CESBA Conference
2024
December 4-5
Toronto
CESBA (full name: The Ontario Association of Adult and Continuing Education School Board Administrators) is a provincial non-profit professional association that represents, advocates for and supports adult and continuing education (A&CE) program staff working in over 60 school boards across Ontario. Incorporated in 1999 and provincially funded, CESBA works to ensure that adult and continuing education programs offered by school boards are accessible, affordable, and successful in helping learners achieve their education, training and employment goals.
Become a Sponsor
Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are now available. Explore how your organization can connect with hundreds of educators and key decision makers at Ontario’s premier adult and continuing education conference!
Sponsors
SIGNATURE SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSOR
EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSOR
KNOWLEDGE PARTNER
More to come!
About
Our 25th anniversary conference theme is Forward Together: Championing Adult Education for the Future!
The CESBA Conference 2024 offers two incredible days of learning, knowledge-sharing, networking, and fun! It is a unique opportunity to learn best and promising practices to support your work in adult and continuing education in Ontario.
Our conference begins on Wednesday, December 4 with Sector Day organized by leaders in their fields. Dedicated workshops, presentations and discussions will be held for the following eight sectors:
- Indigenous Learners *NEW*
- Summer School
- Francophone
- Credit/Guidance/Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
- Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS)
- Personal Support Worker (PSW) programs
- English as a Second Language (ESL)/French as a Second Language (FSL)/Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)
- International & Indigenous Languages Elementary (IILE)
On Wednesday evening, we will be toasting our 25th anniversary with a celebratory gathering with all our conference guests!
Our second conference day on Thursday, December 5 is our Workshop Day. After starting the day with an inspiring address by keynote speaker, David Chalk, you will have an opportunity to select from more than 18 dynamic workshops that explore four sub-themes in adult and continuing education:
- Navigating the Future of Education and Technology in A&CE
- A&CE and Employment Connections
- Diverse Perspectives and Pathways
- A&CE Fundamentals
Program
Click on the days below for full program details.
Time
Session
Room
7:00 am
Registration opens
7:00 am – 8:00 am
Exhibits, Breakfast buffet
8:00 am – 8:50 am
Opening & welcome
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Sector Programming:
- Indigenous Learners
- Summer School
- Francophone
- Credit/Guidance/Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
- Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS)
- Personal Support Worker (PSW) programs
- English as a Second Language (ESL)/French as a Second Language (FSL)/Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)
- International & Indigenous Languages Elementary (IILE)
10:30 am – 11:00 am
Break
11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Sector sessions continue
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Lunch (networking and exhibits)
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Sector sessions continue
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
CESBA’s 25th Anniversary Celebration – For all conference guests
Time
Session
Room
7:00 am – 8:00 am
Exhibits, Breakfast buffet
8:00 am – 9:15 am
Opening plenary, with keynote by David Chalk
9:15 am – 9:45 am
Break
9:45 am – 10:50 am
Workshops Block A
10:50 am – 11:20 am
Break
11:20 am – 12:25 pm
Workshops Block B
12:25 pm – 1:30 pm
Lunch
1:30 pm – 2:35 pm
Workshops Block C
2:35 pm – 3:00 pm
Closing plenary
3:00 pm
Adjourn. Safe travels!
Registration FAQ
CESBA members receive a special conference rate for a single day or the full conference. If you would like to inquire about your board becoming a member of CESBA, please contact our Executive Director, Paul Cox at pcox@cesba.com. Hotel accommodations and travel codes are also available at a significant discounted rate, please visit the Accommodations section for details.
This year, we are offering an early bird rate for those who book before September 30. See rate details.
The registration fee allows access to all events and functions during the event and includes: conference materials, receptions and meals as specified in the program.
All travel costs including air and hotel accommodations are the responsibility of the attendee. We have an amazing hotel rate of $169/night at our conference venue, the Chelsea Hotel. Room availability is limited. Travel and accommodations details.
We will send an email to all registrants closer to the conference. You will need to return to the registration form to make your selection, but clear instructions will be made available. We recommend buying your ticket early to reserve your spot.
Registration payment is by credit card.
After completing the registration form and processing your payment, you will be routed to a confirmation page. In addition, you will receive a confirmation email with your registration information.
Yes, you can register a group of participants. Continue your registration form until the payment portal where you will see the option to add another registrant. You need to submit contact details for all attendees. When the workshops selections are available, the person who registered the group will need to return to the registration form to make the workshop selections.
Registration online will close by November 19. Due to the popularity of the event, we recommend that participants register early as the event is expected to sell out.
Unfortunately, due to capacity limits, we cannot accommodate in-person registrations. We encourage you to register early.
All registration fees are non-refundable. No credit will be issued for unused registrations. A registration may be transferred to another attendee. Requests for transfers of registration fees must be made in writing. Transfer requests can be registration@cesba.com and must be completed by November 15.
Please contact the CESBA Conference planning team at registration@cesba.com for assistance.
Full Conference Rates
Early Bird Rate –
Before September 30
Full conference – Member* $775 |
Full conference – Non-member $975 |
Regular Rate –
After October 1
Full conference – Member* $825 |
Full conference – Non-member $1,025 |
Daily Rates
For either Sector Day or Keynote/Workshop Day only.
