Teaching in a Fishbowl

Tech Tips for Attending an Online Conference - #ISTEsla20 Prep

2020-07-07T14:59:00.000-05:00

At the start of June I posted about this summer's ISTE Summer Learning Academy being held from July 13-31. The countdown is now on and with the sessions starting next week I wanted to share some of my tips and tricks for attending an online conference.

ISTE Summer Learning Academy Social Media Graphic. (2020).
Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at:
http://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

My first expeirence with online conferences was 8 years ago when I began tuning into EduCon that streamed out of Philadelphia. I attended via their virtual options for two years and later became even more familiar with online professional development as I completed my M.Ed via distance.

Through these expierences I have picked up on some "tips and tricks" which I feel helps make participation in these learning environments easier and helps to ensure participants get the most out of their PD.

1 ) Get on Twitter/Get Your Tweets Organized
- If you are not on Twitter, make yourself an account and get familiar with hashtags! Here is a prep guide if you are a beginner
- Figure out the hashtags for your specific sessions (if they have one). The official hashtag is #ISTEsla20
- Determine if you will be using tools like TweetDeck or not, which is an organizational tool (personal preference).
* Twitter is not mandatory to participate in but it definitely opens up more learning experiences for you :)

2 ) Clear Your Schedule!
- Let people know you are at a conference (it doesn't matter that you are in your PJs while doing it). Twitter conversations and live streams go so quickly and it can be easy to miss something if you are chatting on the phone, having people drop in, etc.
- Devote the same attention to it as you would an in-person conference, this will ensure you get the most out of the sessions you are participating in

3 ) Get Organized!
- I'm the kind of person that needs to take notes as I go in order to retain information so get you device/paper and pens/word document ready!
* If you are taking notes on your computer, save as you go! If your network is anything like mine, once you have live stream, twitter and a word document open it may freeze.

4 ) Get Familiar With the Platforms!
- ISTE has sent out their introductory email to registered participants (check your spam/junk folder if you can't find it) with all of the need-to-know information to get started.
- I am pleased to see that they will be using the BrightSpace platform to deliver their content as this is the platform MB Ed has implemented as a replacement to the BlackBoard platform used for distance learning at the High School level; this is a great opportunity to see the platform from the "learner" view.
- You can also download the BrightSpace app (Pulse) for access on-the-go!

5 ) Give Yourself Time! Have Fun
- There is so much information available during this time and it can get chaotic if you are trying to participate in Twitter conversations while taking notes, while eating an sandwich, etc. Conference material is available for review until the fall so take a break and come back when you're ready.
- You know yourself best so only participate in as many sessions as you can handle. Give yourself enough time to participate in meaningful Twitter and community conversations so you can really get the most out of the experience.

Let me know if you will be participating in #ISTEsla20 I'm trying to set up conversations with those in my current PLN!

ICT Team Overview

2020-06-30T15:16:00.001-05:00

Today marks the formal completion of my first year as Coordinator of ICT in Mountain View School Division. What year to make this shift! I had A LOT of hesitancy about leaving the classroom environment as I loved my Ste Rose family and was already missing "my kids" (Grs 7-12) while on maternity leave. With that being said, this is easily my dream position and couldn't be happier with this stage in my career.

Much of this positivity has stemmed from the fact that my ICT Team is amazing, like utterly fantastic. Any question I had about PowerSchool, equipment specs, device inventory, infrastructure capability, etc they knew the answer immediately or found it for me. They operated behind the scenes (reporting to work all through the pandemic) ensuring our network could support our remote learning and at-home work functionality. I don't know where I'd be without these individuals!

I put together a brief overview of some of our big projects in 2019/2020 which I'll share below. You can select the white arrow on the right-hand side of the post to scroll through a series of photos.

View this post on Instagram

I don’t know where I would be without our amazing ICT Team. They boast a combined 80+ years of experience & it shows! This is just a limited overview of some of the goals we were able to achieve in 19/20. Thank you so much to our team; I can’t wait to see what we accomplish in 20/21. #mvsd_mb #edtech

A post shared by Kirsten Thompson - ICT (@thompsonclassroom) on Jun 30, 2020 at 9:59am PDT

#TechTipTuesday - Off For The Summer

2020-06-30T10:13:00.002-05:00

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.

Summer Holiday Tips. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: http://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

Today is the LAST day of the 2019/2020 school year in Manitoba and it was one for the history books! As we wrap up the year, and I wrap up our regularly scheduled posting calendar on our social media pages, I wanted to focus our last "Tech Tip" on summer holidays. Teachers tend to have their "teacher brain" on non-stop but if there was ever a time to step back from your job and take some time for yourself it would be this summer!

