MindShare Learning Report
Issue No.4, Volume 2, June 2009           Click here if you are having problems viewing this report            Complimentary Issue
MSL Report - Cross Canada Ontario Spotlight Edition
Funding Opportunity
K12: Headlines
K12: Upcoming Events
K12: Ask a Teacher
Green IT
HE: Introduction
Software Review
Cross Canada eLearning
HE: Headlines
HE: Upcoming Events
HE: Ask a Professor
Career Opportunities
Research and Tech Tools
MindShare Musings
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Suggested Reading...
Disrupting Class
 

 

 
Engage the Online Learner
 
The Servant
 
Teaching the Digital Generation
 
How, Flat and Crowded
 
Outliers
 
Why Students Don't Like School

Dear Thought Leader,
                                  Publisher Vodcast Welcome
Robert Martellacci

Welcome to the June edition of the MindShare Learning Report-21st Century Cross Canada Spotlight on British Columbia-The future of learning resources edition.

My fortuitous interview with a famous B.C. Canadian icon, Dr. David Suzuki at a keynote event recently was a wake-up call.

His response to my question, how can educators integrate technology in the classroom in an environmentally friendly way? "First of all, get the kids away from a damn computer terminal, or watching TV, iPods, or texting. Our kids have too got much technology and are not simply paying attention to the real world. This generation of kids is spending the least amount of time outside....they are in their homes glued to technology...we're in desperate shape now," says Dr. Suzuki.

Upon reflection, I have to agree with Dr. Suzuki. I'm one of those parents who constantly battles my kids about their excessive gaming, although I do see the pedagogical value to a point.

Are we failing our kids? Is "checking the technology at the classroom door" arming our kids with the critical skills that are essential to student success in the global knowledge economy? What is the role of education? As digital immigrants is it not vital for us to stay connected to our kids? I must thank Dr. Suzuki for inspiring my thinking which impacted the presentation I delivered recently to educators. The challenge for us is engage our youth, be it our own children, or students-with and without technology to connect with the "outside" world in a meaningful way as Dr. Suzuki suggests.

While B.C. is a "hot bed" for eLearning, the buzz around eLearning in our country continues. Canada does not have a comprehensive eLearning strategy; according to a recent report State of eLearning in Canada released report by the Canadian Council on Learning. "Whether in times of economic growth or recession, e-learning can increase our access to education, learning and employment opportunities," says Dr. Paul Cappon, President and CEO of CCL. "Effective use of new learning technologies can help strengthen Canada's human capital to meet the challenges of an uncertain future."


This news comes on the heels of another recent eLearning report from Ontario Public School Board Associations education program and information technology ad hoc steering committees and recently released, "What if? Technology in the 21st Century Classroom." While we have a monumental challenge ahead of us, the good news is that the conversations are many and the momentum is building. If you want be part of the discussion, please drop me an email.

On a brighter note, our partnering event with the Canadian embassy, "Celebrating Canadian EdTech Innovation" networking event at the Canadian Embassy in D. C. June 29th is filling fast. If you're attending NECC and would like to attend, please drop me a note.

We have no podcast interview with the B.C. education minister this month. In light of the recent provincial election in B.C., I was informed that a cabinet shuffle is immanent, according to the minister's handlers. However, I did have the good fortunate of connecting with one of B.C.'s leading director's of education, Chris Kelly, who gave us his insights on B.C. education and how technology is being leverage in his district to enhance student achievement.

Below are just a few highlights in this issue:


  • The exclusive podcast interview with Chris Kelly, Director of Education, Vancouver School District;
  • Podcast Interview with Marty Keast, president, Pearson K-12
  • A podcast interview with Dr. David Vogt, UBC;
  • The call to establish a new University in the Arctic;
  • The massive amounts of funding continue to flow into post-secondary infrastructure and GreenIT

Special thanks to our generous sponsors throughout this past academic year, who make this publication possible. We encourage you to checkout their wares by clicking on their banner ads and logos as you plan your purchases for your coming academic year.
 

I would be remiss if I didn't extend a sincere thanks to our esteemed advisory board, who have guided us throughout the year and helped chart our course for the future. Our recent board meeting yielded many exciting outcomes, including a new tagline for our report, "Canada's Leading, Learning & Technology" eMagazine, to reflect our expanded mandate to reach out to mainstream educators.

The month of June is a very special -- we congratulate all the graduates in both high school and post secondary, who will be convocating this month. On behalf of our team, here's wishing the best of success to our future leaders!


