December 7, 2014

Ebony Morgan
Yukon Education
1000 Shadowfax Blvd.
Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 3H9
RE: ANCESTRAL TECHNOLOGY 10 BLENDED LEARNING PILOT PROJECT
Dear Ms. Morgan,
The Technology Assisted Learning and First Nations Programs and Partnerships units are
seeking the support of Yukon Education to implement the Ancestral Technology 10 Blended
Learning pilot project during the first semester of the 2015-2016 School year. The objective of
the program is to enhance Yukon First Nation student engagement and achievement by
integrating traditional ways of knowing with contemporary technology to create an authentic
learning experience that connects students to their cultural roots while they actively participate in
cultural preservation and revitalization. The program will keep students in their home
communities while they pursue their secondary education and engage them in culturally relevant
programming designed to improve First Nation student outcomes and close the gap between First
Nation and non-First Nation student achievement. The Ancestral Technology 10 Blended pilot
program is the most practical and cost effective way to accomplish this objective.
Funding in the amount of $13,700 is requested for project implementation to cover the travel
expenses for students and teachers to attend the week long experiential camp, materials and
honoraria for elder-experts to guide the creation of ancestral technology in the schools and the
cost of hiring a teacher to create an online Moodle component for the Blended Learning pilot.
We acknowledge the work of Yukon Education in improving outcomes for First Nations students
by developing holistic programs that support the intellectual, social, emotional and cognitive
development of each learner and believe that this program would complement this work.
Thank you,
Zoe Ravensong

Ancestral Technology 10 Blended Learning

Pilot Project: Enhancing First Nation
Student Engagement and Achievement

Submitted to: Director Learning Support Services, Yukon Education

Date: December 7, 2014

Zoe Ravensong
Technology Assisted Learning Support Officer
Yukon Education
1000 Shadowfax Blvd.
Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 5V1
(999) 667-1968

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Ancestral Technology 10 Blended Learning Pilot
The Rationale: Enhancing First Nation Student Engagement and Achievement
Comprehensive research and consultation have documented the disparity between First Nation
and non-First Nation student achievement with First Nation students achieving lower completion
rates and lower achievement rates overall. (Yukon Education Strategic Plan 2014-2019) The
objective of the Ancestral Technology 10 Blended Learning pilot program aligns with the
strategic goal of Yukon Education to enhance First Nation student engagement, achievement and
future opportunity. First Nations, Inuit and Mtis advocate learning that includes their own ways
of knowing, cultural traditions and values. Without reflecting this vital connection to cultural
roots in our educational environments, First Nations learners will be unable to find relevance and
meaning in their academic pursuits. The overwhelming consensus [is] that improving
educational outcomes is absolutely critical to the future of individual Aboriginal learners, their
families and children, their communities, and the broader Canadian society as a whole
(Canadian Council on Learning 2007 Report: Redefining how Success is Measured in First
Nations, Inuit and Mtis Learning, p. 2) Educational environments that reflect two ways of
knowing1, foster the necessary conditions for nurturing healthy, sustainable communities and
closing the gap between First Nation and non-First Nation achievement. The success of the
Ancestral Technology 10 Blended pilot program will be a crucial step in improving outcomes for
First Nation learners while acknowledging the value of Aboriginal holistic lifelong learning as
an essential human endeavour that can benefit us all (p. 3). (See Appendix A: The Ancestral
Technology 10 Resource List for a graphic representation of the holistic lifelong learning model)
The Initiative: The Ancestral Technology 10 Blended Learning Pilot Program
The Ancestral Technology 10 Blended Learning pilot proposal targets three rural Yukon
community schools that belong to the Northern Rural Hub2 and are presently participating in the
second wave of Blended Learning pilot programs (2014-2015). These particular schools are well
suited for selection to this initiative because they fit crucial criteria: isolated rural Yukon schools
1

Learning that affirms their own (First Nations) ways of knowing, cultural traditions and values
alongside Western knowledge and skills required for active participation in Canadians society.
2

The Northern Rural Hub is an interconnected group of schools that was created to encourage
relationship building across diverse populations that share a common goal.

