Ken Johnston
Team Members: Jim Mugford, Kevin Julien, Sabine Fells
The main objective of the Judges Daily Physical Activity Centre is to increase the daily physical activity levels of students by creating a multi- purpose physical activity space at JL Ilsley High School. The focus of this multi- faceted space will be non-traditional physical activities that will target high school students, especially young women.
Our target population would be students, and in particular, young women aged 14-19 years. By creating a space for non-traditional physical activities such as Yoga, Dance and Self Defense for example we hope to increase the number of students participating in daily physical activity, thereby encouraging a lifelong commitment to physical activity and healthy living.
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Enhancing Engagement and Understanding through a 1 to 1 iPad Pilot Project
12-13/57/S
School: Memorial Composite High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Len Harvey
This project is going to provide a 1 to 1 ratio of iPad’s to students in one ELA classroom at Memorial Composite High School. This is envisioned as a pilot classroom to see the effectiveness and usefulness of having a 1 to 1 iPad ratio in the classroom, establish a working ELA curriculum based around using this technology, and establish a baseline in terms of cost per classroom vs. typical books purchasing, supplies purchasing, etc. It also seeks to increase senior high student engagement to literature by using a more applicable and familiar medium to them.
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Auto Maintenance Skills Project
12-13/86/S
School: Auburn Drive High School
Grade: 11-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Wayne Costello
Auburn Drive High School in Cole Harbour N.S. is one of two High Schools in the province that provides automotive courses for student in grades 10-12. The schools physical plant provides students with a real automotive environment where they can receive true on the job experience.
This project will extend the students’ abilities and knowledge in employable skills in relation to automotive tire servicing and engine diagnostic servicing. Students on a daily basis will perform practical applications procedures in relation to tire changing and wheel balancing as it is practiced in industry.
Students also on a daily basis will have the opportunity to trouble shoot engine problems with the help of an engine diagnostic code reader. All procedures will be performed according to industry standards when servicing engines. These opportunities provide a context for daily learning, and help students to make the transition to work and/or further learning.
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Rapid Prototyping in Aviation Engineering in Exploring Technology 10
12-13/89/S
School: Auburn Drive High
Grade: 10-11
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Kirt MacCormack
Team Members: Tim Coombs
"Students in Exploring Technology 10 have the unique opportunity to learn about innovative technologies, but a lot of the things we design are on the computer and the students don’t get the chance to interact with their designs. Using the rapid prototyping design process, students will construct their own remote control airplanes using foam, wood and hot glue. They will learn about control surfaces and aviation principles and get the chance to prototype and fly their constructed models. Students will also explore the concepts of multi rotor aircrafts and self-stabilizing aircrafts."
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2012-2013
Development & Implementation of an Age-neutral, Differentiated Functional Math Skills Pack for High School Students with Severe Disabilities
12-13/02/S
School: High Schools in SSRSB
Grade: 10-12
School Board: South Shore Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Catherine Rahey
Team Members: Lindsay Welsford, Connie Bird, Barbara Cochrane, Barbara Welsford, Gaston Comeau
Students on individual program plans are working toward learning outcomes tailored to their individual, developmental strengths and challenges. In order for students to meet their IPP outcomes and gain essential, academic and functional skills, they require specialized instruction. This includes providing concrete examples, differentiated instruction, repeat/re-teach/re-view material, checking for understanding, and a reduction of memory expectations while focusing on information use. This project is focused on increasing functional mathematical understanding of students in high school with mild to severe disabilities through the use of structured, sensory-based instructional methods, assistive technology, and manipulatives. Students will also be taught to apply their school-based math instruction in the home and community, increasing their independence and employability skills. All targeted areas in this math project will support the Individual Program Plans of a range of highest needs students.
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Midi Controllers in Music Production
12-13/05/S
School: Bridgewater High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: South Shore Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Allan Muir
This project will assemble a Controllerist DJ system within Bridgewater Junior / Senior High school. Controllerism, uses music in the form of a computer file, to create original works by mixing or enhancing the original file. This work is done with the use of midi controllers, which operate the computer remotely. Students will have the opportunity to experience an authentic learning opportunity, while creating, mixing, and broadcasting music at the school, and community events. Their original mixes will also be saved and broadcast on the Internet for public consumption.