Until next time, be sure to walk the digital talk!

  Sincerely,

Robert Martellacci

P.S. Watch for next month's "Year in Review - Celebration of Excellence" - PD Special Issue

Robert Martellacci, M.A. EdTech
Publisher & Managing Editor, The MindShare Learning Report™
President, MindShare Learning™--Strategic Marketing Solutions
Go Green  Before printing think about the Environment. Avant l' impression, il faut penser � l'Environnement.
Title Sponsor
Epson
Quotes of the Month

"First of all, get the kids away from a damn computer terminal. Our kids have gotten too much technology. This generation of kids are spending the least amount of time outside. We're in desperate shape right now."

Dr. David Suzuki,
comments during an exclusive MindShare Learning podcast interview May 26, 2009

"Listening to Sting on my iPod watching the world go by - literally"

My fav tweet yet--astronaut Mike Massimino - From orbit on final day in space May 26, 2009:
Try & Top that!

Mike Massimino
, Astronaut, NASA astronaut, mission specialist for STS-125.


 
"Thank you for the interview with Minister Wynne. I thought it was very good and your question about ELO was appreciated by our team."
 
        Dane Tutton, Manager (A), e-Learning Ontario , Curriculum Assessment and Policy Branch
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Cross Canada 21st Century Provincial Spotlight on British Columbia

British Columbia Flag MindShare Learning was contacted by the minister's office, who informed us that they could not grant an interview with the minister of education due to the recent election and an expected cabinet....stay tuned for more details!
 
In place of the minister, we were fortunate to secure an exclusive podcast interview with Dr. David Suzuki, award winning author, environmentalist and TV host. In the podcast, Dr. Suzuki expresses his frustration with students spending too much time on computers and not enough time outdoors.
 
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We hope you enjoy this month's provincial spotlight on British Columbia.


 David Suzuki
About David Suzuki (full bio)

David Su
zuki, Co-Founder of the David Suzuki Foundation, is an award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster.  He is renowned for his radio and television programs that explain the complexities of the natural sciences in a compelling, easily understood way. He is a geneticist. He received his PhD in Zoology from the University of Chicago. He is now Professor Emeritus of The University of British Columbia, Sustainable Development Research Institute.
David Suzuki Foundation



 - Podcast Interview with award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster, David Suzuki -
(Interviewed by Robert Martellacci, Publisher of the MindShare Learning Report
)

Podcast Icon



Chris KellyAbout Chris Kelly                                        

Chris Kelly joined the Vancouver School Board (VSB) as Superintendent of Schools in August 2003.
Prior to his appointment to the VSB, Mr. Kelly held the position of Superintendent of Schools for the Richmond School District since 1994. As an educator and administrator, Mr. Kelly's experience includes elementary and secondary teaching, Aboriginal education, special education, curriculum, and professional and organizational development.



Podcast Interview with Vancouver School Board, Superintendent of Schools, Chris Kelly
(Interviewed by Robert Martellacci, Publisher of the MindShare Learning Report)

Podcast Icon


Quick Tech Facts About British Columbia

  • BC's technology industry has reached a historical high,reporting a total of 22,474 technology companiesin 2006.
  • BC leads Canada in percentage growth of high-techemployment, reporting 74,590 workers in 2006.
  • High technology GDP jumped 5.3% in 2006, climbing toover $9.4 billion, the highest level ever recorded, and helping BC's high technology sector outperform the overall economy.
  • Research and development tax incentives totalling 30%of qualified spending make BC an attractive place to do R&D.
  • The majority (69%) of BC's exports go to the U.S., with the European Union (13%) overtaking the Pacific Rim(11%) in 2006 as the second-largest destination.
  • BC is the most connected province in Canada, with 7 out of every 10 households and 8 out of every 10 businesses having a computer and Internet access.
  • For a decade the University of British Columbia has led Canada in the number of U.S. patents awarded and the gross income earned from technology licenses.
  • The job growth rate of BC's high tech sector was 6.3% in 2006, higher than that of overall employment in the province.
  • BC technology companies promote a flexible and healthy working environment.
  • BC has 25 public post-secondary institutions comprising university colleges, institutes, colleges and universities.
(source)

LearnNowBC
LearnNowBC is a single point of entry to information about distributed learning in British Columbia. This website contains both distributed learning course details and information about student services available online.
Read More

Resources to Support ICT Integration
Resources that are available to assist with Information and Communications Technology (ICT) integration in classrooms.
Read More