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with a modest number of predominantly First Nation students, the schools are located in
communities that have high speed Internet (fiber optic infrastructure support), the students have
access to and are familiar with proposed devices (have been assigned a MacBook Air for the
2014-2015 school year), have experience with online courses delivered via the Yukon Moodle
Learning Management System (LMS) and have access to highly qualified elder-experts and the
support of their communities. The pilot project will facilitate the exploration of cultural traditions
and values while creating a community of learners, in essence, finding ways for Indigenous
forms to play a role in emerging technology and contemporary modes of cultural expression
(Robbins, 2010, p. 118). The pilot will utilize the existing Yukon Moodle as a framework for
course delivery with support from established technologies that facilitate communication (Skype,
Mobile Technologies, videoconferencing), collaboration (Yukon Moodle, Web 2.0) and
community building (Skype, videoconferencing, Mobile Technologies). The pilot program will
make use of readily available technologies many of which are currently used in the target schools
and include:

Yukon Moodle Learning Management System

Mobile Technologies (iPads, mobile phones)

Personal Web Conferencing (Skype)

Room-Based Videoconferencing (Tandberg)

Web 2.0 technologies that facilitate blogging, wikis, mind mapping and other
collaborative and creative tools. Ex. Learning Journey App. for documenting the
Ancestral Technology 10 journey.

The pilot program will be launched at a weeklong experiential camp at Nanak Cheholay, the
traditional meeting place of the Tr'ondek Hwch'in First Nation where relationships will be
established, ancestral technologies examined and knowledge acquired that will provide the
foundation for the Ancestral Technology 10 modules that follow. Students will continue their
individual journeys in their home communities with the knowledge that counterparts are within
reach by Skype, videoconferencing, email, and discussions on the Yukon Moodle. Group
videoconferencing sessions at strategic intervals throughout the course will encourage
community building and strengthening of relationships. Existing Yukon Education support
systems for this initiative include the First Nations Programs and Partnerships Unit (FNPP),
Technology Assisted Learning Unit (TAL), Information Support Services Unit (ITSS) and a

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variety of knowledgeable Curriculum and Technology consultants. (See Appendix B: The
Ancestral Technology 10 Blended Learning Pilot Conceptual Map for an in depth overview of
the pilot project)
The Draw: Why Staff and Students Will Adopt the Pilot
Michael Fullan, a worldwide leader on educational reform advocates a new pedagogy that has at
its core new learning partnerships, deep learning tasks, and ubiquitous access to digital tools and
resources. The Blended Learning pilot follows this revolutionary model of learning, which holds
the potential to unleash a new learning energy and excitement in students and teachers (Fullan,
2014, p. 76). Continuing the Blended Learning pilots that began in 2014 will give students and
teachers a chance to extend their engagement with a learning prototype that allows them to be
partners in the learning experience and harnesses the power of technology to deepen and
accelerate learning. The Ancestral Technology 10 pilot will extend this powerful new pedagogy
and membership in a community of learners to students in three rural Yukon communities. The
technologies selected have the capacity to enhance cognitive and emotional development
(Straub, 2009), have exceptionally intuitive platforms, are versatile and ubiquitous, simple and
easy to use and compatible with existing frameworks. They promise to accelerate learning,
engage both students and teachers and give them membership in a learning revolution designed
to prepare them to function effectively in a complex world. The five technologies selected for
inclusion in the pilot program have the capacity to keep students in their home communities,
engage them in culturally relevant programming and create a community across targeted schools.
In addressing these critical needs we will begin to close the achievement gap.
The Technologies: What is the Draw?
1. Yukon Moodle Learning Management System
The Ancestral Technology 10 Blended program will be piloted for the first semester of the 20152016 school year and future programming will be based on the results of this pilot. The
advantage of the Yukon Moodle is that it is an existing platform that students and teachers are
familiar with and have found to be intuitive and easy to use. The Moodle platform is
multifaceted including course delivery, interactivity, and the capability of creating collaborative
and group projects, blogs, wikis and discussion forums and it integrates seamlessly with existing
technology used in the schools: iPads, MacBook Airs and iMacs. The Moodle is accessible
anywhere, anytime and support structures are already in place.

