By Brandi Bartok
The MSLA MTS PD Day Conference, under the theme Building Bridges: Spaces, Places, and Possibilities, allowed us to bring together rich history, cultural exploration, and innovative practices in both physical and virtual settings. The conference sessions, led by educators and school library professionals, provided a dynamic range of insights and experiences. Many of our sessions were filled to capacity and attendees had an opportunity to engage in lively discussions and hands-on learning experiences. Over 135 educators, library technicians, and teacher-librarians attended this year, which nearly doubled the number of attendees that we had at last year’s conference.
Virtual sessions were also well attended, and several participants commented that having virtual options is important to people living in rural areas who would not otherwise have been able to attend. This is important feedback for event planners in the future, and consideration should be given to having the keynote speaker available as a live stream option to make virtual attendees feel included in the community atmosphere. These sessions were also recorded and will be shared with all registered conference attendees.
Histoire cachée – In Plain Sight
Rob Malo, also known as TiBert, a Franco-Manitoban Métis storyteller, author, juggler, poet, and community builder, brought his passion for history and culture to the forefront during his keynote speech. His presentation showcased Histoire cachée – In Plain Sight, an augmented reality audio tour app of St. Boniface. This app, offering content in French, English, and French Méchif, allowed users to immerse themselves in St. Boniface’s diverse history. Notably, the project emphasized authenticity and community collaboration, providing a more balanced perspective of local French-Métis history.
In addition to the keynote, the conference featured a variety of informative sessions:
Classroom and School Libraries
Introduction to Manga for Classroom and School Libraries (Presenter: Heidi Cromwell)
This session introduced Manga as literature and an educational tool, covering its history, interpretation, vocabulary, and symbolism. Attendees had the opportunity to explore examples of Manga series suitable for different age groups.
Manitoba Education & Early Childhood Learning Presentation (Virtual Presenter: Nancy Girardin)
Participants received insights into copyright, educator rights and responsibilities, and resources for navigating copyright in an educational context. The presentation also delved into Manitoba Education’s Alternate Formats Collection and the research databases and video streaming platforms available to educators and students.
with Colleen Nelson
Freadom to Read Podcasts (Presenter: Colleen Nelson)
Colleen Nelson shared how to bring social issues such as freedom of speech and book banning to life through podcasts, specifically designed for middle-grade students.
Reshaping School Libraries to Serve Gen Z and Gen Alpha (Presenters: Nidhi Srivastava, Rosemarie Schwarz, Mikaela Oldenkamp)
This session explored strategies to create school library environments that engage and empower Gen Z and Gen Alpha students, fostering their academic, creative, and social growth.
Leading in a Good Way: An Introduction to Mamahtawisiwin (Presenters: Kim Bryson, Kara Dueck, Colleen Nelson)
Attendees discovered ways to honor and integrate Indigenous histories, stories, culture, and pedagogy into their classrooms. The session introduced Mamahtawisiwin, Manitoba’s Indigenous Education Policy Framework, and featured an interactive gallery walk of valuable resources.
Cataloguing Corner – The Manitoba Edition (Moderators: Kim Marr, Colleen Einarson, Roberta Chapman, Christine Janzen)
This session provided a forum for discussing best practices in cataloguing and library standards, encouraging collaboration and the opportunity for attendees to submit questions.
Tools To Help Students Decipher Online AI and Misinformation/Disinformation (Virtual Presenter: Kathy Miller from Kids Boost Immunity)
The workshop outlined lateral reading strategies and ready made lessons on AI, misinformation, and disinformation, enhancing students’ recognition of bias vulnerabilities. The platform uses game based strategies to get students engaged in the content.
Diversity and Cataloguing for Diversity (Presenters: Debbie Smith, Jonine Bergen)
Debbie and Jonine explored strategies for promoting diverse materials and enhancing catalogue access for diverse materials to foster inclusivity and diversity in school libraries.
Unleashing Curiosity: Building Inquiry-Based Bridges (Virtual Presenters: Tanya Humphries, Candace Rea)
This session delved into the power of inquiry-based learning and collaborative projects between teacher librarians and classroom teachers, providing insights into creating accessible and engaging inquiry projects for K-5 students.
Technology Integration in an Elementary Classroom (Presenter: Lindsay Stewart)
Participants discovered strategies, tips, and tools for leveraging technology to engage learners, encourage critical thinking, and foster meaningful learning experiences.
The Micro:bits of Technology in the Classroom (Presenters: Melissa Smith and Caleigh Bell)
A hands-on workshop that focused on incorporating Micro:bits into the classroom. Participants learned to program Micro:bits for various subjects and had opportunities to experiment with MakeCode, Python and JavaScript. Additional cross-curricular ideas were shared, and participants left the session with a free Micro:bit.
The Pebble Project: Fostering a Culture of Kindness and Connection (Presenters: Kim Bryson and Alex McGavin)
Presenters introduced The Pebble Project, an inquiry-based kindness initiative, emphasizing empathy and compassion in post-pandemic middle years classrooms. It provided practical examples and insights, followed by a Q + A session and self-guided planning time.
Conversations with a Teacher Librarian (FI/E/K-12) (Presenters:Suzanne Beauregard and Michelle Carlos)
This session invited teachers to discuss read-alouds, mentor texts, and literary resources. Participants networked, shared ideas, and learned about eResources.
Embracing Diversity Through Literature: Empowering Voices, Tackling Book Challenges and Censorship (Presenter: Brandi Bartok)
Participants engaged in discussions about the issue of book challenges and censorship in educational settings. Educators and library staff learned strategies for protecting intellectual freedom and handling book challenges, with a focus on resources like the MSLA’s Toolkit for Diverse Collection Development and Intellectual Freedom in Manitoba Schools. This collaborative session sparked lively conversations about defending diverse book collections.
Reading for Global Students (Presenter: Amanda Benson)
Amanda explored book recommendations for K-12 students that nurture global citizenship. The session highlighted MCIC’s Global Student Reading List and educational resources related to global citizenship and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The variety of sessions offered this year highlighted just how important school libraries are and demonstrated that we work hard to bring fresh initiatives and support every student. The success of our professional development day depends almost entirely on volunteers to develop content, plan and organize the conference. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this wonderful day of connection and professional growth.
Brandi Bartok is the Junior School Librarian at St. John’s-Ravenscourt School and current President of the Manitoba School Library Association.