Every Monday I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. Over the past two decades, teachers have increasingly turned to social networks to create and grow their professional learning networks (PLN). A professional learning network is a group of educators who come together to share ideas, resources, and support each other in their efforts to improve their teaching and better serve their students. In some schools, teachers have dedicated planning time in their schedule to meet with an in-house PLN that may consist of a teaching partner or grade-group but for… Read More
Follow Friday – Minecraft Student Ambassadors
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 am thrilled to share that our division now has their very own Minecraft Student Ambassdor organization through Ecole Macneill. This group is comprised of students at the elementary level who are interested in the Minecraft program and work under the supervision of a staff member who has completed the Minecraft Student Ambassador sponsor program through Microsoft. Our students, through this program, have: investigated climate change through the Frozen Planet 2… Read More
#TweetTheHalls 2022
As we approach December I am thrilled to announce that for the third year in a row, I am helping bring #TweetTheHalls to Manitoba! Inspired in 2020 out of a conversation with Donna Miller Fry, this Twitter event is being run in collaboration with #MBEdChat. Check out the official prompt calendar below! This year is bringing some exciting changes including a dedicated Twitter account to manage updates follow along @TweetTheHallsMB weekly prizes and overall prizes If you haven’t participated in #TweetTheHalls before or are new to Twitter check out yesterday’s post which featured a tutorial. In the mean time, check out the prompt for December… Read More
Follow Friday – Tweet The Halls
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. As we approach December I am thrilled to announce that for the third year in a row, I am helping bring #TweetTheHalls to Manitoba! Inspired in 2020 out of a conversation with Donna Miller Fry, this Twitter event is being run in collaboration with #MBEdChat. This year is bringing some exciting changes including a dedicated Twitter account to manage updates follow along @TweetTheHallsMB we will also have some amazing prizes on the line for participants!… Read More
Follow Friday – Media Smarts
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. While Media Literacy week is wrapping up, our focus on media and digital literacy is a year-long task (especially now that so much more of our programming is utilizing online tools). Media Smarts is a fantastic resource to help address these skills as required by Manitoba educators in the Literacy with ICT Continuum. Follow Media Smarts Website Twitter Instagram Facebook YouTube
Follow Friday – #MTSPDDay
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. This week, as I do every year at this time, I’d like to bring recognition to the #MTSPDDay hashtag! As educators take part in various professional development sessions across the province, many of them are choosing to share their learning via social media and tagging their posts using the hashtag #MTSPDDay. By following along with this hashtag on your platform of choice you are able to document your own learning, grow your PLN, and take in… Read More
Follow Friday – Manitoba School eSports Association
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. With this week playing host to National Video Games Day I thought it was only fitting to showcase the newly established Manitoba School eSports Association (MSEA) for this week’s Follow Friday. ” Manitoba School Esports Association is a not-for-profit organization committed to connecting, informing, and supporting competitive gaming in schools across Manitoba. MSEA is an amalgamation of the former MYEMB (Middle Years Esport Manitoba) and MHSeA (Manitoba High School eSports Association). With the expansion of esports in… Read More
Follow Friday – Lisa Anne Floyd
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. I first had an opportunity to meet Lisa a few years back and have been so appreciative of her Twitter feed ever since! Lisa is an Ontario teacher, Ph.D Candidate, speaker, consultant, author, mother, and so much more. She shares regularly about coding in the classroom, computational thinking skills, lifelong learning and general education positivity. In 2019, Lisa Anne visited Manitoba as a spotlight speaker at the Riding the Wave conference in… Read More
Follow Friday – Christopher Nesi
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. I was first introduced to Christopher and his work when I found the House of #EdTech podcast in 2019. I quickly learned that Christopher is extremely active across all social media platforms as he strives to provide high-quality, accessible professional development for teachers. I find his work most regularly through his Twitter feed, podcast, and TikTok account. Located in New Jersey, Christopher has worked at the high school and post-secondary levels and… Read More
Follow Friday – Dr. Verena Roberts
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. Dr. Roberts and I have been in the same Twitter circle for some time (although I can’t pinpoint when or how we found each other). I am regularly reminded of her work as my Ph.D supervisor, Dr. Couros, also recommends her regularly as I work through my research. Dr. Roberts currently works through the University of Calgary and has extensive experience in the area of Open Educational Practices (OEP). Both her Twitter… Read More