Consultant Robin Long
ConsultantForum Replies Created
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November 18, 2024
DOS Digital Open Sandbox: Writing AI prompts for Better Results
Hello everyone!
Here is the link to today’s Voc Talk café agenda. See you at 15:30!
👩🍳📱 Robin
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November 4, 2024
Dear Teacher Hotline – Student Syllabus
Hello everyone!
Here is the link to today’s Voc Talk café agenda. See you at 15:30!
Robin
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October 2, 2024
Dear Teacher Hotline – Macroplanning
Hello everyone! 👋
Thanks for coming to the Voc Talk Café and if you weren’t able to make it, no worries! You can read the session summary below, and follow the links to check out the curated resources!
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session recording (not available quite yet!)
Summary
In today’s Voc Talk Café we we explored macroplanning as an essential tool for organizing learning goals and guiding teacher support. Using a spreadsheet helps teachers organize activities and goals within a set timeframe, ensuring alignment with the program of study and coverage of all course content. Key elements include scheduling, prior skills, formative assessments, and administrative details. While primarily for teachers, it’s crucial for creating the syllabus that students use, situating learning objectives in real-world contexts and showing how new knowledge builds on prior skills.
It is especially useful for pedagogical consultants working with novice teachers, facilitating discussions on lessons, topics, and subject matter, with guidance from the evaluation framework (such as inforouteFPT) to prioritize content. Adding verdict rules in a separate column can help streamline planning. Keeping a master document of macroplans supports consistency, and for a less linear approach, a mind map could be a helpful alternative. Both tools are vital for structuring and enhancing student learning.
Do you have an idea for a Voc Talk Café discussion topic that you would like to discuss with your fellow teachers across the province? Let us know! We can help you set it up! Thanks to all who participated in discussing this very interesting subject, and I look forward to the next session!
📱👩🍳 Robin
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September 30, 2024
Candid Mic: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Hello everyone! 👋
Thanks for coming to the Voc Talk Café and if you weren’t able to make it, no worries! You can read the session summary below, and follow the links to check out the curated resources!
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session recording (not available quite yet!)
Summary
In today’s Voc Talk Café we discussed how education plays an important role in the journey towards addressing the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization on Indigenous peoples. We situated ourselves as listeners first to foster understanding and respect through education from authentic voices about Indigenous history, rights, and the legacy of residential schools. In vocational training, we can support reconciliation by incorporating reflection and inquiry through our trade culture and addressing Indigenous economic prosperity through entrepreneurship and public policy. Teaching resources available on the PROCEDE website promote cultural safety in healthcare and business programs also help build bridges. By embracing these approaches, vocational training can play a role in fostering reconciliation and mutual respect.
Do you have an idea for a Voc Talk Café discussion topic that you would like to discuss with your fellow teachers across the province? Let us know! We can help you set it up! Thanks to all who participated in discussing this very interesting subject, and I look forward to the next session!
📱👩🍳 Robin
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May 5, 2024
Dear Teacher Hotline – Group Tracking Tool
Hello everyone!
Thanks for coming to the Voc Talk Café and if you weren’t able to make it, no worries! You can check out the recording, discussion notes and resources on the Voc Talk Café by Après-cours website page here, and read the session summary below!
Summary
In our session today, we looked at a group tracking tool. It was designed using spreadsheet software and features pre-filled drop-down menus in the cells for easy use during class. It focuses on analyzing and adapting a worked example. We had a deep discussion on crucial elements and their importance in student learning, as well as customizing the teaching tool to fit the needs of specific programs and the lab reality. The task emphasizes creating a document aligned with the program of study, incorporating both physical and digital learning elements to enhance accessibility, flexibility, and understanding of how various roles connect to the curriculum. Additionally, we suggested that allocating time to research and create a student account to gain insight into the student perspective and test sharing and permission features would be very beneficial to the final design.
▶ Click here to access the interactive tool
🛠 Click here to access a downloadable, customizable copy
👩🍳📱 Robin
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June 17, 2024
Cross-curricular/Review: A Year in Review and Moving Forward
Hello everyone!
Thanks for coming to the Voc Talk Café and if you weren’t able to make it, no worries! You can check out the recording, discussion notes and resources on the Voc Talk Café by Après-cours website page here, and read the session summary below!
Summary
In today’s session, we highlighted the importance of comprehensive discussions, favourite moments, and future aspirations. Key takeaways included the value of exploring diverse topics, especially AI and sustainability, and the enlightening perspectives shared by teachers. Suggestions for improvement included better timing notifications and maintaining the café’s relaxed atmosphere despite busy schedules. The positive impact of empathy and diverse viewpoints was emphasized. Future plans involve refining the session structure, modifying sector communications, and enhancing publicity. Adding a calendar button and continuing the slide tryptic were proposed to improve engagement. Overall, the café sessions were deemed valuable for fostering discussions and professional growth.
