Week 2 of #DCMOOC and I find myself thinking about digital citizenship in everything I do. Isn’t that what we want students to do? Isn’t that what I want to do … think before I post, learn to be a good digital citizen. I want to become the best citizen I can. I strive to do that daily and as I reflect, I think about the many times I have made mistakes in life and try to remember that I am still learning even today.
I recognize that it took me a lifetime to become the person I am today and I will continue to make mistakes online and off. Trying to merge my two identities online and off , being authentic and true to who I really am isn’t always easy.
Reflecting brings to light what I want students to do which is to focus on their strengths. I attempt to do that online and off, but at times I fall short. Reflecting makes me aware of what I need to do to change and taking this course helps me bring to light what it is that I want to do differently.
Each year I think about new ways to share my learning on line so that it will benefit students. I want to model and teach citizenship to our students . By reflecting on others posts, sharing in blackboard collaborate , following the hashtag #DCMOOC and reading in the G + community I am often enlightened as to resources that I can use with our students.
I really like what Deborah had to say about #W2Q2 “I find the best analogy to share with my students is that everything they post online should be something they are willing to share on the morning announcements at school.“Thanks Deb, I think I will start sharing that with students. One thing I will do differently is start my day with something I can share with students on digital citizenship twice a week on the school twitter account. I will commit to this next year.
I want to thank Deborah McCallum for this flipboard. It made me think about fixing up one I had already started . I will share it later.
Taking this MOOC has made me revisit some of the resources I use and try to improve them so that I can then use them with students and share with those in #DCMOOC. As a result I have made a few more flipboards to share with School Counsellors and thanks to @suewaters I can now fix my flipboards to make them better. Thanks to @courosa for always sharing such great resources and here are some more resources.
DCMOOC should I shouldn’t I ? This time of year can be so hectic with so many things going on , but I really could not pass up the opportunity to learn along with so many great educators who care about Digital Citizenship. Of course knowing that Alec Couros was going to lead the MOOC made my decision much easier as he is a phenomenal leader. School Counsellors need to model good digital citizenship and I want to continue to learn when it comes to this area.
This is my third MOOC, my second cMOOC and I am glad I decided to keep growing and learning along with you all. My first MOOC was ETMOOC and I was so scared to dive into that MOOC that I joined in on the last day. I believe it changed my life personally and professionally. I no longer have as many fears. I continued painting and feeling free to do so because of all the supportive ETMOOC’ ers. I feel I was released from my fears of I can’t to I can.
I am a better school counsellor because of ETMOOC, I now integrate Digital Citizenship and technology in all I do.
I am connected to so many fabulous people that I have met on line. I never realized you could make such great friends through #ETMOOC, #SCCrowd and #scchat.
I have learned so many skills that I know I would not have had, had it not been for my involvement in ETMOOC. I blog , vlog tweet , make videos,
google hangout, use google doc’s , use technology to collaborate with people and school counsellors from across the world and so much more.
I believe I am a better person more willing to be open and share.
My second MOOC was an edxMOOC called Justice by Michael Sandel. A great orator and an interesting course (and I did like it a lot), but I must admit I learned way more from my cMOOC about life and learning. My bias is all MOOC’s should be run like a cMOOC.
I am very passionate about Digital Citizenship as a school counsellor, parent and person who is living in a digital world. I believe if I am to assist students in a digital world I need to know what they are doing and how they do it, thus my interest in everything digital.
If I want students to be good digital citizens I need role model being a good Digital Citizen, one who does not have fears of making mistakes.
I look forward to this journey with you , knowing that the process will be easier this time around, but the learning will continue and be as exhilarating and exciting! Thanks to every person who has been willing to share and help me on this journey.
Thanks to @hatcherelli I saw this post today and it got me to thinking about the many times I have seen this kind of post! There has been hashtags for school counsellors for a very long time, but many are not aware of them.
The longest standing hashtag for school counsellors is #scchat, a great place for school counsellors to gather. Thanks to @ecmmason and @sch_counselor this is a great place to share and learn.
After our time in ETMOOC@EHordyskiLuong and I tried to get Canadian School Counsellors to join in using the hashtag #CSCchat. We know you are out there school counsellors and we still want you to join in using all the school counsellor hashtags. It is the best PD ever . Don’t miss out!
What is #SCCROWD? This year @rawolfson started #SCCrowd a different kind of chat that school counsellors from across the world can join in . Check out this SCCrowd website to find out more.
So yes George , administrators, school counsellors, educators and anyone who wants to connect with school counsellors from across the world there are hashtags and we welcome you to use them anytime. Collaborating with administrators is so important and that is why I often use the hashtag #edchat . Using the hashtag #cdnedchat is another great way I connect with educators from Canada. So please join in and use the school counsellor hashtags listed here.
