In Episode Two of the EdShift Podcast, hosts Katie and Kris chat with Chris Blais from the Calgary Board of Education live from the expo floor at ISTE 2023. Chris is a Teaching and Learning with Technology Specialist, focusing on igniting passion and supporting professional learning for teachers and administrators in a district with 131,000 students and 251 schools.
Chris discusses the overwhelming yet exciting atmosphere at ISTE and delves into educational trends, including the investigation into virtual reality (VR) and its potential for content creation by students. He highlights the significance of empowering students to create and innovate, emphasizing enduring competencies such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation.
We also dive into Chris's work on the Level Up Calgary project, a collaborative initiative with Microsoft and the City of Calgary to engage students in authentic learning opportunities through Minecraft Education. Chris shares examples of student projects that have had a real-world impact, such as reimagining public spaces and inspiring actual installations based on students' virtual designs.
Hear how Chris emphasizes the transformative power of technology and innovation in education, encouraging educators to focus on meaningful outcomes for students and to facilitate their engagement, excitement, and success.
Learn more about the Level Up Calgary project here: https://www.calgary.ca/planning/level-up.html
And! Connect with Chris online:
X: @blaistech
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-blais-79690129/
Connect with your hosts on social media - well, mostly Katie. Kris is on LinkedIn!
IG and Threads: @KatieNovakEdu
X: @keightyen
Exploring Inclusion with Speech Pathologist Alex Dunn
Caring Classrooms, Behavior and Identity with Anthony Howell
ISTE and PD and eSports, Oh My!
Monica Burns Talks Active Learning Strategies
Teacher Appreciation Week Reminder: Teachers Are Humans
Are teachers superheroes? Connecting with the Learnit Community & Sarah Cunnane
Private Schools: Where Are We Going In 2022?
Talking Trauma in the Classroom: Support and Strategies’
SXSW EDU Recap: Culture, Learning Science, and Connections
Tech Fluency & Advancing AI with Sreejit Chakrabarty
TCEA Recap: Connections & Conversations
FETC Recap: Trends and Conversations
Teacher Burnout: Let’s Keep Talking About It
Saving time & Supporting Student Wellbeing with GLUU
Meet your hosts! A chat with Kris & Katie
Being Brave to Serve Students with Michael Meechin
Connecting to Indigenous Education: Insight from Darren McKee
Student Perspectives on School Today - and Tomorrow
Connecting what matters: Building Capacity with Sakon Keih
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
LifeBlood
Navigating Life After 40
Teaching Learning Leading K-12
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
The Mel Robbins Podcast