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2. Mobile Technologies
Mobile Technologies are an integral part of daily life and the majority of pilot participants will
already be experienced users. Students and teachers will have access to a global network of
information anywhere, anytime on devices that are simple, intuitive and have a common
interface across all Yukon Education platforms. (Mac) Using Mobile Technologies provides
authentic real-world experiences that will prepare students for active participation in an
interconnected world that is becoming increasingly complex.
3. Personal Conferencing
Skype, our personal conferencing platform of choice, has been extensively used in education in
fact, 98,808 teachers use Skype in their classroom worldwide. (Skype, 2014) Skype is free,
multifunctional (chat, videoconferencing, text chat, file exchange), is ultra simple to use,
ubiquitous and the majority of students and teachers are experienced users. Skype works on all
devices with an Internet connection and is an exceptional tool for communicating, collaborating
and building relationships between individuals and communities. The simplicity of Skype allows
students to take an independent role in their learning tasks and promotes the development of selfdirected learning. Peer mentorship can provide a bridge between experienced and novel users.
4. Room-based Videoconferencing
Tandberg videoconferencing equipment has been used in community schools successfully for
over 10 years, is constantly being upgraded and support is available from the ITSS and TAL
units. Room-based videoconferencing facilitates group meetings with multiple connections and
has the capability for onscreen graphic presentations. The platform is highly user friendly and
many teachers are experienced users. All community schools have videoconferencing suites and
adequate high-speed Internet connections to use the platform. Having larger group meetings at
strategic points in the program strengthens relationships and builds a sense of community.
5. Web 2.0
Web 2.0 technologies are multi-functional, multifaceted and interactive. They facilitate
collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking and reflection through blogging, wiki
creation, creative product development, curation and peer feedback and assessment. The majority
of students and teachers have experience with Web 2.0 applications and skills are highly

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transferable from platform to platform. Tools are intuitive, easy to use; facilitate collaborative
group tasks and holistic, self-paced, independent learning. Tools work across platforms and
devices and multiple apps are available at all community schools. The use of Web 2.0 tools
promotes the development of vital contemporary learning skills that will allow our students to be
active and effective participants in the global knowledge economy. (See Appendix A: The
Ancestral Technology 10 Resource List for resources that define the rationale)
Evaluation: How Success will be Measured and Future Implications
Comprehensive program evaluation will be an integral component of course delivery, occur
continuously throughout the pilot project and include qualitative (anecdotal) and quantitative
assessments (completion rates). Observations and interviews during consultant visits to program
schools along with an online course evaluation questionnaire and course completion data will
provide a framework for assessing if program goals were achieved and for making
recommendations for the future of Ancestral Technology as a blended program. A meeting will
be scheduled with participating consultants, support staff, teachers, a student representative and
the Director of Student Achievement to review the data collected in preparation for the final pilot
project report, which will inform the development of future programs that target enhancing First
Nation student engagement, achievement and future opportunity.

References
Canadian Council on Learning. (2007). Redefining how success is measured in First Nations,
Inuit and Mtis learning. Ottawa, Ontario.
Fullan, M. & Langworthy, M. (2014) A Rich Seam: How New Pedagogies Find Deep Learning.
London: Pearson.
Fullan, M. (2013). The New Pedagogy: Students and Teachers as Learning Partners. LEARNing
Landscapes. 6(2).
Government of Yukon. (2014). Yukon Education Strategic Plan: 2014-2019.
Robbins, C. (2010). Beyond preservation: New directions for technological innovation through
intangible cultural heritage. International Journal of Education and Development using
Information and Communication Technology. 6(2).

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Skype in the Classroom. (2014). https://education.skype.com/
Sraub, E. (2014). Understanding Technology Adoption: Theory and Future Directions for
Informal Learning. Review of Educational Research. 79(2).
Project Implementation Framework
Goals and Objectives
The objective of the Ancestral Technology 10 Blended Learning pilot is to enhance First Nation
student engagement, achievement and future opportunity by focusing on three vital issues:
1. Providing an opportunity for students to complete their secondary education in their home
communities where they have the support of family and friends.
2. Creating culturally relevant and authentic educational experiences that connect traditional
ways of knowing with contemporary technological innovation.
3. Creating a sense of community and providing opportunities for students to build relationships
across rural schools.
Ancestral Technology 10 Blended Learning Pilot Implementation Schedule
Activities
Submit Grant Proposal

