MSLA is happy to welcome Dean Shareski as a spotlight speaker for the Connecting Through Literacy Conference.  Dean will be presenting one spotlight session, 5 Minutes of Creativity, and two workshop sessions, The Three C's of Discovery Education and the Missing Links.

Dean Shareski is the Community Manager for Discovery Education Canada.He taught grades 1-8 for 14 years and spent 9 as a digital learning consultant for Prairie South School Division in Moose Jaw, SK.  In addition he teaches pre-service teachers at the University of Regina.  Dean began blogging in 2005. His blog consistently ranks
among the top educational blogs. Dean also writes for Tech Learning and the Huffington Post. As part of his role as digital learning consultant, Dean pushed many initiatives and is seen as an early adopter.

 From wireless access for all schools to cellphones in the classroom, Dean has been a part of many exciting and new ideas that support student and teacher learning. His work at the University of Regina has been seen as transformative for many beginning teachers.  In 2010 he won the ISTE Award for Outstanding Leader of the Year. His passion remains helping teachers explore the affordances of technology for learning. Dean has spoken and keynoted at conferences nationally and internationally. Dean brings a humility and sense of humor to his presentations and credits his extensive network of smart people as his greatest asset.

For more information on Dean please visit his blog, Ideas and Thoughts: Learning stuff since 1964

Shaftesbury High School has a beautiful new library. It is spacious with large window, low shelves, several different seating options and a fireplace.

The new Shaftesbury High School library opened in September 2011, much to the joy of the students, staff and the community. We are staffed
with a half time Teacher Librarian, Mrs. Bilyk,  and a full time Library Technician, Ms. Moran. Our library provides resources and space where Shaftesbury students can research using online and print resources, do homework, study, or engage in leisure reading.

Technology, technology, technology!  You will not find rows of desktop computers with mangled wires in our library; the new space offers a wireless environment that encourages students to ‘plug in’ using their own devices, whether it is a laptop, tablet or iPhone. Users can logon to the PTSD public network and sit wherever they choose. Students can also ‘whale’ in using their own devices and virtually plug into our school network from anywhere. Technology is also available in the form of Dell netbooks (mini laptops) and Dell Streaks (tablets) to be signed out by patrons during class time and over lunch.

 We sure have come a long way from our old, dark library with 1970s carpet and nowindows!  The new space has the feel of a‘trendy book store’ environment, with comfy, movable seating and barstools that overlook the school’s green spaces through an expansive wall of windows. The cozy fireplace creates a lovely ambiance on those cold winter days, and the high ceilings help the area to feel large and open. Advanced, automated lighting and electronic blinds add to the easy livability of the space.

The SHS library offers a large seminar room for meetings and for small group use. The room can easily be divided into two rooms with a moveable wall.  This space encourages group work by providing more freedom for students to engage in group discussion without disruption to the library common area patrons.

 There is something for everybody at the new Shaftesbury library!