After watching the "Everything is a Remix" series, it became very clear that words such as authentic and unique are by definition very hard to use in order to describe something. Because of the amount of covers, re-makes, sequels, etc. being done by hollywood or via youtube, very little media that catches the publics attention is something new. Things may seem different or fresh, as some may describe it, but as for new ideas, our world is severely lacking. It was shocking to learn that 74 out of 100 of the latest blockbuster hits have been either re-makes or sequels. Where has original thought gone?
So what does this mean for students. Well, in the part 1 of "Everything is a Remix" is says that there are many ways to get around copy write issues. I think it is important to discuss with students the importance of intellectual property. Perhaps we could look at entities such as patents, maybe watch and episode or two of Shark Tank or Dragon's Den. If students are able to understand the importance of being able to claim intellectual property they will then be on the right track to look at and appreciate the existence of copy right laws.
With applications and websites such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Vine and Youtube, copy write seems to be very confusing. What is right? What is wrong? Who cares? Users of these sites often overlook the ethics behind what they are chuckling at or what they post in the goal of getting more 'likes'. Everything is created by someone, and probably 50 people before them in 100's of versions.
What is right? What is wrong? Who cares?
Check out the series for yourself by following these links:
Everything is a Remix Part 1
Everything is a Remix Part 2
Everything is a Remix Part 3
Everything is a Remix Part 4
Teach Peace
Words of Wisdom
Tuesday, 22 April 2014
They are Never Absent...
Rita Pierson inspired her audience in giving a TED talk about the power of relationships.
The most powerful line of her speech was "kids don't learn from people they don't like". Now isn't that the truth!? Thinking back to my high school experience the classes I excelled in were the ones where I thoroughly enjoyed the company of my teachers. The same trend has followed me to university. Professors who knew how to talk to me outside of class were the ones who earned my respect and therefore my highest effort on assignments. I had a very hard time giving "my all" to those professors who obviously did not care about my success. Rita is so obviously passionate about teaching and the success of her students. Her optimism and kindness shines through as she builds to the climax of her presentation:
"I am somebody. I was somebody when I came and I'll be a better somebody when I leave. I am powerful and I am strong. I deserve the education that I get here. I have things to do, people to impress, and places to go. You say it long enough it starts to be a part of you."
I want this to become a part of my students. I want all my students to leave my classroom feeling powerful. It's hard to critique a presentation that brings out a smile on my face and chills down my back. Rita Pierson does state that it is not an easy venture, to build relationships with students that is, but that "it's not impossible".
The most powerful line of her speech was "kids don't learn from people they don't like". Now isn't that the truth!? Thinking back to my high school experience the classes I excelled in were the ones where I thoroughly enjoyed the company of my teachers. The same trend has followed me to university. Professors who knew how to talk to me outside of class were the ones who earned my respect and therefore my highest effort on assignments. I had a very hard time giving "my all" to those professors who obviously did not care about my success. Rita is so obviously passionate about teaching and the success of her students. Her optimism and kindness shines through as she builds to the climax of her presentation:
"I am somebody. I was somebody when I came and I'll be a better somebody when I leave. I am powerful and I am strong. I deserve the education that I get here. I have things to do, people to impress, and places to go. You say it long enough it starts to be a part of you."
I want this to become a part of my students. I want all my students to leave my classroom feeling powerful. It's hard to critique a presentation that brings out a smile on my face and chills down my back. Rita Pierson does state that it is not an easy venture, to build relationships with students that is, but that "it's not impossible".
Helping Students "Browse"
• SweetSearch is a relatively new part of Finding Dulcinea, which calls itself the “Curator of the Internet.” It is based on the premise that most students cannot effectively conduct research on the Internet because some sites have inaccurate information or are not appropriate for school-age searchers. SweetSearch searches only 35,000 websites that have been approved by their staff. It allows students to choose “the most relevant result from a list of credible results, without the distraction of unreliable sites.”
