A PIA template for SketchUp Pro 2020 is now available to download and customize for your district.

Completion of PIAs helps ensure school districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs.

You can download this PIA template and access additional privacy and security resources at PIA Templates and Resources.

A PIA template for Zoom is now available to download and customize for your district.

Completion of PIAs helps ensure school districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs.

You can download this PIA template and access additional privacy and security resources at PIA Templates and Resources.

A PIA template for KEV School Cash Suite is now available to download and customize for your district.

Completion of PIAs helps ensure school districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs.

You can download this PIA template and access additional privacy and security resources at PIA Templates and Resources.

A PIA template for Apply To Education is now available to download and customize for your district.

Completion of PIAs helps ensure school districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs.

You can download this PIA template and access additional privacy and security resources at PIA Templates and Resources.

The revised Microsoft 365 A3 Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template reflecting recent FIPPA changes is now available for you to customize. Find this generic template at pia.bcerac.ca.

Scratch App PIA Announcement

A Scratch Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template is now available to download and customize for your district.

Completion of PIAs helps ensure school districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs.

You can download this PIA template and access additional privacy and security resources at bcerac.ca/pia-templates.

A Zonar Z Pass generic Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template is now available to download and customize for your district.

Completion of PIAs helps ensure school districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs.

You can download this PIA template and access additional privacy and security information at bcerac.ca/pia-templates.

Program Page Live

The IT4K12 program and schedule can now be viewed online. Visit the IT4K12 Program Page to find details on the many presentations and workshops being offered at this year’s event. Each entry identifies whether it has an education, IT or a combined focus.

Some key sessions are being repeated to provide you more opportunities to attend a variety of presentations. Recordings will not be available following the event. Be sure to use the event app to plan your days accordingly.

Note: the program is subject to change. We recommend checking back often as new sessions continue to be added leading up to the event. Presenters are encouraged to check this page just before the event to ensure times or rooms have not changed.

Amber Mac’s natural curiosity about people led her to a degree in broadcast journalism. We asked her how that curiosity led her to a career as a technology innovation specialist and in-demand speaker and facilitator.

Amber credits her mom, a computer teacher, for sparking her early interest in technology and being the ‘tech savvy’ person in their home. After her studies in journalism Amber headed to San Francisco and Boston during the dot-com boom to work with start-up ventures. Then on to Microsoft before starting her own digital agency in 2006, along with authoring books on social media, hosting pod-casts, and being an in-demand speaker.

She is an avid reader and considers it important to have a wide range of understanding of different disciplines to support her work. And she still enjoys adding side-notes into physical copies of books.

Amber shared some of her thoughts on the future of work, the role of girls and women in technology related fields, the need for carving out time to ‘be present’ in a digital world, and how to communicate in a ‘noisy’ world. A far-reaching conversation, full of insights and humour.

We’re looking forward to welcoming Amber to IT4K12. Be prepared to be engaged!

Register Now
Registration is filling up fast. Join your colleagues and members from across BC by registering now. There are two options to choose from: full event or one day admission. Registering as a group? We have made it easy to do this, so you only have to complete the online submission form once. Simply select ‘add another person’ during the registration process.

Reserve Your Stay
The Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel is offering a special event rate for attendees who would like to reserve a guest room. This rate is only available until October 22 through the online reservation system. Space is limited and available on a first come first serve basis.

A generic BC Digital Classroom Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template is now available to download and customize for your district.

Completion of PIAs helps ensure school districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs.

You can download this PIA template and access additional privacy and security information at bcerac.ca/pia-templates.

Who confirmed that your students and educators are able to access the core collection resources? From school? From home?

Recommended Process: Embed the Access Widget or add the Access page link into your district or school webpage?

• We have integrated EZproxy for an improved user experience.
• By using the Access Widget or Access page link, you will ensure continuous, uninterrupted access to digital resources.
• Ongoing district maintenance is not required.

Prefer to customize your own links and pages?

• Customization will affect external access to resources.
• Several vendors, including EBSCO and GALE, enforce specific password requirements and require frequent updates.
• To maintain a customized page, contact each product vendor directly to update passwords and resolve any access issues.
• You will need to implement an internal process and schedule to ensure your district links are operating correctly.

