Every Monday I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. This week’s Mantra is: This quote is one that I have shared out multiple times over the past 5 years (this number actually shocked me as I didn’t think it had been this long). In 2017, I shared out that my mindset towards the role of technology in the classroom had shifted from that of a hierarchy model to an ecosystem model. In this stance we see both technology and educator filling unique niches within the classroom, each serving a distinct… Read More
WOW Wednesday – Chelsea Hockridge
Every Wednesday 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. Chelsea is no stranger to this blog . As a fellow ed-tech advocate her and I have worked collaboratively on projects together as we completed our M.Ed, she participated in our 2020 social media takeover with a feature on Minecraft, and she has been highlighted in a WOW Wednesday post previously. She has now taken on a… Read More
AR/VR in the Classroom
If you walked by my office this Friday you most likely had this thought: Today I spent some time formatting our new virtual reality headsets from Class VR. If you are a regular reader of the blog you know that one of my areas of focus during my M.Ed was looking at ways that technology can increase educational opportunities for rural and remote schools. Whether it is decreased field trips and guests speakers due to geographical constraints or lack of lab and immersion activities due to limited budgets; rural and remote schools often face a more narrow scope of experiences… Read More
Follow Friday – Michele Eaton
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. This Friday I would like to reintroduce you to Michele Eaton. Michele shares about Blended Learning and her resources are fantastic for those working with remote students, split-classrooms, or any type of hybrid scenario. You may find Michele’s name familiar as I summarized her blended learning discussions in July 2020 when she spoke at the ISTE Summer Learning Academy as well as at ISTE LIVE. You can check out an excerpt of… Read More
#TechTipTuesday – MVSD Tech Kits
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. Before we discuss the tech kits I wanted to share about the PD Resource Centre as it is a fantastic resource being offered in MVSD. Located at the division office, the PD Resource Centre serves as the primary contact for our divisional library services. In addition to maintaining all libraries across the division, the PD Resource Centre also plays host to our divisional library that includes: professional development material curriculum documents curricular supports (ex: levelled… Read More
Supporting Ed Tech – Check Your Mail!
Today felt somewhat like Christmas at my office as I was busy packaging up different ed tech resources to be sent out to schools via our divisional mail system. I am always on the look out for different ways to build in ed tech PD and tech integration and for the past few weeks I have been working with our Coordinator of Library Services and Coordinator of Educational Services on two projects: School-Based Book Study Each of our schools has been gifted a book that discusses a specific aspect of ed tech. These books were chosen based on: school goals… Read More
Manitoba & A Digital First Future
Starting in the spring of 2020 I was asked to participate in a steering committee to assist Tech MB and ICTC as the started a two-phase research project examining digital equity in the province of Manitoba. They describe phase one of the project as, “This study explores broadband connectivity and its impact on education equity in Manitoba, highlighting how a lack of reliable and affordable high-speed internet is particularly detrimental to learners.” Kotak A., Leblanc S., Martell T., & Snider N., January 2021. Manitoba and a Digital-FirstFuture: The Implications of Connectivity for Equity and Education. Information andCommunications Technology Council (ICTC).… Read More
Instructional Design & Delivery
*This post has been written as part of my professional growth plan through my #ISTE20 scholarship. Taking everyone to the top: from app-centric lessons to true cognitive engagement Presenters: Jessica Herring, Dr. Michael Mills Overview: “Apps usually become the focus of technology use in classroom learning, but in this session, you’ll learn how to take what might start as app-centric lessons and take them to a higher level of authentic, contextual learning and cognitive engagement.” Main Takeaways: App choices need to move beyond “this is cool” to “how does this help to meet or surpass curricular goals” “plant the seeds of… Read More
Follow Friday – BYTE Conference
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. Being that it is the 3rd Friday in February it can only mean one thing…. it is time for the BYTE Conference! This conference holds a special place in my heart as it was not only the first large ed conference that I attended as a B.Ed student but it was also the start of my presentation experience. Since that time I have been able to attend 6 of the conferences (5 years… Read More
#TechTipTuesday – Embedded Content in Hyperdocs
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. Online navigation, while ripe with possibility, does open up a unique set of challenges: incorrect links due to typos tabs opened/closed accidently uncertainty on if you opened the correct resource clicking on ads, third party links, etc within the resource Whether I am working with students or with staff as part of a PD session my goal is to make navigation as easy as possible. My personal belief is that, “the more steps you add… Read More