Social Justice Issues
• EdChange – PD, research and resources for diversity, multiculturalism and cultural competence: http://www.edchange.org/index.html
• Safe Drinking Water Foundation
Operation Water Spirit: Curriculum Connections
Nursery/Preschool/Kindergarten Thematic Unit
Grade Two Thematic Unit
Grade Five Thematic Unit
Grade Seven Thematic Unit
Grade Eight: Foreigners Invade Your Country Simulation
Grade Nine: First Nation Water Issues
Grade Ten: Bering Strait Theory and First Nation Creation Stories
Grade Eleven: The Importance of Water in Native American Ceremonies
Grade Twelve: First Nation Water Issues
Residential Schools
• Assembly of First Nations: Indian Residential Schools Unit
This website includes images of several residential school buildings that operated throughout Canada and images of residential school students organized by province
• CBC Digital Archives—A Lost Heritage: Canada’s Residential Schools
CBC Archives offers 14 television and 8 radio clips from 1955-2008 documenting residential schools in Canada.
• CBC News In Depth—Truth and Reconciliation: Stolen Children
This CBC website is devoted to the analysis, background and history of the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It includes FAQ’s about the commission, questions for the new commission, the history of Canada's residential schools and education policy for aboriginal peoples, the Prime Minister's statement of apology, reaction to the apology, a timeline of aboriginal education in Canada, and selected video and audio clips.
• Where are the Children? Healing the Legacy of the Residential Schools
This high quality website created by The Legacy of Hope Foundation and supported by Canadian governmental organizations aims to promote awareness about the residential schools among the Canadian public to try and bring about reconciliation between generations of Aboriginal people, and between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals.
• TeachableMoment.Org provides timely teaching ideas to encourage critical thinking on issues of the day and foster a positive classroom environment. It’s a project of Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility (formerly Educators for Social Responsibility Metropolitan Area)
• Psychological Assoc. teachers of psych in secondary schools site:
• Fred Risinger’s My Social Studies site: http://www.mysocialstudies.com
• PBS sources:
• Playing History http://playinghistory.org/
The Metis
• Métis National Council: Historical Online Database
This particular section of the Métis National Council Historical Online Database is devoted to providing historical and background information about the three types of records and information contained in the overall database: A Guide to 1901 Census of Canada, A Guide to the Section 31 Manitoba Act Affidavits Document Series, and A Guide to the Northwest “Half-breed” Scrip Applications Document Series. Also included on this webpage are three Archival Image Galleries.
• Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture: Our Proud Heritage
This section of the website contains the bulk of the Virtual Museum’s Oral History collection and the vast majority of historical photographs donated to the Institute by the Métis community. It also contains all print information relating to Métis resistance and communities.
Aboriginal History
• Aboriginal Documentary Heritage: Historical Collections of the Canadian Government
This web exhibition recounts first-hand information illustrating the complex and often contentious relationship between the Canadian government and Canada's Aboriginal people from the late 1700s to the mid-20th century. The website presents three thematic sections that include essays and selected documents: the Red and Black Series (the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs' administrative records from 1872 to the 1950s); Treaties, Surrenders and Agreements; and Aboriginal Soldiers in the First World War.
• Canada in the Making
This website is organized into three broad thematic narratives: Canada's Constitutional History (Pre-Contact to 2002), Aboriginals: Treaties and Relations (Pre-Contact to 2003), and Pioneers and Immigrants (1497-1914). Aboriginals: Treaties and Relations traces the course of relations between Aboriginals and Europeans, particularly the laws and treaties, and the events that preceded and followed these changes. This website is built around government documents from the Early Canadiana Online collection, and integrates narrative text with links to primary source text, images and maps.
• Canada in the Making: Specific Events and Topics
Beyond the three broad themes (described above) the Canada in the Making website also includes a number of topics of specific interest that allow the viewer to dig more deeply into specific topics in Canadian history. Topics relevant to Aboriginal history include Numbered Treaty Overview, Motivations Behind the Numbered Treaties, Aboriginal Political Agitation, Aboriginal Problems with Prairie Settlement, Aboriginal Women’s Issues, Aboriginal Residential Schools, the Métis, and the Riel Rebellions. These topics feature narrative text integrated with links to primary source text, images and maps.