Other support information online: new bundle information; Educator Guide and Implementation and Support Technical Guide

Join us at the annual member conference IT4K12 November 14-15, 2019. Our keynote speaker Amber Mac, is a tech expert, blogger, and speaker who brings a wealth of experience and insight into digital innovation and disruption.  Amber co-hosts a new podcast series presented by Accenture, Marketing Disrupted, which explores the evolving demands for organizations to thrive in the age of digital disruption. With Michael B, she explores the latest trends in technology and social media on their weekly SiriusXM Radio Show The Feed and Season 2 of the podcast The AI Effect won Best Technology series in 2019.  And…she co-authored the bestselling book – Outsmarting Your Kids Online.

Register now to hear this engaging entrepreneur and speaker.

Members may now access discounts under a new agreement with Serif for Affinity creative design software.  The three products available under this agreement include:
Affinity Photo for photo editing
Affinity Designer for vector graphic design
Affinity Publisher for desktop publishing

Discounts and flexible licensing options are available to schools and Districts when an education volume license agreement is purchased. To qualify, at least 10 licenses of an application need to be purchased at one time.

Members can choose to buy one, two, or all three applications. Further discounts are available when all 3 applications are purchased together.Licenses may be assigned by device, by user (staff and students), or a combination of both and may be reassigned anytime. This will allow schools/districts to assign licenses to a mixture of school computers and to students and staff to install on their personal computers.

For product, pricing and ordering details, see the agreement here.

Members may now access discounts under a new agreement with Konica Minolta for Kofax Power PDF Advanced.

Power PDF Advanced is available to members at a single price, regardless of District or school size and for any purchase quantity.  Three-year and five-year license options are available.  Power PDF Advanced allows you to:

• Create and assemble PDFs easily from any application
• Accurately convert PDFs into editable Microsoft Office documents
• Sign and send PDFs for signature using DocuSign®
• Create PDFs that are compatible with the ISO PDF 2.0 file format
• Enhance document security with powerful encryption, digital signatures and rights management

For product, pricing and ordering details, see the agreement here.

A generic Bonfire Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template is now available to download and customize for your district.

Completion of PIAs helps ensure school districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs.

You can download this PIA template and access additional privacy and security information at bcerac.ca/pia-templates.

There was no response that delivered consortium level value and preferred pricing options for Adobe. The current license expires July 31, 2019. Members are encouraged to review and assess their licensing requirements  for 2019-2020 based on market pricing and proceed with the LSP of your choice and/or explore potential solutions from the Graphic Design RFI.

Further details on the Graphic Design solutions will be available in late July.

The revised Microsoft 365 A3 Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template is now available for you to customize. Find this generic template at pia.bcerac.ca.

The blank Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template for general use has been revised to better meet the needs of our members. Log in to download the updated version. Read more

Districts and classrooms are vulnerable to cyber criminals. At IT4K12 2018, Dave Swystun (SD 23), Karman O’Brien (SD 34) and Chris King (IBM) hosted a session on strategies districts in BC are adopting to try and stay ahead of the ever-changing cyber security landscape. Watch the recording to learn about key strategies districts have implemented.

Did you participate in a session during IT4K12 that was intriguing? Looking for reference material to share with colleagues? View the sessions and presentations that were recorded on the post conference website.

Save the Date

IT4K12 2019 will take place November 14-15 at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel in Richmond, BC.

Did you attend a great session during IT4K12 and want to use it as reference material? Didn’t make it to a session you were hoping to see? Visit the Presentations & Sessions page on the IT4K12 website now to view recordings. Find information on the event including exhibitors, program and more. Share this information with colleagues who were unable to attend.

Reminder: IT4K12 2019 will take place November 14 – 15. Thank you to everyone who attended the 2018 event and we hope to welcome you back next fall.

A new Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template for KEV Group – School Cash Online is now available to download and personalize for your district.

Completion of PIAs ensures Districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs.

You can download this PIA template and access additional privacy and security information at bcerac.ca/pia-templates.

A new Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template for West SchoolMessenger is now available to download and personalize for your district.

Completion of PIAs ensures Districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs.

You can download this PIA template and access additional privacy and security information at pia.bcerac.ca.

Canoe Kids: Exploring Indigenous Cultures Through Authentic Indigenous Voices

Join the creators of Canoe Kids, as they share experiences and images of working within Indigenous communities to support people in telling their stories, of their culture, history and experiences. The team travels to work within a community over a period of time and the result of this authentic process, is the development of digital and print publications which brings voice to each unique community.

Security and Compliance with Office 365

The Security and Compliance Center inside of Office 365 provides an excellent set of tools and controls to establish and monitor policies within your school district. In this two-hour session, we’ll take a tour of the Office 365 SCC and more.

