NCTCA 2025: Full Schedule

EVENTBRITE (PRE-REGISTERED SESSIONS) -- Get your tickets here!
Tickets go on sale Monday, December 9th at 7PM
- EVENTBRITE IS THE ONLY WAY TO SECURE YOUR SPACE IN A PRE-REG SESSION!
- ONLY add a pre-registered session to your schedule on Sched if you have purchased your Eventbrite ticket.
- Sales end Monday, January 27 at 12PM

Wednesday Social - KARAOKE NIGHT!!
Location: The Westin Hotel - Devonian Room
Time: 7PM - 10PM
Appetizers will be provided throughout the evening.

2025 Tours
Art Gallery of Alberta
"Guided Tour": Thursday February 8th 9:30AM - 11:00AM
"Guided Tour": Friday February 9th 12:00PM - 1:30PM

Telus World of Science - Edmonton
Thursday February 8th PM

Fort Edmonton Park
Thursday, February 6th 9AM - 3PM
Friday, February 7th 9AM - 3PM

Muttart Conservatory
Thursday, February 6th 12:30PM - 1:30PM
Friday, February 7th 9AM - 10AM

Royal Alberta Museum
FRENCH Classroom: Thursday, February 6th 9:30AM - 11AM
ENGLISH Classroom: Thursday, February 6th 1PM - 2:30PM
FRENCH Tour: Friday, February 7th 9:30AM - 11AM
ENGLISH Tour: Friday, February 7th 1PM - 2:30PM

2025 Partners In Education Luncheon with Scott Ervin -- Get your ticket here!
Tickets go on sale Monday, December 9th 2024 at 7PM
10:30AM Doors open
11:15AM Program begins
11:30AM Scott Ervin to speak
12:15PM Lunch will be served

2025 Venues:

The Westin Edmonton: 10135 100 St. NW
Edmonton Convention Centre: 9797 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton
Saville Community Sports Centre: 11610 65 Ave, NW, Edmonton
Art Gallery of Alberta: 2 Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton
Offsite locations: There are numerous offsite locations which all require an Eventbrite ticket. All Attendees with an Eventbrite ticket will be emailed directly with a location address.

9:00am MST

It begins with a problem and some empathy - Using technology to promote design thinking in your STEM classrooms

Thursday February 6, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

ECC - Salon 05

What do Airbnb and UberEats have in common? They are both innovative examples of design thinking, an approach to solving problems that centres humans in its solutions! Integrating design thinking into the classroom has benefits for students and teachers! It can help promote collaboration and community input to come up with effective and creative solutions. More importantly, design thinking can influence minoritized students' engagement with STEM content and pursuit of a STEM career by considering the values, culture, and mindsets that shape their opportunities. In this session, you will get a chance to learn about (and play with) different types of technologies that can help your students build their confidence in design thinking by coding, building, testing and reflecting. For example, learn how Ozobots can be used to help with clean up, and how drones can help with water sampling in sensitive habitats.

Speakers

Daniela Carbajal

Daniela Carbajal is the Outreach Coordinator at WISEST, Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science and Technology, based at the University of Alberta. Daniela has a BSc and is finishing a BA in Native Studies. She focuses and encourages grass-roots community work and research to promote... Read More →

Thursday February 6, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
ECC - Salon 05 Edmonton Convention Centre

Science-sciences, Technology / Technolgie

Language of Presentation English
Grade Focus Division 3/4
format Lecture
Room Details ECC - Salon 05 (Edmonton Convention Centre, Lecture Max capacity for 70 people)
Tags English, Division 3/4

10:15am MST

From Fake News to Fact Finders: Empowering Student Decision Making and Science Literacy

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MST

ECC - Salon 05

With social media, news outlets, and community members chiming in on topics like climate change and the pandemic, it’s no wonder why many students are left trying to piece together what’s true and what’s false, let alone try to make sound decisions based on the information they’re receiving. Our hope as educators is that we can equip and empower our students with the skills necessary to navigate this world, especially in times of urgency and of uncertainty. When it comes to science related topics, educators play a crucial role in providing the necessary tools and skills to bolster their scientific literacy, so that they can feel confident talking about these topics, but also in making crucial decisions in their day to day lives.

