- Saturday 29 Apr 2023
Saturday 29 Apr 2023
8:45 am - 9:30 am Registration
Arrive and sign in.
Reconnect with colleagues, network, peruse exhibits
9:30 am - 9:45 am Opening Remarks
Join us in the Main Event Room for our official welcome and orientation for the day.
10:00 am - 11:00 am Session 1
Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence (9-12)
Luke SawczakRoom A - K3015
The rapidly growing number of things one can do with machine learning and data has been discussed both as a brave new frontier and an existential threat. A less frequently explored approach is that of a philosophy of science. In this presentation I explore whether progress made through AI can be meaningful progress, applying the concepts of Plato's distinction of art vs. habit, Popper's falsifiable predictions, Lanier's technological humanism, and more.
Intro to Git and Github Classroom (9-12)
Emily Crawford & Catherine LeungRoom B - K3260
Github is a platform that makes use of version control features to track changes in documents. Using this platform in the classroom enables students to work collaboratively while at the same time gaining experience with an industry standard tool. This talk will introduce the many features of Git and explore how Github Classroom may be used in computer science classrooms to distribute assignments with ease.
Target grades: 9-12
Using Phidgets in the Classroom (9-12)
Jordan SwansonRoom C - K3265
Allowing students to collect their own data and design their own experiments can be useful in driving engagement in the science classroom. Phidgets are quickly becoming a popular tool that makes sensor-based data collection accessible to students of all ages. In this presentation we’ll explore Phidgets, how to set them up for experiments, and enable them to collect data. We’ll also dive into how you can analyze the collected data, allowing students to learn data science skills alongside empirical science.
Target Grades: 9-12
Tinkercad Circuits to Design and Test Circuitry controlled by micro:bit (4-12)
David WeightmanRoom D - K3272
The BBC micro:bit has proven to be an effective tool for bringing physical computing into the classroom. Tinkercad has the ability to use Block Code and simulate functionality of the micro:bit such as controlling student conceived circuits that will bring their ideas to life.
Educators looking to leverage the micro:bit to control circuitry for use in their Design Engineering projects might be interested to learn more about designing and simulating circuits controlled using the micro:bit in Tinkercad. A natural fit for both Grade 6 and 9 Electricity Units, this tool is useful for anyone looking to get started with circuits, Digital IO/Analog IO, automation and the Internet of Things.
Workshop participants will design, simulate and build circuits controlled by a microcontroller.
Target Grades: 4-12
Coding and Engineering Design Process: Practical Strategies for Your Classroom (7-12)
Laura WodlingerRoom E - K3273
The new 9 de-streamed Science (SNC1W) curriculum incorporates Coding and Engineering Design Process to support the increased STEM focus.
In this workshop we will learn basic coding with Micro:bits and how to use it in your classroom to solve problems and model concepts. We will also consider how to incorporate and assess the Engineering Design Process. There will be multiple examples from the new SNC1W course, but all concepts are easily applied across multiple grades and disciplines, including cross-curricular applications.
Target Grades: 7-12
11:00 am - 11:15 am Morning Break
Refreshments & Networking
11:15 am - 12:15 pm Session 2
Using Microlearning to Teach Artificial Intelligence (AI) Concepts to High School Students (9-12)
Kevin MatsuiRoom A - K3015
Beyond using artificial intelligence (AI), understanding the concepts can be a valuable step in the educational process and to inspire further investigation. By using microlearning, the Centre for Advancing Responsible and Ethical Artificial Intelligence (CARE-AI) at the University of Guelph hopes to deliver a novel method of explaining foundational concepts for a broad high school audience. With microlearning, the approach is designed to provide learner driven pacing and continuous assessments of knowledge and confidence to build further understanding of AI related concepts.
Target Grades: 9-12
Online Programming Platforms (9-12)
Roma UniatRoom B - K3260
This talk will give a walkthrough on how to use the platforms of code.org and Coding Rooms. Some other online courses that protect student privacy will be discussed, including repl.it. The talk will discuss the pros and cons of using pre-made courses. I will show samples of lessons and supplementary materials, and show samples of student work created with no prior programming knowledge. A discussion to compare other platforms is welcome.
Target Grades: 9-12
Micro:bit Coding and Electrical Activities (9-12)
Irina IvanovaRoom C - K3265
This presentation will cover basic orientation and the coding fundamentals that are particularly easily taught using micro:bit at grade 9 and 10 levels, including a number of coding only and electronics projects that micro:bit could be used for. Also a small analysis of pros and cons and comparing micro:bit to Arduino as an IC platform choice. A handful of micro:bit boards would be available to play with. Bring your laptop!
