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School District #62 Student Privacy Policy 

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School District #62 Student Privacy Policy 

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(Mentions Technology)

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Today's students have grown up with technology and it is a regular part of most of their daily lives. By bringing learning technology into the classroom, we can tap into our student's interests and build on their developing skills to create innovate, creative, and engaging learning environments that support student achievement and well-being.

SD62 supports technology-enabled learning environments while protecting student privacy and personal information by:

ensuring student access to technology and internet resources are governed by a combination of policies, informed parental consent, and technological safeguards at the network, device, and browser level.

providing all students and staff access to Microsoft Office 365 for Education and Google Workspace for Education.

implementing a comprehensive and ongoing approval process of web-based teaching and learning applications.

providing all students and staff access to the Internet through the district Wi-Fi network. This network is protected by appropriate technological safeguards at the network level.

providing students with age-appropriate instruction on digital citizenship and the safe use of technology.

Below you will find the answers to some commonly asked questions about your child's privacy and security when using technology in the Sooke School District.

If you have additional questions, please email: foippa@sd62.bc.ca

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Today's students have grown up with technology and it is a regular part of most of their daily lives. By bringing learning technology into the classroom, we can tap into our student's interests and build on their developing skills to create innovate, creative, and engaging learning environments that support student achievement and well-being.

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New ideas about the role of the TL and how it can support a school/school community.

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-TL's must have a deep understanding of their school's culture (Oberg)

-Gamification produces more 'buy-in' from students and can be done through the use of technology (Ed Tech in the Library)

-Can use audio previews of books to help with 'buy-in' for students when we introduce them to a new book

-Can provide verbal feedback using audio recordings for students to listen to (Ed Tech in the Library)

-TL's are their own 'silo' so we need to share what we are doing and connect with the rest of the school community (Ed Tech in the Library)

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-Pebble Go

-Wakelet

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Hello Ruby for homeschoolers - Computer Science in One Minute! Watch now "

Hello Ruby is the world's most whimsical way to learn about computers, technology and programming. The story started with a book, and now Ruby continues her adventures in exercises, activities and videos. It's suited for kids age 5 years and older (but even adults might learn something new).

"Hello Ruby is way more than a children's book"
Fast Company

"The heroine of Liukas' book is a girl, but it's not a book for girls."
Guardian

"Hello Ruby has obviously struck a chord. "
Wired

"Getting girls into programming, one children's book at a time "
TechCrunch

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Welcome to the whimsical world of computing. Hello Ruby is a children's book and an app that teaches programming fundamentals through stories and kid-friendly activities. It's suited for kids between 5 and 8 (but even adults might learn something new).

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Held on January 26, 2024, the Girls Who Code Hiring Summit: Early Career Edition is a one-day event designed to connect the Girls Who Code and wider communities with full-time job opportunities in the technical workforce and to connect hiring managers looking to meet a diverse slate of candidates for jobs. This event welcomes recent college and bootcamp graduates and young professionals to network with companies looking to connect with a talented, ambitious, diverse group of computer science students and professionals.

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coding for girls coding club summer coding girls code reshma saujani coding nonprofit brave not perfect

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Learn to code! Free summer programs and after-school clubs for teen girls. Explore coding in a fun and friendly environment. Find a program near you!

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With ScratchJr, young children (ages 5-7) can program their own interactive stories and games.

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Vimeo Interactive Video Experience Platform

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Record, upload, cut, crop, trim, make GIFs, and more. Not sure where to start? Creating content is easier than ever with our AI script generator and AI-powered editing. And you can always elevate your video by adding interactive, clickable elements.

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Podcast: But Why? A Podcast for Curious Kids

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Podcast: But Why? A Podcast for Curious Kids

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A Lot or a Little?

What you will-and won't-find in this podcast.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking Not present

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids leaves little off the table in terms of answering kids' questions. The show supports kids' curiosity about a range of topics that includes subjects like cancer, death, gender identity, where babies come from, the beginning and end of the world, and...

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But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids Podcast Review

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Kid questions get fascinating answers; some heavy topics. Read Common Sense Media's But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids review, age rating, and parents guide.

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2020 has delivered a wallop of adversity, but we've also witnessed tremendous resilience. Children's podcasting responded to the pandemic with episodes speaking to the moments children and families are experiencing, fortifying them with valuable information, and providing great storytelling, messages of empowerment, and off-screen learning. While adult podcast listening is down, with fewer people tuning in while commuting, children's listening increased by 24 percent in March, and by August, one in four children were tuning in to podcasts.

This playlist provides an overview of how children's podcasters pivoted, responded, and engaged with their audiences in new and creative ways. We selected episodes that represent general trends, including growth of podcast programming into other children's media, empowerment of student podcasting, expansion of topics for kids, and activism and civic engagement.

Ages 5-8When librarians brought story time online in 2020, celebrities joined them. Julie's Library features Julie Andrews, whose voice, conjuring her film role as Mary Poppins, comforts and shines as she reads from high-caliber picture book picks. Launched in April, this show is produced by the award-winning creators of American Public Media's Brains On! Start with the episode featuring the picture book The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael Lopez, and young kids will surely ask to listen to more. The success of this show, along with the continuing success of Circle Round, which features celebrity readers voicing folk tales, and Netflix's , with luminaries reading aloud from picture books selected by the American Library Association's Black Caucus, signals a deeper valuing of read-alouds and literacy from children's media producers.

Ages 5-10With the rise in coronavirus cases, a presidential election, racial justice activism, and disinformation circulating, it was no surprise to see an increase in news shows for kids such as , Newsy Jacuzzi, and The Ten News. These, plus great science shows, including and are dedicated to helping kids better understand the world and think critically, providing them trusted, digestible information. But Why?, the long-running show driven by kid's questions and produced by Vermont Public Radio, started broadcasting live in partnership with the Vermont Department of Education during the school shut-down. But Why?'s high-quality reporting and producing, combined with the Department of Education's resources, allowed them to cover topics ranging from civics and literacy to space exploration and race, with all content accessible regardless of internet access, by broadcasting live. Beginning in early 2021, both hosts will produce But Why? full-time. The recent episode "Why Are Whales So Big? " is a great example of how the hosts interview experts in order to answer kid's questions, such as, "Do whales have belly buttons?"

