In early February, I received an unsolicited phone call from a student in the Library and Information Technology program at Langara College. She inquired about the possibility of completing her mandatory ten-day school library practicum at our school library.Now, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I was initially shocked, and then flattered. I … Continue reading The Library Technologist Gets It! →

Isabella Oleschuck, a Grade 7 students at Amity Middle School, ran away from home last Sunday because, she told her parents, she was stressed out about taking the Connecticut Mastery Tests.Hmmmm...I'm willing to bet that Isabella isn't alone in her fears of standardized tests and the immense pressure from both parents, schools, and affects on … Continue reading Who could blame her? →

This slideshow is courtesty of Sandy Hirtz, moderator and founder of the Community of Expertise in Educational Technology, and it is a great introduction for teachers beginning to utilize Moodle more intimately in a blended learning sort of environment.Moodle Do's and Moodle Don'ts http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=goodbadugly-110324141256-phpapp01&stripped_title=moodle-dos-and-moodle-donts&userName=shirtz View more presentations from shirtz

Yesterday, Facebook announced new tools in the fight to reduce online bullying through its platform. Essentially, a two prong approach that involves using a combination of a safety education centre and enabling capabilities for reporting bullying or offensive content. Here's a couple of the newly added features: These are the first big changes to its 'Safety … Continue reading Facebook Steps Up the Anti-Bullying Campaign →

The nominations for British Columbia's very own awards for literature, the 2011 BC Book Prizes, have been announced. And I'm really, really excited to see that one of my favourite CBC personalities (and rock god), Grant Lawrence, has received recognition for his first book Adventures in Solitude: What Not to Wear to a Nude Potluck … Continue reading My CBC Fave Nominated for Two BC Book Prizes →

As usual, I am indebted to my colleague Tamara Malloff at Mt. Sentinel Secondary for posting this TEDxABS talk on the SD8 Professional network yesterday. I am also thankful for her inspiration and forward-thinking approach about what 21st century learning will look like for both students and teachers.Here's Dr. Helen Barrett, the grandmother of electronic … Continue reading ePortfolios: Documenting Our Changing Relationships and Digital Environments →

Our freedom to read whatever we want as Canadians is protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. L.V. Rogers Secondary School celebrated Freedom to Read Week at the end of February by sponsoring a student photo contest. The theme? "My freedom to read whatever I want is..."The 2011 photo contest finalists:http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649And the most read 'challenged' book … Continue reading L.V. Rogers Secondary Celebrates Freedom to Read Week →

How Social Networks Spread Eating DisordersI suppose that it was only a matter of time before Facebook would be held accountable for enhancing the spread of one of the harshest, most relentless societal-driven illnesses today: eating disorders.Recent research has shown that body image impressions can be transmitted, like a virus, through a social network to … Continue reading A Sad Relationship: Facebook & Anorexia →

Hmmm...ponder with me for a moment:What if Doctors were Treated like Teachers?Thomas Baker, an American educator for over twenty years, eloquently frames the mindset that, some might argue, plagues not only educators, but anyone else who considers themself a teacher or instructor or community youth worker: justify your value.For as long as I can remember, I have always worked with kids: … Continue reading Not All Teachers Are Created as Doctors…? →

BCTF researcher, Charlie Naylor, released the long-awaited 21st Century Learning Discussion Paper last month. The paper itself is being touted an avenue for much needed discussion among educators in the province about the shape of education. And while the paper admonishes the government for failing to hold these conversations over a decade ago, it does offer much … Continue reading BCTF 21st Century Learning Discussion Paper →