Dear MindShare Learning Community Members,

On the eve of the Olympic Summer Games Opening Ceremonies and our celebration here at the MindShare Workspace headquarters, I'm thrilled to share our special 'Olympic Edition' of the Canadian EdTech Report in the spirit of the games!

A fun fact, I once served as a community consultant on the Olympic Torch Relay for the Calgary '88 Winter Olympic Games after graduating from York U in Sport Administration. Hence, I remain passion about academic and athletic excellence! 

On that note, I was thrilled to connect on a MindShareTV podcast with Olympian turned EdTech Founder earlier this week, Julia Rivard, CEO, Shoelace Learning based in Halifax. Considered one of the Top 20 EdTechs globally by ASU-GSV, it was heartwarming to surprise Julia with actual race footage of her competing in Australian Olympic Games 2000 as a kayaker which she had never seen. Be sure to tune in for her inspirational story!

While this issue is packed with Canadian Olympic news and resources, I'm pleased to share that I was honoured to be part of this week's virtual launch of the C21 Canada - Dell Technologies AI in K12 National Use Case Project Initiative. 

If you haven't registered for the 15th Canadian EdTech Summit, October 31 - November 2, be sure to take advantage of the early special that ends mid-August! 

In case you missed it, here is the 'Recorded' Webinar for the First Ever EdTech Canada Industry Leader Meetup. Don't forget to register for the EdTech Canada golf tourney and networking reception taking place, September 3. Registration details in this issue! 

As we're in summer mode, we are taking a bit of a break and reducing our report issues to two per month. 

Let's Go for Gold Canada! 

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

LOS ANGELES, July 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EdTech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies and solutions in the global educational technology market, today announced that Nelson, Canada's leading education and content provider, has been selected as winner of the “Digital Learning Platform of the Year” award in the 6th annual EdTech Breakthrough Awards program, recognizing the breakthrough innovation of Edwin, a digital learning ecosystem.

Regardless of where you teach, students will most likely be aware of the Olympics and may even be watching the events on TV, reading about them in the paper, or keeping track of them online. Whereas some sporting events are popular more with male or female students, the Olympics appeal to both and are appropriate for all age levels too. In preparing for an Olympics themed lesson or lessons, it might be a good idea to survey your students to see how much they already know and where their interests lie. The results of the survey can help you decide what types of activities to do and what topics to focus on. Below are some ideas to help you get started with your Olympics lesson plans.

The 2024 Paris Olympics are nearly here: 26 July – 11 August! It’s a golden opportunity to engage young children in STEM learning through the wonder of sport and spark STEM conversations about everything from the physics of weightlifting, to the engineering of an archer’s bow, to the mathematics of timing systems. You can find the full Paris Olympics schedule here.

Parents who steal a moment of calm by handing over a smartphone or tablet to a fussy toddler could set off a cycle of poor anger management and other problems, according to a recent study. 

Research published last week in the journal Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry says using such devices for emotional regulation "can be effective in the short term" but in the longer term could lead to technological addiction, "screen time tantrums" and make it harder for kids to cope with stressful situations.

New research led by the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ontario Tech University and published in Diabetic Medicine, reveals participation in Special Olympics programming is associated with a significantly lower risk of diabetes among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). 

Visitors passing through the second floor of Dalhousie’s Life Sciences Centre in search of Tim Hortons or a classroom may be unaware that Canada’s largest university aquatic research facility is seemingly hiding in plain sight behind a colourful hand-painted mural of vibrant ocean life.

As the largest trades training provider in Western Canada, BCIT is at the forefront of embracing technology to enhance efficiency in skilled trades. One of its latest efforts involve the incorporation of “cobots” into the Welding and Metal Fabrication programs. A collaborative robot, or cobot, is a type of lightweight robot arm that can safely share workspaces with humans, while performing automated tasks without the use of complex programming codes. 

Conestoga’s Virtual and Augmented Reality Lab (VARLab) was recently named in an international report that profiles key trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the future of teaching and learning.

The EDUCAUSE 2024 Horizons Report identified Conestoga as a post-secondary institution that incorporates educational practices with technology in meaningful ways, focusing on VARLab projects as examples that support mental health and well-being for students.