CITE Conference 2024 – Literacy in the Digital Age: Reimagining the Future of English Education

This year’s CITE Conference, hosted by The Country Day School, brought together 48 educators from 19 CIS Ontario Schools to “Reimagine the Future of English Education” in our digital age. 

We were so fortunate to have Ramona Pringle, Director of the Creative Innovation Studio at Ryerson University, give the keynote address and guide us in how we might teach students to thrive in this changing world. With concrete examples of AI tools we can engage with in the classroom and where AI (sometimes comically) falls short, Pringle revealed where AI can support us so we are able to better focus on the human element of teaching. She proposed that we not only help students adapt but also shape this changing world in which we live and focus our use of technology in powerful and purposeful ways. 

After Pringle's keynote address, participants had a choice of ten workshops: 

• Grappling with Adversity in Grade 7 – Andrea Charlton
• The Future of Change – Sean Chambers
• Wonder-Wounded Hearers: Literature Pedagogy as Rupture – Zac Fanni
• From ENG3U: UCC's Journey of Grade-wide Implementation of the NBE3U: Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Metis and Inuit Voices Course – Jordan Small and Kathryn Maloney
• Against the Spread: Students as 'Text Actors' in a World of Sports Gambling – Matt Trevisan
• Mind Matters: Supporting Mental Health in the English Classroom – Alanna Houston & David Drake
• #OwnVoices – Dani Klein
• Finding Your Ideal Reader – Robin Leacock
• Leveraging AI for Teaching and Learning – Jennifer Weening
• Preparing Students for Higher Education (and an AI-Dominated World) – Mike Lesiuk

Following a delicious lunch, we celebrated the INCITE 2024 student writing winners. We were honoured to have Karma Brown, bestselling author and award-winning journalist, judge this year’s submissions and run the student workshop. Congratulations to the top three winners from each category:

Grades 6-8 

1. Tess Young, The Bishop Strachan School
2. Zoey Yarmand, St. Clement’s School
3. Logan Colozza, The Country Day School

Grades 9-10

1. Ellil Radhakrisnan, Hillfield Strathallan College
2. Mika Balawender, Appleby College
3. Yesha Kakkar, St. Mildred’s-Lightbourne School

Grades 11-12

1. Paige Coleman, Appleby College
2. Oliver de Boer, Hillfield Strathallan College
3. Jessy Ye, The Bishop Strachan School

After the presentation, everyone settled into their second workshop and a panel discussion. Mr. Dave Harvey, Dr. Michael Lesiuk, Mr. Mark Rafferty, and Grade 12 students Hailey Casciato, Roshni Karmali, and Adam Montgomery were featured; it was so valuable to listen to both the educator and student perspectives on literacy and learning in this rapidly changing landscape. The conference concluded with more time for socializing at the wine and cheese. 

Thank you to Sarah Hudson, Mike Lesiuk, Natalie Moonan, Fraser Fell, Amy Cichillo, Patrick Dermody and Rob Waldron for this inspiring and enjoyable day together.

We look forward to seeing you all again next year at CITE Conference 2025, which will be held on Friday, April 11!

Ashley Domina
Teacher and CITE Network Co-lead
Villanova College

The CITE Network supports the teaching and learning of English, EAL, Media Studies and Drama at CIS Ontario schools. Join us on CISO Connect to network and stay up-to-date on CITE events and student opportunities.