#SCChat School Counsellor Chat
#CSCCHAT Canadian School Counsellor Chat
#SCCROWD A Worldwide international School Counsellor Chat
#ESCCHAT Elementary School Counsellor Chat
#HSCCHAT High School Counsellor Chat
#IntlSC for International School Counsellors thanks to Scott Langston
Everyone please feel free to join us anytime in a chat. We’d love to see you there. Thanks Derek Hatch and George Couros for giving me something to blog about today . Would love to see you jump in anytime using the #SCCrowd or other school counsellor hashtags . Seeing as you are Canadians why not use #CSCchat? This way we can demonstrate positive digital leadership and citizenship by working together . Thanks to #ETMOOC and now #DCMOOC for making me constantly think about digital citizenship and how it relates to school counselling.
Found this tweet from George Couros and think this is a great way to connect with elders in the worldwide community. We already connect F2F, but I believe this is another way to make positive connections.
Isn’t this the kind of students and relationships we want students to have ? Never mind all the wonderful educational benefits this kind of connection has the ability to elicit.
Who would of thought that going on a school trip with ninety-four students and ten chaperones to Italy would turn out to be the trip of a lifetime? These pictures pretty much sum up the amazing adventure we were about to go on starting April 11 . Every detail was planned and coordinated by our outstanding music teachers at BCHS. I knew they were amazing before this trip, but I gained a new respect for them after this outstanding experience that would last ten extraordinary days.
Here is just a snippet of the 10 wonderful days of music:
FACTS:
Destination Calgary airport.
Group 1 departing for Amsterdam on route to Venice.
Group 2 departing for Toronto on route to Venice
HIGHLIGHTS:
Our students performing for unsuspecting audience in Amsterdam airport joined by two unknown travellers much to the delight of travellers
Landing in Venice tired but excited Saturday, APRIL 12TH, 2014AT 6.P.M. arriving at our hotel Hotel Villa Florita
Sunday, April 13th Venice, Italy DAY TWO
Our days would often begin early,so that we could fit in as much as possible for our students.
FACTS:
Day starts at 6 a.m. Arriving at Tronchetto Parking lot to transfer by boat to San Marco Area.
Pizza Supper where we met up with a choir from South Africa singing together in a moving moment that brought tears to many eyes as the two choirs spontaneously joined in to sing for each other and then join in together to sing shosholoza
Concert Interpreti Veneziani program Vivaldi/Bach/Hasse
Tuesday, April 15th Cremona DAY FOUR
FACTS:
Day begins at 6 a.m. for a two and a half hour bus ride to the Cremona
HIGHLIGHTS:
A visit to Museo Stradivariano
Students perform in courtyard of Museo Ala Ponzone facts ( first official concert of the tour and it was delightful)
Modena Balsamic Vinegar factory tour ,very tasty and what a beautiful location (got to bring back many gifts for families and friends)
Arrive at our hotel in Bologna ( Grand Hotel Bologna) another beautiful little town
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16th Bologna, Italy DAY FIVE
FACTS:
6:30 a.m. start
HIGHLIGHTS:
Walking tour through beautiful city . So many beautiful churches and squares in all these spots
Lunch where we attend a great cooking school and make pasta Vecchia Scuola Bolognese (the lunch they made for us was amazing,but we had so much fun making linguini together in groups. The students sang to the owners and helpers to thank them for such a delightful afternoon.
Held our own liturgy for Good Friday which was also amazing. The organ playing done by our student . The horn playing by our choir teachers husband and the beautiful readings and prayers done by students and staff made this one of my favourite memories of the trip.
Stayed at Hotel Casa Leonori
A talent show by students and chaperones ( loads of laughs and fun )
Saturday, April 19th ROME
FACTS: start 6:00 a.m.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Tour of St. Peters Basilica, Vatican museum, Sistine Chapel
Walking tour of Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps
Dinner at Papa Rex with opera singing and an accordion player and a nice meal
This by far was the most hectic day keeping track of all our students in such large crowds
Sunday, April 20th Easter Sunday in the Vatican Pope Francis
FACTS: Early start so we could arrive in the square by 7:30 a.m.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Just being at the Vatican on Easter Sunday
Listening to the message in many languages
Having this fantastic experience with so many wonderful students and staff
There is absolutely no way to really tell you how appreciative I am to be able to have spent the ten days together with students and colleagues. The organization was exemplary. The students were unbelievably well behaved and represented themselves and the school exceptionally well. My most favorite part was being able to connect with students on a different level and be exposed to their wonderful talents. Now when I see them in the hall we can smile and talk with each other. We have a shared experience and memories that will last a lifetime. I absolutely loved all the music as I believe music can heal the body,mind and spirit. I am extremely grateful for this experience as it helped me connect as a school counsellor with students in a way I would never have been able to previously. The trip was a mental health break which I will treasure forever.
Counsellor Talk : Creative Collaborative Connections 