Announcements
Microsoft Canada - MindShare Learning Announce Canada's 21st Century Digital Classroom Challenge Winners
MindShare Learning —Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Canada's Most Tech Savvy Educators-WIN over $50,000 in Prizes!
Mississauga, Ontario: Wednesday, February 3, 2010: The MindShare Learning Report-Canada's, Leading, Learning & Technology eMagazine and title sponsor Microsoft Canada Co., are pleased to announce the Microsoft - MindShare Learning Report™ 21st Century Digital Classroom Challenge Winners.
In its second year running, this event aimed to inspire teachers, along with their students from across Canada to share their successful classroom practices using technology. Teachers from publicly funded schools entered to qualify to win one of three technology prize packs valued at over $15,000 for their school.
After a rigorous judging process that included celebrity judge, Marci Ien, news anchor with CTV's Canada AM and CTV News Channel, three national winners (western, central, eastern) emerged as Canada's most 'tech savvy' teachers. The winners are:
** Western Canadian Region: Kathy Cassidy Westmount School, Moose Jaw, SK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvPZtTej0jQ
Judge's comment: "Kathy's teaching style encompasses both the importance of technology in our society, and the fundamental development skills of sharing and interacting of children in today's wired world." - Marci Ien, morning anchor CTV Canada AM and CTV News Channel, Celebrity Judge
** Central Canada--Zelia Capitao-Tavares & Kamla Rambaran, McMurrich Junior Public School , Toronto, ON http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmnOqD8JhII
Judges comment: "I LOVED seeing how the teachers were collaborating to get their kids collaborating. Also a creative way of showing how the kids are taking their not having to "power down" to enter the class and therefore, integrating their lives into the classes." - Mali Bickley, Last year's contest winner, teacher, W.H.Day Elementary School
** Eastern Canada--Reggie Cyr, L.E.Reinsborough School, St. Dalhousie, N.B
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw-VnUtfKRw
Judge's comment: "Real world, real savvy, real engagement! I would have loved being in Reggie's class when I was that age. Even though they live in a small rural community, Reggie made sure that the students were made aware of the greater global community, and the potential for sharing ideas that were transformational, and this happened through various and amazing applications of technology.? Well done indeed!" - Timothy Gard, MindShare Learning Advisory Board and K12 editor for The MindShare Learning Report.
Through video submissions, K-12 educators from publicly funded schools across Canada were challenged to share their success stories using technology to support student success. The three lucky winners each receive a classroom technology prize package, each valued at more than $15,000, from leading classroom technology providers, including: Microsoft Canada, Advanced Education, Dell, EPSON, FrontRow, ISTE, NECTAR Foundation, netTrekker, Pearson, SMART Technologies and MindShare Learning.
"We applaud this year's winners who have aptly demonstrated how technology can be integrated into their classroom learning environment," says Shann McGrail, Director of Education, Microsoft Canada. "Microsoft Canada is committed to helping educators to prepare students for today's and tomorrow's workforce with education-specific tools and technologies, and this contest maps to our belief that technology is one way to deliver enriched instruction to engage students and improve learning outcomes."
"The awesome submissions from across Canada reflect the 21st Century learning transformation happening at a grassroots level. I'm humbled by the quality of submissions. The bar has been raised once again!" Robert Martellacci, president and publisher, The MindShare Learning Report-Canada's Leading, Learning & eMagazine.
Contact: Robert Martellacci, President & Publisher, MindShare Learning Report, 905-814-0900, robert@mindsharelearning.com
