Learning Zone

Coding in 2004 – Looking back to move forward…

By: bsherry November 20, 2016November 26, 2017

constructionism, Curriculum, Improving the Instructional Program, learning, Securing Accountability, Setting Directions, technologyglobal competencies, innovation2 Comments

Sometimes there are moments that bring you back in time to reflect on your teaching practice, and a visit to YRDSBs Quest Conference this week certainly did that for me. Brian Aspinall @mraspinall was mentioning his early efforts in coding with kids in a club that he started while he was a University student in…

Google Forms and Siri Unite For Recording Anecdotals

By: bsherry August 9, 2016August 12, 2016

Building Relationships and Developing People, Edward Johnson, innovation, leadership, learning, Ontario Leadership Framework, Securing Accountability, technology4 Comments

I’m a big fan of using Siri on my iphone and have been ever since I began using speech to text software with students in about 2006. Boy, has the technology improved since then! I now use it to create reminders, schedule calendar events and dictate emails and documents when I have a quiet place…

#IICTI Learning @MakerEd Toronto

By: bsherry July 11, 2016August 9, 2016

Building Relationships and Developing People, constructionism, constructivism, Developing the Organization to Support Desired Practices, Improving the Instructional Program, innovation, learning, Ontario Leadership Framework, PD, Project Based Learning, teaching, technology#makered, iictiLeave a Comment

It was great to visit the York School this week to attend #MakerEdTo. This was a fantastic opportunity to connect the #iicti AQ course members to a network of educators interested in constructivist and constructionist uses of technology. An added bonus was that they got to hear all about Seymour Papert from the Keynote Speaker…

Making Some Bread

By: bsherry April 17, 2016May 7, 2016

food, learningLeave a Comment

About 28 years ago, I remember taking some Saturday cooking classes with my Mom. We played around learning to make pastry with techniques and recipes that I still use today, and also played around with a little bit of bread making, something that didn’t really stick with me, not because I don’t love bread, but…

YPALS – Youth Helping Youth at the YMCA

By: bsherry April 10, 2016April 10, 2016

change, collaboration, leadership, Promoting Well-Being, technology, web2.0blog, newcomers, YMCA, YPALS1 Comment

Peter Skillen and I had the pleasure of attending a working group session at the YMCA of Greater Toronto led by Candy Chow (YPALS Coordinator – ‎YMCA of Greater Toronto) and Nina Arcon (YPALS Specialist at YMCA of Greater Toronto). This group of about 12 young people are about to launch a blog that will…

Automated Ordering Comes to McDonalds

By: bsherry March 14, 2016March 14, 2016

change, technologyMcDonald's, outsourcing, technology3 Comments

We hear lots about the outsourcing of jobs to computers and last week I walked right into it at a McDonald’s restaurant.

Educon 2.8: Learning about a missed opportunity

By: bsherry February 9, 2016

collaboration, leadership, technologyLeave a Comment

I attended Educon 2.8 once again this year, hosted at the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia. It was great to be in the building once again. Chris Lehman and Zac Chase provide inspiring leadership and watching this school grow and change has been fantastic. The school feels more like Ontario schools than other US schools…

Automatic Attribution on CC Search of Flickr

By: bsherry January 4, 2016January 4, 2016

Improving the Instructional Program, learning, teachingcreative commons, digital citizenship, media literacy1 Comment

Creative Commons is not a new concept, and many people have been aware of its existence for some time, as well as the need to credit the work of generous people who offer to share their creations with us. It’s also great when something comes along that makes it a little easier for media…

GO Station Library – Book Sharing

By: bsherry November 10, 2015January 4, 2016

innovation, mediabooks, innovation, mediaLeave a Comment

When I first started commuting, I ended up at the Barrie Go Station to find this great innovative idea for book sharing that was setup close to the train tracks. The definition of innovation is to improve on something, and if you’re a lover of public libraries, like me, you’ll love this idea.

What Do We Mean By Learning Anyway?

By: bsherry September 29, 2015January 4, 2016

learning, technologyconnected educator month, knowledge building, ossemooc, twitterLeave a Comment

A Connected Educator Month 2015 Event starting on October 1st! Join Peter Skillen and me in a collective, month long, discussion to: extend and deepen our understanding of the term learning What Do We Mean By Learning Anyway? participate in a knowledge building approach to collaboration model deep practices for our professional learning environments (colleagues…