Two Years of a STEAM Program in a Public School (7-12)
Amanda Gorski & Greg LeBretonRoom D - K3272
We have developed and run a STEAM program integrating science, programming, English, art, math and geography for grade 9 students at Brampton Centennial Secondary School. We will share our hands-on collaborative integrated projects, successful activities and developmental suggestions.
Target Grades: 7-12
Digital Layers: An experiment in sharing intersectional identities with AR (4-8)
Tina ZitaRoom E - K3273
They say a picture is worth a thousand words but what if the picture came to life? What if we could add even more information with digital layers of audio, video and more. Come join us to hear about our experiment so far, explore the digital tools and workflow. Together let's discuss the possibilities across the curriculum to capture the depth of student understanding.
Target Grades: 4-8
Mission on the Moon: Making SPACE for coding and robotics (4-12)
Joe Monks & Tayyabah NaeemRoom F - K3280
A hands-on workshop where participants can explore coding, robotics and space content using Mission on the Moon modules available in English and French. The modules were developed with the aim to deliver lunar rover and space themed STEM programming for Canadian youth in Grades 6 to 9.
We will introduce this 6 module free resource and educator guide with the use of BBC Micro:bits and K8 robots.
Mission on the moon is a collaborative project between Laurier ‘s Faculty of Education and Inksmith, supported by a contribution agreement with the Canadian Space Agency.
Target Grades: 4-12
12:15 pm - 1:30 pm Lunch & Networking
Lunch is provided in the main meeting room.
During this time, you can connect with other attendees, join in conversation, and meet with the sponsors/representatives present in the area.
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm Session 3
Artificial Intelligence - Ethics of AI (9-12)
Matthew Griffin & Susan SharpRoom A - K3015
The new AI Revolution comes with amazing promises and also great challenges. In this session, participants will be introduced to the ethical issues related to the use and impact of this new technology in our daily lives. Additionally, we will explore and discuss a number of AI tools and their implications for the classroom.
Target Grades: 9-12
STEM Roundtable Discussions in Computer Science Classes (9-12)
Andrew SaskinRoom B - K3260
STEM Roundtable Discussions are a way for classes to meet the "Computers & Society" or "Topics in Computer Studies" expectations through whole class or small group discussions. It is an alternative to presentations or student-made websites, and it also provides a nice break from screens. I will present how to set up, select topics, assess and differentiate the strategy.
Target Grades: 9-12
Kobayashi Maru Cybersecurity Learning on CyberRange With Immersive Cloud Based Simulations (9-12)
Tim KingRoom C - K3265
Engaging students with cybersecurity education can be a scary prospect. How do you give them hands-on learning opportunities when dealing with potentially dangerous code? Field Effect is an Ottawa based cybersecurity company that has created a state of the art online cyber simulation system called CyberRange. This presentation will give you an opportunity to explore this cloud based immersive simulation software that allows you and your students to get face to face with cyber-attacks without fear in order to better understand the technology. It’s a powerful learning tool and one of the emerging technology pieces used in CyberTitan, Canada’s Student Cybersecurity Competition. This presentation will include access to a variety of cyber-education initiatives being offered (for free!) by ICTC.
Target Grades: 9-12
Creating a Platformer for Steam In Unreal Engine with High (7-12)
Marc DubeauRoom D - K3272
In this session, I will go over what it took to release a fully functional game on Steam. Steam is the largest online network for PC games in the world. Our group of novice students with the help of their teacher, Marc Dubeau, designed a game to be released on Steam. Discussions on coding, game design, team work, collaboration and how to do something really hard. The game will also be demoed and played for participants.
Target Grades: 7-12
Thriving in the Age of AI (9-12)
Mithulan Panchalingam & Ronald PaulRoom E - K3273
This course consists of 6 modules that will teach your students about basic and advanced concepts in AI. The modules will cover topics related to machine and deep learning, core skills, the application of AI, societal impacts and and ethical concerns, and why AI and humans should work together. There are also activities to allow students to apply their knowledge of AI throughout the course.
The content consists of video and text delivery along with activities, tools, resources and self-check quizzes at the end of sections to test your knowledge.
