ALCDSB Artificial Intelligence Summit 2026
Friday, April 17, 2026
On April 17, 2026, all ALCDSB staff will be gathering for Professional Development in an AI Summit to explore the role of artificial intelligence in education. The day will take place at St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School in Belleville and Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School in Kingston.
Keynote Speaker Tom D'Amico
The Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board is pleased to welcome Tom D'Amico as our guest speaker who brings a wealth of knowledge in Artificial Intelligence in an Education setting.
Dr. Tom D’Amico is the former Director of Education for the Ottawa Catholic School Board. With over 35 years in education, he is a nationally recognized leader in Education Technology and the Humane use of Technology. Tom is a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence, and was named one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals. He now serves as President of AI Leadership Consulting and works with school boards across Canada to support responsible and practical AI implementation in education.
Registration:
- All staff are required to select their two sessions by April 7, 2026.
- Please review the session descriptions below and register here: https://forms.microsoft.com/r/87HuSb7EZm
- You will receive a confirmation of your selected sessions after you register.
- Your customized agenda will be sent to you with session location and details on April 10, 2026.
St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School
Schedule - St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School - Click here
| 8:30 a.m. | Arrival - Light Refreshments provided. |
| 8:45 a.m. | Opening Remarks |
| 9:00 a.m. | Opening Keynote - Tom D'Amico |
| 10:00 a.m. | Social Break |
| 10:30 a.m. | Learning Session 1 |
| 11:30 a.m. | Lunch - Bring your own or go and grab. |
| 12:30 p.m. | Learning Session 2 |
| 1:30 p.m. | Social Break |
| 1:45 p.m. | Closing Keynote - AI and Me: Student Panel |
| 2:30 p.m. | Closing |
Learning Session 1 - St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School - 10:30 a.m. - Click here
Learning Session ID: S1A
Title: AI in the Classroom: A Type B Teacher’s Best Friend - Presenter: Liam Mulvihill (ALCDSB St. Carthaghs 7/8 Teacher)
Audience: Educators Intermediate/Senior
This is a practical, classroom‑focused workshop that explores how artificial intelligence can support everyday teaching in meaningful, manageable ways. The session will highlight how AI can be used to modify lessons, scaffold learning, and create accommodations that help reach a wide range of student needs without adding to teacher workload. It will also touch on how educators can model and teach responsible, purposeful use of AI, guiding students to see it as a learning tool that supports thinking rather than replaces it. Grounded in real classroom experience, this session offers realistic strategies that teachers can use right away.
Learning Session ID: S1B
Title: Human Leadership in an AI World: Leading Smarter Schools - Presenter: Casey Wells (ALCDSB)
Audience: ALL
Drawing on his role as Principal of St. Joseph Catholic School and a lifelong curiosity about how things work, Casey Wells brings a grounded, practical lens to the conversation around artificial intelligence in schools. An early adopter who approaches AI not as a shortcut or threat but as a thinking partner, Casey frames AI as a literacy issue and a leadership responsibility rather than a technical one. This session moves school communities from fear and uncertainty toward clarity and purpose by exploring what AI is and is not, the real risks of misuse, and why avoidance often creates greater harm than thoughtful engagement. Rooted in a “tinker’s mindset,” the session highlights how educators and leaders can use AI for professional reflection, reduce friction in daily work, and model ethical, transparent practices that protect the integrity of teaching, learning, and assessment while bridging high-tech innovation with everyday, real-world application.
Learning Session ID: S1C
Title: Get by With a Little Help from AI: Goals for students with ID that are aligned and not out of key - Presenters: Stephanie Byrne Shaw & Allie Barrett (ALCDSB)
Audience: ALL
The meaningful inclusion of students with learner variability and neurodivergence can be supported with the use of AI. Bring your laptop and student learner profiles in mind to explore how to use Copilot to create learning goals for students that align with curriculum. This workshop will include some sharing of current practice and strategies as well as an opportunity plan for inclusion in your classroom.
Learning Session ID: S1D
Title: AI from an Assistive Technology Perspective - Presenter: Leslie Brooker (Beatty) (ALCDSB)
Audience: ALL
Elementary classrooms are wonderfully diverse—and meeting all learners where they are requires intentional design. This session shows how educators can use AI as a practical co‑planner to differentiate instruction for students with learning disabilities while honouring Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and classroom accommodations.
Learning Session ID: S1E
Title: What's the Church Saying About AI? - Presenter: Cristina Pinto (ALCDSB)
Audience: ALL
Come and explore what the Church is teaching us about AI. The workshop will explore a variety of topics including Pope Leo's statements, ethical considerations, and the importance of digital citizenship in this quickly evolving technology.
Learning Session ID: S1F
Title: With great power comes great responsibility? - Presenter: Sarah Cassidy (ALCDSB)
Audience: ALL
Advances in AI give us unprecedented capabilities, but do not provide the essential moral and ethical companion guides required to help us navigate responsible use. This session will highlight some of the unintended consequences and considerations to keep in mind to balance the long-term human and environmental costs of AI with our own personal and professional use. Exploring AI implications for privacy, consent, environmental stewardship, overall well-being, bias and Catholic Social Teaching will help provide a framework for ethical reflection and responsible action.
Learning Session ID: S1G
Title: Introduction to Cyber Legends: ALCDSB Welcomes a new Digital Literacy Learning Platform for Elementary Students - Presenter: Cheryl Hayes (Cyber Legends Inc)
Audience: Educators K-8
Digital literacy, cyber safety, and AI literacy are evolving faster than ever — and students’ technology use is changing just as quickly. With increased Ministry expectations to embed digital literacy and cyber safety education across grade levels, many teachers are left piecing together resources, second-guessing curriculum alignment, and spending valuable hours building lessons in a subject area that never stands still.
