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 am excited to showcase an example of how our staff are using digital tools to strengthen literacy. Sophie Thomas, who currently has a Grade 7 French Immersion class at Mackenzie Middle School, is currently supporting their students with written and spoken language fluency. Sophie accessed both Immersive Reader and Dictate features within the Microsoft EDU… Read More
The “Hidden Curriculum” in Tech
On Mondays I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. As we enter Pride month I’ve been thinking more and more about equity and how it relates to my role: Many of the prominent programs that our students interact with, including search engines and social media, cater to the lived experiences of the majority population with potential gaps being found in areas such as sexual orientation, class, gender, literacy levels, handedness, and physical disabilities (Friedman and Nissenbaum, p. 343). While digital equity and access to technology continues to be a central… Read More
#ETMOOC Session 2 – AI and You: Ethics, Equity, and Accessibility
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
School. Keep Going. But Not If You Attend the MRLSC
The advent of technology has revolutionized the way we learn and access educational programming. With the rise of remote learning during the Covid-19 pandemic, education systems have been able to cater to the needs of a larger population, making learning accessible to those who may have experienced barriers in accessing traditional face-to-face programs. In January of 2021 the provincial government of Manitoba announced the opening of the Manitoba Remote Learning Support Center (MRLSC) which was designed, in part, “to ensure students across Manitoba can access quality remote learning support when they need it” (Goertzen – MB EELC, 2021). This priority… Read More
Programmed Oppression
*This post has been written as part of my journey as a Ph.D student through University of Regina Critical theory, the legacy of the theoretical work of the Frankfurt School, is centered on changing the circumstances of the oppressed. Giroux (2009) explains that critical theory in education, “…enables educators to become more knowledgeable about how teachers, students, and other educational workers become part of the system” that is emphasized through organizational practices, messages, and values; often referred to as the hidden curriculum. In the realm of educational technology, the pervasive school of thought has seen the inclusion of technology in… Read More
#TechTipTuesday – Immersive Reader in Edge
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. For those that are new to Immersive Reader, this Microsoft assistive tool is compatible with many aspects of your Office 365 suite such as Word, OneNote, Teams, Outlook, and the Microsoft Edge Web Browser. A video introduction hosted via YouTube is shared below: This tool allows users to have any text read aloud to them while changing the style of reading voice and speed, as well as opening up the text in a separate window… Read More
November 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. November 2022 ICT Newsletter by Kirsten Cali
Follow Friday – Equity & Diversity Calendar
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. Did you know that MVSD maintains an Equity and Diversity calendar that is accessible to the public via our divisional website? This calendar is an ever-evolving project that is designed to bring awareness to a variety of different events and strengthen understanding about their significance. The calendar itself includes a series of events through the month and each included event can be selected to bring up a pop-up box with further information… Read More
The New Normal
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: As we enter our 3rd school year in the presence of a global pandemic our “new normal” has been established. How are you using tech differently compared to 2019? I purposefully selected this quotation to not only encourage reflection on the role that technology plays in your classroom but also because it aligns with the wording of a fantastic Manitoba PD that is taking place this week! The New Normal School is a half-day virtual event on… Read More
WOW Wednesday – ICT Team
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. As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, we have transitioned into another round of remote learning. As a result, uptake in our laptop loan program has dramatically increased at a time where our team was initially expecting to start receiving laptops back for returns. I think it is important to note that, as a new program this year,… Read More