Accelerate at CONNECT

Accelerate at CONNECT is unique and powerful opportunity for school and district administrators, government representatives, and technology industry leaders to connect with exhibiting EdTech startup companies. This mutually beneficial workshop allows startups to get immediate direct and authentic feedback from decision makers while industry leaders can get an inside look at emerging tech trends in education. This workshop will allow leading decision makers to experience:

Introducing a new era of computing with WATSON ANALYTICS…

Watson Analytics is a step forward to cognitive computing, where apps and systems interact with humans via natural language and help us augment our own understanding of the world with big data insights. Watson Analytics offering is intended to provide the benefits of advanced analytics without the complexity. The data discovery service, available via the cloud, guides data exploration, automates predictive analytics and enables dashboard and infographic creation” http://www.cio.com/article/3026691/analytics/8-ways-ibm-watson-analytics-is-transforming-business.html CIO.com from IDG.

Spend the day with us as we experience the power of Watson Analytics to use data in a unique and transformational way. The future is here. Be part of it!

Morning:
· Watson Analytics Overview – Introduction to the power of Watson!
· Hands-on – learn how to build dashboards using education data to make stunning graphs, dashboards and Infographics

Afternoon:
· Stitching all the data together – learn how to take all your other data that may be contained in separate silos and bring it all together with your achievement data for instance survey data, Census data, post-secondary data, application data like math, HR, gradebook and more!
· Learn how to use Watson for predictive analytics to support early intervention for students

12:30 PM – 3:00 PM – Are YOU certifiable? Microsoft Imagine Academy Workshop

Discover the power of the Microsoft Imagine Academy program for your school and get a chance to earn a globally recognized Microsoft certification for FREE. Join CCI Learning, a Microsoft Authorized Education Partner, for this interactive and hands-on workshop. They’ll highlight the incredible success of the program across Canada including real student and school success stories. Learn how industry certifications like Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) ensure your students have the skills they need for in-demand careers and discover how you can become a Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE).

Don’t miss this hands-on professional learning opportunity with a chance to become certified in Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA), or Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) for FREE – over $260 value!

3:00 PM – 3:50 PM – Are YOU Certifiable? Free Microsoft Certification

Join CCI Learning, a Microsoft Authorized Education Partner, for your opportunity to earn a globally recognized Microsoft certification for FREE (over $260 value!). Your choice of Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA), or Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE).

Coding, Programming and Bringing Robotics Alive in Your Classroom

What to do after hour of code? I have all students from KGN-6 in my school working on some aspect of coding, robotics and programming. I will presenting some ideas to educators on how they can introduce robotics and programming basics to students as well as how existing curriculum can be enhanced through the use of robotics. Beginning with a brief exploration into various coding sites which will then be followed by hands on exploration using Arduino, Dash/Dot, Bee bots and Makey Makey though which we will play and explore some of these possibilities. My goal is to get students and teachers to interact with and trust in science, in themselves and their capabilities. Robotics are a very real part of today’s world and many interesting topics and conversations can be had.

Everyone Can Code

Coding provides opportunities for students to develop their understanding of decomposition, abstraction, pattern recognition as well as algorithms which are key competencies in computational thinking. Join us to learn about Everyone Can Code, a new approach to coding that gives everyone the power to learn, write, and teach code. You will learn about Swift Playgrounds, a new app for iPad that makes getting started with coding fun and interactive, and you’ll get a first look at the accompanying teacher guide. Explore how to incorporate Swift Playgrounds in your math classroom or as part of a coding club in grades 6-8. Bring your iPad to be actively engaged.

GIS with Dan and Rosa

Do you teach Geography? Social Sciences? Or, can you use physical / human Geography data in your classes? This workshop is for you! Learn how to access GIS maps from cities and use your existing ESRI ArcGIS Online accounts (yes, we all have them!) to present lessons and have students create interactive maps. Dan and Rosa will show how one project uses city GIS to show students how they can “see the future” of empty areas. They then formulate and answer questions that can apply to a variety of curriculum ex. business. You can have your students collect and plot data “in the field” on their devices. Learn how your students can contribute to & use crowd-sourced data and participate in global projects. Have your students publish their learning using modern and engaging ESRI web apps. This is a BYON session.

How to Bring Entrepreneurial Concepts into Your School & Classroom

Not everyone will start their own business, but the skills central to entrepreneurship are increasingly important in all kinds of jobs. The ability to generate and communicate ideas, to sell yourself or your cause, to work in a team, to test and refine an idea, to self-evaluate and learn from failure—these are among the building blocks of academic success.

The material and activities in this workshop focus on the creative skills associated with entrepreneurship: generating ideas, developing and refining ideas, customer/audience research, and effective communication.

See how this successful model in place in classrooms in Canada and several American states can engage students, ignite thinking skills, and build your EdTech community partnerships. Leave with a draft innovative solution to one of the challenges identified and a great lesson approach for immediate implementation.

How Coding fits in the Elementary Curriculum

We have been developing coding projects that tie in to Language and Mathematic strands in the Elementary Curriculum. In this session will share our resources, which include prebuilt coding projects and video tutorials that help both teachers and students get started with Scratch coding in the classroom. We will walk through various coding activities that help students to deepen their comprehension of various literary and mathematical concepts taught from Gr. 1 – 6

If Our Walls Could Speak: Augmenting Reality in the Classroom

Imagine living in the magical world of Harry Potter, where in the school hallways are hung with lively, interactive paintings that tell their stories. Augmented reality (AR) allows teachers and students to create layers of digital information that can be viewed through an Android or iOS device. In this workshop we will explore augmented reality resources and discover how to create our own AR elements in order to put this this powerful tool in the hands of students. Bring your phone or tablet and come discover the many educational possibilities of AR!

Make Mine Media – Safe, social and iterative use of social media in designing learning

Considering how to integrate social media and media making into your course design can make your mind melt. Come play and learn about SO-ME in Higher Ed course design. Make media matter in your digital teaching and learning portfolio of skills, competencies and outcomes. Playing with media making can generate meaningful engagement, interactions and assessments. Start with creative makes and media shorts. Shift into data detectives and infographics. Analyze and share using video, annotation and collaboration. Use memes, tweets, and stories to engage learners in all open and iterative contexts.

Taking Elearning to the Next Level…

Looking to take your elearning game up to the next level? During this workshop, we will explore practical ways to engage your students, streamline their navigation in your course and leverage a truly online experience. We will share results from our ongoing elearning study as well as learning from current and past elearning teachers. This hands-on workshop will have you actively creating new resources to use right now in your courses. Whether you are a beginning elearning teacher, a veteran who’s looking for new and innovative ideas or a face-to-face teacher who is using the VLE for blended learning, this workshop will meet your needs as we will differentiate for all learners! There will be something for everyone.

Technology in Education – Just the Tech

This will be a two part workshop that will foster cooperation, collaboration and relationship building for technical professionals in the K-12 Education space.

The first half of the workshop will feature a panel of analysts from across various districts in Ontario leading a discussion about the current K-12 technological environment. The panelists, including members of the ECNO Shared Technical Services team, will share some of their best knowledge and engage in meaningful discussion about the challenges they have faced and the innovative strategies employed to overcome them.  This is an opportunity to come in from the cold and make connections with people who can help and might just be looking for your help.

The second half of the workshop will feature a live and in person version of the ECNO Shared Technical Services User Community meeting.  Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in the regular, biweekly session between member boards during which sharing, collaboration and learning have become the norm.  Come see how your IT department could benefit from the great work the STS team has done over the past 3 years and the cooperation it has fostered among member boards.

The Experience of 3: Creating a Digital Classroom of Connections, Creativity and Courage

What is the Experience of 3? It’s a chance to foster your student’s growth by creating a digital classroom of moments that capture their ideas, passions, and their excitement to learn. It’s living in that moment where you really get to know your students and how to unlock their inner inventor, thinker and problem solver. There has never been a better time to harness educational technology to create that moment for your students. That one, where you took a risk to try something new and fifteen years from now, they will remember it in an instant. You can create that for them.

Throughout this session, we’ll explore various technologies, learn how Makerspaces and Genius Hour are changing the way we teach and we’ll even step out of the spotlight to create something awesome together for you to share throughout the conference.

Are YOU Certifiable? Free Microsoft Certification

Join CCI Learning, a Microsoft Authorized Education Partner, for your opportunity to earn a globally recognized Microsoft certification for FREE (over $260 value!). Your choice of Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA), or Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE).

Capturing Student Thinking

Do you have ideas you’d like to share with others? Do your students?
It might be a scary place to visit, but if you want to get inside your students’ heads, this is a great way to do it.
We’ll look at a series of Microsoft tools that can help you (easily) capture student thinking. Join me to learn more about how Snip and Office Mix can allow your students to express themselves and share their learning in really powerful ways.
As an added bonus, we’ll look at how the same tools can be used to create “How To” video tutorials (think resource development and flipped classroom activities) and share your own thinking with others.

Communication Technology

This presentation will focus on my current use of Google Apps for Education (Classroom, Docs, Forms) as well as social media such as Storify, Twitter and Remind as tools to communicate with staff and the greater school community. While this presentation will have an administrative lens, many of these tools could be successfully used within a classroom community.

ConnectED Tech Hub

Why simply hear about all the latest tech, when you can get your hands on it? Curated and hosted by technology evangelist Marc Saltzman, the ConnectED Tech Hub is a dedicated space lets you see, touch and try out the latest gadgets and gear, and ask questions — whether it’s the latest in mobility devices (smartphones, tablets, and wearables), productivity tools (the best in laptops, 2-in-1s, and accessories), smart home devices (learning thermostats, smart LEDs, and Wi-Fi cameras), and home entertainment (4K TVs, sound systems, and virtual reality). Showcasing innovations in consumer electronics, get your geek on and be sure to visit the ConnectED Tech Hub!

Creating Inclusive Environments for Students with Colour Vision Deficiencies

Did you know that 1 in 10 boys experience colour vision deficiencies (CVD)? Educators love using colour in the classroom! But, some students will struggle with the use of colour in classroom practices and assessments. This workshop will help educators: understand what students with CVD may experience, build empathy for students (and peers) with CVD, appreciate learning challenges and obstacles for students with CVD, learn best practices for facilitating inclusive learning environments and, use technology (e.g., Colour Vision Simulator Apps) to help create optimal learning conditions.

Everything Azure

Explore Teach Build, Celebrating Canada’s 150

Come see how Skype Master Teacher, Kristine Holloway has taken her students beyond their classroom walls. Using Canada’s 150th as a launch pad for authentic cultural and historical learning opportunities Kristine has participated in 3 unique projects over the last year. From Roots and Shoots, Code4Girls and supporting the Kakuma Refugee Camp come get inspired and prepared to bring some of these ideas, activities and lesson plan templates back to your classroom.

HPE Aruba – Learn how the future is brighter in classrooms that are built for digital learning

Learning From the Inside Out: Creating Optimal Learning Environments

In our presentation, we would like to talk with like-minded professionals about how to implement the TriOptimal Learning Model™ (TOLM) within the various community settings where children with learning disabilities (specifically ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia) are present. The model is designed to create optimal learning environments for students which improve their academic achievement and positively impact their cognitive profile. The implementation of the TriOptimal Learning Model in educational environments has been done through a series of training sessions for interested individuals. Those teachers were then provided ongoing consultation and support for the following 12 months as they applied the model to their own classroom settings. The support was provided through online and live consultation and through forums with like-
minded professionals. In order for the TOLM model to truly be effective, it is essential that it is embraced by all members of community. The TriOptimal Learning Model™ focuses on the intersection between attachment, neuroplasticity and
ecological theory in terms of academic achievement as these are central concepts for understanding factors which affect students who struggle with learning. In the Philippines, U.S. and Canada, the model has been used to train teachers, schools and educators to promote optimal learning environments that support the regeneration of neural networks.

