Episode 16 – This Is Us

Empowering Modern Learners - PDSB #Peel21st

https://modernlearnersca.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/episode-16-this-is-us.mp3

In this episode, we interview Melissa Wilson who is Instructional Coordinator of Indigenous Education in Peel. Melissa shares the work she is doing with schools across the board to bring an awareness of the true history of Canada and the work she does around identity. She also encourages teachers to step outside of their comfort zones, take risks and embrace being a co-learner with their students.

What’s New in the World of EML?

Jim shared some work he has been doing in a grade 6 class. During some co-planning, we discussed the issue of genuine collaboration, and what that looks like. One of the strategies that I thought of was to view a group document on two levels: 1. the content that was created and 2. the way the document was put together over time. That is, one suggestion I had was for students to examine the way in which a document was created after it was done. Google Docs already has the ability to “see revision history” under the “File” menu item but there is also a great add-on called draftback that animates the creation of the doc over time, edit by edit.

Amit shared the work he did with teachers at Allan Drive Middle School around using Spheros as a way to Ignite the curiosity of the learners in the building and as a way to introduce Empowering Modern Learners to the community. He talked with the teachers about having a community BBQ and introducing the vision document and what it means for the learners in the building.

Links from the Interview with Melissa Wilson

• Melissa spoke about the work she is doing with the rest of the equity department who include Harjit Aujla, Hiren Mistry & Phiona Lloyd-Henry.
• She also spoke of the resources to help both elementary and secondary teachers make connections to Indigenous Education:
  • Scope and Sequence Document of Expectations K-8
  • Scope and Sequence Document of Expectations 9-12
• She mentioned two books:
  • Decolonizing Education: Nourishing the Educational Spirit by Marie Battiste
  • Indigenous Writes: A Guide to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Issues in Canada (The Debwe Series) by Chelsea Vowel
• She also spoke about getting many of her resources from Goodminds.com
• You can find Melissa on Twitter
• You can contact her via email [e-mail]

Shares for the Week

Jim shared a book recommended by Melissa called Indigenous Writes by Chelsea Vowel. For Jim, this book was, and continues to be, the source of an authentic and articulate Indigenous perspective on a wide variety of events, issues and experiences. This is in contrast to the almost exclusively Eurocentric historical and social perspective that he has heard all his life, in his education and in society. Jim also shared how he is following some indigenous voices on Twitter. One person that stands out to him is Veldon Coburn who is Anishinaabe from Pikwàkanagàna and teaches at McGill University. Jim shared that he has so much to learn and so much to unlearn.

Amit shared a film entitled “Soar” by Alyce Tzue that is a great film that can be used to make interdisciplinary connections. On the site Teaching Ideas, they go over many of the cross-curricular connections that can be used for the short film, and Amit also saw some connections to using the film as a way to discuss learners as empathetic, global citizens.