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. In MVSD we use PowerSchool as our Student Information System (SIS). This means that this platform is the go-to program for our staff when it comes to student records, assessment reporting, daily attendance, etc. There are many different elements of the program that are applicable depending on your role within the division. While this means that all stakeholders have easy access to the information that is needed for their position, it can also make PD… Read More
#TechTipTuesday – Summer Holiday Tech Prep
On Tuesdays, 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. It is the LAST week of our End-of-Year Checklist series. If you are jumping in now, you can check out the previous posts: Here in MVSD, the remaining items on our formal checklist are almost exclusively internal reminders for our staff. These include things like what to do with their devices if they are heading into a leave of absence (LOA) or changing roles, how building renovation schedules may affect tech access/storage in their spaces,… Read More
End-of-Year Checklist – Part 3 – Social Media
On Tuesdays, 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. It is week two of our End-of-Year Checklist series. If you are just jumping in now, you can check out the previous posts: This week we are focused on social media, specifically the professional accounts that represent our schools/classroom/and extracurricular programs. In our division, we have over 60 accounts sharing via social media platforms (learn more HERE). Check out the video below for further information:
End-of-Year Checklist – Part 2 – Organization
On Tuesdays, 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. It is week two of our End-of-Year Checklist series. If you missed Week 1, check back to THIS POST to get the background information about this project and learn about Learning Management Systems. This week we are focused on Digital File Organization, including our MVSD Outlook email and any digital files that we use in our role. Check out the video below for further information:
End-of-Year Checklist – Part 1 – LMS
On Tuesdays, 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. The end of the school year means a very standard routine for educators: time to clean out your classroom! For many of us this includes removal of any unnecessary clutter that has accumulated, archiving and filing, furniture movements, revamping bulletin boards, and perhaps the beginning of an update to certain decor elements. Guess what? This should be happening digitally as well; especially with the increased use of digital tools/files! When I taught at Ste Rose our secretary… Read More
#TechTipTuesday – Device Norms
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. Today I wanted to share one strategy that I have been implementing to help guide people in the use of their personal devices. As the “cell phone debate” continues at many levels, I strongly believe that: To assist with this, I have begun implementing a “device norm” conversation into the PD sessions that I facilitate. This conversation, based on the work of Dr. James Lang, serves multiple purposes. It can: To learn more, check out… Read More
#TechTipTuesday – MAETL STEAM Library
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. One of the most challenging barriers when it comes to technology integration for educators is access to resources. In almost all scenarios, classroom teachers do not have a lot (or any) say over their budget and while buying things out-of-pocket is a reality for many educators, tech tools are often cost-prohibitive. However, the budget restraints affect individual schools and school divisions as well; especially for niche tech items that aren’t part of “daily” use. This… Read More
#TechTipTuesday – CyberSafe Privacy Prodigy
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. May 6-10 marks Privacy Awareness Week (PAW) which is an annual event to raise awareness within the public sector and the broader community about the importance of protecting and respecting personal information. If you are curious about how to approach this topic with students, I recommend the Mincraft EDU module: CyberSafe – Privacy Prodigy! This module covers the following skills: Keep login information private Discuss real-world cybersecurity problems and how personal information can be protected. Explain how physical… Read More
#TechTipTuesday – Manito Ahbee Aki
On Tuesdays, 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. Launched in 2022, the Manito Ahbee Aki program is a world within Minecraft that was developed in conjunction with the Louis Riel School Division Indigenous Education team. This world takes place in Manitoba, prior to European colonization, and features three core lessons: Phase 1: Explore Manito Ahbee Aki Phase 2: Travel to Manito Ahbee (Petroforms) and Gather and Craft Phase 3: Design a Community and Establish Food Sovereignty In their own words, Manito Ahbee Aki… Read More
#TechTipTuesday – Convert Documents to Presentations
On Tuesdays, 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. One thing that I always struggled with in the classroom was student PowerPoint presentations. When offered the option of how students want to share their learning with others it was often a PowerPoint. Now don’t get me wrong, there is nothing inherently wrong with a PowerPoint; for many students it is a comfort medium. However, there are always those students who could spend WEEKS of class time on the design of the slides and not… Read More