Provincial Learning Network (PLNet)
The Provincial Learning Network (PLNet) provides reliable, robust and safe network infrastructure enabling communications and the delivery of educational content to schools and post-secondary institutions in British Columbia.
Read More

ERAC (Educational Resource Acquisition Consortium)
Educational Resource Acquisition Consortium (ERAC) is an association of BC public school districts overseen by an Executive Committee and working together on software, video and learning resource acquisition and evaluation. ERAC also oversees a novel evaluation process, resulting in its ever-expanding catalogue of English and French novels BC evaluators have recommended for classroom use.
Read More

Computers for Schools

Computers for Schools BC provides quality refurbished computer equipment to schools, libraries, Community Access (CAP) sites and learning focused not-for-profit organizations across our province.
Read More

British Columbia Education News

UBC Scientists key contributors to national research network on aging
UBC Media 21/05/09
Identification of the 'longevity gene' and better understanding of the interaction between genes and the environment will be some of the key contributions University of British Columbia researchers and their teams at partner institutions make to the Canadian Longitudinal Survey on Aging (CLSA).
Read More

Philanthropist donates $2.5M to establish UBC professorship in rural teacher education
UBC Media 19/05/09
Dr. Donald Rix and his daughter Laurie have donated $2.5 million to the University of British Columbia to createa first-of-its-kind professorship in rural teacher education.
Read More

Reading, writing, arithmetic (and repetition): Robert Bateman's vision for Canadian kids
CCL 14/05/09
Deep and sonorous, Robert Bateman's distinctive voice is roaring over the telephone line: "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" After a few more lines of verse from the works of Percy Bysshe Shelley, the world-renowned wildlife painter and environmentalist starts to explains the value of memorization and rote learning; something he feels is undervalued in today's classrooms.
Read More
Funding Opportunities of the Month
 
Best Buy for Kids and the Best in Class Fund
Best Buy
Best Buy believes that one of the best ways of achieving this is to responsibly engage youth with technology in the classroom. We also understand that most public schools lack funds to bring new technologies into the classroom. This is why we set up the Best in Class Fund - a community investment program whose goal is to support schools across the country and to inspire and advance learning through the integration of technology in the classroom.
Read More

Colleges applaud funding for Infrastructure Improvements
CNW 25/05/09
The announcement today of more than $1 billion in funding for infrastructure improvements at colleges and universities in Ontario is an important investment into higher education, said Colleges Ontario president and CEO Linda Franklin.
Read More

Government Supports Science Promtion for Youth Across Canada
Marketwire 15/05/09
Member of Parliament (MP) Rod Bruinooge, on behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, today announced $1.9 million in new funding for 52 organizations across Canada working to engage young Canadians in science and engineering.
Read More


More on Funding Opportunities...

2009 Toronto Tribute Dinner Celebrates Champions of Public Education

On May 7th, 209 The Learning Partnership's Tribute Dinner in Toronto, close to 1,200 business, government, education and the community joined together with students and teachers to celebrate public education and honour Jim Leech, Susan LaRosa and Dr. Peter George, C.M., O.Ont.

TLP Tribute Dinner
Left to Right: Jim Leech (Honouree), Susan LaRosa (Honouree), Director of Education, York District Catholic School Board, The Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Minster of Education, Government of Ontario, Veronica Lacey, President & CEO, The Learning Partnership, Dr. Peter George (Honouree), President and Vice-Chancellor, McMaster University, Dean Connor (Master of Ceremonies), President, Sun Life Financial

Dell



K12: Headlines

Epson's 'Smarter Choices' Promotion helps schools purchase more of the newest 'PowerLite' projectors  - for less
PRNews 26/05/09
In its ongoing effort to address the technology and budgetary needs of education customers, Epson America Inc., the number-one selling projector brand worldwide(1), today announced a Smarter Choices promotion that provides education institutions with a free Epson PowerLite(R) projector for every seven they purchase.
Read More

Dell's Latitude 2100 brings Netbooks to schools
CNET 18/05/09
Aiming to bring small, low-cost laptops to schools, Dell has just announced the Latitude 2100, a Netbook specifically targeted to educational markets. We recently got a chance to take a brief hands-on look at the Latitude 2100--and we think its appeal will go far beyond the classroom.