Do you have an idea for a Voc Talk Café discussion topic that you would like to discuss with your fellow teachers across the province? Let us know! We can help you set it up! Thanks to all who participated in discussing this very interesting subject, and I look forward to the next session!
📱👩🍳 Robin
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April 29, 2024
Digital Open Sandbox: Handout Creation 101 with MS Word or Google Docs
Hello everyone!
Thanks for coming to the Voc Talk Café and if you weren’t able to make it, no worries! You can check out the recording, discussion notes and resources on the Voc Talk Café by Après-cours website page here, and read the session summary below!
Summary
In today’s session, we looked at creating handouts and situating document creation in the andrological context. We looked at the options in MS Word and Google Docs and then had a working session supporting participants in formatting their own documents. We discussed moving between the two systems, and we discussed similarities in other document creation software such as Adobe InDesign and Canva. Teachers talked about students bringing design vision to documents in programs where this is taught and how adding images, icons and colour make the document more professional looking but keep it fun and engaging. A picture is worth 1000 words! We also got to customize a handout to our own program and have 1:1 support to integrate different pieces into our designs. Finally, participants requested another session to explore using forms in TEAMS, to be organized in the future.
▶ Click here to access a workable document
▶ Click here to access the finished product
Do you have an idea for a Voc Talk Café discussion topic that you would like to discuss with your fellow teachers across the province? Let us know! We can help you set it up! Thanks to all who participated in discussing this very interesting subject, and I look forward to the next session!
👩🍳📱 Robin
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September 18, 2023
Food and Tourism: Project-based Learning: The Secret is in the Sauce
Hello everyone!
Thanks for coming to the Voc Talk Café and if you weren’t able to make it, no worries! You can check out the recording, discussion notes and resources on the Voc Talk Café by Après-cours website page here, and read the session summary below!
Summary
PBL is about authentic learning – an underlying principle in VT – but what makes it a bit different is that there can be a different focus on the project that is not in alignment with the industry, but in alignment with what the student needs to learn. Eg focus on quality of language in a document.
Student cookbook – multi-competency project that involved students creating and standardising recipes for a service menu that they then put into a cookbook that was sold to the restaurant patrons as a souvenir.
PBL often mentions learning retention, but what was noticeable in this project was student engagement – it was hard, a lot of work, but students were driven to push through the struggle.
Difficult for the teacher – let go of the end result and focus on the student learning.
Sounds great, but how do you motivate students to participate in big projects like this?
In perspective, this project was done at the end of the program and a student -teacher rapport was already established.
As a teacher, the pre-work is heavy. Everything has to be planned out, a back-up plan established and the learning goals and relationship to competency content have to be very clear to the students. In this case, the student had the possiblity to opt out of the project but still do the competency learning.
You also have to let go – It isn’t about the teacher’s expectations, but rather about the students self-appropriation of the result. It might be that their vision of the result is different, but as long as the learning goals are met, that is ok.
Does the fact that it will be shared with the public motivate the students?
For some yes, others no. It can be a source of aniexity, but accounting for that is part of the teachers plan B, C, D…
For some teachers, PBL is more comfortable once they have a rapport with the students, for others it isn’t necessary since they frame it out with Universal Design in Learning (UDL) principles.Do you have an idea for a Voc Talk Café discussion topic that you would like to discuss with your fellow teachers across the province? Let us know! We can help you set it up! Thanks to all who participated in discussing this very interesting subject, and I look forward to the next session!
📱👩🍳 Robin
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March 11, 2024
Dear Teacher Hotline – Process Checklist
Hello everyone!
Thanks for coming to the Voc Talk Café and if you weren’t able to make it, no worries! You can check out the recording, discussion notes and resources on the Voc Talk Café by Après-cours website page here, and read the session summary below!
Summary
In this week’s Dear Teacher Hotline, we discussed using a process checklist to help students focus on the steps in the process during an authentic work task. To create a tailored checklist for effective learning, it’s essential to consider the targeted learning goal as well as the student’s current level of proficiency. For beginners, tasks should be broken down into manageable steps, while advanced learners may require less detailed guidance. Feedback from the instructor is important, and sticky points or teacher checkpoints can be incorporated into the checklist. As well, encouraging students to reflect on their performance, identify challenges, and rewrite the checklist in narrative form promotes deeper understanding and consolidation of knowledge.
In terms of format and tools, leveraging common text software like Microsoft Word or Google Docs facilitates accessibility. Structuring the checklist using tables, checkboxes, and strikethrough features aids in progress tracking, while including identification details ensures clarity and organization.