While we continue to operate within a pandemic-world we know that there are no guarentees. Any carefully developed plans we make for the 2020/2021 school year could change multiple times. In Manitoba we know that updated information affecting schools is scheduled to be shared on August 1st. With that in mind, I strongly encourage all staff to fully relax this July: don't think about your classroom, don't stress over "what ifs", don't develop full plans for options that we can't guarentee.. just relax.

I recommend turning on your automatic replies on your email indicating that you are in holiday. (I'll include a tutorial below for those who operate within Outlook)

If you previously had your work email on your Smart Phone or personal devices consider removing it for the summer. Alternatively, you can go into your settings and disable all notifcations for the summer.

Finally, engage in activities that bring you joy. That may be camping or outdoor activities, physical exercise, reading for pleasure, hobbies, or simply sleeping in or binging that TV series you have saved. Find something that works for you!

I'll continue to post with moderate frequency on the blog and social media over the summer months but for those that are "tuning out" until the fall; Happy Summer!

#MantraMonday

2020-06-29T14:14:00.001-05:00

Every Monday I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider.

This week's Mantra is:

Ed Tech Quote. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: http://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

Through the month of June I have been encouraging all staff to reflect on the learning opportunities awarded to them through the experience of Covid-19. (Some tools to facilitate this reflection include the Year End Tech Checklist & the Self-Reflection rubric). This increase in tech usage has fast-tracked the use of educational technology for many of our staff; our direct Office 365 stats show just how big of a jump this is.

Whether you consider yourself to be a "tech person" or not my hope would be that all staff have been introduced to some tech features/tools/practices that they would want to continue this use in their future practice. I also feel the need to advocate for the active preparation for the potential of another suspension of classes. In my mind, the continuation of tech practices would assist in the transition if our ability to offer face-to-face options were to change.

What is one feature/tools/practice that you want to continue moving forward? For me, I know that our ICT team will continue to utilize video meetings in an effort to reduce travel.

Covid-19 Podcast Discussions

2020-06-26T12:50:00.000-05:00

While the past four months have drastically cut down on my meeting and conference plans (still mourning the loss of ConnectED and Riding the Wave face-to-face events) it did signicantly increase my ability to converse with some amazing educators from across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. I consider myself pretty lucky to have some wonderfully creative educators in my social circle who are using podcasts to share, connect, and educate.

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and resulting suspension of classes, there has been a lot of conversations to be had when it comes to the impact this event is having on education as we know it. The following episodes provided an opportunity to discuss:
- how various MB school divisions responded to the suspension of classes
- our experiences reporting from home
- what tech inequalities are present and the impact they have on educational programming

I have linked to these conversations below and encourage you to listen and share your thoughts in the comment box below. Each of these podcasts are from MB content creators and it is well worth your time to check out the other episodes available in their queue.

Dial IT Up Episode 10 ManACE Covid-19 Discussion

Dial IT Up Apple Podcast Preview Screenshot. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: https://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

Shape of Education to Come - Covid Check-In 3: Kirsten Thompson

Shape of Education to Come Apple Podcast Preview Screenshot. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: https://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

BU CARES Research Connection Podcast - The "Tech Gap" & Covid-19

BU CARES Research Connection Apple Podcast Preview Screenshot. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: https://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

A BIG thank you goes out to Rennie, Mike, Devin, Michelle, & Jackie for inviting me onto your platforms!

Follow Friday

2020-06-26T09:57:00.001-05:00

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.

This week I would like to highlight Brittany Washburn, an M.Ed graudate with a focus on technology education. As someone who has a middle school and high school background I appreciate Brittany's perspective on introducing early years learners to technology. Her social media feeds also share several tech tips that are designed to make the use of technology easier and more accessible to both students and teachers.

Follow Friday Brittany Washburn. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: https://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

Brittany can be found online at the following links:
- Technology Teaching Resources website
- Facebook
- Instagram
- Twitter
- Pinterest

Student Data - ICT Considerations

2020-06-25T16:46:00.000-05:00

As we reach the conclusion of the school year I am fielding many requests related to student data and the use of online tools.

Understanding how data about our students' is collected, stored, and shared is an ongoing priority but is especially relevant this year when the introduction of many online tools (including our online learning platforms) progressed rapidly and without the opportunity for detailed staff education.

In an effort to provide clarification on the many levels of student data legislation and guidelines I have put together the following document that outlines the ICT Considerations of our governing student data documents. This document is designed to be a "living document" that will continue to be updated based on further information and clarification as to the use of online tools and their implications on student data.