Speakers

Daniela Carbajal

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MST
ECC - Salon 05 Edmonton Convention Centre

Science-sciences, Teaching Practices/ Pédagogie

Language of Presentation English
Grade Focus All Grades
format Lecture
Room Details ECC - Salon 05 (Edmonton Convention Centre, Lecture Max capacity for 70 people)
Tags English, All Grades

11:30am MST

Teaching Science and Health Through a Lens of Curiosity and Wonder: FREE Lessons and Resources Linked To Curriculum

Thursday February 6, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MST

ECC - Salon 05

Having a sense of curiosity and activating the ability to wonder about the world around you is at the heart of any discovery and invention that happens in Science and Health related fields. Curriculum-linked lessons and support resources made by teachers in partnership with health and research scientists, are available free on Kids Boost Immunity (KBI). Lessons cover a broad range of science and health curriculum topics such as using a critical inquiry lens to evaluate science sources and information, diversity of living things, environment and climate change, the body’s immune system and germs, antibiotics, evolution and natural selection, inspiring women in STEM, social and emotional learning, and more. In this interactive workshop, teachers become students and experience the engaging learning format that includes audio, images, videos, and quizzes where scores of 80% or higher earn life-saving vaccines (polio, diphtheria, tetanus and measles) for others in need around the world through UNICEF. There is also a teacher-led option where the class can earn vaccines to help others without students being online. Teachers will leave the session with all they need to use the adaptable resources in a way that best meets their classroom needs.

Speakers

Kathy Miller

Educational Curriculum Specialist, Kids Boost Immunity

I have 30+ experience as a classroom teacher (grades 4-12) and have post-graduate training in curriculum (UVic) and technology education (SFU). Currently, I am an educational coordinator for the online program Kids Boost Immunity (KBI) working with specialist teachers who over the... Read More →

Thursday February 6, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MST
ECC - Salon 05 Edmonton Convention Centre

Science-sciences, Health - CALM / Santé

Language of Presentation English
Grade Focus Division 3 (Grades 7-9)
format Lecture
Room Details ECC - Salon 05 (Edmonton Convention Centre, Lecture Max capacity for 70 people)
Tags English, Division 3 (Grades 7-9)

12:45pm MST

FREE Lessons and Resources: Indigenous History in Canada, Indigenous Teachings, Deciphering Online AI and Misinformation, and many more relevant topics!!

Thursday February 6, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm MST

ECC - Salon 05

Indigenous lessons on Pre-Contact, Contact, Treaties, Colonialism and The Indian Act, as well as Indigenous Teachings To Support Strong Development have been co-developed by Manitoba Indigenous educators and Elders along with input from local Indigenous educators, and are available FREE to teachers on Kids Boost Immunity (KBI). Also new are lessons and tools to help students identify and avoid online misinformation/disinformation. Students are shown how to use lateral reading strategies, decipher and deconstruct information to assess accuracy. These and many more social studies curricular and relevant topics include sequenced lessons along with accompanying resources that help build literacy, comprehension, inquiry and include group centre activities. In this interactive workshop, teachers become students and experience the engaging learning format that includes audio, images, videos, and quizzes where scores of 80% or higher earn life-saving vaccines (polio, diphtheria, tetanus and measles) for others in need around the world through UNICEF. There is also a teacher-led option where the class can earn vaccines to help others without being online.

Speakers

Kathy Miller

Educational Curriculum Specialist, Kids Boost Immunity

Thursday February 6, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm MST
ECC - Salon 05 Edmonton Convention Centre

Indigenous Education, Social Studies / Études sociales

Language of Presentation English
Grade Focus Division 3 (Grades 7-9)
format Lecture
Room Details ECC - Salon 05 (Edmonton Convention Centre, Lecture Max capacity for 70 people)
Tags English, Division 3 (Grades 7-9)

9:00am MST

Exploring the New Curriculum Through MakeCode Arcade Games

Friday February 7, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

ECC - Salon 05

Strengthen your students’ problem-solving skills and engage creatively with the curriculum by creating games in Microsoft MakeCode Arcade! This session will provide you with the foundational knowledge to help your students design their own video games, then bring those games to life through block-based coding. Learn how computational thinking skills such as pattern recognition, algorithm design, and debugging are necessary when coding and how to connect games to curricular concepts in any subject. This session explores connections to the Computer Science curriculum for grades 4 and up. A laptop, Chromebook, or tablet is required for this session.