Learning Session ID: S1H
Title: Amplifying Voices: AI for Supporting Multilingual Learners - Presenters: Allison Ross, Garae Goodman (ALCDSB)
Audience: Educators ALL
Discover how emerging AI tools can help create more inclusive, accessible, and engaging learning environments for multilingual students. This hands-on workshop introduces practical AI strategies for scaffolding language development, differentiating instruction, and removing barriers to communication. It is geared for educators that have not had a chance to use AI much and want to explore how to leverage it to support English Language Learners. Participants will explore classroom-ready tools for translation, vocabulary building, content adaptation, and student voice amplification—all grounded in ethical, culturally responsive practice. Leave with concrete examples, resources, and confidence to leverage AI in ways that honour and uplift every learner’s linguistic identity.
Learning Session ID: S1I
Title: Understanding AI & Strengthening Security Across Our Schools - Presenter: Chris Gorrell (ALCDSB)
Audience: ALL
This presentation will give a practical overview of what AI really is, including large language models, different types of AI, and how these tools show up in everyday life. We’ll look at how AI is used in both good and bad ways—from phishing, malware, and deepfakes to approved educational tools like Copilot and Wayground that protect student data and keep information inside our secure environment. The session also covers how AI supports data hygiene by identifying overshared files, confidential data in the wrong locations, and applying DLP and retention policies. We’ll highlight the AI driven security protections running in the background and conclude with staff responsibilities, guardrails, and how AI can help with everyday tasks while still relying on human knowledge and judgment.
Learning Session ID: S1J
Title: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Harnessing Wayground's AI and Accommodations to Connect All Learners - Presenter Andrew Bieronski (Wayground)
Audience: ALL
In our rapidly evolving educational landscape, educators face the challenge of creating inclusive learning environments that cater to diverse student needs while preparing them for an ever-changing world. This workshop explores how Wayground's cutting-edge AI features and robust accommodation tools can be leveraged to construct bridges across various aspects of education, ensuring no learner is left behind. You will discover how to make the most of ALCDSB’s premium Wayground access using its AI-powered content generation and adaptive learning pathways tools, combined with its comprehensive accommodations features, to create a more connected, accessible, and personalized educational experience for your students. Make personalization and differentiation easy and walk into your next class ready to go!
Learning Session ID: S1K
Title: VIRTUAL - AI & Order: Navigating Responsible Use of Generative AI in a Highschool Classroom - Presenter: Marcus Blair (School District 67 (Okanagan-Skaha))
Audience: Educators 9+
Come explore how a high school classroom can lead the way in transparent and responsible AI integration. This session invites educators to reflect on responsible use, student disclosure, and practical strategies for embedding generative AI into learning with clarity and purpose. Together, we’ll look at how intentional classroom practices can make AI use visible, meaningful, and aligned with the goals we have for our learners.
Learning Session ID: S1L
Title: Empowering Educators with the power of Canva AI - Presenter: Derek Tangredi (Logics Academy)
Audience: ALL
Logics Academy will be hosting a professional learning session designed to empower educators with Canva AI and practical ways to integrate artificial intelligence into K–12 teaching and learning. The one‑hour session is crafted to help educators enhance creativity, streamline workflow, and design engaging learning materials with ease all while modelling responsible and ethical use of AI in education.
Learning Session ID: S1M
Title: Teaching Smarter, Not Harder—with Copilot - Presenter: Josh Fraser (Microsoft EDU)
Audience: ALL
This session introduces K 12 educators to Microsoft Copilot Chat as a practical, responsible AI assistant that supports teaching, learning, and educator productivity. Educators will gain a foundational understanding of what Copilot is, how to interact with it effectively through prompting, and where it can be applied in day to day educational tasks such as lesson planning, differentiation, assessment creation, and professional communication—while reinforcing that educators remain in control of instructional decisions. The session also highlights accessibility and inclusive design, demonstrating how Copilot can support diverse learners and educators through reading and writing assistance, plain language explanations, translation, and support for neurodiverse and multilingual classrooms.
Learning Session ID: S1N
Title: Fostering Reflection: How Digital Media Influences Us - Presenter: Melissa Burns (Let's Talk Science)
Audience: Educators 4+
Understanding algorithms and their impact on our everyday lives is crucial in the digital age. Throughout this Let’s Talk Science session, participants will explore how algorithms influence the digital content we receive online and consider how echo chambers can shape decision-making. We will also examine the long-term implications of digital footprints and discuss strategies educators can use to support responsible online behaviour with their students.
Learning Session ID: S1O
Title: AI and Mental Health - Presenter: Elisa Palmer (ALCDSB)
Audience: ALL
Exploring AI & Student Mental Health: This workshop explores how artificial intelligence is shaping the daily experiences and mental health of students. It offers a balanced look at how AI can support student well‑being while highlighting the importance of teaching students to use these tools responsibly and with a critical lens.
Learning Session ID: S1P
Title: Designing Student Centred Learning with AI - Presenters: Jenn Johnston, Kristin Diaz (ALCDSB)
Audience: ALL
Focuses on how AI (including Copilot) can help teachers design engaging, student-centered activities aligned with Ontario Curriculum expectations. Participants will learn to generate prompts and tasks that support collaboration, problem-solving, and deeper thinking while modeling responsible AI use.
