BC TEAL 2025 Annual Conference

BC TEAL is proud to present our 2025 Annual Conference: Disruptive Educational Practices: Strategies for Transformation.

Please note that the Friday evening event, the TEAL Charitable Foundation Awards & Fundraiser, requires an additional ticket purchase. Please register here to secure your spot and join us in celebrating the awardees while fundraising for a better cause in TEAL.

Educators shine in times of change to face unexpected challenges. This is when creativity flourishes by combining proven practices with fresh and innovative ideas. These times call for transformation which can be rooted in tradition or experience, or it can arise through unexplored approaches. The synthesis of old and new ideas drives meaningful progress. Join other insightful and creative educators as we flourish within the power of our community.

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11:00am PDT

Enhancing Student Engagement with PearDeck & Padlet: Transformative Strategies

Friday May 2, 2025 11:00am - 11:45am PDT

TBA

Bitner and Bitner (2002) identify eight key areas that aid teacher integration of technology, including fear of change, training, personal use, teaching models, and motivation. They emphasize that technology enhances student learning. Fisher et al. (2014) stress that meaningful, student-driven learning fosters engagement. Online tools provide benefits such as student check-ins, feedback collection, and digital citizenship (Haleem et al., 2022).TESOL Technology Standards guide English language teachers in using technology effectively (Standards, n.d.). Ødegård and Solberg (2024) note that teachers often rely on individual behavior management strategies like reorientation and exclusion, while collaborative approaches remain underutilized. Parsonson (2012) advocates for proactive classroom management, emphasizing structured routines and positive reinforcement. As digital technology transforms education, Howell and O’Donnell (2017) examine its impact on content delivery in Canadian classrooms. Juanis et al. (2023) found that Pear Deck improved interaction and retention, while Zainuddin et al. (2020) demonstrated that Padlet fosters collaborative learning and participation.
This workshop empowers educators with PearDeck and Padlet, two transformative tools that spark interaction, creativity, and deeper learning. With hands-on demonstrations and collaborative activities, participants will leave with confidence and actionable insights to immediately enhance their teaching. Whether one is new to ed-tech or looking to refine your approach, this session ensures your students, irrespective of the age group stay motivated, engaged, and excited to learn.
Execution: In-Person plus Online ( Google Meet for Online)
Session Outline:
5 Minutes: Introduction: Where are we at?
5 Minutes: What does the research say and our objectives today
15 minutes: Let's Walk the Talk - Demo time -10 minutes ( Demo of two tools - Peardeck and Padlet
15 minutes: Let's Practice: Individual activity/ Teamwork
5 minutes: Way forward- Putting into action

Speakers

Shrawani Sen

Full time Faculty (UAP), University Canada West

Shrawani, with 15 years of experience, specializes in EAP and LINC 7-8. She teaches at UCW (full-time) and New Directions, blending business and education expertise.

Friday May 2, 2025 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
TBA

Education Technology, Education Technology

1:00pm PDT

[Part 1] Avenue.ca Local Innovation Leadership

Friday May 2, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT

TBA

The session will delve into the challenges educators face in integrating technology, such as limited access, training gaps, and resistance to change. It will also explore the barriers posed by current policies and funding structures, as well as shifting priorities among funders that impact technology implementation in language training programs.

We will then describe a tool for instructors and leaders: technology standards and their importance in guiding change. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of Avenue Technology-enhanced Language Learning (TELL) Standards and their importance in guiding effective integration of technology into settlement language training. Participants will gain insight into the rapidly evolving landscape of learning technologies, identifying both opportunities and obstacles to their adoption.

Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the critical need for technology standards and a clear perspective on how these standards can empower educators to adapt and thrive in a changing settlement landscape. This session is designed for language educators, program administrators, and decision-makers interested in leveraging technology to enhance teaching practices and student outcomes.

Through engaging discussions, participants will reflect on their own experiences and identify strategies to overcome obstacles while embracing opportunities for innovation. The session sets the foundation for practical, hands-on exploration in the second part of the workshop.

Speakers

Rob McBride

Executive Director, New Language Solutions

Rob has worked for NLS for many years. Rob works as a teacher, researcher, writer, producer and project manager.

Dr. Deborah Healey

Professor, University of Oregon

Deborah is a teacher educator, the 2019-2020 President of TESOL International Association, and a contributor to TESOL and Avenue Technology Standards publications.