Introduction

The collection of student data within Manitoba schools refers to the, “entire collection or repository or information and documentation compiled or obtained by the staff or a school or school division... relating to the education of the students” (2012, Manitoba Pupil File Guideline, pg. 1).

While this is traditionally referred to as the formal “Cumulative Folder” it also encompasses any and all data collection used to compile the data that is later summarized within the “Cumulative Folder”. This is sometimes referred to as the “working files” (2012, Manitoba Pupil File Guideline, pg. 39). Both physical and electronic tools to compile and store student data are subject to the following privacy and security guidelines. All student data is subject to the stipulations outlined in the Manitoba Schools Act.

Mountain View School Division Procedures

Each school division develops and adopts their own administrative procedures related to student records, confidential information, and information communication technology (ICT). The following outlines MVSD procedures as it relates to the use of electronic tools.

Section A – School Administration – Student Records

B. Responsibility

The responsibility of the Pupil File is subject to the following conditions:

o The division retains the custody and control of all recorded information that it generates or receives about the student

o Any record that any employee initiates about the student during employment with Mountain View School Division is divisional property and therefore subject to access by the Division and/or subpoena by court of law

o A pupil file is subject to access and privacy provisions that apply to other personal information (FIPPA) and personal health information (PHIA) about any specific student

C. 2. Access to School Records – External

a. Mountain View School Division is responsible to ensure compliance with all requirements that govern access to information and protection of privacy, as that access applies to pupil files, irrespective of the source of the information

C. 6. Retention/Destruction of Pupil Files

The Division and/or its schools shall retain or destroy Pupil Files according to the retention and disposition guidelines established by Manitoba Education (Manitoba Pupil File Guidelines, revised edition of 2012.) Material culled from files must be destroyed in a manner that protects the privacy of the student.

Copies, duplicates, and drafts that are destroyed do not need to be documented. Other material that is no longer relevant and is destroyed should be documented and the documentation passed on to the principal to be kept on file.

Section A – School Administration – Acceptable Use Procedure, Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

A. Information and Communication Technology Guidelines

While using the Internet and/or communicating electronically at school it is expected that students and staff will:

2. Not reveal personal information about others, including their family name, address, picture, phone number and fax number (applies to both staff and students);

4. Be ultimately responsible for their actions in accessing ICT;

5. Respect the rights and privacy of other users of ICT;

11. When using personal electronic communication devices, whether in school or elsewhere, it is expected this will occur in a manner which is respectful, safe, and legal.

12. Accept consequences of inappropriate use of technology.

B. Mountain View School Division’s Rights and Responsibilities

1. Mountain View School Division reserves the right to monitor all activities involved in the use of computer technology.

3. Mountain View School Division reserves the right to deny access of computer technology to any individual who violates these procedures.

Manitoba Teachers’ Society (MTS) Code of Professional Practice

“One of the responsibilities of all public school teachers in the province is adherence to the Code of Professional Practice. The Code of Professional Practice establishes the required standards of conduct for all members of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society, whether acting in an employed position under a Collective Agreement, or acting in an appointed or elected position. A member’s professional behaviour must reflect the spirit as well as the letter of the Code.”

The following outlines the MTS Code of Professional Practice as it relates to data collection:

1. A Member’s first professional responsibility is to the Member’s students;

2. Member acts with integrity and diligence in carrying out professional responsibilities;

5. A Member respects the confidential nature of information concerning students and may give the information only to authorized personnel or agencies directly concerned with the individual student’s welfare;

Information Included in FIPPA & PHIA

The office of the Manitoba Ombudsman has confirmed, “Under FIPPA and PHIA, public bodies must ensure that personal information and personal health information is appropriately collected, used, disclosed, and destroyed in a manner that is consistent with the legislation. In order to ensure that the student information provided to these online companies will be protected, you may consider reviewing the company’s terms of service or privacy policy prior to entering into an arrangement. A review of these documents could assist you in determining how much student information the company collects, how they will use and store the information, whether they intend on disclosing the information to any third parties, and when and how it will destroy any personal information it may collect from your students. You may also want to consider whether the incorporation of these online tools are appropriate in relation to the school division’s current policies and procedures.”

Personal Health Information is rarely collected by individual educators but they regularly collect information covered under The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). This includes any records that collect:

Student names
Education results

Student emails
Personal views and opinions

MTS Guiding Principals for ICT Implementation

“Members should be protected against the risks inherent in the implementation of ICT in their schools and workplaces in respect of privacy, confidentiality and personal security. Appropriate training, safeguards, oversight and information should be provided on all aspects of ICT security protocol and conduct for all users.”