Learning Session ID: S1Q
Title: Caring for this Land: Teaching Young Children About Environmental Responsibility in the AI Era - Presenters: Lori McCaw, Ellie Ellsworth (ALCDSB)
Audience: Educators Grades K-6
This K–6 learning session explores how we can guide our students to “walk gently” upon the land. Using Be a Good Ancestor as an anchoring read‑aloud, we will reflect on how small, everyday decisions shape our shared future. Together, we’ll consider how to nurture responsibility, curiosity, and care in our students as they grow into thoughtful citizens who respect the environment and use resources responsibly. When children feel connected to the land and understand the impact of human behaviours—including the use of digital technologies—on the environment, they are better prepared to make informed choices as they grow up.
Learning Session ID: S1R
Title: Learn how AI can be used as a practical teaching assistant - Presenters: Amanda Hartnell (ALCDSB)
Audience: Educators FSL
Learn how AI can be used as a practical teaching assistant to help save time and turn your ideas into effective classroom-ready lessons, activities, and assessments. Through authentic examples from my Grade 5/6 French Immersion classroom, participants will explore how I use AI to support brainstorming, lesson sequencing, differentiation, and assessment design, as well as how I pair these workflows with Wayground to create interactive lessons and differentiated assessments. Participants will also learn how to design their own AI assistant using Microsoft Copilot to support their unique teaching needs. This session will focus on practical workflows that help reduce planning time while keeping teacher professional judgment, intentional pedagogy, and student learning at the centre.
Audience: Educators FSL
Learn how AI can be used as a practical teaching assistant to help save time and turn your ideas into effective classroom-ready lessons, activities, and assessments. Through authentic examples from my Grade 5/6 French Immersion classroom, participants will explore how I use AI to support brainstorming, lesson sequencing, differentiation, and assessment design, as well as how I pair these workflows with Wayground to create interactive lessons and differentiated assessments. Participants will also learn how to design their own AI assistant using Microsoft Copilot to support their unique teaching needs. This session will focus on practical workflows that help reduce planning time while keeping teacher professional judgment, intentional pedagogy, and student learning at the centre.
Learning Session 2 - St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School - 12:30 p.m. - Click here
Learning Session ID: S2A
Title: AI and Executive Functions: Using AI as a critical friend - Presenter: Laurie Faith (University of Toronto)
Audience: ALL
Using AI as a critical friend: Does "jamming" enable control, agency, cognitive engagement, and reasonable accommodation? Come learn with Dr Laurie Faith, author of Executive Function Skills in the Classroom, to deepen your thinking of supporting students EF's!
Learning Session ID: S2B
Title: Human-Led AI: From the Job Hunt to the Workplace - Presenter: German Arcila (Digital Moment)
Audience: Educators 9+
This workshop provides educators with a practical toolkit to guide Grade 9 to 12 students through the transition to an AI-integrated workforce. We will move beyond theory to show how students can use AI tools honestly and effectively. First to navigate the job market through tailored applications and interview prep, and then to handle entry-level tasks with greater efficiency. This approach is centered around the AI Assessment Scale (AIAS), which we will use to teach students how to stay in control of the technology. You will leave with strategies to help students adapt to workplace restrictions, maintain ethical standards, and use the AIAS to ensure their own critical thinking remains the driving force behind every task.
Learning Session ID: S2C
Title: Thinking for a Warming World: Assessment, Discernment, and AI - Presenter: Maria Vamvalis (The Critical Thinking Consortium)
Audience: ALL
This practical workshop focuses on what educators can actually influence: assessment and professional judgment. Together, we will explore how to design tasks that strengthen transformative thinking habits such as critical inquiry, relational awareness, and the ability to work through complexity and discomfort. We will also develop discernment around when and how to use AI, and identify clear criteria to guide our stewardship of this powerful technological tool. Participants will examine ways to make student thinking more visible and to shift emphasis from polished products to process and reasoned judgments.
Learning Session ID: S2D
Title: ChatterHigh: AI & Digital Literacy - Presenter: Kelly Dewhurst (ChatterHigh)
Audience: Educators Grades 6+
Teachers will learn about a free and bilingual digital tool to use with their students to explore Artificial Intelligence and Media Literacy. Guidance will be given to create accounts and to be led through both the student and educator experience. Some time will be given for teachers to begin completing the AI For Educators course, which, upon completion, will give each participant an entry into a draw for $250 cash.
Learning Session ID: S2E
Title: Behind the AI Curtain: it's not magic! - Presenter: Timothy King (Information & Communications Technology Council of Canada ICTC-CTIC)
Audience: ALL
The rapid evolution of narrow artificial intelligence is already reshaping classrooms, yet adoption is often driven by marketing and fear of missing out than by pedagogy. This keynote will unpack what today’s ‘narrow AI’ actually is and how it works and will examine its role in learning from a constructivist perspective so educators can separate hype from reality. We will look at practical classroom examples, decision making frameworks, and emerging best practices that help teachers use AI to deepen critical thinking rather than automate it away. Educators will leave with a clearer mental model of AI, concrete questions to ask before adopting new tools, and strategies to leverage this technology to improve learning outcomes that protect student agency.
Learning Session ID: S2F
Title: Enhancing Cognitive Agency in an AI World - Presenter: Garfield Gini-Newman (TC2)
Audience: Educators Grades 6+
Many traditional forms of evaluating student learning are AI compromised leaving them inadequate sources of evidence. AI is quickly emerging to be as much of a pedagogical issue as it is a technology issue. During this session Garfield will explore practical approaches to valuing the process of thinking and a renewed approach to sustained critical inquiry that puts students' cognitive agency at the core. Participants will explore 4 frames for nurturing quality thinking and will consider how intentional use of AI can actually contribute to enhancing cognitive agency.
