Dream Come True (DCT) Teaching Innovation: The TDSB’s Digital Content Team Promotes Student Success Online Larissa Aradji, April De Melo, Alexis Kolar, Francis Ngo, Agnieszka Kopka, Rebecca Roach and Linda Antolin
C
OVID-19 has disrupted and altered the way teachers educate and students learn. As educators, we have seen this pandemic decentralize and destabilize our teaching practice ultimately impacting student learning and wellbeing. Yet, in this challenging environment, the Toronto District School Board created a unique, collaborative, cross curricular, K-12 online support for teachers and students called the Digital Content Team (DCT). The DCT is a collection of teacher-librarians who connect, create and collaborate with teachers across the TDSB. As a team we utilized our collective strengths, passions, and expertise to support any and every teacher, administrator, parent, or student who reached out for ideas or inspiration. We provided support for teachers and students in both virtual and in-person learning in a variety of ways including collaborative planning of inquiries, co-teaching, modelled instruction, digital citizenship, evaluation of online resources, and curation of culturally relevant and responsive texts. Working with teachers in an online environment through Zoom and Google Meet, relationships with teachers and administrators were cultivated and educators were supported. As educators, this professional opportunity was a Dream Come True (DCT). Why do we refer to this role as a “Dream Come True”? The simple answer is: our team, our work, our impact.
Our Team Imagine working with a group of committed and skilled teacher-librarians, all with the desire to collaborate, assist and lead? First is Agnieszka Kopka, a K-6 educator with expertise in media and digital literacy, ESL, and special education. Agnieszka has been a digital literacy lead (DLL) mentor and library facilitator. She also is a National Geographic certified educator and Apple teacher. She utilizes all her teaching, mentoring and digital expertise to positively impact learning outcomes for students. Next is Francis Ngo, a K-8 educator whose breadth of teaching and life experience focuses on using various forms of technology in the virtual library to engage and educate learners. He has collaborated extensively with educational and community stakeholders to ensure students have access to all forms of literacy and numeracy, supported through his innovative use of technology. Larissa Aradj is a French immersion K-12 media specialist. She is a DLL mentor, Google certified innovator and trainer and an Apple distinguished educator. She connects digital resources with inquiry focused education to create authentic and deep learning for students. In addition, we have April De Melo, a teacher librarian, emerging English language teacher, and special education teacher. She has a deep knowledge of digital resources that engage and support students and is a digital lead learner mentor. April uses a culturally relevant and responsive lens when designing learning opportunities for students, connecting resources to students’ multiple identities. Our secondary team also consisted of Rebecca Roach, an educator who uses virtual resources to foster and promote a love of reading. She collaborates with K-12 teachers to enhance and affect positive change in their teaching practice. Her anti-oppressive and equity driven professional lens champions student choice and voice.
DCT Support by Division
24 Ontario School Library Association
Alexis Kolar is a secondary teacher librarian who has worked in both mainstream and alternative schools. She collaborated extensively with teachers to support all learners, including our
