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CANADA MILITARY NEWS: Nov 15- Public Libraries- All ages, cultutures, abilities, disabilities- the safety zone of communities who love 2 learn- HEY STUDENTS- GET BACK UR LIFE WITH LIBRARY TUTOR SITE- school, vocational, college, university- Annapolis Valley Regional Libraries Rock Babe!
http://nova0000scotia.blogspot.ca/2013/11/canada-military-news-nov-15-public_15.html
Chronicle Herald
Bridgetown Regional High School Grade 9 student Calib Cress uses Tutor.com. (Contributed)
Students in the Annapolis Valley are the first in Nova Scotia to be offered free online access to real tutors for help with homework after hours through their local library.
This month, the Annapolis Valley Regional Library launched
This month, the Annapolis Valley Regional Library launched
Bridgetown Regional High School Grade 9 student Calib Cress uses Tutor.com. (Contributed)
Students in the Annapolis Valley are the first in Nova Scotia to be offered free online access to real tutors for help with homework after hours through their local library.
This month, the Annapolis Valley Regional Library launched
Tutor.com to all library cardholders that will connect them with tutors who can offer help in a variety of subjects, including math, science, language arts and social studies. Adults returning to school and college students can use it as well.
Cardholders can log onto the site from anywhere they have Internet access from 3 p.m. to midnight, seven days a week. The site also has other resources that are available 24-7.
Bridgetown Regional High School Grade 9 student Calib Cress says it is definitely something he intends to take advantage of.
“I would probably use it for math because our math is starting to get a little bit more difficult lately,” Cress says. “It’s good that you can talk to an actual person.”
Cress says being able to ask about a specific problem he’s having with homework will also save him a lot of time trying to research his question online.
Angela Reynolds, head of youth services at the library, was first introduced to Tutor.com at a library conference about five years ago and thought it would be a great resource for many library users.
“We have very small libraries with very few staff and we just don’t have time to help kids with homework ... and I know kids need help with homework,” Reynolds says. The site also offers career services advice and resume help.
She thinks math-related questions would be among the most common since many parents find themselves at a loss to help their kids in that subject.
“It’s for any grade level, but I am really hoping grades six through 12 would probably use it the most, as I think they actually have the most homework,” she says.
Reynolds says the tutors have all been carefully screened and selected for their expertise, and are all trained in the Canadian curriculum. The only subject not currently available through the program is French.
The student and tutor communicate back and forth using a chat program. There is also a whiteboard that can be used to write on for demonstration purposes using a mouse, Reynolds says. Students can also upload papers and other material to the site for the tutor to look at.
“They’re not doing the homework for them, they are showing them how to do it,” Reynolds says.
Reynolds says the library did a demonstration of Tutor.com at the library in early November and it was applauded by students, parents and teachers alike. “Teachers were very excited to be able to pass this resource on to some of the parents that they know whose children are having some issues with getting their homework done,” she says. “This is just a way to extend that learning time a little bit. Once school is out, if you have a question, who do you ask?”
Reynolds says she hopes the $5,000 investment the library paid for the program pays off. The service will be re-evaluated after a year to see if it is worth renewing.
Students with a valid Annapolis Valley Regional Library card can access the site from any computer or mobile device with an Internet connection through www.tutor.com/AVRL.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/community/annapolis-valley/1169054-homework-help-a-click-away
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Role of libr ar ians c hanging in infor mation age
By Connie Thiessen
Carly Brake is quick to tell you she is not the stereotypical librarian of yesteryear.
“I do hear some of the old jokes still, but I also have some people who are like ‘you don’t fit the image I have in my head,’" says Brake, a Professional Support IT Campus Librarian in Halifax.
“I don’t really have an indoor voice. I tend to be a very loud talker, among other things. They’re thinking of that stereotypical image of the more stern or serious older woman who has their hair in a bun, or with the glasses perched on her nose, who is shushing people...but that’s not what we’re really about and in fact, when I have people who are interested in the field and talk to me career-wise, one of the first things I say to them is ‘what’s amazing is how much of my job is about interacting and dealing with people.’" Brake says with the expanse of information now available online, the need to help people find the right information has been heightened.
“We want to make sure students have the skills they need to be lifelong learners because part of lifelong learning is not only knowing when you need information, but how to find it and how to determine what’s the best information for you," explains Brake.
As part of the new digital reality, NSCC has moved toward providing support to students when and where they need it.
That includes Live Help, an online chat service provided in tandem with other academic libraries in Nova Scotia which offers student resource support six days a week, including five days a week until 10 p.m. A streaming video collection, ebooks, new databases and subject guides to support the information needs of each program are also now part of the library’s offerings. To help students make the most of the resources, workshops, both in person and virtually, are provided.
Brake’s ability to quickly wade through vast amounts of information hasn’t gone unnoticed. She’s especially proud of the title “ninja librarian," as one student dubbed her.