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Painting Outside the Lines
12-13/15/S
School: Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School
Grade: 11
School Board: Tri County Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: David Baldwin
The project “Painting Outside the Lines” enables Production Tech 11 students at Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School to design and construct portable painting work stations for the Visual Arts 11 and12 courses at YCMHS. The project with an emphasis on small power tool use and assembly practices serves to provide Production Tech. students with a production project during a one year restriction on major machine use in our school due to the lack of a dust collection system. The project also provides an avenue to produce a product that is both functional and desired by other groups in our school.
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Wearable camera systems as an alternative video production method for Communications Technology
12-13/31/S
School: Auburn Drive High School
Grade: 11-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Tim Coombs
Team Members: Kirt MacCormack
Teaching the Video Production unit in the Communications Technology 11 and 12 courses has always proved difficult because the students also learn very similar skills in the Film and Video Production and the Applied Broadcast Journalism courses offered. Through the use of the GoPro Hero 3 camera system, Communications Technology teachers will be able to provide students with an alternative to traditional camera video production and will enable the students to achieve the outcomes without repeating concepts learned in other courses. Students will also be able to express their creativity in ways not previously possible.
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Conversations in the iCloud – Voice Thread in the French Classroom
12-13/32/S
School: Cobequid Education Centre
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Chignecto Central Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Martha Kenny
Team Members: Janice Trider, Hilary Cummings, Beth Doucette
With iPads and the application Voice Thread, we will bring authentic French language experiences to our classrooms. Students can conveniently record and e-mail their speaking tasks to teachers with the click of a button. Teachers can then access the students’ work, record feedback and send the comments to the students. By reviewing their recordings and teacher feedback, students will be able to improve their comprehension and fluency. The accessibility of Voice Thread makes for easy progress tracking and assessment. This project will provide students with opportunities to develop their oral production skills and prepare for assessments. We believe this project will help demonstrate to students that the device they use for communication and enjoyment is also a powerful learning tool.
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Sparking Creativity & Building Bridges: A Black Light Puppet Show
12-13/45/S
School: Auburn Drive High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Melanie Kennedy
Auburn’s AP English class will create children’s stories having the recurring motif of the ocean. Our grade 12 art class will then create puppets of all the characters in the stories. Once created, the grade 12 drama class will use them to create a series of black light puppet shows. The Journalism class will then help the drama class to record and edit the soundtrack. The production will then be toured to elementary schools and be a fundraiser for the Learning Disabilities Association of NS. One of the shows will showcase the learning centre students as performers and puppet creators.
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2011-2012
Path to the Future
11-12/01/S
School: Oxford Regional Education Centre
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Chignecto Central Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Kendall Black
Team Members: Judy Davis, Stefanie Keezer, C.A. King
My classes will construct several raised beds at the school entrance to the current trail system that would create a visually aesthetic starting area. These beds will offer different sensory experiences, the final result will become a sensory garden, offering opportunities for all students to engage with their environment, through smell and feel, as well as sight. My intention is to pay particular attention to indigenous plants and those attracting beneficial insects and butterflies.
To support this garden we will build an environmentally sustainable greenhouse that would support the starting and nurturing of plants for the sensory garden, as well as developing a small scale plant nursery. This green house will be constructed and designed by the Production Design Technology 11, Home Trades 12 and Agriculture 11 classes. The intention would be that the students’ design would explore the idea of incorporating a rain management system, as well as a solar heating system to regulate night time temperatures.
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Providing Affordable Supports to Students with LD across the Curriculum to Enhance Independent Learning
11-12/14/S
Grade: 10-12
School Board: South Shore Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Cathy Croft
Team Members: Vicki Crozier, Jeanie Rodenizer, Connie Bird
The numbers of students with diagnosed Learning Disabilities in our school system are substantial (bordering on 300 individuals). All students in High School with LD and who struggle with learning, to succeed as independent learners, require access to appropriate Assistive Technology. Due to current budget cuts, fiscal restraint and limited funding supports placement of Assistive Technologies like Kurzweil (~$1300.00 per license), CoWriter (~$300.00 per license), Clicker 5 (~$250.00 per license) is unfortunately prohibitive. This project will test the use and application of an Open Source Assistive Technology product (MyStudyBar) in 3 High Schools in the South Shore Regional School Board with teachers teaching students with Learning Disabilities and learning challenges in various classes. MyStudyBar is free to download and distribute to any user. It can be loaded on any computer but also distributed via USB keys provided to students. Students can utilize MSB (MyStudyBar) on any computer available to them for accessing information through text to speech; enhance writing skills with word prediction, graphic organizers and even voice input. Many other features are built in to MSB. Such a product does not replace the need for high quality software supports like Kurzweil and CoWriter but the cost of MSB certainly allows the school system to provide access for all who require the supports. It is also noted that we are preparing these students for transition to post secondary or the workplace.