• Canada’s First Nations
This multimedia tutorial from the University of Calgary is almost entirely text-based and does not include a wide selection of other primary and secondary sources; however it provides a solid overview of the history of Canada’s First Nations. It focuses on the histories of Canada's First Nations peoples from ancient times to the nineteenth century; more specifically it focuses on the following topics: examples of creation myths and the scientific theories of when and how people migrated to the North American continent, profiles of the cultures and languages of the Native groups inhabiting the northern lands of this continent; examinations of the economic, political, and social impact of European contact; and discussion of the reasons the First Nations and the Government of Canada negotiated and signed treaties, the terms of these treaties, and how all parties reacted to them.
• Canadian Inuit History
A teacher resource from the Museum of Civilization offers a narrative of the origin and history of the Inuit in Canada and includes many photographs, art and artefacts from the museum collection to supplement the text.
• CBC Digital Archives: Native Issues
The CBC/Radio-Canada Digital Archives website project has collected thousands of CBC radio and television clips from the past seven decades into hundreds of topics that can be viewed or listened to on the website. The array of different topics can be searched for via keyword or category (10 broad categories with further sub-categories). Possible topics of interest for teaching about Aboriginal Issues include A Lost Heritage: Canada’s Residential Schools, The Oka Crisis, George Erasmus: A Native Rights Crusader, A Celebration of Aboriginal Heritage, and the Battle For Aboriginal Treaty Rights.
• Discover the Collection: Aboriginal Peoples
The Aboriginal Resources and Services Portal provides a window to collections of resources created by or about Aboriginal peoples in Canada from private and government sources, digital copies of these works, virtual exhibitions, finding aids, and other tools to locate materials. The site is organized into the following three sections: Databases, Research Aids, and Virtual Exhibitions.
• First Nations in British Columbia: From the BC Archives Time Machine
This First Nations gallery includes aboriginal accounts as well as European ethnographic collections of stories in an attempt to describe certain historical aspects of British Columbia.The First Nations created no written records. Instead their beliefs, customs and history are recorded in their own oral traditions, the first hand descriptions of early European explorers and settlers, and in the archaeological record. This gallery is organized into a variety of sections that include narrative text combined with photographs, maps and artwork of the First Nations People of British Columbia. The different sections include Cultural Areas, People of the Northwest Coast, People of the Interior, European Contact, Confederation to Present, West Coast Moving Image Gallery, Interior Moving Image Gallery, and a Teacher’s Corner.
• Gateway to Aboriginal Heritage
This online exhibit from the Canadian Museum of Civilization is an excellent resource for investigating the histories and cultures of the Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. The website features a selection of historical and contemporary objects, images, and documents drawn from the Museum's artefact and archival collections to express the cultural diversity as well as the creativity, resourcefulness, and endurance of Canada’s First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples.
• Images Canada: First Nations
http://www.imagescanada.ca/r1-116-e.php?trail=trail16View 154 images (photographs, drawings, paintings) of First Nations people from the Images Canada Database.
• The Making of Treaty 8 in Canada’s Northwest
This bilingual virtual exhibition from the Virtual Museum of Canada features oral histories and archival material that commemorates the signing of Treaty 8 in the 19th century. The site is broken into four sections: The Treaty, The Setting, The People—Their Places, and 1899 and After and considers the complex issues relating to past, present, and future First Nations treaty negotiations in Canada.
• Postcard Views of Indigenous People
This online collection of images is drawn from the collection of early Western Canadian postcards developed by the Special Collections Department of the University of Saskatchewan Library. Most of the postcards were produced in the first two decades of the 20th century. The collection includes posed studio portraits as well as depictions of camps, powwows, parades, totem poles and residential schools that can be viewed online.