Learning Session ID: S2G
Title: Designing Research Assignments That Reveal Student Thinking in the Age of GenAI - Presenter: Kelley Packalen (Smith School of Business, Queen's University)
Audience: Educators Grades 6+
As GenAI tools make it easier for students to outsource research and writing, teachers need assessment strategies that reveal rather than replace students’ own reading, thinking, and reasoning. This workshop introduces two practical approaches for designing research based argumentative assignments where students must “show their work.” The first option, a walled garden strategy, uses a curated source set and guides students to demonstrate how they moved from an original text to the statements they include in their writing. The second option, a milestone based accountability model, supports open research but requires students to document and evaluate sources through high quality annotated bibliographies and staged verification checkpoints.
Learning Session ID: S2H
Title: Introducing the Canva Code Tool for Educators - Presenter: Bill Cororan (EdTech Partner Educational Consulting Inc)
Audience: ALL
Unlock a new dimension of creativity in the classroom with Canva Code, a powerful new feature that brings coding and design together in an intuitive, visual environment. In this session, educators will explore how Canva Code can be used to teach fundamental coding concepts and build interactive learning opportunities for students across all subjects. Canva Code empowers both educators to create and innovate with ease. No advanced coding experience required—just imagination!
Learning Session ID: S2I
Title: Artificial Intelligence: Modern Tools for 21st Century Educators - Presenter: Alex Piliounis (Ontario Tech University Engineering Outreach)
Audience: ALL
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an evolving technology that has had a massive impact on how tasks can be done in any career. In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore the fundamentals of how AI works, and explore the risks and affordances of this tool - emphasizing augmenting an educator's capacity as opposed to outright replacing them. Educators can expect to explore assessment and evaluation as a part of this workshop.
Learning Session ID: S2J
Title: Unlearn. Think. Question: Teaching Critical Thinking and Finding Balance in the Age of AI - Presenter: Christopher Mark Dsouza (unlearn.)
Audience: ALL
Unlearn. Think. Question: Teaching Critical Thinking and Finding Balance in the Age of A.I.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how students search for information, complete assignments, and interact with knowledge. While AI can produce quick responses and polished text, it cannot replace the deeply human capacities of curiosity, empathy, ethical judgment, and critical thinking.
In this interactive session, educators will explore how to foster critical thinking in students in a world where answers can appear instantly. Using a thought-provoking unlearn. visual design, participants will engage in dialogue about the opportunities and challenges AI presents in education. Together we will explore questions such as: What bias exists in AI systems? What perspectives shape the information they generate? How can educators encourage students to question, verify, and think more deeply about what they see?
Participants will leave with practical strategies to strengthen digital literacy, nurture thoughtful inquiry, and help students use AI responsibly while keeping critical thinking at the center of learning.
Learning Session ID: S2K
Title: Microsoft Copilot - Focused Professional Learning - Generative AI Prompt-a-thon for Teachers - Presenter: Martha Jez (Fair Chance Learning)
Audience: ALL
This option is designed for boards seeking hands-on, practical experience using Microsoft Copilot within their existing M365 environment. Sessions are grounded in ethical and responsible use and focus on immediate classroom and workflow application.
This hands-on session supports educators in applying generative AI tools to authentic instructional tasks using Microsoft Copilot.
Hands-on focus areas include:
•Lesson planning and instructional design
•Differentiated instruction
•Assessment and feedback supports
•Classroom and instructional administration
Hands-on focus areas include:
•Lesson planning and instructional design
•Differentiated instruction
•Assessment and feedback supports
•Classroom and instructional administration
Outcomes: Educators leave with practical examples, reusable prompts, and strategies they can immediately apply in their teaching practice.
Learning Session ID: S2L
Title: Impactful Leadership for AI Implementation - Presenter: Tom D'Amico (AI Leadership Consulting Inc)
Audience: School Leaders
This session provides a high-level overview of generative AI through the lens of public education values, Ontario governance expectations, and system leadership.
Learning Session ID: S2M
Title: L’Intelligence artificielle pour mieux planifier et pour générer ses propres ressources orales. - Presenter: Denis Cousineau (Consultant CECR TFO Education)
Audience: Educators FSL
Denis Cousineau présentera des façons concrètes d’utiliser l’intelligence artificielle pour appuyer la planification en FLS et créer des ressources orales adaptées. Les participant(e)s découvriront comment l’IA peut faciliter l’approche actionnelle, générer des amorces authentiques et offrir des tâches orales différenciées. Ils repartiront avec des stratégies simples et directement transférables en classe.
Learning Session ID: S2N
Title: What Teachers Need to Know About Artificial Intelligence - Presenter: Anthony Carabuche (OECTA)
Audience: ALL
AI is advancing faster than any technology we’ve ever seen. Supporters highlight its benefits, but the truth is that it also carries serious risks that could cause lasting harm if left unchecked. Those who protect the public good must stay alert and defend what it means to be human in an age of automation. Teachers hold a vital duty to help young people think critically, solve problems, and show care and compassion. Using AI without safeguards puts both educators and students at risk, not only from privacy breaches or plagiarism, but from a gradual loss of the very human skills and values education is meant to develop, uphold and strengthen.
Learning Session ID: S2O
Title: Empowering Educators with the power of Canva AI - Presenter: Derek Tangredi (Logics Academy)
Audience: ALL
Logics Academy will be hosting a professional learning session designed to empower educators with Canva AI and practical ways to integrate artificial intelligence into K–12 teaching and learning. The one‑hour session is crafted to help educators enhance creativity, streamline workflow, and design engaging learning materials with ease all while modelling responsible and ethical use of AI in education.