Ages 5-14This remarkable collaborative effort, launched March 15 and in its second season, is a great example of resilience-themed programming. Kids Listen, the grassroots organization advocating for high-quality audio for kids, quickly responded to parents' need to find activities at home for their kids with a new curated RSS feed providing a suggested activity to accompany each episode. In " Reach: A Space Podcast for Kids Exoplanets," from Soundsington Media, hosted by Brian Holden and Meredith Stepien, listeners learn about exoplanets-the planets that don't orbit our sun-and learn how they can make their own cool planetary system.

Other collaborative pivots by journalists and podcasters include Ping and Echo, an email list that provided a daily family-friendly podcast episode each day from March through June; the British Fun Kids Network's Activity Quest; and Pineapple Studios' The Kids Are All....Home. May support for collaboration and creativity continue into 2021.

Ages 7-11 Story Pirates began in 2004 by taking stories and ideas from kids and turning them into songs and improv comedy. The podcast launched in 2013 and, in 2017 Gimlet (now owned by Spotify), picked it up. What makes Story Pirates a trendsetter this year is its use of the podcast model to launch into other areas of children's media through Story Creation Zone. This member-based model offers kids and families livestream events, classes, and exclusive activities linked to podcast episodes. Members have access to writing prompts and digital downloads. "The Weird Sisters" episode, from October, includes stories about two sisters' homage to Billie Eilish and a talking Mona Lisa that foils an art heist. Now, kids can find related content beyond the podcast. It's a good response to families' need for diversified online content and creative skill-building ideas.

Ages 7-12Launched in 2019 and now in its second season, Hey Black Child is hosted by 10-year-old Avery and seven-year-old Jackson, who noticed school wasn't covering a lot of Black history and took matters into their own hands. Their episodes are scripted by their mom, Nicole Ausmer, who works at the University of Cincinnati, and cover topics from Black professionals in medicine, sports, banking, and leadership, and civic engagement. The first episode shares a poem by Countee Cullen that inspired the show's name. Segments include the "term of the day," where the hosts share information about their topic-the Harlem Renaissance in this episode. They discuss how poetry gives people the ability to express themselves while also telling a story. Kids will love listening to these young hosts and learning about Black history outside of school.

Ages 7-12Another fine example of engaging kid podcasters is the fun, kid-centric show At Your Level, hosted by Ari Kelly and produced by this mom. Ari features all-kids content, with recordings from kids, topics selected by kids, and jokes and riddles for kids. The show also provides a way for children to participate on the show through Zoom. The bombastic brass sound effects provide lighthearted, enjoyable transitions between segments, making for effortless listening. It's a dynamite model for kids wanting to make their own podcast. Begin with " Episode 7: Pandemic Birthdays," which shares ways young people adapt and celebrate when they can't have a traditional birthday. It offers hope and teaches kids relevant values such as resiliency and creativity.

Ages 10-14Until recently, financial literacy hadn't been covered much by kidcasts, save for a few episodes or a show like the kid-hosted Money with Mak and G. The host of American Public Media's Marketplace, Jed Kim, began working on a new show for kids about money and the economy in 2019, but the recession, brought on by the pandemic, helped to shape the show's episodes as they launched the first season of five episodes in July 2020. Million Bazillion is sponsored by The Ranzetta Family Charitable Fund and the Next Gen Personal Finance, a non-profit dedicated to teaching kids financial literacy. Marketplace partnered with the producers of Brains On!, adopting their model of reporting for kids, thereby putting young people front and center in the discussions about money. Million Bazillion tackles tough subjects like starting a business, saving money, advertising, and more in an engaging way kids and parents will value. In " Negotiation is a Super Important Skill" they break down how and why negotiation skills can help create a win-win situation, sometimes, by using a real-world scenario, a tween's desire to have their parents buy them a new or upgraded smartphone. We hope to continue seeing more and more topic-focused podcast shows for kids, across a wide range of subjects into 2021.
Timestorm "Season 2 Trailer"
Ages 10-14Kids love book series, so it makes sense that some of the most popular podcasts for kids have been audio dramas. The largest producer of audio dramas for kids is Gen Z Media and PRX, along with their tween network, TRAX. This year, their show Timestorm, produced by Cocotazo Media, stands out for its focus on LatinX culture, specifically Puerto Rican history, and authentic storytelling. The show began out of a Google Podcast creator program in 2019; the May release of Season 2 follows the fictional Ventura twins as they time-travel to uncover Puerto Rico's true history. The diverse cast, great music, audio production, and adventure- based storytelling will draw kids in and teach a little history at the same time. There's room for many more adventure-based series, and we hope more will come from BIPOC writers and producers in 2021.

Ages 10-18There has been a lot of focus from podcasters around two topics this year: coronavirus and race. For years, NPR, a trusted source for journalism, has been encouraging kids to learn and practice journalism by producing their work in podcast form. The network provides educators and students with resources and support through its Student Podcast Challenge, and this year's winners really show just how resilient kids can be in the face of adversity. " The Winner of NPR's Podcast Challenge" features the winning middle school and high school podcast episodes. Both tackle highly relevant topics related to racism, one pertaining to the coronavirus and the other, the environment and climate change. They prove just how powerful storytelling in this format can be, and how deeply kids think about important topics. These original stories will empower other kids to engage in meaningful topics of discussion, giving them an outlet and amplification for their creative work-namely, an airing on NPR. The make-up of the Student Podcast Challenge includes big names doing important work at NPR teaching mini-lessons about podcasting like the " Art of the Interview," " Finding Your Voice," and others. It feels like you are practically in the recording studio, getting an intimate look at how these high-level podcasters make their work shine. Kudos to NPR for supporting kids podcasting. It would be excellent to see more such challenges in the future years. College students are also allowed to enter in 2021.

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Top Trendsetting Podcasts from 2020 | Kidcasts

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One in four kids tuned in to a podcast in 2020, drawn to storiesand discussions aboutthe coronavirus, money, activism, racial justice, and other topics.

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Stop Motion Studio for iOS - What is a stop motion movie?

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If you’re familiar with movies like Wallace and Gromit or those groovy Lego shorts on YouTube, then you’re probably already familiar with stop motion. Stop motion (also known as stop action) is an animation technique to make any object you choose to appear to move on its own.