What’s Your Comfort Zone? Supporting Aboriginal Education

In this session, we explore through a guided conversation where participants are in their Aboriginal educational journey and their understanding of the new curriculum. We will also highlight key resources and services that ERAC provides to member districts. We encourage audience members to bring their questions, challenges and successes to make this a rich and engaging experience.

Beyond Engagement: Transforming Student Learning Through Virtual Reality

This will be a follow up expansion session to last year’s presentation which focused on the VR app, Google Expeditions. This year will focus on lessons learned and specific strategies to incorporate VR experiences into teaching and learning, with concrete examples, tools and lesson ideas.

Cyber Security Directions in K-12: How it Impacts Everyone

Districts and classrooms are vulnerable to cyber criminals. This session will help educate and increase awareness for IT personnel and educators on strategies BC districts are adopting to try and stay ahead of the ever changing cyber security landscape.

Actioning the Applied Design Skills and Technology (ADST) Curriculum Across the District

At this session, David Vandergugten, Assistant Superintendent of School District No. 42 will share how their district deeply integrated the ADST curriculum into K-12 classrooms. He will discuss Design Thinking as a pedagogy and how it can be used to bring hands-on learning into all classrooms.

Cloud IT in B.C. Education (Whiteboard Session)

As school districts make progress in their digital transformation journey, the challenges and opportunities of mobility are usually top of mind. Come join us and explore the new cloud technologies that are unlocked as part of Microsoft 365 – specifically Enterprise Mobility + Security.

Gartner Services to MyEd School Districts

The Ministry of Education has partnered with Gartner, the world’s leading research and advisory company, to provide a district subscription to Gartner for Technical Professionals (GTP) as an additional free service for those districts utilizing MyEducation BC.

SIP trunking with Thinktel

Learn how to leverage SIP Trunking technology (a resilient VoIP Protocol) to harness the Unified Communication Tools available in Microsoft Office 365 in the modern school setting and reduce expenditures.

Finding the Right Portfolio

For the past 5 years SD 47 has been working on improving Communicating Student Learning via the use ePortfolios. Come join the conversation surrounding the journey we have been on in investing 5 approaches to portfolio based communication. What we have learned, and where we are headed.

Bridging Worldviews: Creating Entry Points into Aboriginal Education

Participants will explore the new curriculum through an Aboriginal lens. Utilizing the Aboriginal Worldviews and Perspectives framework, educators will create and plan their entry point into meaningful professional development, sharing and learning. We will explore our own identity and interests and connect our personal knowledge to Aboriginal culture. This will be supported through the use of culturally responsive and authentic resources.

For more session details, scheduled times and speaker information, visit the IT4K12 Program Page.

Don’t miss out on this year’s event. Register now!

Book your stay at the special event rate before it expires on October 18 through the online reservation system. This special rate is available three days prior to and after the event.

Program Now Available & Deadline to Book Your Guest Room Fast Approaching!

Check out the IT4K12 Program Page to view the most up to date session information. See details on the many presentations and workshops being offered at this year’s event along with presenter information.

Have you registered to attend this year’s IT4K12 Conference? Join your colleagues and ERAC members from across BC by registering now. Limited space remains available to attend the special pre-conference event Wednesday November 21^st at Science World, highlighting The Science Behind Pixar exhibit. To reserve a spot, select the option to attend during registration.

Book your guest room at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel to take advantage of the special event rate. Book by October 18 through the online reservation system. This special rate is available three days prior to and after the event.

Keynote Highlight

A Conversation with Dr. Helen Papagiannis

Dr. Helen Papagiannis, the keynote speaker for IT4K12 2018, is the author of The Augmented Human, an introduction to advancements in Augmented Reality (AR). In the book she explores how AR technologies can enhance the ways a user experiences their environment.

ERAC had an opportunity to talk with Dr. Papagiannis about what led her to the field of AR.

She reflected on her early exploration of visual arts media during her secondary school years at Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts in the Toronto District School Board. This education provided her with rich experiences in working with design, photography (darkroom!), life drawing, sculpture, and printmaking. She found printmaking to be an early entry into the concept of layering. Both printmaking and sculpture helped her to develop the ability to think spatially in different ways, and to value touch and materiality. She has continued to explore those concepts in her study with AR.

We wondered what interested her most about the future of AR.

She is interested in the potential for creating multi-user experiences, and the opportunity for immersive storytelling. She speaks of learning to design with intention. Reality needs to be ‘the star’…and AR should enhance our existing reality, not supplant it. It can create a sense of amazement, bringing together visual and tactile worlds, layering multi-sensory experiences.

Last comments?

“It’s about wonderment. Wonderment is the gateway to curiosity and learning. If we can design experiences that enhance our lives and add delight to someone’s life through AR…that would be a huge success.”