Learning Session ID: S2P
Title: Teaching Smarter, Not Harder—with Copilot - Presenter: Josh Fraser (Microsoft EDU)
Audience: ALL
This session introduces K 12 educators to Microsoft Copilot Chat as a practical, responsible AI assistant that supports teaching, learning, and educator productivity. Educators will gain a foundational understanding of what Copilot is, how to interact with it effectively through prompting, and where it can be applied in day to day educational tasks such as lesson planning, differentiation, assessment creation, and professional communication—while reinforcing that educators remain in control of instructional decisions. The session also highlights accessibility and inclusive design, demonstrating how Copilot can support diverse learners and educators through reading and writing assistance, plain language explanations, translation, and support for neurodiverse and multilingual classrooms.
Learning Session ID: S2Q
Title: Nurturing Health Digital Environments - Presenter: Melissa Burns (Let's Talk Science)
Audience: Educators Grades K-6
In today's increasingly digital world, it’s more important than ever to equip students with the skills and strategies they need to navigate online environments safely and effectively. This Let’s Talk Science session explores approaches to building digital literacy while supporting students’ physical and mental well-being in the context of technology use.
Learning Session ID: S2R
Title: Wayground - Your ALCDSB Premium AI Tool for Interactive and Engaging Lessons, Assessments and More! - Presenter: Andrew Bieronski (Wayground)
Audience: ALL
Wayground is a go-to for teachers to create and share engaging activities with their students with the help of AI! Come to learn how to quickly share fun yet rigorous assessments with a variety of question types. Wayground is now much more than a quiz tool though - learn about our new and improved Lessons tool, which enables you to use your slide deck, add interactivity and questions, and share it to your students to have them follow you live in class or access asynchronously at their own pace. See how to use these tools along with the Interactive Videos, Passages and Flashcards tools, all with a boost from AI via your ALCDSB premium access!
Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School
Schedule - Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School - Click here
| 8:30 a.m. | Arrival - Light Refreshments provided. |
| 8:45 a.m. | Opening Remarks |
| 9:00 a.m. | Opening Keynote: AI and Me: Student Panel |
| 9:30 a.m. | Social Break |
| 10:00 a.m. | Learning Session 1 |
| 11:00 a.m. | Lunch - Bring your own or go and grab. |
| 12:00 p.m. | Learning Session 2 |
| 1:00 p.m. | Social Break |
| 1:15 p.m. | Closing Keynote: Tom D'Amico |
| 2:30 p.m | Closing |
Learning Session 1 - Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School - 10:00 a.m. - Click here
Learning Session ID: S1A
Title: AI and Executive Functions: Using AI as a critical friend - Presenter: Laurie Faith (University of Toronto)
Audience: ALL
Using AI as a critical friend: Does "jamming" enable control, agency, cognitive engagement, and reasonable accommodation? Come learn with Dr. Laurie Faith, author of Executive Function Skills in the Classroom, to deepen your thinking of supporting student EF's!
Learning Session ID: S1B
Title: Human-Led AI: From the Job Hunt to the Workplace - Presenter: German Arcila (Digital Moment)
Audience: Educators Grades 9+
This workshop provides educators with a practical toolkit to guide Grade 9 to 12 students through the transition to an AI-integrated workforce. We will move beyond theory to show how students can use AI tools honestly and effectively. First to navigate the job market through tailored applications and interview prep, and then to handle entry-level tasks with greater efficiency. This approach is centered around the AI Assessment Scale (AIAS), which we will use to teach students how to stay in control of the technology. You will leave with strategies to help students adapt to workplace restrictions, maintain ethical standards, and use the AIAS to ensure their own critical thinking remains the driving force behind every task.
Learning Session ID: S1C
Title: Thinking for a Warming World: Assessment, Discernment, and AI - Presenter: Maria Vamvalis (The Critical Thinking Consortium)
Audience: ALL
This practical workshop focuses on what educators can actually influence: assessment and professional judgment. Together, we will explore how to design tasks that strengthen transformative thinking habits such as critical inquiry, relational awareness, and the ability to work through complexity and discomfort. We will also develop discernment around when and how to use AI, and identify clear criteria to guide our stewardship of this powerful technological tool. Participants will examine ways to make student thinking more visible and to shift emphasis from polished products to process and reasoned judgments.
Learning Session ID: S1D
Title: ChatterHigh: AI & Digital Literacy - Presenter: Kelly Dewhurst (ChatterHigh)
Audience: ALL
Teachers will learn about a free and bilingual digital tool to use with their students to explore Artificial Intelligence and Media Literacy. Guidance will be given to create accounts and to be led through both the student and educator experience. Some time will be given for teachers to begin completing the AI For Educators course, which, upon completion, will give each participant an entry into a draw for $250 cash.
Learning Session ID: S1E
Title: Behind the AI Curtain: it's not magic! - Presenter: Timothy King (Information & Communications Technology Council of Canada ICTC-CTIC)
Audience: ALL
The rapid evolution of narrow artificial intelligence is already reshaping classrooms, yet adoption is often driven by marketing and fear of missing out than by pedagogy. This keynote will unpack what today’s ‘narrow AI’ actually is and how it works and will examine its role in learning from a constructivist perspective so educators can separate hype from reality. We will look at practical classroom examples, decision making frameworks, and emerging best practices that help teachers use AI to deepen critical thinking rather than automate it away. Educators will leave with a clearer mental model of AI, concrete questions to ask before adopting new tools, and strategies to leverage this technology to improve learning outcomes that protect student agency.
