Technolandy

Day 86 (of 2025/26) 3 news stories for the week; people misremembering the good old days of cheating; snow days; why teach English; and bc teachers contract…

1. People don’t have the same school memories I do – the fond memories of cheating compared to AI brain rot… https://apple.news/ApeoXgjKQSamOXSrKgGRPlw There is a cultural tension educators love to debate right now—nostalgia vs. moral panic. The contrast between low‑tech dishonesty (notes in sleeves, the old “water bottle label trick”) and high‑tech fears (AI doing thinking for students) is a gold mine for commentary.

Are we actually worried about integrity—or just uncomfortable that cheating looks different now?

2. Snow days and perspective. My daughter confirmed that the Ontario snowstorm was definitely “close the schools worthy” https://apple.news/AlJMBQzNRQRGhq435LKXjCg while I chatted with one of my students who was fondly remembering our snowstorm and school closure last year – which I shared for most of the places I’ve lived, that storm would not have stopped anything… but on the coast, not everyone is ready for a  30cm overnight dump… 

Everyone in Canada has a relationship with snow days. And it’s a great reminder that weather is as much cultural as meteorological. B.C. snow days hit different.

3. What’s the point of English? https://apple.news/AK14Ob80JRruZOxu5dDgxbQ or at least mayhaps this is the time to validate methods other than the essay to show one’s knowledge… bonus share of last years blog wondering if this fad of reading is finally winding down: https://technolandy.com/2024/12/09/day-67-of-2024-25-maybe-this-reading-words-fad-has-run-its-course-to-read-or-not-to-read-op-ed-for-theatlantic-and-edutopia-to-consider/

• Tied to assessment reform?—maybe it’s time to validate methods other than the essay—esp with current discussions about competency‑based learning and multimodal demonstration of understanding.

4. Bonus – uh oh, the BC Teacher Contract Negotiations have officially hit an impasse: https://cheknews.ca/b-c-teachers-contract-talks-hit-impasse-over-classroom-conditions-1299469/ no comment…