Bucket list item: riding on the VIA Rail (train) ✅! Thank you Mahfuza @MahfuzaLRahman for your patience with me and for always just being awesome with our simple and polite or deep conversations during our travels together.
So grateful for the opportunity to be part of discussions during professional development sessions with educators across Canada that was designed to focus on building curriculum, but also listening to each other’s experiences from a school, system, provincial and network partner lens.
Listening to Jennifer Flanagan @ActuaCEO speak to a room filled with great energy and enthusiasm from both educators and networking partners. The wait for the awesome sessions offered both on Friday and Saturday was well worth it! @ActuaCanada #ActuaNC2020
Ramy @ramynassar shared his journey with ACTUA as a former camper, volunteer, instructor and director. His vision, put into practice is about designing technology that is reflective of what people need; check out: @1000daysout1 1000daysout.com
Discussions got really interesting as the focus moved onto artificial intelligence (AI). Using AI to augment or automate? Thinking through how AI impacts society; recognizing and addressing bias in data and algorithms; who is inputting the data, using the data, what does it mean, and how do we influence this? AI is more than engineering! All levels of professionals need to provide input! Natacha and Ramy both are encouraging educators to continue teaching critical thinking, problem solving, questioning information, where/who it comes from and discuss implicit bias. Jennifer @ActuaCEO reminds us of the importance of Digital Literacy and Citizenship continues to be at the forefront for discussing, planning and protecting cyber safety and privacy.
Continuing to build understanding about AI and machine learning is part of our daily lives and interactions with tech as we make choices, search information and build our digital identity. So many connections that can be made back in our class/curriculum! Check out ACTUA's AI Education Handbook
On Saturday, Caitlin Quarrington @CaitlinQuarr gives a shout out to ACTUA team for organizing a jam-packed, community building engaging conference! We jump into the morning discussing and setting short-term and long-term F.A.S.T. goals. Time was embedded to continue making connections with educators and partners to engage in discussions about #STEM learning for youth in rural and urban communities across Canada. The fireside group discussion with Ontario educators and partners provided an opportunity for delivering/offering teacher PD using the S.W.O.T. model.
Looking forward to continuing discussions and connecting with network partners from University outreach programs!
The last night in Ottawa, I experienced my first escape room with a great crew! We broke-out with time to spare, reflect and share some laughs. @JigsawEscape at the Byward Market Sq.
Again, grateful for the invitation, the opportunity to share and learn; and looking forward to following up on discussions, idea sharing and planning together.
It is always a great time when you have the opportunity to meet up with @dtangred @LukePersaud @afmcdnl @MahfuzaLRahman 🙌 @ActuaCanada connecting with educators and partners to engage in discussions about #STEM learning for youth across 🇨🇦 #ActuaNC2020 pic.twitter.com/ilbcUYiPrV— Zélia (@ZeliaMCT) January 24, 2020
Today is all about teachers at #ActuaNC2020! We are proud to host 24 #ActuaTeachers from all over 🇨🇦 for profesional development session designed to help build their curriculum, but also learn from their experiences 👩💻👨🏫 pic.twitter.com/d1AzGGnTgq— Actua (@ActuaCanada) January 25, 2020