FrontRow™ Launches Dedicated Quebec Division, PremierRang™
CNW 05/15/09
FrontRow(TM), a designer of classroom sound technology for schools worldwide, is now offering local support in Quebec with its new division, PremierRang(TM). Aimed at supporting school districts in this Canadian francophone province, PremierRang is an exciting initiative for the education market.
Read More

Faronics Anti-Executable v3.3 Advances Enterprise White List Software Protection
Faronics 05/27/09
Faronics is proud to announce the release of Anti-Executable v3.3 for Windows, which introduces a number of new features to Faronics' white list based application control software, such as the ability to employ on demand and scheduled maintenance modes that make system updates and application installations quick and effortless.
Read More


More K12 Headlines...
K12: Upcoming Events

ISTE - NECC 2009

Event: ....... The Sixth Annual International Conference on Mobile and Ubiquitous Systems: Computing,  Networking and Services
Date: ......... July 13-16, 2009
Location: ... Toronto, ON
Read More

Event: ....... Blackboard (Bb) World '09
Date: ......... July 14-16, 2009
Location: ....Washington, DC, USA


Event: ....... Pearson's 5th Annual Celebrating Literacy Conference
Date: ......... August 17-18, 2009
Location: ....Pearson Convention Centre, Brampton, ON



Event: ....... ABEL Summer Institute - ABEL Members/LC Members
Date: ......... August 24-26, 2009
Location: ....York University, Toronto, ON


Abel

Event:........EdNET Conference
Date:.........
September 13-15, 2009
Location:...
Chicago, Il


EdNET
Countdown to ECOO  November 11-13, 2009!    Inspire, Connect, Teach

ECOO



Brenda Sherry
Brenda Sherry
Conference Chair




It's the 30th anniversary of the ECOO!  Be prepared for an exciting conference on November 11- 13, 2009, returning to the outstanding ve
nue at the Sheraton Parkway North Hotel in Richmond Hill! 
 

Over the next fe
w months we'll share some of these highlights:
  • Outstanding keynote and spotlight speakers including Ian Jukes, Stephen Downes, Alec Couros, Ben Hazzard, Jutta Treviranus, Mark Lipton, Mali Bickley, Peter Skillen and Jim Carleton
  • A multimedia contest for students
  • Full-day seminars and 1-hour core conference sessions
  • Minds On Media - a full day constructivist event where participants will learn about creating media mindfully  (BYOL)
  • A special keynote address for administrators, district leaders and policy makers interested in emerging technologies and 21st Century Learners
  • A large exhibit area showcasing exceptional educational technology resources
One of the most exciting things about the ECOO conference is the amazing networking that happens to enhance professional learning networks.  Over the years I've learned so much through the inspiring keynotes, the practical workshops given by classroom teachers, and the networking with other delegates. 

Come and connect with other educators from across the province to learn about how emerging technologies are being used in classrooms to inspire and connect students and teachers, and to improve learning!


K12: Ask a Teacher? 
 Timothy Gard
Timothy Gard, M.A., B.Ed., has had over a decade of hands-on involvement with students and teachers in information and communication technology. He loves innovative ideas and taking risks, integrating technology across the curriculum and engaging students in the ever-changing world of technology. He currently teaches media literacy and technology at Ecole Sir Adam Beck J. S. in the Toronto District School Board.

  Q - "What do book publishers need to do to meet the needs of education tomorrow?"


No one would argue that books and printed material are going to be displaced at some point in the future by some form of media that is easily created, searchable, editable, and multi-modal. It will be media that is interactive and accessible from many different devices and platforms, retrievable from anywhere for anytime. Got a few minutes while you're on a bus? Great! Shuffle out your Netbook, eReader - or Smart Phone - and engage your school material on your touch screen, filled with active and interactive examples of that difficult math concept that you were too tired to pay attention to in class while the teacher was introducing it. If the material you have on your Smartphone of Netbook isn't current, just click the update button, or visit the link in the material to view the more up-to-date material. Footnotes are links to landing pages with further reading, video, audio and various forms of Flash or Java based animation that support the material. What about the publishers? What do they need to know about this new medium, and how do they begin to plan for it so that they don't get caught with their "pages" down? Read on to discover what I think the publishers should know and do to meet the needs of education tomorrow in this ever changing global techno-village.
Read More
Green IT
 Green IT
Faronics : How Green Is I.T. Really?













Spotlight on Faronics - Interview with Dennis Boulter, V.P. Sales


Dennis BoulterDennis Boulter
V.P. Sales - Faronics

Faronics
delivers software that helps manage, simplify, and secure multi-user computing environments. Our products ensure 100% workstation availability, and have freed IT personnel from tedious technical support and software issues. Fueled by a customer-centric focus, Faronics' technology innovations benefit educational institutions, healthcare facilities, libraries, government organizations and corporations.


