Session 2 of #ETMOOC2 was held on May 3rd. If you were unable to attend, the recording has been uploaded to YouTube (see embed below) and the slides note notes are available via the Session 2 landing page. Session Notes Unauthorized content generation could be a phrase used to describe academic concerns around AI Equity and the field of AI, it should value and respect diverse cultural backgrounds There is a layer of techno-colonization within this tool There is no integrity in a stance that presumes the worst in our students (re: a ban on AI related to perceived affects… Read More
WOW Wednesday – MMS eSports Champions
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. This is an especially exciting WOW Wednesday post to share as we announce that the MMS Blue Magic eSports team are AAA Champions!! You may recall that MMS had a WOW Wednesday highlight in May of 2022 when their team began the planning process on how to integrate eSports into their programming during the 22/23 school year. Fast… 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
#TechTipTuesday – CyberSafe Privacy Prodigy
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. May 1-7 marks Privacy Awareness Week (PAW) which is an annual event to raise awareness within the public sector and the broader community about the importance of protecting and respecting personal information. If you are curious about how to approach this topic with students, I recommend the Mincraft EDU module: CyberSafe – Privacy Prodigy! This module covers the following skills: Keep login information private Discuss real-world cybersecurity problems and how personal information can be protected.… Read More
May 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. May 2023 ICT Newsletter by Kirsten Cali
Follow Friday – MVSD Strategic Plan
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. Here in MVSD we are completing the second in a series of one-year divisional plans as our last comprehensive plan, which was a 5-year strategic plan, concluded in 2020/21 in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. As is no surprise, the landscape of education has changed drastically in the past 3 years and our Board of Trustees has also experienced a change following the recent election period. With this in mind, it… Read More
#TechTipTuesday – TeachFlix
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. If you are wanting to include videos into your classroom programming but don’t know where to start, I recommend TeachFlix! Organized by Matt Miller and the Ditch That Textbook team, TeachFlix describes itself as: “Ever find a video for your students that’s just right? Perfect even? You show it to them (or they watch it on their own). It engages them. Makes them think. Starts really great conversations. A video can be the right tool… Read More
#ETMOOC2 Session 1 – Chat GPT and Its Implications for Lifelong Learning
Session 1 of #ETMOOC2 was held on April 19th. If you were unable to attend, the recording has been uploaded to YouTube (see embed below) and the slides note notes are available via the Session 1 landing page. Identify at least three ways ChatGPT might be of benefit to you and those you serve in your section of our lifelong learning environment Provide a foundation for generalized writing Assist with implementation planning and critique existing plans for gaps Templates for lesson and activity planning Anticipate at least three challenges ChatGPT may pose to you and those you serve We still… Read More
#TechTipTuesday – App Selection Considerations
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. Yesterday I shared the quote that: “77% of apps in the “education” category are unable to provide empirical research that the tool will have a positive effect on learning outcomes” Kolb, L. (2017). Learning First, Technology Second. p. 164 So where does that leave educators who are looking for app options for their classroom? I strongly encourage you to visit yesterday’s post to see some of the research completed on the foundational skills of classroom… Read More
Educational Apps – Challenges
Every Monday I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. One unseen benefit of the Covid-19 pandemic is that the use of technology in education has increased at a far higher rate than if our traditional classroom model was still in place (Nantais, M. et al., 2021, p. 34). The switch to remote learning has placed all educators, students, and families in a position where they are required to modify their existing practices and learn how to use digital tools in new ways. However, an increase in the use of online… Read More