To date, the model has targeted populations with learning disabilities and has ventured into the at-risk children
and trauma populations. The first ‘implementation of the TriOptimal Learning Model™ has been develop at Glencorse Family Therapy in the TriOptimal Learning Community. This is a educational psychology program which looks st the whole learner through the lens of the TriOptimal Learning Model™ requiring the integration of the model into the daily lives of the students, teachers, parents and the school itself.

This presentation would be of interest to any professionals working with learning disabled students, researchers exploring the intersection between attachment, neural plasticity and ecological theory, parents of learning disabled students as
well as the students themselves.

Personalized Learning with HyperDocs

Coined by Highfill, Hilton, & Landia, “HyperDocs [are] a way to create transformative digital lessons…shifting [teacher] from the lecturer to the listener who is able to personalize learning & connect to students in ways which transform learning.” Hyperdocs allows for creativity & collaboration. It allows teachers an easy way to create a flipped lessons wherein students become self-directed learners. In this session, participants will learn about the Hyperdoc learning cycle & create their own blended learning experience. Participants should be comfortable using GAFE tools.

Si les murs pouvaient parler : la réalité augmentée

Imaginez vivre dans le monde magique de Harry Potter, où dans les couloirs de l’école sont accrochées des toiles vivantes et interactives. La réalité augmentée (RA) permet au personnel enseignant et aux élèves de créer des couches d’informations numériques qui peuvent être vues au moyen d’un appareil Android ou iOS. Apportez votre téléphone ou votre tablette et venez non seulement vivre une expérience incroyable, mais aussi explorer les nombreuses possibilités pédagogiques de la RA!

Rich Curriculum Connections with Sphero

This session will give examples of how Sphero robots and coding apps have deepened student engagement and understanding of key concepts in the Language, Mathematics, and Science subject areas. We will give specific examples and give time for attendees to try out coding the Sphero robot in some simple mathematical challenges, then discuss other connections that could be made throughout the Elementary curriculum. Please bring a device with both the Sphero “Tickle” & “Lightning lab” apps.

The ABCs of Gen Z

Does the cyber generation that populates our schools really differs from previous generations? The context in which this generation of students operates has been transformed by the exponential growth of ICT . How do teachers adapt to this new reality while fostering the commitment and the joy of learning in their students? Let’s evaluate the various means at our disposal to transform the educational experience for this new generation of learners.

The Role of Technology in the Future of Personalized Learning in K-9 Classrooms

When designing schools and classrooms – whether they’re “personalized,” “blended,” “competency-based” or not – we don’t always realize how our ideas are influenced by the assumptions we have about learning and education. What does it mean to “personalize” learning? How can we know whether we’re using technology appropriately or truly thinking “outside the box?” Join this session to envision new, more personalized school models that leverage technology wisely and strategically to improve student learning. Let’s explore our hidden assumptions and imagine a great future for our students, classrooms, and schools.

 

Participants will learn:

• How to reflect upon the ways their own mental models of education, technology, schooling, and learning inform how they design classrooms, schools and use educational technology.
• How to make sense of historical trends in education and how blended schooling, personalized learning, and technology fit into the context of education’s past and present.
• How to use design-thinking tools and frameworks to imagine and envision school models and structures that improve student learning and leverage technology strategically

The Mobile Classroom – 10 Survival Strategies in the Secondary Classroom

A classroom full of students obsessed with their smartphones can be challenging to say the least! But it doesn’t have to be. Rather than putting the devices in a box, learn how to adjust your mindset and adapt your practices to lower your stress and increase student engagement by embracing mobile devices in the secondary classroom. This highly interactive presentation gives participants the opportunity to use their smartphones to try out 10 different strategies that they can use with students to turn smartphones from a distraction to a powerful learning tool.

Transition from IT to Teaching Focused IT

There is often a disconnect between IT staff, students, and educators. Each have their own priorities, goals, limitations, and policies that put them at odds, and a lack of communication among them can create conflict. It is common for each of these groups to meet with their peers, but rarely across role boundaries. IT staff must do more than manage servers and accounts; they must take a more active role in the deployment of technologies that support educational activities. Learn of the strategies used by one Systems Administrator who transitioned into an Educational Technology Specialist.

Moments Matter: Find Your Epiphany

Life is a string of moments that we can choose to capture. While the face of education is changing today, we are faced with the task of re-designing our schools, lessons, and ultimately, learning. By creating the conditions for opportunity – both in our classrooms and in our own professional lives – we are in a better position to seize them. How can we integrate technology to the level of entry that our students need? How can we shift our focus from compliance to creativity? How can we balance our need to build better human beings in our students with our mandate for curriculum, assessment and accountability? Let’s investigate the potential of inquiry-based, experiential and messy learning as a catalyst for educational excitement and change. How will you leave your mark on the world and our future global society? Seize the moment…find your epiphany!

Are YOU Certifiable? Free Microsoft Certification

Join CCI Learning, a Microsoft Authorized Education Partner, for your opportunity to earn a globally recognized Microsoft certification for FREE (over $260 value!). Your choice of Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA), or Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE).

Beyond the Headlines: Using Google Newspapers to Promote Critical Thinking

Discover a world of information at your fingertips. Google Newspapers is an extension of Google News providing free access to scanned archives of newspapers. Allow your students to: – compare and contrast current events from a variety of primary sources; – examine bias and reliability in the news; – explore historical events over the past 250 years; – read and write for meaning; – analyze market trends; and so much more! Real examples and practical applications for all levels and fields of study will be demonstrated, discussed and shared. Google Newspapers is a must for every classroom!

Big Data & IT Operations Analytics

From Idea to Reality. Data driven IT Operations using Big Data Principles.

Can I please have some privacy? Privacy as an essential skill for the modern world

What are privacy skills? Why do we need them? How can we teach them? Do kids care about privacy anyway? This presentation will answer these questions, and highlight the work of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) in furthering privacy education in classrooms across the country. You’ll leave with a better understanding of the privacy challenges kids (and adults!) face everyday, the skills and competencies they need to face these challenges, and where to go to find classroom resources to help you introduce these skills to your students.

Clés à la citoyenneté numérique: obtiens ton trousseau

Dans cet atelier, nous vous proposerons des activités pour développer chez les élèves une citoyenneté numérique de grande valeur. À partir de fiches d’activités conçues par le CFORP et de modules ICN, les participants pourront s’outiller afin de planifier stratégiquement l’obtention par les élèves du trousseau de clés menant ces derniers à un éveil, une prise de conscience et une contribution au monde numérique dans lequel ils vivent. Possibilité de co-animation avec un membre du personnel enseignant Viamonde (à confirmer, tout comme pour ma première soumission d’atelier).

ConnectED Tech Hub

Why simply hear about all the latest tech, when you can get your hands on it? Curated and hosted by technology evangelist Marc Saltzman, the ConnectED Tech Hub is a dedicated space lets you see, touch and try out the latest gadgets and gear, and ask questions — whether it’s the latest in mobility devices (smartphones, tablets, and wearables), productivity tools (the best in laptops, 2-in-1s, and accessories), smart home devices (learning thermostats, smart LEDs, and Wi-Fi cameras), and home entertainment (4K TVs, sound systems, and virtual reality). Showcasing innovations in consumer electronics, get your geek on and be sure to visit the ConnectED Tech Hub!

Discovery Through Play With Makerspaces in the Elementary Classroom

This interactive presentation will not only allow participants to play with and experience the latest Makerspace technologies, but will also provide innovative lesson ideas on how to effectively incorporate these into the elementary curriculum. Featured kits include: Osmo, Kibo, Cardboard, Sphero, Dash and Dot, Makey Makey, LEGO WeDO, Arduino and Little Bits.

Empowering Teachers with tools designed by Teachers

Come see a live demonstration of the StudyForge curriculum and how it can empower you as a teacher to connect with your students. No more digging for answers as to how your students are connecting with their textbook – StudyForge answers them all for you!

Effective Use of GAFE Tools in the Applied Classroom

Applied level students face unique challenges in the classroom. GAFE tools provide effective ways to address these challenges. Participants will see how our use of Google tools (and a few other iPad apps) have assisted our applied level students improve their organization, productivity, and quality of work. We will show how the use of these tools has allowed for increased feedback, which facilitates student reflection and therefore increases student success. We will also share how these tools allow students to share a deeper demonstration of their understanding of concepts

Fostering Computational Thinking Skills Through Coding and Digital Making

Computational Thinking “is a powerful cognitive skill that can have a positive impact on other areas of children’s intellectual growth” (Horn et al,2013). By fostering this skill in our students, we can help them to become effective thinkers, creators and problem solvers; all 21st century skills that are valued in schools and in the workplace! Join me as we investigate the connections between coding and digital making and how these tools can help nurture computational thinking in our students. Sample math tasks integrating Scratch, Python, Arduino and Sphero will be presented.

Going Gradeless with Technology

Going Gradeless has been one of the best decisions that I have ever made in the classroom. In my classroom, we develop learning goals, success criteria and standards that all students reflect on. With the use of technology, this process is even easier. Come join me as we explore the various ways in which we can engage with technology to develop critical and reflective students. Come ready to ask engage in meaningful discussion around assessment and learn some practical advice for implementing it in the classroom.

Navigating the American EduTech Landscape

Power BI – “Yours to Discover” A provincial shared services solution to consolidate and transform multi-source data to deliver self-service modern analytics for Finance, HR, Students and Facilities.

In this session we will explore how the Catholic School Board Services Association (CSBSA) has delivered a self-service data visualization and discovery application designed to empower decision makers with finger-tip access to rich data and insightful analytics.

To address school boards’ fiduciary responsibilities and to enhance stewardship and accountability, this shared services project leverages the talents and commonalities of multiple school districts to integrate data (financial, pupil, facilities, staffing, etc.), reduce data collection and reporting efforts, and increasing the speed of analytics.

This work enables school boards to provide meaningful, accurate, and timely information that combines financial and non-financial data to report on key indicators.

I hope you will join us to discover how we can help you bring this new, shared services offering to your local school district and enable modern business intelligence tools within your organization.

Robotics in the Intermediate Classroom

Integrating a robotics program into your intermediate classroom can be intimidating. We began our program to see how many ways we could integrate robotics into the grades 6, 7 and 8 curriculum in order to make learning meaningful and authentic to the students. This presentation will show you the connections we made to curriculum, the 21st century competencies and give you examples of assignments that will encourage deep thinking, collaboration
and increase student engagement when you try them out yourself.

Unlocking the Power of Blended Learning

Blended learning should be about much more than students accessing online content. When practiced effectively, blended learning can enhance both teacher practice and student learning. This presentation will show teachers how they can use a Learning Management System and an assortment of online tools for the purposes of: 1.Information 2.Presentation 3.Navigation 4.Collaboration 5.Demonstration and 6.Evaluation Tools we will showcase include: VoiceThread; Padlet; Twiddla; Articulate Storyline; Skype; Yammer; OneNote; Forms; TurnItIn.com; Quizzes tool (D2L); and the TeacherStore.

Windows 10…Are you ready to Deploy?

Windows 10 in Education: Open discussion on deploying and configuring Windows 10 for the Educational Space.  Successes and pitfalls encountered along the way: Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB and Simcoe County DSB.

3D Printing in the STEM/STEAM Classroom

Join Javelin at booth #706 to learn first-hand how easy 3D printing can be with our world-leading, reliable and safe MakerBot & Stratasys 3D printers. Stop by the Javelin Technologies booth to learn the inside track to STEM/STEAM lesson plans, and receive learning resources to successfully incorporate 3D printing into your school’s curriculum.

Assessment Triangulation – pulling it together at reporting time made easy!

Capturing evidence of learning through product, conversation and observation as required by Growing Success transparently with students and their parents is easy.  Even though this may sound magical enough, access on a mobile app coupled with the opportunity to access from one location at reporting time makes it even better.  Edsby’s engagement tool provides that power along with collaboration across your school or district with all stakeholders. Come see what enhancements we’ve introduced!

