Exciting Updates

Return here for exciting updates on what is available at Teaching and Learning Above the Line: Access for All conference.


  • REGISTRATION LINK NOW LIVE! CLICK HERE to sign up!
  • Like Us now on Facebook Conference Site!
  • Tweet and retweet the conference on Twitter! @SAMRUDLAT2018
  • We are receiving presentation proposals for Saturday breakout sessions including
    • Hands-on: Building Learning Experiences Using SAMR
    • Media Accessibility Workshop
    • Hands-on: Shared Practices and Learning Design
    • Reading and Writing Tools that Support All Students on All Platforms
    • EVERY Day is a High Stakes Day!: Assessment in the 21st Century
    • Readtopia: Comprehensive Reading through Experiential Learning,
    • Universal Design of Outdoor Classrooms
    • The SETT Framework: More Relevant Today than Ever!
    • Assistive Technology Current and Future Trends
    • Coding to Learn: Making Coding Accessible for Students who have Complex Learning Needs
    • A Space Designed for Modern Learners
    • Redefining the Boundaries of Education Beyond the Walls of the Classroom through Universal Design for Learning and the Power of Technology
    • Improving Recreation Access and Opportunities for Students with a Disability: Adapted Equipment and Strength-based Resources
    • Universal Design & Assistive Technology in the Hands of an Engineering Professor!
    • Comprehensive Literacy using G Suite


  • A Space Designed for Modern Learners Mario Chiasson, Ph D Candidate Due to the impact of Information and Communication Technology innovations, industries were forced to adapt and invest in ICT to improve productivity and performances of their organization in order to compete globally. Also, industries have transformed their physical structures and processes nurturing communication and collaboration, which are essential skills for problem solving and take advantage of skills competencies of staff. In the world in which ICT plays an important role in carrying out essential daily life tasks, students need to be innovative, creative, critical thinkers and problem solvers in order to develop the skills competencies that industry requires. They also need to have the ability to work and learn in teams. With that being said, has the classroom (learning spaces) changed since the appearance of ICT? We are at the very beginning of trying to understand the complexity of the relationship between the learning space and the development of skills of students.


  • Redefining the Boundaries of Education Beyond the Walls of the Classroom through Universal Design for Learning and the Power of Technology (Meet Stella Bowles a 14-year-old girl who prompted action for the clean up of Nova Scotia’s LaHave River, which contains alarmingly high levels of fecal contamination. Because of her work, three levels of government have allocated $15.7 million dollars to address the problem of illegal straight pipes that still drain raw sewage from over 600 homes along the river. Learn how Stella used a wide variety of technology to carry out this important initiative)


  • Improving Recreation Access and Opportunities for Students with a Disability: Adapted Equipment and Strength-based Resources Andrea Waters, CTRS, IWK Recreation Therapy & Kate Giles, DipTR, IWK Recreation Therapy Associate This session will introduce participants to tools and resources which optimize a child/youth's ability to participate in physical activity, play and recreation. Participants will explore adapted equipment designed for children/youth with diverse physical, cognitive and behavioral support needs which will enable them to meet outcomes in physical education and outdoor education, as well as participate on the playground and in school activities. Other strength-based, person-centred resources will also be introduced as tools for peers and school staff to learn about individual students. IWK Recreation Therapy has been working collaboratively with the Nova Scotia school system to meet the needs of students with a disability. Presenters: Andrea Waters, CTRS: Andrea has been working as a Recreation Therapist for 23 years and Professional Practice Leader at the IWK for 10 years. Andrea initiated the development of the first provincial adapted sport and recreation equipment loan program in 2008. Kate Giles, DipTR: Kate is currently working as a Recreation Therapy Associate at the IWK Health Centre. Both Andrea and Kate work as part of Pediatric Rehabilitation at the IWK, are dedicated to working collaboratively with other stakeholders in education, health and community to optimize opportunities and freedom of choice for children/youth with a disability, and their families, and are committed to ensuring current and diverse resources within the IWK Adapted Equipment Loan Program.


  • SAMR, UDL & AT in the Hands of an Engineering Professor! Dr. Robert Kingdon, Department of Engineering at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. Robbie is passionate about effective teaching that reaches as many students as possible, specifically within his field of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering. Dr. Kingdon is a member of the Teaching Innovation Research Cluster within the Department of Engineering at UNB, and is also a member of the International Federation of Surveyors Commission 2 on Geomatics Education.


  • Universal design of Outdoor Classrooms: Join Robin Philp, Occupational Therapist and Alison Phillips, Occupational Therapist to learn about Natural learning environments for enhancing engagement, development and exploration. Incorporating the hypothesis that young people who experience learning outside the classroom as a regular part of their school life benefit from increased self esteem, and become more engaged in their education both inside and outside the classroom walls. We will discuss the importance of access for all and the current trends in green space, accessibility and designing outdoor spaces.


  • Comprehensive Literacy using G Suite Adam Hinton is a Google Certified Educator with a Masters Degree in Technology Education working within CCRSB. GNSPES offers a variety of tools which educators can use to leverage literacy programming within their classroom. This session will explore functions of the G Suite apps teachers can use to support writing, reading and research. We will look at ways to offer formative, real time assessment, using G Suite for guided reading, developing digital literacy notebooks/writer's notebooks and meaningful peer collaboration.


  • Applying Principles of Game Design to Teaching- Adam Hinton is a Google Certified Educator with a Masters Degree in Technology Education working within CCRSB. This session will feature a number of engaging, UDL based gaming systems you can add to any lesson. These include mini-competitive challenges, multi-varying point systems, brain-based challenges and more. This will focus primarily on low-tech methodologies for gamifying your classroom but we will also discuss ways to integrate other online and digital scoring systems into your lessons.


  • Using Google Classroom to Support UDL through Project-Based Learning : Vanessa Turner is a been teaching for over 15 years in HRCE (formerly known as HRSB) . Her experience as a teacher is at the secondary level, specifically in the sciences and including all students. Project-based learning allows teachers and students to connect classroom learning to events/activities/ information outside the classroom. PBL allows students to take risks and demonstrate their learning in a method of their choice. Google Classroom is a tool which allows teachers and students to organise their work and work in collaboration to further and develop understanding. Teachers are provided an easier mechanism to provide ongoing feedback and to see learning in real time. Students are provided a variety of tools which allows for greater engagement, accessibility, and choice. PBL aligns perfectly with various aspects of Universal Design specifically accessing and demonstrating knowledge.


  • Read&Write and Equatio! Access for All Matt Brown is a Territory Sales Director for Texthelp working out of their US headquarters in Massachusetts. He has been on the Texthelp team for the past four years, and spent the past three years consulting with K-12 and HE institutions in the eastern region of Canada to help students meet their educational goals. Abstract: Every student has different learning needs and faces challenges in school that can be universal or unique. Whether they have difficulties with reading, writing or math, speak English as a second language, have a disability, or simply struggle with an increased workload upon transitioning to higher education, technology can help. Smart and effective cloud-based technologies can also enable students to create, explore, and engage with schoolwork in whatever way suits them best - whether they prefer to read by listening, learn visually through images, or speak their thoughts to facilitate the writing process. And through collaboration and real-time feedback, students can not only become more independent learners but also work better together. Technology can even help educators bring instructional materials and practices into an increasingly digital, paperless world, while promoting deeper student engagement.