December 31, 2014

Expected Grant Notification

January 31, 2015

Steering Committee Initiation Meeting3

February 9, 2015

TAL and ITSS Units Technology

Requirements and Support Meeting
Curriculum and Technology Consultants Pilot
Project Strategy Meeting
AT10 Online Moodle Course is created by
contracted teacher
Steering Committee Meeting

February 16, 2015

Moodle Training for Pilot Program Teachers

June 10, 2015

Experiential Camp Steering Committee

Meeting

July 25, 2015

March 1, 2015
March 16-27, 2015 (Spring Break)
June 23, 2015

Steering Committee: Director of Learning Support Services, First Nations Programs and Partnerships,
participating First Nations representatives, principals of the three schools involved in the pilot project,
TAL Unit, ITSS Unit, Northern Rural Hub Curriculum and Technology consultants.

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TAL/ITSS Meeting to Finalize Technical
Requirements and Support
Steering Committee Meeting

August 1, 2015

Experiential Camp at Nanak Cheholay

August 24-28, 2015

Implementation Phase Begins/Pilot Program

Activities
Consultant/TAL/ITSS Unit representatives on
site to support the start of the pilot
Consultants visit pilot schools for support/
Assessment
Consultants visit pilot schools for
Support/Assessment
AT 10 Course End Date

September 2, 2015

AT 10 Online Evaluation Questionnaire

January 23 29, 2015

Evaluation/Assessment Meeting

February 12, 2015

Pilot Project Final Report/Recommendations

February 28, 2015

August 8, 2015

September 2 & 3, 2015

October 15, 2015
December 11, 2015
January 23, 2015

Ancestral Technology 10 Pilot Project Budget

The budget includes travel expenses for students and teachers to the weeklong experiential camp,
materials and honoraria for elder-experts to guide the creation of ancestral technology in the
schools and the cost of hiring a teacher to create an online Moodle component for the Blended
Learning pilot. Curriculum consultant visits costs are covered in the 2015-2016 budget.

Blended Learning Pilot Budget

Teacher Moodle Training

1 Day/3 teachers @ Whitehorse @$250

$750.00

Online Course Creation

10 Days @ $500/day

$3,700.00
4

Experiential Camp

Costs covered by the CHAOS Program.

$0

Return Travel Costs for

Experiential Camp
Hardware/Software Purchases

Haines Junction-Dawson return

Carmacks to Dawson return
Existing MacBook Air Computers

$1500.00
$750.00
$0

Program Delivery and Support

Covered in existing 2015-2016 budget

$0

CHAOS is an experiential program offered to Grade 9 and 10 students in collaboration with the First
Nations Programs and Partnerships Unit of Yukon Education. "CHAOS" stands for Community,
Heritage, Adventure, Outdoors and Skills.

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Elder-Expert Honoraria

10 days @ $100/day x 3 schools

$3000.00

Ancestral Technology Creation

Materials
Contingency Funds

$1000/school x 3

$3000.00

$1000

$1000.00

Total Budget

$13,700.00

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Appendix A: The Ancestral Technology 10 Resource List
Ancestral Technology 10 Course Framework Template
http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/staffroom/pdf/13-14/da_atech_10.pdf
Ancestral Technology 10 In Depth Course Module Descriptions
http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/firstnations/at10_modules.html
Ancestral Technology 10 Preliminary Test Camps May and August 2013 Module Videos
Featuring Elder-experts http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/firstnations/ancestral_technology.html
First Nations Holistic Lifelong Learning Model
http://www.cclcca.ca/CCL/Reports/RedefiningSuccessInAboriginalLearning/RedefiningSuccessModelsFirstNat
ions.html
Download the Holistic Lifelong Leaning Model PD
http://www.ccl-cca.ca/pdfs/RedefiningSuccess/CCL_Learning_Model_FN.pdf

Holistic Lifelong Learning Model Graphic

Canadian Council on Learning

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Appendix B: Ancestral Technology 10 Blended Learning Pilot Conceptual Map

Ancestral Technology 10 Concept Map PDF