On Mondays I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. 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 Break the Fake resources Media Literacy Week newsletter Media Literacy Week Teachers Hub YouTube Channel Connect with MediaSmarts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Questions? mlw@mediasmarts.ca Crash Course Media Literacy Playlist Read More Digital… Read More
Passwords Are Like Underwear
On Mondays I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. As we progress through Cyber Security Awareness month I want to continually remind both staff and students about the importance of strong passwords. If you would like to review this topic I recommend a previous post from earlier this month: Password Habits Teachers Should Break How to increase security of staff and student passwords Tips on how to develop strong passwords Common classroom password habits that should be reconsidered
Pedagogy Driven Tech
On Mondays I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. As we approach the end of the first month of school I think it is important to take a moment to step back and reflect. September is always a whirlwind for anyone involved in education and it can be easy to get swept up in the demands of: student needs, caregiver needs, classroom goals, school goals, divisional goals.. and the list goes on and on. However, it is important to remember that everything we do in the classroom should be done… Read More
Time to Unplug
On Mondays I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. Today marks the LAST Monday of the 2021/22 school year and it goes without saying that, for anyone involved in education, this time of year is chaos (organized chaos… but chaos). While we are still very much in the trenches these past few days I wanted to share this reminder from Brian that taking time to unplug is good for everything (whether that is tech or people). For many of us, unplugging is taking time away from work during the months… Read More
Tech Options for Final Assessments
On Mondays I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. As we approach the final month of our school year that means that it is also time to discuss final/summative assessments. I am a strong believer that student choice is key when it comes to demonstrating understanding and that a learner should not be hindered by an assessment style if it is not a component of what is being assessed (ex: a student should not fail an exam because they cannot effectively write about their science understanding if they are able… Read More
No Statistical Difference
On Mondays I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. *This article is a repost from 2017 When it comes to educational technology (ed tech) I find that it can be one of those ed topics that can become incredibly polarizing. You either find educators who are enthusiastically supportive of the implementation of various forms of ed tech or you find educators who will use ed tech if they have to but tend to stick with other materials and strategies that they are more comfortable with. Admittedly I fall into the… Read More
Defining Technology
Every Monday I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. This quote has stuck with me for a few years because I feel that, based on the generational gap between educators and students, that there is sometimes a disconnect between how we view technology. For many educators, it is still considered an “extra” or an “add-on”. For example: for THIS specific project we are summarizing our learning with a PowerPoint so we go to the computer lab for a SPECIAL activity we are adding a tech station as an option during… Read More
Technology Is Not Just A Tool
Every Monday I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. George Couros is no stranger to this blog and the work that both him and his brother, Alec, do in the field of education have influenced me greatly. While this week’s quote can be interpreted multiple ways (like when discussing social media) but I feel like this 2013 TEDx video clip does a good job at providing an overview of George’s perspective: I tend to gravitate back to this quote when introducing assistive technology with staff and this week is one… Read More
Which Version Are You?
Every Monday I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. I stumbled across this quote being shared across Twitter last week and it resonated with me as I have the unique opportunity to get and inside look into the variety of classrooms across MVSD. Through our 16 buildings, the role technology plays in student programming varies drastically and is influenced by: device availability and connectivity options the culture of the school and broader community / student interests teacher familiarity and comfort with tech integration student grade and subject area and many… Read More
Youth Exposure to Prejudice Online
Every Monday I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. This week I wanted to focus on a statistic as we prep for conversations tomorrow surrounding Safer Internet Day. This year’s Safer Internet Day theme focuses on how to do your part to contribute to a “better internet” for everyone. One component of a positive internet experience is digital citizenship and one’s ability to conduct their behaviour and interactions in a manner that is respectful and conducive to a positive experience for all involved. This includes both what you say and… Read More