• Pride and Dignity
This is an exhibition of over 60 photographic reproductions (c.1846 - c.1960) taken from the original exhibition Aboriginal Portraits from the National Archives of Canada exhibited at Library and Archives Canada during the spring and summer of 1996. The exhibition is designed to break down some of the common stereotypes surrounding Aboriginal society by revealing the humanity of the people in these portraits.
• Three First Nations Artists in British Columbia: An Exhibition
The BC Archives holds a collection of 10,000 paintings, drawings and prints from 1782 to the 1960s. These art works were created by artists who lived in or travelled through British Columbia and sketched or painted views of the landscape, peoples and activities. While other agencies, such as the Royal BC Museum, have collections that focus on the vast range of carvings, totem poles, jewelery, basketry, and other art forms created by Native people, the BC Archives collection of documentary art includes only a few works by Native artists in the form of paintings, drawings, and prints. This exhibition focuses on three First Nations Artists from British Columbia: Judith Morgan, Francis Batiste, and George Clutesi.
Awesome History Resources
The Historical Thinking Project: http://historicalthinking.ca/
• STARS the Student Teachers Anti-Racism Society's resource blog provides educators with an expanding compilation of lessons, ideas, inspirations, news, and events etc. related to teaching towards anti-racism, decolonization and social/ecological justice in schools and society.
• Best of History Websites http://www.besthistorysites.net/
• http://www.feelthehistory.com/ Students at F. J. Reitz High School in Evansville, Indiana use the latest in video and computer technology to produce history documentaries that will air on local PBS station, WNIN
• Nova Scotia Neat Stuff:
• Library & Archives Canada:
• Stats Canada:
• The Saskatchewan Settlement Experience http://sasksettlement.com/index.php
• Library and Archives Canada www.collectionscanada.gc.ca
• Spirit and Intent: Understanding Aboriginal Treaties
• The History Network http://thenhier.ca/en
Including: 4. European-Aboriginal History
Louis and the Riel Resistance
• CBC Digital Archives: Rethinking Riel
From CBC Archives this collection of 11 television clips and 9 audio radio clips focus on tracing the changing perceptions of the Métis leader who commanded two rebellions in Western Canada and was tried, convicted and hanged for treason in 1885. Well into the 20th century Riel was regarded as "misguided and impetuous" at best and a psychotic traitor at worst. But in the 1960s Riel's image began to turn around, and today many Canadians have reclaimed him as a heroic patriot, founder of Manitoba, and a Father of Confederation.
• Famous Trials: Louis Riel Trial 1885
The Trial of Louis Riel is one of many famous international trials included in Douglas O. Linder’s comprehensive University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Law website. Included on this website is a Chronology of Events, Maps, Images, a Biography of Louis Riel, Excerpts from Chester Brown’s Biography of Louis Riel comic strip, Riel’s Diary Entries and Letters, the Treason Act and six Counts, excerpts from the Trial Transcript, Riel’s Trial Statement and Renunciation, Appeals and US Senate Investigation, and an Act to Revoke Riel’s Conviction.
• Louis Riel Photo Gallery
This site has four online portraits of Louis Riel from 1858-1886 provided by the University of Manitoba Archives and Special Collections.
• Northwest Rebellion Photograph Gallery
This site has six original photographs from the University of Manitoba Archives and Special Collections.
• The Northwest Resistance: A Database of Materials
This website was created to improve access to materials relating to the Northwest Resistance of 1885 held by the Special Collections Department of the University of Saskatchewan Libraries and the University of Saskatchewan Archives. It contains a searchable database of bibliographic records and a number of digitized photographs and transcribed HTML documents.
Monday, 7 April 2014
The Epitome of a Gentle Man
"Maybe, just maybe"are the favourite words of one of my dearest friends in the entire world. I asked him one day, "Why do you always say that?" His response was, "not everything in life I am sure of." As much as I liked his answer, I still think he does it for attention and dramatic effect. You see, he has a slight British accent (as much as he would argue against me saying this), and with this hint of foreigness as well as his soft way of dragging out his words, the statement "maybe, just maybe" becomes not only something that I look forward to hearing every day, but also a phrase that forces me to smile and sends a happy chill up my spine. This friend of mine taught me that trust is the most important thing one can have and that being able to trust others is of vital importance. There was a time where I could not trust anyone and would search for reasons as to why. Often times, people did not have the patience to wait for me to let them into my life and so would continue on in life without me.