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A Librarian’s Guide to Makerspaces: 16 Resources

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A Librarian’s Guide to Makerspaces: 16 Resources

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"There were more than 135 million adult makers, more than half of the total adult population in America, in 2015."

What is a makerspace? You've no doubt been hearing that word more than a few times over the past several years. Makerspaces, also called hackerspaces, hackspaces, and fablabs, are collaborative spaces where people gather to get creative with DIY projects, invent new ones, and share ideas. Since the first official makerspace convened six years ago in a library in upstate New York, libraries have remained an ideal setting for makerspace events across the country. Many offer community resources like 3D printers, software, electronics, craft and hardware supplies, and more. The idea of a communal creative space has only gained momentum and become increasingly popular over the years, and the makers' movement shows no signs of slowing down.

There were more than 135 million adult makers, more than half of the total adult population in America, in 2015. The White House even held its own inaugural Maker Faire in 2014, inspiring President Obama to declare an official National Week of Making the following year. Read on to learn more about library makerspaces and how one might benefit your community.

Articles & Blog Posts on Makerspaces

1.) Library as Makerspace
The Library as Makerspace blog, run by the Duxbury Free Library in Massachusetts, shares the experiences of its librarians in the process of transitioning from a content collection-only facility to a content creation-inspired makerspace. Bloggers share ideas for makerspace programs for children, teens, and adults, with a goal of "reimagining our role in a rapidly changing world."

2.) Renovated Learning
Curated by Diana Rendina, media specialist, teacher, and librarian at Stewart Middle Magnet School in Tampa, Florida, this blog documents Diana's journey of starting a STEM-based makerspace at her own school's library from the ground up. Posts include lessons and reflections on her own experience as well as resources for other makerspace hosts, including a "start here" section for beginners.

3.) The Makerspace in the Library: What it Means for Your Classroom
This recent post on a blog titled "The Unquiet Mind" explores the author's first experience attending the National Writing Project Annual Meeting in 2017; this year, the NWP panel discussed growing interest in makerspaces at libraries and their implications for teachers, library staff, and the learning process as a whole.

4.) A Librarian's Guide to OER in the Maker Space
This article, written by library media specialist and author Laura Fleming, introduces librarians and educators to the open educational resources (OER) movement, and focuses on how to integrate STEM-oriented makerspaces and other disciplines into the traditional learning space.

5.) Growing Learning Communities Through School Libraries and Makerspaces-Creating, Constructing, Collaborating, Contributing
Another informative post on "The Unquiet Mind," this article served as one of the site's first comprehensive guides to makerspaces, exploring a variety of possibilities for creating a collaborative learning environment at locations across the U.S. The post accompanies a presentation about makerspaces given by the author to the Independent School Library Exchange of Southern California.

6.) Library Friday: Visiting Fayetteville Free Library
Here on INFOSPACE, the official blog of the Syracuse University iSchool, blogger and master's candidate in library and information science Kayla Del Biondo, explores one of the country's leading university makerspaces at the Fayetteville Free Library as part of her Library Friday Series.

7.) Make it Work! Starting a Makerspace in an Academic Library, Phase 1
Among many authoritative posts on ACRLog.com, a blog site exclusively by and for academic and research librarians, this post outlines a multi-phase process for creating a makerspace at the grassroots level, addressing crucial concerns for working librarians. Hannah Pope, guest author of this article, is the Emerging Technologies Librarian at Appalachian State University.

8.) Biohackerspace, DIYbio, and Libraries
Posted on the ACRL TechConnect Blog, this article explores projects at makerspaces across the country focused on developing science, technology, and engineering programs that can essentially turn any library into a makeshift biology lab.

9.) Making It in the Academic World
This post on American Libraries focuses specifically on makerspaces at university libraries in the U.S. Author Bailey Brewer makes the case that, while makerspaces are known for bringing 3D technology to the masses, the potential for a greater sense of community among college-age participants will likely carry makerspaces into the future.

10. ) It all started with a training offered by the Washington State Libraryâ€¦
Part of the "Between the Lines" series of the Washington State Library Blog, this post describes one library manager's first encounter with STEM-based makerspace programming. Her subsequent initiatives to develop ongoing maker events, especially for children, take place at Winlock Library in Timberland, WA.

11.) 4 San Francisco Projects Highlighted During the National Week of Making
This post outlines four of San Francisco's most innovative makerspace programs, celebrated during the National Week of Making in 2016 in an event co-sponsored by the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Civic Innovation and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

12.) Makerspace Starter Kit
Noted blogger, international Ed Tech keynote speaker, and Google Certified Innovator Gwyneth Jones offers a starter kit to aspiring makerspace hosts through her site, The Daring Librarian. For inspiration, among many resources available on the site is the story of the makerspace at Murray Hill Middle School in Maryland, where Jones helped to launch a collaborative project space more than 18 years ago.

Maker Faire

Touted as the "greatest show and tell on earth," Maker Faire has emerged as the official international celebration of not only creativity, resourcefulness, and innovation but also a mass gathering of the maker movement at large. Each year, Maker Faire hosts multi-day flagship faires in Chicago, New York, and the Bay Area, as well as ongoing regional events, mini faires and school faires around the world. The organization is perhaps the most well-known makerspace networking resource, having established its own "Maker Shed" tools and products, a "Maker Camp" online community and a "Make" magazine for subscribers. The official Maker Faire site also offers aspiring Makers resources and support for bringing a Maker Faire to their local community, starting their own makerspace or becoming a sponsor of the maker movement.

Makerspaces Directories

1.) MakerDirectory.com
This online directory lists national and international maker events, from the Adelaide Mini Maker Faire to the World Maker Faire in New York City.

2.) Hackerspaces
This directory lists national and international events and offers resources specific to hackerspaces, enabling the tech-maker community to make connections both in-person and online.

3.) Maker Faire
Perhaps the most comprehensive of maker directories, Maker Faire offers an interactive map listing upcoming national and international maker faires, mini maker faires, and school faires; aspiring makers can also search past events by region on the site.

4.) Makerspace
This membership site requires registration to connect with other makers; once signed in, members are encouraged to exchange makerspace projects and ideas. The link above to the site's BETA login page is expected to be redirected to a new platform in 2017.

Revitalizing Community Spaces

"Makerspaces have also led to growth in other industries: crowdfunding sites funded more than $5 billion worth of projects in 2014, and the 3D printing industry is expected to be worth $8 billion as early as the year 2020."

