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Our 2020 Program: Cancelled due to COVID-19

We held out as long as we could to decide on whether it would be possible to run this year’s Canadian Institute for Digital Literacies Learning, but in May of 2020, and in collaboration with our incredibly generous institutional partner, the Canada Science and Technology Museum, we had to make the difficult decision to cancel our program.

This is certainly not the end of this institute — but it does mean that we need to rethink what it might become in the years ahead.

To all of our participants past and future, we thank you for all of the ways that you have contributed to the development of new networks, new thinking, new research. There is so much work to do. Together, we can build schools where this and future generations of Canadian students can come to know themselves as powerful digital meaning makers. Until we meet again, stay healthy and take care of one another.

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#LNDLCA 2018 : The biggest learning take-away?

On the last morning of our Canadian Institute for Digital Literacies Learning, we invited participants to share their biggest learning take-away(s) on a Padlet. We hoped that this final, open reflection would help all of us to reflect on our own learning in relation to, and because of the collaborations we experienced during the week.

Made with Padlet
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Illuminated Discoveries: Learning to Use the LilyPad

Written by Julie-Anne Turner, MA Candidate, University of Ottawa

“Here are the LilyPads, there are batteries in the box, and lights too. And don’t forget the needles! “

Michelle handed me the box of supplies, and enthusiastically, I moved to a classroom to begin my project, which consisted of sewing an LED light on a T-shirt of the Institute. I decided to start exploring e-textiles as a preparation for the Maker stream, having never had the chance to play with these tools.

I admit to having some sewing skills, having learned at an early age to do basic repairs, so this component of the project did not cause me any concern. In addition, in terms of knowledge about electricity and circuits, I could hear the echo of my father’s voice in my head: “It’s simple, positives with positives, negatives with negatives ! “

But where to start? And how? I had before me a panoply of tools and gadgets, but no idea how to start my process. So, I must admit that starting the activity was the hardest step for me. Intimidated by a battery and an LED light, this is ridiculous! But, it’s the truth: I had a slight discomfort of this freedom to create.

So, like many Makers today, I found myself looking on Youtube to understand how to tie the battery on the fabric. The first step was to sew the battery in place and then pass the wire to the LED light in order to have a connection between the two positives.

Eager to know if I was on the right track, I decided then to take a shortcut and test the circuit by completing it with the thread and my needle. Success! A little pink light illuminated, just like my face, which radiated of this pretty neat discovery! I then had to sew the wire so that the circuit remained in place.

After sewing the second thread, I could see that my light was still lit and that it was really a success. There you go!

Despite having pricked my fingers repeatedly, due to my lack of practice with sewing, I was able to quickly adapt to the task and finish the first stage of my project rather quickly. Completely energised by this light, I then decide to integrate another one! 

I can now better understand the importance of discovering while learning, and daring to try something new, since it is a very gratifying feeling!  Happy with my project, and filled with creative energy, I am now eagerly waiting to see what the Makers will create during the week of learning!

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Introducing Jamilee Baroud and Geneviève Cloutier

This summer, our Critical Digital Video Production stream will be led by two up-and-coming superstars at our Faculty who bring a wealth of experience as teachers, artists, and researchers to our #LNDLCA community. Jamilee Baroud and Geneviève Cloutier are doctoral candidates at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Education who have worked closely with Dr. Diane Watt and her media production and research teams. These young teacher-scholars were integral to the success of last year’s Institute and this year, they have stepped up to take the lead! In this short video, Jamilee and Geneviève introduce themselves and share a bit about the exciting work they will be leading during the Canadian Institute for Digital Literacies Learning this summer.

Digital Literacies Institute Intro Blog from Geneviève Cloutier on Vimeo.

 

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New Scholarship for B.Ed. and Graduate Students to Attend #LNDLCA

Thanks to the generous support of the Executive Council of the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa, we are thrilled to announce that ten University of Ottawa students who are currently registered in Graduate studies in a Graduate Diploma, M.Ed., M.A. or PhD program, or who are entering the second year of their initial teacher professional certification (B.Ed.) program will receive student enrichment fund scholarships to attend the 2018 Canadian Institute for Digital Literacies Learning.