To customize the content of this checklist for your trade, look at the competency and think about job tasks in the workforce and list the steps in the process of completing that task. Asking colleagues or students to collaborate is essential to identify common pitfalls and critical steps. Present tasks logically, grouped by natural categories, and incorporate sensory descriptors to foster comprehension and introduce industry terminology. The customized checklist serves as a comprehensive guide, facilitating effective learning experiences aligned with students’ needs and objectives.
▶Click here to access the interactive tool
📋Click here to access a downloadable, customizable copy
Do you have an idea for a Voc Talk Café discussion topic that you would like to discuss with your fellow teachers across the province? Let us know! We can help you set it up! Thanks to all who participated in discussing this very interesting subject, and I look forward to the next session!
📱👩🍳 Robin
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November 6, 2023 Food and Tourism: Are Digital Libraries the Future of Education?
Hello everyone!
Thanks for coming to the Voc Talk Café and if you weren’t able to make it, no worries! You can check out the recording, discussion notes and resources on the Voc Talk Café by Après-cours website page here, and read the session summary below!
Summary
Digital libraries have lots of great features that enhance the learning experience, such as access to a large collection, interactive media and built-in translation tools. In today’s discussion, we explored the advantages of the ckbk platform used by the culinary department at PACC. We spoke about access to hundreds of cookbooks, including the traditional textbook, but with user-friendly features such as translation tools, downloadable recipe files, keyword database searches, and multi-media content. Also, access to both the textbook and a cookbook library acts as an incentive for motivated learners to explore more, without penalizing the learners who are focused on entry-level requirements. The cost for the student is much lower than the physical textbook, and having access via a mobile app means devices can be sanitized for hygiene and food safety protocol. As the department uses this platform, more information will be shared about activity ideas in competencies.
Do you have an idea for a Voc Talk Café discussion topic that you would like to discuss with your fellow teachers across the province? Let us know! We can help you set it up! Thanks to all who participated in discussing this very interesting subject, and I look forward to the next session!
📱👩🍳 Robin
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Oct 16, 2023: The Future of the Trade
Hello everyone! If you missed this week’s Voc Talk café, here is the summary. You can check out the recording and minutes on the Voc Talk café by Après-cours website!
As a society, we enjoy eating out and having a dining experience and the front of the house staff is an integral part of this. We recognise the need for servers and maitre d’s and we know the transferability of their people, management and sales skills, but as a collective we have a hard time seeing past the perception that being a server is not a legitimate trade, it is something you do ‘while you are waiting for something else.’ We explored some of the difficulties in recruiting students for the program, and some of the innovative program offers centres have tried to increase student inscription. The discussion revolved around programs of study in other parts of the world that combine cooking and F&B, the workforce resolution to have a work-life balance that is very hard to do in the restaurant world, and how the front of the hours curates and creates and experience for the diner. The cultural and social aspect of dining and relaxing is an integral part of who we are as humans, and the desire for this continues to grow even as the workforce struggles to find workers. We finished our discussion with a look at a pilot project with an industry partner and RAC to assess workers and support their missing skills with on-the-job training. This situation could be an interesting asynchronous learning project, lending itself to project funding through a TechnoFAD measure.
Thanks to all who attended for the great discussion, and we look forward to the next session!
📱👩🍳 Robin
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CEN PROVINCIAL MEETING – MAY 31, 2023
A new CHAT feature has been implemented on the vt.procede.ca site, allowing users to ask questions directly to Robin or VT support. The CEN liaisons provided an overview of their year, discussing both positives and areas for improvement. Robin explained the CEN Year End Report, emphasizing its importance in securing funding from the Ministry. The report summarizes what each CEN accomplished, how it was done, why, and the challenges addressed. The report serves two purposes: showcasing achievements and identifying areas for improvement. The report, along with signed reimbursement forms should be sent to Shelley at vtinservice@nfsb.qc.ca by the deadline of June 15, 2023. Robin’s presentation on how to fill in the report can be found on vt.procede.ca under 23-05-31 CEN Provincial Meeting Presentation.
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CEN PROVINCIAL MEETING – FEBRUARY 16, 2023
The CEN liaisons shared their plans for upcoming professional development and expressed positive feedback on workshops recently hosted or attended. The Professional Development Forms & Guidelines were reviewed, directing the members on what to do before, during and after a professional development activity. The digital literacy skills framework was reviewed followed by a discussion on the expectations for entry level workers in the trades today. A case study on ChatGPT and the effect of exposing students to the chatbot was debated. Teachers worked on creating individual “Happy Teaching Moments” posters highlighting the great teaching they do.
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Cool! PERT does interesting research. What were some of the ideas about language learning on the job? Anything that we could incorporate into our teaching in VT?
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Great to hear! Let us know about your experience – it will be interesting to hear about practices that we can use in VT!