“What’s great is seeing the people who are happy or actually make a point to stop and say ‘thank you’ or ‘I got a great mark on that paper.’ I do it because I believe in it, but it is nice to get a thank you from people or to get recognition."
Brake is one of 156 registrars, librarians, counsellors, student support workers and training coordinators at NSCC campuses across the province represented by the NSTU Professional Support bargaining unit.
“Our professional support members work to support NSCC students’ needs, to ensure they are successful in their programs and courses," says NSTU president Shelley Morse.
Joe Robichaud
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Community colleges enhancing the learning landscape for all of Nova Scotia
By Diane Merlevede
Custom Content Writer
When deciding whether to go to university or community college, many people often used to think of it as an either-or choice. But that is changing.
“What we have seen is that the movement between university and community college is kind of fluid," says Patsy MacDonald, registrar at Nova Scotia Community College. “A lot of students come to us with either a full degree completed or partial degree, and then they come to us to build on that or to start something new. Likewise we have articulation agreements with universities that allow graduates from the college to move on to university. For instance, a business student who has a two-year diploma with us might then decide to go for two additional years at a university and come out with a degree.
“It is kind of like a complementary relationship. It is not an either-or anymore. It can be both."
The community college also has many students who already have been in the work force for a number of years and now are transitioning into different occupations or careers.
NSCC has 13 campuses across the province, from Sydney to Yarmouth, as well as some smaller learning sites in communities such as Amherst and Digby. Students can choose one-year certificate programs or two-year diploma programs in areas ranging from applied arts and new media to trades and technology, as well as business and health profession programs.
“I think the range of over 100 credentials that we offer provides an interesting and wide array of choices," says MacDonald.
For example, there are Applied Arts and New Media programs in fields such as photography, graphic design, information technology and digital animation. The School of Trades and Technology offers programs ranging from carpentry, plumbing and electrical to electronic engineering and mechanical engineering technology.
Business administration and office administration are among the programs offered through the School of Business, while the School of Health and Human Services offers programs in continuing care, practical nursing, pharmacy technology and dental assisting.
The Centre of Geographic Sciences includes programs in fields such as geomatics and cartography.
NSCC programs provide not only learning in the classroom but also experience in the workplace.
“With most of the programs the last five weeks of the program is a work experience component," says MacDonald.
“For five weeks students are essentially an unpaid employee, if you will, in the industry. With most of our two-year diplomas you also have the ability to do an optional co-op, between 12 to 18 weeks, with paid directly-related experience. Two of our programs — culinary arts and tourism management — have a mandatory co-op between year one and two of the program."
Many NSCC programs also include a service learning component.
“The faculty and students connect with a community group or organization that is looking for the types of services that they can provide," says MacDonald.
“For instance, in our public relations program we get a lot of calls from many small non-profits in the community that really need to have a public relations plan. As part of their learning and to meet some of the outcomes of the program, students will help community groups in this way."
She suggests that people be open-minded when exploring their career options and thinking about whether to go to university or community college. Having a passion for their career of choice is key.
“We have seen that people who are in the right program achieve so much more academic success and then success once they get out there," she adds.
It also is a good idea to be open to changes and to keep learning after graduation.
“There are so many changes happening that what you pick now isn’t necessarily what you are going to end up with," says MacDonald.
“I think that is one thing we are trying to help our students with, that lifelong learning kind of piece, to try to always keep learning and not to stop."
“What we have seen is that the movement between university and community college is kind of fluid. It is kind of like a complementary relationship. It is not an either-or anymore. It can be both."
PATSY MACDONALD
Registrar, Nova Scotia Community College
NSCC helps students looking to find their dream career, as well as those who have already been in the workforce and are looking to switch trades.
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Instructor empowering first N.S. class of ‘green’ electr icians
By Contributed
Brad Pineo is hoping the inaugural graduating class from the new Electrical Technician program at Kingstec will be the first wave of a culture of sustainability to hit the trades in Nova Scotia.
Pineo is heading up the new two-year diploma program that is seeing students on the apprenticeship path to be residential, commercial and industrial electricians, with the focus of a second year of study on alternative energy sources including photovoltaic (solar energy), wind power, and smart grid technologies.
“A lot of the students came because of their interest in electricity and they are looking for a career path that offers opportunities for employment in socially meaningful work. They realize that this kind of training is an important foundation to begin to build their skillset for future needs in the energy sector" says Pineo, a Community College faculty member of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union. “I believe that we’ve developed a world class facility to instruct our students and enable them to embrace alternative energy sources to integrate into their career paths. Perhaps they will be trade leaders in the industry someday."
NSCC is moving to meet what’s expected to be higher demand for a workforce skilled in the design and installation of alternative energy sources in the near future.
There’s considerable interest in the new program which currently has 22 students ranging in age from 18 to age 52.
