MORNING KEYNOTE
Literacy, Technology, and the Evolving Social Landscape – Dr. Ron Darvin
In the 21st century, technology has become a critical factor in accessing knowledge, wealth, and power, and has transformed the way we learn, work, and communicate. At the same time, technology has shaped new forms of inequality, exclusion, and disinformation. In this keynote, Darvin maps out this evolving social landscape and identifies the literacy issues and challenges that confront us as we navigate an increasingly digitally-mediated world.
MORNING WORKSHOPS
Literacies and Identities: Diverse Ways of Knowing, Making Meaning, and Being in the World – Donna Kozak
Literacies and identities are essentially social, cultural, historical and ever changing. Literacies are located in interactions between people as a means to create and invite meaning. As socio-cultural beings, we are collections of multiple literacies that give us ways of knowing, help us make meaning, find belonging, and ultimately shape our identities. In this interactive session, we will explore the personal literacies that help define who we are in the world and discover what literacies give shape to our identities.
Our Best Selves: Why we prefer communicating by texts and emails over face to face conversation – Paul Zuurbier
Focusing on the work of MIT media scholar Dr. Sherry Turkle, the workshop will explore how a preference for texting and email impacts our ability to communicate on an intimate level. It asks the question; “Has the availability of constant connection and mobile communication created a shift away from person to person conversation and reduced our comfort with solitude?”
Effective Email: Clear Communication that Builds Work Place Relationships – Janice Love
Email has become a standard tool for communication, but, unless we take the time to reflect on how we create email, it can make both our work place messages and relationships messy. Learn what kind of communication email is best used for, and how to create clear messages that will be well received by your co-workers and clients.
If possible, please bring a copy of your last 20-30 outgoing (sent) emails.
AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS
Tell Me the Land, Walk Me a Story: How First Nations Memories are Linked to the Environment – Meredith Rusk
Indigenous Peoples have historic and contemporary relationships with the lands. Stories have been constructed from the lands and all that live and belong to it. Local First Peoples have place names that are marked by the stories that give meaning and hold their worldview and ways of being and doing. Through the oral transmission of stories from generation to generation relationships and life was sustained for thousands of years. When we walk through our stories of the past and present, we are able to tell about the lands.
Appetite to Play – Carolyn Gillespie
Physical Literacy is a journey… learn how to incorporate activities and games into your daily plans that will promote the development of fundamental movement skills in children. This interactive workshop will enhance knowledge, skills and confidence in creating an environment that supports physical activity for healthy childhood development. Let’s help children learn to move with confidence and competence! Participants should be dressed appropriately for activity.
Group Interaction and Discovery: Creating New Knowledge – Amanda Turner
This is a pick your own adventure session. Engage in interactive small group dialogues around topics identified by you and your co-attendees. Uncover people’s knowledge about ideas about the interplay of relationships, communication and technology. A stimulating peer learning and discovery workshop, sure to leave you thinking.
AFTERNOON PANEL
Social Literacy and the Culture of Learning Panel – Dr. Ron Darvin, Christopher Stephenson, & Meredith Rusk, Moderated by Paul Zuurbier
A panel providing several viewpoints and perspectives on the value and opportunities for gathering people together to shape their understanding of the world.
EVENING KEYNOTE
Family Screen-Time – Dr. Susan Holtzman, Zak Draper and Joanna Cann
UBC Okanagan researchers, in collaboration with Project Literacy Central Okanagan Society, Childhood Connections, and the Central Okanagan Early Years Partnership have launched a new research study, “Do Families Need to Power Down to Connect? A Study of Technology, Relationships, and Wellbeing.” The discussion will focus on how patterns of technology use are impacting families with young children. To learn more about the study or to participate go to familyscreentime.ca
—