ICT is an ever-evolving field with many programs/tools providing automated updates to features that are often out of the control of users. Divisional ICT Teams are tasked with communicating information as it relates to appropriate use to Senior Admin and School Principals who are tasked with facilitating the capacity of their staff to understand how ICT affects their unique teaching scenario.

The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act

The PIPEDA looks at how information is collected, stored, and shared electronically and provides guidelines related to the privacy and security of such documents. At this time Manitoba does not require compliance with PIPEDA (although other provinces do) but it is considered good practice by organizations such as MAETL and ManACE to review the PIPEDA and adopt aspects that are manageable by individual organizations.

Resources for Further Learning

Government of Manitoba. (2020). FIPPA For Public Boards Resource Manual.

https://www.gov.mb.ca/fippa/public_bodies/resource_manual/index.html

Government of Manitoba. (2012). Manitoba Pupil File Guideline.

https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/docs/policy/mbpupil/mbpupil.pdf

Government of Manitoba. (2020). Manitoba Schools Act.

http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/p250e.php#42.1

Manitoba Teachers’ Society. (2017). Knowing the Code. MTS Code of Professional Practice.

https://www.mbteach.org/mtscms/2017/01/10/knowing-the-code/

Manitoba Teachers’ Society. (2020). MTS Guiding Principals for ICT Implementation.

http://www.mbteach.org/pdfs/broch/B-ICT_Implementation.pdf

Media Smarts. (2020). Young Canadians Speak Out: A Qualitative Research Project on Privacy

and Consent. https://mediasmarts.ca/sites/default/files/publication-report/full/report_young_canadians_speak_out.pdf

MVSD. (2013). MVSD Administrative Procedures – Student Records.

https://22.files.edl.io/759a/09/04/18/004118-780ec78e-aa39-431b-a32f-a3ffe3c61c0e.pdf

MVSD. (2015). MVSD Administrative Procedures – Acceptable Use Procedure, Information and

Communication Technology (ICT). https://22.files.edl.io/b68d/09/04/18/004114-7c44eea8-7309-4b39-8a74-7dba9fc14e6c.pdf

Office of the Privacy Commission of Canada. (2020). The Personal Information Protection and

Electronic Documents Act. https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/privacy-topics/privacy-laws-in-canada/the-personal-information-protection-and-electronic-documents-act-pipeda/

#WOWWednesday

2020-06-24T09:33:00.001-05:00

This week actually marks the LAST #WOWWednesday of the 2019/2020 school year! If you're looking for inspiration please check out the #WOWWednesday label on this blog to see the staff/projects I have highlighted in 2020 or view one of the social media accounts to scroll back and seel ALL of the posts from this school year.

Teams Usage Data. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: http://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

As we conclude this school year I think our data speaks for itself in regards to the incredible amount of work our staff put in to make tech work for them during the suspension of classes. As a Microsoft division as run the Office 365 suite and moved to the use of Teams as a way to connect with our colleagues as well as our students (depending on the Grade level).

As our situation evolved from a tentative suspension around the Spring Break to an indefinite suspension for the school year our use of technology increased. Our daily Teams users moved from an average of 60-70 pre-Covid to almost 1,200 at our peak. Through this entire situation our staff were flexible and focused with a continued dedication to the needs of learners.

This year was one for the history books; well done to everyone!

#TechTipTuesday - Archive Microsoft Teams

2020-06-23T09:16:00.001-05:00

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.

Archive Teams. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: http://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

Last week I shared our Year End Tech Checklist to assist our staff as they wrap up the 2019/20 school year. One of those tasks focused on the use of online learning platforms, specifically looking at what to do with these environments at the end of the school year. Following the use of these tools we are left with an environment that houses a lot of assignments, files, and written communication between class members.

The majority of school divisions have some type of archive policy where they are asked to keep their records for a set period of time (when I was in the classroom this was 3-years) and the online sphere would apply to this as well. The archival of online learning platforms also provides you with a template for future use and a space to come back to for future reference.

In MVSD our educators used either Class Dojo, SeeSaw, or Microsoft Teams for online delivery due to suspension of classes with Microsoft Teams being our "in house" platform as a Microsoft decision. As such, my support directly focused on how to archive Microsoft Teams.

The following video outlines the direct steps to archive this online learning platform:

Teams / Online Teaching Self Reflection

2020-06-18T15:22:00.000-05:00

As we wrap up this 2019/2020 school year still in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic I continue to encourage educators to carve out time to purposefully reflect on this experience as it relates to their use of online learning platforms:

- what worked and should continue

- what did not work and show be discontinued or modified

- what you need to learn more about to be successful

- what strengths you can share with colleagues

In my search for supports for our staff I came across The MOOBRIC which was originally designed for Moodle-users from the Avondale College of Higher Education (posted by Maria Northcote maria.northcote@avondale.edu.au). Full information about the development and use of the original “MOOBRIC” can be found HERE.

