On Mondays, I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. How many Terms of Service agreements do you think you have clicked, “I Accept”, on as part of the requirements of accessing a digital service? How many times did you actually read the full agreement before selecting, “I Accept”? If you did read it all (good for you), did you understand everything? Terms of Service (TOS) agreements are notoriously difficult to understand and, although some platforms have made their information more accessible, most are full of jargon specific to that field. If you are guilty of… Read More
Follow Friday – #MTSPDDay
On Fridays, 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. This week, as I do every year at this time, I’d like to bring recognition to the #MTSPDDay hashtag! As educators take part in various professional development sessions across the province, many of them are choosing to share their learning via social media and tagging their posts using the hashtag #MTSPDDay. By following along with this hashtag on your platform of choice you are able to document your own learning, grow your PLN, and take in… Read More
#TechTipTuesday – Break The Fake
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. As October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, all of the tips shared this month will tackle common cyber security concerns (both student-related and workplace-related). If you missed our previous cyber security tips you can check them out below: With that being said, today is not only part of Cyber Security Awareness Month but also Media Literacy Week! As such, today’s tip blends both of these topics as we address “fake news” and the authenticity and reliability of… Read More
Media Literacy Week 2024
On Mondays, I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. It is here! Media Literacy Week is taking place right now, from October 21-25th. If you are new to Media Literacy Week, Media Smarts describes it as: “Media Literacy Week is an annual national campaign hosted by MediaSmarts and the Canadian Teachers Federation to promote digital and media literacy, with activities and events taking place in classrooms, libraries, museums and community groups from coast to coast to coast.” Media Literacy Week Resources Crash Course Media Literacy Playlist Read More Digital Literacy & the… Read More
Follow Friday – Media Smarts
On Fridays, 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. Next week will play host to Media Literacy Week! To prep for this event, I recommend a visit to Media Smarts, which is a fantastic resource to help address these skills (as required by Manitoba educators in the Literacy with ICT Continuum). In fact, one of the newer Media Smarts updates in the summer of 2023 was a direct connection to the Manitoba curriculum! Follow Media Smarts
The CanadianED Leadership Show
Earlier this month I had the pleasure of chatting with Dean Shareski from the CanadianED Leadership Show. Dean has been a part of my PLN since 2013 when this blog was in its infancy and, over a decade later, is still what I would consider a component of the “best part” of the internet. (Read the linked blog from 2013 for my info on that). While I haven’t seen him in person since the 2014 Awakening Possibilities Conference, we have remained connected online and he continues to help grow my PLN. A perfect example of this was my introduction to Whtiney… Read More
WOW Wednesday – Patti Beaudin
On Wednesdays, I highlight some of our amazing MVSD staff on our social media pages. Every day 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. This week I would like to highlight Patti Beaudin who teaches at Ecole Macneill. As a grade 2/3 teacher, Patti has set a goal to introduce her learners to the tech tools they have available to them and help to ensure that their understanding extends beyond the navigation of online programs. As early learners, we have started… Read More
#TechTipTuesday – Phishing Emails
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. What is a Phishing Email? Phishing emails are fraudulent messages designed to obtain sensitive information such as financial information, usernames, or passwords. These emails often include links which send recipients to a website where they are directed to enter personal information into a platform that, while appearing authentic, is fake. The most commonly recognized phishing email involves a message indicating a long-lost relative or Nigerian prince has left you their inheritance and your bank account… Read More
Follow Friday – Canadian Centre for Cyber Security
On Fridays, 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. With the month of October playing host to Cyber Security Awareness Month it seemed fitting to showcase the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) for Follow Friday! You can follow along with them on Twitter/X or through their website which includes: You can review all of the blog posts on cyber security by clicking HERE.
WOW Wednesday – Keirstin Crandall
On Wednesdays, I highlight some of our amazing MVSD staff on our social media pages. Every day 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. This week I would like to highlight Keirstin Crandall from Ethelbert School. Keirstin is constantly seeking out new experiences for their learners and is a regular collaborator with the ICT department. She started the month of October out by setting her students up with the Sphero Mini robots from our PD Resource Center. These robots can be… Read More