BC TEAL is proud to present our 2025 Annual Conference: Disruptive Educational Practices: Strategies for Transformation.
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.
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
Assistant Department Head, Vancouver Community College (VCC)
Vesna Radivojevic has been teaching EAL for 23 years, mostly in ELSA/LINC programs. She supports instructors as a coordinator and Assistant Department Head at VCC.
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.
