Image was created using Midjourney
Check out this how to guide: where you will find an open invitation to all educators and students to co-create a collection of ideas on how AI tools such as chat GPT, DALL-E and Midjourney could be used in inventive ways for teaching , learning and scholarship. If you are a School Counsellor take a look at Slide #50.
When it comes to Bullying and Cyberbullying in youth, you can make a difference, so let it begin with you.
When someone does or says something that is unintentionally hurtful and they do it once It’s being RUDE
When someone says or does something intentionally hurtful and they do it twice, It’s being MEAN
When someone says or does something intentionally hurtful and you tell them to stop or show them you are upset that is BULLYING
Used with permission by Trudy Ludwig
We all need to HALT when it comes to bullying and cyberbullying. If your organization needs a bullying policy you could start here with the beginning of one I created many years ago.
Humane Actions Leads to Tolerance
Anti-bullying policy
EVERYONE BELONGS
If we create a society where we treat each other with dignity and respect, we must begin looking at ourselves and see what we can change.
We need to :
A ccept ourselves the way we are at this moment
B elieve we are capable of change
C are about the thoughts and feelings of others
D ecide to take action
E ncourage others to not be bystanders
Definition of Bullying
Bullying is … put your own updated definition here.
Affirmations for your youth:
I am responsible for how I act
I am responsible for what I say
I am responsible for what I do
I treat myself with dignity and respect
I treat others with dignity and respect
It is important in all communities to develop a climate of understanding where we all make a commitment to understanding ourselves and others better.
Sometimes we need to HALT. We need to stop and think about what we are doing to others and to ourselves. When we stop and reflect we can often see things from someone else’s point of view. We need to create HOPE for the future by what we do today.
Check here to see what Alberta says about bullying policies and legislation. We all need to work together to provide a safe environment for our youth. We need to find ways to promote healthy relationships for everyone. Cyberbullying is protected by law and there are legal consequences. The Education Act was revised in 2012 to define bullying as “repeated and hostile or demeaning behaviour by an individual in the school community where the behaviour is intended to cause harm, fear or distress to one or more other individuals in the school community, including psychological harm or harm to an individual’s reputation.” We all need to work together to make sure all youth are protected.
We all make mistakes and are in the process of learning. It is our job to help youth see that their actions matter, however we need to model for kids appropriate behaviour online and off.
You have such an opportunity to make a difference. How will you spread love and hope in the world, letting others know that bullying and cyberbullying are never ok?
I know that everything I say and do online and off matters. There are so many ways to improve your online behaviour , but focusing on 10 can begin the process for yourself today. PAUSE before POSTING might be one.
When you collaborate to STOP bullying , it can make all the difference. Who in your community can you collaborate with? Don’t reinvent the wheel find ways to make the wheel better.
Remind yourself that what you say and do can impact a youth for a lifetime.
It is so important to keep updated. It is becoming increasingly complex to detect when something is false information. You can use snopes and other online tools. Detecting false information is something we all need to learn how to do. Media Smarts provides digital literacy lessons for Canadian youth that you may find helpful.
There are so many ways you can find teachable moments in your day. Brainstorm with your staff ways in which you can intentionally create these moments.
When you create a healthy environment and relationship with youth will , they will find ways to make anti-bullying a priority.
So go ahead and treat youth with loving actions , being respectful of who they are and the developmental stage they are at presently.
You are already doing so many things right. Focus on all the things you have done up to now, and find small ways to make things better.
It’s up to all of us to work together to create safe communities. Find opportunities to have meaningful discussions throughout the year that will impact all in a positive way.
We are all in this together, learning new things everyday. So be patient with yourself and others.
Take time today to think of what you are doing right and what you could be doing better as a leader, educator or someone who works with youth.
In this ever changing world we need to be more prepared now than ever. We all need to keep learning and growing.
So let it begin with you when it comes to anti-bullying and cyberbullying initiatives. What do you plan to do?
Anti bullying books etc. google slides
Bullying Prevention NASP national Association of school Psychologists
Bullying Help: Resources and Partners | Learning for Justice
Cyberbullying
Cyber Bullying Grade 8
Dare to Care programs
Make social media great again
Alberta Government Bullying Hotline 1. 888.456.2323
Kid’s Help Phone 1.800.668.6868
Calgary Police resources:
Bullying Calgary Police resources
Cyberbullying Calgary Police services
Websites
… and teach others to be the same.
