{"id":17093,"date":"2011-05-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-05-30T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yfiledev.uit.yorku.ca\/2011\/05\/30\/yrdsb-recognizes-abel-program-director-for-service-to-education\/"},"modified":"2025-04-02T08:44:42","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T12:44:42","slug":"yrdsb-recognizes-abel-program-director-for-service-to-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/yfile\/2011\/05\/30\/yrdsb-recognizes-abel-program-director-for-service-to-education\/","title":{"rendered":"YRDSB recognizes ABEL program director for service to education"},"content":{"rendered":"

Teaching with technology is a good thing, and no one knows it better than Janet Murphy.<\/p>\n

The York Region District School Board<\/a> (YRDSB) has awarded Murphy,\u00a0director of York\u2019s Advanced Broadband Enabled Learning<\/a> (ABEL) on applied research program in the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation, an Outstanding Service Award.<\/p>\n

Under Murphy\u2019s leadership, ABEL\u2019s team has worked with teachers in\u00a0more over 100 YRDSB schools to help them better understand and integrate technology\u2019s research impacts into their \"Janetcurriculum. Any teacher in York Region\u2019s public district can become part of ABEL; the program is also active in the Toronto, Simcoe County and Upper Grand District School Boards.<\/p>\n

Right: Janet Murphy<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cWe work with teachers from kindergarten to Grade 12 across disciplines to help them \u00a0to best use technology to support their curriculum goals in the classroom,\u201d said Murphy, who received her award on April 25 at the YRDSB\u2019s annual Awards Evening.<\/p>\n

This support includes extending the reach of university research and expertise into high school classrooms.\u00a0For example, Science Rendezvous<\/a>, an interactive learning event led by the Faculty of Science\u00a0& Engineering in May, was made accessible to schools across York Region through the ABEL program. Through the effective use of video conferencing, collaborative technologies and streamed on-demand video, the ABEL platform distributed the event\u2019s science content, making it available for classroom use.<\/p>\n

ABEL also provides technical support and facilitation to support and enhance YRDSB teachers\u2019 professional learning through a blended learning program. Leveraging interactive technologies, ABEL delivers professional learning to the classroom or school in a variety of online formats, including real-time and\/or asynchronous transmission.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe advantage to ABEL\u2019s approach is that it allows teachers to engage in their individual learning at a time and place convenient to them, apply their learning and then re-visit the archived session as needed. This collaborative approach allows participants to gain feedback from the group about what worked and what didn\u2019t, and continuously improve their practice,\u201d says Murphy. \u201cFor example, York\u2019s Faculty of Education recently ran a session on teaching mathematics that was streamed live and archived to ensure teachers wanting the latest numeracy pedagogy had flexible ways to access the material.\u201d<\/p>\n

Outstanding Service Awards reflect the YRDSB\u2019s commitment to quality, service and teamwork. The recipients\u00a0\u2013 who may include individuals, teams or departments\u00a0\u2013 provide extraordinary service that has had a positive impact on the school board\u2019s efforts to achieve its mission and goals.<\/p>\n

Typically, those recognized have introduced positive change, significant and permanent improvements to the organization, and\/or positively influenced individuals or teams around them to make great contributions.<\/p>\n

\u201cJanet received the Outstanding Service Award for her ongoing leadership, vision and commitment to mobilizing new knowledge for 21st-century system change,\u201d said John Steh, manager of Leadership Development, YRDSB. \u201cHer team\u2019s approach has led to new organizational structures and system change, and is an excellent example of social innovation initiated by the District\u2019s participation in the ABEL program.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201dJanet\u2019s recognition reflects her strong leadership and the success of\u00a0the entire ABEL team. ABEL\u2019s niche is staying ahead of the technology curve in making York\u2019s research in ICT, pedagogy and digital media accessible to the education community from kindergarten through to Grade 12,\u201d said Stan Shapson, vice-president research & innovation. \u201cThrough the partnership with ABEL, the YRDSB has continually demonstrated their commitment to seeking out best pedagogical practices while ensuring teachers have access to the latest professional development. For York, ABEL provides an institutional platform to move the latest research out to schools while helping to attract the best high school students to programs.\u201d<\/p>\n

About the ABEL Program at ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ <\/strong><\/p>\n

Launched with funding support from CANARIE<\/a>, Canada\u2019s Advanced Research and Innovation Network, to a consortium led by Shapson, ABEL has nearly 10 years of experience helping teachers to make better use of technology. Through public and private sector partnerships and networks, ABEL has gained national recognition as a research-based authority and leader on the effective use of existing and emerging information communication technologies (ICT) within new models of teaching, learning, training and collaboration.<\/p>\n

ABEL\u2019s combination of networks, partnerships and research focus drive institutional transformation and create new opportunities:<\/p>\n