Target Grades: 9-12
Making Classroom Coding Come to Life - Mindstorms, Spike, VexVR (7-8)
Leone Andrea IzzoRoom F - K3280
The thesis of this STEAM presentation is that by allowing coding to come to life, i.e. physical applications and manipulations in 3D space, students can better visualize, make deeper learning connections, and have fun! The presentation shows how teachers can cover the elementary coding curriculum (emphasis on Intermediate) using robotics applications, through Lego EV3 Mindstorms & Spike Prime, and VexVR (all web-based Scratch-based programs) to give examples of activities that teach students about loops, conditional statements, subprograms, data analysis, and more. I will also have a small component that explores using Google Sheets/Excel to also compute/collect data and will also make connections to Micro:bits. I also give examples that cover other math strands (e.g. Spatial Sense).
Target Grades: 7-8
2:30 pm - 2:45 pm Afternoon Break
Refreshments & Networking
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm Session 4
Quantum Computing (9-12)
John DonohueRoom A - K3015
Quantum computers reinvent how we conceive of and process information. In this workshop, we'll dive into what features of quantum mechanics are used by quantum computers, break down some of their potential use cases, and dispel some of the myths and misconceptions around the technology. We'll run an interactive demonstration of how quantum computers use these features and show teachers how their students can test them remotely on real quantum devices.
Target Grades: 9-12
The Programmer’s Journal as Assessment (9-12)
Daniel ReidRoom B - K3260
Triangulation of Evaluation - the programmer's journal as an assessment tool. Presenting a method of evaluation using KICA rubric and student journal to capture observation and conversation aspects of the evaluation triangle. Several student sample projects with journals and rubrics will be presented along with a discussion on how to foster writing in Computer Science.
Target Grades: 9-12
Intro to Electronics and Logic Gates (9-12)
Radomir GrigorovRoom C - K3265
This session will help you establish a solid foundation for teaching TEJ courses. We will discuss the following:
What is important to know about the basic electronic components: resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors
How to reinforce this knowledge with real-life examples
How to connect the electronics fundamentals to Logic Gates
What topics to explore with logic gates
If your background is not related to the TEJ field or you need to boost your confidence on topics from Ohm’s Law to Combinational Logic Circuits, join us. Extensive teaching materials will be provided.
The benefits of Esports to STEAM education across K-12 (4-12)
Matt Kovacs & Matt WannamakerRoom D - K3272
This presentation will be hosted by two (of four) co-founders of OFSEA - the Ontario Federation of School Esports Associations. OFSEA is an Ontario educator run organization that provides opportunities for Ontario students to compete across the province in various gaming titles (e.g., Rocket League, Smash Bros, Minecraft, League of Legends, etc.). The presentation will discuss the benefits of esports in education, the state of esports across Canada, how educators can get involved, and entry points for Ontario educators to incorporate esports into their classrooms. There will also be an opportunity for educators to participate in a live demonstration of a typical classroom esports competition.
Target Grades: 4-12
TVO: Integrating Coding with Math and Science (1-8)
Melanie Mulcaster & Maureen AsselinRoom E - K3273
TVO's digital resources represent all Ontarians, are available free of charge, and level the playing field for virtual and at-school learning. TVO is deeply committed to supporting Ontario students with a focus on equity, accessibility, engagement, and well-being at the forefront. In this guided workshop participants will actively explore coding activities aligned with the revised Mathematics and Science and Technology Curriculum (Grades 1-8). Resources to be explored include: TVO Learn, TVO Learn mPower, TVO Learn Mathify, TVO Kids and TVO Coding in the Classroom. Join us as we showcase how you can use TVO’s digital resources to complement existing learning.
Target Grades: 1-8
Kids Learning Code: Code Words With Python (4-12)
Canada Learning CodeRoom F - K3280
What powers robots, makes video games, and brings you all the cat videos on YouTube? The answer is.. Python! Python is an open-source coding language that allows us to speak to our computers through step-by-step instructions, and then be able to see (or hear!) the computer's response. Python can be used to communicate anything from a simple mathematical equation, to an interactive game. We will use repl.it, a free, cloud coding environment, to make our programs come to life.
3:45 pm - 4:00 pm Door Prize Giveaways, Thanks, and Farewell
Make sure you stay with us in the Main Event Room for the final giveaways of the event. Un grand merci to all our sponsors!
Conference Updates
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Sponsors
Room - Theme/Track
A – Emerging Technologies
B – CS Teaching Resources
C – Computer Engineering
D – STEAM
E – Coding Across the Curriculum
F – Robotics
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