Thank you for joining us at TeacherCon 2022

Using Scratch to Create Language Literacy Games

Coding and language literacy are essential building blocks for a young learner. In this session, Pinnguaq will review resources and techniques for educating K-3 students on the rich frameworks available for learning and combining both.

As an organization focused on rural, remote and Indigenous learning, Pinnguaq will share resources for educators that promote the importance of language and literacy in the communities you work in. This will include an introduction to the “Inuktitut Digital Literacy Game Engine,” a resource developed with the Nunavut Literacy Council that provides educators with the tools to customize their own small-scale literacy games (Inuktitut focused, or otherwise) in the Scratch engine.

Educators will see samples of free resources like Root & STEM (our educator publication), Aaqqiksugaq (an early literacy app) and Nanili (a ‘learn to code’ game developed by Pinnguaq) as examples of the type of tools available.

Educators will be introduced to a small sample of the over 250+ free lessons developed by the Pinnguaq Association and our community partners that celebrate literacy, digital skills and expression.

This session can be applied to grades K-3.

Tackling Cyberbullying with Machine Learning

Have you ever wondered about the technology that powers your voice assistants? Applications like Siri and Alexa are possible thanks to Machine Learning models and large amounts of data!

In this interactive session, we’ll use a friendly, code-free way to create models and explore the applications of data to detect potential cyberbullying. We’ll engage in a discussion on bias in data, data privacy, and how to responsibly use Machine Learning to make automated decisions. To top it off, we’ll create an interactive chat-bot in Scratch to use our cyberbullying-detection model!

This session can be applied to grades 4-6

Envisioning Canada in VR

What does the future of Canada look like? Anishinabe intermedia artist Scott Benesiinaabandan gives us a glimpse at his vision with his “2167” Virtual Reality experience. Among its other applications, Virtual Reality is such an exciting medium for storytelling. Putting someone directly into an interactive and immersive environment can allow us to deliver impactful experiences!

In this session, we’ll use HTML to create our own virtual artwork while learning about 3D shapes and coordinates.

This session can be applied to grades 7-9.

Brilliant Labs Machine Learning /Video Sensing with Scratch!

Join Brilliant Labs for an introduction to artificial intelligence by teaching a computer how to use machine learning using Scratch. Participants will need access to a Chromebook or laptop with a camera.

This session can be applied to grades K-3.

Interactive Cross Curricular Coding & Dynamic Modelling

Please join this interactive session where participants will explore tactile coding experiences. In this constructionist-based session, users will uncover key learning concepts within the Math and Science curriculum while fostering synergies in other subject disciplines as well. There is no experience required as we hope to break down key pedagogical concepts into both unplugged and technology enabled environments while showcasing a variety of assessment strategies within. This session will highlight a variety of tools to highlight the affordances od coding.

This session may be applied to grades 4-6.

Neural Networks: Introducing your Students to AI

A neural network is a tool used in machine learning, which is the foundation of modern artificial intelligence (AI). Inspired by human brain neurons, each neuron makes a small decision which combines into a network that helps us detect and make more complex predictions.

In this workshop, we’ll focus on AI within the realm of education and identify its importance in preparing students for the future of work. We’ll walk you through a few example neural networks strongly tied to the curriculum before giving you a chance to build your own neural network using a free tool developed by STEAMLabs. You’ll also have a chance to connect with other educators to discuss the implications of ethics on AI and apply an ethics lens to the assessment resources provided.

This session may be applied to grades 7-9.

A Review of Pinnguaq Teacher Resources That Use Art to Explore Coding

Root & STEM is a free K-12 educator resource published twice a year (Fall and Spring), providing a holistic approach to STEAM education, merging heart and head while pushing the boundaries for how Canada thinks about science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.

In this session, Pinguaq will review the educator resources that use art to explore STEAM learning, including; a great set of lesson plans, interactive games, and articles. You can expect to leave with over 40 pieces of K-12 STEAM resources from Root & STEM!

Each issue features diverse contributors and perspectives on STEAM education, including First Nation, Inuit and Métis, and women in STEAM, to ensure students and educators can see themselves in the articles, activities, and classroom-ready lesson plans.

The latest issue of Root & STEM explores the sky and stars above us and the scientific perspectives behind space exploration. From thinking about life in our galaxy with an Indigenous lens to exploring the different perspectives of the sky and stellar knowledge, this issue asks students to understand their connection to the universe and how it can impact human life.

This session can be applied to grades K-3.

Heads-up! with micro:bit

Looking for a way to put those micro:bits to use while connecting to course content? Challenge your learners to program a simple yet fun game to learn the fundamentals of coding and digitize your favourite drama games!

In this session for educators, we will explore applications in computer science concepts, including variables, arrays, and generating random numbers. With a focus on effective pedagogical practice, participants will learn how to program a micro:bit to create a Heads-Up game that can be customized for various subject areas, including drama, science, social science, mathematics, French, literacy and physical education. While participants will be primarily working with the MakeCode block-based editor, for those who would like an added challenge, a Python editor option will be provided. Additional challenges and extension ideas will be shared. Participants will leave with links to activities that can be incorporated into both online and onsite classroom environments.

*You do not need a micro:bit to participate in this session.

This session may be applied to grades 4-6.

Generative Art with JavaScript

This workshop will focus on how to teach the fundamentals of computer programming in a visual context, highlighting how simple mathematical equations can create beautiful and engaging artwork. (We promise you don’t need to be a math wizard – Processing does the calculating for us!)

We’ll use p5.js, which is a Processing ‘flavour’ that builds upon the JavaScript programming language and is often used in electronic arts, new media art, and visual design. We explore geometrical shapes and lines to create interactivity with our mouse and keyboard, and use colours to create visually intricate designs! Finally, you’ll leave us with some plug-and-play lesson plans you can use to get started teaching and assessing coding and visual arts in your own classroom.

This session can be applied to grades 7-9.