Automate student registration and cumulative folders using an award winning software platform

During this session, attendees will learn about SRC’s suite of applications that are being used by districts to collect clean data, boost efficiency and eliminate all of the paper involved with student registration and cumulative folders. Registration Gateway integrates with many leading SIS’s and was voted a District Administration Top 100 Product in 2014,2015 and 2016.

Brainspace

Brainspace is a publisher of interactive educational resources including entrepreneurial toolkits, STEAM classroom sets, magazines and more. All are print resources with supplemental augmented reality features.

Brightsign Digital signage. Easy signage for any School.

D2L

D2L’s goal is to make learning experiences better.  For the past 11 years, the Ministry of Education has licensed D2L’s Brightspace platform on behalf of all Ontario school boards so that teachers and students across the province have access to a cloud-based platform that is easy to use, flexible, and smart. Come drop by the D2L booth to learn more about the provincial virtual Learning Environment and how it can support educators and students. Ask questions to D2L staff, hear success stories from colleagues, and get a sneak peek at our Fall 2017 line-up of new K-12 capabilities.

Demystify your Network Design

-How to optimize your Network (wired and wireless)
-Eliminate congestion problems
-Basic Network fundamentals

Did You Turn It Off and On? – Enhance Your Help Desk with Empowered Users

Find:Solve:Design

We will be sharing the process of how to engage your students in deep problem finding and solving that will change they way that they approach challenges in learning and life.

Global Payments Canada

How eBooks are Changing Reading in Schools

eBooks offer students access to the world of reading through any device they can get their hands on. They allow teachers to make class time more engaging and give administrators a cost-effective solution to their long-term curriculum and recreational content needs. Learn how eBooks are evolving the school landscape through these and other ways with OverDrive.

Integrate 3D printing technology into classroom STEAM education

LEGO in Motion

Come learn the basics of LEGO EV3 Robot Programming and discover a new way to bring science, technology, engineering & math content to your students both in and out of the classroom. By the end of this demo, you (YES YOU!) will have a basic introduction to the base model robot and see how it can move around the room and sense its environment!

Teaching STEM Online: Challenges and Solutions

There are many challenges involved in creating high-quality learning materials for STEM courses, from display to grading to accessibility. This session will discuss the challenges, progress and current technologies. The University of Waterloo has been offering online mathematics courses since 2003 to over 21,000 students and open education resources that have been visited hundreds of thousands of times. Maplesoft is an education solution provider with 30 years of experience helping educators implement technology in their courses. Together they understand the challenges and have made great progress in overcoming a number of them.

The Enterprise Immune System: Using Machine Learning for Next-Generation Cyber Defense

In this session, learn:
• How new machine learning and mathematics are automating advanced cyber defense
• Why 100% network visibility allows you to detect threats as they happen, or before they happen
• How smart prioritization and visualization of threats allows for better resource allocation and lower risk
• Real-world examples of unknown threats detected by ‘immune system’ technology

To present our website IDELLO to the public

More than 10 000 french resources as well as functions and a workspace that encourage communication between communities of users with common interests.

U.Commerce

TouchNet provides campuses with a broad spectrum of powerful solutions that help you run a better and smarter business. U.Commerce is designed for the way Higher Education does business to unify unify the campus enterprise and improves the experience for you and your constituents. Stop by to learn more about the latest payment technology for your university and the 24 hour business office.

Using DPA to maximize learning potential with 5-a-day Fitness.

UK based company 5-a-day Fitness aims to help increase DPA opportunities using technology in schools. 5-a-day Fitness is the ultimate fun fitness resource for elementary schools. Increase daily physical activity in your classroom with our online 5-minute exercise routines and language learning resources, designed specifically for projection onto whiteboards. There’s no teacher preparation required. Simply watch, join in, have fun, get fit and learn!

Looking for a Place to Happen: An exploration of the success, struggle, and promise of digital education to personalize learning in schools

How can we move our schools ahead by a century? What can we learn from the courage of teachers who embrace their entrepreneurial spirit to foster innovation in the classroom? How can educational leaders learn from the divergent experiences of two countries to expand their efforts?
What can we do now, today, to move our education systems forward to prepare our students for “the real world” in light of the rapid technology changes that have occurred in the last fifty years?
This session will provide a landscape review to address these questions and challenge attendees to share their insight in order to help us all move closer to better answers for ourselves and our students.
In the words of Justin Trudeau, “I look at what I have as a challenge and I could list a whole bunch of different challenges. And I choose not to be daunted by any of them.”
Please join us for an investigation into how we might apply this simple philosophy to be the change in the lives of our students and schools.

Are YOU Certifiable? Free Microsoft Certification

Join CCI Learning, a Microsoft Authorized Education Partner, for your opportunity to earn a globally recognized Microsoft certification for FREE (over $260 value!). Your choice of Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA), or Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE).

App Development with Swift

Join us to learn about Swift. Swift is a powerful and intuitive programming language created by Apple for building apps. It makes programming easier, more flexible, and more fun. Swift is not only great for getting you started with coding, ​it’s also super powerful. It’s designed to scale from writing the simplest program, like “hello world,” to the ​world’s most advanced software.” Swift is easy to use and open source, so anyone with an idea can create something incredible. By exploring Everyone Can Code App Development with Swift teacher guide and student book developed by Apple, students will learn how to create apps from start to finish. Bring your iPad to be actively engaged.

Augmented Reality Sandbox

As part of an innovation project, the RCDSB ICT Team partnered with a High School Robotics Class and an Elementary Kindergarten class to create an Augmented Reality Sandbox. An AR Sandbox allows users to create topographic models by shaping real sand, which is then augmented in real time by an elevation color map, topographic contour lines, and simulated water. By making direct connections to the curriculum, students will be able to apply their knowledge in a way that directly contributes to the community as well as supporting the development of deep learning such as critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity. Come get a hands on experience with a live AR Sandbox.

Coding Quest

Coding Quest is an interdisciplinary program focused on provincial curriculum and using a critical inquiry process, to teach students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 fundamental coding skills that they will use to create a video game. The Learning Partnership’s Coding Quest program is reaching over 35 000 students across Canada every year.
This session will introduce our unique curriculum driven coding program and highlight some of the lessons we’ve learned across Canada. We will close by showcasing some of our other innovative education solutions, including our new financial literacy game, Save the Camp!, our Real Talk Career App, and our Virtual Reality Workplace Experiences (all free and available on Web, iOS and Android).

Environnement d’appui pour les apprenants du français

Bloc-notes OneNote pour les élèves identifiés ALF. Ce faisant, continuer avec la pédagogie inversée en créant et enregistrant des leçons pour eux pour qu’ils puissent visionner à la maison. (Dépendamment du besoin). Une façon de laisser pour eux du matériel à visionner encore et encore à la maison et bien sûr au besoin. Pour la plupart, il n’y a pas l’utilisation du français à la maison. Pensons par exemple, aux élèves qui ont encore des difficultés avec les syllabes. Les technologies employées?? ordinateurs, Internet, Bloc-notes OneNote, Office Mix, Applications etc.

Leveraging Digital to Capture Assessment For and As Learning

In this session, we will be exploring how to leverage digital resources to capture observational and conversation data with students. Come join our session to explore ways to give feedback and have students take ownership of self-assessment. We will be exploring tools such as Google Forms/Sheets, the Drive App and Explain Everything. This session is intended for K-12.

Making Thinking Visible

How can we make students’ thinking more visible? As teachers we are constantly trying to gain knowledge and nurture our teaching to improve student’s critical thinking skills, and strengthen independence for all learners. We will highlight thinking routines based on the framework from “Making Thinking Visible” that guide teacher instructional strategies to develop students’ critical thinking skills. We will share how we were able to engage in professional learning around the effective use of digital tools and technology through the implementation of making learning visible.

Office365: A Platform for Growth

Office 365 continues to be a platform for growth, with the recent introduction of Teams, Flow, PowerApps, Planner and other tools, in addition to all of the great features of Exchange Online, Sharepoint Online, OneDrive, Skype for Business and Yammer that you know and love.

We’ll provide an overview of some of the new tools and do a deeper dive on Office 365 Groups and how they enable new collaboration tools like Teams, Classroom and Planner. We’ll also discuss tips for managing change in Office 365 and leveraging free Microsoft programs to accelerate deployment and ensure successful adoption.

Présentation des différents outils Linux

Présentation des différents outils Linux pour répondre au besoin du conseil face aux contraintes financières.  Les étapes vers notre transition à SnipeIt, un logiciel web utiliser pour la gestion d’inventaire. Un autre outils Linux à souligner c’est le Raspberry Pi et des différentes utilisations incluant en salle de classe pour remplacer un labo de programmation

Problem and Solution Finding:  Finding the real problem leads to finding the best solution

Participants will explore the problem and solution finding framework that 6 Social brings to schools and communities.  By diving deep into the actual problem that is being faced, validating and designing a solution, students’ critical thinking and collaboration skills are dramatically increased. We use the six C of education to enhance teachers’ and students’ problem finding and solving abilities for the social issues that are important to them. Join teachers from Sagonaska Demonstration School and artist educators from Learning Through the Arts in this hands on, BYOD session. Once you introduce this process to your classrooms, your students’ problem solving abilities will never be the same.

Special Education Students and Indigenous Communities in Ontario – A Panel Discussion

How do special education students and indigenous communities in Ontario benefit from technology?

Students with disabilities and students who live in indigenous communities can benefit greatly by using technology in the classroom. The panel members will discuss how the use of various educational technologies such as robots, drones, droids , coding, and assistive technologies can be of support with special education students as well as students in remote indigenous communities.

Most indigenous students, and students with disabilities can benefit from technology in the classroom. Incorporating technology increases students’ motivation to learn and personalize lessons to a student’s individual needs. Online blended learning can help students in remote communities in Ontario as well as students with the most severe and profound disabilities can use assistive technology to join a classroom of typical students, and their potential can be reached in ways that weren’t possible before.

Synergy for Change – Tackling Barriers

Igniting change in education is complex processing involving much more than deploying hardware and running a pilot project. In this session, “Synergy for Change – Tackling Barriers”, Jamie and Mark will share the layers of action used at the Waterloo Region District school over the last 5 years, reflect on learnings and experiences through the perspective of teacher, department head and IT leader. Information shared in the presentation will include scaffolding a 5 year plan, considerations on approaches to professional learning, pilot projects and a unique look at benchmarks used throughout the process of shifting from labs to mobile to one to one. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in conversation and Q&A.

The Caribou Online Math Contest

The original idea, growth, impact and constant diversification of the international online Caribou Mathematics Contest are presented. Topics include:

• research on new puzzle types, which have been adopted by other international mathematics contests
• an interactive course in geometry and automatic proof verification
• automatic verification of fair participation in Caribou Contests
• a model for the difficulty of questions

Previously used Caribou Contest questions will be shown and prizes will be awarded for correct solutions found by the audience.

The Digital Lending Library – Bridging the Digital Divide

As school boards move towards increased access and mobility, how do they ensure equity of access for all students regardless of whether or not the student has a device to bring to school? The OCDSB is addressing the issue by creating DIgital Lending Libraries in Learning Commons where students can borrow devices for the school day. This creates an environment of technological ubiquity where the right tool is in reach at the right moment for all students.

Transforming PD for Instructional Leadership

Don’t flip out over PD! You’ve heard of flipped classrooms. Now we’re flipping PD! In this interactive and innovative session, you will learn how to lead and offer more engaging and self-directed PD for teachers and administrators in technological savvy ways including EdCamp models, flipped classrooms, BreakoutEdu and Genius Hour! We will also explore ways to grow professional learning networks (PLNs) for administrators and staff through current technological tools (e.g. Twitter, Voxer, Blab) to suit learning styles and needs. Let’s bring PD into Next Generation Learning!

We Do Lego, you Can Do Lego too!

From Coding Club to curriculum, how three schools used Lego and robots to promote student leadership and integrate into various subjects into the classroom. Working in tandem with primary teachers, junior and intermediate students mentor primary students hence promoting collaboration and innovation, all while covering curriculum!