Learning Session ID: S1F
Title: CTRL-F: Digital Media Literacy in the Age of AI - Presenter: Ken Boyd (CIVIX)
Audience: Educators Grades 4+
Through this session we will practice evidence-based strategies for verifying online sources and claims, with a focus on AI-generated content. We will look at new resources from the CTRL-F: Digital Media Literacy program that demystifies generative AI by learning how it works and how it fails, examine the ethical implications of generative AI, and reflect on how AI can be used responsibly in the classroom.
Learning Session ID: S1G
Title: Enhancing Cognitive Agency in an AI World - Presenter: Garfield Gini-Newman (TC2)
Audience: Educators Grades 6+
Many traditional forms of evaluating student learning are AI compromised leaving them inadequate sources of evidence. AI is quickly emerging to be as much of a pedagogical issue as it is a technology issue. During this session Garfield will explore practical approaches to valuing the process of thinking and a renewed approach to sustained critical inquiry that puts students' cognitive agency at the core. Participants will explore 4 frames for nurturing quality thinking and will consider how intentional use of AI can actually contribute to enhancing cognitive agency.
Learning Session ID: S1H
Title: Designing Research Assignments That Reveal Student Thinking in the Age of GenAI - Presenter: Kelley Packalen (Smith School of Business, Queen's University)
Audience: Educators Grades 6+
As GenAI tools make it easier for students to outsource research and writing, teachers need assessment strategies that reveal rather than replace students’ own reading, thinking, and reasoning. This workshop introduces two practical approaches for designing research based argumentative assignments where students must “show their work.” The first option, a walled garden strategy, uses a curated source set and guides students to demonstrate how they moved from an original text to the statements they include in their writing. The second option, a milestone based accountability model, supports open research but requires students to document and evaluate sources through high quality annotated bibliographies and staged verification checkpoints.
Learning Session ID: S1I
Title: Introducing the Canva Code Tool for Educators - Presenter: Bill Cororan (EdTech Partner Educational Consulting Inc)
Audience: ALL
Unlock a new dimension of creativity in the classroom with Canva Code, a powerful new feature that brings coding and design together in an intuitive, visual environment. In this session, educators will explore how Canva Code can be used to teach fundamental coding concepts and build interactive learning opportunities for students across all subjects. Canva Code empowers both educators to create and innovate with ease. No advanced coding experience required—just imagination!
Learning Session ID: S1J
Title: Picture This: AI Image Generation for Critical Thinking & Storytelling - Presenter: Sue Haywood (Smith School of Business, Queen's University)
Note: Service Dog will be in attendance
Audience: ALL
In this interactive session, attendees will explore practical ways to use AI to increase creativity, critical thinking, and student engagement by redesigning traditional assignments and tasks into richer, more authentic learning experiences. Attendees will examine how AI can be used as a thinking partner to help students generate ideas, test perspectives, strengthen arguments, and improve communication, while keeping the focus on human judgment, evidence, and originality.
Learning Session ID: S1K
Title: Artificial Intelligence: Modern Tools for 21st Century Educators - Presenter: Alex Piliounis (Ontario Tech University Engineering Outreach)
Audience: ALL
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an evolving technology that has had a massive impact on how tasks can be done in any career. In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore the fundamentals of how AI works, and explore the risks and affordances of this tool - emphasizing augmenting an educator's capacity as opposed to outright replacing them. Educators can expect to explore assessment and evaluation as a part of this workshop.
Learning Session ID: S1L
Title: Unlearn. Think. Question: Teaching Critical Thinking and Finding Balance in the Age of AI - Presenter: Christopher Mark Dsouza (unlearn.)
Audience: ALL
Unlearn. Think. Question: Teaching Critical Thinking and Finding Balance in the Age of A.I.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how students search for information, complete assignments, and interact with knowledge. While AI can produce quick responses and polished text, it cannot replace the deeply human capacities of curiosity, empathy, ethical judgment, and critical thinking.
In this interactive session, educators will explore how to foster critical thinking in students in a world where answers can appear instantly. Using a thought-provoking unlearn. visual design, participants will engage in dialogue about the opportunities and challenges AI presents in education. Together we will explore questions such as: What bias exists in AI systems? What perspectives shape the information they generate? How can educators encourage students to question, verify, and think more deeply about what they see?
Participants will leave with practical strategies to strengthen digital literacy, nurture thoughtful inquiry, and help students use AI responsibly while keeping critical thinking at the center of learning.
Learning Session ID: S1M
Title: Microsoft Copilot - Focused Professional Learning - Generative AI Prompt-a-thon for Teachers - Presenter: Martha Jez (Fair Chance Learning)
Audience: ALL
This option is designed for boards seeking hands-on, practical experience using Microsoft Copilot within their existing M365 environment. Sessions are grounded in ethical and responsible use and focus on immediate classroom and workflow application.
This hands-on session supports educators in applying generative AI tools to authentic instructional tasks using Microsoft Copilot.
Hands-on focus areas include:
•Lesson planning and instructional design
•Differentiated instruction
•Assessment and feedback supports
•Classroom and instructional administration
Hands-on focus areas include:
•Lesson planning and instructional design
•Differentiated instruction
•Assessment and feedback supports
•Classroom and instructional administration
Outcomes: Educators leave with practical examples, reusable prompts, and strategies they can immediately apply in their teaching practice.
Learning Session ID: S1N
Title: Impactful Leadership for AI Implementation - Presenter: Tom D'Amico (AI Leadership Consulting Inc)
Audience: School Leaders
This session provides a high-level overview of generative AI through the lens of public education values, Ontario governance expectations, and system leadership.