Member* | $495 |
Non-member | $695 |
*Member Eligibility
If you are an employee of one of our 60+ member school boards, you qualify for a member rate! If you work for an Indigenous educational authority or institute, CAVLFO or Corrections Canada, please also select the member rate option. If you are unsure, please email registration@cesba.com
Literacy and Basic Skills Sector
LBS Sector Day is fully subsidized for LBS staff from CESBA member school boards. If you would like to attend the full conference, select that option and continue to answer the prompts. You will only be charged at the member rate for the Keynote/Workshop Day.
Travel & Accommodation
Chelsea Hotel, Toronto
33 Gerrard St. W, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z4
Chelsea Hotel Toronto is conveniently located in the downtown area and is easily accessible by car or transit. CESBA has negotiated a preferred rate at The Chelsea Hotel Toronto with single rooms starting at an incredible $169 per night, plus taxes and fees. The deadline for bookings is November 15, 2024, but room availability is limited so book earlier to avoid disappointment.
Reservations can also be made by phone at 1-800-CHELSEA (243-5732) or 416-595-1975. You must provide the booking code “CESBA Fall Conference 2024” to take advantage of the discounted group rate.
Parking
Paid, underground self-parking is available at the hotel and can be accessed via the garage entrances on Gerrard Street. Use the hotel address of 33 Gerrard Street West in your GPS as the location. Spots are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please note that the underground parking garage has a max. height restriction of 5’6” in certain areas and cannot accommodate oversized passenger vehicles.
- Hourly Parking rate is $3/hour + HST
- Event Only Parking (6:00 am to 6:00 pm) rate is $15 + HST
- Discounted overnight Parking rate is $30/day + HST (added value of unlimited in and out privileges)
- Oversize Vehicle Parking is $49 (limited spots and subject to availability – please see Front Desk)
Travel Directions
For directions to the Chelsea Hotel, Toronto, click here.
Travel Discounts
Air Canada (Discount Code: R8BKZP71)
- Visit aircanada.com to claim the discount code.
- The travel period begins Wednesday, November 27, 2024 and ends Thursday, December 12, 2024.
- Travel is valid Monday to Sunday.
- For North America – 5% applies on standard fares, 10% on flex fares and higher.
Westjet (Coupon Code Guest Web/TravelAgent Web 3W1M4PA or for Travel Agent GDS Only YBM24)
- 5% off Econo* and 10% off EconoFlex and Premium fares for travel within Canada and 2% off Econo*, 5% off EconoFlex and 10% off Premium base fares for guests travelling Transborder into and out of Toronto.
- Visit http://www.westjet.com/conventions to claim the discount code.
Porter Airlines (Discount Code CESB24)
- 10% discount
- Please book online at www.flyporter.com/en-ca/?promocode=CESB24 or through your travel agent using promo code “CESB24”
- The travel period from all markets to Toronto (YTO) begins December 1, 2024 and ends December 4, 2024.
- The travel period from Toronto (YTO) to all markets begins December 5, 2024 and ends December 8, 2024.
- Exception: Discount is available for base fares with the exception of the lowest class fare during a public seat sale. The discounted fares are available for booking from June 28, 2024 to December 4, 2024.
VIA Rail (Discount Code: 15605)
- Visit viarail.ca to claim the discount code
- 10% off the best available fare in Economy, Economy Plus, Business, Business Plus, Sleeper class. The discount is subject to the conditions and restrictions of the fare plan to which the additional discount is being applied.
- Valid: November 29 to December 10, 2024
- Exception: Discount does not apply to Escape fares and Prestige Class.
- Territory: From all stations throughout the VIA system to Toronto, Ontario and return.
- Restrictions: Fare applies to a maximum of two passengers per booking. One complimentary stopover is allowed at no additional charge. For travel on all fare plans in Business Class, the first stopover is allowed at no additional charge, provided that this stopover takes place in Toronto, Montreal or Ottawa only.
Explore Toronto
For the trailblazers who leave no destination unexplored, meeting in Toronto puts you at the economic, innovative and cultural heart of Canada. An exciting city that’s ever-evolving, our multicultural roots are expressed through thriving local artists and innovators. Explore vibrant neighbourhoods, each one representing different facets of Indigenous, European, African, Caribbean and other cultural influences that add to our city’s eclectic identity. Follow your curiosity through towering skyscrapers, down artistic alleyways, and into one of the world’s biggest film festivals. Navigate sprawling seasonal markets, barhop live-music venues and land at a championship sporting event. Even if you’ve been here before, there are always new adventures to be had.
Sign up with Pass TO Savings for free and enjoy up to 20% off of some of Toronto’s best attractions and experiences!
Contact Us
If you have questions about attending, sponsoring or presenting at CESBA 2024 Forward Together: Championing Adult Education for the Future, email us at registration@cesba.com
Keynote speaker
David Chalk
Canadian technology entrepreneur, Dr. David Chalk, will deliver a message of hope to adult educators and learners, demonstrating that with the right opportunities, tools and support, overcoming literacy barriers is achievable. Diagnosed with Dyslexia in his 40s, his journey from struggling student to tech titan is nothing short of inspiring.