Where do we fit? Educators and our Technological Future

The session will outline, engage and grapple with questions related to the impact and future direction of technology and hopefully open a space of possibilities for educators to situate and challenge themselves within this larger story. If you are interested in any of the following, you will probably enjoy the conversation… surveillance, big data, big simulation, geo-politics, the internet of things, Moore’s Law, the singularity, AI, technological unemployment, etc. Check out some salient questions, texts & contribute to the structure of the conversation – https://goo.gl/zyh1tu

Are you using a 4th Generation Student Information System(SIS)?

This will be a round table session to discuss the future SIS needs of Ontario school boards. Please come to this session armed with your questions and expectations about your future SIS needs. The Follett team will be available during this session to answer questions about Follett’s Aspen SIS.

Education for Social Innovation: Professional Learning with Real-world Impact!

Technology. Entrepreneurship. Design Thinking. Social Change. In the Fall of 2016, educators from 6 districts across the Golden Horseshoe collaborated with their students to design engaging learning projects across curriculum areas to make a real-world impact. Come and hear stories from their classrooms, experience some of the professional learning activities, and explore how you can bring these ideas to your classroom and school!

Are YOU Certifiable? Free Microsoft Certification

Join CCI Learning, a Microsoft Authorized Education Partner, for your opportunity to earn a globally recognized Microsoft certification for FREE (over $260 value!). Your choice of Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA), or Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE).

A Walk Through the Amazing Assistive Technology Apps Available Using an iPad

This presentation will detail how common apps such as Explain Everything, Book Creator and Bitsboard can be used to support students who have special education needs. Considering the context of students who are both in regular class placements and special class placements, the assistive features of the iPad combined with numerous apps that are available, provide a workflow that can support a variety of learning needs such as executive functioning, difficulties with literacy and numeracy, and social emotional learning, to name a few.

Augmented Reality Sandbox

As part of an innovation project, the RCDSB ICT Team partnered with a High School Robotics Class and an Elementary Kindergarten class to create an Augmented Reality Sandbox. An AR Sandbox allows users to create topographic models by shaping real sand, which is then augmented in real time by an elevation color map, topographic contour lines, and simulated water. By making direct connections to the curriculum, students will be able to apply their knowledge in a way that directly contributes to the community as well as supporting the development of deep learning such as critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity. Come get a hands on experience with a live AR Sandbox.

Azure & Operations Management Suite

Operations Management Suite (also known as OMS) is a collection of management services that were designed in the cloud from the start. Rather than deploying and managing on-premise resources, OMS components are entirely hosted in Azure. Configuration is minimal, and you can be up and running literally in a matter of minutes. Come see how you can gain immediate insights across workloads, respond faster to security threats, enable consistent control and compliance, and ensure availability of apps and data.

Building Capacity to Lead and Supervise in Online Environments

As more and more of our teachers are using blended learning environments, and online platforms to teach, how do we assess the quality of the teaching and learning? Often, we are excited that our teachers are engaging in using new digital pedagogies, but are they effective? In this session, we will take a hands on tour of a new tool called ILOC – Instructional Leadership for the Online Classroom (#iloc_ont). This tool will support school leaders and online educators by providing authentic virtual classroom examples effective online and blended learning pedagogies.

Challenge Based Learning

Explore how Dan took an ordinary project and turned it into an engaging global interactive experience! Using Apple’s Challenge-Based Learning approach, learn how you too can implement similar projects in your teaching while covering vast amounts of curriculum at the same time. You’ll also get a look at the following tools in action: OneNote, Weebly for Education, StoryMaps, ArcGIS, D2L.

Creating Interactive and Innovative Learning Environments

Are you interested in the maker movement but don’t know where to start? Our hands-on session will help you develop an understanding around adopting an innovator’s mindset and best practices for maker spaces. We will demonstrate how to leverage tools and resources to accelerate learning. We will share our journey of transforming our practice to create interactive learning environments.

Data-Driven: Inquiry-based Teaching to STEAM your classroom

All grade 4-6 Nova Scotian schools recently received a Streamlined Curriculum Resource Kit with a variety of technology tools, including PASCO sensors, devices, etc. ICT outcomes are now embedded within the curriculum. The wireless probeware allows students to collect, visualize, analyse and assess data in and out of the classroom. Throughout this presentation we will share our PD strategy for teachers, hardware and software highlights, GA4E, and the reaction of today’s digital learners. Come investigate how you can embrace these tools to enhance your teaching and better engage your students.

Documentation pédagogique et les TIC

Dans cet atelier, nous survolerons les incontournables de la documentation pédagogique et explorerons divers logiciels et applications qui permettent aux élèves et au personnel enseignant de recueillir des traces d’apprentissage et de les organiser afin de faciliter les échanges avec les élèves, les parents, les collègues et la direction. Une enseignante de l’élémentaire partagera son expérience. • Clientèle cible : cycles primaire, moyen et intermédiaire • Apporter vos appareils numériques : tablette/téléphone intelligent, portable • Nom d’usager et mot de passe de l’EAV serait un atout

Math Learning for our 21st Century Learners

Math continues to be a priority for educators and parents as we move towards a globally competitive future for our students. The Renewed Math Strategy in Ontario calls for better access to online math resources to support student learning. Drawing from current Math research, TVO’s mPower encourages students to recognize that math is in both our physical and virtual worlds. Incorporating real-world applications in Math and STEM activities, students can practice problem-solving, critical thinking and other 21st century competencies in a fun and innovative, online game that is FREE!

Getting Kids Interested in Computer Science

Labeled as “geeky” or “boring”, computer science doesn’t seem to be on the top ten list of courses to take. Sadly, many students who might really enjoy computer science do not even sign up to give it a try. What is needed, is a way to make computer science “cool”, “fun” and “engaging”. Today’s students love their mobile devices and love their apps. So why not bring those interests to class? In this seminar, I will demonstrate how mobile game application development can be integrated into the secondary computer science classroom using Corona SDK.

Innovation & Collaboration Through Entrepreneurial Thinking & G Suite Edu

Students are eager to innovate to create change in our world & put their mark on it. G Suite Edu is a series of tools that allows students & teachers the freedom to do just that! My grade 7/8 Core FSL class used the tools of Entrepreneurial Thinking and G Suite to create & promote wearable tech pieces that reflect the changes they want to see in the Fashion Industry. We worked through: Ideation in Docs; Promotion in Sites & Drawings; Pitches in Slides; Customer experience in Forms & Sheets. We did this all by collaborating in Classroom. Join me for a session on how it can be done in your class.

The Enterprise Immune System: Using Machine Learning to Automate Advanced Cyber Defense

In this session, learn:

• How machine learning and mathematics can automate advanced threat detection within networks
• Why self-learning technology, known as the ‘immune system’ approach, detects threats early without using rules or signatures
• How to gain 100% visibility across physical, virtual and cloud environments, including third-party cloud services and SaaS
• Real-world examples of unknown threats detected by ‘immune system’ technology

Lights, Camera, Language

Whether you teach English, French or Chinese: creating multimodal texts will allow your language learners to see themselves as ambassadors of additional languages. Movie-making is an effective way to engage additional language learners in rich opportunities that promote collaboration, and creative thinking. This workshop will provide hands-on experience of how multimodality works for additional language learning. In this session, Keith, Chunlei and Candace will walk you through this theory-based practice of how to use the FREE movie-making toolkit for your additional language learners!

UnderstudyEdu: Curriculum aligned digital worksheets and games

This presentation will introduce UnderstudyEdu and how it can help with classroom efficiency and curriculum skill competencies.

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville 6300 Fallsview Boulevard Niagara Falls, ON L2G 7T8

Finding Your Question: Tools, Strategies, and a Roadmap

What are the secrets of effective questioning? How can we help learners—of any age—to think more deeply, explore big ideas, and unlock their dreams and gifts? And why is it that by simply crafting the right question, we can magically turn goals into inspiring, practical, and achievable plans and move closer to success? In this session, Tiffany Poirier shares her journey with her own evolving “big question” and brings out the zany tools from her “Questioner’s Toolbox” to illustrate advanced questioning in an all new creative and tangible way. She shares fun strategies and colourful examples to teach learners how to identify and craft more powerful questions, engage in meaningful dialogue, and lead and learn through transformative peer-to-peer coaching sessions. Introducing her “Question Roadmap”, Tiffany shows a path and formula for how we all can create our own brilliant big questions to kick start personal inquiries with clarity, focus, and passion. As a bonus, audience members get free access to Tiffany’s eBook, “A Questioner’s Guidebook,” to further bring to life these ideas, tools, and frameworks. Come join us and get ready to discover your own great power to question! 

Teach like a AstroJediChef!

Who doesn’t love space, the Force, and great food? In Teach like an AstroJediChef, Vasquez shares the inquiry based pedagogy he uses to set the tone for his “AstroJediChef” teaching, which combines an astronaut mentality for innovation/problem solving, a Jedi mentality for discipline/teamwork and breaking through barriers, and a chef’s mentality for cooking up cross-curricular lesson plans and mini lessons with a punch. Within a technology rich environment and with the use of an innovative lighting system, he transforms his lessons into adventures filled with excitement and intrigue. Open your AstroJediChef growth mindset for a truly engaging experience and new ideas for your classroom and lesson design.​ Vasquez’ ​​classroom brings the 21st century modern active learning environment into the future. Tools ​shared ​may include, ​iPad, ​iPhone, Apple TV, 3D Printing, Drones, Sphero, Minecraft, Augmented​ ​Reality, Coding, Green​ ​Screen, Google Classroom, GAFE products,​​ and other 2.0 formative assessment tools.

BYOD in Primary? Yes You Can!

Interested in going BYOD in your primary classroom but not sure it is possible? Well it certainly is! Come learn some tips, tricks and challenges first hand from my experience as a primary grade teacher. I will share best practices and show you how to integrate technology effectively in a variety of curriculum areas, as well as how to document student learning. I will share tools and resources that have helped me to create a classroom of next generation learners.

Deep Dive into eLearning

Come and hear from those that have been there. Whether you’re new to e-learning looking for survival tips or an experienced teacher looking to go deeper into the pedagogy of effective online course delivery, you will find what you’re looking for. This session will highlight the broad perspectives, including a Ministry overview as well as provide hands-on strategies that you can incorporate into your class right away.

Élèves branchés avec la classe inversée

Souhaitez-vous que vos élèves puissent mieux suivre leurs apprentissages à l’aide des principes de la classe inversée?
Souhaitez-vous augmenter la communication avec le foyer afin que les parents puisse guider la période des devoirs à la maison et restés informés?
Si oui, cet atelier est pour vous!
Objectifs de l’atelier :
-Découvrir les liens entre les plateformes Edmodo et OneNote pour faciliter la gestion de votre classe inversée.
-Voir des exemples concrets de classes au cycle moyen qui utilisent ces outils.
-Découvrir des avantages liés à la mise en place de devoirs en ligne et de la rétroaction immédiate.
Technologies employées : ordinateur, tablette, Office 365, Edmodo

How to Build a High Performance Team at a Distance

Is your team spread across hundreds or even thousands of square kilometres?  Come learn how the ECNO Shared Technical Services team functions from locations all over Ontario to come together as a high performance team producing top quality results with very little in person interaction using tools like Skype for Business and other online collaboration tools.

Run, Jump, Code. Everyone Can Do It?

Is the coding revolution afoot? Can everyone really code? This study aims to bring together a diverse team of humanities and education professors here at West Chester University in Pennsylvania who are interested in helping prepare current and future teachers for the classroom of the future which will most likely include elements of coding.

