dianne-turner

The province has hired away the Delta school district’s superintendent for a key role in the Ministry of Education.

The district today announced that Dianne Turner has been appointed as Chief Educator for B.C.

The district notes that over the last eight years, Turner, first as assistant superintendent and then as superintendent, has been a fierce advocate for learner success and innovative teaching, both in Delta and as an education leader across the country.

“With the B.C. Ministry of Education, the Chief Educator provides international knowledge, expertise, and best practices to ensure B.C. student outcomes remain among the best in the world. In addition the Chief Educator role will provide expertise and guidance to senior leaders and promote effective and efficient business practices required for a world-class education system,” the district says.

The Delta board of education in 2010 promoted Turner to fill the superintendent position left vacant after the departure of Steve Cardwell. Turner is a former principal in the Vancouver school system.

C21 Canada extends our appreciation to Dianne for her influence on learning and innovation and very best wishes in her new role. 

Original Article at: http://www.delta-optimist.com/news/delta-superintendent-hired-by-province-1.2291760#sthash.gn4PGk5A.iFgn0MSu.dpuf

 

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C21 Canada is pleased to present
Shifting Minds 4.0 Shifting Systems for Learning and Innovation

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Two leading documents are a sequel to Shifting Minds 3.0 Redefining the Learning Landscape in Canada. They are designed to help leaders continue to seek evidence and growth of innovative system cultures that promote competencies needed in a digital economy.

Click to download full documents:
Shifting Minds Imagine A New Generation

Shifting Systems Imagine the Possibilities

Coming November 1st: A C21 Canada Inquiry Guide for Learning and Leadership

Krista Jones C21 Canada board member Leads the Work & Learning Div. at MaRSDD

In her recent Financial Post article, Krista Jones, Lead Executive for the Work and Learning Cluster at MaRs offers valuable insights to emerging trends among millennials and their attitude towards work. Skills and training programs are deemed highly desirable when seeking employment. We face a potential skills and generation gap that can be filled through the use of tech and just in time training suggests Jones. Boomers in management positions need to be especially mindful of the the unique values and expectations that millennials share.  How is your organization adapting to new millennial worker? The following is a link to the full story.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Robert Martellacci, VP & Co-Founder, C21 Canada

 

 

 

 

Darren McKee, Founding Member of C21 Canada

Darren McKee, Founding Member of C21 Canada

Darren McKee is the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association and founding board member of C21 Canada. Originally from the inter-lake region of Manitoba, Darren has been a classroom teacher, a school administrator and a Superintendent and Director of Education. Prior to joining the SSBA Darren spent the a number of years with the Ministry of Education (more than four years as the Assistant Deputy Minister).

To listen to this podcast, please click here.

nssba-logoBy John Kershaw, President of C21 Canada, and the former Deputy Minister of Education for New Brunswick

On February 19, 2014 the Nova Scotia Minister of education announced the establishment of a blue ribbon panel to review the province’s public education system. The review panel, chaired by the Honourable Myra Freeman, former Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, is undertaking public consultations as part of its process. The mandate of the review panel is to set “a bold new direction for Nova Scotia’s public schools.”

In order to engage effectively in this important initiative the Nova Scotia School Board Association (NSSBA) launched its own process of consultations and internal deliberations. In April 2014, the NSSBA released Shaping a New Vision for Public Education in Nova Scotia, a discussion paper calling for a radically different model to deliver learning in the 21st Century.

At the heart of the NSSBA paper is the recognition that the world has changed dramatically and a new model of learning is required to ensure public education is relevant to today’s learners. The NSSBA clearly recognizes that a bold new vision of public education is required to position Nova Scotians for success in the 21st Century. Canadians following the 21st century learning movement in this country will be pleased to see that the NSSBA is advocating for changes consistent with the principles that underlie this learning model. In today’s innovation driven society it is becoming increasingly recognized that people need to master what are commonly referred to as ‘21st Century skills’. In this context, Jamie Stevens, the current president of the NSSBA, stated in the organization’s press release that Nova Scotia will only get 21st Century skills with a 21st Century public education system.