David will demonstrate that with AI, adults can unlock their full potential and achieve success, while overcoming the shame associated with literacy challenges by providing real-time and adaptive supported tailored to individual needs.
Meet David Chalk, the Maverick Mind in AI and all things Technology!
David isn't just your run-of-the-mill expert; he's a trailblazing visionary in AI and technology, whose insights electrify Fortune 500 boardrooms. As a Change Management Business Coach, David possesses a rare gift: he demystifies the labyrinth of tech speak, making AI's revolutionary impact on business crystal clear.
Imagine a question so complex, so intricate that it baffles the best minds. Now meet David, who's never encountered a tech query he couldn't untangle with ease. This unparalleled expertise has placed him at the summit of Artificial Intelligence mastery.
For 12 spellbinding years, David was the charismatic host of "Chalk Media," a TV phenomenon that guided millions through the tech jungle, introducing the latest gadgets and innovations with unmatched flair. His strategic genius caught the eye of none other than Bill Gates in the 90s, leading to a groundbreaking collaboration on Microsoft's future directions. [expand]
But David's brilliance doesn't stop at punditry. He's the entrepreneurial spirit behind over 15 groundbreaking ventures, from Doppler Computer Superstores to Chalk Media, and from the pioneering Decision-Zone Cyber Defence Technology to the eco-conscious Trees Matter. His latest ventures, including CalmWear™ Compression Clothing for Autism, highlight his commitment to making a tangible difference in people's lives.
His trophy shelf is overflowing with accolades for retail innovation, marketing genius, and leadership, recognized as Canada's Top Marketer by the Retail Council of Canada. With over 150 articles celebrating his visionary work and
the landmark acquisition of Chalk Media by RIM in 2008, David's impact is undeniable.
Yet, beneath the laurels and achievements beats the heart of a relentless fighter. Diagnosed with Dyslexia in his 40s, David faced an education system that seemed designed for his defeat. His journey from struggling student to tech titan is nothing short of inspiring, a story he shares in the moving documentary "The Truth About Reading," spotlighting the vital link between literacy and reaching our fullest potential.
David Chalk isn't just a master of technology; he's a beacon of hope, demonstrating that with resilience, understanding, and the right mentorship, the sky's the limit. Join him on a journey to the future, where technology and human potential meet and where every challenge is an opportunity for innovation.
Presenter
Summer Burton
Co-Executive Director, Literacy Link South Central
Summer Burton is the Co-Executive Director of Literacy Link South Central. She has worked in literacy since 2013 and she has done extensive work in curriculum development, with key focuses including play-based learning, gamification in education, and effective communication. In this workshop, she will demonstrate who applied improv, builds important transferable skills, and shares practical and fun activities to engage learners. She is an Applied Improv practitioner and the winner of the 2021 Council of the Federation Literacy Award for Ontario for her work in program development.
presenter
Don Presant
Chief Development Officer, CanCred.ca
Don Presant is one of Canada's top experts in the field of micro-credentials and digital badges. He has worked with the Open Badges standard for portable digital credentials since 2012 and has consulted on their use for a wide variety of organizations. In his workshop, co-presented with Chantal Carrière from literacy organization, COFA, participants will explore the concept of Open Badges—digital credentials that recognize skills and achievements—demonstrating their role in professional development, and how they can effectively support a competency framework.
Presenter
Rabia Khokar
Teacher, Toronto District School Board, and equity consultant
Rabia Khokar is an elementary teacher in Toronto, an education, equity consultant, and a doctoral student. Her research interests include equitable education, children’s literature, and educator professional development. In this workshop, she will unpack leadership and its relation and connection to equity in various teaching and learning contexts. Rabia is the recipient of the Elementary Teacher’s Federation of Ontario’s 2021 Anti-Racist and Equity Activism Award, the 2022 Professional Learning and Curriculum Development Award and the 2022 Angela Thacker Excellence in Teacher-Librarianship Memorial Award.
presenter
Jane Erickson
Adult Learning Specialist, and Researcher, BC Public Service
Jane Erickson is an adult learning specialist and community creator. Her workshop explores how professional learning for adult education practitioners is adapting in a rapidly changing world. Participants will examine the impact of remote work, digital transformation, and AI. With degrees in Psychology and Adult Education, her research focuses on adult educator professional identity formation. She is the founder of the Adult Learning Hub, a platform for virtual professional development communities for organizations.
A1: Integrating Open Badges and RPL Assessment for Professional Development
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A1: Integrating Open Badges and RPL Assessment for Professional Development
The Coalition Ontarienne de formation des adultes (COFA) has partnered with Learning Agents, Canada’s leading expert in Open Badges, to implement an innovative professional development strategy for its Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) network based on Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) assessments aligned to a skills framework that it built for the francophone adult learning sector. The presenters will share their experiences with this project and how Open Badges can support your literacy and adult learning programs.