Élèves branchés avec la classe inversée

Souhaitez-vous que vos élèves puissent mieux suivre leurs apprentissages à l’aide des principes de la classe inversée? Souhaitez-vous augmenter la communication avec le foyer afin que les parents puisse guider la période des devoirs à la maison et restés informés? Si oui, cet atelier est pour vous! Objectifs de l’atelier : -Découvrir les liens entre les plateformes Edmodo et OneNote pour faciliter la gestion de votre classe inversée. -Voir des exemples concrets de classes au cycle moyen qui utilisent ces outils. -Découvrir des avantages liés à la mise en place de devoirs en ligne et de la rétroaction immédiate. Technologies employées : ordinateur, tablette, Office 365, Edmodo

Introduction to coding using Scratch

We will be introducing participants to coding using the CS First coding club and Scratch. We will be discussing our experience running the CS First coding club at Westmount Public School, Thorold and showcasing examples of student’s work. Grade 4 – 8 teachers can use this club to introduce Computer Science to their students. We will explain which materials are required to setup a coding club at your school, what works well, and potential problems that may be encountered. Learners will have the opportunity to write their first program using the Scratch programming language.

It’s not just digital, it’s dynamic.

In this presentation, we’ll discuss how technology should be a structured and safe way to do teach dynamically, to match your instructional design and students’ multimodal learning needs.

Minds on Media

Imagine a room full of educators who are experts in information and communications technologies (ICT) and learning theory. What could be learned from them? That is up to your teachers! They can visit one of the centres or visit them all! They might be absolute beginners or comfortable with technology – but this is about authentic use with students to develop deeper understandings. They choose their ‘entry point’. Teachers build their own plan for the day or are led by one of our facilitators or pedagogistas. They learn what they need to know to bring critical thinking to your environment. The facilitators at the centres will have the skills to support all learning styles with awesome classroom projects as exemplars! Topics include: – Coding in the Classroom – Skype in the Classroom – Book Creator and Explain Everything and more.

Robotics to Encourage Social Skill Development

Integrating a robotics program into your primary classroom can be intimidating. Our program was integrated to work on social skill and learning skill development. Through informal and formative assessments, we found ways to bring primary students together to collaborate, co-operate and have fun while learning, being engaged and completing authentic tasks. This presentation will show you how we incorporated coding and robotics, specifically Lego WeDo’s, into a primary class and how we created tasks that connected to curriculum and learning skill correlations.

Robotics Playground: Explore the Potential in Primary Education

This bilingual student-led discovery playground will demonstrate the potential pedagogical uses of robotics in K-3 classrooms. Come discover how Ozobots, Cubelets, and Spheros could be integrated into your classroom! We’ll bring the robots, you bring the curiosity!

The Journey to 1:1 (secondary)

This session is designed to share the journey of the Waterloo Region District School Board from concept to system wide 1:1 in secondary schools. The 5 year journey has been a scaffolded plan beginning with the Futures Forum Project, 1:1 chromebook pilot and finally scaling up 1:1 to all secondary schools. Research results, learnings, changes in classroom practice and project observations will be included in the presentation. Time will be allocated for discussion and Q&A.

Using Google Forms for Assessment

In this presentation, you will learn how to use Google Forms for Assessment. Through Google Accounts for Education and Google’s suite of tools, you will be able to collect and store information on specific students in a fast, effective and informative way. This workshop will help you to use your time effectively and will provide a new way to assess your students.

Using Technology to Empower Student Voice in the Mathematics Curriculum

This session will explore how technology can enhance attitudes towards the understanding of mathematics. Attendees will learn strategies to inspire students, staff and parents to think about mathematics creatively and see math as a broad, interesting and visual subject that involves deep thinking. Finally, this presentations will address the importance of student voice in the mathematics curriculum. As agents of change, students are encouraged to use technology and mathematics to reconfigure society to be more ethical and just.

Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants

Technology continues to open the classroom, enabling amazing learning opportunities for 21st century learners via the virtual learning environment. Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants connects classrooms across North America with leading scientists, explorers and conservationists through virtual guest speakers and field trips. Meet a National Geographic Explorer, journey to the bottom of the ocean or hangout in a penguin colony in Antarctica. We’ll explore other tools including Earth Engine, Hangouts on Air, Cultural Institute, Skype, YouTube Live and National Geographic Education resources.

Math and Digital Tools

Math and digital tools. Come explore the ways in which the Microsoft Education tools can support your Math learning, from tracking math attitudes and habits, providing in-the-moment feedback to collecting observations and conversations. This session will offer you ideas of enhancing your modern learning environments in ways that will support all of your learners to develop their love of learning Math.

Join CCI Learning, a Microsoft Authorized Education Partner, for your opportunity to earn a globally recognized Microsoft certification for FREE (over $260 value!). Your choice of Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA), or Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE).

Shift to Positive: Empowering Students to Become Digital Leaders

We so often tell kids what they CAN’T do online. It’s time we focus on what they CAN do. This session will highlight Student Digital Leaders who are using technology and social media to learn & share learning, address social inequality, and be a more positive influence in the lives of others. Whether you are a K-12 teacher, an administrator, or a tech coach, this session will provide you with examples, tools and strategies you can use in your class or school tomorrow to empower students to leverage social media and move from Digital Citizenship to Digital Leadership.

3D Printed Problem Solving

Incorporating pedagogical concepts like backwards design, critical thinking and the iterative design process, this presentation details classroom tested 3D printing/scanning rich tasks for 9-12 students to explore. This session is designed for attendees that already have some experience working with 3D modelling platforms like www.tinkercad.com, and want to explore the intersection of 3Dprinting, design and rich assessments. These ideas can also be incorporated into a variety of different types of learning environments.

A “Smarter” Niagara Region – how the Region CIOs are working behind the scene to contribute to the long term strategic vision of the region

Public Sector IT Leaders have formed a unique consortium dedicated to improving the digital infrastructure and services for Niagara businesses and residents. Panel members will talk about the consortium creation, vision, what progressive initiatives and directions this group is driving or engaged in.

Apps & Programs to Support Independence & Mastery in a Blended Learning Model

Attendees will learn about apps and programs that can help support independence, differentiated instruction and mastery based learning such as: EdPuzzle, OneNote, thatquiz.org, Screencast-o-matic, Notability & Memarden. BYOD is encouraged however there will be several iPads available for use.

Beyond the Walls of your Classroom: Office 365 for Anywhere, Anytime Learning

Let us show you how to take learning to the next level with Microsoft tools. Whether you’re in the office, classroom, or on the go, Office 365 offers familiar, top-of-the-line productivity software at your fingertips. In this session, we will explore how to leverage the latest and greatest that Office has to offer: from familiar tools like Word, Excel and PowerPoint to cloud-based storage in OneDrive to digital binders in OneNote, Office 365 lets you create, edit, and collaborate from any device, anytime, and anywhere. We will also explore professional learning opportunities and how to access a global network of educators through the Microsoft Educator Network. Come to learn, leave as a Microsoft Innovative Educator.

Creative Coding and Making with the micro:bit

The micro:bit is an educational pocket-sized computer that can be programmed to be anything you want it to be! In this fun, hands-on session, participants will make a wearable step-tracking device that will also display encouraging messages. Please if available, we will have hp windows devices for use.

Choose your Own Adventure using GAFE

Looking to personalize student learning? Want to provide an opportunity for more student voice? Tired of giving everyone the same homework questions? Learn how to maximize Google Forms and/or Slides to bump up your tasks by creating a choose your own adventure approach to create purposeful groups and personalized learning opportunities. (This session is also applicable for High School Teachers)

Going Modular

The OCDSB has just completed a 1 million dollar investment over a period of three years into our district’s Communication Technology programs. This investment has provided students and educators with an incredible opportunity to employ modular based learning while meeting and exceeding curriculum expectations. In this session attendees will leave with an understanding of the following;. Why Communication Technology in the
OCDSB has moved away from a 1:1 student/computer ratio The OCDSB’s “shopping cart” approach to purchasing technology Support provided to educators during this transition

Growing Future STEMists that Will Transform our World Using Robotics

The role of the teacher is to create the conditions for invention rather than providing ready-made knowledge.” –Seymour Papert How can we create the conditions for invention? Using a design thinking process students, K-12, can play with robotics and code to develop 21st century competencies. In this session, we will share our journey in demystifying robotics and code. We will show that robotics can be used in language, math and science so students
can develop skills in critical thinking, problem solving, innovation, creativity, collaboration, communication, and growth mindset.

Innover, créer et collaborer efficacement avec Microsoft Classroom

Améliorer votre gestion de classe en facilitant la remise des devoirs, en créant un calendrier avec des dates d’échéances et bien plus. Après cet atelier, vous serez en mesure de donner de la rétroaction descriptive efficace à vos élèves tout en les appuyant dans leur apprentissage. De plus, vous serez en mesure de découvrir comment les nouveautés Microsoft (septembre 2016) vous permettront de réaliser aisément vos tâches
quotidiennes.

Managing iPads – How are you doing?

AirWatch, InTune, DEP, VPP, Asset Management, Apple School Manager, and anything else.  Are you struggling to manage your iOS devices and keep up with classroom demands?  Come share your stories and leave with some hope.

Media Creation Made Easy

For today’s students, media consumption and creation is a way of life. Funny videos, vines, memes, Snapchat stories, screencasts, texts, tweets, and blogs reflect how students see and interact in the world. In their TLLP, Andrew Bieronski and Jamie Reaburn Weir have been researching how to leverage media tools to provide students with a voice as well as document and demonstrate student learning. The presentation will feature
the tools they used, their observations as teachers, and student exemplars and post product reflections.

Minds on Media

Imagine a room full of educators who are experts in information and communications technologies (ICT) and learning theory. What could be learned from them? That is up to your teachers! They can visit one of the centres or visit them all! They might be absolute beginners or comfortable with technology – but this is about authentic use with students to develop deeper understandings. They choose their ‘entry point’. Teachers build their own plan for the day or are led by one of our facilitators or pedagogistas. They learn what they need to know to bring critical thinking to your environment. The facilitators at the centres will have the skills to support all learning
styles with awesome classroom projects as exemplars! Topics include: – Coding in the Classroom – Skype in the Classroom – Book Creator and Explain Everything and more.

Problem and Solution Finding:  Finding the real problem leads to finding the best solution

Participants will explore the problem and solution finding framework that 6 Social brings to schools and communities.  By diving deep into the actual problem that is being faced, validating and designing a solution, students’ critical thinking and collaboration skills are dramatically increased. We use the six C of education to enhance teachers’ and students’ problem finding and solving abilities for the social issues that are important to them. Join teachers from Sagonaska Demonstration School and artist educators from Learning Through the Arts in this hands on, BYOD session. Once you introduce this process to your classrooms, your students’ problem solving abilities will never be the same.

Robotics Playground: Explore the Potential in Primary Education

This bilingual student-led discovery playground will demonstrate the potential pedagogical uses of robotics in K-3 classrooms. Come discover how Ozobots, Cubelets, and Spheros
could be integrated into your classroom! We’ll bring the robots, you bring the curiosity!

Supporting Math, Science and Technology Instruction with Hockey

Future Goals – Hockey Scholar (Grade 5-8 – available in French and English) is a new web-based program that uses the game of hockey to teach foundational math and science concepts. Topics include: understanding area/volume of an ice rink and learning about speed/velocity using skates.

This resource is available to all schools at no cost thanks to the financial support of the NHL and the NHLPA.

Come to this session to learn how to learn more about the course, how to navigate our platform and get set up with an account! You will also be able to see other programs on our online platform that are available at cost.

Taking Technology Outside

Sharing our journey of how we used an outdoor learning environment to improve our students’ ability to ask questions and to increase their motivation to document their inquiries and observations through a combination of illustrations, photos, and emergent written and oral communication in conjunction with technology. We will be providing an interactive experience with instruction on how to take technology outside and to make these experiences purposeful and educational, while making it engaging for students and educators. iPad apps that complement our outdoor program will be shared. ​

3D Printing in the STEM/STEAM Classroom

Join Javelin at booth #706 to learn first-hand how easy 3D printing can be with our world-leading, reliable and safe MakerBot & Stratasys 3D printers. Stop by the Javelin Technologies booth to learn the inside track to STEM/STEAM lesson plans, and receive learning resources to successfully incorporate 3D printing into your school’s curriculum.