Inspired by this tool we provided some adaptations to make a rubric that was specific to the use of Microsoft Teams (as well as some divisional-specifics). This self-reflection is designed to guide thinking about the use of Microsoft Teams as an online learning platform between educators and their students or educators and their learning/staff groups.

I invite you to utilize this tool for your own self-reflection or continue to adapt to make it specific to your school division. Please continue to credit both the original MOOBRIC as well as MVSD.

#WOWWednesday

2020-06-17T13:02:00.000-05:00

This week I would like to highlight Jarrett who teaches at Goose Lake High in Roblin. Jarrett teaches both Math and Science courses and has been one of many reasons why G.L.H has been identified as our "Math Hub" for our video conference course delivery within the division. Jarrett independently chose to film his classes and has been posting them to YouTube for the past 4 years.

The result is a goldmine of hundreds of videos for Pre-Calc, Applied, Physics, and more. If you are a teacher with these on your curriculum list and are looking for supplementary material I would recommend checking out what his channel has to offer!

#TechTipTuesday - Year End Tech Checklist

2020-06-16T09:46:00.000-05:00

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.

Year End Tech Checklist. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: http://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

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 garbaging any unnecessary clutter that has accumulated, archiving and filing, revamping bulletin boards, and perhaps the beginning of an update to certain decor elements.

Guess what? This should be happening digitally as well; especially this year!

When I taught at Ste Rose our secretary would always provide staff with a detailed "Year End Checklist" that covered a variety of administrative and organizational tasks that needed to be accomplished in the month of June. This practice was so helpful to me as a classroom teacher because June is such a whirlwind of activities and this straight-forward list of clear expectations was the only way I would remember everything (especially as many of these tasks are "once a year" tasks that aren't always on your radar).

As I have moved into this role I used this practice as my inspiration to develop a Year End Tech Checklist for our staff. It is designed to ensure the effective and professional use of various ICT elements and support growth as we prepare for the 2020/2021 school year. It is important to note that not all checklist elements apply to each staff member depending on their position within the division but the primary focus of the checklist was focused on our teaching staff.

The checklist itself has each task hyperlinked which leads to a tutorial or video providing more information on how to complete the specific task. Some of these lead to outside sources of information while other resources were created by myself.

I will embed the checklist below. It is formatted in a way that 95% of the links should be accessible for view by any audience but there are particular items that do remain in-house and will only be viewable by MVSD staff members.

If you have any questions please reach out; good luch with your Year End Tech Checklist!

Follow Along with the MVSD Coordinator of ICT Journey - UPDATED

2020-06-15T21:14:00.000-05:00

Here is where you can follow along and keep up-to-date on whats happening in the MVSD ICT world! Posts shared via these platforms are designed to be educational and focus on the use of technology in the classroom.

INSTAGRAM

View this post on Instagram

#MantraMonday Need support in the implementation of technology into your practice? I’m here to help! #mvsd_mb

A post shared by Kirsten Thompson - ICT (@thompsonclassroom) on Sep 9, 2019 at 6:05am

TWITTER

Playing around with my new @arloonapps AR chemistry app! After learning about oxides & building an Iron Oxide model I was rewarded with this awesome AR version which coincidentally fit perfect on my son’s P.T placemat #mvsd_mb #AR #edtech https://t.co/kfrozZNwtv pic.twitter.com/xuyNEOlHWm
— Kirsten Thompson - Coordinator of ICT (@Thompsonclass) September 19, 2019

FACEBOOK

YOUTUBE

TIKTOK

#MantraMonday

2020-06-15T11:23:00.005-05:00

Every Monday I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider.

This week's Mantra is:

Ed Tech Quote. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: http://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

Teachers know and value the importance of lifelong learning; tech integration is a continual learning process. I encourage you to not see these past 4 months as your "on and done tech PD" and approach 2020/21 in the same way you have done in the past.

One thing that we have seen as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and suspension of face-to-face classes is an increased availability of tools and features of educational technology. Things changed fast in the ed tech world pre-Covid; now they are moving at lightning speed. I can pretty much guarentee that the tools you used over the past few months will have more/different features and new interfaces by the time we return in the fall.

Please know that I am here to support you in this learning journey! Starting tomorrow I will be sharing some resources that I hope will aid you in your understanding of tech integration as it relates to your position within education. Happy learning!

