External Conferences and Workshops

Summer 2013
University of PEI, Charlottetown PEI

This summer marks the launch of a new range of professional learning experiences at the Faculty of Education at UPEI. Designed for educators who want to enhance their practical skills and strategies in a supportive environment, these mini-courses have been created in response to teachers’ requests for “hands on” professional learning. At the end of each mini-course, you will have a collection of strategies to use in real classrooms. Parts 2 and 3 of these mini-courses will be offered during the school year and/or in future summer sessions.

July 8-13, 2013
Canadian Museum of Immigration - Pier 21, Halifax NS

July 15-20, 2013
Centre for Social Innovation, Toronto ON

This exciting institute will take you on an exploration of historical thinking, while examining the themes of immigration and aboriginality. As well, the broader substantive theme of cultural exchange across borders will be considered. Lectures will be given by Dr. Peter Seixas and distinguished guests. Field trips will enhance the work conducted during the in-class portion of the institute. The six historical thinking concepts - which have been integrated into a number of curriculum documents and classroom resources across the country -- will provide the methodological core of the program. “The HTP approach” opens up the interpretive nature of history by making explicit such concepts as: historical perspective taking; historical significance; and continuity and change.

July 29–August 2, 2013; August 19–23, 2013
Canadian Ecology Centre, Mattawa, ON

Join us on our fourth annual Canadian Institute of Forestry teachers’ five-day/four-night fully sponsored Mining Tour and learn about and experience the modern mining sector. Sustainability, safety, technology and the “world of work” are the themes. Meet professionals in the field and go “down under” in a working nickel mine (Xstrata’s Nickel Rim South). There is no registration fee but a deposit is required to hold your space on the tour. Space is limited to 30 participants per tour. First come, first served. Accommodations, meals, workshops and resources are included.

August 6–9, 2013
Canadian Ecology Centre, Mattawa, ON

Join us on the 12th annual Canadian Institute of Forestry teachers’ Forestry Tour and learn about forest science, research and management in a four-day/three-night fully sponsored PD experience. Meet professionals in the field of forest science and research, as well as visit forestry operations and product mills. There is no registration fee but a deposit is required to hold your space on the tour. Space limited to 30 teachers. Accommodations, meals, workshops and resources are included. This program is only offered in English but French resources are available.

October 3–4, 2013
Stratford, ON

Opening with a keynote presentation by Curt Tofteland, Founder and Producing Director of Shakespeare Behind Bars, the 32nd Annual Conference will underscore how Shakespeare is relevant and accessible to everyone and how drama in general can be seamlessly integrated across the curriculum. The conference fee includes workshops and seminars, performances of Fiddler on the Roof and The Merchant of Venice, and lunch on both days. The early bird deadline for registration is June 30.

October 17–18, 2013
Allstream Centre, Toronto, ON

The Ophea Conference provides an opportunity for educators, public-health professionals and other community leaders to increase their knowledge and skills to foster healthy active living for children and youth in their schools and communities. The Ophea Conference offers workshops and interactive sessions on innovative strategies for health and physical education, sport and intramural activities, and a selection of health-promotion topics. Delegates are presented with creative strategies to support cross-curricular instruction, community involvement, and assessment and evaluation tools. They also have access to a wide variety of exhibitors and great resources.

October 23–25, 2013
Scotiabank Convention Centre, Niagara Falls, ON

The Educational Computing Organization of Ontario (ECOO) annual conference, Ontario’s premier educational-technology conference, features an expanded exhibition hall, keynote addresses from App Central Television’s Amber MacArthur and Google’s education evangelist Jaime Casap, and professional sharing by educators from all corners of the province. It is self-directed professional learning at its best, by teachers for teachers.

October 25, 2013
Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

Enjoy a hands-on workshop, lunch, a wine and cheese reception, and optional evening performance of Our Betters at the Royal George Theatre. The full-day, hands-on workshop is focused on the art of scenic painting led by Gwyneth Stark, Shaw Festival’s Head of Scenic Art. Gwyneth will guide participants to explore various painting methods and materials and the art of transforming set designs into full-scale scenery. A variety of painting tips and techniques will be demonstrated, providing opportunities for creative problem-solving. (Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.). Enrollment is limited so register now!

November 7–9, 2013
Scotiabank Convention Centre, Niagara Falls, ON

The Ontario Music Educators’ Association (OMEA) and the Canadian Music Industry Education Committee’s annual conference will feature keynote speaker Jim Papoulis, who has made significant contributions to choral music by revitalizing choral repertoire with songs that have roots in classical and world genres. Featured performances will include the Ontario Provincial Honour Band, under guest conductor Robert Sheldon, and the Ontario String Association Youth Orchestra with Mark Skazinetsky. Online registration opens June 1, 2013.  

November 10–12, 2013
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Toronto ON

The 2013 OSCA conference will recognize and celebrate the diversity found in schools across the province that serve a variety of students and parents from diverse cultures, ethnicities, religions and socio-economic backgrounds. Diversity: Vive la différence recognizes the role not only of the guidance teacher-counsellor but also the role of all school staff and community partners in ensuring the diverse needs of our students are met and celebrated. Sessions will be available in four conference themes: Community & Caring; Personal & Public; Pathways & Possibilities; A Plethora of Promising Practices.

November 14–16, 2013
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Toronto ON

The conference this year will offer sessions for teachers by teachers on assessment, curriculum, literacy, technology, safety, environment and critical thinking through inquiry-based learning. Steve Spangler of Ellen fame is the speaker for the plenary presentation each day. As always, there will be plenty of networking for teachers with an emphasis on elementary and pre-service teacher sessions on Saturday. The exhibit hall will have the latest resources and classroom-ready materials on display. This is the largest conference for science and technology in the province so come and see what’s new!

The learning programs of The Partnership, Canada's national network of provincial and territorial library associations, are offered coast-to-coast through teleconference, webcast and online. Special conferences and stand-alone face-to-face programs are available to all Partnership association members at preferred rates.

A webinar is a web-based, or Internet-based, seminar. Webinars are different from regular seminars in that they do not require travel to a physical location; they only require that you visit a specific website at a specific time. All e-Learning Ontario webinars are also recorded, so if you cannot attend in person, you can still access the recording. The webinars can be searched by topic or by calendar; each webinar is 45 minutes in length. Topics include such things as:

• What is e-learning?
• E-learning resources for your students
• How the Ontario Educational Resource Bank (OERB) Can Support Credit Recovery and Credit Rescue
• Using the Discussions Tool Effectively
• Using the Ontario Educational Resource Bank (OERB) for Differentiated Instruction in Grades 7-12

and many more.

This calendar reflects ministry-initiated professional learning and implementation support (PLIS) activities such as regional training sessions, provincial conferences, and activities taking place at the board level for teachers, principals and system leaders in the English-language system.

OTF offers professional learning programs, which provide training, resources, and support in numerous areas. The project, funded by the Ministry of Education, has hosted a number of very successful conferences such as “Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century", "Media Violence" and "Critical Thinking." OTF continues to offer professional learning opportunities through OTF’s Online Teacher Resources and OTF Connects. Now available on our website, OTF’s Online Teacher Resource is a portal to a multitude of resource links as well as the extensive, searchable Lesson Plan Resource. Our new online community, OTF Connects, brings teachers together to share and learn through online webinars and social media.

Survive & Thrive is an online conference and resource centre, dedicated to beginning teachers in their first five years of professional practice, occasional teachers, teacher candidates and mentor teachers.