One could argue that the phenomenon of makerspaces has led to a revitalization and reimagining of libraries in a digital world. As the means of circulating and accessing digital information outside of libraries continue to grow, this renaissance for the library as a place to gather, create, and collaborate has led to benefits for the host facilities just as much, if not more, than participants. Like book clubs, workshops, and other group meetings, hosting a makerspace alongside traditional offerings in a library is fast becoming the hands-on approach to learning and developing new skills. Many libraries at colleges and universities have incorporated program-specific makerspaces into their campus curriculum, bringing students together around a topic such as robotics or a particular fine art technique.

If increased support and funding for makerspaces are any indication, this trend-turned-movement is here to stay. The University of Texas in Austin is an example of a school that turned a makeshift project into a lucrative institutional endeavor by expanding its makerspace into a program called the Foundry. Hosted by the university's Fine Arts Library, the Foundry was created in 2015 through a $200,000 grant from the Hearst Foundation, which recognized the potential for cross-disciplinary research, art, and invention in a permanent makerspace on campus. Makerspaces have also led to growth in other industries: crowdfunding sites funded more than $5 billion worth of projects in 2014, and the 3D printing industry is expected to be worth $8 billion as early as the year 2020.

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A Librarian's Guide to Makerspaces: 16 Resources | OEDB.org

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What is a makerspace? You've no doubt been hearing that word more than a few times over the past several years. Makerspaces, also called hackerspaces,

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Create a School Makerspace in 3 Simple Steps

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Create a School Makerspace in 3 Simple Steps

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Create a School Makerspace in 3 Simple Steps | ISTE

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Makerspaces can be elaborate learning spaces equipped with sophisticated tools and supplies, but they don't have to be.

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Google Arts & Culture features content from over 2000 leading museums and archives who have partnered with the Google Cultural Institute to bring the world's treasures online.

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Aw snap! Google Earth isn't supported on your browser. You may need to update your browser or use a different browser. Please see our system requirements for more information. Chrome is a great choice and you can download it here.

Or if you're feeling adventurous, you can try Earth anyway by choosing an option below.

Learn more about Google Earth.

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Aw snap! Google Earth isn't supported on your browser. You may need to update your browser or use a different browser. Please see our system requirements for more information. Chrome is a great choice and you can download it here. Or if you're feeling adventurous, you can try Earth anyway by choosing an option below.

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360 Stories | The World's Best Travel Experience in 360-Degrees VR

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Travel the World's Popular Destinations in 360-Degrees on from any device. Find, Experience and Book One-Day Tours, Activities and Attractions.

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Important — Popplet.com service is ending July 1, 2026. Please read the official announcement here,and visit our new site Superstructures.io.

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Top Tech Tools for Formative Assessment | Common Sense Education

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Find the right formative assessment tools for your classroom. These digital tools range from discussion (e.g., Piazza, TodaysMeet) to quizzing, polling, and student responses (e.g., Kahoot, Formative) to interactive lessons and videos (e.g., Nearpod, Flipgrid).

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The following libraries also offer their own collections of eBooks and eAudiobooks. Select your local library below to view their new collection. Note: you must have a valid library card and live in the city where the library is located in order to use these collections. For more information, contac…

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Book Creator - Love Learning - Book Creator app

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Teachers love it. Students love it. Book Creator is the simplest, most inclusive way to create content in the classroom.

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TeachingBooks | Author & Book Resources to Support Reading Education

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TeachingBooks strives to enrich everyone's experience reading children's and young adult books with our original and curated literary resources.

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National Novel Writing Month is a fun, empowering approach to creative writing. The challenge: draft an entire novel in just one month. For 30 wild, exciting, surprising days, you get to lock away your inner editor, let your imagination take over, and just create!

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Format pages using the OpenDyslexic font and low contrast help

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School District 75 Elementary Virtual Learning Commons

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K-6 families, check back often for updated resources and new featured blog posts.

Mission Teacher Librarians have created this virtual space to provide opportunities for students, educators and parents to access high quality digital learning resources and experiences. The resources support different ways of learning and connect to the redesigned British Columbia curriculum.

(Quotation Source: Canadian Library Association, 2014, 4)

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Home Learning Resources Available here! K-6 families, check back often for updated resources and new featured blog posts. Mission Teacher Librarians have created this virtual space to provide opportunities for students, educators and parents to access high quality digital learning resources and experiences. The resources support different ways of learning and connect to the redesigned...

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Digital Resources to Support Connections-Based Learning

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Digital Resources to Support Connections-Based Learning

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Digital Human Library - K12 Education Community Learning Library

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Digital Human Library (dHL) brings people together in service of youth and learning.

We create opportunities for K-12 teachers and students to connect with hundreds of industry Experts for thousands of interactive 1:1 video conferences supported by over 1800 educational virtual tours, and experience Indigenous storytelling while learning about Indigenous culture.

Coming soon...

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Digital Human Library - K12 Education Community Learning Library

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Digital Human Library (dHL) brings people together in service of youth and learning. We create opportunities for K-12 teachers and students to connect with hundreds of industry Experts for thousands of interactive 1:1 video conferences supported by over 1800 educational virtual tours, and experience Indigenous storytelling while learning about Indigenous culture.

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Skype a Scientist matches your classroom, scout troop, or library with scientists for Q&amp;A sessions for free!

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Digital Resources to Develop Your Professional Learning Network

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Digital Resources to Develop Your Professional Learning Network

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Future Ready Librarians® are facing uncertainty as they return to learning. Join Future Ready Advisor, Shannon Miller @shannonmiller for our newest podcast series, Leading through the Library. Shannon and her weekly guest will share stories of how they are tackling the unique issues that are facing…

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Listen to The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast on Spotify. Teaching strategies, classroom management, education reform, educational technology -- if it has something to do with teaching, we're talking about it. Jennifer Gonzalez interviews educators, students, administrators and parents about the psychological and social dynamics of school, trade secrets, and other juicy things you'll never learn in a textbook.