Join us at IT4K12 to hear more about this fascinating view of what it might mean to ‘be human’ in the future.

Session Highlights

ADST Lesson Planning

With the advent of the new ADST Curriculum, SD 47 Powell River created a template that can be used by teachers in their unit and lesson planning activities. Attend this session to explore these templates and consider their use in your own classroom and district.

Design Thinking

Join Leslie McBeth from Future Design School for a hands-on, action packed workshop that will teach participants to leverage the design thinking process to solve strategic challenges in their schools.

K-12 The Most Difficult IT Support Challenge

Supporting Technology for K-12 is more difficult than virtually any other organization. Come for some stories and tips on how to do it and bring a story or two of your own!

Explain Your Thinking

Participants leaving this session will be able to discover amazing tools to help students communicate their understanding. This session will look at Flipgrid, Sreencasting, Google Slides and other tools that help students explain their thinking. All tools shared are cloud-based and integrate nicely with Google Classroom.

How to Host a Hack-a-Thon

This workshop will present a simple workflow for hosting a Hack-a-thon. You will get the chance to try out different coding platforms that are grade appropriate. We will present a format that can easily be implemented into your classroom to get students excited about problem solving, computational thinking and coding.

Unified Communications: The Key to Successful Teamwork Throughout the Organization

The challenges we encounter in our work require us to communicate with people outside our immediate team, department or organization. However, communication is easier for some people than others, which creates gaps in our efforts and erodes success. Find out how unified communication can be support improved communication in your district.

Explore the World with Google Cardboard

Never heard of Google Cardboard? Many folks haven’t! Cardboard is a relatively new Google product taking VR (Virtual Reality) to a whole new level of cool. With a cardboard viewer box and a smartphone, you can explore the world. In this session, we’ll talk about the technology behind Cardboard, which apps are available, and you’ll have a chance to give it a test drive!

Learn about its potential in the classroom. From virtual field trips around the world to swimming with sharks, Google Cardboard is the next big thing in education.

BC Digital Classroom Sessions at IT4K12

Gale In Context Suite (Canada, Science, Global Issues)

This session will look at the current, media rich content of the In Context Suite of databases from Gale. These three databases work well to support the redesigned BC curriculum at the grade 8-12 level. We will investigate tips, tricks, Lexile reading level search functions and the on-demand text and voice translations with the intention of supporting diverse learners in the classroom. If you need online resources for the secondary level, these three databases provide support for most curricular areas in grade 8-12.

Harness the (Science) Power!

Explore Science Power with ERAC’s Professional Learning Team. Find out more about this fantastic World Book product, ready for use in any intermediate classroom, aligned to the BC Curriculum and chock full of classroom, home, and extension activities for learners in any context. See how to search for topics according to Big Idea, curricular competency or by reading level. Discover Science Power’s built-in tools for differentiating for your learners easily. Science Power will deliver content, creativity and flexibility to your science program— and the best news is, you already have access to it!

A new Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template for All the Right Type 4 Online (ATRT4) is now available to download and personalize for your district.

Completion of PIAs ensures Districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs.

You can download this PIA template and access additional privacy and security information at pia.bcerac.ca.

A new Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template for M365 A3 is now available to download and personalize for your district.

Completion of PIAs ensures Districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs.

You can download PIA templates and access additional privacy and security information at pia.bcerac.ca.

ERAC’s Executive Committee has appointed the following individuals to the Technology Leadership Advisory Committee for a term beginning in June 2018 and continuing through to July 2019. This is an ongoing committee with annual reconfirmation of appointments.

The role of the committee is to provide advice to ERAC’s Executive Committee as to IT directions, policies and initiatives of benefit to consortium members.

ERAC welcomes these representatives to the committee:

Tim Agnew – Director of Information Technology SD22 Vernon
Cheryl Fernandes – Director Information Systems and Technology SD35 Langley
Ted Owens – Network Analyst/IT Manager SD54 Bulkley Valley
Ted Pennell –Director of Information Technology SD61 Greater Victoria
Jennifer Roberts – District Principal of Transformative Learning and Technology SD5 Southeast Kootenay
Stephen Whiffin – Director of Instruction/CIO SD43 Coquitlam

A new Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template for Follett Destiny Library Manager is now available to download and personalize for your district.

Completion of PIAs ensures Districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs.

You can download PIA templates and access additional privacy and security information at pia.bcerac.ca.