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Robotics: Learning Through Innovation and Competition
11-12/10/S
School: Charles P. Allen High
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Ryan Thornton
Team Members: Wes LeBlanc
This project is designed to promote learning through the participation in robotics competitions. The funding will be used to purchase hardware to enter existing robotics competitions as well as to design and implement a new regional robotics competition.
Pre-fabricated robotics kits offer students the ability to be innovative and to learn through experience. The competitions are designed to enhance what has already started in the classroom and to offer students who are interested the ability to further their knowledge outside of the classroom.
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Living the Good Life in 3D
11-12/19/S
School: Charles P. Allen High
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Heather MacFarlane
Team Members: John Jennings
The Design Technology Classes will be working with groups throughout the school to create impactful and innovative 3-D anaglyph posters, pins, t-shirts and other design products. The graphics will represent and emphasize the exceptional character traits identified as central to personal and academic success. Because 3-D glasses are required to view the designs, they become more intriguing and significant to the viewer. Students will be given a unique opportunity to utilize professional design equipment to create their designs that will be turned into actual products in our production lab.
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Using Technology to Help Students Grasp The Math
11-12/38/S
School: Annapolis West Education Centre
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Annapolis Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Allister Wadden
Team Members: Wes LeBlanc
This project involves the use of TI Nspire CAS CX handheld units in the mathematics classroom. Through the use of these handheld units, students create a model which solidifies the concepts in their mind. Using this technology allows all students to be equally engaged in learning as they can participate in the classroom activities, along with the teacher, and thus building their level of knowledge. This allows students to explore mathematical expressions in symbolic form, see patterns and understand the math behind the formulas. They also are able to see multiple representations of a single problem – algebraic, graphical, geometric, numeric and written.
What the CAS CX handhelds offer to students over the typical graphing calculator is that it has colour coding graphics, it can import pictures and photos for mathematical analysis, and functions can be manipulated easily by students using the interactive tools built in the programming software. This novel, highly engaging, and integrated instructional format will provide students with a tool to deepen their understanding of mathematics and a greater ability to draw inferences.
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The Music Tradition Continues
11-12/33/S
School: Dalbrae Academy
Grade: 9-12
School Board: Strait Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Stephanie MacDonald
The communities Dalbrae Academy serves have a long tradition of Celtic music. My goals for the music program are, firstly, to shift from appreciation based courses to a hands-on learning environment. Secondly, to be able to showcase students' musical abilities, thus, developing confidence/pride in themselves, school, and community. This will be achieved through after school jam sessions, talent shows, a musical performed for the community, and a service-learning project centered on planning and performing a concert at the local nursing home. The PDAF award will allow purchase of much-needed instruments and equipment. Dalbrae wants to ensure “The Music Tradition Continues”.
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Artists’ Corner: Interactive, Creative Arts & Technology Centers
11-12/61/S
School: Bridgetown Regional High School
Grade: 11-12
School Board: Annapolis Valley Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Lori Whitman-Price
Corner will be an established area in the classroom comprised of technology based stations linking students to the 21st century by providing them with engaging, hands-on opportunities which keep their learning experiences relevant and current. Students will be engaged in a variety of informative topics, as they independently create and present a variety of artworks. Artists' Corner will not only provide resources and supports for Advanced Art 11 and 12 as they develop portfolios for post secondary institutions, but students in Visual Arts 12 will be required to access these technology centers as they develop their required Arts portfolio for their final credit.
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Compassionate Corner
11-12/49/S
School: Bayview Education Centre
Grade: 4
School Board: Strait Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Amy LeVesconte
I would like to devote space in my classroom for a “Compassionate Corner”; a place to meet once or twice a week to discuss positive personality traits and promote character education. Meetings will include would like to see an opener of yoga poses, a story involving positive character traits chosen for discussion and reflection, and then behaviour discussions through the use of personality puppets.
