C21 Canada

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Exclusive Podcast with Hon. Minister Gordon Dirks on Hosting the International Summit on the Teaching Profession

DSC_2451.NEFGordon Dirks was appointed Minister of Education on Sept 15, 2014. His vision for public education in Alberta will ensure that every student has equal access to the highest quality education. Minister Dirks brings a wealth of real world leadership to the role, having served as Chair of the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), and as an educator.
The Minister has had a lifelong commitment to public service as a former public school teacher, principal, university instructor, post-secondary college president and a father. He is a strong advocate for parental choice in schooling.

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New Vision for Unlocking the Potential of Technology

The World Economic Forum recently released an insightful report that addresses the global skills gap.  It is clear that education systems need to become more nimbal in meeting the emerging needs of students in the 21st century.

“These gaps are clear signs that too many students are not getting the education they need to prosper in the 21st century and countries are not finding enough of the skilled workers they need to compete.”

— World Economic Forum Report
New Vision for Unlocking the Potential of Technology

We are please to share this report and look to further dialogue with Canadian educaiton stakeholders to further support innovation and change leadership across the various education systems in Canada.

Robert Martellacci,
Co-Founder and Vice-President C21 Canaada

 

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System Change through Intentional Conversation and Culture in West Vancouver School District

chris kennedy
by Chris Kennedy,
Superintendent of the West Vancouver School District

While we can all come up with shopping lists of what is important to be covered in school, and the skills, attributes and activities that are crucial in the modern classroom, we have been intentional in West Vancouver to talk about a limited number of ideas.

We continue to come back to our focus on inquiry, self-regulation and digital access.  Of course, this is not all we do, but these three ideals are unifying – ensuring we are more than just a group of independent contractors that share a school parking lot.  We like these three areas of focus because they connect to a K teacher and a grade 12 teacher and then are as applicable in art as they are in science.  Of course, they look different at different levels, in different schools and in different classes – and this is good – we celebrate this diversity.

One approach is trying to do the same thing in every class in every school – hoping to standardize a 21st century education.  Our approach is to hold to some key principles and then network students, teachers and schools together as we go down the innovation path together.  I regularly try to celebrate this journey on my blog at www.cultureofyes.ca .

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C21 Canada Shifting Minds Award Presented to the Brandon School Division

1Karen Yamada (C21 Canada Ambassador), Kelli Boklaschuk (C21 Canada Shifting Minds Award Recipient), Greg Malazdrewic (Brandon School Division Associate Superintendent) and David Roberts (C21 Canada President).

The 2015 C21 Canada Shifting Minds Award in the individual category was presented to Kelli Boklaschuk from the Brandon School Division on January 29, 2015.  Award recipients were nominated and selected by a process inviting 21st century learning and innovation practices from coast to coast.

Kelli is an incredibly creative and talented educator and visionary. She had a profound impact with staff and students in the Saskatoon Catholic Board prior to arriving in Brandon. Since coming to the Brandon Division Kelli has been responsible for a complete overhaul of the external web picture of the Brandon School Division and has instituted the portal design which has helped enormously with both internal and external communication. Currently Kelli is responsible for the leadership of personalized learning through technology in Brandon schools.  Her ability to work with teachers and community members is enabling this work to become a reality in the Brandon Division.

David Roberts, President of C21 Canada said, “I’ve had the opportunity on a personal level to work with Kelli on several occasions. Her capacity to cut through the clutter, see the bigger picture and have people follow her to places they wouldn’t normally go on their own is always inspiring to be around. The former Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington once said that if he had the right player he would build a winning team around him. He drafted Wayne Gretzgy and the rest is history. I think the same can be said about Kelli (without Gretskys salary). Her ability to engage and her capacity to focus on the right steps forward assure Brandon of a winning team.

Brandon School Division is under the progressive leadership of Dr. Donna Michaels. Her ability to change the culture and engage staff in an agenda of change and innovation continues to be  a success. Dr. Michaels is also a member of the C21 Canada CEO Academy, a by invitation only professional learning consortium of divisional and district CEOs committed to setting Canadian standards for 21st century learning, innovation and technology.

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Dakota Collegiate Awarded for Its Digital Revolution

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Jill Mathez, Dakota Collegiate’s principal, and Duane Brothers, superintendent of Louis Riel School Division, in the school’s library on Jan. 28 after the pair was presented with the Shifting Minds Award from C21 Canada.

Dakota Collegiate has been recognized for shifting its focus to the future of learning.

On Jan. 28, the school received the Shifting Minds Award from non-profit organization C21 Canada for showing leadership and innovation through its 21st Century Learning Initiative.

The initiative integrates the use of digital technology in a learning environment that reflects today’s social and economic realities. The initiative, supported by Louis Riel School Division, was the first of its kind in Manitoba, officials say.

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C21 Canada and its members provide collaborative vision and support to help Canadian education organizations enhance learning in the foundation areas of literacy, numeracy and science while infusing 21st Century skills (creative problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, personal development, global citizenship and digital competency) into content, and instructional and assessment practices.

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