ISTE Summer Learning Academy - #ISTEsla20

2020-06-12T14:59:00.002-05:00

The International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE) has just announced that they will be hosting online summer PD for those educators interested in learning more about online pedagogy (for those teaching fully online or in a blended environment).

ISTE Summer Learning Academy Social Media Graphic. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: http://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

This is the first high quality, accessible PD that I have found on this topic that is focused on pedagogical theory as opposed to being company-specific. The course is also only $20 (USD)! Some highlights of the course include:

ISTE Summer Learning Academy Microcourses Overview Screenshot. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: http://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

Full course details, including registration links, are available on the ISTE Summer Learning Academy website.

I will be attending this PD and hope to use our "MVSD ICT PLC" Team to connect and share with other MVSD staff who are also participating. Will you be participating?

Distance Field Trips & Guest Speakers with SKYPE in the Classroom

2020-06-11T13:50:00.000-05:00

Although it isn't something I've included on the blog, every Thursday I use our social media pages to share a "Throwback Thursday" post. Sometimes these showcase how ed tech has evolved while others showcase previous posts from my social media feed.

This week I shared a post that I had originally published in 2017 from my Grade 10 Geography class. At the time we had been discussing the characteristics of different biomes and while experiencing those biomes first hand would have been ideal we were obviously limited to our geographical location. Our plan involved students:
- in small groups of their choosing
- using a combination of their own devices or our limited number of shared classroom devices
- experiencing a virtual 3D version of various biomes
- summarizing their learning and sharing with their peers

Using 360 degree videos to explore characteristics of biomes in Gr 10 Geo today #trsd32 #edtech #biomes pic.twitter.com/jM4Cu3fypR
— Kirsten Thompson - Coordinator of ICT (@Thompsonclass) February 22, 2017

Looking back on this post it made me think of the role these types of virtual experiences will play in the post-pandemic classroom. Right now there is no information available regarding what field trips will look like, what guest speakers are able to visit your school or even if the budget for these opportunities will continue to be available. Furthermore, we don't even know if our students will be with us face-to-face 100% of the time. I strongly believe that these types of virtual options will play a big role in programming moving forward; both due to health restrictions and budget.

It is my hope that our educators use the tools that are available to them, like SKYPE in the Classroom, to augment their students' experiences. This FREE online community/resource center houses ALL things related to Skype and how it can be used by educators/students. You will be able to access:

Virtual field trips
Skype lessons
Skype collaborations
Mystery Skype
Guest speakers

To learn more about this resource check out the video below:

>

You can also learn more about how to use this tool by participating in FREE online PD through the Microsoft Educator Community.

Introduction to Skype in the Classroom

"Skype in the Classroom is an online community that enables thousands of teachers to inspire the next generation of global citizens through transformative learning over Skype."

#WOWWednesday

2020-06-10T14:34:00.000-05:00

Every Wednesday 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'd like to highlight all of our staff who undertook technology-related professional development during the suspension of classes. This was an unprecedented time for everyone and I would like to commend our staff who purposefully chose to commit to their professional growth during this time.

As we are back in buildings one of my task-items was to develop and deliver the certificates to our staff members who completed their Microsoft PD virtually. I was thrilled to authenticate the modules and note that we know have over 200 teaching staff who are Microsoft Certified! This type of understanding strengthens the entire division as our staff are increasingly proficient in the way these tools can:
- limit the need for printing
- increase collaboration (staff-staff, staff-student, student-student)
- increase accessibility
- reduce geographical limitations
- increase organization

MVSD Microsoft Certfification. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: http://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

#TechTipTuesday - Lack of 1 to 1 Devices

2020-06-09T13:54:00.000-05:00

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.

1:1 Programming. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: http://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

Now that our educators are back in school buildings we have started conversations that touch on the 2020/21 school year (as much as you can without knowing what health recommendations will be during that time). One thing that I have heard a few times is that, "I would use tech more next year if I had more ____". In MVSD the amount of tech available in our buildings vary quite a bit in terms of what type of devices are available:
- desktops
- laptops
- iPads
- SamSung Tablets
In terms of physical quantity we have some schools who are able to offer 1:1 while some are closer to 1:3. However, how those devices are distributed and shared among staff in the building is up to each individual school. Some admin have their staff sign up for specific schedule slots, some have a specific amount of devices that are assigned for use in a particular classroom, while some have a "first come - first serve" approach. This autonomy in device organization can sometimes mean that the ratio our inventory indicates is not necessarily the ratio a staff member experiences.