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Teacher Tip #112 Teacher Self-Care: Create a Happy Folder In my School Library Media office desk I had a manilla folder where I carefully tucked all the hand written notes from kiddos & parents to read on a rainy day. I also SHAMELESSLY would first tape them to my office door (let the other teachers internally writhe with envy!) Nah, really just to keep me motivated and also show the kiddos I appreciated their heartfelt little notes! But.....before I tucked it away tenderly or taped it to my door, I took a picture of it and uploaded it to Flickr. A digital Happy Folder that pays back dividends of warm fuzzies and motivations for your future self. Because, let's not kid ourselves, being an educator right now is HARD. Start this habit NOW. Don't be like me and wait 10 or 15 years. OK, some of that was because cell phones and digital cameras weren't as handy and as ubiquitous back then. But do your future self a favor, there will be days when you will need it. Make

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Teacher Tip #112 Teacher Self-Care: Create a Happy Folder In my School Library Media office desk I had a manilla folder where I carefully tucked all the hand written notes from kiddos & parents to read on a rainy day. I also SHAMELESSLY would first tape them to my office door (let the other teachers internally writhe with envy!)

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Our StickTogether webinar on September 21 was so much fun! Brianna and I welcome our friends, Zee Ann and Connie, to talk about Bringing Literacy, Learning and Creativity to Life With STEAM.

You will find the recording of the webinar here in the StickTogether YouTube Channel.

And the webinar Google Slides can be found here.

You will love what they shared and gain so many ideas to take back to your classrooms, libraries and school communities.

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A library and education blog and place to be heard through creating, technology, connecting, reading, collaborating and noise.

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Take online for free

Take the course for free by choosing the audit option on Coursera.

Get a certificate

Pay a modest fee to receive a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

Take for credit

University of Alberta students can sign up for NS 201 for credit.

About the Course

Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores the different histories and contemporary perspectives of Indigenous peoples living in Canada.

From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores complex experiences Indigenous peoples face today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations.

Indigenous Canada is for students from faculties outside the Faculty of Native Studies with an interest in acquiring a basic familiarity with Indigenous/non-Indigenous relationships.
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Topics Covered

The fur trade and other exchange relationships,

Land claims and environmental impacts,

Legal systems and rights,

Political conflicts and alliances,

Indigenous political activism,

Contemporary Indigenous life, art and its expressions.

Course Format

Delivery: Online

Level: Beginner

Commitment: 12 weeks of study, 2-3 hours/week

This course consists of twelve modules, each with a series of:

video lectures,

a set of course notes and course glossary,

and required and recommended readings.

Not open to students with credit in NS200. Not designed for Native Studies majors.

Learn about course topics and outcomes, and find out how you can participate in the course.

Academic Lead

Paul Gareau, Associate Professor, Métis
Faculty of Native Studies

Dr. Paul L. Gareau is Métis from the Batoche Homeland and is an associate professor and associate dean (graduate studies) in the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta, Canada. His research, publications, and teaching explores the Métis (Indigenous) experiences of religion and spirituality, and the legacy of colonial discourses on Indigenous and ethno-cultural minorities. Grounded in Métis Studies and Indigenous Studies as well as Religious Studies, Gareau's work centres on theory and methodology around relationality, gender, Indigenous onto-epistemologies, land and place, nationhood/peoplehood, and sovereignty/self-determination.

Presenters

Savage Bear, PhD, Montreal Lake Cree Nation

Savage Bear was the project's academic lead, and an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Native Studies and Department of Women's and Gender Studies. Dr. Bear's research interests include Indigenous Erotics & Eroticanalysis; Indigenous Feminism, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Sovereignty, Land & Body Politics; Reproductive Justice, Indigenous Queer & Two-Spirit Studies; Contemporary Indigenous Art.

Alannah Mandamin-Shawanda, BANS (Honors), Wikwemikong First Nation

Alannah Mandamin-Shawanda is Anishnabee from Wikwemikong First Nation located on Manitoulin Island. She moved to Wetaskiwin at the age of seven, and mainly grew up in Alberta. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Native Studies (Honors) at the University of Alberta. She is currently working with the Government of Alberta speaking and encouraging youth to explore their post-secondary options. She has a strong interest in Film and Media studies, and Indigenous Fourth Cinema. On her days off she enjoys taking long road trips, hiking, pleasure reading and fancy dancing.

Isaac Twinn, BEd, BANS, Sawridge First Nation

Isaac Twinn is from the Sawridge First Nation, situated in Treaty 8 territory, in the Lesser Slave Lake region. He is currently doing work involving both Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth, culture, and education. In Isaac's free time, you may find him either reading, golfing, fishing, hunting, learning his language, or spending time learning from Elders.

Indigenous Canada Course Syllabus

Module 1 - Worldview

In this introductory module, students learn the significance of stories and storytelling in Indigenous societies. We explore history that comes from Indigenous worldviews, this includes worldviews from the Inuit, Nehiyawak, Kanien:keha'ka and Tlingit peoples.
" Module 1 Term List & Definitions
Module 2 - Fur Trade

This module discusses pre-contact trading systems between Indigenous peoples of North America with a focus on the geographical region of Canada. We examine the chronological events of contact with Europeans and the events leading up to, and during the fur trade. This module also explores the long lasting social, political and economic ramifications of the fur trade on Indigenous peoples.
" Module 2 Term List & Definitions
Module 3 - Trick or Treaty

Examines Indigenous and settler perspectives of treaty making. Discusses the variation of treaties in Canada and the unique circumstances surrounding these events. Outlines the temporal and geographical history of the numbered treaties (beginning on the east) and ends with a discussion of the historical events and policies leading up to Métis scrip.
" Module 3 Term List & Definitions
Module 4 - New Rules, New Game

This module begins with a discussion about what is distinctive in Indigenous legal traditions. Explores impacts of policies put in place as British North America attempted to solidify itself geographically and socially. Examines the ways in which the Indian Act contributed to assimilation.
" Module 4 Term List & Definitions
Module 5 - "Killing the Indian in the Child"

Outlines characteristics of teaching and learning in Indigenous communities, and discusses how relationships were critical in teaching and learning. Traces the development and implementation of the Residential school system in the period after Confederation. Discusses intergenerational impact of Residential school system and the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
" Module 5 Term List & Definitions
Module 6 - A Modern Indian?

