Thank you for a wonderful semester. I was both enlightened and challenged, the perfect mix of what a class should be.    

The Use of AI in our Classrooms: Will it, or will it not enhance learning? Will AI enhance learning? How much is too much? Are our, like many other professions, jobs at risk of being taken over by machines or robots?  This week’s debate caused a whirlwind of thoughts that swirled around and I could not land on a hard yes or no. Perhaps if I was a robot, I could make this decision more easily. I think that just as any new technology has brought initial resistance to learning, so has the use of AI. Each type of technology that we have been presented with or have utilized in…

Yes, teachers do have a responsibility to promote social justice using social media. To me, this is just a “no-brainer.” Of course, we all want a better world for the next generation, so why not use our platforms, our voices, or any means possible to promote things that may improve the state of the world. We know that as teachers, we want our students to be good people and to be positive, contributing members of society. We also know that our students’ main form of communication these days IS social media, so what better way to get these important messages across? I know that it is our responsibility to educate…

“Raise your hand if at twenty years old you were the most wholesome version of yourself” (Korf, 2017) No, no I was not. Chances you weren’t, either. Nor at sixteen, or thirteen… Imagine you are thirteen years old again. Greenday is blaring on your stereo in the background, and you’re scribbling in your diary with all of the teen angst you can muster. You go in to grand detail about your crush, your changing body, and your deepest and darkest desires. You feel a little bit better after writing out the day’s frustrations. You feel even better knowing that no one will ever read your diary, because you have a…

“Technology has led to a more equitable society” Oh, how wonderful would it be if this statement rang true. I knew from the get-go the answer, but yet I listened with rose-coloured anticipation, hoping to be convinced otherwise. The potential that educational technology has to enhance learning, especially for those with varying abilities or for those in remote areas is limitless. There is one overarching hindrance, though: Money. Cash flow, funding, dollar dollar bills…however you word it, it is what is needed to have technology live up to its fullest potential in educational equity. The possibilities in assistive technology alone would be enough to close this argument, but alas. Funding…

The key takeaway from this week’s debate, for me, is that everything is okay in moderation. Social media is a fantastic tool for so many reasons. Most specifically, for creating connections in ways that never used to be possible. The negatives may currently seem to be outweighing the positive aspects, but this is an opportunity for some teachable moments about finding a balance between virtual reality and regular reality. Social media may not be “ruining” childhood, but things will never be like the “good old days” again. My only thought is that of course, we can’t completely ban social media, however we as adults and educators need to help our…

Technology definitely enhances learning. Technology doesn’t ALWAYS enhance learning, but it definitely does enhance it…most of the time…some of the time…wait, no. Technology should be banned in schools. Yes, Let’s go back to the basics… Reading. Writing. Textbooks. But wait…what about students with exceptional abilities? They need technology to support their learning. Yes, schools should definitely have tech available for all students. But…wait again. What about factoring in privilege, accessibility, and perhaps the biggest hinderance to many school districts: funding? OH! and furthermore…what about addiction related to technology? Online bullying? Too much screen time? These conflicting thoughts and aspects of this multi-faceted argument ping-ponged in my mind as I weighed…

Approaching ‘Digital Citizenship’ in my classroom has become as normal as defining classroom expectations at the start of each school year. I have the students give their input for defining classroom expectations both in person and online for the year. They usually come up with the same answers each time we do this, with some guidance or prompting from me. They know the difference between right and wrong (generally) by the time they reach the middle years, they just lose their way sometimes (I blame hormones). Beyond our own personal regulations that students help define, our school division has a “BYOT” policy (bring your own technology) where the students and…

My initial reaction to ChatGPT and other forms of conversational AI is one of sheer amazement. It has been one of those things that since we began discussing it, I have literally noticed it everywhere. The various and extensive abilities it already has are impressive. Though impressive, comments and perspectives around the web are heavily present with looming thoughts of “will it eventually replace me or my job?” or “How can it do that so realistically and efficiently?” or “Why do the images it produces look so demonic?…” https://nypost.com/2023/01/16/ai-generated-party-pics-look-eerily-real-unless-you-can-spot-these-tells/ Here are a few of the things I have spotted recently… It can: Write a children’s book: https://time.com/6240569/ai-childrens-book-alice-and-sparkle-artists-unhappy/ Pass a medical…

Hello, everyone! My name is Amanda Stecyk and I am excited to begin this interactive & educational endeavor in the wonderful world of blogging! I am a graduate of The University of Regina, having completed my undergraduate degree in 2010 in the Arts Education program with a major in Visual Art and a minor in Literature. I have been a teacher for 12 years, and have taught everything from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Most recently, I taught a middle years classroom for seven years at James Hamblin School in Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan. I am working on my Masters Degree remotely, while on maternity leave. This is my daughter, Summer Jayne Allegra…