Issue 2, Volume 3, October 2010               Click here if you are having problems viewing this report            Complimentary Issue
October 2010 - MindShare Learning Digital Classroom Contest Launch - Cross Canada Spotlight on Ontario
Funding Opportunity
K12: Headlines
K12: Upcoming Events
Conference Corner
Green IT
Software Review
Post Secondary: Headlines
Post Secondary: Upcoming Events
Youth File
Research and Innovation
MindShare Musings
Advisory Board
About Us
Poll Question
 
Would you like to receive weekly Top 10 new stories from the MindShare Learning Report?
Vote Button

Forward to a Friend

Subscribe Follow us on TwitterYouTube

Subscribe 


Sponsors


Access Learning










MSL Banner
Member







Epson











Education Canada







MSL Banner

 


 
Faronics
 
 
 

frontrow




MSL Banner


 
 
Grade Expectations


 
 

netTrekker






Pearson






Pepperdine University
 








Taking It Global






 

The Learning Partnership








 

York IRLT





Suggested Reading...


  
The Highly Engaged Classroom

  
The Highly Engaged Classroom

 
ABLE
Great Brain Race

MSL Banner 

 
 
Teaching the Digital Generation
 
How, Flat and Crowded
Top


      
Publisher Podcast Interview with Timo Lankinen, Director General, Finnish National Board of Education
  




Welcome to the October Cross Canada spotlight on Ontario Education and the Official launch of the MindShare Learning 21st Century Digital Classroom National Video Challenge Special Edition.
 

The Council of Ministers of Education (CMEC) recently concluded the 98th meeting in Winnipeg with some ground breaking news. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the Ministers discussed the global movement to integrate 21st century competencies into public education. Ministers will explore what they could do together to advance the adoption of 21st century learning models in Canada.

Kudos again to CMEC for releasing a vitally important report in association with StatsCan recently.  CMEC's second report in a series begun in 2009, Education Indicators in Canada: An International Perspective, 2010, expands on the data collected for OECD's flagship publication, Education at a Glance.


MindShare Learning was once again on the move on the conference front, attending the Ontario Premier's Building Blocks on Education. We had the good fortune of interviewing world renowned Dr. Michael Fullan on a podcast which I encourage you to tune in. Interesting to note that Arnie Duncan, U.S. Department of Education commented during his keynote that there is much that the U.S. can learn from Ontario. I came away from the conference appreciating the fact that Canada performs very strongly on the world stage. I recently returned from EdNET 2010 in Boston, one of North America's leading business to business EdTech industry conferences that I was fortunate to attend.


Speaking of conferences, it's not too late to register for our inaugural MindShare Learning Canadian EdTech Leadership Summit taking place on Tuesday, November 2nd at the York University Research Tower Conference Centre. I'll be teaming up with Dr. Ron Owston from York University to oversee the day's activities as co-facilitators. Dr. Don Knezek, CEO, ISTE is our featured opening keynote.  Our Cross Canada Check-up will be facilitated by Dr. Bill Hogarth, President of ERDI Canada and former York Region DSB Director. Other featured keynotes include: Jennifer Corriero, TIG, Kathy Hurley, Chair, 21st Century partnership and Hall Davidson web 2.0 guru. Join fellow education and industry leaders for this one-day unique Summit opportunity to gain valuable knowledge from leading experts, network and re-define Canada's digital blueprint to ensure future leaders succeed in the 21st Century Global Knowledge-based economy. Space is limited! Click here to view the complete agenda and to register.

We are elated to be supporting three additional upcoming conferences as media sponsors: B.C.'s Horizons conference, When Faith Meets Pedagogy and the ECOO conferences, both in Ontario.
In this issue, Tim Gard, our tech savvy K12 Editor reviews an intriguing eLearning platform that's designed for K12; while Aislinn Malszecki, our youth columnist explores the increasing student debt load.