Podcast

 
Carbon Tax and its implications focus of public "Panel Discussion" -  Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions
PICS 26/05/09

Place.....Pavilion Ballroom of the Sheraton Wall Centre, 1088 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Time......June 9th 2009 7:00 PM
Link

Ontario Helps Schools Invest In Green Technology
ONT Media 21/05/09

Ontario is investing $50 million for public school boards to reduce energy costs in schools by installing renewable energy technologies for heating, cooling or generating electricity.
Read More
Web 2.0 Technology Spotlight
Aviary
Aviary - Web 2.0 at its finest...

Look out Google Apps, and Adobe Acrobat!

Aviary is simply a house or cage where birds are kept. I'm not sure why Aviary on-the-web decided to name itself after a bird house, but regardless this Web 2.0 phenom is one of the most amazing sites out there for a number of reasons. In short, Aviary is a suite of powerful creative applications that you can use right in your web browser. Each application that Aviary hosts is named after a bird. Okay, I can live with that. As with any software suite there are different applications for different functions. If you want to create and edit images then you would use Phoenix, Raven allows you to create and edit vector images, Peacock is an interesting tool that is hard to describe here; in fact, they call it their visual laboratory - trust me, this doesn't do justice to this application - and Toucan allows you to experiment with colour swatches and palettes.

Amazing! Four incredibly powerful applications that you can use within your web browser, with eleven more to come - yep, eleven!
Read More



Welcome to the NECC Ning Network, designed to help you connect to like-minded NECC attendees
and individuals and extend the conversations.




Higher Education: Introduction

Mitchel N. Townsend

Welcome to the June 2009 Edition of the MindShare Learning Report, Canada's premier Leading, Learning, and Technology eMagazine.

The Higher Education Section continues to illustrate the unavoidable evolutionary effect that technology is having upon Canadian Higher Education Institutions.

The Funding Section lists as number of important funding commitments that promise to re-vitalize higher education infrastructure with over two billion dollars allocated.

The GreenIT Section sponsored by the Faronics Company, provides a number of resources to help you and your institutions become greener.  Don't forget to attend the Climate Roundtable Discussion in BC if you're in the area.

The Research and Tech Tools Section contains a wide variety of reports, research and tools this month, including the Discovery Progress Zone and 10 Twitter Tips for Higher Education.
Enjoy this month's issues.

Enjoy this month's issue.
 
Mitchel N. Townsend, M.A. EdTech
MindShare Learning Associate
Editor, Higher Education

Go Green Before printing think about the Environment. Avant l' impression, il faut penser � l'Environnement.
  Product Review: USTREAM - Live Interactive Video Broadcast Platform
  USTREAM
Timothy GardTimothy Gard, M.A., B.Ed.







True to its name USTREAM offers individuals the opportunity to play TV broadcaster - to stream or broadcast messages using the web. All you need to do is create an account at USTREAM.TV, plug your camcorder into your computer (or use the webcam in your laptop or monitor), select "Your Shows", type the name of your show and then click "Broadcast Now". You'll be asked by the broadcast console to access your video camera or webcam and microphone. Once you click on "Allow" you choose "Start Broadcast" and you are live! Simple as 1-2-3-4-5-6-7! You can also record your live streams for playback at another time as well.
Read More
Cross Canada 21st Century Conversation on eLearning

As a result of the recent buzz around eLearning in Canada, the MindShare Learning Report is committed to
continuing the conversation in pushing the 21st Century envelope to ensure our future leaders are well positioned to compete successfully in the emerging global knowledge economy. Please share your thoughts with us as we bridge the gap to the 21st Century to engage both education and industry leaders in making sense of how technology can play a vital role in the learning process.


Marty KeastMarty Keast
President, Pearson Learning, K-12 Canada

Marty started his publishing career in 1971 as a sales representative with Longman Canada. After one year he joined Thomas Nelson and Sons/Thomson Nelson where he remained for 23 years. While at Nelson he held several different management positions before becoming Executive Vice President responsible for three business units: School, Library and Professional and Reference. For 7 years prior to joining Pearson in 2003, Marty and his wife June had their own company, Forever Learning where Marty was a successful consultant specializing in the development and marketing of e-learning materials. Marty has been President of the School Division of Pearson for the past five years and is currently past chair of the Canadian Educational Resources Council.

