Cdn EdWire: “Respecting Differences Clubs” = Gay-Straight Alliances

Gay-straight alliances become Respecting Differences clubs – Toronto Star

Catholic schools fail to support gay students with their new club policy – Toronto Star

Gay-straight alliances become Respecting Differences clubs – Toronto Star

Catholic schools fail to support gay students with their new club policy – Toronto Star

Photo by: jglsongs http://www.flickr.com/photos/jglsongs/2624138083/

OTHER NEWS

Boutique schools: elitist or evocative? – Globe and Mail

Alternative classrooms may not be as inclusive as they claim to be – National Post

Regina Catholic Schools trying to close the gap in learning – Regina Leader Post

 Funding initiative allows for greater use of technology in Catholic schools – Calgary Herald

P.E.I. teaching job fair killed due to lack of interest – CBC PEI
No job fair planned as school boards show little interest

Education minister hints at more funding cuts – CBC NS

Nova Scotia changing school curriculum – CBC NS

Teens have lots to learn after sexual photo goes viral – Toronto Star

B.C. has over-abundance of teachers, education minister warns – Vancouver Sun

Attentive kindergarteners grow up to be better workers: study – Globe and Mail

First Nations school can’t afford to pay its teachers – Globe and Mail

Funding Boost for BC First Nations Schools Called ‘Huge’ – The Tyee
New agreement puts funding on par with public schools, but questions of jurisdiction remain.

Complexity of First Nations education problems begs creative solutions – Canadian Press

INTERNATIONAL

Canada tops list of the most-educated countries – MSNBC

What You (Really) Need to Know – NY Times

EDUBLOG HIGHLIGHTS

You Can’t Buy Change – Remote Access
Change is not a product that you can simply throw money at. Change is not a new set of classroom ipads, or ipods, or Smart boards, or cameras. Change is built on practice and research. Change is built on what actually takes place in classrooms. Change is a process that grows, is cyclical and needs to be supported (or squashed). Change certainly requires us to look at the tools we use in our classrooms, but it can’t stop there. That is too simplistic. Change requires us to deeply examine our pedagogy. It requires us to reexamine our curricula and find ways to construct meaningful experiences and inquiries with our students. To change we must examine what counts as knowledge in our classrooms and think about how our assessments reach into those depths to look for evidence of achievement.…(Read more)

Bring Your Own Technology – And Thinking About Equity – Culture of Yes
One of the points raised in the BC Education Plan under Learning with Technology is “The Province will promote the use of technology for both students and educators.”  So, why does the BC Education Plan want to promote the use of technology?  Technology is only the device;  it is access to the benefits of a digitized world where everything is amplified that is the greater goal.  For many, this part of the education plan speaks to moving to one-to-one opportunities.  In the feedback I have seen around this, many have raised concerns over equity, and how one-to-one might further divide our students into have and have-nots, and while most believe technology can help overcome barriers of access and geography, we need to ensure there is some baseline. While it plays out as ‘technology’, what so many want for their children is the benefits of digital learning — relevant, connected, unlimited.

So, given that it seems unlikely that all students will be provided with a similar device (as was done in Maine and has been done in specific grades in BC at different times), what might a model look like that embraces personally owned devices, but would also tackle the issue of equity for all?...Read more

We Know Better… – At the Principal’s Office
One has to ponder the question “why,” on many occasions.  A recent “why” has come to me this month as January is the mid-term point of the school year and most high schools are in the midst of exams that mark the end of term one.  “Finals” as they are called run for three weeks.  Three weeks of no classes, and no learning.  When we know better, why do we do this?  Why do we persist in this practice? 

The ironic part is we know better.  We know that high stakes, final exams that provide no opportunity for feedback or further learning are not representative of a student’s knowledge or understanding, and do nothing to further a student’s knowledge or understanding which is arguably the point of school...Read more

Roll Down the Windows – The Clever Sheep
How do we best introduce teachers to the test pilots among us who are creating and sharing a new vision for education?  My number one suggestion, is to invite your co-workers to roll down the windows in order to get a sense of what’s happening in connected classrooms around the corner, and around the world. It’s easier than you might think.

You don’t have to share a new teaching strategy.
You don’t have to impress with the latest gadgets or web tools.
You don’t have to coach the development of personal learning networks.
You don’t have to introduce Twitter, or hashtags, or social media. 
You don’t need to teach about curation or subscriptions.

Begin by rolling the window down just a crack, and your colleagues can experience a world of continuous learning. Here are just a few ways to introduce your fellow teachers to people and ideas that inspire…Read more

Meet the Expert(s)

Max Cooke

CEO

Max Cooke is the CEO of the EdCan Network.

Max Cooke est le directeur général du Réseau ÉdCan.

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