Presenters:
Chantal Carrière is a Project Manager at the Coalition ontarienne de formation des adultes (COFA). She has been at COFA since 2022 and now leads the innovative Open Badges project. Her early career, primarily rooted in design and communications, has blossomed into a passion for project management. She believes that her ability to wear multiple hats and adapt easily contributes 100% to the success of the projects she participates in.
Don Presant is one of Canada's top experts in the field of micro-credentials and digital badges. He has worked with the Open Badges standard for portable digital credentials since 2012 and has continuously consulted on their use since 2017 for a wide variety of organizations, such as eCampusOntario, Canada School for Public Service, the Institute for Performance and Learning, UNESCO and the Inter-American Development Bank.
A2: Continuing Education Funding: Tips of the Trade
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A2: Continuing Education Funding: Tips of the Trade
This workshop will provide a general overview of Ministry of Education funding for A&CE. Participants will learn how to understand the Continuing Education Enrollment Registers and how to report data to OnSIS and EFIS.
Presenters:
Deborah Cook is the Continuing Education Technology Administrator at the York Region District School Board and has worked in the Continuing Education world for more than 15 years. Her main responsibility is Ministry reporting using both OnSIS AND EFIS reporting. She also supports Student Information Systems for Continuing Education board programs.
Namita Aggarwal is a Program Manager, Administrative Services in Continuing Education at the Toronto District School Board. She has extensive experience responding to questions related to Ministry funding and supports departments across the TDSB on the needs of Continuing Education programs.
A3: Approaching Adulthood: Intersecting Legal Issues
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A3: Approaching Adulthood: Intersecting Legal Issues
Many areas of law intersect with and impact a young person’s access to, and pathway through, Ontario’s education systems, and these intersections change as students age into adulthood. In this session, presenters from Justice for Children and Youth, Ontario’ specialty child rights legal clinic, will explore both immigration law, with a focus on immigration precarity, and youth criminal justice. They will discuss how these can impact schooling and career aspirations, as well as how educators can provide support and accommodations.
Presenters:
Kaffie Abdirashid, Education Advocate Lawyer joined the Toronto Northwest Justice Centre following her call to the bar in July 2021. As a lawyer and trained social worker, Kaffie assists young people who are at the intersection of youth criminal justice and education law to access, and successfully navigate, the school system. She advocates with young people and their families for their right to attend school, access special education supports and appeal disciplinary measures.
Prior to joining JFCY, Kaffie articled at a boutique litigation firm where she assisted with complex civil litigation matters involving professional liability.
Allison Williams has been a Community Development Lawyer with Justice for Children and Youth since 2019. Allison originally hails from Northwestern Ontario and attended Osgoode Hall Law School after completing a BA from Queen’s University and a MA from the University of Toronto. While at Osgoode, she received an Ian Scott Public Interest Fellowship and spent a summer working for the Grand Council Treaty # 3 Women’s Council.
Prior to joining JFCY, Allison spent several years working at a small firm practicing primarily immigration and refugee law, administrative law, and family law.
A4: National LINC & CLIC Curriculum Projects: Updated Teaching and Learning Resources
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A4: National LINC & CLIC Curriculum Projects: Updated Teaching and Learning Resources
This workshop will introduce national curriculum projects for LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) and CLIC (Cours de langue pour les immigrants au Canada) that enable newcomers to develop and improve language skills so they can participate and contribute to Canada's economy. Projects include the English and French National Online Curriculum, The National Curriculum Framework, and the National Curriculum Guidelines. The workshop will uncover the processes used to plan, organize and implement the projects, including streamlining the goals of the English and French projects. The workshop will also showcase upcoming resources for the settlement and language instruction community that can be utilized to advance curriculum and learning outcomes for newcomers in topic areas including: Social Connections, Community, Education, Employment, and Workplace.
Presenters:
Lynda Charif manages NCLC (Canadian Language Benchmarks in French) and ELBP (Portfolio-Based Language Assessment in French) experts to develop and modernize the National CLIC Curriculum components and resources Lynda is deeply passionate about Francophonie in Canada and worldwide.
Lynda leverages her rich personal and professional experience to support immigrants and newcomers. Lynda holds a BSc and MMkt.
Rafa Khan manages the National LINC Curriculum Projects, including the National LINC Online Curriculum and National LINC Curriculum Guidelines. Rafa is passionate about community. She works with experts to develop CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks in English) and PBLA (Portfolio-Based Language Assessment) guidelines for LINC, and curriculum for newcomers.
Rafa has a BSc., MPA, and is working towards her PMP.
A5: Discover Opportunext: A Comprehensive Career Mapping Tool
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A5: Discover Opportunext: A Comprehensive Career Mapping Tool
This workshop will provide an in-depth introduction to OpportuNext, an online career mapping tool developed by The Conference Board of Canada on behalf of the Future Skills Centre. It will showcase how OpportuNext enables users to explore career paths by matching skill sets to similar occupations, providing a practical and data-driven view of career options. OpportuNext is free and available in both official languages. The tool harnesses big data for robust occupation and employment insights, including occupation attributes, salary information, and employment growth prospects. Participants will learn to use the tool, interpret the data, and advise on decision making to enhance career counselling and guidance.
