Conference Info

Geeks Unite 2.0

Conference - October 19 & 20

Agenda

Thursday, Oct 18	6:00pm-9:00pm	Conference Registration
Friday, Oct 19	7:00am-11:00am	Conference Registration

Friday, Oct 19		Keynote: Dr Jo Boaler
		Morning Sessions
		Lunch
		Afternoon Sessions

Saturday, Oct 20		Panel discussion (details below)
		Morning Sessions
		Lunch
		Keynote: Jill Heinerth

For more detailed information, see the Session Schedule tab.

Keynote Speaker Bios

Jo Boaler

Dr. Jo Boaler is a Professor of Mathematics Education at Stanford University, and the faculty director of youcubed. She is the author of the first MOOC on mathematics teaching and learning. Former roles have included being the Marie Curie Professor of Mathematics Education for Europe, a mathematics teacher in London comprehensive schools and a researcher at King's College, London. She is the author of nine books - including the best seller: Mathematical Mindsets - and she has received numerous awards for mathematics equity and leadership.

Dr. Boaler is presenting a morning keynote as well as a half-day workshop on Friday, Oct 19.

The afternoon workshop is now full.

Jill Heinerth

Jill is a Canadian cave diver, underwater explorer, writer, photographer, film-maker and Fellow of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society. More people have walked on the moon, than have been to some of the places that Jill’s exploration has taken her right here on the earth. From the most dangerous technical dives deep inside underwater caves, to searching for never before seen ecosystems inside giant Antarctic icebergs, to the lawless desert border area between Egypt and Libya while a civil war raged around her, Jill’s curiosity and passion about our watery planet is the driving force in her life.

Jill’s accolades include induction into the Explorer’s Club and the inaugural class of the Women Diver’s Hall of Fame. She received the Wyland ICON Award, an honor she shares with several of her underwater heroes including Jacques Cousteau, Robert Ballard and Dr. Sylvia Earle. She was named a “Living Legend” by Sport Diver Magazine and selected as Scuba Diving Magazine’s “Sea Hero of the Year 2012.”

In recognition of her lifetime achievement, Jill was awarded the inaugural Sir Christopher Ondaatje Medal for Exploration. Established by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2013, the medal recognizes singular achievements and the pursuit of excellence by an outstanding Canadian explorer.

Panel Discussion

Education in the Era of Fake News: How can we as educators attend to the impact of this new era in our classrooms?

In the current climate of fake news and the role of "experts" seemingly on the decline in media and beyond, how can we as educators attend to the impact of this new era in our classrooms. Please come and hear how our panelists attempt to grapple with this question and provide their thoughts on how science and math education has been and is being impacted, what they believe the role of the expert is or should be, and what can we as educators do, if anything.

Panelists:

Dr. Torah Kachur received her PhD from in molecular genetics at the University of Alberta and teaches at both the University of Alberta and MacEwan University. She is the syndicated science columnist for more than 20 local afternoon shows on CBC Radio One, is the co-creator of scienceinseconds.com, and has hosted 2 national specials for CBC radio on "The Food of the Future" and "Kapow! The Science and Technology of Superpowers."

Dr. Marie-Claire Shanahan joined the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary in 2013 as Research Chair in Science Education and Public Engagement. She began her career teaching elementary and high school science and math in Toronto but soon returned to grad school. She has had a nearly lifelong passion for science education and outreach and maintains this passion through ongoing projects in science communication as a writer, blogger, and radio host alongside her research work.

Dr. Phil McRae is an Executive Staff Officer with the Alberta Teachers' Association and adjunct professor within the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta. He was the director of the internationally recognized Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI) from 2005 - 2009, and taught several graduate courses in the Master of Education in Educational Studies program. He has worked in many secondary and post-secondary educational contexts and represents the teaching profession and field of education on several provision and national committees.