Goals of the project:
- Teach students to empathize with others
- Teach students to understand the importance of being caring and cooperative
- Help the students develop emotional and physical control
- Promote individual, social, emotional and physical well-being
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Viewing Ourselves as Readers
11-12/48/S
School: Riverview Rural High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Janine MacAulay
Team Members: Sr. Catherine Walker, Coralie McPhail
The intent of this project is to shift high school students’ perceptions of themselves as readers by providing them with Kobo Touch e-readers during English class. The e-readers will be used for reading a variety of texts including news and magazine articles, novels and PDF files. The target students are typically not successful in the traditional language arts classroom.
The goals of the project are to increase student motivation to read through the novelty of the e-readers; help students feel valued by providing them with advanced technology; give students experience in navigating electronic text; and help students develop independence in choosing appropriate texts for learning and for leisure.
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Game Club
11-12/67/S
School: Auburn High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Matt Cox
Team Members: Ann Sangster, Laurel Mackenzie
The grant received from the PDAF committee will allow students from Auburn Drive High School’s learning centre to create and manage their own game club. This opportunity will create a safe, welcoming environment for all students, not just those with intellectual disabilities. By bridging the gap between neuro typical students and those with disabilities we provide an opportunity for students a place to generalize the social skills that they continue to learn. This club will also allow this group of students to take on a leadership role within the school.
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2010-2011
E-Painting and Publishing
10-11/02/S
School: Horton High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Annapolis Valley Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Paul Syme
Team Members: Brenda Sheppard, Janet Trites
High school art, design, and multi-media courses lead students to create digital projects using tools that are, for some, inaccessible even though they can grasp the concepts and create strong designs on paper. The point of this project is to test this hypothesis ? that the iPad will make digitally creating and publishing imagery and designs more accessible to more students. The iPad's GUI (graphic user interface) enhances accessibility by allowing users to create by simply pointing at and touching what they want -- releasing users from the indirect mouse and keyboard as well as operating systems modeled after a business office.
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Creating Positive Personal & Community Identity Through the Use of Innovative Video Technology
School: Goreham Memorial Educational Centre
Grades: 10-12
School Board: South Shore Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Ian Kent
Team Members: Glen Matthews, Jessica Corkum, Norm McNaught
Our project intends to promote the Innovative Learning Centre by producing a school
documentary and an annual video year book. The project will be implemented in a course titled Film and Video, which focuses on script writing, filming, editing and final cut production. The project will give learners the opportunity to work with innovative video technology, understand software editing programs and produce a final product that will promote the school and life long learning. The project will explore developing confidence in digital and technological literacies, competence in using modern tools,developing adequate strategies for the workplace and building identity and personal development.
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We Go Here Too: Improving Inclusion in the School Community
School: Charles P. Allen High School
Grade: 10 to 12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Lindsay Desrochers
Team Member: Mary Middleton
We intend to use this important funding to increase the visibility and participation of students with special needs in the school as a community, and improve the quality of interactions between students from the Learning Centre and the general population of students. This project supports the school?s Planning for Improvement goals, as well as supports the teaching of independent living and working skills.
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Art to Share
School: Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High
Grades: 10, 11
School Board: Tri-County Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Darcy A. d'Eon
Art to Share is a mail art swap project whereby art students at YCMHS will be creating and swapping artist trading cards with students from other schools in the province. Artist trading cards, or ATCs, are miniature works of art created on 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 cardstock or other types of heavy paper using a vast array of media. YCMHS will be the swap host and trades will take place at the end of each month. Each semester will end with a face-to-face trading session. ATCs are collectibles and are a wonderful way for students to share their artistic talents and make friendships.
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Framing A Memory
School: Pugwash District High School
Grades: 11-12
School Board: Chignecto-Central Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Terry Ryan
Team Members: English Language Arts Dept. and Visual Arts. Dept.
The main theme of the project is to provide students with an opportunity to explore and be creative using a Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera, the integral component, is however, to ensure meaning and pride is instilled into a completed product so a student wants to professionally display their work of art, thus, FRAMING A MEMORY. Students will be given various activities using a digital camera; the main activity will be 'A framed memory' using the mat cutter. Students will create a name using images taken from nature or architecture and frame it.
I feel that the project will bring meaning to the program not only for the student but for the parents and many others who will see the art work on the wall for many years, allowing parents to boast about their child's achievements.
We also have a beautiful Art Gallery in our school and once a year students get to display their works of art in an art show organized by the art teacher. Students get to sell their art pieces through a silent auction; this poses another opportunity for Communications Technology to receive public recognition and to show the community what is going on at PDHS by students showcasing their photos. Displaying works answers three questions about education; What are children learning? How are they learning it? and How do we know they learned it?