Presenter:
Tony Bonen is the Executive Director of Economic Research at The Conference Board of Canada, leading a team that provides insightful analyses for the Board’s partners. Previously, he was the Executive Director at the Labour Market Information Council and played a key role at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, where he developed housing price and macroeconomic forecasts for stress testing.
At the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis, Tony analyzed the economic impacts of climate change and the US pension system. Bonen holds a PhD in Economics from the New School for Social Research.
A6: Applied Improv: Play with Purpose
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A6: Applied Improv: Play with Purpose
Improv is a form of unscripted theatre, but don’t worry – this workshop isn’t about putting you in the spotlight! It is about applied improv, which digs into the “rules” of improv, looks at how it can build important transferable skills, and shares practical and fun activities to engage learners. Improv is an amazing tool to help adults build their skills, including listening and observation, verbal and non-verbal communication, creativity and problem-solving, mindfulness, and resilience. In this session, A&CE professionals will enjoy several interactive, improv-focused activities that will help them and their learners thrive – even under pressure. They will also gain an understanding of how to incorporate improv-based activities into the classroom to build learner skills and strengths.
Presenter:
Summer Burton has worked in adult literacy since 2013, incorporating her experience in classroom and workshop facilitation, writing, editing, coaching and mentoring into her work in the sector. In addition to her role as the Co-Executive Director of Literacy Link South Central, she has done extensive work in curriculum development, with key focuses including play-based learning, gamification in education, and effective communication.
Summer is an Applied Improv practitioner, a level 1 Empathy Toy trainer, and the winner of the 2021 Council of the Federation Literacy Award for Ontario for her work in innovative program development and design.
A7: AlphaPlus Open Educational Resources (OER) Collection
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A7: AlphaPlus Open Educational Resources (OER) Collection
Explore the availability of free and modificable and sharable resources for adult learners. This session will introduce the AlphaPlus Open Educational Resources (OER) collection, which includes hundreds of free units, courses and instructional support materials that instructors and teachers can use for reading, writing, digital and math instruction, in addition to specific topics of interest to adult learners. Participants will learn how it fills a gap in the LBS (Literacy and Basic Skills) landscape and how to navigate the collection to find specific resources.
Presenter:
Monika Jankowska-Pacyna supports adult education service providers to identify and implement technologies and tools that improve their work in the classroom and reduce administrative burden.
Monika’s coaching clients can take advantage of her technical expertise in the uptake and application of Google Apps, Microsoft Office suite of products, e-learning and learning management systems , social media and events tools, online conferencing tools, graphic design software and e-commerce platforms.
B1: PLAR 101 for New Assessors
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B1: PLAR 101 for New Assessors
If you are a new PLAR assessor or a new Adult and Continuing Education Administrator, then this is the workshop for you! Participants will be introduced to PPM 132 (including recent revisions) and will learn the four steps of the PLAR process to competently assess students. They will also learn about where to find additional PLAR resources and supports.
Presenter:
Andrea Murphy is the Guidance/PLAR Coordinator for CESBA. She has retired from the Limestone District School Board after 35 years in Education, including 20+ years in Adult and Continuing Education as Limestone's Central PLAR Consultant, Literacy Numeracy Lead, Night School Supervisor, and the Re-Engagement Coordinator. Andrea has been an active CESBA member since 1999.
B2: Making Your Data Work For You: CESBA's Building Data Capacity Toolkit
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B2: Making Your Data Work For You: CESBA's Building Data Capacity Toolkit
Join us to discover how your team can make your data work for you! This session introduces CESBA’s new "Building Data Capacity in Adult & Continuing Education Toolkit," designed to help you get started with collecting, managing, and storytelling with data. Participate in an interactive activity to map your data collection along the student journey alongside program peers from other school boards. Enhance your data skills and demonstrate the powerful impact of your A&CE programs.
The session will empower A&CE educators and administrators to leverage data for managing, improving, and communicating about their programs.
Presenter:
Ben McNamee is Director of Strategic Partnerships at DARO, a Montreal-based consultancy that builds systems that really work for organisations that do real-world good. He is a strategic data and impact measurement leader who has extensive experience working across the non-profit sector.
Ben is the former Senior Vice-President at ACCES Employment, previously led Impact Measurement and Business Intelligence at Ontario Trillium Foundation, and has also worked at Charity Intelligence. He has a PhD (ABD) designation in Applied Econometrics from the University of British Columbia.
B3: Equity for the Literacy Learner
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B3: Equity for the Literacy Learner
Through interactive activities, this workshop will explore who a literacy learner is and what they need for their language journey in classes with literate learners. It will provide tools, teaching tips and resources to support your instructors with these unique learners while still meeting the needs of their literate peers. Adult learners frequently have a wide range of literacy and they may be navigating various issues, so we need to ensure our programs are equitable and inclusive to all.
Presenter:
Samantha Banks has been in the ESL field since 2006 with a BA in Visual Arts and TESL. She began teaching mostly beginning literacy learners for 4 years. She then became a language assessor. In 2016, she took on training instructors in TESL and ACHEV Assessor training. In 2018, she worked as the Adult Literacy Specialist for the HWCDSB and now works as the ESL/LINC Program Specialist for HWDSB. She continues to support instructors with all levels to create an equitable classroom through modification and differentiating instruction. She has presented many Literacy webinars and workshops through TESL Ontario and Tutela.
