We hope this newsletter finds you well and connecting with students and family, albeit virtually amidst the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. At times like these, it is vitally important to make time to step back and remember that everyone is challenged and struggling. Our most important focus must be on our students and children. George Couros posted a poignant reflection of his time when isolated as a child with chickenpox, and it caused me to reflect on the imprint the younger children in my life might carry forever.
It is encouraging to see how Canadians have come together and are following health authority advice. Many are reaching out to help others in their own community. On top of this, educators now find themselves caring not only for their own family but children in other families as well. Goodbye Netflix and novel binging…
Despite all of this, we still need to prepare ourselves for what the future may bring. As such, our hotel-based Digital Learning Symposium has now moved online starting Monday, April 27 and ending Thursday, April 30. We invite you to register for one, two, or all four days – each with live/archived sessions, shared documents, and discussions. Sessions will be hosted in learning management systems and will use the tools required for both emergency remote teaching and sustainable online learning.
As mentioned before and on Twitter, CANeLearn has also compiled several resources that speak to the challenges that many teachers are facing teaching remotely.
Check out the links/news below, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter #CANeLearn, Facebook, or YouTube.
Please forward this on your own networks using the tools at the bottom.
Featured Events
2020 Digital Learning Symposium
Connecting virtually – networking across Canada
Featuring keynote contributions from fellow Canadian educators:
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CANeLearn Panel – Pan-Canadian remote teaching & online learning
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Julia Hengstler – Privacy in pandemic era education
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Trevor MacKenzie – Inquiry online
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Steve Dotto – Engaging live online
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Rod Allen – The future of online learning
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David Porter & Verena Roberts – Community as digital fluency
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Alec Couros – Emerging practice
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Michael Barbour – Remote teaching to e-learning
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New registration site and pricing:
https://bit.ly/DLsymp20
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Check out the program at https://2020dlsymp.sched.com/
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Panel sessions will focus on what we are learning from the rapid implementation of remote teaching.
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We will share practices from other provinces and discuss implications for future digital learning initiatives and programs.
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We have integrated virtual presentations with planned dialogue, discussion, collaborative document sharing, and in-depth networking.
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Session activity will be archived for future use and reference.
Join us for all four days – $225
Or choose a combination of days for $75/day!
Register: https://bit.ly/DLsymp20
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Trevor MacKenzie #InquiryMindset
eLearning Lessons from Abroad – Panel Presentation
New Directions for Digital Learning ~ Implications for School Leaders
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Senior leaders from government, post-sec, and K-12
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Structured dialogue, networking, and discussion
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Hands-on learning and cutting edge tech tool demos
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Emergent practices – high energy closing Demo Slam
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In the News
Online Learning in a Hurry: K12 Edition
- From @bonstewart and @davecormier, along with @nbaker – a project of @UWindsor
- Recorded & live online sessions on April 16, 20, and 22
- Check out their website for archives, elementary, and high school sessions
A defining moment for online
- Check out this blog post from Jennifer Mathes of the Online Learning Consortium
- Though post-secondary in focus, many of the points are relevant for K-12 educators as well
7 Ways to Make Distance Learning More Equitable
- From Common Sense Media, tips to ensure the most vulnerable students and their families are supported at this time
Stephen’s Web ~ Zooming
- Our fellow Canadian philosopher, Stephen Downes, comments on D’Arcy Norman’s analysis of uCalgary’s use of Zoom
- Check out the post here
EdTechTeam Canada
- Virtual Learning Series: Teaching Online
- Check it out here
US Survey Tracks Impact of Coronavirus on Schools
- 10 key findings – from Education Week
- Read the post here
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Resources for the Digital Classroom
Voices into action
- Free online humanities resources and human rights teaching resources from Voices Into Action
- Middle school teachers, find out more here, for secondary teachers here
Common Sense Education Resources
- Digital citizenship implementation guide – check it out here
- Best news websites for students – posted here
- The Best Quiz and Game Show Apps for Classrooms – list here
UNESCO Resources
- School closures in a growing number of countries are occurring in an attempt to contain the spread of COVID-19
- Closures are disrupting the education millions of students across the globe
- UNESCO is sharing 10 recommendations to ensure that learning remains uninterrupted during this period and has provided a document on how to plan distance learning solutions during temporary schools closures
- Check it out here
Quality Matters Emergency Remote Teaching Checklist
- Emergency remote teaching does not equal quality online learning, but many teachers may be forced into this option given the expanding pandemic
- Check out a great resource and checklist for K-12 educators to get prepared
COVID-19 – The Watershed Moment for Digital Pedagogy?
- With COVID-19 continuing to impact people around the world, institutions everywhere are moving to remote work and looking at how teaching can continue in the event of university closures
- Read this discussion highlighting the barriers and drivers for online teaching
Adventures in Archives
CANeLearn Leadership Summit
- Recorded keynote & discussion — Archives here
Digital Learning Symposium April 2019
- Pictures, sessions, video recordings — Links to all here