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Audio in Action
School: Charles P. Allen High
Grades: 10 and 11
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Brian Richardson
Team Leaders: Nathan Beeler, Stephanie Bird
Charles P. Allen will now be able to offer an after school program on audio recording and production. The program is aimed at engaging a diverse body of students in school guided audio programs where they can become confident and capable in a home studio setting. Students will work within the parameters of a common home studio set-up using innovative audio technology such as and Apple MacBook Pro computer, audio interfaces, and a variety of microphones. Students will learn the fundamental skills from properly selecting and setting up microphones to mixing and mastering audio pieces. Students will present at least one audio piece for a portfolio.
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Kindle Readers
School: Pictou Academy
Grades: 9-12
School Board: Chignecto-Central Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Jim Sloan
The essence of this project is that through technology we can be of service to all students in our classes. I intend to use the Kindles to help readers experiencing difficulty and on LSPs by using to text to speech feature on the readers. This will allow students to read along, increasing comprehension of text while at the same time aiding fluency. Enrichment activities will allow students to choose more diverse books and texts of more maturity that are often not available in high schools. Kindles will update libraries and relevant texts.
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ISkills
School: Dartmouth High
Grades: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Trish McIntosh
Team Members: Amanda MacDonald, Matt Cox, Krissy Brewer
The new Ipads, cameras, TV and Wii will help us in our continuing effort to improve resources and allow students to construct knowledge through hands on, experiential ways. Many of the students have verbal, cognitive and social delays and these items will provide these students with more opportunities to learn, practice and demonstrate their knowledge in unique ways.
There are various educational applications for the Ipad which will assist in the development of curriculum not only in the learning centre but will assist classroom teachers in supporting academic activities for the students on an IPP.
The Wii and television will allow students an opportunity to engage in physical activity with a structured tracking program and motivation prompts. In this age of technology, students and adults with special needs are able to develop accessible fitness programs on the Wii, when developing other independent physically active life styles can be a challenge.
Students also rely on visual supports in creating schedules and routines; digital cameras will allow students to begin to create these items independently. Also, cameras allow a special insight into a students? perspective by allowing them to present the world they see in a visual format. It also provides another way of representing their knowledge when text literacy is a challenge.
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Math Games in 2011
School: Pictou Academy
Grade: 12
School Board: Chignecto Central Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Jeremy MacInnis
"Math Games in 2011" is an exciting new way to make mathematics even more interesting using the latest technologies available. Along with the TI-NSPIRE CAS calculator's local math teachers have received, my project includes wireless cradles for these calculators. These cradles allow the teacher to see what each student is doing, allow students to show the work they are doing to the class from their seat, as well as ask questions, complete assignments and so much more. Students will be required to create a game based on a particular section of material from the Mathematics 12 curriculum and have the class play their game wirelessly on their calculators.
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If You Build It, They Will Stay (In Class)
10-11/45/S
School: Sackville High School
Grade: 10
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Nicholas Crowe
Team Members: Lauren Emanuel, Cynthia Whitring
One of Sackville High's many innovative ways to engage "At Promise" students is through the planning and construction of a cedar strip canoe. Students in Nicholas Crowe's Learning Strategies class will learn valuable job skills while practicing numeracy and literacy in a small group atmosphere. This long term project will conclude with a paddle in nearby First Lake. We hope to have the students make meaningful connections with the environment, the community and, most importantly, the school itself while discovering their own potential.
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Fine Arts Lighting
10-11/46/S
School: Millwood High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Grant Frost
The Fine Arts Department here continues to grow and develop, and finding more ways to engage students in the fine arts remains a key focus for the school. However, traditionally there has been almost no equipment with which to work. Placing a high quality professional lighting ensemble in the hands of the students will allow not only for a higher level of performance quality, but also allow for the engagement of students who may have an interest in the technical side of theatre. Not to mention the fact that the use of lights will immediately allow us to engage in an area of curriculum which, to date, has remained primarily theoretical, with no practical hands on applications. Our new lighting equipment will be showcased in our school musical in April, in a show that has been written by the drama club!
