A few thoughts (rant really) regarding the Brightspace decision & removal of Google Classroom from our online spaces. I've kept out of it because I just thought the decision would be reversed as sanity & logic prevailed. Apparently I was wrong...here's some thoughts [a thread]...
1st this debate has been ongoing for years now. I was in the tech resource teacher role way back when G Classroom was rolled out & did a lot of work in supporting Ts & Ss with both platforms. I honestly can't believe we're back here. But here we are & I'm shaking my head again..
Sep 12, 2020 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
So it’s been 1 week since we’ve initiated this #onted “plan”. People at every level in the system are working their asses off to make this year work. Yet there are a crazy amount of decisions that still had/have to be made...[1/8]
However at every level there is only so much you can see & thus so much you can prepare for. What we saw this week was that without people on the ground being involved in the plan until this week there are still lots of ‘little things’ that are overlooked & really add up...[2/8]
Jun 10, 2020 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
Have been reflecting a lot on the Ministry review of anti-Black racism at the #PDSB and the Investigator's report and my own place in these... (thread)
It's easy to point fingers and lay blame, and deservedly so. BUT it's important for many of us within this system to acknowledge our positionality in those findings and our complicity in the system as it exists...
May 16, 2020 • 6 tweets • 1 min read
Eh school boards... read the room. Take a look around & see all the teachers recreating classroom experiences virtually, creating videos, holding chats with 25 grade 2s, providing unique learning. So next time let’s try starting with a presumption that we’re all busting our asses
Some further observations regarding synchronous “directive”...
It took weeks before boards agreed to video conferencing with students at the behest of teachers. We understood our classes and what they needed from the start. We didn’t wait for a MoE to grandstand...
Apr 16, 2020 • 6 tweets • 1 min read
Having 2 elementary aged children at home has shown how important learning is at school. Not idea of brick & mortar but the social component...
My JK son has very little interest in learning at home. And let me tell u... he has some pretty good homeschool Ts (both of which are actual Ts). He is being asked to learn independently and is something he has no interest in...
Mar 24, 2020 • 9 tweets • 2 min read
So with the launch of the province’s eLearning & realization there’s not enough, I think it might be beneficial to crowdsource/collaborate in preparing courses/content for our students... #onted
Wonder if every teacher would be willing to share lessons/activities/eLearning course plan to make up for the shortfall?...
May 21, 2019 • 12 tweets • 10 min read
Might be ambitious but will try to share a new poster daily that can be used to educate the public about cuts to education & impact on students. Feel free to print, post, share, etc.
Here’s today’s... #onpoli#onted#OSSTF#ETFO
and here's today.... without the spelling mistake 🤦♂️
Apr 5, 2019 • 8 tweets • 4 min read
With all the announcements, comments, statements, and opinions being thrown around regarding education in this province, thought it might be useful to "Daniel Dale" @ddale8 this government... (yeah he's a verb now too) #onted
I know many of us are attempting to fact-check comments coming from the minister & premier and it takes up a lot of time for any one individual. It's also hard to keep up with all of them as they seem to be coming fast & furious (#TokyoDrift)...#Onted
Mar 12, 2019 • 13 tweets • 2 min read
There is so much to unpack here... the fact that they drop this announcement on the March Break is just one part...
But the reality is this is not going to support student learning. Not because these devices are an integral part of information gathering and creation in the classroom (they are)...
Nov 26, 2018 • 6 tweets • 3 min read
Any public organization that continues to support Facebook by having a presence on platform, asking for likes or to watch live events, or generating revenue in any way for them needs to give some serious thought to these actions. These revelations are way too serious to ignore...
I think many schools, school boards, and education institutions need to have discussions about whether or not they will continue to be present on such a platform that actively pursued financial gain over democratic values & freedoms...
Nov 11, 2018 • 12 tweets • 2 min read
Kidding aside... the report card system Peel teachers use is out of date & requires updating. Im not sure who I'm voicing this to, but if you have power in this please maybe, just maybe, listen?
This year alone there has been two reporting cycles at each level where every teacher has experienced constant hassle & stress in using the program...
Mar 27, 2018 • 9 tweets • 2 min read
The 5 biggest announcements from the Apple education event theverge.com/2018/3/27/1715… via @verge
Although this is a step, I still don’t foresee a shift back to the ipads in schools or districts. The chromebook, although not as creative a tool, still dominates the minds of parents as the necessary device to do school “work”
Mar 7, 2018 • 10 tweets • 3 min read
It’s not often but sometimes we are lucky enough to see how a simple action/interest/etc. action today can have such a positive impact on a group of students that will last for years to come... 1/
I have born witness to this many times in my career - a simple gesture, a quiet talk, an offer of support, etc. - but not as much as I have seen in the kitchen of @royce_li over the last two years... 2/
Jan 8, 2018 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
For secondary educators & students, this time of year is extremely stressful. From final evaluations, reporting, duties/responsibilities, environment, etc. Has me wondering about strategies/proscesses/ideas to overcome some of these... #onted#peel21st1. Really need to consider ending 1st semester prior to winter break. All final evaluations wrapped up by then to give a true 'break'. Means starting year earlier, but I'm sure many would gladly trade for that
