In today’s episode we chat with Mark Uriarte and Tiffany Mackay a teacher and Instructional Coach at Champlain Trail PS.

This or That? iPad vs Chromebooks

As is becoming a theme with the discussions Emily and Nicole decide each has its role. iPad is still a go to for creative products while chromebooks gives access to the productivity tools for planning and collaboration through the Gsuite.

What’s New in EML?

Nicole shares her experience running a session at the Black History Month Celebration at CBO. The day kicked off with with some awesome performances and a keynote by Natasha Henry. Then students got to head to breakout sessions. Nicole’s session had students creating a website or clickable app prototype to showcase black inventors, historical figures, entertainers and more. Google sites makes it easy for learners to create sites with text, video and embedded content. Creating a clickable app prototype just involves, changing the page setup, adding shapes, images and text boxes and hyperlinking them between slides to simulate the navigation you’d want from an app.

Emily describes the conversations she has had around Google Sites for student created portfolios. Putting students in control of curating their learning. It can happen in different formats due to the flexibility of sites, and can be for single projects to show process, full courses, or follow an individual student long term across subjects and grades.

From the Interview

https://t.co/6uutS56PRb

— Melanie Mulcaster (@the_mulc) June 6, 2018

Try This!

Over the years elementary schools have received Lego Mindstorms EV3 robots. If you haven’t seen it before, find out if it is in use somewhere, or find where it is and dust it off. As you can see from the sumo tournament action above, these robots are small but mighty with motors, sensors and all kinds of pieces to design and code something awesome. Check out this video of an EV3 in action.

This week Emily sits down with Christian Stepien, a gr1/2 teacher and k-6 planning time with a modern learning focus at Plowman’s Park PS.

This or That?: Podcasting vs Video Production

Emily and Nicole discuss some of the differences in these two mediums, explaining you can have more involvement in a video than on a podcast because podcasting generally requires a smaller crew. The use of green screen, the need for props/costumes, stage direction, and more add layers and can provide more opportunities for collaboration with video projects. With that said, for the most part you can have the same success criteria and both mediums could allow students to show what they know.

What’s New in EML

Nicole describes her time with a grade 6 class introducing micro:bit as a part of the Let’s Talk Science – Living Space experience. Students enjoyed having success with a new tool for coding – They were already familiar with Scratch. Students coded a step counter that actually works, and added motivational messages, a clear counter command and more. Giving them time to explore openly also led to a cool discovery and a birthday acknowledgement!

Emily describes a visit with a Kindergarten team to talk documentation. They discussed focusing on learning goals to help narrow the focus of documentation so as not to be overwhelmed and how to track which students have more or less documentation so educators can direct attention towards learners who fly under the radar. Student use of technology through creation apps, is another way to collect documentation directly from student created products at an iPad centre. Having students be a part of documenting their learning while their young and open will hopefully become habit so that as they get older they continue to share and reflect on their learning so the assessment process can include them. Digital portfolio options are many, and there is a new kid on the block in the form of Brightspace Portfolios from D2L. This K-12 portfolio has the potential to remain with students throughout their schooling.

From The Interview

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Our @PlowmansPS2016 “PandaCast” for February is now online! You can view it on Plowman’s Park TV at https://t.co/54xJl1ZE22 or directly on YouTube at https://t.co/rtFfMax1hy pic.twitter.com/ylnOmjDIqy

— Plowman’s Park LLC (@PlowmansLLC) February 1, 2019

Try This

A digital breakout is a learning experience where students explore links and resources in order to solve puzzles or find various codes. They input the codes into a form that employs data validation so learners can’t move on without having the correct code. Here is an example.

In today’s episode we sit down with Susie Ellis, Instructional Coach and “Self-Regger” to discuss the role self regulation plays in teaching and learning.

This or That? Virtual Field Trips vs Virtual Guest Speakers

Emily is introduced to Exploring by the Seat of your Pants as a way to bring in extraordinary guest speakers. We discuss how the experience might compare to virtual field trips like those offered through Google Expeditions.

What’s New in EML?

Nicole shares her recent experience facilitating a carousel session at a staff meeting. More and more administrators are providing differentiated learning for their staff rather than the one size fits all sit and get staff meetings we traditionally see.

Emily shares the #Peel21st #TipsinTwo video resources that are produced by the MLRTs on a weekly basis. They can be accessed from the EML Resource Page for Educators or in this Twitter Moments collection.

From the Interview

Self-reg.ca

The MEHRIT Centre Twitter

The MEHRIT Centre Blog

Susie’s Self Reg Resource Page (To be linked shortly)

Try This

Bring in current events or news stories into the classroom. Check out newseum.org or Kiosko.net for front pages from around the world.

In this week’s episode we chat social justice, culturally responsive and relevant pedagogy and equity with grade 8 teacher Zohrin Mawji and a few students in her class.

This or That Online Coding vs Robot Coding?

Nicole and Emily struggled with a definitive answer on this one, explaining how robots give students immediate concrete feedback on their code, but that online apps like Scratch can actually be more versatile. Also, many robots can now be used with Scratch so you can have the best of both worlds! Whether online or with robots there are many options for coding at different levels for different grades and different complexities. We mention Scratch, MicroBit, Lego Mindstorms, Sphero, Dash & Dot, and vex robotics. Bottom line: there are lots of considerations to make when choosing how students may be introduced to coding, right down to their personality.