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2009-2010
Light Graffiti, Rapid Burst & Enrichment Photography
09-10/22/S
School: Charles P. Allen High
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Anna Whalen
Team Members: Paul Wozney, Stephanie Bird
The Visual Arts department will now be able to set up a photography studio, make prints based on rapid-burst photography and create a series of large scale photographs based on light graffiti. Rapid burst will allow multiple images shot at rapidly so that they capture the minute movements of an action. The resulting series will be visually fascinating as we are not usually able to see and appreciate such subtly. The light graffiti will include many students working with special lighting effects outside, at night. The photos are shot with an open shutter and the movement of light is burned into the image.
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School-Based Skills Development Program
09-10/24/S
School: Citadel High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Lynn Hackett
Team Members: Agner Greer, Marlene Baugild, Trevor Smith
Citadel High School is creating a site-based, skills development program designed to provide work-skills training and in-school, co-operative education opportunities for students with a wide range of abilities. The program will have a special focus on students with Individual Program Plans, students who struggle with motivation in a traditional learning environment, and those who benefit from hands-on learning opportunities and school-to-work connections. Our long term vision is to have an array of on-site businesses in which students can participate as they learn about the world of work while they create products and provide services which are of real value to the school community.
The first on-site business we will initiate is the Citadel High Print Shop. Students will be involved right from the start as they participate in the design and building of shelving and storage units for the physical space. Once the business is operational, students working in the print shop will learn technical, design and customer service skills as they create print products for use within the school community. Students will be involved in taking orders; organizing jobs; designing and producing posters, tickets, brochures, newsletters and other products; photocopying; laminating; and product delivery within the school community.
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Sackville High Learning Stations for Differentiated Instruction
09-10/25/S
School: Sackville High
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Krista Nash
Team Members: Lauren Emanuel, Jennifer Welcher, Allison West
Sackville High Learning Stations for Differentiated Instruction is a school-wide initiative which aims to provide a variety of choices in every class. Teachers, in consultation with the project team, will develop choices for units in their curriculum that cover the outcomes. The assignments will be based on Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences and Bloom’s Taxonomy to ensure that all students can achieve success in a variety of ways. The project team will be putting together tote bins for each department that are full of a variety of materials such as markers, paint, Bristol board etc. for teachers to sign out.
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From Garbage to Garden
09-10/35/J
School: Shelburne Regional High
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Tri-County Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Mary Manning
Team Members: Jody Harris, Heather Taylor, Carolyn Thurber, Jody Jensen, Michelle Grant, Claudette Comeau , Les Goulden, Kelli Wolfe Enslow, Adam Dedrick
In 2008/2009 SRHS received funding to create a Community Garden. During the 2009/10 school year the grade 7 classes at SRHS have become custodians of the garden. “From Garbage to Garden” is an interdisciplinary, expeditionary learning experience focused around the inquiry question - Where does our food come from? The inquiry question will be woven through the curriculum and will meet outcomes in social studies, science, math, language arts, TechEd and family students in both the English and French Immersion classes.
Students will explore the effectiveness of several methods of compositing including worm composting and four types of outdoor composters that they have constructed themselves. The compost will be used to plant vegetables that will be harvested in the fall and with the help of a local chef students will cook and enjoy a healthy meal. In addition, the support of members of the community will enlisted to teach the students about topics such as, companion planting, proper care of garden tools, the science of organic gardening, and canning and food storage methods.
Through the exploration of topics such as the environmental benefit of buying locally, the slow food movement, who controls of seed production, and challenges faced by local farmers, students will develop an understanding and deeper appreciation of how the choices we make impacts our environment.
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“You Mean We’re Not In The Band?”
09-10/44/S
School: Millwood High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Stephanie Ford
Team Members: Carla Christianson, Mairi Fraser
The aim of the project is to reach out to the students that were not exposed to Concert Band instruments in junior high school and provide them with a practical music experience. The hope is to also target the students in the Resource/Learning Center so that they too may engage in a music program that has otherwise been inaccessible to them. Twenty acoustic guitars and several African percussion instruments will be purchased for the music room in an effort to give these students an opportunity to create, express, and explore musical concepts that have otherwise been unavailable to them.
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Cartography & Glass & Citizenship
09-10/45/S
School: Charles P. Allen High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Heather Michael
Team Members: Chris Hall, Liane Downie
The Cartography & Glass & Citizenship project is an interdisciplinary approach to infusing the concept of internationalism into CP Allen. The final project will be a large stained-glass piece, housed in the main office that connects mind-mapping and land-mapping with symbolism to perception and our ways of seeing/understanding the world. In addition to the main piece, students from a variety of classes throughout the building will create similar pieces that will hang in each classroom, referencing the larger work in the office. The process and final produce are intended to convey the message that “My Thinking is Global”.