Matthias Sturm

Lead Evaluator and Researcher, New Language Solutions

Matthias Sturm has been researcher and evaluator for the Avenue-LearnIT2teach Project since 2010. Matthias is also working on a PhD in digital inclusion and equity.

Bonnie Nicholas

Mentor, New Language Solutions

Bonnie is a mentor with Avenue and has taught online and blended classes for over a decade. She is always learning and improving her practice.

Friday May 2, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
TBA

Education Technology, LINC

2:00pm PDT

[Part 2] Avenue.ca Local Innovation Leadership

Friday May 2, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

TBA

Building on the foundational insights from the first session, this workshop will focus on practical applications of TELL standards through interactive discussions and multimedia resources. Participants will review video interviews and testimonials from both Avenue Learning Leadership course graduates and the attendees of NorQuest College’s Standards workshops. These real-world examples showcase successful implementations of learning technology and provide actionable takeaways for educators.

The session will also feature curated multimedia elements, including short podcasts and participant reflections, to foster a dynamic and engaging learning environment. Through these resources, attendees will explore innovative solutions for integrating technology into their teaching practices, overcoming challenges, and creating more engaging and effective learning experiences for their students.
Interactive discussions will encourage participants to reflect on their own experiences and collaborate on identifying practical strategies for navigating barriers, leveraging opportunities, and aligning with shifting funder priorities. By engaging directly with peer experiences and best practices, participants will develop actionable plans tailored to their unique contexts.

Designed to be both reflective and practical, this session equips attendees with tools, ideas, and inspiration to implement TELL standards effectively and drive innovation in their programs. Presenters will share their expertise and insights, creating a collaborative space where participants can explore technology integration and leadership development.

Speakers

Rob McBride

Executive Director, New Language Solutions

Rob has worked for NLS for many years. Rob works as a teacher, researcher, writer, producer and project manager.

Dr. Deborah Healey

Professor, University of Oregon

Deborah is a teacher educator, the 2019-2020 President of TESOL International Association, and a contributor to TESOL and Avenue Technology Standards publications.

Matthias Sturm

Lead Evaluator and Researcher, New Language Solutions

Matthias Sturm has been researcher and evaluator for the Avenue-LearnIT2teach Project since 2010. Matthias is also working on a PhD in digital inclusion and equity.

Bonnie Nicholas

Mentor, New Language Solutions

Bonnie is a mentor with Avenue and has taught online and blended classes for over a decade. She is always learning and improving her practice.

Friday May 2, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
TBA

Education Technology, LINC

3:30pm PDT

Work-Life Balance Strategies for your Teaching Practice with Avenue

Friday May 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:15pm PDT

TBA

The workshop begins with a review of findings from user feedback of theAvenue.ca learning and teaching platform and instructor training. These findings provide a current, evidence-based context for the session. Avenue (formerly EduLINC and LearnIT2teach) has been serving the LINC community since 2010.

Avenue has enjoyed broader and broader adoption by the LINC sector since the start of the pandemic. The online teaching that language instructors adopted rapidly in response to the limitation to in-person program delivery has accelerated learning technology innovation since. Many teachers are committed to take their online and blended language training practices to higher levels of efficiency and effectiveness.

Online and blended program delivery disrupts practices of instructors and managers. This workshop presents strategies for transformation embedded in front-line experiences through an open discussion about teachers’ better work-life balance.

The vison and support of local leaders has a central role in the innovation process. This session will also offer findings from an evaluation of the Avenue Learning Leadership Certificate (ALLC) training, offered to LINC instructors, lead teachers, and program administrators. The training takeaways are reinforced by the leadership experiences of LINC instructors, LearnIT2teach mentors, and a program leader from Vancouver Community College (VCC).

Participants will benefit from an environment for open discussion. The workshop will explore what constitutes effective strategies and leadership: What is effective and efficient 21st Century teaching practice and program delivery? How can skillful use of learning technology contribute to a better work-life balance for instructors?

The objectives of this workshop are for participants to:

Learn about findings from user feedback of Avenue.ca and an evaluation of the Avenue Learning Leadership Certificate (ALLC)
Share experiences of teachers and administrators demonstrate lessons learned from frontline practice
Receive practical tips on improving your work-life balance though more effective and efficient blended and online teaching practice

Speakers