Our question of the month poll results are in-To tweet, or not to tweet? That is the question!, "Do you tweet , or do you plan to use twitter in the coming academic year?"  The poll yielded interesting results: 75% of the respondents responded yes vs 25%, who indicated no. Perhaps twitter is not just a fad after all!

Until next time, keep the learning curve steep!

Cheers,



 
ABLE


Find us on Facebook


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


"Students who learn using leading-edge equipment have the experience necessary to meet the real need of employers. Helping colleges buy equipment used in the working world is part of our Open Ontario Plan to strengthen the economy by investing in the skills and knowledge of Ontarians."


-Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario


"We're flattered that the 'peek' inside our classroom would merit this win. The technology will allow more of our school community to 'plug' into the world around them, and bridge our geographical isolation."


-Reggie Cyr, MindShare Learning Contest winner 2009-2010 

"Our goal is to make Ontario a leader in online education."

- Honourable John Milloy, Ontario's Minister of Training, Colleges    and Universities and Minister of Research and Innovation
Official Launch of the 3rd Annual MindShare Learning 21st Century Digital Classroom National Video Challenge at McMurrich Junior Public School TDSB

Teachers, students and sponsors gathered yesterday to celebrate the  launch of the 3rd Annual MindShare Learning Report™ 21st Century National Digital Classroom Video Challenge. The event showcased a state-of-the-art classroom; a webcast connecting last year's contest winners sharing how they meet the needs of today's learners through technology; tips for teachers on how to enter the contest, and a short video presentation.




21st Century EdTech Leadership Summit 
Engaging Education & Business Leaders in Building a Digital Blueprint to Support 21st Century Student Success


Tuesday, November 2, 2010                                           Click here for Complete Agenda

Join fellow education and industry leaders for this one-day unique Summit opportunity to gain valuable knowledge from leading experts, network and re-define Canada's Digital Blueprint to ensure our future leaders succeed in the 21st Century Global knowledge-based economy.

As part of MindShare Learning's mission to push the 21st Century learning envelope in Canada and strengthen the connection between education and business, MindShare Learning is launching its inaugural MindShare Learning Report 21st Century Canadian EdTech Leadership Summit, generously sponsored by Epson, Pearson Canada and York University.

This one-day summit will focus on current hot topics in the K-12 and post-secondary education technology space, aiming to further engage stakeholders in shaping the future direction of a vital sector that most effectively prepares students with the essential skills to successfully compete in the global knowledge-based economy.

Featured Speakers Include: 

AboutDon Knezek, CEO, ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education)

Chief Executive Officer of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE�) is a leader of innovation for transforming education with technology and recognized globally for his leadership in collaboration, planning and standards development. Dr. Knezek holds degrees from Dartmouth College, the University of Hawaii and the University of Texas at Austin. In 28 years as a professional educator, he worked in a variety of academic and administrative settings, including K-12 classroom, district office, university, regional service center, state department of education, and national and international organizations. Read More

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

Jennifer Corriero,
Co-founder and Executive Director, TakingITGlobal

Jennifer Corriero is co-founder and Executive Director of TakingITGlobal, a non-profit organization with the aim of fostering cross-cultural dialogue, strengthening the capacity of youth as leaders and increasing awareness and involvement in global issues through the use of technology. In 2005, Jennifer was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and in 2007, as one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women's Executive Network and as a York University Bryden Alumni Award winner.  Read More


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

AboutKathy Hurley, Chair, Partnership for 21st Century Skills & Sr. Vice-president,  Pearson Education

Kathy Hurley, Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, for Pearson School Companies, is a 35-year veteran of the education industry. Prior to joining Pearson, Hurley served as Vice President, Education for PLATO Learning.  Hurley has also served as the Senior Vice President for NetSchools (prior to its acquisition by PLATO Learning) where her responsibilities included overseeing the Sales, Marketing and Business Development departments of the company.  Read More