B4: Navigating Success: The School Work Integrated Program (SWIP)
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B4: Navigating Success: The School Work Integrated Program (SWIP)
Join us for a workshop on transforming education through innovative teaching strategies for educators and education professionals who are passionate about improving student engagement and learning outcomes. The SWIP program provides neurodivergent students with the skills, resources and support needed to secure and maintain employment successfully. Learn about the SWIP program, which enhances student engagement by developing practical and financial literacy, offering transition-to-work and skill development, mental health and community outreach supports. Learn strategies to prepare students for job interviews with work experience and provide OSSD credit courses to ensure academic and professional success.
Presenter:
Renee Shave, is a visionary principal at the Thames Valley District School Board, who has over a decade of experience as an administrator dedicated to supporting neurodivergent learners with innovative and inspiring approaches.
Renee's leadership is marked by a deep commitment to inclusivity and empowerment, striving to create an educational environment where every student's unique abilities are recognized and nurtured. Her advocacy for neurodivergent learners has transformed educational practices, fostering a culture of acceptance and achievement within the school community under her guidance.
B5: Digital Upskilling for Mid-Career Workers: Bridging the Tech Talent Gap
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B4: Digital Upskilling for Mid-Career Workers: Bridging the Tech Talent Gap
This workshop will explore the need for digital upskilling for mid-career workers in the era of AI, technology, and economic fluctuations. It will highlight the dual-client model, leveraging strong partnerships with industry experts and employers to design and adapt training aligned with in-demand skills. Learn how this approach connects adult learners to employment opportunities, addressing the tech talent gap and ensuring workforce readiness.
In recent years, many Canadian workers have been forced to pivot their careers due to sector closures such as hospitality and tourism, and increased automation in others. The World Economic Forum projects that automation and AI could displace 85 million jobs globally by 2025, but also create 97 million new jobs in fields such as data analysis, AI development, and content creation. This underscores the urgent need for tech upskilling and reskilling to help workers engage in the digital economy.
Presenters:
Julia Blackburn, with over 35 years of diverse management experience in small businesses and non-profits, is the CEO of NPower Canada, tackling youth unemployment through workforce development. As the founding executive, she launched NPower in Canada in 2014 and is leading a national scaling initiative.
Julia's career began at Booz, Allen & Hamilton as a management consultant. She also founded Blackburn Management Resources, a consulting practice for non-profits and small businesses, providing business and financial services.
Derek Darch has an extensive background in Workforce Development, Community Engagement and Human Resource Management. With experience in grassroots, startup and corporate environments. he holds a Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management, specializing in Adult Education.
As the Senior Director, Employer Engagement at NPower Canada, Derek oversees the National Employer Engagement Strategy supporting participants and Alumni in securing employment and develop their careers.
B6: Adult Correspondance Online Resource Network (ACORN): What's It All About?
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B6: Adult Correspondance Online Resource Network (ACORN): What's It All About?
This workshop introduces the Adult Correspondence Online Resource Network (ACORN). ACORN is a group of school boards working with OeLC to offer additional 18+ learner options. A single school board cannot offer the diversity of online course options that are required by all its students. This network will bridge that gap. It will provide every school board in Ontario the opportunity to offer additional programming for their 18+ learners through the eLearning world without requiring any additional staff and allowing students to meet their graduation online requirement.
Presenters:
Lori Ribeiro, has over 22 years in education, including experience at in elementary, secondary, corporate and, for the last seven years in Adult and Continuing Education. Bridging gaps for all learners is imperative, this is one reason Lori continues to learn and grow in her position, so we can continue to offer enhanced programming for all our learners. Working with CESBA and OeLc helps us to bring all School Boards and learners together.
Jon Procter originally comes from Stoke on Trent in the UK. He has over 30 years of experience as an educator working in both the UK and Canada. With five years experience in the Alternative, Adult and Continuing Education portfolio at Greater Essex County, Jon is a strong advocate for the benefits of Continuing Education.
As Executive Director of the Ontario eLearning Consortium, Jon's passion for online learning and Continuing Education supports the work of CESBA.
B7: Leveraging Social Media and AI for Reputation Building, Student Attraction, and Community Partnerships
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B7: Leveraging Social Media and AI for Reputation Building, Student Attraction, and Community Partnerships
In this workshop, we will explore how social media can be a powerful tool for enhancing your school's reputation, attracting new students, and fostering community partnerships. This workshop is presented by a new administrator who has successfully implemented social media strategies that have significantly increased our school's visibility and engagement.
Participants will learn the role of social media in building a school’s reputation, learn strategies for attracting new students through social media, discover methods for engaging and partnering with the community via social platforms, develop a consistent and effective social media posting schedule, and gain insights into creating engaging content that resonates with various audiences.
