Summer Coordinator for School/Community Networks

As Summer Coordinator for School/Community Networks, my job is to write blogs about FACTSnet  IT in Education and Arts, FACTSnetTips, a recycling electronics and composting in schools project. I also contribute on projects such as sustainability and adaptability/disabilities with other team members. This as well as helping other team members is in my daily work time. All our projects need great networking and teamwork skills with other team members. I do research on how to use information technology efficiently in education. I write blogs that can help students, teachers, and parents to use educational software, programs and internet usage.

My goal is to establish a great network within schools and other FACTSnet networks groups across Canada. As well, I will put a special effort to contact groups that work with aboriginals, persons with disabilities, and newcomers to Canada. In order to accomplish this, I work closely with schools and share knowledge with other  FACTnet groups during meetings and Anymeeting. Efficient and clear communication is an asset in my job description.

Working Proposal - Parents as Adaptablity/Disability Coaches

Most of the obstacles faced by disabled people, especially children, have very little to do with the disability itself. We all interact with many people in our daily lives. Most of those people have very little to no experience interacting with people with disabilities. Those are small encounters that most of us do not think about - the bus driver or person seated next to you on the morning commute, the receptionists and secretaries at the bank or doctor's office, random passerby's saying hello on the sidewalk or bus stop. For a disabled person, each of those encounters is a potential emotional minefield if they are not prepared. At any time a disabled person could be subject to some degrading or insulting action or comment, whether international or not. Additionally, disabled people are often labelled by their disability first, whereas a non-disabled person is more likely to be labelled by his personality and/or skills. This is the reality for disabled people. To succeed in navigating those obstacles, it is essential that the disabled person have a solid foundation of self-esteem and self-confidence. They must see themselves as people with a disability rather than as a disabled person. They must feel confident in their ability to be assertive and stand up for themselves in the face of adversity. The positive shaping of a disabled person in this manner must start very early in life, with the parents. They must treat their children as people first, worthy of love and attention. Accommodations and adaptations should be a secondary focus instead of the main reason for interacting with the child. They should feel like they are valued persons, not people who need to be 'fixed' first and foremost. Proper coaching will produce a person who not only has strong self esteem, confidence and assertiveness, but is also a productive and contributing member of his or her family, community and society.

Summer Coordinator for Community Networks (Worldview) - Plan 2013

In my position with FACTsnet this summer, I am responsible for overseeing the coordination and development of education-related information networks  that take more of an all-encompassing worldview perspective and target audience. My work on such fields as English curriculum and disabilities in the classroom are geared towards a very general audience, being useful to students, teachers, parents, administrators, support staff and anyone else connected to education at any grade level. My goal is to create and improve on information databases that will allow readers to apply best-practice principles on the classroom and individual levels, creating a ripple of positive effect on all students but especially those with exceptional needs. I am also involved in coordinating a possible seminar on how parents can serve as coaches for their children, especially those who have disabilities or challenging behaviors.

Briefly, in my position as Summer Coordinator for Community Networks (Worldview), I oversee the creation and editing of information networks that provide universally useful information on education-related topics including but not limited to adapting curriculum and disabilities in the classroom.

Summer Program Business Manager - Plan 2013

My job at FACTSnet is the Summer Program Business Manager. My duties can be separated into two categories. One is accounting related: I am responsible for preparing payroll summaries of all employees at FACTSnet. A procedure will be created to facilitate future employees making payrolls.  The other is related to marketing and network development. For example, I am involved in the Sustainability project where my partner and I sell our ideas (via writing a proposal) that will help the University of Alberta increase sustainability on campus. If we succeed in doing so, the university will provide us with a green grant to help us implement our ideas.  I am also researching environmental sustainability within our constituency.  Another part of my job is doing network research on non-profit organizations within the Edmonton - Spruce Grove constituency, which will help FACTSnet improve on its existing activities, like providing online information and where to get assistance. Part of this research will be related to FACTSnet hosting a cultural and heritage networking event.  A secondary aspect of my job is to participate in the Adaptablities/Disabilities Network development with the rest of our summer team.  I am also in charge of summarizing business articles and books, such as The Breakthrough Solution by Grant Mullen, M.D. and Tips from Robert Rohm for Daily Living. Overall, a lot of primary and secondary research and writing skills are required for this position.