This module examines the burgeoning resistance of Indigenous leaders and the formation of Indigenous-led organizations as the Canadian government employed strategies to encourage assimilation of Indigenous peoples and communities into mainstream society, specifically relating to urbanization.
" Module 6 Term List & Definitions
Module 7 - Red Power

In this module students will learn about key characteristics of a few different Indigenous political structures and the impacts of colonialism on these structures (e.g. Indian Act, Red Power/AIM, White Paper, Red Paper -Citizens Plus) Concepts explored include self-government, self-determination, and Indigenous resurgence.
" Module 7 Term List & Definitions
Module 8 - Sovereign Lands

Utilizing contemporary and traditional examples, this module connects Indigenous worldviews and traditional ecological knowledge. As well, this module traces the historical impacts of settlement. Discusses key concepts of case law associated with Indigenous title, rights to land and resources. List the on-going threats to Indigenous lands and how these threats and challenges are being addressed.
" Module 8 Term List & Definitions
Module 9 - Indigenous Women

Exploring Indigenous concepts of gender, and the traditional roles and responsibilities, this module then moves into an examination of how colonization can be characterized as a gendered project. Identifies some concrete examples of the impact of colonialism on Indigenous women.
" Module 9 Term List & Definitions
Module 10 - Indigenous in the City

Looking critically at the statement: "Cities are the place where Indigenous culture goes to die", this module explores sites of urban Indigenous agency/active participation, urban Indigenous governance practices, and urban reserves.
" Module 10 Term List & Definitions
Module 11 - Current Social Movements

What is an Indigenous concept of community? How do Indigenous people form communities traditionally and today? This module will explain how social and environmental activism can mobilize and create communities. This module identifies key moments such as the Oka Crisis, Idle No More and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls are grassroots resistance movements.
" Module 11 Term List & Definitions
Module 12 - 'Living' Traditions - Expressions in Pop Culture and Art

Finally, we will explore how geographical location, trading networks and partnerships have influenced Indigenous art in the past. As well, we will examine contemporary iterations of Indigenous art and explore some of the artistic responses of Indigenous artists, musicians, and writers to the impacts of colonialism.
" Module 12 Term List & Definitions
Learn about course topics and outcomes, and find out how you can participate in the course.

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Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson course during which students can expect to acquire a basic familiarity with Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal relationships. This Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) aims to expand the understandings held by many Canadians about these relationships.

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Google Workspace certification exams are developed following an internationally accepted development process to ensure validity, reliability, and relevance. The phases of exam development include:

Objective Domain definition - The objectives for the exam are determined based on job-role feedback provided by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) inside and outside of Google.

Blueprint - Each objective is weighted based on its importance to the overall job role.

Item development - SMEs develop exam items based on the exam objectives and blueprint.

Technical review - Each exam item is reviewed to ensure technical accuracy. Reviewers can include Google employees or employees of Partner organizations.

Beta testing - Exam items are delivered to candidates under conditions similar to the final exam when it's published. This allows the performance of each item to be evaluated.

Item selection and cut score setting - Based on statistics gathered during the beta testing, items can be kept for the live exam or rejected. Once the final items are determined, SMEs gather to set the passing score for the exam.

Live - An independent test delivery provider delivers the exam worldwide, anywhere with an Internet connection and a distraction-free environment.

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Educator Level 1 | Teacher Center | Google for Education

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Demonstrate your proficiency in Google for Education products with the Educator Level 1 certification.

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In this re-shared blog post from African Feminism, our #VisibleWikiWomen coordinator, Sunshine Fionah Komusana, reflects on the activism of African feminists in online spaces. African feminist activism in digital rights, knowledge justice and language advocacy is thriving despite the colonial legacies, patriarchal African leaders and poor tech infrastructure.

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Whose Voices and Languages are Reflected Online? 

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Whose Voices and Languages are Reflected Online? 

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The internet is nowhere near as multilingual as we imagine or need it to be. Roughly 10 colonial or regionally dominant languages rule the internet - so what happens to the over 7000 spoken or signed languages on the planet online?

Our podcast, Whose Voices?, is back with a new season focussing on languages, taking our work on knowledge justice, language tech and feminist digital infrastructures even further. For this season we bring six mini episodes featuring conversations with thoughtful, powerful folks working to reclaim our many languages beyond English on the internet. These interviews took place a little while ago, but are still relevant and crucial today.

Rewind back to 2022, and read our State of the Internet's Languages report (now also available in International Sign!), for the first in-depth look into the internet's (lack of) multilinguality, and what that means for folks in and from the Global South/Global Majority when they come online in a marginalized language.

Not only that, our Whose Voices? website has had a new lick of paint - refreshed for all the feminist podcasting magic happening this year!

Listen to the podcasts below, and stay tuned for weekly releases starting on 1 March 2023.

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Whose voices and languages are reflected online? - Whose Knowledge?

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Our podcast, Whose Voices?, is back with a new season focussing on languages, taking our work on knowledge justice, language tech and feminist digital infrastructures even further. For this season we bring six mini episodes featuring conversations with thoughtful, powerful folks working to reclaim our many languages beyond English on the internet.

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Frameworks for Teaching Digital Literacy

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Frameworks for Teaching Digital Literacy

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Our website for families provides reviews and ratings of movies, books, games, apps, and other media to help parents and families make informed decisions about the media their children use.

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Common Sense Education provides educators and students with the resources they need to harness the power of technology for learning and life. Find our free K-12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum, reviews of popular edtech apps, tips on teaching responsible AI use, and resources for protecting student privacy and online safety.

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global media and information literacy week

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This section comprises a curricular overview, as well as information about professional development for media education, and British Columbia's provincial media education association, the British Columbia Association for Media Education (BCAME), in the sidebar.

The left menu contains curriculum charts for Grades K-12 that feature media education outcomes for BC English Language Arts, Social Studies, Information Technology and Health and Career Education curricula, with links to supporting MediaSmarts resources and lessons.
Last updated August 2023 Curricular Overview
British Columbia is a member of the Western and Northern Canadian Protocol for Collaboration in Education (WNCP), which also comprises of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, the Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.

The curriculum framework for English Language Arts and Social Studies contains a strong media education component.

British Columbia's English Language Arts curriculum and accompanying Integrated Resource Packages (IRPs) were completed in 2006. The aim of the curriculum is "to provide students with opportunities for personal and intellectual growth through speaking, listening, reading, viewing, writing, and representing to make meaning of the world and to prepare them to participate effectively in all aspects of society." To this end, media education outcomes have been included throughout the curriculum within the curriculum organizers Reading and Viewing and Writing and Representing.