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

ABLEHall Davidson, Director, Discovery Educator Network

Hall Davidson began teaching in 1971. He taught middle and high school English, mathematics, Spanish, and bilingual mathematics, as well as college courses on technology for teacher credential candidates. He left the classroom to teach math on television, winning an Emmy award and spending 20 years at Los Angeles area PBS stations teaching, leading staff development, and championing content creation by students and teachers. He is a frequent contributor to national education publications, co-authored TechWorks, an internationally distributed classroom technology kit, and co-founded Kitzu.org, a resource of free online kits to encourage project-based learning with media. He was elected to the board of Computer-Using Educators where he served for six years.  Read More

Register Now
Discovery Science

Funding Opportunities


Request for Qualifications for Garment Design Software for Grades 7 - 12

Onatrio 30/09/10   

This Request for Qualifications ("RFQ") is an invitation to prospective respondents to qualify in accordance with Part 3 - Evaluation of Submissions for an invitation to participate in a second-stage tender call to provide Garment Design Software for Grades 7 - 12 for use on Windows and Macintosh computers.  


Government of Canada launches new program to kickstart innovation and support business success

Government of Canada 24/09/10
The Government of Canada today launched a program to help kickstart Canadian businesses by testing their innovative products and services within the Government of Canada before taking them to the marketplace. 


Best Buy Canada's Best in Class Fund to award $200,000 in technology grants to schools in Canada

Best Buy  08/09/10
Best Buy Canada is looking to award $200,000 in technology grants to teachers and students who are passionate about technology in the classroom. Starting Monday, September 13, Canada's fastest growing retailer of consumer electronics will begin accepting entries for its 2010 Best in Class Fund program.

Dell | intel

Cross Canada Spotlight on Ontario
 


Quick Facts:  Ontario K-12
  • The Minister of Education is Hon. Leona DombrowskyLink
  • As of 2008-09 there are 4,034 elementary and 901 secondary schools in Ontario
  • Approximately 1.4 million students attend Ontario's 4,000 publicly funded elementary schools.
  • Approximately 700,000 students attend more than 850 publicly funded secondary schools in Ontario.
  • For 2009-10, the government's total investment is projected to be $19.8 billion
  • In 2007-08, Ontario's graduation rate increased to 77 per cent. This represents an increase of nine percentage points - or 13,500 more students - compared to 2003-04.

Quick Facts:  Ontario Higher Education
  • The Minster of Training, Colleges and Universities is Hon. John Milloy
  • Undergraduate tuition fees for full time Ontario students:  $6,307
  • More than 120,000 additional students now attend college and university, a 31 per cent increase over 2002-03
  • More than 15,000 new graduate spaces will be created by 2011-12, an increase of more than 61 per cent since 2002-03.
  • Ontario's 24 colleges will receive $10 million this year to update resources and equipment as part of the three-year $60-million investment from the College Equipment Renewal Fund (CERF)
  • Ontario is providing Algonquin College with $698,400 this year through CERF -- for a total investment of $4.2 million over three years
  • The government's Open Ontario Plan will raise the number of Ontarians with a post secondary education and training credential to 70 per cent


Dr. Michael Fullan, Conference Co-Chair, Exclusive Podcast Interview - Ontario Premier's Building Blocks for Education Conference September 13-14, 2010

Michael Fullan is Professor Emeritus of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto. Recognized as a worldwide authority on educational reform, Michael is engaged in training, consulting, and evaluating change projects around the world and his books have been published in many languages.

Podcast sponsored by:




Professional Learning
Professional learning is a key aspect of leadership development. The resources and links below may help you plan for professional learning, whether it is for you, your school or your board.


School Board Funding Projections for the 2010-11 School Year
The following tables contain projected board-by-board allocations of the Grants for
Student Needs (GSN) as well as other related information for the 2010-11 school year.