Learning Session ID: S1O
Title: What Teachers Need to Know About Artificial Intelligence - Presenter: Anthony Carabuche (OECTA)
Audience: ALL
AI is advancing faster than any technology we’ve ever seen. Supporters highlight its benefits, but the truth is that it also carries serious risks that could cause lasting harm if left unchecked. Those who protect the public good must stay alert and defend what it means to be human in an age of automation. Teachers hold a vital duty to help young people think critically, solve problems, and show care and compassion. Using AI without safeguards puts both educators and students at risk, not only from privacy breaches or plagiarism, but from a gradual loss of the very human skills and values education is meant to develop, uphold and strengthen.
Learning Session ID: S1P
Title: L’Intelligence artificielle pour mieux planifier et pour générer ses propres ressources orales. - Presenter: Denis Cousineau (Consultant CECR TFO Education)
Audience: Educators FSL
Denis Cousineau présentera des façons concrètes d’utiliser l’intelligence artificielle pour appuyer la planification en FLS et créer des ressources orales adaptées. Les participant(e)s découvriront comment l’IA peut faciliter l’approche actionnelle, générer des amorces authentiques et offrir des tâches orales différenciées. Ils repartiront avec des stratégies simples et directement transférables en classe.
Learning Session ID: S1Q
Title: Fostering Reflection: How Digital Media Influences Us - Presenter: Meghan Polowin (Let's Talk Science)
Audience: Educators Grades 4+
Understanding algorithms and their impact on our everyday lives is crucial in the digital age. Throughout this Let’s Talk Science session, participants will explore how algorithms influence the digital content we receive online and consider how echo chambers can shape decision-making. We will also examine the long-term implications of digital footprints and discuss strategies educators can use to support responsible online behaviour with their students
Learning Session ID: S1R
Title: Shaping the Agentic Future: Intelligent Agents for K-12 Innovation - Presenter: David Kozera (Microsoft EDU)
Audience: ALL
This session delves into the transformative potential of intelligent agents in K-12 education. Attendees will explore the emerging agentic future, examining available templates and prebuilt solutions designed to support admin, educators, and students. The presentation will highlight Copilot Studio’s role in creating and customizing agents that enhance teaching and learning while maintaining alignment with educational goals and standards. Join us to discover how these innovative tools can be seamlessly integrated into school environments to foster engagement, efficiency, and personalized learning experiences.
Learning Session ID: S1S
Title: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Harnessing Wayground's AI and Accommodations to Connect All Learners - Presenter Erin Pickles (Wayground)
Audience: ALL
In our rapidly evolving educational landscape, educators face the challenge of creating inclusive learning environments that cater to diverse student needs while preparing them for an ever-changing world. This workshop explores how Wayground's cutting-edge AI features and robust accommodation tools can be leveraged to construct bridges across various aspects of education, ensuring no learner is left behind. You will discover how to make the most of ALCDSB’s premium Wayground access using its AI-powered content generation and adaptive learning pathways tools, combined with its comprehensive accommodations features, to create a more connected, accessible, and personalized educational experience for your students. Make personalization and differentiation easy and walk into your next class ready to go!
Learning Session 2 - Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School - 12:00 p.m. - Click here
Learning Session ID: S2A
Title: Working Smarter not Harder, How I Integrate AI Into My Classroom and You Can Too - Presenter: Jasmine Chapman (ALCDSB)
Audience: Educators Grades 9+
Join Jasmine Chapman for an engaging, hands-on workshop designed to guide educators through practical, classroom-ready AI tools that support both teaching and student learning. Participants will actively explore and create activities using platforms such as Canva, Wayground, Copilot and Padlet to enhance creativity, assessment, collaboration, and engagement. This interactive session emphasizes real-world application, educator buy-in, and sustainable implementation strategies aligned with curriculum expectations and Catholic Graduate Expectations. Educators will leave with ready-to-use resources, increased confidence, and practical experience integrating AI intentionally and effectively in their classrooms.
Learning Session ID: S2B
Title: Practical AI for Teachers: Simple Strategies That Work - Presenter: Nathan Compeau (ALCDSB)
Audience: ALL
This session is designed for teachers who are curious about AI but are not sure where to start. Grounded in real classroom experience, it focuses on simple, practical ways AI can act as a teaching assistant to save time, support students, and strengthen everyday practice. Participants will see how AI can help generate exemplars, create practice materials, refresh lessons, differentiate for diverse learners, clarify instructions, and draft parent communication, all while keeping teacher judgment and voice at the centre. No technical background is required. The emphasis is on small, realistic strategies that educators can try immediately. Teachers will leave with concrete prompt starters, a clearer understanding of AI’s strengths and limitations, and the confidence to begin using these tools in ways that are ethical, effective, and manageable. It will be best to bring a device to this session in order to try out some of the tools!
Learning Session ID: S2C
Title: Exploring AI & Student Mental Health - Presenter: Cheryl Bechard Howe (ALCDSB)
Audience: ALL
Exploring AI & Student Mental Health: This workshop explores how artificial intelligence is shaping the daily experiences and mental health of students. It offers a balanced look at how AI can support student well‑being while highlighting the importance of teaching students to use these tools responsibly and with a critical lens.
Learning Session ID: S2D
Title: AI With Intention: Maintaining Educator Discernment in Special Education Planning - Presenters: Jessica Corcoran, Nicole Gray & Maureen Murphy (ALCDSB)
Audience: ALL
AI With Intention: Maintaining Educator Discernment in Special Education Planning - In this hands-on session, participants will explore the use of well-written prompts to support developing accommodations and modifications.