School Counsellors play a vital role in the education system, helping students with everything from academic concerns to mental health issues. However, with the ever-increasing student population, it can be challenging to keep up with the demand for counselling services. This is where AI comes in.
AI-powered tools can help school counsellors to manage their workload more efficiently and effectively. For example, an AI-powered chatbot can be used to triage students’ needs, directing them to the appropriate resources or counselling sessions. This frees up counsellors’ time to focus on more complex cases and allows them to provide more personalized and effective support. Additionally, AI-powered analytics can be used to identify patterns and trends in student behaviour, helping counsellors to identify and address potential problems before they become serious.
AI can also help to remove the stigma associated with seeking counselling. Many students may be hesitant to seek help due to fear of judgment or embarrassment. However, with the anonymity and convenience of an AI-powered chatbot, students may be more likely to reach out for help. Additionally, AI-powered tools can provide students with access to counselling resources 24/7, so they can seek help whenever they need it. This can be especially beneficial for students who live in remote areas or have busy schedules.
Overall, AI can be a powerful tool for school counsellors, helping them to manage their workload more effectively and provide more personalized and effective support to students. By removing the stigma associated with seeking counselling and providing students with access to resources 24/7, AI can help to improve the mental health and well-being of students in the education system.
There are so many potential ways AI can impact the role of the School Counsellor. The above paragraphs were written by Chat GPT, and although it does not fully explain the pros and cons of using AI , it does give some pause for thought.
I look forward to the ways that Chat GPT and other AI tools can be jumping off points for great dialogue with youth and School Counselling colleagues.
I look forward to beginning this conversation as I stimulate dialogue in my workshop …
It’s Time to Unlock the Potential and Perils of Artificial Intelligence for School Counsellors
In the meantime you may wish to check out some of these resources:
Here is what Dennis Pierce has to say about some of the pitfalls of AI in education. Here is what Torrey Trust has to say :
What do you need to know about ChatGPT?
I am interested to know what you as a School Counsellor think. Sharing Doc – Share any comments, questions, answers, resources, links, examples, and more here in the – Google Document link for School Counsellors. How will you use AI to help you , help your students? In all my questions to chat GPT re: school counselling topics, it has said several times that Chat GPT does not replace a professional School Counsellor . Although AI will not replace you … a person who knows how to use AI ethically and educationally may someday.
“If we make community the curriculum, membership becomes how we scale. It’s all about belonging.”
Dave Cormier
Our 10 th celebration information.
Today is National Hug Day, but hug day began for me a long time ago starting with my following Leo Buscgalia in high school. Leo was a hugger and helped me navigate life in a positive and meaningful way through his books. Leo taught me a lot about love, being a caring human being. as well as being a teacher. In 1983, a group of my grade six students and I decided to start a hug day in our school. The students wrote a letter (which I still have today) to our then Mayor Ralph Klein who proclaimed March 11 th 1983 as Hug Day:
Whereas on this special day no one is allowed to fight;
Whereas no one on this day is allowed to argue;
Whereas on this day, everyone is to have a happy day with as much courtesy and kindness shown to one another as possible
Now therefore , I , Ralph Klein, Mayor of the City of Calgary, do hereby proclaim Friday, March 11th, 1983 as “hug Day “in recognition of the kind and thoughtful students of the grade six class of St. Cecilia Elementary School who originated this day.
Hugs truly matter and can have a wonderful effect our mental health. Hugs increase our sleep, make us feel better and are overall good for our health and well being. It is too bad that hugging in school has changed. I recognize that we need to set boundaries for sure. It is extremely important that the person being hugged is open to hugs. However, hug days in school was a good thing and something I am proud of and brings back such positive thoughts. It was a special day and holds special memories for the students that I have taught.
This year will be our 40th year since Hug Day began. Before the pandemic I got together with my very loving and caring students, now all in their fifty’s and I am hoping we get together again to celebrate life, each other and a few hugs.
For sure hugs have led to my happiness, having a positive impact on me, my loved ones and their well being and I hope they do yours too.
Feel free to copy / print and share FREE ly with others.
Every now and then I come across something truly meaningful and useful that I think will help others. Today a friend of mine shared these words with me by a close relative of hers. Like many of you , I know and love someone with bipolar disorder. I am hoping by sharing his story (which I have permission to do so), it will help you too.