Assessment Triangulation – pulling it together at reporting time made easy!

Capturing evidence of learning through product, conversation and observation as required by Growing Success transparently with students and their parents is easy.  Even though this may sound magical enough, access on a mobile app coupled with the opportunity to access from one location at reporting time makes it even better.  Edsby’s engagement tool provides that power along with collaboration across your school or district with all stakeholders. Come see what enhancements we’ve introduced!

Automate student registration and cumulative folders using an award winning software platform

During this session, attendees will learn about SRC’s suite of applications that are being used by districts to collect clean data, boost efficiency and eliminate all of the paper involved with student registration and cumulative folders. Registration Gateway integrates with many leading SIS’s and was voted a District Administration Top 100 Product in 2014,2015 and 2016.

Brainspace

Brainspace is a publisher of interactive educational resources including entrepreneurial toolkits, STEAM classroom sets, magazines and more. All are print resources with supplemental augmented reality features.

Brightsign Digital signage. Easy signage for any School.

D2L

D2L’s goal is to make learning experiences better.  For the past 11 years, the Ministry of Education has licensed D2L’s Brightspace platform on behalf of all Ontario school boards so that teachers and students across the province have access to a cloud-based platform that is easy to use, flexible, and smart. Come drop by the D2L booth to learn more about the provincial virtual Learning Environment and how it can support educators and students. Ask questions to D2L staff, hear success stories from colleagues, and get a sneak peek at our Fall 2017 line-up of new K-12 capabilities.

Demystify your Network Design

-How to optimize your Network (wired and wireless)
-Eliminate congestion problems
-Basic Network fundamentals

Did You Turn It Off and On? – Enhance Your Help Desk with Empowered Users

Find:Solve:Design

We will be sharing the process of how to engage your students in deep problem finding and solving that will change they way that they approach challenges in learning and life.

Global Payments Canada

How eBooks are Changing Reading in Schools

eBooks offer students access to the world of reading through any device they can get their hands on. They allow teachers to make class time more engaging and give administrators a cost-effective solution to their long-term curriculum and recreational content needs. Learn how eBooks are evolving the school landscape through these and other ways with OverDrive.

Integrate 3D printing technology into classroom STEAM education

LEGO in Motion

Come learn the basics of LEGO EV3 Robot Programming and discover a new way to bring science, technology, engineering & math content to your students both in and out of the classroom. By the end of this demo, you (YES YOU!) will have a basic introduction to the base model robot and see how it can move around the room and sense its environment!

Teaching STEM Online: Challenges and Solutions

There are many challenges involved in creating high-quality learning materials for STEM courses, from display to grading to accessibility. This session will discuss the challenges, progress and current technologies. The University of Waterloo has been offering online mathematics courses since 2003 to over 21,000 students and open education resources that have been visited hundreds of thousands of times. Maplesoft is an education solution provider with 30 years of experience helping educators implement technology in their courses. Together they understand the challenges and have made great progress in overcoming a number of them.

The Enterprise Immune System: Using Machine Learning for Next-Generation Cyber Defense

In this session, learn:
• How new machine learning and mathematics are automating advanced cyber defense
• Why 100% network visibility allows you to detect threats as they happen, or before they happen
• How smart prioritization and visualization of threats allows for better resource allocation and lower risk
• Real-world examples of unknown threats detected by ‘immune system’ technology

To present our website IDELLO to the public

More than 10 000 french resources as well as functions and a workspace that encourage communication between communities of users with common interests.

U.Commerce

TouchNet provides campuses with a broad spectrum of powerful solutions that help you run a better and smarter business. U.Commerce is designed for the way Higher Education does business to unify unify the campus enterprise and improves the experience for you and your constituents. Stop by to learn more about the latest payment technology for your university and the 24 hour business office.

Using DPA to maximize learning potential with 5-a-day Fitness.

UK based company 5-a-day Fitness aims to help increase DPA opportunities using technology in schools. 5-a-day Fitness is the ultimate fun fitness resource for elementary schools. Increase daily physical activity in your classroom with our online 5-minute exercise routines and language learning resources, designed specifically for projection onto whiteboards. There’s no teacher preparation required. Simply watch, join in, have fun, get fit and learn!

Beyond the Hour of Code – Computational Thinking For the 21st Century!

Computational thinking is about solving authentic problems using the power of the human mind combined with technology. Our world is evolving from the regurgitation model & progressing toward content creation, collaboration, and inquiry. It is imperative that we educate all stakeholders in education and provide opportunities for students to develop this mindset in order to be successful in life. From coding to Minecraft, computational thinking includes decomposition, algorithmic thinking, logical reasoning, and creating virtual worlds. Let’s explore the synergy of man and machine!​

Are YOU Certifiable? Free Microsoft Certification

Join CCI Learning, a Microsoft Authorized Education Partner, for your opportunity to earn a globally recognized Microsoft certification for FREE (over $260 value!). Your choice of Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA), or Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE).

Leveraging Cloud Solutions to Implement Real Administrative Solutions and Improve School Efficiency

Learn how some of the most common cloud tools like OneNote and Google Docs can make your administrative tasks simpler and achieve more effective results. Do you still keep a binder for coverage and provide copies of copies of copies to staff? Is communicating with school staff a never ending challenge? Come spend less than an hour to save yourself countless hours in the future and improve the overall performance within your school.

App Smashing to Increase Creativity and Reduce Paper in the Classroom

App smashing can be used to increase your productivity as a teacher, as well as provide students with a variety of opportunities to make their learning engaging and visible. In this hands on session, participants will explore iPad apps and Chrome extensions that can be used together to produce interactive lessons, activities and assessments while eliminating the need for paper in the classroom.

Be Sway-mazing

Learn how to utilize Microsoft Sway in your classroom. See and learn from elementary students who are creating eye-catching, professional projects with the latest and greatest “drag and drop” online presentational tool. In this session, teachers are encouraged to bring their own devices to experience creating a Sway and see how easy it is to be Sway-mazing!

Blended Learning: What, Why and How

Blended Learning combines traditional face-to-face instruction with technological tools that allow your class to extend beyond the walls and time allotted to you. It can help foster independence, collaboration, organization and 21st Century learning skills. In this session participants will be introduced to concepts and ideas surrounding the basic structure of the Blended Learning Classroom as well as the rationale behind some of its components.
Participants will also see first hand the use of technological tools and pedagogical practices that facilitate the delivery of the Blended Classroom.

Bridging the “Gapps” – Assistive Technology in the BYOD GLE Classroom

Slide Deck

YouTube Link

BYOD policies in schools bring both possibilities and challenges any classroom, especially in the GLE/SEA classroom. As a tech-savvy teacher willing to work with your students this can be both exciting and educational for all. This session will have you using such apps as your voice recording app on your phone to Google Drive, Google Tasks, and Google Keep to help students organize time and enhance organization, self-regulation,
and collaboration.

ConnectED Tech Hub

Why simply hear about all the latest tech, when you can get your hands on it? Curated and hosted by technology evangelist Marc Saltzman, the ConnectED Tech Hub is a dedicated space lets you see, touch and try out the latest gadgets and gear, and ask questions — whether it’s the latest in mobility devices (smartphones, tablets, and wearables), productivity tools (the best in laptops, 2-in-1s, and accessories), smart home devices (learning thermostats, smart LEDs, and Wi-Fi cameras), and home entertainment (4K TVs, sound systems, and virtual reality). Showcasing innovations in consumer electronics, get your geek on and be sure to visit the ConnectED Tech Hub!

Critical Thinking by Design

Participants will be invited to discuss different physical configurations of classroom models as well as inquiry based learning approaches along with a variety of technological tools. We will aim to highlight the strengths and shortcomings of problem based learning in a digital age. The learning objectives will be to address topics such as: how to build a strong critical thinking question, how to support inquiry in the classroom,
as well as how to include technology in an inquiry based approach.

Exploring Geometry in the Junior/Intermediate Math Classroom with Scratch Coding

Enhance J/I students’ understanding of geometry concepts through coding in Scratch (scratch.mit.edu). In this hands-on session, participants will learn how to code 2D shapes and other images using Scratch. Debugging programs and unplugged activities will also be explored. Geometry and spatial reasoning curriculum expectations from grades 4 to 8 will be addressed. Prior coding experience is not needed, but there will be a variety of challenges to try if participants have previous experience with Scratch. Please bring your own laptop, Chromebook or Surface. iPads do not support Scratch.

Exploring Geometry with Sphero within the Intermediate Classroom

Help to enhance your intermediate students’ understanding of geometry concepts through the use of Sphero. This hands-on “making” session will have participants learn by doing. Attendees will code Sphero in a variety of ways which supports pedagogical practice. Participants do not require any previous coding experience although anyone with familiar with “block based programming” tools such as Scratch will benefit. Geometry & Spatial Sense curriculum expectations within grades 7-8 will be addressed within the session. Please bring a device with both the Sphero “Tickle” & “Lightning lab” apps.

La réalité virtuelle en salle de classe : vivre ses apprentissages

Connaissez-vous Google Cardboard? Avez-vous déjà tenté une expérience en réalité virtuelle? L’application Google Expéditions et la réalité virtuelle donnent l’occasion aux élèves de vivre le contenu de leurs cours, de voyager partout sur Terre et dans l’espace afin de mieux comprendre les enjeux et rehausser l’engagement. Venez explorez ce nouveau monde et discuter de pratiques et d’applications concrètes pour inclure la réalité virtuelle
dans votre salle de classe! ** Veuillez apporter votre téléphone intelligent pour profiter de l’expérience de cet atelier.

Minds on Media

Imagine a room full of educators who are experts in information and communications technologies (ICT) and learning theory. What could be learned from them? That is up to your teachers! They can visit one of the centres or visit them all! They might be absolute beginners or comfortable with technology – but this is about authentic use with students to develop deeper understandings. They choose their ‘entry point’. Teachers build their own plan for the day or are led by one of our facilitators or pedagogistas. They learn what they need to know to bring critical thinking to your environment. The facilitators at the centres will have the skills to support all learning styles with awesome classroom projects as exemplars! Topics include: – Coding in the Classroom – Skype in the Classroom – Book Creator and Explain Everything and more.

Supporting Students Who Learn Online

Students want to learn online for a wide variety of reasons, some valid and and some myths. Considering student readiness levels for online learning is an important step in ensuring success. Join us as we share the newest Student Orientation Learning Module designed to prepare students to be successful in the online learning environment. Bring your devices to the hands on session as we explore innovative ways to engage students.

Teach Biodiversity By Building Interactive Virtual Bio Domes!

Come explore the wetland and oceanic habitats, along with all the amazing species that live within. Build marshes, coral reefs and many more habitats from scratch. Help plants and animals flourish by learning and applying the laws of nature. Engage your students on biology through engaging play and problem solving. Try “iBiome-Wetland” (awarded Best Learning STEM App) and “iBiome-Ocean”(a newly released sequel), and experience an innovative way to learn about biodiversity in the water world.

Transformation and Shared Services in Education

A public-private education partnership (PPEP) is a way to increase enrolment, student outcomes and cost efficiencies. They are contractual relationships between governments and private sector entities, but more importantly, they are catalysts for systemic change. PPEPs mobilize individuals, organizations, and communities, tapping the power of education. They combine transformational leadership, shared goals, and community values to create educational access, equity, outcomes, quality and ethical choices. Digital technologies are an integral strategy in this transformation, driven by a ‘community for innovation’ that harnesses the human imagination and creativity for changing lives, organizations, communities and nations. PPEPs are also pillars of social, cultural and economic empowerment in the developing world.

Make your Patterning Unit Come to Life with Scratch and Python

Are you looking to ‘jazz’ up your patterning unit and make patterns come alive for students? Learn how to meet grades 7/8 math patterning curriculum expectations through engaging students with coding! Participants will be supported with coding patterns in two online platforms, Scratch and Python. Extension activity suggestions will be provided. Please bring a chromebook, laptop or surface.