Learning Session ID: S2E
Title: A conversation about AI and Indigenous Education - Presenter: Roberta Laplante (ALCDSB)
Audience: ALL
A conversation about how AI intersects with Indigenous Education Curriculum: how we interact, position ourselves, and current protocols. We will share where we are in this conversation. How do we work with AI in this area of curriculum and learning?
Learning Session ID: S2F
Title: Nurturing Healthy Digital Environments - Presenter: Meghan Polowin (Let's Talk Science)
Audience: Educators Grades K-6
In today's increasingly digital world, it’s more important than ever to equip students with the skills and strategies they need to navigate online environments safely and effectively. This Let’s Talk Science session explores approaches to building digital literacy while supporting students’ physical and mental well-being in the context of technology use.
Learning Session ID: S2G
Title: Shaping the Agentic Future: Intelligent Agents for K-12 Innovation - Presenter: David Kozera (Microsoft EDU)
Audience: ALL
This session delves into the transformative potential of intelligent agents in K-12 education. Attendees will explore the emerging agentic future, examining available templates and prebuilt solutions designed to support admin, educators, and students. The presentation will highlight Copilot Studio’s role in creating and customizing agents that enhance teaching and learning while maintaining alignment with educational goals and standards. Join us to discover how these innovative tools can be seamlessly integrated into school environments to foster engagement, efficiency, and personalized learning experiences.
Learning Session ID: S2H
Title: AI from an Assistive Technology Perspective - Presenter: Yvonne Christie (ALCDSB)
Audience: Educators Grades K-8
Elementary classrooms are wonderfully diverse—and meeting all learners where they are requires intentional design. This session shows how educators can use AI as a practical co planner to differentiate instruction for students with learning disabilities while honouring Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and classroom accommodations.
Learning Session ID: S2I
Title: What's the Church saying about AI? - Presenter: Mike Gundert (ALCDSB)
Audience: ALL
Come and explore what the Church is teaching us about AI. The workshop will explore a variety of topics including Pope Leo's statements, ethical considerations, and the importance of digital citizenship in this quickly evolving technology.
Learning Session ID: S2J
Title: Your ALCDSB Premium AI Tool for Interactive and Engaging Lessons, Assessments and More! - Presenter Erin Pickles (Wayground)
Audience: ALL
Wayground is a go-to for teachers to create and share engaging activities with their students with the help of AI! Come to learn how to quickly share fun yet rigorous assessments with a variety of question types. Wayground is now much more than a quiz tool though - learn about our new and improved Lessons tool, which enables you to use your slide deck, add interactivity and questions, and share it to your students to have them follow you live in class or access asynchronously at their own pace. See how to use these tools along with the Interactive Videos, Passages and Flashcards tools, all with a boost from AI via your ALCDSB premium access!
Learning Session ID: S2K
Title: Amplifying Voices: AI for Supporting Multilingual Learners - Presenter: Loreina De Vuono (ALCDSB)
Audience: ALL
Discover how emerging AI tools can help create more inclusive, accessible, and engaging learning environments for multilingual students. This hands-on workshop introduces practical AI strategies for scaffolding language development, differentiating instruction, and removing barriers to communication. Participants will explore classroom-ready tools for translation, vocabulary building, content adaptation, and student voice amplification—all grounded in ethical, culturally responsive practice. Leave with concrete examples, resources, and confidence to leverage AI in ways that honour and uplift every learner’s linguistic identity.
Learning Session ID: S2L
Title: Understanding AI & Strengthening Security Across Our Schools - Presenter: Dayo Badamasi (ALCDSB)
Audience: ALL
This presentation will give a practical overview of what AI really is, including large language models, different types of AI, and how these tools show up in everyday life. We’ll look at how AI is used in both good and bad ways—from phishing, malware, and deepfakes to approved educational tools like Copilot and Wayground that protect student data and keep information inside our secure environment. The session also covers how AI supports data hygiene by identifying overshared files, confidential data in the wrong locations, and applying DLP and retention policies. We’ll highlight the AI driven security protections running in the background and conclude with staff responsibilities, guardrails, and how AI can help with everyday tasks while still relying on human knowledge and judgment.
Learning Session ID: S2M
Title: VIRTUAL - AI & Order: Navigating Responsible Use of Generative AI in a Highschool Classroom - Presenter: Marcus Blair (School District 67 (Okanagan-Skaha))
Audience: Educators 9+
Come explore how a high school classroom can lead the way in transparent and responsible AI integration. This session invites educators to reflect on responsible use, student disclosure, and practical strategies for embedding generative AI into learning with clarity and purpose. Together, we’ll look at how intentional classroom practices can make AI use visible, meaningful, and aligned with the goals we have for our learners.
Learning Session ID: S2N
Title: CTRL-F: Digital Media Literacy in the Age of AI - Presenter: Ken Boyd (CIVIX)
Audience: Educators Grades 4+
Through this session we will practice evidence-based strategies for verifying online sources and claims, with a focus on AI-generated content. We will look at new resources from the CTRL-F: Digital Media Literacy program that demystifies generative AI by learning how it works and how it fails, examine the ethical implications of generative AI, and reflect on how AI can be used responsibly in the classroom.
Learning Session ID: S2O
Title: Picture This: AI Image Generation for Critical Thinking & Storytelling - Presenter: Sue Haywood (Smith School of Business, Queen's University)
Note: Service Dog will be in attendance
Audience: ALL
In this interactive session, attendees will explore practical ways to use AI to increase creativity, critical thinking, and student engagement by redesigning traditional assignments and tasks into richer, more authentic learning experiences. Attendees will examine how AI can be used as a thinking partner to help students generate ideas, test perspectives, strengthen arguments, and improve communication, while keeping the focus on human judgment, evidence, and originality.