by Frank Odasz
AISD has an outstanding
record for being visionary and implementing innovations.
Creating a Culture of
Innovation is very much a part of K12 learning in Metlakatla.
Embracing digital
learning, and digital creation tools, as well as their applications for
cultural celebration, expression, and preservation is an outstanding
demonstration of leadership which AISD models for all Alaskan
School Districts.
The purpose of this
listing of current innovations is to provide in one place the current
innovations underway, to raise awareness and appreciation for local innovators across
the community, as well as to inspire future innovations as offered by AISD’s
Innovations Incubator Initiative.
AISD has three schools,
Elementary, Middle, and High School.
All students have access
to either Ipads or laptops,
and
Internet speed has been quadrupled to now 40mb for 2014-15.
Most classrooms have
Internet access, smartboards and Apple TV. AISD has subscribed to Google
Classroom (digital online tools suite).
The following draft
listing of innovations will hopefully be reviewed and updated by
AISD staff periodically.
The following innovations were documented in AISD Newsletters for January, February, and March.
Dec. 17th
2014, Eric Dean’s 5th graders visited the senior complex with their
iPads
to create
Ebooks using the Book Creator app, as a first event to intentionally begin
to
preserve elders wisdom, histories and stories for all future generations.
Feb. 10, 2015, Mark
Richards created a website for this 5th grade Codeclub
http://rjelementarycodeclub.weebly.com/
has no ads, and websites can be created, managed, and
viewed, via mobile devices with the free weebly app.
On the Codeclub videos page is
a short local video demonstration for a robotic Ipad teleconferencing system
is now in use.
More
videos at http://doublerobotics.com
Feb. 26, 2015 - Mark Richard's 5th grade students interacted from Frank Odasz from Montana via Polycom VTC as
well as the robotic iPad. Middle school and HS students are inventing
practical uses for Lego Robotics and
showed their inventions to Frank in Montana.
Frank and Mark used Skype on Mark's laptop to show Frank
what he looked like on the robotic iPad. (Short and Skinny) Then, Jason Pipkin
used Google+ VTC to show Frank the setup with remote access to all district computers.
Eric Dean "carried" the robotic iPad down the Elem. School hallway so Frank could see
the wonderful Orca fin carvings of John Hudson's art students. Mark used an iPad to create
a short video of this humorous event - a first time for all of us.
This was four different VTC system events in a single afternoon - highlighting the ability
to now host informal discussions and presentations with anyone interested in learning
new tools for digital cultural expression, celebration, and preservation.
Future VTC events are being planned for elders after talking to Bart Mwarey, Gavin Hudson, Opal
Hudson, and Denis Dunne, as well as Naomi Leask. Lastly, Johon and Frank
had a 2 hour Skype conversation about Canoe Club, as Johon's first time using Skype.
A Digital Montessori Preschool is under development
with emphasis on a Tsimshian language immersion emphasis.
Video Teleconferencing with a sister community immersion school
In British Columbia will
assist exchanging innovations internationally.
Contact Lecia Avey, Jackie Joiner, or David Nelson
Resources: http://lone-eagles.com/digital-montessori-resources.htm
David Nelson has used Book Creator iPad app to create a Prek Ebook
for native language instruction.
During the week of March 9th-11th, Eric Dean's 5th graders created 3D rotating
images of the HS art student's Orca Fin Carvings, and showed them to John Hudson.
The former Governor’s Digital Teaching Initiative
Grant:
https://education.alaska.gov/news/releases/2014/DTI_grants.pdf
AISD is one of the
selected districts to participate.
The 2013 Digitizing Alaska Pilot project; six days
of workshops:
http://lone-eagles.com/digitizing-metlakatla.htm
The AISD HS Library Video Teleconferencing System
part of the State Library BTOP OWL grant connecting 97 rural libraries.
http://library.alaska.gov/dev/owl.html
A robotic Ipad teleconferencing system is now in
use;
Summer 2014, in association with MIC's Fish and Wildlife Office - sixth graders worked with Quadcopters (drones) to be used for
taking airborne video for salmon counts in remote areas,
as well as spotting herring schools for local fisherman.
Contact: Jason Pipkin
HS students are learning how robotic submersibles can help with undersea harvests, including
Geoducks.
Learn more at: https://openexplorer.com/expedition/aisdrov
Contact:HS Principal Taw Lindsey and Science Teacher Jason Pipkin
HS students in the Careers and Technology Digital
Design course are learning Computer Aided Design (CAD) and 3D printers,
to learn how to
manufacture hard-to-find boat parts and almost anything that might be needed.
Contact: Science Teacher Jason Pipkin, and Art
Teacher John Hudson
HS students are learning to use a 2D vinyl printer to create window
stickers, business signage, and related items, to include native art designs.
Contact: Science Teacher Jason Pipkin, and Art Teacher John Hudson
HS students have pitched new business start-up ideas to the school board and are
learning about financial literacy, business basics, as well as emerging new
digital entrepreneurship opportunities which
allow "Making the living you want, living wherever you want."
Contact: Science Teacher Jason Pipkin, and Art
Teacher John Hudson
Community Digital Innovations
AASB’s ICE program will host
monthly intergenerational events.
Jeannie Lindsey helped facilitate new website
innovations via the Digitizing Alaska project Spring 2013; free community websites created
are posted at
http://art-ecommerce.weebly.com
Johon Atkinson, director
of the Canoe Club, also have a new website
http://liwaayda.weebly.com inviting donations.
Tia Atkinson and the Alaska
Native Girls non-profit have a Facebook page,
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alaska-Native-Girls-ANG/576207742413561
Marcella Brendible. She has a 3 great photography
websites that are very professional!
http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-marcella-brendible.html , http://yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/profile/787254/
http://marcellabrendible.com/
PLEASE
SEND US INNOVATIONS NOT YET LISTED SO WE CAN CELEBRATION ALL LOCAL INNOVATORS!
SEND
TO Frank Odasz email: frank@lone-eagles.com
Are there culturally related digital videos from
Culture Camp, Harvest Camp, or the Aug. 9th potlatch?
Were digital photos or
video archived by Jason Weber and Joe Wetzel, Naomi Leask, Gavin Hudson, and
others?