_________’s Story … it may be yours
A little over a year ago I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, previously referred to as manic depression. Never in my life would I have expected to be diagnosed with bipolar, yet at the same time it made so much sense to me and helped me to better understand myself, my past and my current emotions/actions on a deeper level.
The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that approximately 4.4 % of US adults have bipolar disorder. and 1% of Canadians meet the criteria for bipolar disorder. Knowing these stats may be helpful for some who feel alone.
Growing up I felt like there was a stigma around bipolar disorder, at least for me personally there was. I was no stranger to friends and family who struggled with depression, anxiety, ADHD and other mental illnesses. However, if you had asked the juvenile me to picture a person with bipolar disorder, I probably would have pictured a crazy person. A literal maniac, someone who would need to be permanently hospitalized or sheltered from society.
I consider myself to be a fairly high functioning individual. I am blessed to have attended an excellent high school and university, played sports in my youth. I have great career, lots of friends and a beautiful family.
Thus given my biased lack of understanding for the disorder and positive perception of myself, I never expected to be diagnosed with bipolar.
What is bipolar disorder? Here is what the Mood Disorders Society of Canada has to say about the symptoms.
Knowing I had some of these symptoms and have been diagnosed with bipolar, I thought I would share what a week in my life may look like, understanding full well yours may be different.
Here is a week in my life with bipolar disorder. I don’t pretend to know what it is like for everyone else who experiences bipolar, but here is what it is like for me.
Hypomania: One week I feel on top of the world. I am energized, extroverted, and may be overconfident. My creative juices are flowing. I have more ideas than I know what to do with. I may feel like I could go all day without eating or I feel I can work all night without sleep.
During this time, I am Mr. Social and in a networking mode. Lots of my friends come to mind and I feel the need to reach out to reconnect, call or catch up with them. I find myself multi-tasking and may be more prone to be distracted. Perhaps it feels like I have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. That being said after getting distracted, I get back on task quickly and tend to be very productive. I find myself setting lots of ambitious goals in this energized state. I am more optimistic and decisive. I am less sensitive to spending money and may be more open to making purchases and investments. I find myself extra assertive and unfiltered in my communications. I may be more prone to agitation or being argumentative.
Depression: The following week I seem to crash from my high energy state into a state of depression. I feel lethargic. It’s tougher to get out of bed in the morning and I am more tired and calm throughout the day.
My confidence is gone and some imposter syndrome may begin to creep in. I am more timid and soft spoken. I withdraw from others and seek to be alone. It feels like I can only concentrate on one task at a time, yet I find myself getting lost within my own thoughts. I find myself thinking about the past and my mistakes. Life feels like it is moving in slow motion for me while everyone else is on double speed. I may feel socially awkward. I am introverted and tend to overthink things. I may be overly apologetic and am hypersensitive to the emotions of those around me. I worry about money/budget and find myself being ultra conservative when it comes to spending or investing.
The cycle repeats.
I am hoping some of you may relate to my experiences . Knowing each of us is unique, it is best to seek medical and psychological intervention when getting any diagnosis.
Coping skills are vital , so I’d like to share some that work for me.
I hope you find coping skills that work for you. It is my hope that someone is helped by my words and for those of you who don’t have a mental health disorder , that you will gain a clearer perspective while developing empathy and understanding.for others with a mental illness. At the end of the day, I am grateful for the experiences I have had with depression and bipolar. I am glad God made me the way I am and would not have things any other way. These experiences have been tough at times, but have also been interesting and have helped me have much more empathy and compassion for others.
As a psychologist I am privileged to listen to the story of others and this story is one that I believe could definitely help others, so I am thankful to ____ for allowing me to share.
For those of you in Calgary here are some resources that may assist you:
Mood Disorders Program
The organization for Bipolar Affective Disorder
Resources for those 18 plus in Calgary Mental Health resources and supports
If your safety or that of others is at stake please call 911 or go to your nearest urgent care centre or emergency room.
1. I will face the school year with strength and demonstrate my leadership skills. I will lead from my heart with courage.
2. I will bring my best to school each day helping as many students as possible, wherever and whenever possible.
3. I will live just for today helping students while taking care of myself.
4. I will radiate confidence, strength and hope in all I do.
5. I will be brave and model bravery for my students and staff.
6. I will practice being grateful each day as I enter the school building or my workplace wherever that may be.
7. I will look at all the possibilities and opportunities this time offers me.
8. I will open my heart to the staff and students I work with focusing on their strengths.
9. I will celebrate all that is right in my school and in the world.
10. In my words, actions and deeds, I will let go of fears and embrace love, joy and hope. I know that being a School Counsellor is what I am meant to do and be.
