Nurturing Creativity and Innovation: Chris Blais Live from ISTE 2023

In Episode Two of the EdShift Podcast, hosts Katie and Kris chat with Chris Blais from the Calgary Board of Education live from the expo floor at ISTE 2023. Chris is a Teaching and Learning with Technology Specialist, focusing on igniting passion and supporting professional learning for teachers and administrators in a district with 131,000 students and 251 schools.

Chris discusses the overwhelming yet exciting atmosphere at ISTE and delves into educational trends, including the investigation into virtual reality (VR) and its potential for content creation by students. He highlights the significance of empowering students to create and innovate, emphasizing enduring competencies such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation.

We also dive into Chris's work on the Level Up Calgary project, a collaborative initiative with Microsoft and the City of Calgary to engage students in authentic learning opportunities through Minecraft Education. Chris shares examples of student projects that have had a real-world impact, such as reimagining public spaces and inspiring actual installations based on students' virtual designs.

Hear how Chris emphasizes the transformative power of technology and innovation in education, encouraging educators to focus on meaningful outcomes for students and to facilitate their engagement, excitement, and success.

Learn more about the Level Up Calgary project here: https://www.calgary.ca/planning/level-up.html 

And! Connect with Chris online: 

X: @blaistech

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-blais-79690129/

 

Connect with your hosts on social media - well, mostly Katie. Kris is on LinkedIn! 

IG and Threads: @KatieNovakEdu

X: @keightyen