It is officially time for #TweetTheHalls! This is the 4th year of our seasonal event designed to strengthen your educational PLN, practice a variety of ed tech skills, and spread holiday joy in the month of December. Check out the official prompt calendar below: If you haven’t participated in #TweetTheHalls before or are new to X/Twitter check out our #TechTipTuesday post which featured a tutorial. In the mean time, check out the prompt for December 1st and get ready to share!
Convergence Conference 2023
What better way to kick off the school year then with high-quality, inspiring, professional development! Last spring, MAETL reached out to various ed tech committees across Canada who were doing similar work to our organization and, through this outreach, we connected with ATLE out of Alberta. Our friendship was solidified when they sent a fantastic group out to the Riding the Wave conference in Gimli in May and it was decided then and there that we could reciprocate a visit to their Convergence conference in October. Myself and Troy Sigvaldason (MAETL VP and IT-extraordinaire) are taking in the conference, as… 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
TikTok Accounts for You To Follow
The following is a list of TikTok accounts that can be used to share curricular content and expand your PLN. This list will be a working post that is updated as new accounts are found. Not every video on these accounts may be a good fit for your programming. Some creators are using their accounts for multi-purpose so you may need to search to find their educational content. Hashtags and playlists may assist with streamlining their content. Inclusion on this list does not necessarily mean support; screening and professional judgement needs to occur before utilizing these accounts in your practice.… Read More
WOW Wednesday – Gilbert Plains Collegiate
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 am pleased to highlight the community at Gilbert Plains Collegiate who recently hosted a presentation from Valerie Caldwell on the topic of Social Media Safety. (see poster below for full presentation details) If you have not yet had an opportunity to attend one of these sessions, the following context can shed light on the presentation:… Read More
Teach and Learn in a Digital World 2023
I’m kicking off my Spring Break with a roadtrip to Regina to take in the Teach & Learn in a Digital World Conference! Hosted by the University of Regina Faculty of Education, this 3-day hybrid event is designed to, “equip you with the knowledge, skills and confidence to implement digital skills in your classroom.” I am attending as both a participant and presenter and want to extend my thanks to Dr. Ehsan Akbari for asking me to join! The following post is a summary of my experiences: Masters of Makerspaces: Perspectives from Teachers in the Field “Join us for a… Read More
The Online Village
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
How Are Using Social Networks?
On Mondays I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. I went back and forth quite a bit on which quote to include this week. With the onset of #TweetTheHalls starting on Thursday I wanted something that spoke to the fact that the connections that can be made in the online space can be immensely valuable. Yes, Twitter is an example of a social network but it is so much more than just a place to share out posts and find resources. I joined Twitter in 2012 and I have befriended… Read More
Are You Part of the 33 Million?
On Mondays I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider. As we get closer to our first formal reporting period in Manitoba it is also an important time to reflect on the communication strategy you are utilizing at a school or classroom level. Schools are working to share their plans for parent-teacher conferences and important upcoming dates such as: report card deliveries meeting times winter concerts While traditional strategies such as school newsletters, student agendas, and email groups continue to be utilized. New additions such as social media can also play… Read More