ERAC has reached an agreement with Canoe Kids to make Volumes 1, 2 and 3 available to members at discounted prices. Canoe Kids digital magazines celebrate the differences and similarities among Indigenous cultures. The stories, themes and extraordinary photography are a valuable resource for teachers and students in developing an understanding of First Peoples perspectives and knowledge.

The materials are suitable for elementary and secondary levels. This agreement includes:

Volume 1: The Ojibwe
Volume 2: The Haida
Volume 3: The Mi’kmaq

Both digital and print versions are available at preferred pricing for ERAC members.

Digital versions can be ordered directly through ERAC and we will invoice you for the number of schools in your District.

If you are not ordering digital versions, print copies can be ordered via the Canoe Kids online store, using the ERAC member discount code.

For full details of this agreement, including confidential pricing information, an order form and the discount code for print copies, click here.

ERAC’s agreement with Follett School Solutions for Destiny Library Manager has been revised and renewed for one year. The agreement offers discounts for districts that purchase an annual license for specific Destiny products and services. This agreement includes the following components:

• Destiny Library Manager software and services – including implementation, data conversion, initial training and project management
• Options for self-hosted and vendor-hosted Destiny
• Discounted renewal prices for Destiny Library Manager and Textbook Manager

For agreement details, check here.

The ERAC-West Education group agreement on SchoolMessenger Communicate (formerly SchoolConnects from Synrevoice), the fully hosted version of the company’s popular communications system, has been renewed until April 30, 2020. The agreement between ERAC and West’s Education group remains focused on the SchoolMessenger Communicate Hosted Service. The West Education group will also offer ERAC member districts a discount on the new SafeArrival solution.

On Friday, April 6, 2018 ERAC awarded the reseller agreement for the new Microsoft Provincial Licensing Agreement to Softchoice and immediately launched the renewal process. The Enterprise Desktop (E Desktop) suite has been replaced with the new Microsoft 365 A3 (M365 A3) suite. You can find details on the agreement here.

All Districts and most independent schools have already been sent renewal information and ERAC Contacts are advised to return their Commitment to Participate form to ERAC as soon as possible so that we can process your renewal.

New titles have been added to your BC Digital Classroom subscription from Learn360. Click here to view a full list of the new titles. For the first time, MARC records are now available for Learn360–providing a free, convenient, and effective way to increase usage by linking users directly into the Learn360 platform! The MARC records are available in your Admin Portal and can easily be integrated into your library’s catalog system by downloading them and adding them to your records. Contact your Learn360 rep.

PIAs for Access Learning, Rosetta Stone (French), EVERFI – Future Goals: Hockey Scholar and Ignition: Future Goals are available to download and personalize for your district. Completion of these PIAs ensures Districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing new initiatives or programs. You can download your PIA templates and access additional privacy and security information at pia.bcerac.ca.

Explore the possibilities to engage your students in real-time learning. You can find a short video to inspire you and tips to get you started. Identify your learning purpose and connect with an expert to arrange a session or join a pre-arranged virtual learning experience.  You will find everything here.

As of December 31, 2017, the Matific Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) template is revised to reflect the fact that all student data is hosted on Canadian servers located in the province of Quebec. ERAC provides generic PIA templates to help Districts comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) when introducing an initiative or program(s). ERAC members can download this PIA template and access additional privacy and security information at pia.bcerac.ca.

Thanks for visiting us at the Superconference! Congratulations to the educator from Armstrong Elementary in Burnaby who won a set of evaluated Aboriginal texts for their school! We look forward to staying to connected with all of you who created an account with ERAC. Watch for our monthly newsletter with updates on new resources. Tell your colleagues about the BC ERAC app for easy searching of the K12 Resource Collection, and encourage them to create their ERAC account. Follow us on twitter @bcerac where we highlight digital resources and curriculum connections.

If your School District held a 2015 license for SketchUp Pro, please note that it expired November 20, 2017 and you will need to upgrade to a newer version. Either 2016 or 2017 version are still available and ERAC has provided a PIA template that you can personalize for your own district. SketchUp will be offering access to its latest version 2018, later this fall. Please note that the 2018 version has not been reviewed for Privacy Impact Assessment, and the deeper integration with Google Drive and Classroom will present complications for classroom use by students, under B.C. privacy laws.

Check out the IT4K12 Program Page to view the most up to date program. Here you will find details on the many presentations and workshops being offered at this year’s event as well as presenter information. There are two views to choose from so you can easily plan your time at the conference.

Have you registered to attend this year’s IT4K12 Conference? Join your colleagues and ERAC members from across BC by registering now. Limited space remains available to attend the special pre-conference event Wednesday November 8^th at Microsoft Vancouver. To reserve a spot, select the option to attend during registration.

