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In this jam packed episode, the new Coordinating Principal of Modern Learning Luke Mahoney steps in to co-host with Emily, and Nicole chats with grade 5 Reema Khithani, teacher candidate Jenna Marinucci and a couple of students.

This or That? Traditional desks or standing workstations?

Luke and Emily debate the merits of both of these seating options. As always choice is important, but making the right choice for the purpose or need at the time. Flexible seating doesn’t have to cost a thing.

What’s New In EML

Luke dishes on his visit to the Google Canada head offices. He describes the balance between planning for comfort and enjoyment and efficiency. Noting that for Google the bottom line is still productivity, and creating the conditions under which their staff can do their most creative, collaborative and innovative at work. See for yourself:

Emily shares some of the great things going on at the Field Centre with Rob Ridley including his cool new parabolic mic. Capture the sounds of nature and then layer on your own music in Audacity or GarageBand to create your own mindfulness soundscapes.

From the Interview

Using #accountabletalk while learning about different #Indigenous communities. Ss learned about the technologies used, used inferencing to determine the use of artifacts, the & how they used and valued their environment (thanks Miss Marinucci!) #unlearn #inquiry #collaborate pic.twitter.com/FOvUafzp6r

— Reema R Khithani (@bereemarkable77) March 8, 2019

It’s not about it being punitive, but building genuine relationships Ss in 5A are SO understanding and empathetic. They ask questions before assigning blame & come from a place of empathy & ask for what they need to repair hurt. Powerful ways to teach our ss to resolve conflict https://t.co/hBoDUpzRZu

— Reema R Khithani (@bereemarkable77) March 27, 2019

#cocreating #successcriteria using the #bigideas and #learninggoals for #equitable & #inclusive #assessment processes #assesspeel. Ss #engaged in using #accountabletalk to agree, disagree, explain their thinking, reasoning and proving their explanations #mathprocesses #edugains pic.twitter.com/QuWxOIJo1l

— Reema R Khithani (@bereemarkable77) February 20, 2019

#MondayMorningCommunityCircle. When students say that they love being in this class bc “I feel safe”, “I have fun learning” “it feels like a family”. Almost the whole class is here today even though buses are cancelled! #lifelonglearner #community #relationships pic.twitter.com/jT586GJHqg

— Reema R Khithani (@bereemarkable77) January 28, 2019

Try This! Word Association

See how your colleagues or students associate EML terms with a quick game of word association. OR try it with another topic. It can make a fun get to know you activity, or help to surface connections between ideas and students own schema.

This week we get to hear the great things Ruthie Sloan is doing in the Innovation Studio at James Grieve PS supporting students from K-3 and core French.

This or That: Live PD vs Twitter Chats

Emily and Nicole agree that both have their benefits. With live PD you can get deep into topics and really engage with the people who are face to face with you. A Twitter chat on the other hand, broadens your audience. In some cases you can get answers from around the world. PD in your PJs is a definite draw, as your learning is documented, but the fast pace may be overwhelming for some. Having both options means you can choose what works for you under different circumstances.

What’s New in EML?

Nicole shares about a conversation with some aspiring podcasters. Advising them on everything from branding, and sponsorship to episode length and format. With the podcasting kit from the lending library, the students are on their way to creating something they can launch to an audio. Keep an ear out, for more info about the podcasts.

Emily discusses planning for a parent engagement night. These nights are important for keeping parents connected, and helping them to see what is happening in the school their children attend. Parents will be introduced to the Makerspace, as well as other stations like a universal design challenge, Kahoot and EML, and an EML overview.

From the interview

Visit Ruthie’s Twitter page to check out some of the learning that goes on in the Innovation Studio.

