UNCONFERENCE 2020

The 3rd annual CIS Ontario Connects Unconference took place at BMO Institute for Learning and provided schools with a powerful day for their faculty to accelerate research and learn from others in these four new compelling strands, selected by CIS Ontario curriculum leaders:

1. Future Readiness
2. Wellness Dashboard
3. UN's Sustainable Development Goals
4. Gamification

Attendees chose two of the four strands to participate in. Schools were encouraged to send a team of educators to engage in all four strands, leverage the conference to support school goals and share the team’s learning upon return.

With a unique facilitation format, participants had opportunities for many different entry points into the discussions and activities. This unconference was personalized by design, collaborative in nature, and highly interactive.

How might we authentically embed 21st century skills across the curriculum and co-curricular programming in order to develop future-proofed students?

This conference strand is designed to surface and explore how CIS Ontario schools are strategically integrating 21st century skills across the curriculum. Session experts shared frameworks, tools and approaches they are currently using along with examples of recent integration practices. Participants were asked to share and compare lesson and unit integration ideas as well as assessment and evaluation strategies. Participants and experts will contribute to a bank of growing research that supports the compelling “WHY” our schools must strategically and intentionally skill-build in this area.

Strand Facilitators:

• Garth Nichols, Head of School, Kingsway College School
• Stephanie Stephens, Executive Director of Learning Innovation & Technology, Holy Trinity School
• Cresencia Fong, Former Head of Teacher Learning, Innovation & Research, UTS University of Toronto Schools
• Derek Doucet, Former Program Area Leader, Lakefield College School
• Julia Hunt, Assistant Head of School, Strategic Initiatives, Pickering College

How might we best measure, collect and evaluate student wellness data?

This conference strand was designed to surface and explore how CIS Ontario schools are strategically capturing, measuring and sharing student wellness data across their organizations. Session experts shared their school wellness definitions and broad based stewardship strategies as well as data capture tools, practices and platforms. Participants were asked to share and explore how their schools are defining student wellness and what important metrics they are using to measure it.

Strand Facilitators:

• Justin Medved, Associate Head, Academic Innovation, The York School
• Elissa Kline-Beber, Associate Head, Wellbeing, The York School
• Maria Almiron, Past Upper School Counselor, Ridley College
• Sue Eaton, Ridley College
• Kirsten Johnston, Director of University Guidance, Lakefield College School
• Mark Bunting, TMS School (now Lauremont School)
• Lisa Grassa, Teacher, The Mabin School
• Libby Dalrymple, Modern Languages Teacher, Lakefield College School

How might we best leverage these goals to enhance learning outcomes across academic and non-academic programming?

This conference strand is designed to surface and explore how CIS Ontario schools are intentionally and authentically integrating the UN Sustainable Development Goals into lessons, units, assignments and co-curricular programming. Session experts shared current practices and integration ideas as well as examples from their classrooms and programmes. Participants were asked to share and explore how they are currently playing with UN's Sustainable Development Goals as a vehicle to connect real-world problems to their course content, curriculum and whole school value proposition.

Strand Facilitators:

• Brie Dundas (HSC) & Lara Jensen (UCC)
• Leanne Mladen - RSGC (Teacher, Media and Visual Arts
• Marc Brims - UTS (Interim Head of Academics
• Kim Bartlett - Pickering College (Senior Director of Teaching, Learning & Strategic Partnerships
• Sarah Cowan - HTS (Global Studies and Business, Social Science Teacher

How might we best integrate and apply game based pedagogies, strategies and technologies to enhance learning outcomes?

This conference strand was designed to surface and explore how CIS Ontario schools and teachers are integrating game based pedagogies and strategies into projects, lessons, units and assignments. Session experts shared examples of current practices, tools and platforms that gamify the learning experience. Participants were asked to share and explore how they are currently using games to enhance and deepen the teaching and learning experience.

Strand Facilitators:

• Mark Ferley, Math Teacher, Upper Canada College
• Mark Hoel, Retired Upper School Teacher, Upper Canada College
• Mike Farley, Department Coordinator for Canadian & World Studies, UTS University of Toronto Schools
• Paul Deravasi, Past Senior School English and Media Studies, Royal St. George's College