Don’t forget to take advantage of the special event rate being offered on guest rooms at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel. Book by October 17^th through the online reservation system. This special rate is available three days prior to and after the event.

Sessions to Support District Strategies and Planning for Ed and Tech Professionals

• Moving into 21st Century Infrastructure by creating a IT strategic plan that addresses the educational and administrative needs of a School District, with a focus on student learning and teachers enhancing classroom experiences. Find out how one district is developing a responsive approach to providing IT support and functionality to further ADST and other curriculum.
• Get the Inside Look: Modeling Project Planning Through an RFP Process Planning for an RFP process related to technology infrastructure requires leadership from a multi-department team including technology and education. This session will provide practical tips and considerations for developing an RFP process, using a Wifi network upgrade as an example.
• An Education on Privacy Risk

  Sessions for Technology Infrastructure/Systems

• Layer 3 Switches and LAN Topology Best Practices The demands on school district’s Local Area Networks are increasing as connectivity becomes critical to teaching and learning. Are your school LANs capable of meeting the challenge?
• First Steps into the Cloud Building off the experiences that SD42 had in moving to the public cloud we will share our early easy wins, some of the issues we ran into, and how we solved them. Microsoft will bring similar stories from customers across Canada. You will bring your questions and experiences to share
• Leadership on the Front Lines
• Network Traffic Shaping for NGN QoS on Palo Alto Firewalls

  Sessions to Support Curriculum Implementation and Innovation in the Classroom

• Instructional Samples for K-12 Teachers – The Ministry of Education will showcase instructional samples that follow a pedagogical framework that includes: connections to the curriculum, First Peoples Principles of Learning, and classroom assessment. Also included is an overview of Taking Making into Classrooms, an online course that serves as an entry point into the ADST curriculum.
• District Wide Implementation of Computational Thinking
• Office 365 Cool Uses in the Classroom
• LibGuides – Connecting Learning to Digital Resources

Posting deadline extended.  See more information here: http://www.bctf.ca/opportunities/ERACCommittees.aspx Consider applying to become an ERAC evaluator. Successful applicants are appointed to a 3 year term. Evaluators are trained in resource evaluation criteria and processes, and provided compensation for carrying out their assignments, from home. Provide value to your provincial colleagues while building your own professional expertise.

PICTURE BOOKS

River, A

Grades: K-3

Supplier: Not Available

In this picture book, for grades K-3, a child watches a long, meandering ri…

Read More >

Jack and the Geniuses at the Bottom of the World

Grades: 4-7

Supplier: Not Available

Three emancipated foster siblings, Ava and Matt, the geniuses, and Jack, wh…

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My Beautiful Birds

Grades: K-3

Supplier: Not Available

Young Sami and his family flee their war-torn home, leaving his beloved pig…

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Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors, The

Grades: K-5

Supplier: Not Available

This humourous and creative picture book brings to life one possibility of …

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Miniature World of Marvin & James, The

Grades: PreK-2

Supplier: Not Available

Marvin the beetle’s best friend James—a boy—goes on vacation and Marvin not…

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Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet! The

Grades: PreK-12

Supplier: Not Available

When the noisy town of La Paz elects a new mayor that bans singing because …

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Town is by the Sea

Grades: 2-5

Supplier: Not Available

Set in a Cape Breton mining town in the 1950s, this picture book tells of o…

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What to Do With a Box

Grades: PreK-5

Supplier: Not Available

This picture book, written in rhyme, demonstrates the possible creations th…

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Canoe Kids: The Haida of Haida Gwaii

Grades: K-12

Supplier: Not Available

This Canadian magazine-style resource has a number of illustrated short art…

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Art of Being Métis, The

Grades: 4-12

Supplier: Not Available

This Canadian video follows the building a birch bark canoe from selecting …

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Boreal Herbal, The: Wild Food and Medicine Plants of the North

