Manitoba Education Research & Learning Information Networks - Merlin

When people think about technology, they often think about the tools.

What they don't always see is the learning that happens behind the scenes.

As part of our Quiet Work, Big Impact theme, we're highlighting one of the ways MERLIN helps support Manitoba's education community: professional learning.

Whether it's strengthening cybersecurity awareness, building confidence with new technologies, or developing technical skills, training helps educators and IT professionals prepare for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

It's not always the most visible part of the work but investing in knowledge today can have a lasting impact tomorrow.

Check out our upcoming summer and September training opportunities and join us for a season of learning.

📅 New Month, New Focus!

June is dedicated to the behind‑the‑scenes efforts that keep education technology strong. We’re spotlighting the maintenance, updates, and improvements that quietly prepare systems for a successful year ahead.

👀 Follow us on all platforms for:
✅ Weekly MERLIN Monday insights
✅ Staff stories from the teams working behind the scenes
✅ Highlights of the unseen work that makes a big difference

🔗 Don’t miss a post: connect with us everywhere we are!

🛡️Smarter systems require smarter security🛡️

As part of our Smarter Systems, Smarter Schools theme, we’re highlighting an expanded cybersecurity offering available through MERLIN’s partnership with CIRA.

Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services help organizations identify, monitor, and respond to cybersecurity threats more effectively; supporting safer and more resilient learning environments.

Through this expanded offering, MERLIN continues to support Manitoba’s education community with tools and services that strengthen security while helping reduce the complexity of managing evolving cyber risks.

Learn more or book a cybersecurity consultation at: https://www.merlin.mb.ca/security/

Please join us in welcoming Lynn Fillion to the MERLIN team as Program Analyst, Manitoba Network.

For Lynn, this is a return to familiar territory as she was part of the organization for more than a decade in the early 2000s; contributing to the work that supports Manitoba’s technology infrastructures.

We’re excited to welcome Lynn back and look forward to the experience, knowledge, and perspective they bring to the team!

The new MERLIN Training Calendar is here.

From cybersecurity and digital tools to infrastructure and emerging technology topics, our training opportunities are designed to support Manitoba’s educators, IT professionals, and school staff throughout the year.

Whether you’re looking to build new skills, explore new tools, or stay current with evolving technology, there’s something for every role and experience level.

📚 Explore upcoming sessions and professional learning opportunities: www.merlin.mb.ca/training

We asked MERLIN staff:
“What’s one small thing that helps prevent big technology problems?”

We expected a variety of answers.

Instead, most of the team independently said some version of:
👀 “Monitoring.”

Turns out, keeping an eye on systems really is one of the most important parts of keeping Manitoba’s education network running smoothly.

From alerts and traffic patterns to system performance and security activity, proactive monitoring helps identify issues before they become disruptions.

Not always the most glamorous answer… but definitely an important one.

Because smarter systems are built on the small, consistent work happening behind the scenes every day.

⛔The MERLIN office will be closed on May 18, 2026

💫Missing us? You can learn more about MERLIN 24/7 at www.merlin.mb.ca