Speakers

Bernadette Blakey

Whitney Horban

TELUS World of Science – Edmonton is dedicated to fostering life-long learning by creating a vibrant science and technology culture in our region. We offer a diverse array of in-person and virtual school programs. Our programs are connected to the Alberta curriculum and designed... Read More →

Friday February 7, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
ECC - Salon 05 Edmonton Convention Centre

Science-sciences, Technology / Technolgie

Language of Presentation English
Grade Focus Division 2/3
format Lecture
Room Details ECC - Salon 05 (Edmonton Convention Centre, Lecture Max capacity for 70 people)
Tags English, Division 2/3

10:15am MST

Computational Thinking 101: Foundations for Every Educator

Friday February 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MST

ECC - Salon 05

Unlock the power of computational thinking for you and your students! Discover how computational thinking can enhance problem-solving skills while connecting with storytelling, nature, art, and more. This session provides a gentle introduction to core concepts found in the new curriculum such as decomposition, abstraction, and algorithms. Through exploring a variety of activities, both plugged-in and unplugged, you’ll learn how to seamlessly incorporate these principles into your classroom regardless of subject or grade level. No prior experience in teaching computer science needed! Please bring a laptop, Chromebook or tablet to this session

Speakers

Bernadette Blakey

Whitney Horban

Friday February 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MST
ECC - Salon 05 Edmonton Convention Centre

Science-sciences, Technology / Technolgie

Language of Presentation English
Grade Focus Division 1/2
format Lecture
Room Details ECC - Salon 05 (Edmonton Convention Centre, Lecture Max capacity for 70 people)
Tags English, Division 1/2

11:30am MST

Supporting Neurodivergent Students at School

Friday February 7, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MST

ECC - Salon 05

As class sizes increase and EA hours are in limited supply, our neurodivergent students are struggling. 1 in 50 children and youth are diagnosed with autism in Canada (2019), and 5-7% of children and youth are diagnosed with ADHD. More and more girls are being diagnosed as well, and many teachers and doctors are not as familiar with how autism looks in those assigned female at birth. Learn how to be neurodivergent affirming and support those students who are differently wired so they can be successful at school.

Speakers

Stepha Fode

CFL Teacher, Parkland School Division

Stepha is an autistic educator who is the mother to a twice exceptional child and runs a program for neurodivergent highschoolers, especially those with school avoidance. She competed her Masters of Special Education at UBC in 2011, and moved to Alberta in 2019 where she works at... Read More →

Friday February 7, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MST
ECC - Salon 05 Edmonton Convention Centre

Inclusive Education / Éducation Inclusive, Admin / Leadership

Language of Presentation English
Grade Focus All Grades
format Lecture
Room Details ECC - Salon 05 (Edmonton Convention Centre, Lecture Max capacity for 70 people)
Tags English, All Grades

12:45pm MST

Addressing neurodiversity in the language arts classroom

Friday February 7, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm MST

ECC - Salon 05

Refusing a deficit model, this session will address the particular situation of neurodivergent learners in the secondary ELA classroom, suggesting curricular, environmental, affective, relational, and communicative strategies to engage such students effectively and without discrimination; these shifts in teaching may also be beneficial to all students. This talk will also consider the situation of neurodiversity among teachers.

Speakers

David Lewkowich

Comics and Language Arts, University of Alberta

David Lewkowich is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta. He is the author of "The Figure of the Teacher in Comics: A Psychoanalytic Study of Immaterial and Fragmented Education," and works with theories and practices of sound and multimodality... Read More →

Friday February 7, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm MST
ECC - Salon 05 Edmonton Convention Centre

Language Arts / Arts Langagier, Inclusive Education / Éducation Inclusive

Language of Presentation English
Grade Focus Division 4 (Grades 10-12)
format Lecture
Room Details ECC - Salon 05 (Edmonton Convention Centre, Lecture Max capacity for 70 people)
Tags English, Division 4 (Grades 10-12)