The Social Studies curriculum recognizes that "much of the information that the public receives about issues and events is received through media messages - in newspapers and magazines, on television and radio, and on the Internet". Analysis of media messages is identified as a valuable component in the curriculum as it "allows students to think critically and independently about issues that affect them." The Social Studies curriculum and accompanying IRPs were completed in 2006 and is scheduled for full implementation in 2008.

In British Columbia, media education is also cross-curricular, integrated into all IRPs for Grades K-12, especially in subjects such as Visual Arts, Health Career Education, Drama and Information Technology.
A Cross-Curricular Planning Guide for Media Education
In 1994, the British Columbia Association for Media Education was contracted by the Ministry of Education and Training to produce a framework to inform the development of the Grades K-12 IRPs, with regard to media education content.

The following summary from "A Cross-Curricular Planning Guide for Media Education," which is derived from the BCAME framework, details how media education has been integrated into the BC curriculum.
Media education is a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach to the study of media. Media education deals with key media concepts and focuses on broad issues such as the history and role of media in different societies and the social, political, economic, and cultural issues related to the media. Instead of addressing the concepts in depth, as one would in media studies, media education deals with most of the central media concepts as they relate to a variety of subjects. Value of Integrating Media Education Popular music, television, film, radio, magazines, computer games, and information services--all supplying media messages--are pervasive in the lives of students today. Media education develops students' ability to think critically and independently about issues that affect them. Media education encourages students to identify and examine the values contained in media messages. It also cultivates the understanding that these messages are produced by others to inform, persuade and entertain for a variety of purposes. Media education helps students understand the distortions that may result from the use of particular media practices and techniques. All curriculum areas provide learning opportunities for media education. It is not taught as a separate curriculum. The key themes of media education are:

media products (purpose, values, representation, codes, conventions, characteristics, production)

audience interpretation and influence (interpretation, influence of media on audience, influence of audience on media)

media and society (control, scope)

Examples of curriculum integration include:

English Language Arts - critiquing advertising and examining points of view

Visual Arts - analyzing the appeal of an image by age, gender, status and other characteristics of the target audience

Personal Planning - examining the influence of the media on body concepts and healthy lifestyle choices

Drama - critically viewing professional and amateur theatre productions, dramatic films and television programs to identify purpose

Social Studies - comparing the depiction of First Nations in the media over time

© Copyright 1996. All Rights Reserved.
BC MOE Program Standards and Education Resources

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This section comprises a curricular overview, as well as information about professional development for media education, and British Columbia's provincial media education association, the British Columbia Association for Media Education (BCAME), in the sidebar.

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Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus (Fake Website)

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Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus (Fake Website)

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Help Save The ENDANGERED

From EXTINCTION!

The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus

Rare photo of the elusive tree octopus
(Enhanced from cropped telephoto)

The Pacific Northwest tree octopus ( Octopus paxarbolis) can be found in the temperate rainforests of the Olympic Peninsula on the west coast of North America. Their habitat lies on the Eastern side of the Olympic mountain range, adjacent to Hood Canal. These solitary cephalopods reach an average size (measured from arm-tip to mantle-tip,) of 30-33 cm. Unlike most other cephalopods, tree octopuses are amphibious, spending only their early life and the period of their mating season in their ancestral aquatic environment. Because of the moistness of the rainforests and specialized skin adaptations, they are able to keep from becoming desiccated for prolonged periods of time, but given the chance they would prefer resting in pooled water.

An intelligent and inquisitive being (it has the largest brain-to-body ratio for any mollusk), the tree octopus explores its arboreal world by both touch and sight. Adaptations its ancestors originally evolved in the three dimensional environment of the sea have been put to good use in the spatially complex maze of the coniferous Olympic rainforests. The challenges and richness of this environment (and the intimate way in which it interacts with it,) may account for the tree octopus's advanced behavioral development. (Some evolutionary theorists suppose that "arboreal adaptation" is what laid the groundwork in primates for the evolution of the human mind.)

Reaching out with one of her eight arms, each covered in sensitive suckers, a tree octopus might grab a branch to pull herself along in a form of locomotion called tentaculation; or she might be preparing to strike at an insect or small vertebrate, such as a frog or rodent, or steal an egg from a bird's nest; or she might even be examining some object that caught her fancy, instinctively desiring to manipulate it with her dexterous limbs (really deserving the title "sensory organs" more than mere "limbs",) in order to better know it.

Map of estimated tree octopus maximum range, including spawning waters

Tree octopuses have eyesight comparable to humans. Besides allowing them to see their prey and environment, it helps them in inter-octopus relations. Although they are not social animals like us, they display to one-another their emotions through their ability to change the color of their skin: red indicates anger, white fear, while they normally maintain a mottled brown tone to blend in with the background.

The reproductive cycle of the tree octopus is still linked to its roots in the waters of the Puget Sound from where it is thought to have originated. Every year, in Spring, tree octopuses leave their homes in the Olympic National Forest and migrate towards the shore and, eventually, their spawning grounds in Hood Canal. There, they congregate (the only real social time in their lives,) and find mates. After the male has deposited his sperm, he returns to the forests, leaving the female to find an aquatic lair in which to attach her strands of egg-clusters. The female will guard and care for her eggs until they hatch, refusing even to eat, and usually dying from her selflessness. The young will spend the first month or so floating through Hood Canal, Admiralty Inlet, and as far as North Puget Sound before eventually moving out of the water and beginning their adult lives.

Why It's Endangered

Route 101, separating the rainforests of the Olympic Peninsula from Hood Canal

Although the tree octopus is not officially listed on the Endangered Species List, we feel that it should be added since its numbers are at a critically low level for its breeding needs. The reasons for this dire situation include: decimation of habitat by logging and suburban encroachment; building of roads that cut off access to the water which it needs for spawning; predation by foreign species such as house cats; and booming populations of its natural predators, including the bald eagle and sasquatch. What few that make it to the Canal are further hampered in their reproduction by the growing problem of pollution from farming and residential run-off. Unless immediate action is taken to protect this species and its habitat, the Pacific Northwest tree octopus will be but a memory.

