Connected Canada Confirmed Session Listing

Title Description Presenter

Is Mobile Learning Actually Helping? Mobile learning certainly seems here to stay. But is it actually making a difference in how students learn? Is it generating more enthusiasm? Is it helping students become life-long learners?

Allison Hone

The Implications of Implementing Assessment for Learning Practices in the Classroom Assessment for Learning Practices have far ranging implications at both the classroom, school and district levels of educational organizations. Changing how a teacher arrives at the achievment mark of a student creates a ripple effect on teacher practice, student engagement, teacher collaboration and school organization that intends nothing short of a paradigm shift for our traditional sorting model of education.

Bernie Soto

Innovative Schools -An Oxymoron?

Critical question: Why is it so hard to encourage and foster innovation in public schools?

Bill Belsey

The Ancients Stole All Our Good Ideas The best 21st C education is a really ancient education.

Brad Ovenell-Carter

Nextwork How can we synthesize the power of social networking tools to deepen the impact of networked learning for students, teachers, teacher-leaders and administrators? This session outlines inquiry that Stephen and Brian have engaged in within their learning network.

Brian Harrison/Stephen Louca

Augmented Reality What is Augmented Reality and how can it be used in our schools? An introduction to some simple AR tools that can be used in any school from barcodes and QR codes, to markers, Auras and Layars. Participants will have a chance to use mobile devices to activate and create Augmented Reality content. We will also have a chance to discuss the future potential of AR in our classrooms.

Dan McWilliam

The Education of iPads Where do iPads fit into education? We would like to move the discussion beyond 'apps' Dan McWilliam, Lisa Nelson and Jody Pereverzoff and address the needs of the students to produce and create on the iPad in new and unique ways. Topics include: Where do the iPads fit in the classroom? Can the iPad replace the laptop in a 1-to-1 environment? How are we/you using the iPad in classroom? What is the future of mobile technology in the classroom?

How do you connect with your community? In this session, participants will share ideas and strategies for making and maintaining connections within their school communities.

Derek Hatch

21st Century Learning - It's not about the tech!

Many educators misunderstand the term, “21st century learning”, as learning with technology. To me, 21st century learning means learning the curriculum better by having technology tools to aid us. Technology tools give students and teachers many options to present, share, and demonstrate learning.

Derek Hatch

Dialogue on School Leadership "The Dialogue on School Leadership session will provide an opportunity for participants to use the seven dimensions of exemplary leadership, outlined in the Alberta School Leadership Competencies document, as a framework for discussing challenges, identifying best practices and considering a new approach to school leadership. " Dr. Garry McKinnon

Do Teachers Have an "Apptitude" for Mobile Learning?

Sharing the result of a two year study that look at pedagogical, governance and infrastructure challenges as teachers move into mobile learning.

Dr. Susan Crichton Karen Pegler

The Learning Commons: One "How To" for 21st Century Learning How do we move a learning community from doing to engaging? One way is to provide student centered, flexible spaces that promote higher order thinking, encourage participatory learning and with teachers serving as learning coaches and knowledge brokers (with technology as a tool and not the “driver”) designing high level work that moves beyond reworking of data and requires learners to think critically and creatively.

Gino Bondi Literacy Groups All students in Grades 1 to 3 in our school have been grouped according to their literacy levels and are assigned a "Literacy Coach" that they meet with on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. This has served to reduce class sizes and improve the way we differentiate for the needs of our students in a variety of ways.

Glenise Harvey & Trina Sharun

(Examples of) Progressive Education Models in the USA (?) A Canadian's perspective on US based progressive models for project based, student lead and in- depth personalized learning will be discussed. In particular, EdVisions Schools, Big Picture Schools (now in five countries) and the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES) provide concrete examples of hope for the future.

Greg Laws

Design Based Teaching Something on design based thinking - 3D printing Jared Nichol

Assessment is not a spreadsheet

-- it's a conversation. Students should experience their successes and failures not as reward and punishment but as information. Because grading can only ever be experienced as reward or punishment, they have to go, and that’s okay because anecdotal evidence and scientific research have shown us that the best educators never need tests to collect information nor grades to share it.

Joe Bower

Making IT Work How do we make technology work for the student in the classroom and beyond. What are the limits, how much management is too much and where is it all headed. Is the traditional IT model still relevant? How are mobile devices changing the picture?

Jon van der Raadt

Harness the Power of Twitter in the Classroom Twitter has been such a valuable tool for educators that some teachers are now using Twitter with their students for a variety of academic purposes. Session participants will share ideas and experiences using classroom and/or student Twitter accounts and "harness the power" of this social media tool in our schools.

Kim Gill

1:to:1 and Beyond In a short time, (especially in education!) KPDSB has transitioned to a 21st Century learning environment. One-to-one laptop and device pilot projects have evolved to Lindy Henderson whole-division implementation in some of our schools, while satellite projects continue to grow. An overview of the work from a teacher’s perspective.

Leadership Matters This discussion will center around three guiding questions: What are the skills required to be an effective leader in 21st Century learning environments? What is the knowledge base required to be an effective leader? What supports need to be in place to assist leaders in facilitating effective learning environments?

Maureen Schlemko

Intellectual Engagement and Playful Learning in a Participatory Digital Age Meaningful engagement in challenging work is how people like to learn. What does learning and play look and feel like in digitally connected participatory cultures? Why are intellectual engagement and knowledge building the "killer apps" in education? How must teaching respond to learners and a world that is in constant change?

Michele Jacobsen, Jennifer Lock, Sharon Friesen

Instructional Leadership through Inquiry Let's explore real world learning opportunities that are currently taking place in classrooms across Canada. Is the work your students do visible? Is their voice heard? How are web tools currently being leveraged for authentic learning? Who is invited to assess/comment on student work? This session will begin the discussion about authentic learning that is already taking place. Let's connect teachers and students across Canada and move beyond the bricks and mortar of our schools.

Preet Dhaliwal

Team Teaching: Learning from Eachother Imagine teaching 55 grade 3 students over two spaces - one room with desks, the other deskless. My teaching colleague and I decided to team teach this year and work together to improve our practice and give kids choices in their learning.

Tammy Thero-Soto

Flipped Classroom Come and find out what the "Flipped Classroom" is and how it is being Terry Kaminski implemented in a Sr. High MAth Classroom.