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Green It Clean!
09-10/46/S
School: Sackville High School
Grade: 10-12
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Lauren Emanuel
Team Members: Krista Nash, Kerry MacQueen, John Miller
Sackville High School will be involved in a major ecological project by creating a garden/outdoor classroom right in our back yard. Our garden will provide our students the opportunity for experiential learning while achieving curriculum-based outcomes for various courses offered at the high school. The first year involves the garden raising indigenous plants and shrubs to assist in the reduction of pollution going into First Lake. In the future, with the support of the local scientists, the garden will be converted to raise herbs and vegetables for use in our cafeteria and by our school community.
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2008-2009
School to Work Transition Project
08-09/18/S
School: Millwood High
School Board: Halifax Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Mairi Fraser
Team Members: Marilyn Williams, Val Simmons
High schools have recognized a programming need or deficit for students who have met all of the requirements for graduation, participated in all the specialized programming individual schools have to offer and are coming back to school until the age of 21. Lockview, C.P. Allen and Millwood High school learning centre teachers hope to maximize the strengths of each school and have returning graduates travel as a cohort from school to school to participate in learning activities designed to prepare them for the work place. Each school is responsible for a different skill set. Millwood High will be offering an opportunity for students to develop skills necessary to be successful in an office environment. Students will also be responsible for planning and facilitating small business contracts that will support our school communities. The School to Work Transition program will help to prepare students for what comes after high school.
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Détermination De la Présence/De l'absence des Nématodes
08-09/37/S
School: École secondaire de Clare
School Board: Conseil scolare acadien provincial
Project Coordinator: Marc Poirier
Team Members: Dianne Thibault, Alain Gamache, Marc Poirier
Les élèves du niveau de la onzièmes et douzièmes années des cours de biologie et du cours d'Études en environnement appliquées s'impliqueront dans ce projet. Ce dernier est permet une collaboration étroite entre l'Association de saumon de la Rivière aux Saumon et les enseignant de l'École secondaire de Clare.
Ce projet va incorporer la collecte d'Anguilles américaines, l'analyse de la qualité de l'eau de différents basins hydrographiques, l'analyse physique des anguilles et la dissection.
Une base de données sera préparée pour chaque basin hydrographique afin de déterminer la présence/absence de nématodes. Ce que nous proposons est un vrai travail de recherché. Avec des facilités physiques adéquates et une excellente expertise intellectuelle, nos élèves seront exposés à de la recherche au niveau universitaire. Ils pourront à la fois apprendre et comprendre la théorie offerte dans ce cours et aussi apprendre à manipuler des données en utilisant des méthodes scientifiques rigoureuses.
Si on découvre ce nématode dans nos rivières locales, les élèves pourraient contribuer à un plan de gestion et de surveillance.
Nous croyons que ce projet est un bon modèle pour exposer l'élève à l'intendance environnemental et le sensibiliser aux problèmes des temps modernes.
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Trikking For Fun and Fitness
08-09/49/S
School: Pictou Academy
School Board: Chignecto-Central Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Margo Hilchey
This project will incorporate the use of a very unique, human powered vehicle, called a Trikke into the high school physical education curriculum. Students will be instructed on the biomechanics of Trikke propulsion using core and leg muscles. Trikkes can be used in both the gymnasium and on outside paved surfaces to develop balance and endurance in a very fun way. With the use of the appropriate protective equipment this project will provide a safe, innovative alternative to traditional sport-based activities.
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Being in the Art
08-09/52/S
School: Holy Angels High School
School Board: Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board
Project Coordinator: Elizabeth Lalonde
Team Members: Carol Lee Boutilier, Katherine Scott, The Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design, Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
The funding for "Being in the Art" project will provide Holy Angels High Visual Arts 11 students the experience of three distinct exhibition processes. First, exhibiting art works in the original forms; second, creating digital reproductions of their work for digital portfolios and an online gallery; and third, bind the reproductions in hand made books.
Art students are already aware of how important it is to make art, but most student work remains inaccessible to the public. The intent of this project is to build into the curriculum at least three ways for students to explore the impact their artworks have on a variety of audiences with the goal of providing the experience of "Being in the Art".
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