Free Homework Help Online
Nearly 150,000 Grade 7 to 10 math students now have access to live, interactive online math help through the expansion of a pilot project funded by the Ministry of Education. Homework Help is free, real-time math tutoring by certified Ontario teachers.


About e-Learning Ontario
e-Learning Ontario is an essential online resource for the Ontario-funded school system, providing elementary and secondary teachers and learners with the flexibility they need to reach their goals. Through e-Learning Ontario, the Ministry of Education offers participating school boards new ways to teach Ontario's curriculum and help their students succeed.


About OSPAC

The Mandate of the Ontario Software Acquisition Program Advisory Committee (OSAPAC) is to:
Consult with the publicly funded education system (e.g., annual survey, attendance at conferences, liaison with subject associations)  to assess provincial priorities in the areas of required software titles recommended by teachers in support of learning;


Teachers' Gateway to Special Education
Teaching Strategies for Students with Special Needs


McGuinty Government Showcasing Ontario's Education Successes
September 12, 2010
Ontario will welcome international educators from as far away as Australia, Finland, France, Russia, Singapore and the United States for a two-day education summit in Toronto that begins tomorrow.


Premier's Awards of Excellence

Laid-Off Ontarians Graduating Into Second Careers
September 23, 2010
A survey of Second Career students shows that 93 per cent of students have graduated, and over 60 per cent have found jobs within an average of three months.



 
Advanced Presintation

K12 Feature Headlines
 
New Software Release: Math Strategies Junior
NETAR Foundation 30/09/10

In Math Strategies Junior,  students and teachers explore and discover relationships and strategies to understand and solve addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems through 27 open-ended learning explorations. 


 
DSB students embrace the power of WE
TDSB 30/09/10
Over 3500 TDSB students and staff from 220 schools participated in We Day today at the Air Canada Centre to celebrate all of their hard work to achieve positive change around the world.


Education ministers apply for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada
CMEC 29/09/10
The Copyright Consortium of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), is appealing the July decision of the Federal Court of Appeal upholding the Copyright Board of Canada's photocopying tariff for K-12 educational institutions.


Spongelab goes for the love of the biology game
CBC News 27/09/10
Christian Schneider might seem like a typical adolescent who loves video games and little league baseball, but his top three games will reveal something very interesting about the 12-year-old.
 

Halifax benefit draws Grammy winner Kurt Elling, helping youth build bridges for new lives
CNW  15/09/10
Crooner here to support new training centre promoting second chances through art, education, technology and community   


Ron Canuel Appointed as CEA's New Chief Executive Officer
CEA 13/09/10
The Canadian Education Association (CEA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ron Canuel as its new CEO. An accomplished leader in public education, Mr. Canuel will strengthen CEA's position as an authority on innovation in teaching and learning in Canada.


Knowledge Ontario Announces eResources Portal
KO 03/09/10
Knowledge Ontario is pleased to launch an eResources Portal that brings together four KO services and provides instant access to them all. The portal fulfills KO's promise to create barrier-free access to trustworthy digital resources and services for all Ontarians.


K-12: Upcoming Events

Pearson

Event: .......When Faith Meets Pedagogy Conference
Date: .........
October 21-23
Location: ...
Toronto ,
ON

Event: .......Media Literacy Week
Date: .........
November 1-5,2010
Location: ...
MNet YouTube Channel


Event:........MindShare Learning 21st Century Canadian EdTech Leadership Summit
Date:..........November 2, 2010
Location:....Markham Convergence Centre in Association with York University


Event........Autism 2010 
Date........November 3 - 5, 2010
Location...Toronto, ON

Looking for Excellent Professional Learning?  Come to ECOO 2010!  Follow us on Twitter




ECOO 2010: Inspire, Connect, Learn is fast approaching! 
www.ecoo.org
The Educational Computing Organization of Ontario's 31st Annual conference is fast approaching on Nov. 11 and 12 in Richmond Hill, Ontario.  This conference will be of interest to educators, parents, policy makers and those who live and work with the digital learners of the 21st Century!  Come and build your professional learning community to help serve our students now and in the future!