The global 21st Century learning movement is a response to the transformational social and economic changes occurring worldwide as a consequence of the knowledge and digital era. As a non profit organization advocating for 21st Century models of learning to be adopted across all of Canada, C21 Canada is pleased that the NSSBA is calling for a new vision of public education in Nova Scotia consistent with our Shifting Minds vision and framework document. The NSSBA discussion paper also aligns well with the direction public education is taking recently in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario, in terms of focusing more intently on the development of 21st century skills and harnessing the power of technology for learning and teaching.

Readers wishing to learn more about 21st century skills and the essential elements of the 21st Century learning model are referred to C21 Canada’s Shifting Minds document.

Shaping a New Vision for Public Education in Nova Scotia is appropriately framed as a discussion document and in this spirit it also raises questions that the NSSBA believes are important for Nova Scotians to consider as the province moves forward in its review of its public education system. C21 Canada is confident that the Nova Scotia education review panel, and the government of Nova Scotia, will heed the sound advice being offered in this insightful contribution to the province’s review process.

C21 Canada applauds the work of the NSSBA and encourages both Nova Scotians and all Canadians to review the discussion paper and benefit from both its vision and the questions it raises.

We also encourage our followers and supporters in Nova Scotia to participate in the online survey being conducted by the Nova Scotia review panel on public education which can be found at: http://www.ednet.ns.ca/educationreview/. This is the time to speak up and be heard if you want your province’s public education to continue to be relevant and designed to position Nova Scotians for success in the 21st Century.

Is the Digital Divide Impacting the Skills and Employment Gap Amongst Our Youth?

By Robert Martellacci, Co-founder and Vice-president, C21 Canada

It was a fascinating opportunity to participate in the People for Education: Digital Learning in Ontario Schools – The New Normal news conference yesterday at Queen Elizabeth P.S. in the TDSB. One of the highlights of the morning was observing grade 4 students highly engaged in small teams collaborating with technology; blogging, creating websites and programming Lego Robotics. This is the “New Normal.”

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The challenge facing schools in Ontario is scaling Mr. Kiel’s grade 4 class beyond the pilot mode and into the mainstream classroom, thus getting beyond pockets of innovation. While the study acknowledges greater access to technology and free digital resources, Ontario has yet to announce its long awaited digital strategy framework which may be in part due to the rumoured provincial election.  In the meantime, school districts face the challenge of addressing the equity issue around technology access for students and teachers. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies should help address this, however, a clear and concise vision from the Ontario Ministry of Education backed up with the infusion of funding will be most welcomed by parents, students and teachers alike.  Industry also has a role to play in forging strategic partnerships with education when it comes to providing cost-effective and appropriate digital resources and tools.

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(Left to Right) Robert Martellacci, Vice-president & Co-Founder C21 Canada, Annie Kidder, Executive Director, People for Education, Kelly Gallagher-Mackay, Research Director, People for Education

Kudos to People for Education for illuminating the “New Normal” in public education in Ontario. Innovation is no longer an option in preparing Ontario’s learners and future leaders for the 21st century global digital world. The education ecosystem needs to be nurtured by all to stakeholders to level the playing field with technology enhanced learning in order for Ontario to be a global leader and strive for excellence. It takes a connected digital village to raise a child in the 21st century.

C21 Canada will be discussing their Shifting Minds 21st Century learning policy statement and how to relate to the growing interest in membership when they meet in Toronto tomorrow. Shifting Minds was the centrepiece of C21 Canada’s Summit held at the Kingbridge Convention Centre on February 15th, 2012. Shifting Minds: A 21st Century Vision of Public Education for Canada, has received positive reviews and has been even further refined based on the feedback received both at the Summit and through the organization’s website.  C21 Canada intends to keep the policy statement dynamic and will continue to seek public feedback to ensure it reflects both international learning research and Canadian values and learning priorities.

C21 Canada will also be reviewing its membership strategy given the growing interest from individual educators, school districts and private businesses who are signalling they wish to become active members.  A Membership Strategy will likely be released via the organization’s website within days of tomorrow’s meeting.

– John Kershaw, President, C21 Canada