Dear MindShare Learning Community Member, 

Welcome to this week's Top 10 Edition, Issue #332. As we continue to navigate the intersection of technology and education, this issue brings you the latest trends, tools, and insights to empower and inspire. Here's a concise overview of what to expect:

MindShareTV Podcast: Join us for a special Pi Day conversation with EdTech legends Michael Quinn and Peter Skillen, exploring the CanCode Project which is drawing to a close March 31 and honoring Dr. Seymour Papert.

Student Invention Challenge: Get ready for the 16th Schools of the Future Student Invention Challenge, launching March 20th, showcasing the brilliance of young innovators.

GenAI Featured Tool of the Week: Discover how CANVA's Magic Design uses AI to transform your creative projects with ease and efficiency. Quite possibly the most widely used app in education! Why you ask? It democratizes 

Partner Spotlight: A sneak peek into the future with Keith Krueger in our podcast, as we discuss the CoSN24 Conference and innovation in educational leadership.

Leadership Insights: Dive into our C21 Canada Leadership Podcast Series featuring a conversation with Christopher Usih, a beacon of educational leadership.

This issue also delves into key educational themes, from the crisis of teacher shortages, the impact of class sizes on student outcomes, cybersecurity in education, the evolution of teacher preparation, and groundbreaking research in AI diagnostics. Moreover, we feature the launch of an AI degree at an Ivy League school, highlighting the expanding horizons of AI in education. While we embrace GenAI, the future is truly about nurturing essential skills (C21 Canada 7cs) to prepare students for new and emerging careers pathways to thrive.

Check out our professional learning events, resources for teachers and parents, and the opportunity to connect with fellow thought leaders in education technology. We invite you to explore these stories and join us in pushing the boundaries of educational innovation. Together, let's shape a future where technology enhances learning for all.

Be sure drop me a note with your inspiring news, research, careers and upcoming events.

As always we are grateful for the growing MindShare Learning community we are nurturing across Canada and many countries beyond. With thanks to you, our board of advisors, partners and team who continue to inspire me on a daily basis!

Until next time, stay healthy, stay safe, and keep the digital learning curve steep!

School boards across the country are struggling to find — and keep — teachers. Educators are calling it a crisis, and they say efforts to get teachers into schools faster may have a negative impact on learning. Schools are relying on non-teaching staff, non-certified teachers to wade through shortage.

Amid calls from teachers and unions that represent them for more reasonable class sizes across Canada, a new study is suggesting “smaller class sizes” may not give students a boost after all. The study found minimizing the number of students in classrooms did not lead to better grades, and suggests it may even decrease their odds at achieving the best results.

An eye-opening email was recently sent out to parents of students in School District 67 (Okanagan-Skaha). Families have learned that the personal information of both students and parents may have been compromised during a cyberattack last month. The school district, which operates in Penticton and Summerland, confirmed that some “unusual activity” was detected last month, followed by a shutdown of key online services.

Will artificial intelligence transform the way teachers are trained? At least one preparation program is banking on it.

McMaster oncology researchers are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to improve health outcomes for people of colour.AI has been shown to accurately diagnose skin conditions like cancer, but has limitations.“This lack of diversity is a real problem when it comes to diagnosing certain skin lesions which present differently in people of colour,” explains Eman Rezk, a PhD candidate in the School of Computational Science and Engineering.

Two research projects led by Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) have received a total of $3.79 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for novel research projects exploring new and emerging technologies.

CNC’s trades and technologies team is excited to set a new course for student success while strengthening relationships with industry partners. 

CNC’s School of Trades and Technologies is one of four schools at the college, providing training to nearly 30 per cent of CNC’s student population. In addition to a wide range of trades discovery, foundations, and apprenticeship programs, the school also trains students in fields such as civil engineering technology as well as information technology and networking.

Grad student’s startup develops tech that enables women to screen themselves for HPV and cervical cancer.

At the University of Pennsylvania, undergraduate students in its school of engineering will soon be able to study for a bachelor of science degree in artificial intelligence.

What can one do with an AI degree? The University of Pennsylvania says students will be able to apply the skills they learn in school to build responsible AI tools, develop materials for emerging chips and hardware, and create AI-driven breakthroughs in healthcare through new antibiotics, among other things.