“They learn everything that starts them on a path to be electricians but we added new cutting-edge technologies along the way, so we’re striving to set a passion in these students so they’ll be great installers and planners of alternative energy in our province."
Pineo lauds the college for investing in professional development and new equipment for the program. That included sending him to New Mexico and Colorado for training and the acquisition of training equipment specific to solar and wind energy.
“We are intending to offer new apprentices to electrical contractors in Nova Scotia that have knowledge in alternative energy sources," said Pineo.
Don Regan is CAO with the Town of Berwick, one of the few communities in N.S. with its own utility which is exploring alternative energy.
While Berwick buys most of its energy from Nova Scotia Power or other suppliers, it generates some hydro and is in the midst of trying to develop a wind generation facility.
“The average domestic customer in Berwick is paying about seven per cent less than they would pay to NSP and we expect to improve on that," said Regan.
Regan expects more homeowners to get on board with alternative energy as the capital costs of installation come down, while power prices continue to rise.
“I think that the Community College does well to anticipate that market and build capacity for it."
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Setting the Bar
Nova Scotian post-secondary schools sporting programs among the country’s best
By Diane Merlevede
Custom Content Writer
Universities across Nova Scotia are leading the way in fields ranging from law and medicine to environmental and sustainability studies. The Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University in Halifax ranked in the top three Canadian law schools in a Corporate Knights survey in 2011. It has deep roots, going to back to 1883, as the first university- based common law school in Canada.
“We have always had a reputation for very strong academics," says communications officer Lindsay Loomer.
“We had the first clinical law program in the country. We have deep pockets of expertise in marine and environmental law, and probably the strongest program in the country in health law. We also have a strong history of public service, and that goes from the faculty right through to the students. They are very active in grassroots efforts, whether working to improve access to justice or raising funds for community projects."
Dalhousie Medical School has a new curriculum with a program that emphasizes learning clinical skills right from the start.
“We always used to teach clinical skills earlier than other medical schools, but we just pushed the envelope a little further by doing it even earlier, with the first day being totally devoted to following a doctor and observing clinical skills," says Dr. Preston Smith, senior associate dean.
Students continue to build their clinical skills over the next four years. In the first year there also is a health mentors program — medical students and students from other health professions spend time together with patient volunteers who have chronic illnesses.
School of Nursing students at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish have unique opportunities to learn about health care in a rural context.
“They get a lot of diverse experiences in community and hospital settings," says associate professor Patti Hansen-Ketchum.
“We also have an advanced major and honours option, which gives them extra clinical practice and opportunities to do research with faculty."
The Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax is the largest business school in Atlantic Canada, with almost 3,500 students, 75 full-time faculty and eight programs ranging from a bachelor of commerce to a PhD in Management.
“We partner with others to enhance regional prosperity by developing more global, sustainable and entrepreneurial thinking, and attracting and retaining our next generation of skilled visionary leaders," says Dean Patricia Bradshaw.
“The inflow of new ideas our students and faculty generate through relevant research with real impact means we not only prepare leaders — we are leaders."
Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax was the first university in Canada to offer a degree program in public relations, starting in 1977. Although other programs have since been established at a number of post-secondary institutions across the country, MSVU is still a leader. Two years ago it became the first program recognized by the Canadian Public Relations Society’s Pathways to the Profession program.
“One of the real gems in our program is our co-operative education component," says. Amy Thurlow, chair of the department of communication studies.
“During the four-year bachelor program our students do a total of 12 months of co-operative education. They are actually employees in organizations, working in a public relations function."
The School of Journalism at University of King’s College in Halifax, well known for its undergraduate journalism programs since 1978, is also leading the way with three master’s programs, jointly offered with Dalhousie. Two are master of journalism programs — one in entrepreneurial journalism and the other in investigative journalism “There are very few programs in the world that are specifically in investigative reporting or in entrepreneurial journalism," says Stephen Kimber, the school’s interim director.
“The third is a master of fine arts, and we are one of the few programs in North America that offers a specific program in creative non-fiction. It just started this summer, and we already have our first student with a book contract."
At Cape Breton University in Sydney, the program for music majors has a distinctive focus.
“Most music programs in Canada do not focus on traditional music and traditionbased popular music — this program does," says Richard MacKinnon, director of the Centre for Cape Breton Studies.
Students can take courses such as early Celtic music, indigenous music of North America, and Cape Breton fiddle music. Work placements during the program bring students face-to-face with professionals in the music business, such as producers, festival organizers, publicists and managers.
Acadia University in Wolfville started its Environmental and Sustainability Studies program four years ago, with the first class due to graduate next spring. Students learn not only in the classroom but also through hands-on experience each year in the community.
“It is not simply a question of people understanding issues," says associate professor Alan Warner.
“It is about people developing leadership skills and applying those skills and actually starting to make changes, rather than just learning about it."
Saint Mary’s University is among many Nova Scotian post-secondary schools with highly-regarded programs.
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