Here are some of the conference highlights:
�    Opening Keynote: David Thornburg
�    Closing Keynote: Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach
�    Minds on Media Bring-Your-Own-Laptop Event for 120 participants
�    World Class Exhibit Area
�    Spotlight Speakers from around the province and beyond
�    Workshops for teachers, by teachers
�    Vendor demonstrations of new software and hardware
�    Where's the Flock?  Find your twitter PLN at our Super Tweetup!
�    Beautiful venue and reduced prices for ECOO Attendees at the Sheraton Parkway Hotel in Richmond Hill

Top 50 words in our ECOO 2010 Planner from wordle.net:


Event.....The Quest - For Increased Student Achievement:  Engaging Learning In The 21st Century
When.....November 17 - 19, 2010
Where....
Toronto, ON


Please share your conference news with us and we'll do our best to include your event, and/or reflections. Email
[email protected]
MindShare Learning Report

Conference Corner


EdNET Conference Corporate Spotlight Exclusive Podcast interview with Tim DiScipio


As the original founding member of ePals, Tim DiScipio's leadership and vision helped build the company into one of the K-12 education industry's most recognized and leading global brands now reaching 13 million teachers and
students in 200 countries and territories. His role at ePals has been
directing company partnerships, marketing, product strategy and building the company's global user base. Having created one of the first "social networks" on the web, DiScipio is sourced by the industry as an early pioneer in the field of safe, collaborative education technology and online community building for learners and educators worldwide.



Podcast sponsored by:




 


Green IT

 Green IT Faronics : How Green Is I.T. Really?








The Home Sweet Home Student Challenge:  Encouraging Emerging Talent Coming Forward from our Colleges and Universities to Help us Build Even Better Homes Tomorrow
An exciting new annual competition which is currently being developed by Ontariogreenspace.ca with the help of an Advisory Board of twelve academic leaders and green building practitioners.

 
Ubuntu Education Fund officially opened in the Ubuntu Centre in Zwide Township, South Africa
Digital Journal, 09/21/10

Ubuntu Education Fund YouTube page


The Centre will feature a paediatric HIV clinic, community theatre, and educational centre. Solar and wind energy will be used to power the innovative building, which will also benefit from passive heating, grey-water recycling, and other green technology.


Top 10 Eco Education Trends
Alternative Journal 01/09/10
Environmental education (EE) is finding new ways to inspire students and the public, while clearing a path toward future sustainability. These top ten innovations offer hope for those who will have to adapt to the new millennium.


Vancouver, Cisco and Pulse Energy Collaborate to Meet City's Environmental and Energy Goals to be the Greenest City in the World by 2020
Cisco 09/09/10
The city of Vancouver, Cisco and Pulse Energy today at the Shanghai World Expo announced a collaborative relationship designed to accelerate the development of Vancouver's green-energy goals.


The Montreal Biosphere and Environment Canada offers green activities by videoconference in schools across Canada 
Architectural masterpiece and symbol of Expo 67, the Biosph�re is a unique and spectacular structure, located in downtown Montr�al, on Sainte-H�l�ne Island's Parc Jean Drapeau. Educational Programs for the 2010-2011 school year. 


Inventory Management is Simplified with Release of Faronics System Profiler
Faronics 15/09/10 
Faronics, a global leader in cost reducing IT solutions and computer power management, announced today the release and immediate availability of Faronics System Profiler, a powerful inventory solution.












Timothy Gard

Educator, Toronto District School Board

Software Review:  School Town eLearning and Collaboration Platform

There's nothing like working in an eLearning environment that was designed by a group of people who understand teaching and learning, at least in the kind of context that happens online. And even though this whole eLearning movement is still in the nascent stages of development, and there is a long way to go, at least in terms of teachers truly using these types of environments for all that they can be, School Town has developed a product that has many of the tools that can empower both the teacher and student to create a truly collaborative eLearning experience. Read on to find out more about this powerful eLearning tool for the K-12 education market...