Building a Community of Learners

The best learning often happens when we least expect it. The social interactions we have with one another fuels our passion for learning and drives our inquiry to become better educators. How can we develop a culture in our schools that allow for such interactions to happen frequently, openly, and honestly? There is no simple formula, or magical solution; but there are lots of ideas around improving the culture of professional learning that is full of support, as well as risk-taking.  Drawing on experiences from the role of educational technology coach, classroom teacher, and leader in opening a new school, we’ll explore strategies, supports, tools, successes, and failures to discover new ways to build & support a learning culture in your school. Come and have an open, honest conversation that will have you believing that you can say goodbye to “one-and-done” professional development, and say hello to “a culture of professional learning”!

Apprendre à se connaître pour mieux planifier l’avenir

Par le biais des conversations Skype avec divers intervenants, les élèves sauront être engagés et développer leurs habiletés de communication orale tout en développant leur identité, leur connaissance de soi et leur ouverture sur le monde et la francophonie.

Bridging Civic and Career Education with Technology

How can we help students learn 21st-century skills and get student more engaged with their communities

Coding: A District Approach

Trillium Lakelands District School Board has embraced the use of coding across the district, initially from grades 4 – 6. Due to the success of the coding project in its first year, we have expanded to grades 1 – 8. We will share successes and struggles that we have encountered during this project. We are excited to show you our Coding Challenges in YouTube, activities created by teachers, examples of students’ work in Scratch and Scratch Jr, and our Coding Classrooms Community. We will also have a discussion on the use of the Makey Makeys, mBots, and Dash & Dots.

ConnectED Tech Hub

Why simply hear about all the latest tech, when you can get your hands on it? Curated and hosted by technology evangelist Marc Saltzman, the ConnectED Tech Hub is a dedicated space lets you see, touch and try out the latest gadgets and gear, and ask questions — whether it’s the latest in mobility devices (smartphones, tablets, and wearables), productivity tools (the best in laptops, 2-in-1s, and accessories), smart home devices (learning thermostats, smart LEDs, and Wi-Fi cameras), and home entertainment (4K TVs, sound systems, and virtual reality). Showcasing innovations in consumer electronics, get your geek on and be sure to visit the ConnectED Tech Hub!

Exploring Patterning and Movement on a grid in primary using Scratch Jr.

Find out how you can help primary students learn about patterning and positional language by moving through a grid in Scratch JR. Coding can help support development of spatial reasoning skills, which is important for children’s future success in school. Scratch JR. is a sandbox-style coding app for ipads, android tablets and chromebooks and is perfect for young children. There is no text, but students can create programs that make use of sequencing and looping. They can code sprites to move and interact with one another. Please bring an ipad, chromebook or tablet for this hands-on session

Developing a System Strategy for Modern Learning

Over the last year and half, the York Region District School Board has been developing their new Board Improvement Plan for Student Achievement. Three key focus areas were determined—one of them being, Modern Learning. A core team was developed through our study of best practices in other jurisdictions. Significant research, evaluation and monitoring, learning and consultation throughout our system and various stakeholder groups led us to the strategy we now have in our Board.

Tales from the British Library – Transforming IT service delivery

Living Knowledge, the vision for the British Library will see it transformed by 2023, when it will celebrate fifty years as the national library of the United Kingdom. This presentation will give you an insight into the fascinating work of the British Library and explain how the latest IT Strategy focusses on being better equipped to enable that vision. Come and find out about the key tool used to meet the challenges ahead.

How to Become a Technology Revolutionary in 10 Easy Steps

This presentation will provide educators with: resources and ideas to help them connect with other educators from around the world, curate information and ideas, find free apps and websites to enhance their professional development, and teacher tested resources for productivity and student academic success.

HWDSB Parent Portal

As a way to engage our greater community the HWDSB has worked to build a Parent Portal by leveraging Brightspace and PowerSchool. Hear about our journey and the steps we took to build an engaging online portal for parents to connect with their student’s schools.

Woman Focused STEM Panel

Everyone, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is trying to encourage more women to choose careers in STEM. The big questions is…what needs to be in place to make technology and the sciences a natural choice for girls? Moderated by Martha Jez, today’s panel will encourage active discussion between students, teachers and women currently in the technology industry.

Math and Science in the GSuite…you can do it!

Creating digital math used to be a difficult process. It can be complicated to type and frustrating for students and teachers alike. We will focus on simplifying this process using EquatIO, g(Math), and other apps, enhancing ways students can respond to math and science problems digitally and collaboratively within GSuite. I firmly believe that math and science topics require computational thinking, but at heart the goal is to communicate their thought process and ‘show their work’. Creating and communicating math and science digitally is an accessibility issue and one that we need to address now to prepare students for an increasingly digital world. This session will show teachers how to use EquatIO and other web applications to create digital representations of their current work and inspire them to move forward into creating inspiring and innovative digital lessons.
We will also discuss a digital workflow for teachers to allow students to respond digitally and utilize the powerful computing tools available to them. I will model how using EquatIO and other tools allow teachers to change the types of questions they ask and the investigations and assessment types without increasing their time spent assessing and creating. Using the UDL framework will empower students to create rich responses in the math and science classroom allowing their communication to flourish and deepen their understanding through explanation and peer collaboration.
Participants will walk away with a variety of use cases that they can integrate immediately. There will be guided time in the session for users to create a simple, sample assignment and brainstorm use cases with other educators. We will also spend time with an activity that introduces Universal Design for Learning methods and the need for these methods to provide access to all students to communicate their understanding comprehensively.
We will focus on creating math and science assessments in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms as well as other cloud-based tools to examine spaces to empower students to have collaborative creation of math and science responses in today’s digital classroom.
The session will be very interactive. I will provide templates for attendees to begin with and then incorporate small activities for them to adapt and enhance the templates for their own use case.
In the middle of the session, we will have a brainstorming session to enhance use cases submitted by attendees and discuss the merits of multiple methods of response in the math and science classroom and what some of the pitfalls might be in going to a fully digital workflow. I will also highlight during the session how EquatIO and other tools help make math accessible to everyone by incorporating visual aids, voice input support, and other methods of communicating responses.

Minds on Media

Imagine a room full of educators who are experts in information and communications technologies (ICT) and learning theory. What could be learned from them? That is up to your teachers! They can visit one of the centres or visit them all! They might be absolute beginners or comfortable with technology – but this is about authentic use with students to develop deeper understandings. They choose their ‘entry point’. Teachers build their own plan for the day or are led by one of our facilitators or pedagogistas. They learn what they need to know to bring critical thinking to your environment. The facilitators at the centres will have the skills to support all learning styles with awesome classroom projects as exemplars! Topics include: – Coding in the Classroom – Skype in the Classroom – Book Creator and Explain Everything and more.

The Power of Pictures

As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” We will explore ways teachers can use pictures and video to encourage student interest and conversations. We will also explore ideas that teachers can provide for students to “show what they know”, expose their deeper thinking and open up opportunities for triangulated assessment. With only a few devices, educators will walk away with ideas they can use the next day with a just a few clicks.

Using Google Tools to keep yourself organized

Maximize Google and its organizational possibilities. Come join us for this whirlwind session, where will quickly explore gMail filters, Calendar, Google Keep, and dig deeper into your use of folders in Drive to keep yourself organized in a more streamlined way. This session is intended for educator in grades K-12 and beyond!

WAY OF THE INQUIRY NINJA

How can we help learners to question more deeply and do in-depth inquiry projects with greater independence? How can we as educators learn to become “Inquiry Ninjas” in the classroom through internalizing the practice of facilitation to help empower learners to make their own discoveries? This practical session brings inquiry-based learning to life using the “4 Vehicles” analogy and lots examples, stories, clear frameworks, resources, and project ideas to help you quickly get started facilitating learning on a whole new level. Audience members also get “backstage” access to takeaway gifts, including bonus-training videos to use with students. See more at https://inquiryninja.com/

Windows 10 Modern Management

This session will walk you through the latest in modern management for Windows 10. See how PCs can easily be setup while offering personalized settings and a managed experience in a few minutes, without being on the corporate network. This session will also demonstrate how IT can apply policies and configurations like Shared PC mode and Educational lockdown through provisioning packages or Intune (MDM) to ensure device compliance. Join us to learn more about the new features and benefits of Windows 10 Creators Update.

Spicy Olive Bar & Grille – 5026 Centre St, Niagara Falls, ON L2G 3N7

If you’re a CONNECT Veteran you may already know all about CONNECT with Tech, if not, here’s what you want to know! CONNECT with Tech is an informal Ed Tech networking event that will provide an opportunity for IT and Academic professionals to meet counterparts from other educational institutions in a social atmosphere that will encourage conversation, collaboration and connections. Enjoy a couple hours of CONNECT hospitality and CONNECT with existing acquaintances and make new ones.

A.I. in Education – And Why We Shouldn’t Be Afraid

Artificial Intelligence is really here, after years of being little more than part of our fantasies about life with the Terminator.   As it begins to permeate every aspect of our daily lives, natural questions come to mind about how it will impact education.  Robot tutors or existential threat?  Personalizing learning, or de-personalizing it?   Dr. Calhoun Williams takes you on a tour of where AI is today, where it’s going, and why we likely need not to fear, but to embrace it.

Taking chances to lead change: Adventures in coding, math, and professional learning

What if there was room in the day and in the curriculum to be innovative, creative and even a little dangerous? How do we make professional learning irresistible? Could we, as teachers and leaders in education, choose to open new worlds for ourselves and for the students we serve?

With stories from Ms Cordy’s classroom, you will see there is room to make a difference and that you can choose to lead change every single day. Michelle will share classroom based research about math and coding as examples of taking chances. You will see how you too can take chances, and lead your own change.

Virtual Reality in the Classroom – Experience the Learning!

Do you know how to use Google Cardboard? Have you ever tried integrating virtual reality into your teaching? Google Expeditions allows you to take your students on learning journeys like never before. Come discover how you can provide opportunities for students to experience your course content by traveling anywhere on Earth (and even beyond) in order to increase comprehension and engagement. Come explore how Google Expeditions can be used in your classroom and discuss practical ways of including virtual reality in your classroom! ** A smart phone is required to fully experience this session.

10 TIPS FOR RICHER CLASSROOM DIALOGUE

In this session, we explore fun and surprising strategies to inspire more meaningful and productive dialogue in any classroom, kindergarten through grade 12. We will introduce the “Community of Inquiry” practice (P4C model) and how it can be used to promote engagement and deepen students’ learning in a variety of curricular areas. Come join us around the “campfire” and bring your own questions, ideas, and experiences—we can work together to creatively troubleshoot the top challenges educators face when facilitating dialogue with learners of all ages.Language Arts, Science, and Math Common Core Standards.

Aruba Mobile First Architecture and SDWAN

Learn about the latest Aruba controller virtualization technologies, Aruba Cloud Platform and the Branch Gateways using SDWAN technologies.

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Solution That Will Not Break Your Bank!

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are captivating concepts. People love watching impressive animations appear out of nowhere and provide the viewer with additional information that improves the learning experience. In this session participants will explore how to use Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) applications of high educational value in the classroom in order to make their lessons more effective. The presenter will demonstrate an overview of apps made by some of the most accomplished AR and VR companies and organizations such as Daqri, NASA, Aurasma, Mattel, and others. Specifically, participants will be exposed to several apps with ready made content they can use the classroom. Participants will also learn how to create their own AR and VR experiences in the classroom. All of the activities shared in this dynamic session are aligned to several
Language Arts, Science, and Math Common Core Standards.

Choose your Own Adventure using Brightspace (D2L)

Looking to personalize student learning? Want to provide an opportunity for more student voice? Learn how to bump up your D2L course by creating a choose your own adventure approach. Using the quiz tool and conditional releases to create purposeful groups and personalized learning opportunities.