Podcast Icon



Howard GoodmanHoward Goodman
Toronto District School Board Trustee, Ward 8

Howard has been a trustee since 2003. He is a member of the OPSBA's Executive and a founding chair of OPSBA's ad hoc IT committee. He was formerly a management consultant, worked with a software company and a paint manufacturer. He is living the "techno-gap", and seeing first-hand the disconnect between students' experience in school and the rest of their lives. Howard is married and has 2 sons. He completed his education at the University of Toronto with a degree in Engineering (Geophysics).






Remember the ICON?

A mid-80's massive misguided investment in classroom computers by the government of Ontario.  Old-time educators refer to it as "the most expensive doorstop ever."

I knew it well - I developed a graphics program for the ICON.  It was a beautifully elegant machine and I loved the built-in red track-ball.

Now forget the ICON.

The ICON came when fax machines were rare, cell phones were the size and weight of a water-filled boot, the internet wasn't the web, email was the domain of PhD's and generals, and a 5M removable drive cost $10K.   No Google, wikis, gps, or sp
am; no downloads, flash drives, or MP3s.
Read More


Erin MillsErin Mills
Senior Researcher, Canadian Council for Learning (CCL)
Author of "The State of eLearning in Canada"






Podcast Icon
Higher Education: Headlines
 
Governor General urges Ottawa to establish university in Arctic
Can Press 26/05/09

Governor General Michaelle Jean is calling on the federal government to establish a university in the Arctic so Inuit youth can get a degree close to home and benefit from the region's expected economic activity.
Read More

University of Toronto Receives $151 Million from the Federal-Provincial Knowledge Infrastructure Program
CNW 25/05/09

The program is providing $70 million each to University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) and University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) to build instructional and laboratory complexes on both campuses.
Read More
 
Government Infrastructure Investment Positions UTSC to Lead in a New Era for Post-secondary Education in the Eastern GTA
CNW 25/05/09
 

The University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) has received $70 million to fund the development of the new Instructional Centre. The announcement is a result of the investment by the federal and provincial governments through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program.
Read More

More Higher Education Headlines...
Higher Education: Upcoming Events 

Event: ....... Canadian Higher Education (CANHEIT) IT Annual Conference
Date: ......... June 7-10, 2009
Location: ... Montreal, QC
Read More

Event: ....... Society for Teaching and Learning "Between the Tides" Conference
Date: ......... June 17-20, 2009
Location: ... Fredericton, NB
Read More

Event: ....... 16th World Conference on Work Integrated Learning
Date: .........
June 23-26, 2009
Location: ... Vancouver, BC
Read More

More on Upcoming Higher Education Events...
Higher Education: Ask a Professor

Dr. David VogtDr. David Vogt
Adjunct Professor
Department of Curriculum Studies, New Media Centre
University of British Columbia

Currently, I am helping design the online Masters in Education Technology program, and spending time with Education Dean Tierney and his team to build the relationships and infrastructure for systematic technology-based enhancements to teacher training, current  Robitaille Chair at UBC, 2002 New Media Innovation Centre in Vancouver. Started Brainium to pioneer interactive online products for K-12 education, Former Director of Science World in Vancouver, Designer of teaching programs for UBC Continuing Education, Former writer and special effects technician for the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre in Vancouver.

Podcast 
Career Opportunities

K-12

Position:     Director of 21st Century Learning Services
Company:  Public Consulting Group
Location:    Portsmouth, NH or remotely
Link

Position:     District ICT Support Teacher
Location:    Lakeland Catholic Board of Education No. 150
Read More
                                             
Position:    Director of Education
Location
:   Simcoe County Board of Education

The Simcoe County District School Board is currently seeking a new Director of Education. Please click on the link above to view the job posting.



Higher Education

Position:    Director (Program Delivery), Open Learning Division/Distance, Human Resources Division

Location:   Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC

Thompson Rivers University
P.O. Box 3010
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
V2C 5N3
E-mail

Position:    Dean, School of Computing and Academic Studies
Location:   British Columbia Institute of Technology

For full details, and to apply, visit us online

Position:    Assistant/Associate Professor, Tenure Track, Dept. of Educational Studies and Leadership
Location:   University of British Columbia

The complete application package is to be sent to Tara Fenwick, Head, Department of Educational Studies, 2125 Main Mall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4.