Post Secondary Education - Visiting Professor


Exclusive Podcast Interview with Dr Milton Chen,
Senior Fellow, The George Lucas Educational Foundation
.


Milton Chen, Ph.D., has been a leading figure in educational media for more than 20 years. Have worked at George Lucus Educational Foundation (GLEF) for 12 years as executive director, became senior fellow in early 2010, bringing new leadership to its mission of gathering and disseminating the most innovative models of K-12 teaching and learning in the Digital Age. 



Podcast Sponsored by:
 


Post Secondary Education Feature Headlines


OntarioLearn.com registers its 65,000th student
OntarioLearn 29 /09/10
OntarioLearn.com, the Ontario Community College online collaborative system, has registered its 65,000th student.  Started in 1995, OntarioLearn.com is a consortium of 22 Ontario Community Colleges servicing the rapidly growing market for online education.

 
M.I.T. considers charging for its online lectures 
NYTimes 26/09/10
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has announced that it is considering charging for access to online lectures and class notes, which are currently available free on the Web. 


Documentary by UBC journalism students wins Emmy
Ghana:  Digital Dumping Ground 
Globe & Mail 27/09/10
A team of Canadian journalism students has won a major award in documentary filmmaking for an investigative piece on the way computers and cellphones from the developed world are unsafely disposed of in developing countries. 


University of Regina students set to showcase Microsoft software idea in New York
Leader Post 30/09/10
Mark Laprairie and Spoorthy Seenappa might just have what it takes to help launch the next big craze in Microsoft computer technology.

  

Post Secondary Education: Upcoming Events 


Event: ........Edge Conference 2010:
Date: ......... October 12 - 15, 2010
Location: .... Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland

Event: ........2010 EDUCAUSE Annual Conference
Date: .........October 12 - 15, 2010
Location: .... Anaheim, California

Date........October 20-23, 2010
Location...Calgary, Alberta


Youth File
Aislinn Malszecki


Students are Buried in Debt:  Tuition is Rising


 Statistics Canada reported this September full-time students in undergraduate programs paid 4.0% more on their tuition fees and graduate students were spiked with a 6.6% increase in 2010/11. The Canadian Council on Learning came out with a recent report suggesting more college and university students are facing higher debts.  These two reports paint an unsettling picture of the state of Canadian post secondary students finances.  The Canadian Council on Learning is calling for a national post-secondary education (PSE) national strategy from the federal government, I agree we need one. 


For many students nationwide there is confusion about the financial aid process and lack of awareness or knowledge of available funds and resources.  Most importantly there isn't sufficient information about post secondary planning, academic preparation and financing.  Many students are working more than 20 hours a week and a large proportion are putting themselves through school and in some cases have dependent children.  These post secondary institutions have the most information about financial aid and should be obligated to council all students. These are financial barriers that have lasting effects which includes decades of payments, limited in buying a home and repelling life partners. 



Research and Innovation

Pepperdine


The Intensive Margin of Technology Adoption
Harvard Research 28/09/10
We present a tractable model for analyzing the relationship between economic growth and the intensive and extensive margins of technology adoption. The "extensive" margin refers to the timing of a country's adoption of a new technology; the "intensive" margin refers to how many units are adopted (for a given size economy). 


21 Definitions for a 21st-Century Education
EdTech  Digest 29/09/10
I recently asked thousands of educators what "21st-century skills and tools" means to them, and how one might integrate such technologies and skills into today's classrooms. The responses were overwhelming-


Parents unaware of kids' online gaming: survey
CBC News  28/09/10
More and more children are playing video games online, but parents don't seem to be taking much notice, according to new research from the Entertainment Software Association of Canada.