The possibility of Pacific Northwest tree octopus extinction is not an unwarranted fear. Other tree octopus species-including the Douglas octopus and the red-ringed madrona sucker-were once abundant throughout the Cascadia region, but have since gone extinct because of threats similar to those faced by paxarbolis, as well as overharvesting by the now-illegal tree octopus trade.

Tree Octopus hat from 1923

The history of the tree octopus trade is a sad one. Their voracious appetite for bird plumes having exhausted all the worthy species of that family, the fashionistas moved on to cephalopodic accoutrements during the early 20th Century. Tree octopuses became prized by the fashion industry as ornamental decorations for hats, leading greedy trappers to wipe out whole populations to feed the vanity of the fashionable rich. While fortunately this practice has been outlawed, its effects still reverberate today as these millinery deprivations brought tree octopus numbers below the critical point where even minor environmental change could cause disaster.

While efforts were made in the past to preserve remaining tree octopus habitat, these were met with resistance by the timber industry, which has traditionally viewed the tree octopus as a nuisance, both because the octopuses favor the valuable, moss-shrouded trees of old growth forests-pitting conservation needs against lucrative sources of lumber-and because octopuses hiding among felled trees often gummed up sawmills and stained pulp vats with their ink.

Traveling sideshow exhibits, such as this one by Glen "Bones" Hartzell from 1942, demonized tree octopuses to the ignorant masses
(Click to enlarge)

These nuisances led many loggers to regard tree octopuses as bad luck, resulting in the pointless killing of octopuses on sight at logging camps in a misguided attempt at eradicating the troublesome species. Anti-octopus sentiment was so strong among loggers that some even began to fear that the octopuses were prone to attacking humans.

These fears were fueled in no small part by gratuitous stories involving tree octopuses harassing lumberjacks and distressing damsels in Northwestern-themed pulp magazines of the 1930-40s and variously "nipping", "entangling", or "suckering the flesh" of the heroes of men's action magazines of the 1950-60s. (The magazine publishers depended on cheap paper made from wood pulp and were glad to contribute to the anti-octopus propaganda campaign of the timber industry.)

To this day, misunderstanding and fear of these gentle creatures can still be found among many old timers, although education campaigns-and special octopus-separators installed at sawmills-have largely halted the practice of tree octopus eradication.

How You Can Help

More Tree Octopus Information

Posters motivate the citizenry to action! Post them!

Tree Octopus FAQs - Frequently asked questions, now with answers.

Tree Octopus Sightings - Includes photos of and behavioral research on the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus and other tree octopus species.

Tree Octopus In The Media - appearances of tree octopuses, both real and fictional, in the media and popular culture.

Research On Other Tree Octopus Species:

The author of this article and its subsections is Lyle Zapato.
This site is not associated with any school or educational organization,
other than the Kelvinic University branch of the Wild Haggis Conservation Society.
Not to be confused with the Pacific Northwest Octopus Tree.

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Information about the endangered Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus and what you can do to save it.

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Information About Fake Scientific Journals

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Information About Fake Scientific Journals

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Some scientific journals will publish literally anything for a price. That includes a meme-filled paper by "Lucas McGeorge" and "Annette Kin" referencing "midi-chlorians." Yes, George Lucas' attempt to explain feeling the Force with faux biology is now published "scientific research."

The science community has that certain "predatory journals" will publish almost any paper for a fee without proper peer review. Some watchdogs have submitted fake papers by fake researchers to these journals to highlight how bogus journals harm the integrity of the Open Access publishing movement, by taking advantage of a loophole. This newest sting from the anonymous science blogger Neuroskeptic is truly astounding for just how silly the fake paper is.

"The goal was to see whether journals would publish a manuscript that, while seemingly scientific, was actually a joke," Neuroskeptic told Gizmodo in an email. "I didn't want to just submit nonsense (like a computer-generated text), or a bad paper, but rather something that was verifiably based on fiction (i.e. Star Wars)."

Most of 's text comes from copying the Wikipedia page about mitochondria, replacing any instance of "mitochondr-" with "midichlor-," and then rearranging the words so the paper didn't look like straight plagiarism. Neuroskeptic even included the text of the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the wise, word-for-word.

Of the nine suspect, open-access journals to which Neuroskeptic the paper, three published it, and one asked for a $360 fee. Two of those journals have since the fake research, though the pages are cached. Neurosketpic noted that one journal from the alleged predatory publisher OMICS did reject the paper. Strangely, one journal peer-reviewed the paper, spotted the spoof, and rather than reject the paper outright, asked for a resubmission with the joke comment " The authors have neglected to add the following references: Lucas et al., 1977, Palpatine et al., 1980, and Calrissian et al., 1983."

This new sting comes on the heels of another, much larger sting: Back in March, researchers sent an editorial board application on behalf of a fake scientist (whose name translated to Dr. Fraud) to 360 research journals, and 48 appointed the scientist to their board. And in 2013, Journalist John Bohannon sent 300 copies of a bogus paper to predatory journals. Sixty percent accepted the paper.

Neuroskeptic points out that this probably doesn't mean the publishing process is broken. As Gizmodo has reported in the past, many of these journals have websites that look like high school computer class projects. Still, these journals are exploiting a loophole in the Open Access publishing model, where researchers pay to submit their research to a journal who then publishes it without a paywall. The journals may fool inexperienced scientists, or serve as a tool for publication-hungry researchers to publish, as we've previously reported.

It can be difficult to tell who's legit and who isn't-scientists used to have access to Jeffrey Beall's , which Beall no longer maintains. Neuroskeptic pointed out that "personally, I rely on MEDLINE's listings." For example, "if a journal is listed on , which means it appears on , then it's almost certainly legitimate." When it comes to life science journals, at least, Neuroskeptic thought that non-listed journals could be legitimate, but mostly weren't.

So, there's a clear problem present in scientific publishing, and it's likely we'll continue to see stings trying to weed out the spammers and fraudsters. For now, we're left with published "research" backing what could be the worst attempt at bad science ever to enter science fiction. May the force be with you, I guess.

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did you ever hear the tragedy of darth plagueis the wise?

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Scientific Journals Publish Bogus Paper About Midi-chlorians from Star Wars

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Some scientific journals will publish literally anything for a price. That includes a meme-filled paper by "Lucas McGeorge" and "Annette Kin" referencing "midi-chlorians." Yes, George Lucas' attempt to explain feeling the Force with faux biology is now published "scientific research."