Position:    Dean, Faculty of Education
Location:   Queen's University - Kingston, ON

Janet Wright & Associates Inc.
174 Bedford Road
Toronto, Ontario M5R 2K9
Fax: (416) 923-8311
E-mail


To place your career opportunities, please contact me here
Research and Tech Tools
 
Discovery Education Assessment: Progress Zone
Discovery Education

Progress Zone allows educators to create, share, and administer custom diagnostic probes using a bank of more than 50,000 unique assessment items. It is the first web-based formative assessment service that recommends standards-aligned video clips for targeted remediation.
Read More 
 
17 ways college campuses are changing
eCampus News 22/05/09

New online opportunities, increased use of "e-resources," and new teaching tools are among the 17 biggest differences between college today and college just 10 years ago says U.S. News & World Report. For example, a number of big-name schools have put up selected courses at free, "open courseware" web sites. Textbooks now come electronically, with professors being able to custom-order the chapters they want.
Read More
 
Canadian Council on Learning releases report on e-learning
CCL 21/05/09

A new Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) report offers a unique look at e-learning in Canada, affirming that it holds much promise to improve Canada's economic competitiveness and prepare Canadians for the demands of the 21st century.
Read More

More Research and Tech Tools...

Bits and Bytes

New Brunswick's Top Educators celebrate with FrontRow at the Premier's Awards of Excellence Gala

FrontRow



















From left to right: Karen Stefanishyn, Director of Business Development for FrontRow Canada, Shawn Graham, New Brunswick Premier, and Marko Cote, Eastern Territory Manager for FrontRow Canada




Congratulations to Andrew Schmitt, Award winning teacher at Joyce Public School, who was recently featured in Professionally Speaking

Andrew Schmitt












Source:  Professionally Speaking (online edition)

MindShare Musings...


Robert MartellacciAs we usher in the month of June, we're gearing up for a presence at the NECC conference in Washington, D.C. at the end of the month. In addition to our Celebrate Canadian EdTech Innovation at the Canadian Embassy event, we are planning to feature the "MindShare Learning Minute" contest at our booth. Educators will be sharing their classroom success stories to qualify and win fabulous prizes throughout the conference.  Be sure to drop by booth 2023! Did you know there will be over 300 Canadians represented at NECC?


Eric Hamilton
The MindShare Learning Report is pleased to announce that  Eric Hamilton, PhD, Associate Dean for Education, Pepperdine University, Graduate School of Education and Psychology will be joining the MindShare Learning Report advisory board. "Dr. Hamilton rounds out the MindShare Learning team with a true global perspective through his research and many collaborations internationally," states, Robert Martellacci, president & publisher, the MindShare Learning Report.



Looking forward to attending Upcoming Canada 3.0 forum to be a catalyst in digital media revolution June 8-9. For more information, click here
 
Congratulations to Paul Marcus and the folks at the York University Foundation for raising $610,000 for student scholarships at the recent Chair's Cup Golf tournament.
 
People on the move... Congratulations to  Susan LaRosa, Director of the York Catholic District School Board who was recently honoured at The Learning Partnership Tribute dinner last month. Chris Kelly, Vancouver School Board Superintendent will be retiring at the end of the school year. I'm certain Chris will emerge at the helm of another education focused organization that could use his excellent leadership skills. Bill Hogarth makes the news again this month having announced his retirement at the end of this calendar year.  Joni Turville, MindShare Learning Advisory board member touched base to share some excellent news.  As of August 1st, Joni will be taking on the role of Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development for the Alberta Teachers' Association. It was great to meet Chris Spence, the new director of education at the Toronto School District. Chris attended a recent technology showcase at Lawfield Elementary in his current board in Hamilton. Principal Bill DeMille, has done a tremendous job with his team of teachers in bouncing back from a tornado that destroyed their old school, but, presented opportunities in their newish building that is buzzing with activity and constructivist learning activities that includes SMARTboards, notebooks,  FrontRow, podcasting, video creation, twittering, comic life activities and more.

I stumbled onto this free eBook and wanted to share ....65 Tips on "Getting the Most out of your eLearning Budget" 
 
Our good friend Doug Player, former West Vancouver School District Superintendent continues his mission in establishing Whistler U. He tells me they're going to clear some land with expectations the university constructions will start after the Olympics.  
 
MindShare Learning Innovative Teacher Pilot Program. Designed for teachers to take advantage of opportunities to be innovative and to test drive the latest and greatest technology available through MindShare Learning's partners. Educators will be required to commit to the following:
 
1.     Provide a one paragraph summary as to how they plan to integrate the technology
2.     Engage students as part of the pilot process
3.     Provide a summary report in the form of sample works, student and teacher feedback

The Mindshare Learning Advisory Board meeting this past month reaffirmed a number of strategic directions where we'll be heading in the coming year. The tagline "Leading, Learning & Technology" that emerged from our ERDI Canada Winnipeg panel was given a green light by our board. There was spirited discussion around the "What if" report and the emerging digital classroom trends. MindShare Learning is committed to continuing the conversation on a national level.