DON'T WORRY!
This seemingly sad story has a happy ending. My friend was one of the people who left for a bit, but he's back now because guess what…I LEARNED TO TRUST!!
Three small words keep resonating through my mind and even if they are for dramatic effect, the meaning behind them are influential in my life. "Maybe, just maybe" things will go wrong but "maybe, just maybe" they won't.
It's funny how people can influence our lives in such grand ways by doing the smallest of gestures. This friend I speak of would not approve of me writing a blog post praising him because he was the one who helped me to realize and fully understand the overwhelming power of trust, and yet I do it because the world deserves to know that there are people out there who should be acknowledged for being awesome.
Friday, 28 March 2014
Friendship and Facebook: A Qualitative Study of Social Networking Sites and the Notion of Friendship
This Powerpoint presentation is a creative way to present research without getting too "wordy" or dragging things out. It's very concise and to the point. Follow this link to the presentation.
Sunday, 16 March 2014
Butterflies in my Tummy: Interview Time
At 4:00 am this morning, I awoke to the shriek of my terribly annoying alarm clock, signalling the beginning of a very important day in my life. Today is the day that I hop on a plane, fly to Calgary, AB. and be interviewed for my dream job at the Canadian International School in Abu Dhabi, UAE. I am currently sitting in the hotel lounge of a very posh, downtown hotel, waiting for orientation to begin. There are a million things running my mind: How do I stand out in a positive way? Will my lack of experience be obvious? Did I pick the right outfit? I have decided to ignore my nerves and be confident in my skills and knowledge. If they think I need more experience then I shall get it and apply again next year.
I am optimistic.
Wednesday, 12 March 2014
About Me:
In A Nutshell…
I am Krystle, Krystle Darla Doreen Valliere. I grew up in the fresh and fierce Northern Saskatchewan CITY of Meadow Lake. It is important to note the fact that Meadow Lake is a city, because although it may feel like a quaint and friendly, slow paced lifestyle, come rush hour, the one set of traffic lights can indeed cause a ruckus. By ruckus, of course I mean a three or four car pile up throwing off people's five minute (maximum) commute to or from their places of work.
Anyways, more about me! I am Metis, which is awesome, although I do not know much about my Aboriginal roots, I am beginning to dig deeper and find out more about this side of m heritage. I suppose I should have said that I am a Scottish, Welsh, Metis; however, I do not like to sound pretentious. I am a very social person. Boy oh boy can I talk, especially if you get me on the topic of travel, culture or language. All three topics provide the opportunity for riveting conversation. In my spare time you will find me coaching or playing volleyball, getting my hair wet and swimming a couple laps at the pool or making new friends at the nearest coffee shop.
As of right now, I have to be honest and say that I really do not like technology. To me, it hinders conversation, causes constant misunderstandings, and only works on a good day. To sum it up, technology frustrates me. Of course I am open minded about it. I can see the good side of technology as well and how it can be implemented into a classroom. Living in a country such as Canada, this is not such a hard picture to visualize: rooms full of computers, students using iPads or iPhones to conduct research etc. However, having travelled and taught in different parts of our world, I feel that people are putting so much emphasis on technology that they are forgetting about the basic ways of passing on knowledge. It does not all have to be about inquiry, and research. Storytelling and face to face conversation are tools that we should also be concentrating on improving and hopefully we will experience less technical difficulties.