Mini social story lessons on “how we share tech and kindness with our friends” these K1 Ss has brilliant strategies and demo them while investing @duckduckmoose #moosemath app @JamesGrievePS #peel21st pic.twitter.com/QTbrJD5Cv4

— Ruthie sloan (@Roosloan) March 6, 2019

#CSforAll gr3 scratch projects are starting to form with witty sense of humor @JamesGrievePS #Peel21st pic.twitter.com/Mqp3S4TuZ5

— Ruthie sloan (@Roosloan) February 28, 2019

Reflecting-connecting-documenting math thinking with K4 @MrsDuquette17 @JamesGrievePS with the @Rigamajig from @WintergreenLM #NelsonPDMath @NelsonPK20 webinar1 #MTBo #peeleyc notice naming=deeper reflections pic.twitter.com/VFIBDqfo2C

— Ruthie sloan (@Roosloan) February 10, 2019

Try This!

This week we are encouraging you to try out a Twitter chat. With many different chats available, including book chats, subject specific chats and Peel’s very own #Peel21st chat, there are fantastic opportunities to connect with colleagues from the comfort of your own home. #Peel21st chats happen on the first Tuesday of every month from 8:30-9:30. If you missed last night’s chat, don’t fret, you can still have your say in the March Madness App Competition. Just keep an eye out for the polls throughout this month, vote, and see which app comes out on top!

Hope you join us in just under half an hour for tonight’s #peel21st twitter chat with @the_mulc & @MmeCoulson We are chatting connections in the Friendship month. Not sure how it works? Check the clip. #tipsintwo pic.twitter.com/3Y7Qz2Nouf

— Tina Zita (@tina_zita) February 6, 2019

Which app can you NOT live without?! @scratch

— MJ Wheeler-Ali (@mjwheelerali) March 6, 2019

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.

This week we hung out with the Royal Orchard Middle School Boys’ club as they spend the afternoon exploring STEM activities in the LLC. Principal Kervin White, ISSP/Contact teacher Samantha Stephen, Instructional Coach Swarnaly Banerjee-Modi and a handful of students shared their experience.

What do you think?

Do makerspaces need more than cardboard? Both Emily and Nicole agreed that cardboard is a great place to start, but that a makerspace should grow along with the learning that happens there. Often times we jump to the big ticket items, but if you take your time to carefully consider what makes sense for your learners and your space, you can make sure things don’t sit on a shelf unused. Cardboard is also great because it is so simple that you can really focus on the design thinking process.

What’s New in EML?

Nicole reflected on her experience at the Nelson Mandela Public School STEAM night for junior grade families and the importance of helping parents to understand some of the ways that school is changing to include the type of learning that happens in their Launchpad. Thanks to the team at NMPS for putting on a great night!

Emily shared her excitement about being a Core Values judge at the FLL tournament recently held at Rick Hansen SS. She described a collaborative challenge to have one team member reconstruct a Lego project by listening to the instructions of the remaining team members. Speaking respectfully and ensuring team members had their voice heard went a long way for the teams who were successful in the task.

From the Interview

It’s all hands on deck to support the Boys’ club at ROMS. A diverse group of personalities make up the group that was selected to participate in one afternoon a month of making, coding and creating with Sphero, MicroBit, Scratch, design challenges, stop motion and green screen. These boys are more than basketball. Here are a few Tweets from the club so far:

When we give students different learning opportunities, it ignites curiosity and magic happens @Royal_Orchard Boys Club @PeelSchools @jdefreitas63 @Stephen4Equity @MsGunasingham @katier81 @EmiFarkas @ms_smodi pic.twitter.com/b5WsR6fGKq

— Kervin White (@KervinWhite) December 3, 2018

Our first @Royal_Orchard MakerSpace session with our Boys Club was a huge success! Boys were engaged in exploring STEM exploration and design challenges. Thanks to @njames4nj and @ms_smodi for leading these sessions! pic.twitter.com/Ny7pT5tNCr

— Dinusha Gunasingham (@MsGunasingham) November 8, 2018

@Royal_Orchard Young men showing great perseverance and creativity. Awesome. #peel21st #PeelEML pic.twitter.com/A7cwBasgEh

— MsModi (@ms_smodi) November 8, 2018

A special shout out to Guidance teacher Dinusha Gunasingham and Teacher Librarian Terri Yates  who weren’t in on the day we recorded but are involved in the Boys’ Club.