Exploring Google Sites for Intermediate Classrooms

This interactive presentation will focus on exploring a variety of ways in which Google Sites, Google’s easy-to-use web generation platform, can be used in intermediate classrooms to increase student collaboration and engagement, as well as overall classroom efficiency. The two co-presenters will draw on their combined education technology consulting and classroom teaching experiences around using Google Sites in intermediate classrooms. Audience members are encouraged to bring their own device to the presentation and will have the opportunity to test out some of the suggested uses.

The OneNote Classroom – Using Office 365 to make planning and delivering great lessons easy.  

Microsoft OneNote Lets you:

• deliver lessons on a tablet or smartboard in class
• record your lesson while you teach so students can watch them from home to catch up or review
• stay organized
• share your work with the students in your class directly
• share and collaborate with your fellow teachers
• have students submit work within OneNote, where you can mark it
• import work from ANY platform – Google Docs, Word, SmartNotebook, Mac

It’s also a really user-friendly platform.  I started using it three years ago, and it has completely changed the way I teach.  In this session I will share some of what I’ve learned, and help you set up your first practice Microsoft Classroom Notebook.  Please Bring Your Own Device.

The micro:bit – It’s anything you want it to be!

The micro:bit is an educational pocket-sized computer that is given to all year 7s in England to support students with learning how to code.  In this workshop, you’ll learn about the affordances of using such a digital device in your classroom and will also have a chance to code basic programs on the micro:bit.  This sought-after device will be available in Canada soon!  Please bring a laptop computer if available.

Je code, tu codes, nous programmons!

Pendant ce terrain de jeu (playground) les participants pourront: – Apprendre à faire un codage simple à partir de couleurs sans matériel spécialisée – Explorer la robotique dans un contexte de résolution de problèmes, au primaire – Explorer divers types d’évaluation possibles en lien avec le robotique et le codage

Math on fire: 3D printing in the intermediate grades (7 and 8)

My talk will focus on multiple facets of 3D printer implementation for intermediate: printer cost (range), instruction of design software (primarily tinkercad – audience members can join in), and pedagogy/lesson creation. Additionally student video of projects will be included, as well as detailed project descriptions linked to expectations in the Ontario math, science and technology curriculum. Finally, describing our new initiative involving students in a design process that parallels the prototyping of parts in tier I automotive supply etc. using our parent members in these fields.

Making Your Motivation and Happiness a Priority in Education

Staying happy and motivated as an educator is the best thing that you can do for your students. Education presents the opportunity to be the most satisfying career imaginable, however, it can be very challenging. Join us a we delve into taking a closer look at what drives our motivation, how we can maintain our passion and love of teaching and learn how technology can help you to love what you do everyday!

Adventures in Deep Learning – Exposed in 3D

Come and explore how to make the shift into Deep Learning. Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) has been recognized as one of the most innovative school boards in Canada by the Canadian Education Association. In this session OCSB educators will have you explore elements of their district programs with Virtual Reality, dive into tools that change practice, model new environments for learning, and highlight practices that help develop the six C’s that are the core for successful students in an ever-changing world (Character Education, Citizenship, Communication, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Collaboration, Creativity and Imagination).This is a hands-on experience where you truly will Deep Dive into the technology that drives OCSB’s digital and academic success.

Apple Teacher

The Apple Teacher program helps teachers make the most of iPad, Mac, and built-in apps to engage students. With Apple Teacher, school leadership can leverage a free, self-paced learning environment designed to inspire and empower teachers to use Apple products with confidence and create innovative learning experiences. This session will introduce you to the program and walk you through the Apple Teacher Learning Center, Apple Teacher Starter Guides, and other resources that support and inspire professional learning. You’ll also learn about how leaders are bringing the program back to their schools.

CEO’s Of Their Learning

The students’ voices are at the center of the thinking process, they are entrepreneurs of their learning. The students are agents by self- directing and valuing others’ thinking, taking creative risks and keeping perspectives during collaboration, communication, and designing. The students develop skills for solving messy problems, from handling rejections to opposing ideas as they navigate through their design thinking process.

DR, Off-Site Backups and More: What are my options now?

This is critical to address the expectations of your modern data center as you have virtualized with vSphere and/or Hyper-V. Are backups to a service provider cloud the way to go? What about replicated VMs? How about backups written on disk or tape off-site? There are many ways to go about protecting and recovering off-site. In this session, see what you’re options are:
· What are the differences between replicated VMs and off-site backups
· How a cloud strategy may be part of the solution
· What may be missing from your data protection strategies today

Capturing Student Thinking

It might be a scary place to visit, but if you want to get inside your students’ heads, this is a great way to do it. We’ll look at a series of Microsoft tools that can help you (easily) capture student thinking. Join me to learn more about how Snip and Office Mix can allow your students to express themselves and share their learning in really powerful ways. As an added bonus, we’ll look at how the same tools can be used to create “How To” video tutorials (think resource development and flipped classroom activities) and share your own thinking with others.
https://mix.office.com
https://mix.office.com/snip
For notes on this session and to collaborate with others during the session, please go to http://bit.ly/BIT16thinking

OneNote class Notebook comme outil d’évaluation.

Cet atelier est destiné à tous les niveaux. Le public cible sont les enseignants qui possèdent déjà, et utilisent un OneNote pour leur classe, donc c’est un atelier de difficulté intermédiaire. Les participants seront amenés à voir comment OneNote aide à recueillir les preuves d’apprentissage des élèves. L’atelier a comme base l’inukshuk de l’évaluation. En effet, le participant sera en mesure de voir la manière dont le OneNote facilite l’élaboration des résultats d’apprentissage et la rédaction des critères d’évaluation. La majorité de l’atelier sera cependant consacré à discuter de la récolte des preuves d’apprentissage à travers la triangulation, de la rétroaction descriptive, de l’évaluation par les pairs et de l’autoévaluation – le tout en ligne ! Le but de l’atelier : simplifier la vie des enseignants quant à l’évaluation à travers OneNote, tout en montrant qu’il est plus facile qu’on ne le pense de récolter
tout un éventail de preuves d’apprentissage.

Strengthening Project-based Learning through Project Management Best Practices

This workshop addresses the instructional challenges that are often associated with project-based learning (PBL). Led by a certified project management professional, this session draws on participants’ insights and experiences, exploring the role that professional project management theory and practices can play in supporting PBL across the K-12 educational spectrum. Through a variety of hand-on exercises, including a mini debate, small group discussion, and collaborative case-based problem-solving, participants will deepen their exploration of PBL best practices and learn new strategies.

Teaching Elementary Math with iPad

This is a personal learning journey of having one on one student use of ipads in a grade seven classroom. From the technical side of supporting thirty individual use devices, to how I personally feel that ipad use enhanced our intermediate math learning in our classroom. From delivery of content to assessing students mathematical processing skills. Topic focus will be on one on one student use of ipads in an intermediate classroom to deliver the grade seven math curriculum. Focus on the delivery of content for different purposes in a lesson. How the ipad can be used in many different ways to complement instruction and provide hands-on activities Delivery of curriculum materials through the use of comprehensive resources like dreambox. The integration of supplemental materials to enhance instruction. As well as, looking into activity materials for student use that enhances their overall learning experience. With a focus on virtual learning, tools, and apply and demonstrate applications for student use (e.g., explain everything, book creator, swift).

Using Google Apps to Transform Community and Collaboration

Are you looking to transform communication and collaboration in your school community? This session will explore the immense impact that Google Apps for Education has had in our school board and how we communicate and collaborate with the school communities. These amazing tools have truly been instrumental in the transformation of our school board.

Make and Tell: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Maker Pedagogies

In this interactive session, Dr. Hughes will facilitate an exploration of how maker pedagogies promote connecting, reflecting and sharing. Participants will have opportunities to experience a variety of maker tools and technologies and discuss how their use in the classroom might encourage 21st century competencies such as innovation, collaboration, creative and critical thinking, perseverance, self-monitoring, reflection and communication. Participants should bring a laptop or tablet if possible.

Code Girl Code: Working to Close the Tech Gender Gap

By 2017 the world mobile app development market will be valued at an estimated $77 billion dollars. Over 80% of these developers are male. This session will explore ways to help close the tech gender gap through activities, aimed at girls, that expand their skills and confidence in coding. Hear from mentors and students that have participated in the Technovation Application Development Challenge. Leave with ideas and resources for coding in your classroom or starting a coding club.

Genius Bar?! Use what you’ve got- the students!

After being inspired by the 2014 ConnectED conference, I looked to integrate technology into my grade 5 classroom in a brand new way. My school was in a stage of change and not everyone was shifting to the new technology tools easily. We needed a Genius Bar! So, using Language time, the students identified specific concerns for teachers, they developed tools to help teachers learn google tools, to grow more comfortable using tech and to problem solve when challenges arose. They also coordinated the unrolling of over a 100 new Chromebooks to replace old desktops. Your students could too!

How Coding in Schools Will Save The World

Professional Learning to Meet Your Needs

TeachOntario is a free online platform to support sharing, collaboration and knowledge exchange amongst educators across Ontario. Created in partnership with Ontario educators, and by Ontario educators, TeachOntario serves and celebrates educators throughout the province. How might an online platform of educators promote learning and improve your professional practice? Watch learning videos, explore self-directed courses and online sessions led by your peers, read about educators who have made an impact, share your ideas, check out the virtual book clubs, ask questions and be part of the movement. Transform your learning and Professional Learning Network!

Open Data for Education – What problem do you want to solve?

This session will provide an overview of Open Data and how it can be used as a cross-curricular resource for real world problem solving. Participants will have the opportunity to complete a simple Open Data integration activity using free online mapping tools.

Transitioning from Grade 12 Mathematics to University Calculus: How are we doing? A Study of Brock University’s Online Mathematics Skills Test

Yes, how are our students doing when they transition to university mathematics courses? Do we have any evidence beyond anecdotal recounts from former students or university instructors? What is actually expected from university mathematics instructors? In this presentation, we will discuss our study on the matter. At Brock University, all of our first year students who enroll in mathematics or science calculus courses are required to pass an online diagnostic skills test before the third week of the fall term to remain in their Calculus course. For the past three years, we have collected statistics on student performance in Calculus courses and in the diagnostic test, and have analyzed their correlations, together with students’ performance in MCV4U and MHF4U. It’s has been an interesting journey with a number of surprises! We look forward to sharing our findings and discussing them with our fellow educators.

Genius Bar?! Use what you’ve got- the students!

After being inspired by the 2014 ConnectED conference, I looked to integrate technology into my grade 5 classroom in a brand new way. My school was in a stage of change and not everyone was shifting to the new technology tools easily. We needed a Genius Bar! So, using Language time, the students identified specific concerns for teachers, they developed tools to help teachers learn google tools, to grow more comfortable using tech and to problem solve when challenges arose. They also coordinated the unrolling of over a 100 new Chromebooks to replace old desktops. Your students could too!

New Literacies for Next Generation Learners

As we reflect on what it means to be literate today, and consider the value and complexity of teaching and learning in digital spaces, how are we transforming literacy instruction to meet the needs of today’s learner? New Literacies explores the social learning environments, technologies, and new literacies skills and strategies that learners need in order to be literate today. Join me as we re-examine the Ontario Language curriculum with a lens to future, and explore a variety of ways to integrate new literacies into your classroom program. This session is designed for P/J/I educators.

Raconter ses aventures à l’aide de l’iPad

Vos élèves, aiment-ils vraiment répondre à des questions de compréhension suite à une lecture? Est-ce qu’ils sont passionnés par l’écriture? Cherchez-vous une façon motivante et engageante de les évaluer dans les trois domaines en littératie? Dans cet atelier, vous apprendrez comment les élèves peuvent se servir d’une variété d’applications iPad afin de démontrer leur compréhension d’un texte lu ou de rendre leurs textes écrits vivants. Les élèves exerceront leurs habiletés en planification, en collaboration, en créativité et en pensée critique tout en s’amusant. Nous vous présenterons des exemples de projets montés par des élèves de la maternelle jusqu’à la 8e année.