I have been fortunate enough to travel a fair bit before the dark shadow of student loans began looming over every penny I earn. Thus far, I have ventured to Mexico, Italy, France, Scotland, and Kenya. All journeys were amazing in unique ways and taught me lessons that could not be learned from a book, website or online journal. I am a firm believer in the fact that experience is the greatest educator of all and in saying so, it is my goal to see and do as much as possible before, during and after my teaching career. Technology helps me to stay in touch with the many people I encountered throughout my travels; however, nothing will ever surpass the first hand experience of actually being there. Had I taken a cell phone or even a camera, I feel that some or most authenticity would have been lost. I am not interested in "capturing" a moment. I am more so interested in the feeling, and realness of amazing experiences. I feel that by actually living in the moment instead of trying to preserve it, I will be better equipped to pass on the knowledge and experience.
I am Krystle, Krystle Darla Doreen Valliere. I grew up in the fresh and fierce Northern Saskatchewan CITY of Meadow Lake. It is important to note the fact that Meadow Lake is a city, because although it may feel like a quaint and friendly, slow paced lifestyle, come rush hour, the one set of traffic lights can indeed cause a ruckus. By ruckus, of course I mean a three or four car pile up throwing off people's five minute (maximum) commute to or from their places of work.
Anyways, more about me! I am Metis, which is awesome, although I do not know much about my Aboriginal roots, I am beginning to dig deeper and find out more about this side of m heritage. I suppose I should have said that I am a Scottish, Welsh, Metis; however, I do not like to sound pretentious. I am a very social person. Boy oh boy can I talk, especially if you get me on the topic of travel, culture or language. All three topics provide the opportunity for riveting conversation. In my spare time you will find me coaching or playing volleyball, getting my hair wet and swimming a couple laps at the pool or making new friends at the nearest coffee shop.
As of right now, I have to be honest and say that I really do not like technology. To me, it hinders conversation, causes constant misunderstandings, and only works on a good day. To sum it up, technology frustrates me. Of course I am open minded about it. I can see the good side of technology as well and how it can be implemented into a classroom. Living in a country such as Canada, this is not such a hard picture to visualize: rooms full of computers, students using iPads or iPhones to conduct research etc. However, having travelled and taught in different parts of our world, I feel that people are putting so much emphasis on technology that they are forgetting about the basic ways of passing on knowledge. It does not all have to be about inquiry, and research. Storytelling and face to face conversation are tools that we should also be concentrating on improving and hopefully we will experience less technical difficulties.
I have been fortunate enough to travel a fair bit before the dark shadow of student loans began looming over every penny I earn. Thus far, I have ventured to Mexico, Italy, France, Scotland, and Kenya. All journeys were amazing in unique ways and taught me lessons that could not be learned from a book, website or online journal. I am a firm believer in the fact that experience is the greatest educator of all and in saying so, it is my goal to see and do as much as possible before, during and after my teaching career. Technology helps me to stay in touch with the many people I encountered throughout my travels; however, nothing will ever surpass the first hand experience of actually being there. Had I taken a cell phone or even a camera, I feel that some or most authenticity would have been lost. I am not interested in "capturing" a moment. I am more so interested in the feeling, and realness of amazing experiences. I feel that by actually living in the moment instead of trying to preserve it, I will be better equipped to pass on the knowledge and experience.
5 Card Flickr - An Officer's Paradise
Five Card Story: An Officer's Paradise
a Five Card Flickr story created by Krystle
flickr photo by bionicteaching
flickr photo by bionicteaching
flickr photo by bionicteaching
flickr photo by dwtno
flickr photo by bionicteaching
Constable Ditter was sick and tired of his life as a law enforcer. He wanted to be free. Every morning, he stood outside of his downtown station and stared down the street at a beautiful building with architecture that awed. "Why can't that be where I work", he though to himself. One day, while on patrol, Constable Ditter was in the hinterland of his jurisdiction when he saw a large canine relieving himself on a fire hydrant. "Man's best friend" he said out loud, "able to 'go' anywhere he wants". Ditter returned to the station later that day and handed in his badge and gun. With a smile on his face, and driving an unmarked car, he drove into the sunset knowing that a new and exciting life lay ahead.
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