Every Friday I share what I believe to be a notable person/organization/school on our social media pages to assist our staff in the development of their online Personal Learning Network. On Monday, February 27th, MVSD staff met divisionally with a majority grouping working with Rick Wormeli on the topic of outcome-based assessment. While I didn’t have an opportunity to personally work with Rick as I was hosting my own sessions with our EA staff, I’ve heard a lot of positive feedback from our staff. Our PD Team has been working to develop a long-term plan with Rick to continue our learning… Read More
Desktop Organization Upgrade
Around this time last year I saw a Reel on Instagram that inspired me to add some personal flair to my desktop background. I thought it would be fun to do a little “spring cleaning” and make myself a new one with a totally different style. The layout of my desktop background is tailored around the fact that my screen is regularly displayed for the purposes of tech training with staff, students, and community members. I put together a brief tutorial on how I did this last year (see embedded TikTok). Which desktop do you like better? The 2022 version… Read More
WOW Wednesday – Mandy Arnold
On Wednesdays I highlight some of our amazing MVSD staff on our social media pages. Everyday our staff are using tech in new and exciting ways, are learning new skills, and are sharing ways in which ed tech is assisting them in their practice. Earlier in the year I had an opportunity to visit Mackenzie Middle School to discuss their tech-related goals for the year. One of which was to integrate student-run video announcements into their school communication plan. The supervising teacher, Mandy, had operated a similar program at a previous school and had a solid understanding of what was required. To… Read More
#TechTipTuesday – Digital Tools for Student Portfolios
Every Tuesday I share a Tech Tip on our social media pages to assist our staff in their use of technology as it relates to their role. In Manitoba, March is a whirlwind month for educators. We start off strong with a mix of weather systems, jump right into a time-change, and hit the ground running to complete report cards and book parent-teacher interviews before spring break! One of my favourite methods to assist with this is the implementation of student portfolios. Student portfolios can be a fantastic practice in the classroom as they: develop student metacognition selecting exemplars reflecting on their… Read More
Technology NOW – Don’t Wait for the Future
Every Monday I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. Almost a full year ago I shared the quote, “Technology is not technology if it was invented before you were born“. Since that time, the rise of AI programming has increased rapidly and the coversation surrounding platforms such as Chat GPT have inundated the education world. The quote of the week, shared in the graphic above, was created by Chat GPT. In the past few weeks I have been immersed in this topic as I have: refined resources and supports for… Read More
Follow Friday – ICTC
Every Friday I share what I believe to be a notable person/organization/school on our social media pages to assist our staff in the development of their online Personal Learning Network. I was first introduced to the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) in 2020 through our digital equity work with Tech Manitoba. At the time, our project was in response to the digital inequity concerns exasperated by the Covid-19 emergency response programming: Manitoba and a Digital-First Future: The Implications of Connectivity for Equity and Education. Since that time, I’ve had an opportunity to connect with ICTC on further projects including: Digital… Read More
PD on the Potty
Near the end of 2019 I implemented the idea of PD on the Potty following a podcast from Kasey Bell. This alternative method of professional development sees the inclusion of flyers placed in staff washroom facilities. Depending on the month these may include: divisional tech reminders upcoming PD opportunities tips & tricks program reviews social media recommendations and more! Not only do these flyers allow you to have a captive audience but they can provide a bridge for staff members who have technology as a barrier in their practice [for these individuals, emails, social media posts, digital resources, etc are inaccessible]. Here… Read More
March ICT Newsletter
With the start of a new month comes a new monthly ICT newsletter. These newsletters are designed to serve as an outreach to all MVSD staff and provide: general ICT updates (software changes, divisional ICT timelines, tech-themed holidays) upcoming PD for the month tech tips divisional highlights These newsletters are sent out to staff via our divisional email but are also shared out through our social media pages and divisional website. March 2023 ICT Newsletter by Kirsten Cali
#TechTipTuesday – Microsoft Quick Guides
Every Tuesday I share a Tech Tip on our social media pages to assist our staff in their use of technology as it relates to their role. I am always looking for different ways to share about the various tools available within the Microsoft Office 365 suite. As a Microsoft division, these tools are readily available to our staff, students, and community caregivers but I acknowledge that we are all inundated with SO MUCH information that it can be hard to keep it all organized. I came across Miss Aird on Twitter recently and was immediately drawn to the Quick Guide posters… Read More
Assistive Technology is for Everyone
Every Monday I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. Today is one of two division-wide professional development (PD) days in MVSD which will see all school-staff participate in a variety of training sessions hosted at Grandview School. Held virtually for the past few years, this is the first time we will be together face-to-face since 2019. My role will see me working with our middle- and senior-year educational assistants (EAs) in the area of assistive technology. The presentation, which was used in conjunction with live demos, can be viewed below:… Read More