Special Student Rate
Any registered student in Education at the Faculty of Education is eligible to apply. Given our interest in helping students to participate in this year’s Institute, any student who registers will be afforded a special registration rate of $450 (HST included).  This is 20% less than the early-bird rate and 35% less than the regular cost to attend the Institute.

The Scholarships
Eight students (four francophone students and four anglophone students) will receive $300 partial scholarships, which will cover two thirds of the cost to attend. Each scholarship recipient will pay the remaining cost of $150.

Two students (one francophone student and one anglophone student) who indicate financial need on their application will receive a full scholarship valued at $450.

Apply
To apply for this scholarship opportunity, please complete this form before 9 AM on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 (Eastern Time). Applications submitted after this stated deadline will not be considered.

Link to Application
https://goo.gl/forms/mHSD6C2Zddfn0z6Y2

Awards
If more than 10 eligible students apply, recipients will be selected at random in the presence of one or more members of the Executive Committee of the Faculty of Education. After the selection takes place, all applicants will be informed, whether successful in receiving an award or not, through their uOttawa email address.

Inquiries
Inquiries regarding this opportunity should be directed to Dr. Michelle Schira Hagerman at the Faculty of Education.
mhagerma@uottawa.ca

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Day of Code for Teacher Candidates

Today, we are absolutely thrilled to be able to offer our first-ever day of learning on coding and computational thinking for teacher candidates. This is possible because of a federal #CanCode grant to the Faculty of Engineering that has been shared with us in Education. Here are the slides we’ll be using through the day, just to give you a glimpse in the learning we will be doing throughout the day.

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Register Today!

The second annual Canadian Institute for Digital Literacies Learning will take place from Tuesday, July 10 to Friday, July 13th, 2018. We are very excited to announce that the week will kick off with a special Day of Coding for Teachers on Monday July 9th. This intro to coding day for teachers, which we can offer FREE of charge thanks to federal grant funding, is open to all 2017 and 2018 Institute participants, teacher candidates at the University of Ottawa, graduate students and Alumni of our professional Teacher Education and Graduate Programs. We also invite any in-service teacher who would like to simply be a part of our University of Ottawa digital literacies learning community.

Because the Institute, which offers participants an intensive theme-focused learning experience with the support of local and national leaders, there is a registration fee (early bird $499 + HST). The fee ensures we can offer catered lunches, access to the best possible expertise on our theme focused topics, prizes and individualized learning support for the 2018-2019 academic year to anyone who needs it.

We hope that everyone who registers for the Institute will also join us for the Day of Code. There are two separate registration portals for these events.

LINKS

Registration for the Canadian Institute for Digital Literacies Learning is open! 
Registration for the Day of Code is also open now — please use access code #LNDLCA to reserve your spot!

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much to our funding partners:

 

 

 

 

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Keynote Speaker for 2018: Dr. Michael Hoechsmann

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Michael Hoechsmann, Associate Professor at Lakehead University (Orillia) will speak to participants of the 2018 Canadian Institute for Digital Literacies Learning on Wednesday, July 11th. Dr. Hoechsmann is a nationally recognized expert in digital literacies in Canada. He is co-author of Media Literacies: A critical introduction (2012, Wiley) and co-author, with Helen DeWaard, of Mapping Digital Literacy Policy and Practice in the Canadian Education Landscape (2015, MediaSmarts.ca). Dr. Hoechsmann serves on the Board of Directors for MediaSmarts: Canada’s Centre for Digital and Media Literacy  and is the Canadian co-chair of the North American Network of UNESCO GAPMIL (Global Alliance of Partnerships for Media and Information Literacy).  His talk, entitled: Remix literacies in schools, communities and everyday life will offer participants new perspectives on what literacies mean in our digitally networked world.

Dr. Hoechsmann’s talk will be open to the public. Please join us!