Page 64 - THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 11 AND 12 | Canadian and World Studies

THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 11 AND 12 | Canadian and World Studies
• As part of field studies: When engaging in a field study, students can combine a number of ICT tools such as GPS, hand-held personal digital devices, and digital cameras.
• As simulations: Various simulation programs are available that provide hands-on visual engagement to support student learning.
Whenever appropriate, students should be encouraged to use ICT to support and com- municate their learning. For example, students working individually or in groups can use computer technology and/or Internet websites to gain access to museums, galleries, archives, and heritage sites in Canada and around the world; databases of laws and regulations; political information and economic data on various countries; and digital atlases and other sources of information and data. They can also use portable storage devices to store information, as well as CD-ROM and DVD technologies, digital cameras, GIS maps, interactive whiteboards, and projectors to organize and present the results of their investigations to their classmates and others.
Although the Internet is a powerful learning tool, there are potential risks attached to its use. All students must be made aware of issues related to Internet privacy, safety, and responsible use, as well as of the potential for abuse of this technology, particularly when it is used to promote hatred.
ICT tools are also useful for teachers in their teaching practice, both for whole-class instruction and for the design of curriculum units that contain varied approaches to learning in order to meet diverse student needs. A number of educational software programs to support learning in Canadian and world studies are licensed through the ministry and are listed at www.osapac.org/db/software_search.php?lang=en.
THE ONTARIO SKILLS PASSPORT: MAKING LEARNING RELEVANT AND
BUILDING SKILLS
The Ontario Skills Passport (OSP) is a free, bilingual, web-based resource that provides teachers and students with clear descriptions of the “Essential Skills” and work habits important in work, learning, and life. Teachers planning programs in Canadian and world studies can engage students by using OSP tools and resources to show how what they learn in class can be applied in the workplace and in everyday life.
The Essential Skills identified in the OSP are:
• Reading Text
• Writing
• Document Use
• Computer Use
• Oral Communication
• Numeracy: Money Math; Scheduling or Budgeting and Accounting; Measurement and Calculation; Data Analysis; and Numerical Estimation
• Thinking Skills: Job Task Planning and Organizing; Decision Making; Problem Solving; Finding Information; and Critical Thinking
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