“Education is inherently an enterprise of openness and sharing and generosity.”
– David Wiley
Sarah Weston – Director of Instruction & Technology – Mountain Heights Academy
sweston@mountainheightsacademy.org
License: Mountain Heights Academy: Sarah Weston Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Adapted by Susan Spellman Cann @sspellman cann
OER Basics just for you Cue 16 OER for Teachers
OER Resources
Teaching
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OER Passport
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OER Content Resources
OER Building Resources
Other OER Resources
200 Educational Resources
Research
Determining if a Resource is OER, Creative Commons Licensed, or Public Domain
Please be aware that if no copyright information is given on a resource, it is still copyrighted. You cannot cut/paste/copy material from websites and use it on our courses unless it is OER, Creative Commons licensed, Public Domain. If a resource is copyrighted, you can always link to it. Linking externally to materials does not violate copyright.
Attributing Resources
All current CC licenses require that you attribute the original author(s). If the copyright holder has not specified any particular way to attribute them, this does not mean that you do not have to give attribution. It simply means that you will have to give attribution to the best of your ability with the information you do have. Generally speaking, this implies five things:
In the case where a copyright holder does choose to specify the manner of attribution, in addition to the requirement of leaving intact existing copyright notices, they are only able to require certain things. Namely:
If the resource is in the public domain, please include at attribution at the bottom of the page that specifies the URL the item was pulled from and “Public Domain”
Examples of Attributions
Example 1
Attribution: Egyptian Architecture Egyptian Architecture – Karen’s Whimsy in the Public Domain
Example 2
Saint Marie-Bernarde Soubirous (born Maria-Bernada Sobirós; 7 January 1844 – 16 April 1879), was a miller’s daughter born in Lourdes. From 11 February to 16 July 1858, she reported 18 apparitions of “a small young lady.” Despite initial skepticism from the Catholic Church, these claims were eventually declared to be worthy of belief after a canonical investigation, and the apparition is known as Our Lady of Lourdes.
Attribution: Bernadette Soubirous – Wikipedia. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details.
Example 3
The universe has many remarkable qualities, among them a rather beautiful symmetry: the total amount of motion in the universe is constant. This law only makes sense if we measure “motion” in a specific way: as the product of mass and velocity. This product, called momentum, can be transferred from one object to another in a collision. The rapidity with which momentum is exchanged over time is determined by the forces involved in the collision. This is the second of the five fundamental conservation laws in physics. The other four are conservation of energy, angular momentum, charge and CPT. (See Feynman’s Diagrams for an explanation of CPT.)
Attribution: ck12 People’s Physics Book, James H. Dahn CC-BY-SA 3.0
Art has a way of taking you away from all your troubles and worries , so today is just the right day to begin creating.
Creating art can be very therapeutic. You can start simply by creating for 10 minutes a day, or once a week whatever works for you. I love that art allows me to express my emotions and no one else really knows what I am feeling. I create because it feels good in the moment. I let go of my fears of what others think and just do it. Below are a few tips to get you started. If you see any of my art online feel free to use it as inspiration to get you started.
Anything goes, so just start today being creative. Have so much fun. You can use any medium acrylic, watercolor, or oil paints whatever works for you is good enough. if that seems too daunting doodle or cut out pics from magazines and create.
Be like a child and create.
Create, don’t critique yourself.
Don’t give up … Don’t be afraid to try new things … play away.
Experiment with different papers and mediums.
Forget about your worries and create art instead.
Get your space ready to play.
Have a blast.
Imagine all the great things you will create.
Just be yourself and create what makes you happy.
Kindness matters when you start out. Everyone can do art and we all get better with time.
Let go and let it flow.
Mistakes make marvelous art pieces.
Music brings out the creativity in you . Listen while you create.
Practice , Practice, Practice.
Quit saying you can’t … you can!
Relax and let the paint take you away.
Spend time in the moment.
Trust the process.
Understand it takes time to get to where you’d like to be so enjoy every moment.
Visualize what you’d like to create, then do it!
Watch lots of artists’ YouTube videos.
XO from me to you.
You’ve got this!
Zazzy that’s you and so will your art be.
Counsellor Talk : Creative Collaborative Connections 