Interactive Whiteboard Learning Communities Have Started!

The year-long Learning Community sessions started on Monday, October 20^th at both Terraview Learning Centre (East) and Burnhamthorpe Adult Learning Centre (West). Special Education Teachers who received a SEA Claim IWB (Promethean Board) are put into Learning Community Groups based on the exceptionality and grade level they teach. This year there are 15 Learning Communities supported by the Assistive Technology’s six Itinerant Resource Teachers.

As described in our Interactive Whiteboard Learning Communities "Getting Started" soon blog post, teachers in the first Learning Community session learn how to use the tools available in ActivInspire on the Promethean Board to engage students and support their learning needs.

Teachers who teach in Low Incidence classrooms created sign-in
pages for their students to reinforce concepts such as picture and
name recognition.

At the first Learning Community Session, Teachers were provided with two manuals to help them learn how to use the tools available in the Promethean ActivInspire software.  Teachers were also given an ActivWand to help students reach the Promethean Board and participate in activities and lessons.

For more information on different ways students can access the Promethean Board please see our previous blog post titled Ways to support accessing the Interactive Whiteboard .

Interactive Whiteboard Learning Communities "Getting Started" soon

Getting Started!

The Itinerant Resource Teachers are currently preparing for their first learning community (LC) sessions for interactive whiteboards!  Special Education teachers are divided into LC groups based on similar classroom needs.

The focus of the first session is on Getting Started with the Promethean board. Those attending the sessions will be learning how to use ActivInspire software to create sign-in and attendance pages that reflect the interests and diversity of their students.

A sample sign-in page for intermediate/secondary students.

During this learning community, the teachers will also be learning how to use ActivInspire to support mathematics through the use of digital manipulatives, the shape tool and grid.

A sample open-ended math problem for junior students.

As well, teachers who support students in a low incidence program will learn how to use ActivInspire software to create activities of daily living to support the needs of their students.  

A sample page to support activities of daily living for low incidence and/or primary students.

Ultimately, our goal is to incorporate interactive whiteboards as an effective teaching and learning tool in the classroom and to increase student engagement and achievement through a model of Differentiated Learning.