MindShare Learning welcomes Codie Award winning Learning.com as a new client. Steve Gardner, VP Sales was in town recently to explore market opportunities and get re-connected with his roots. Steve spent  some time growing up in Toronto and visits the family cottage in Muskoka in the summer to cool down from life in Tuscan, Arizona. Please checkout the website and let us know if you're interested in pilot opportunities.

Special thanks to Ian Scott and his team at the Mississauga Golf & Country Club for being gracious hosts for our annual meeting. It's a perfect setting to host strategic planning meetings and receptions in a relaxed scenic setting overlooking the Credit River.

I wish I had more time to share all the great education news across our vast Canadian landscape were the passion for learning and success paints a bright future for our future leaders. However, we need to be mindful of the challenges of demonstrating the true value that technology brings.
 
Have a great summer!  

 
If you have a success story or nuggets of news to share, please don't hesitate to drop me an email.

 
Robert Martellacci, M.A. EdTech
Publisher & Managing Editor, The MindShare Learning Report™
President, MindShare Learning™
www.mindsharelearning.com  
Go Green Before printing think about the Environment. Avant l' impression, il faut penser � l'Environnement.
Advisory Board Members 
 
The MindShare Report is grateful of the guidance and support provided by our esteemed advisory board.  Members include: 
  • Dr. Greg Malszecki, Department of Kinesiology & Health Sciences, York University
  • Dr. Ron Owston, Director, Institute for Research on Learning Technology, York University
  • Dr. Eric Hamilton, Associate Dean of Education, Pepperdine University, Graduate School of Education and Psychology
  • Cheryl Paige, Principal, Joyce Public School, Toronto District School Board
  • Jamie McNamara, Superintendent of Schools, St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Schools, Leduc, Alberta
  • Joni Turville, B.Ed, M. Ed (Instructional Technology), Educator, AISI Coordinator, St. Albert Protestant Schools
  • Timothy Gard, B. Ed. M.A., Educator - Media Literacy & Technology, Toronto District School Board
  • Cathy Phillips, M. Ed., Director, Round Table on Technology, The Learning Partnership
  • Ron Sedran, MD, Equity Capital Markets, Canaccord Adams
  • Marty Keast, President, Pearson Learning K-12 Canada  
  • David Marsi, AVP, Learning & Development, Invesco Trimark
  • Chip FeskoSr. Director of Advertising & Strategic Alliances, George Lucas Educational Foundation, Edutopia Magazine
About Us

The MindShare Learning Report team is made up of the following individuals:

  • Robert MartellacciM.A. Ed Tech., Publisher and Managing Editor, contact: [email protected]

  • Mitchel N. Townsend, M.A. Ed Tech., Editor, Higher Education, contact: [email protected]
     
About The MindShare Learning Report™ -- Canada's Premier Educational Technology eMagazine.

Our mission is to transform education by sharing knowledge of 21st Century innovative best practices and success stories in the Canadian education market space and beyond. We harness the power of Web 2.0 technologies to feature engaging Vodcasts, podcasts, polling, Canadian educational technology news headlines & upcoming strategic industry events in the K-12, Higher Ed and corporate eLearning market segments. Other elements of the MSL Report eMagazine include: successful practices, ask an educator, ask a professor, research & tech tools, GreenIT and career listings, to support educators and educational technology providers in maintaining a pulse for emerging trends in Canada. http://www.mindsharelearning.com/report
 
Editorial content for the monthly issue is due the third week of each month.
 
Please forward your news releases as web links to [email protected]
 
Sponsorship opportunities are available, please contact,
[email protected]
 
Annual subscriptions to the MindShare Learning Report can be purchased at $99 CDN
 
About MindShare Learning

MindShare Learning is a privately held company based in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. Its hallmark is providing strategic marketing solutions to learning & technology solution providers in the K-12, HED and corporate learning markets, to support new market expansion and revenue growth. MindShare Learning's partial client list includes: Adobe (Macromedia), Blackboard Inc., EPSON, RM PLC UK, Softease Ltd. UK, THINKronize (netTrekker), IMSI (ClipArt.com), CERC (Canadian Education Resources Council), Tech4Learning, Xoolon, NECTAR Foundation and ERDI Canada. http://www.mindsharelearning.com