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3rd Annual Northern Housing Conference

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A new "course" has been established by Fernando Oliveira, the on-line Grade 8 Supplementary Courses instructor, to support First Nation educators to explore and discuss different features required to support the creation of an effective e-learning environment for First Nation learners. First Nation educators are invited to join in this effort by signing up for an account at http://moodle.knet.ca

The open source Moodle environment was selected to be the main platform because it is presently being used in at least three First Nation e-learning programs with participants from across Ontario and Northern Saskatchewan. Participants in the two day planning workshop held in Balmertown and on-line produced a set of recommendations, one of which was to continue this planning work on-line using this tool. The workshop was made possible through funding from Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program and the Ontario Regional Management Organization.

The agenda and workshop report along with some video clips are posted on-line within the MoodleFN course.

As part of Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program, Cal Kenny (http://calkenny.myknet.org) joined seven students, three staff and the expedition leader (Burton Penner - http://canada-dogsled.com) on a two day dog sledding wilderness adventure.

Cal is the Graphic and Web Site Designer at Keewaytinook Okimakanak, the Regional Management Organization for the First Nation SchoolNet Program. His work is becoming more and more involved in video production and publishing this material on the internet.

Three video clips from this adventure are now available on the internet for everyone to view. As well, a special series about this educational adventure is being published in the Chronicle-Journal (click here to read the first article from the Feb 5 issue). A write up about the 2004 dog sledding trip is contained in the Wawatay Newspaper - April 8, 2004 

The three video clips include (click on either High - high speed connections or Lower for dial up type connections to view):

1. Heading out to the camp -
   High Quality  or  Lower Quality
   
2. Trapping Beaver -
   High Quality  or  Lower Quality
   
3. The Return Trip -
   High Quality  or  Lower Quality

Everyone is welcomed to share their dog sledding stories and thoughts about these videos and this experience that the students undertook.

Please check out our regular updates of our educational trip to Ottawa, ON. online at http://www.nnec.on.ca/pffnhs/specialevents  

Eight Co-op students are leaving Sunday for downhill skiing, lunch on the hill, visit with MP Valley, tour of Ottawa U and to attend the BFF Conference.

Seventeen First Nation grade 8 classrooms are participating in the next round of on-line Math supplementary course material being offered to First Nation schools across Ontario. Visit http://g8.firstnationschools.ca to see a list of the communities involved in this Math course. There are over 180 students registered to participate in this experience that is made possible through funding provided by Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program.

This year, many of the grade 8 classrooms are being supported by youth workers who have been hired by Keewaytinook Okimakanak to work in the different First Nation schools across Ontario providing technical and web support for their local schools and community groups. To date over 45 youth have been employed by this project.

As part of Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program, Keewaytinook Okimakanak works with First Nation schools across Ontario searching for ways to get them connected to broadband connectivity infrastructure necessary for video conferencing and other applications. On Feb 2, three Eagle Lake First Nation representatives travelled to Sioux Lookout to discuss various applications and opportunities for getting their local school a broadband connection that would support these applications.

Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation (OFNTSC) is partnering with a number of programs, including Keewaytinook Okimakanak's Regional Management Organization (a project funded by Industry Canada's First Nations SchoolNet program) to bring the popular presentation "Soar with Science" to First Nation classrooms across the province. Twelve showings of this program are now scheduled ... click here to read more about this program and the shows

Contact Kevin Sherlock at (807) 623-9595 or ksherlock@tbay-ofntsc.org for more information.