However, I do not believe that the use of technology in a classroom is limited to having a 1:1 ratio available. I feel that the desire for 1:1 stems from the mindset that educators often want to substitute more traditional practices with tech options. In this case it would be large-group instruction or whole-class activity being substituted by an online version; thus a desire for each student to have their own device. My personal instructional preference is to actually build in project-based learning, group activities, and centers; which provide the perfect opportunity to make limited devices numbers work. When I was still in the classroom I wrote a few times highlighting different ways that I made tech one of our options while working with limited devices.

- Why I Replaced Myself With A Machine
- Introducing 3D Shapes
- Welcoming a New Set of Gr 8s to the Blogging World

What are your thoughts? Do you have 1:1 for your students or do you work around shared devices?

#MantraMonday

2020-06-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

Every Monday I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider.

This week's Mantra is:

Ed Tech Quote. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: http://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

Last week I encouraged us all to carve out some time to reflect on experience of distance instruction. For many of us, the suspension of classes led to the implementation of:

- new tech tools
- different content delivery practices
- different assessment methods
- new curation/organizational structures
- and much more!

One topic that I have had an opportunity to discuss and write about in the past is, "Why I Replaced Myself With a Machine". This concept was based on the work of Zhao who encourages educators to allow technology to fill a unique niche in their classroom environment so that they are freed up to complete those niche tasks that are unique to them. I think that for many of us the suspension of classes, and distance delivery of content, made it glaringly obvious what teaching components from your practice did not transfer well (or at all) via distance.

Moving forward it would be my hope that teachers are able to recognize the niche that technology can play in their unique teaching and learning environment. The niche of the teacher is one that is deeply centered on relationships and connections so if technology is able to alleviate some of their daily tasks then they can have more time to be one-on-one with their students that need them. For example, if teachers were to continue posting their assignments and handouts online then they would not have to worry about lost time when students forget their binder, misplace their copy, or are absent. I would also hope that this will bring about an increased flexibility for our learners who are unable to come into the classroom regularly, regardless of what that reason may be.

How do you see your classroom practices changing moving forward? Do you feel that there will be an increased use of purposeful technology in your practice?

#WOWWednesday

2020-06-03T13:57:00.002-05:00

Every Wednesday 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 would like to highlight Andrew who teaches at the Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School (DRCSS). Andrew is heavily involved in community outreach and plays an integral role in the school's band, choir, and theatrical programming. While the suspension of classes prevented his students from meeting face-to-face he eagerly took to tech tools to facilitate his classes' ability to connect and create. Aside from the obvious musical programming that he had to facilitate, this type of project also required:

- the review of social media/online posting protocol
- copyright compliance
- file formatting and sharing
- video/audio editing

This project was truly a group effort, from the recording of each individual track, to the editing. Great job to everyone involved!

#TechTipTuesday - Literacy with ICT

2020-06-02T14:43:00.001-05:00

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.

Literacy with ICT. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: http://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

Yesterday I encouraged our staff to purposefully carve out some time to reflect on their experience using online learning platforms. One thing that I am confident that will be brought up in many conversations is the fact that there is a disconnect between what educators assumed students would know how to use when it came to technology and what they actually knew.

Technology, like anything, is multi-facited and we naturally become more fluent and comfortable with the aspects that we use regularly. However, the research shows us that the relationship that many students have with technology is one centred on entertainment and communication (Wang et al., 2014, p. 656). Without experience using technology for education we cannot expect our students to seemlessly transition to online learning without guidance and support from us. If you feel that you need to purposefully infuse digital literacy skills with more frequency in the future then I highly recommend you check out our Manitoba Literacy with ICT (LwICT) continuum.

This is something I have wrote about extensively in the past,

"In Manitoba, the implementation of ICT content, including digital literacy, is outlined in the provincial document A Continuum Model for Literacy With ICT Across the Curriculum, which features a “holistic and pedagogy-focused approach” to ICT integration (Hoechsmann & DeWaard, 2015, p. 15). This document can assist school teams and individual teachers in their planning of grade/age-appropriate ICT tasks, how to include both literacy and citizenship aspects, and how to assess where students are developmentally. It not only identifies that students require a different set of literacies to thrive in the digital world, but also that students need to prepare to adapt to the ideas, attitudes and technologies that are ever-changing in the digital world (Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth, 2006, p. 7). In Manitoba, the incorporation of ICT elements has helped students learn at their own pace, assisted students who do not have access to at-home supports, allowed for more one-on-one time with teaching staff, and allowed parents to stay more involved in their child’s learning (Stephenson, 2013, p. 11). It is important to note that Manitoba does not have a separate curriculum dedicated to ICT but that it sees these skills as harmonious elements that need to be infused alongside pre-existing concepts (Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth, 2006, p. 9). As such, it is supported by seven guiding principles: (1) inquiry-based learning, (2) constructivist approach to implementation, (3) high-level critical thinking, (4) deep understanding of concepts, (5) gradual release of responsibility, (6) digital citizenship, and (7) multiple literacies (Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth, 2006, p. 11). By outlining ICT implementation as a continuum, Manitoba easily assists teachers in identifying students’ understanding and begin incorporation in a manner that suits their teaching style and comfort levels."

