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
Jaxson’s Minecraft World
Like many children, my son LOVES to watch Minecraft videos on YouTube. These channels, both adult- and child-ran, include things like: tutorials and tips world tours narrated walk-throughs of challenges, battles, etc This week he asked if he would be able to make his own video and I, of course, said yes! Given the nature of my job and personal interests I feel like we were in a good position to get started with this with a solid foundational understanding. I asked him to clarify what he wanted for his video and I decided to utilize the following platforms: Minecraft… Read More
WOW Wednesday – Fair Dealing Week CONTEST
On Wednesdays I highlight some of our amazing MVSD staff on our social media pages. With it being Fair Dealing Week, I want to encourage staff to familiarize themselves with some of the resources our PD Resource Centre puts out regarding copyright. I want you to sit back….. close your eyes… and visualize your copy room. I know, the perfect destination. Whether you realize it or not, this room most likely plays host to a display about copyright. Thanks to Sharon, at the PD Resource Centre, this information is in all schools to assist with understanding of Fair Dealing, copyright, intellectual… Read More
BYTE 2023
On Friday I spent the day in Portage la Prairie for the 19th annual BYTE conference. I know I say this every year but… this conference is always a highlight of my year as it represents my first ever speaking event and, a full decade later, I am thrilled to still be a part of this fantastic event. If you weren’t able to join the event in person, and even if you did, I recommend scrolling back on Instragram and Twitter as many participants and presenters shared their learing throughout the day. You can find applicable posts by following the… Read More