Jeremy Kerr, university research chair in macroecology and conservation at the
University of Ottawa, called the budget a “landmark” document, stating that the various funding boosts to science amount to “a truly massive increase of C$3.9 billion over the next five years."  

-  Times Higher Education

C21 CEO Academy Ottawa Spotlight Hosted by Ottawa Catholic School Board

Member School District Directors and CEOs from across Canada gathered in Ottawa recently as part of the C21 CEO Academy Leadership Summit hosted by Denise Andre, Director of Education, Ottawa Catholic School Board and member C21 CEO Academy. Ms. Andre kicked off the Summit sharing OCSB’s journey into deep learning and how it scaled across the district over a five year journey.  C21 CEOs shared their own journeys through EdCamp style conversations followed deepening the Inquiry and through sharing of practices on challenging issues and opportunities to transform their districts to prepare students for a complex digital world.

One of the highlights of the Summit were the site visits to local schools (St. Mother Theresa High School and St. Cecelia), where C21 CEOs and C21 Board members got a glimpse into deep learning in action.  The site visits provided valuable insights and inspiration for further dialogue around the shift toward global competencies, modern learning environments, equity and inclusion.

In today's rapidly changing world, there is an ever-increasing need for digital talent. This need for digitally-skilled workers is outpacing the economy at a rate of 6 to 1. By the time our students who are currently in the system graduate, there will be approximately 216,000 Canadian careers in technology. The ICTC recently published a study – The Digital Talent Dividend: Shifting Gears in a Changing Economy – containing these and many other eye-opening statistics. How can we ensure we're setting our students up for success?

It's time we draw attention to this issue, prepare our students for the future, and close the gap. On March 1st, Microsoft in Education Canada hosted a discussion with an incredible panel of industry leaders and experts. Along with the Toronto District School Board, RBC, 7 Generations Education Institute, and Humber River Hospital, we discussed this digital skills gap, focusing on how industry, community, and school members can come together as one on this important topic and support our youth.

You can watch a recording of the panel livestream on our Microsoft in Education Canada Facebook page. Join the conversation using the hashtag #MSFTDigitalSkills and together let’s close the digital skills gap.

I see a massive shift happening in the way we work and learn. It’s never been a more exciting time to be immersed in education with the promise technology brings.  Yet the challenge is a bit daunting in managing growth, through leadership renewal and succession planning and how emerging technologies will interplay with the digital revolution upon us.

Making those global connections will be vital to our continued leadership and innovation in education in Canada. It was fortuitous that Ismail Farag the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, focused on the EdTech sector recently reached out and visited the MindShare Workspace. Australia’s innovative spirit when it comes to education is very evident during my 20 years plus being immersed in the Edtech space.  We look forward to collaborating on perhaps a trade mission to Australia and inviting a keynoter to present at our fall 9th Canadian EdTech Leadership Summit.  Stay tuned for more details!

Peter Skillen, former TDSB educator and mindshare colleague leads the Toronto CanCode launch

What an awesome professional learning day I experienced last weekend at the EdCamp905 we sponsored at St. Roch’s in the Dufferin Peel District School Board. For my tech industry colleagues I’m surprised I don’t see more of you there as this grassroots low tech experience would help you gain insight to the trends happening in education. It was fascinating to connect with teachers, students and tour Peter Fujiwara’s production studio!  Kudos to the organizing team for making this a deep learning adventure for me and the delegates!