I have also highlighted some of the features of this resource in our Instagram and Facebook stories today!

If you are looking for more information about digital literacy, the role it plays in our society, and the integration of these skills in schools please view any of the following posts I've made over the years:
- Digital Literacy and the ICT Curriculum
- Philosophical & Cognitive Foundations of an ICT Curriculum
- Challenges in Developing Student Digital Literacy Skills
- Digital Literacies Chapter Review
- Building Your Digital Literacy Tickle Trunk
- The Four Critical Digital Skills We Are Failing to Teach Our Students
- Digital Literacy/Citizenship Skills That Students Need to Have

MVSD ICT Newsletter - June

2020-06-01T09:27:00.001-05:00

MVSD ICT Newsletter - June. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: http://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

#MantraMonday

2020-06-01T09:14:00.000-05:00

Every Monday I share a different ed tech quote on our Thompson Classroom social media pages for our staff to consider.

This week's Mantra is:

Ed Tech Quote. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: http://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

After 10 weeks, educators in Manitoba are beginning a return to school buildings this week. While this looks slightly different depending on your school division (you can read how MVSD is organizing this return), one similarity is that this shift will result in an increased access to your colleagues. I encourage you to carve out some time to not only self-reflect but to also meet with your colleagues (safely) to discuss the strengthes, challenges, and next steps around your use of online learning platforms.

It will still be quite some time before we can begin determing what instruction in the fall will look like but I want our staff to be as prepared as possible for a variety of formats: online instruction, a hybrid or mixed-schedule model, or a modified face-to-face. I am currently working to help develop supports for a variety of methods to assist our teachers in a shift from emergency remote-delivery to true online instruction; stay tuned!

Shared Device Health Recommendations

2020-05-29T11:58:00.001-05:00

As we prepare for a gradual return to our school and office buildings I wanted to highlight health recommendations in regards to the use of shared devices in our buildings. This includes, but is not limited to:

stationary desktop workspaces in common areas
student laptops/netbooks
student tablets
interactive whiteboards
shared photocopiers/printers
any other "high touch" shared tech tool

If you'd like to check out one of my earlier posts on How To Disinfect Your Tech you can view it HERE.

View this post on Instagram

The health & safety of our students, staff & #mvsd_mb community is of the utmost importance. We also want to make sure your devices continue to function as expected. Please review the following health recommendations regarding the use of shared devices in our buildings. Thank you!

A post shared by Kirsten Thompson - ICT (@thompsonclassroom) on May 29, 2020 at 9:28am PDT

The following documents were shared in MVSD to help ensure the safety of our personnel and the performance of our equipment:

Shared Device Health Recommendations. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: https://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

I think it is important to note that all devices have their own unique cleaning recommendations. I encourage you to do some research for your specific brand and model to ensure any cleaning does not interfere with the performance of your device(s).

Follow Friday

2020-05-29T10:09:00.000-05:00

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.

This week I would like to highlight a community of Manitoba educators who have been sharing and learning together on Twitter using the hashtag #MBEdChat The brainchild of Zoe Bettess in Thompson, this hashtag has 7 years of archives sharing information,inspiring discussions, and helpful links from MB educators from across the province.

Follow Friday #MBEDCHAT. (2020). Uploaded by Kirsten Thompson. Available online at: https://fishbowlteaching.blogspot.com/

The #mbedchat community has evolved a lot over the years. While they have currently suspended their formalized Q & A discussions there continues to be a robust offering of tweets in the hastag from MB educators looking to share and connect. Due to the continued community support, and increasing need, Zoe recently announced that the formal Q & A component of this hashtag is slated to return in the fall! In the meantime I invite you to check out #mbedchat or visit their original website to view their archives.

If you are looking for more information about Twitter as a social media platform and how to participate in a Twitter Chat please view any of the following posts that I've made over the years:

- Are You Using Twitter Chats?

- Twitter... 2 Years Later

- John Evans: The PLC Mindset

- Twitter... 1 Year Later

- Digital Identity: The Big Bad Web & Why It Needs You

- Welcome to Twitter