Presenter:
Christina Raso, is a second-year administrator at St Albert Learning Centre, which offers alternative education classes for students under 18 and adult education classes. She was an elementary special education resource teacher and an experiential learning consultant, but for most of her career, she was a special education consultant for Sudbury Catholic Schools.
Christina, an entrepreneur from a young age, uses her entrepreneurial skills to build the school's reputation and enrollment. She helps run a successful student-led business where students, regardless of age, earn credits while gaining valuable life skills. The students use some of their business profits to support those less fortunate in the community. This initiative was a significant factor in St Albert Learning Centre recently placing 1st in the Canadian Schools of the Future Student Innovation Challenge.
C1: The Best of Blended Learning
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C1: The Best of Blended Learning
Contact North recently partnered with Literacy Link South Central to research the challenges and best practices of blended learning. Tools were developed to fill gaps, strengthen connection and reduce duplication. In this session, you will learn the benefits and challenges of a strategic partnership between Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) onsite service providers and e-Channel providers. Audience will gain insight and recommendations that can be used to implement similar partnerships.
The facilitators will present information on blended learning between face to face LBS and eChannel LBS. The primary facilitators will be focusing on the LearningHUB with resources and provide information on the other streams funded by the MLITSD as well.
Presenters:
Kathryn is a Program Advisor with the LearningHUB, the anglophone stream of e-channel. She has extensive experience in ESL education and academic library services. Kathryn leverages her teaching expertise and organizational abilities to promote the empowerment of learners of all backgrounds and abilities.
Kathryn's international experience includes serving as an English as a Second Language (ESL) Lecturer and Foreign Reference Librarian at Chosun University in Gwangju, South Korea, where she designed comprehensive ESL courses and supported international students from diverse backgrounds.
Sarah Gauvreau is the Director of LBS (e-Channel) at Contact North | Contact Nord, where she supports the delivery of five e-Channel programs providing free online courses to adults in Ontario. Additionally, she serves as the Director of teachonline.ca & Online Learning News, offering insights on trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in online education.
Holding a Master of Education in Distance Education from Athabasca University, Sarah brings over 20 years of diverse experience in education, including K-12, adult ESL, and online learning environments.
C2: Those Who Lead Must First Learn to Serve: Centering Equity in our Leadership Practices
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C2: Those Who Lead Must First Learn to Serve: Centering Equity in our Leadership Practices
In this workshop, leaders will critically consider what it looks, sounds and feels like to centre equity in their leadership practices. Through various prompts and activities, we will unpack leadership and its relation and connection to equity in teaching and learning contexts.
Presenter:
Rabia Khokhar is a teacher with the Toronto District School Board, and an education and equity consultant at Rabia Teaches. She is also a PhD student at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Rabia is passionate about ensuring that schools are inclusive spaces for all students. She is the recipient of the Elementary Teacher’s Federation of Ontario’s 2021 Anti-Racist and Equity Activism Award, and the 2022 Professional Learning and Curriculum Development Award and the 2022 Angela Thacker Teacher Librarian Excellence Award.
C3: Unlocking Potential: Equipping Newcomer Youth for Success
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C3: Unlocking Potential: Equipping Newcomer Youth for Success
Discover the Thames Valley District School Board Learn 18+ ELD/ESL program for newcomer students aged 18-21, designed to enhance English proficiency while accumulating secondary school credits. Learn about the diverse student profiles, the program’s goal of facilitating English acquisition and graduation, and the critical needs it addresses. Join us to understand how this program supports newcomer youth in integrating into the educational system and working towards their graduation goals.
This session will also explore Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) strategies for assessing and validating the existing skills and knowledge of educators. Participants will be encouraged to reflect and recognize some of their own acquired skills.
Presenter:
Mike Tamasi brings over a decade of administrative experience to his role as System Principal at Thames Valley District School Board, where he passionately supports multilingual learners. In his 5th year, he has meticulously built and leads a dynamic team dedicated to shaping an inclusive educational environment.
Mike's leadership emphasizes diversity, ensuring every student thrives and achieves lifelong success. His strategic vision and hands-on approach have significantly impacted educational practices, fostering a culture where multilingualism is celebrated and integrated into everyday learning.
C4: Inclusion and Employment Awareness: Building an Employment Transition Path for Students with Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities
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C4: Inclusion and Employment Awareness: Building an Employment Transition Path for Students with Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities
The presenters will deliver a shortened, interactive version of the Disability Awareness and Confidence Training for Educators training and provide an overview of the resources created under the Inclusion and Employment Awareness project supported by Ontario’s Ministry of Education. Those in attendance will have immediate access to the learning modules; a digital, accessible Family Handbook guiding families/caregivers and educators to resources to support employment goals for students with Developmental and/or Intellectual Disability and more.
These resources are created for families, caregivers, students and educators, and launched this September. ODEN will present how these resources, including Disability Awareness and Confidence Training for Educators, benefit the adult and continuing education program staff across school boards in Ontario. The presenters will highlight how these resources and others curated under the YSS project, such as Considerations for Facilitators on the Impact of Disability and Intersectionality.
Presenters:
Ingrid Muschta is a Licensed Professional Engineer with over 25 years of working experience in corporate, entrepreneurial, and not-for-profit settings. Ingrid’s work with Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN) has contributed to 250 people who have a disability gain employment.
