IPCDPN

Hi Maya,

Thanks for your recent email. Good to hear about your plans to develop multi-media, web-based learning materials. Here's a list of the some of the projects (with connections to language) that I'll be involved with this summer. Let me know if any of them are of interest to you.

• Online Repository for Indigenous Knowledge: K-Net is funding the creation an online repository to promote/support the use of Indigenous Knowledge in the classrooms.  This will be developed over the Spring/Summer. Language and place-based learning are core elements of this project.  I’m currently looking to put together an “advisory” panel for this project (teachers, administrators, etc. and hopefully at least one elder). I'll post more info about this work next week.

• Native Language Pack for the Moodle elearning platform: The idea behind this one is to create a language “skin” so that Native language can be taught immersively within the Moodle environment (rather than use English as the language of delivery).   This idea has been floating around for a few months now (we first talked about it with the Charles at the Kwayaciiwin Resource Centre in Sioux Lookout, where I hear you’ll be visiting this summer).  Gordon Kakegamic  (E-Learning Coordinator at Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute, www.oshki.ca) recently applied for a small grant to get it started so there’s a good chance we’ll get this going over the next couple months.  Documenting the process for this project is key, since we hope to encourage others to follow suit and create other Native-based language packs for mainstream online environments

• Ned.ca: Ned (www.ned.ca) is a supplementary eLearning program for grade 7 and 8 classrooms in First Nation schools. This program currently offers mini courses in Science, Math and English Literacy.  This could also be a good medium for Native language instruction/support at the Elementary school level.