Grades: 8-12

Supplier: Not Available

This engaging, illustrated, and easy to use resource discusses the wild foo…

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Drum Story, The

Grades: 3-7

Supplier: Not Available

The Drum Story is a traditional Ojibwe/Anishinaabe tale of a young girl who…

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419

Grades: 11-12

Supplier: Not Available

This suspenseful Canadian novel centres on the mysterious death of Laura Cu…

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All American Boys

Grades: 11-12

Supplier: Not Available

Quinn, a white student, witnesses a white police officer savagely beat unar…

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Blackbird Fly

Grades: 5-8

Supplier: Not Available

Apple, a 12 year old Filipina girl who moved to the U.S. with her mother af…

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Book Scavenger

Grades: 4-7

Supplier: Not Available

When twelve year old Emily and her family settle in San Francisco, home to …

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Brain on Fire

Grades: 12

Supplier: Not Available

This memoir recounts the events of a month when the author’s life was turne…

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Bridge to Terabithia

Grades: 4-7

Supplier: Not Available

This award-winning novel for grade 4-7 students follows the friendship betw…

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Don’t Get Caught

Grades: 9-12

Supplier: Not Available

This novel, for grades 9-12, is an engaging and suspenseful story about fiv…

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Dumplin’

Grades: 9-12

Supplier: Not Available

Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean lives in a small town with her former b…

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Everyone Brave is Forgiven

Grades: 11-12

Supplier: Not Available

This WWII novel focuses on Mary, who volunteers for the war effort, is insu…

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Everything Everything

Grades: 9-10

Supplier: Not Available

Seventeen-year-old Maddie suffers from an immunodeficiency disease which tr…

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Guinea Dog

Grades: 3-6

Supplier: Not Available

Fifth-grader Rufus desperately wants a dog but his father is clear that the…

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Hello, Universe

Grades: 5-8

Supplier: Not Available

Virgil, a shy middle-school student, is on his way to visit his friend Kaor…

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Horizon

Grades: 4-8

Supplier: Not Available

This fast-paced adventure for grades 4-8 is about 8 young survivors of a pl…

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Look out for the Fitzgerald-Trouts

Grades: 3-6

Supplier: Not Available

In this engaging novel, four siblings live on their own in a car on a tropi…

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Nuts to You

Grades: 3-7

Supplier: Not Available

When a squirrel sees a friend escape a hawk’s grasp and land in unfamiliar …

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Out of the Easy

Grades: 9-10

Supplier: Not Available

Set in New Orleans in the 1950s, this novel tells the story of Jo, the daug…

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Red Berries, White Clouds, Blue Sky

Grades: 4-7

Supplier: Not Available

During WWII, Tomi’s father, a Japanese-American, is falsely accused of spyi…

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Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Grades: 10-12

Supplier: Not Available

Sixteen year old Simon has recently come to terms with being gay, but hasn’…

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5th Wave, The

Grades: 9-12

Supplier: Not Available

This award-winning novel, for grades 9-12, takes place after aliens have al…

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Beginning of Everything, The

Grades: 11-12

Supplier: Not Available

When Ezra, high school athlete and class president, is hit by a hit-and-run…

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Bone Sparrow, The: Hope Can Set You Free

Grades: 5-9

Supplier: Not Available

The harsh life of the inhabitants in an immigration detention centre in Aus…

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Dinner, The

Grades: 11-12

Supplier: Not Available

Two brothers and their wives meet for dinner to discuss their teenage sons’…

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Girl From Everywhere, The

Grades: 8-12

Supplier: Not Available

This adventure novel for grades 8-12 blends fantasy, history, and a modern …

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Girl Who Drank the Moon, The

Grades: 4-8

Supplier: Not Available

In this modern fairy tale, mystery, magic, and self-discovery are woven thr…

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Goldfish Boy, The

Grades: 4-7

Supplier: Not Available

Matthew, a 12 year-old boy with OCD, spends his days in one room of his hou…

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Rest of Us Just Live Here, The

Grades: 9-12

Supplier: Not Available

This novel, for grades 9-12, focuses on a group of “normal” teenagers, not …

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Serpent King, The

Grades: 11-12

Supplier: Not Available

This coming of age novel for grade 11-12 students follows three misfit best…

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Underground Railroad, The

Grades: 11-12

Supplier: Not Available

Cora, a slave in Georgia, is desperate for a life outside of servitude, and…

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Wild Robot, The

Grades: 3-5

Supplier: Not Available

Roz—a robot—is stranded on a remote island and soon realizes that her only …

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Waylon! One Awesome Thing

Grades: 1-5

Supplier: Not Available

Science-loving Waylon dreams of how his world could be made better through …

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We are All Made of Molecules

Grades: 9-12

Supplier: Not Available

Beautiful and popular Ashley’s life is turned upside down when her father r…

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Will I See?