Ingrid has delivered ODEN’s Disability Awareness and Confidence Training to 500 participants. She works with a team of professionals identifying and promoting innovative and promising practices in the business and employment service provider sector.
Jennifer Crowson holds a Bachelor and Master of Social Work from McMaster University and a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh. She is a registered social worker with over twenty-five years of work professional work experience in child welfare, policy, and research.
She is a part time faculty member with the School of Social Work at McMaster University, where she teaches as a sessional instructor. Jennifer is a strong analytical and critical thinker with a passion for policy development, robust research, program development and excellent teaching.
C5: Sharing Our Stories, Experiences, and Ideas: Professional Learning for Adult Educators in a Changing World of Work
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C5: Sharing Our Stories, Experiences, and Ideas: Professional Learning for Adult Educators in a Changing World of Work
This workshop explores how professional learning for adult education practitioners is adapting in a rapidly changing world. Participants will engage in interactive activities in storytelling and experience sharing, and examine the impact of remote work, digital transformation, and AI on professional development. Through case studies and hands-on activities, participants will learn to create and participate in virtual communities of practice, enhancing their ongoing professional development in an ever evolving world of work. In a hands-on activity, participants will work in small groups to design a virtual community of practice tailored to their professional needs, outlining the purpose, goals, and key activities of their community, and sharing their plans for feedback. By the end of the workshop, individuals will gain a deeper understanding of the changing landscape of work and its impact on professional learning for those in the lifelong learning sector.
Presenter:
Jane Erickson is an adult learning specialist and passionate community creator. With degrees in Psychology and Adult Education, her research focuses on adult educator professional identity formation. Her international career workplace learning and development, spans private education, luxury travel, not-for-profit organizations, and more recently the public sector.
During Covid, Jane created "The Adult Learning Hub," a platform for virtual professional development communities for organizations. With PhD studies on the horizon, she aims to leverage her diverse experience to explore factors that create impactful learning environments, addressing current needs and anticipating future trends to help organizations and individuals thrive in an ever changing world of work
C6: Pardon Me, Your AI is Showing: The Impact of Generative AI
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C6: Pardon Me, Your AI is Showing: The Impact of Generative AI
This interactive workshop explores Generative AI and its potential to seriously disrupt (in both positive and not-so-positive ways) the learning experience for both educators and students. Beginning with an insightful introduction to generative AI, attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of its evolution and present-day applications, including its origins, current capabilities, and potential impact on Adult Education.
Participants will explore some practical applications (such as using AI to pull text from handwritten notes), and discover how to develop personalized learning paths and engaging content. You will learn how generative AI can empower teachers and boost student engagement, as well as raising your awareness of the potential pitfalls that this powerful tool wields.
Presenter:
Jen Artan, M. Ed, CELTA, is an experienced Continuing Education Instructor and Learning Support Lead with the Thames Valley District School Board and Mentor with LearnIT2Teach. Jen has conducted numerous workshops focusing on generative AI for teachers, including engagements with LCAE, TESL Ontario, Centre for Skills Development, Literacy Toronto, and Sequoia (a K-12 USA organization).
Jen's expertise extends to presenting on various ed-tech topics, including ChatGPT and Google Classroom. Drawing from her extensive experience in both the private and public sectors, she is dedicated to addressing the need for practical, relevant, and Canadian Language Benchmarks-aligned resources for learners and educators alike.
C7: Supporting Student Access to the Adult Credit Online Resource (ACORN)
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C7: Supporting Student Access to the Adult Credit Online Resource (ACORN)
The Ontario eLearning Consortium (OeLC) and CESBA have partnered to develop an Adult Credit Online Resource Network (ACORN) initiative aimed at supporting Adult & Continuing Education needs by developing technical solutions for student course selection within the OeLC’s PRISM software.
This functionality will be showcased during our demonstration-based presentation along with an outline of next steps and time for questions. Although not required, attending the earlier presentation on ACORN is recommended.
Presenters:
Todd Pottle has over 30 years of experience in education as a teacher, consultant, and administrator. Seconded to the OeLC in 2015, he served as Executive Director and now as Technical Director. He supported new boards during significant growth, facilitated BOLTT Conferences, developed and deployed the Prism system, and supported boards through pandemic changes and PPM167 implementation.
Todd is also the Team Lead for Ontario Principals' Council (OPC) Teaching and Learning Through eLearning (TLTE) program, an AQ Instructor for Queen’s University’s TLTE program, and was a former member of CANeLearn’s Board of Directors.
Lisa Bruce has worked in education for over 25 years, including 17 years as a leader in eLearning and tech-enabled learning. She has worked as an administrator for eLearning and remote learning as well as an eLearning Guidance Counselor and Program Coordinator, eLC/TELT and DeLC. In addition, Lisa is currently a member of CANeLearn’s Board of Directors. Lisa is passionate about and a strong advocate for technology-enabled learning and teaching. In particular, she is keenly interested in effective online assessment practices, incorporating UDL in eLearning courses, equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive pedagogy, and precision and personalization in eLearning.