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 through our social media pages and divisional website. November 2023 ICT Newsletter by Kirsten Cali
Happy Halloween from the Blue Screen of Death
Who doesn’t love a good tech-themed Halloween costume! Since joining the MVSD team as Coordinator of ICT I’ve tried to ensure my costume aligned with my role and it has honestly become one of my favourite traditions. This year I tried to think of one of the scariest things for an ICT Department: 2022 – The Social Butterfly I had recently had an opportunity to visit with Chris Nesi on the House of Ed Tech podcast, in which one of our discussion topics was social media. You can listen to the interview in which this reel’s audio is taken from:… Read More
MTS/MSBA Workplace Safety & Health
Today I had an opportunity to take part in Workplace Safety & Health training provided through Manitoba Teachers’ Society and Manitoba School Boards Association. As the head of our ICT Department, I took part to ensure I can effectively assist our staff as they work between all schools and divisional sites. This information not only informs safe work judgments for our staff but also that our tech integration is being set up and maintained in a manner that is safe for all users. The following is a summary of my notes from the day: The WSH Act & Regulations for… Read More
WOW Wednesday – Shawna Prokopowich & Janice Mullin
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 week I had the pleasure of starting my week at Ecole Macneill to learn and share alongside members of the Grade 4-5 team, Shawna Prokopowich and Janice Mullin. In full transparency, Ecole Macneill is one of our MVSD schools that I visit the least and this is because of the fantastic ed tech leadership in place within… Read More
WOW Wednesday – Logan Fogg
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. Logan, who is joined our MVSD team at the start of 2023, participated in our Summer Tech PD series in August and took in our session on Canva. While he was no stranger to the program, already experimenting with it for his personal and professional needs, we transitioned him to the PRO version and assisted with setting the… Read More
Follow Friday – MVSD Accounts
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. One of the projects I was excited to undertake when I took on this role was the curation of our divisional social media pages. The purpose of this project was: – to help build community– to assist with effective and appropriate use of these platforms– to establish some level of consistency in regards to messaging While our official numbers fluctuate every year due to staffing changes, we are currently over 60 accounts across various… Read More
WOW Wednesday – Winnipegosis Social Media
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. With the 23/24 school year in full swing I am always so pleased when I happen to see one of our school accounts come back across my social media feed after a summer break! Winnipegosis Elementary is an excellent example of this as they maintain a Facebook account to connect and share with caregivers and the broader community. Their feed provides a… Read More
An Assessment Discussion
Today MVSD teaching staff had an opportunity to learn alongside Myrion Dueck to support our work in the area of outcome based assessment. This post will serve as a summary of my learning for the day: Part 1: The Why Like ships, we all need a rudder to help us imagine systems, policies, and practices for change. Decide at a department/school/division-level of what a 1-4 looks like using the Manitoba scale Things I see, hear, & read, continue to change my beliefs A learning standard = verb + noun Verb: action, depth of thinking Noun: content knowledge Part 2: The… Read More
October 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. October 2023 ICT Newsletter by Kirsten Cali
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
Today schools across Manitoba are wearing orange to honour those affected by the genocide of residential schools in Canada. I acknowledge that systems are still in place that marginalize FNMI people & much work needs to be done to move toward reconciliation. I am stepping back from this blog and social media accounts today and tomorrow for a period of education and reflection; I encourage you to do the same. Wanting to learn more? Mountain View School Division Indigenous Education website National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation reports Education Resources for Truth & Reconciliation Indigenous Education Framework Supports Manito Ahbee… Read More