Grades: 11-12

Supplier: Not Available

Teenager May, while walking in the city, finds keepsakes related to the spi…

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Yours Truly

Grades: 9-12

Supplier: Not Available

Zoe is an average teenager until her life suddenly changes when she falls f…

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Zafir

Grades: 6-9

Supplier: Not Available

Zafir moves with his family from Dubai to war-torn Syria, and struggles to …

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Looking to collaborate, share and learn from colleagues all around BC? Then you don’t want to miss this! IT4K12 2017 is taking place November 9^th & 10^th at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel in Richmond, BC. The only event of its kind, this conference brings together leaders in education & IT allowing them to share their knowledge and expertise along with learning what’s new and exciting in their respective industries.

ERAC is working hard on the program (it promises to be the best one yet!) but we have some exciting details to share in the meantime:

Motivation & Inspiration

Sue Gardner, the former Executive Director of Wikimedia (which runs Wikipedia) is delivering the keynote address. She is one of a few women who has headed up a top ten website. A formidable speaker on new media, Sue looks to the future of collaboration on the web. How will the new knowledge economy—where content is free, and everyone’s a contributor—affect our education, our journalism, and our democracy?

Connect on Multiple Levels

Introducing a new attraction to this year’s event, the ERAC Connect Lounge! This comfortable work space will provide the perfect spot to catch up with colleagues, fast-charge your mobile devices in the brand new Brightbox Station, enjoy specialty treats to keep you energized and more. Be sure to stop by and check out all the lounge has to offer.

Want even more ways to connect before, during and after the event? ERAC is excited to partner with Quickmobile bringing you a customized event app just for IT4K12. The app will include features such as community boards, individual profiles, games and a one click social media sharing tool.

ERAC members can register by visiting this page.

Attention Exhibitors

If you are a vendor looking to exhibit at this conference you have multiple opportunities to choose from, each providing a unique set of benefits. Click here for more information and to register.

Visit our website for up to date information and check back often as we confirm presenters and sessions.

ERAC has an APP for the K-12 Resource Collection. Educators now have access to the only searchable collection of BC educator-evaluated resources from any Apple or Android device.   Find it in your APP store by searching for BCERAC. The APP allows for on-the-spot collaboration by groups of teachers; working with grade level teams, subject specialists, and with the support of teacher-librarians. Together, teams can quickly evaluate whether a resource fits with the core and curricular competencies, and whether social considerations might support or detract from student learning in order to select the best resources for each classroom. Time spent choosing resources at vendor displays can be reduced by using the resource collection to preview key information. Reviews include Curriculum Fit, Social Considerations, General Content, Technical Design, suggested Classroom Usage and any Additional Comments by your peer-reviewers. If the resource is not in the collection, you can request that it be reviewed by submitting an online form. The BCTF selects practicing BC teachers to evaluate the resources in the collection. ERAC trains all new evaluators and provides mentorship as they start their three-year term. Two or more educators are assigned to that specific resource, based on each team member’s area of expertise. The review team, representing a broad spectrum of perspectives, develops a cohesive evaluation of the assigned resource. This is a unique collection of resources reviewed by BC educators, linked to the BC Curriculum with corresponding grade and subject areas.  Currently, ERAC offers five curated collections: Aboriginal, ELL, LGBTQ, Professional, and Novel. You can search the collection by Title, Author or Keywords. If you are looking for novels that include LGBTQ perspectives, characters or themes, start by searching the LGBTQ Collection.  Add the keyword ‘adventure’ and you will see three resources to consider.  One resource, Better Nate Than Ever, offers an “opportunity to open dialogue and discussion with students regarding gender difference and preferences, and sexual orientation” according to the Social Considerations Comments. As for Curriculum Fit, Better Nate Than Ever can be used to support the core competencies of reading and social responsibility and is suitable “as a novel for guided reading selection or independent novel study in a classroom or library setting.” Entering the keyword ‘women’ in the Aboriginal collection in the search field will present the resource Great Women from our First Nations. This resource is an authentic First People’s text and a Canadian resource suitable as “a standalone resource… in a classroom library or as examples of biographical writing excerpts” according to the Suggested Classroom Usage section. It includes a teacher resource with suggested lesson plans. In order to access the full reviews, create an account on the ERAC homepage by entering your name along with your district or school email address to validate your membership. Once you have an account, find a resource you are interested in and log in to get the detailed review.

Wondering how and where you can access the BC Digital Classroom Collection in your own district?  There are several options. 1. ERAC provides direct access to the BC Digital Classroom resources through the Access page. Within a school site, any student and teacher can visit the Access page and will be directly connected into the resource database collection. Note that home access requires a login and password, available from your District Contact page. 2. District-customized Access page: Many districts have also created their own landing pages to allow teachers and learners to easily access the BCDC and other district-licensed or free digital resources. Check with your District Contact to see whether your district has done this.