What’s New in EML?

Nicole shares a discussion she had with a secondary principal and teacher librarian about adding or upgrading different learning spaces in the school. The conversation was not a “we want a makerspace” conversation but rather, what might the process be for determining what spaces would best suite the needs of students and teachers for the type of learning we would like to see. A teacher/student committee is being created to survey the school, take a look at innovative spaces that already exist in Peel schools and some post secondary institutions and then to put forward a proposal.

Emily shares her experience working with a grade 3 teacher who reached out wanting to try something knew. They settled on trying Dash Robots. After a quick tutorial going over the major functions of the Dash, students got a chance to play around for a half hour before a nutrition break. During that time Emily and the teacher co-planned how the Dash could be used as part of an activity related to perimeter. Students taped down shapes, coded dash along the perimeter making note of the distance, and took pictures to document their learning along the way. Afterward students used PicKids to mark up their images, and add text.

From the interview

Inspired by ⁦⁦@LindaMRief⁩ 8A ⁦@JamesGrievePS⁩ spent the morning participating in a writing memorial to honour victims of the #December6th massacre. In silence, they paused to read each victim’s story & wrote from their hearts. To all 14 women ⁦@PeelSchools⁩ pic.twitter.com/sDepKaI2pQ

— Zohrin Mawji (@ZohrinM) December 6, 2018

The Secret Life of Canada Podcast

The Future We Want (Peel Intranet Site)

Equity and Inclusive Education Resources (Peel Intranet Site)

Putting Faces on the Data – Michael Fullan

Transformational Practices 2.0

The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas

Try this!

Make global connections. Bring in current events from around the world, or connect your class to others on Twitter.

This week we resume our conversations with Phil Dodson and Gwen Reitemeier. 

This or That? Edcamp vs Traditional PD

Jim joined us and shared why he enjoys the Edcamp model over more traditional PD. It all comes down to choice and just in time learning. Emily argues that there is still a place for regular PD as well.

What’s New in EML?

Nicole shared an experience helping a group of grade 3s get started with green screen for a trip to various structures around the world. What she hadn’t anticipated was the chance to show a student how to get started with Stop Motion Studio and seeing what he would create in only a few minutes. He was ready to be an expert and share his new knowledge with the class.

Emily described her fun day at the Hackergal event put on by Melanie Mulcaster and Matt Arduini of Hillside PS and Clarkson SS respectively. A kickoff by CIO Adam Hughes The girls involved worked through challenges and coded in python.

Not to worry, the boys weren’t left out. They explored MicroBit with Fair Chance Learning and InkSmith and did some designed and built some windmills with the help of Michael Pryce.

A wonderful day with @hillsideTwolves. @jaiswalPDSB @Adrian_T_Graham @imAdamHughes @the_mulc @MattArduini @oddbyname Thank you for the invite! pic.twitter.com/mNa2hYvf2u

— Emily Farkas (@EmiFarkas) December 12, 2018

Thank you for sharing and learning with us. It was a great day @thehackergals @hillsideTwolves @clarksoncharger @imAdamHughes @Adrian_T_Graham @EmiFarkas @FCLEdu @InkSmith3D #peel21st #peeleml pic.twitter.com/7d1B5i5XRP

— Melanie Mulcaster (@the_mulc) December 12, 2018

From the Interview

Peel Aboriginal Network – Indigenous Friendship Centre

Try This!

Jim introduced us to a chrome extension called Insert Learning, which allows you to add instructional content into webpages and attach it as an assignment in Google Classroom.

We’re taking time off for the winter break, but will be right back at it January 9th.

In this episode we chatted with Phillip Dodson, principal of Ray Underhill PS. Later, we were joined by teacher Gwen Reitemeier and a couple of grade 5 students as they discuss how their experiences with Indigenous education has created a stronger sense of community in the school. 

This or That? Real Tree or Fake Tree?

What’s New in EML?

EML Teacher Leaders from across the board have been gathering for PD over the past two weeks. We reflected on how the open format beginning with provocations in the morning and an EdCamp style event in the afternoon provided these teachers with opportunities to share and learn from each other. If you aren’t quite sure what an EdCamp is check out the EdCamp site for more info. It is a great way to leverage the expertise of those in the room and to allow participants to drive the learning in the direction they need.

Day 2 at the Royal Ambassador with amazing Teacher Leaders who have impressed us with their passionate engagement in discussions. #Peel21st pic.twitter.com/2JH3yarIaN

— Emily Farkas (@EmiFarkas) December 6, 2018

So much learning this morning at #PeelEML #peel21st @eagleplainsps Can't wait to get back & share @JaySugunan @aprilanne122 pic.twitter.com/mcQiRnsSgM

— Colleen Hartman (@MmeHartman) December 6, 2018

From the Interview

Spirit Point Campground Aboriginal Awareness/Training Program

Peel Restorative Practices Resource Page  (PDSB Intranet only)

The Gifts of the Seven Grandfathers

Note: The interviews were so rich, that we have enough for a second episode, check out The Guardian Part 2 next week.