Ministers of Education Deliver on Education Data 
CMEC 07/09/10 
The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), released extensive data today on Canada's education systems as part of its ongoing commitment to quality education data and research. 


New report reveals the future of literacy in Canada's largest cities
Canadina Council on Learning 08/09/10
A new report from the Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) provides an unprecedented look at the future state of adult literacy in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, from 2001 through 2031. 


Learn how Epson 3LCD multimedia projectors are bringing curriculum and information to life
Working with deaf and hard of hearing students is both a challenge and a passion for Cheryl Rivait. Adding technology to her toolkit has not only helped her deliver curriculum more effectively, it has also engaged her students in ways she did not anticipate.


MindShare Musings..."The Connectors, Leaders and People on the Move"


We hit a new stratosphere with our family this past month when it comes to the activities department. With the twins now in high school and three kids playing hockey, one also in dance, our reliance on technology as a communication tool is vital. PDA's are now an essential part of their toolkit, even my wife is now texting! My only wish is that they had a tablet that could be fully loaded with their "digital" textbooks instead of a 25lb plus knapsack that remains a challenge for any kid to lug around. I'm open to solutions and could influence a pilot at their new school!

A little trivia about the new Governor General, David Johnston. I rubbed elbows with him literally while playing for the York University faculty hockey team.  Governor General Johnston hosted the McGill tournament when he served as principal a number of years back. A former captain of the Harvard hockey team, he proved to be a real gentleman off the ice, despite his sharp elbows. Kudos to Prime Minister Harper for appointing a passionate Canadian, who sees innovation and education as critical factors to our country's future success. Governor General Johnston plays to win both on and off the ice.

It was a pleasure to finally connect live and in person with Alberta's Education Minister David Hancock while at the Ontario Premier's Building Blocks on Education conference last month. On that note, Alberta Education has announced that it will continue its Speak Out provincial government-led student forums in the Fall of 2010. Students are encouraged to visit www.speakout.alberta.ca to share ideas through moderated discussion boards.
 
Vancouver based Faronics announced their First Ever Student Programming Competition. It was great to connect with Dennis Boulter, VP sales at the EdNET industry conference in Boston recently. In fact there were some 15 Canadian companies represented, including: ePals, Nelson Learning, CDI Computers, SMART Technologies to name a few. Congratulations to my good friend Vicki Bigham, EdNET Conference, who celebrated 20 years of organizing EdNET. Here's to another 20 years Vicki! You and your team did a stellar job.

Congratulations to Paul Weatherhead who shared that he was recently appointed operations manager at Advanced Presentation Products.

Canada's EduTech Innovator of the month: B.C. Education and Literacy new  BC fb page.

Why not close this issue with a thought provoking statement from Bill Gates, "The Internet will displace the traditional university in 5 Years." After today's career panel at York U that I participated in, I believe there's some truth to it. I learned from speaking with students that a typical class lecture draws half the students because of availability of notes and assignments online. Granted the class does fill up for exams. I'm intrigued by this emerging trend as I believe a hybrid or blended model is the future. I hope that Sr. level university administrators are paying attention to the evolving needs of students.

So much more to share, however, I'm on deadline. Follow me on twitter to get your daily dose of MindShare Learning news at MindShareLearn. Until next time, walk the digital talk!
R.M.

MindShare Learning Report Publisher, Robert Martellacci and fellow panel members at a the recent Career Conversations Entrepreneurship & Consulting Panel at York University.
Top of page
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, Educator - Media Literacy & Technology, Toronto District School Board
  • Gary Kern, Principal, Technology & Innovation, West Vancouver School District
  • 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:

About The MindShare Learning Report™ -- Canada's Leading, Learning & 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, GlobalScholar, Learning.com, RM PLC UK, Softease Ltd. UK, netTrekker, IMSI (ClipArt.com), CERC (Canadian Education Resources Council), Tech4Learning, Xoolon, NECTAR Foundation and ERDI Canada. http://www.mindsharelearning.com