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Convergence wouldn’t happen without the support of volunteers!
We need 1 person in each breakout session to volunteer to be the moderator for the session.

Duties would include:
  1. Arriving 5 minutes early to the session to greet the speaker and ensure tech needs are met. Contacting the Convergence team if any issues need to be resolved.
  2. Introducing the speaker and session. (Biographies will be printed and provided.)
  3. Moving portable microphone(s) between attendees for Q&A.
  4. Recording an approximate number of attendees for the session and reporting to registration desk.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP NOW
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Friday, July 25
 

7:30am MDT

Breakfast
Friday July 25, 2025 7:30am - 8:45am MDT
Friday July 25, 2025 7:30am - 8:45am MDT
Event Centre

8:45am MDT

AI, Policies, Staff/Student Access to AI, and the Impact on the Future of Education Panel Discussion
Friday July 25, 2025 8:45am - 9:30am MDT
Come hear from a panel of educational technology experts from around Alberta about the use of AI in schools. With a variety of experiences and systems in place our panelists will share their policy making procedures, considerations, and discuss the ethical dilemmas that come along with the use of AI.
Speakers
avatar for Sarabeth Asis

Sarabeth Asis

Specialist, Teaching and Learning with Technology, Calgary Board of Education
Sarabeth Asis is a Specialist at the Calgary Board of Education on the Teaching and Learning with Technology team. Her teaching experience spans grades 2 – 11. She started her teaching career as an Elementary Generalist, eventually moving up to Middle School as CTF Learning Leader... Read More →
avatar for Monica Gadsby

Monica Gadsby

Tech Coordinator, Seven Oaks School Division
My name is Monica Gadsby (she/her). I have over 12 years of teaching experience in business education, technology, and social justice. I recently completed a PBDE in school counselling and am passionate about integrating identity, anti-racism, and mental health into our daily practices... Read More →
avatar for Kandis Gilks

Kandis Gilks

Supervisor Teacher - Educational Technology, Grande Yellowhead Public School Division
avatar for Nicole Lakusta

Nicole Lakusta

Emerging Technology Facilitator, Parkland School Division
With a diverse background in K-12 education, I've served as a passionate teacher, a dynamic Assistant/Acting Principal, an Inclusive Education Lead, and a STEAM innovator. I also held the role of Teaching & Learning Resources Consultant with Alberta Education and currently serve as... Read More →
avatar for Jonathon Thomas

Jonathon Thomas

Consultant, Elk Island Public Schools
As an Education Technology Consultant with Elk Island Public Schools, Jonathon Thomas brings over 20 years of classroom teaching and instructional leadership experience to guide K-12 educators in the effective integration of technology. Holding a Master of Education in Educational... Read More →
Friday July 25, 2025 8:45am - 9:30am MDT
Legacy A

8:45am MDT

Canvas for Littles: Enhancing K-3 Education with Technology
Friday July 25, 2025 8:45am - 9:30am MDT
Join us for a session sharing our experience supporting the adoption of the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) in the early elementary grades (K-3). Presenters will share lessons learned from supporting primary teachers, students, and parents as they transition to a new LMS. Discover practical strategies and real-world examples of how K-3 teachers are effectively leveraging technology to enhance communication with parents and build young students' technical capacities and skills in the in person classroom.

In this session, you will learn about:
- Facilitating smooth transitions for primary teachers.
- Engaging teachers in focus groups to learn about their unique needs.
- Providing effective training and support tailored to K-3 teachers.
- Engaging parents through the LMS.
- Developing young students' technological skills.

This session will provide administrators, educational technology specialists and teachers with suggestions for using technology intentionally in the younger elementary grades. While our story is about adopting Canvas, anyone working on learning management system adoption for elementary students are invited to attend. The session will be a combination of a presentation followed by an opportunity to share and learn from each other.
Speakers
avatar for Fiona Mohr

Fiona Mohr

Educational Technology Specialist, Rundle College
SP

Shauna Pascoe

Instructional Designer and Technology Teacher, Rundle
Friday July 25, 2025 8:45am - 9:30am MDT
Legacy B

8:45am MDT

Taking the Fear out of Cybersecurity & Quantum Learning with Immersive Simulation
Friday July 25, 2025 8:45am - 9:30am MDT
Fear is the mind killer. Trying to teach subjects that cause fear in students is an impossible challenge, but immersive simulations offer an approach that leverages 'respawn and retry' gaming culture to put a pin in that fear balloon and get students into the zone of proximal development. Instead of scared and unengaged, tackling subjects like cybersecurity or quantum technologies, that many find overwhelming, through immersive simulation brings iteration and fear free experimentation into the equation in an emotionally empowering manner.
Speakers
TK

Timothy King

Quantum Algorithms Institute
Timothy King is a multi-award-winning cyber-educator currently seconded to the Quantum Algorithms Institute and ICTC doing cyber education development nationally and internationally. In addition to previous cyber and ICT related teaching awards, in 2023 Timothy was Cisco's Innovation... Read More →
Friday July 25, 2025 8:45am - 9:30am MDT
Paskapoo 3

8:45am MDT

Keep Dollars for the Classroom, Not Ransomware: Cybersecurity AI for K-12
Friday July 25, 2025 8:45am - 9:30am MDT
Join us for a session on how Darktrace AI can protect K-12 schools from rising cyber threats while ensuring your budget stays focused on the classroom. With ransomware and cyber attacks on the rise, schools face increasing pressure to defend their digital environments. Darktrace’s AI-powered solutions provide real-time detection and response across your network, email, and endpoints, stopping attacks before they lead to costly disruptions.

Speakers
avatar for Mitch Bonaccorso

Mitch Bonaccorso

Enterprise Account Executive, Darktrace
Mitch Bonaccorso, an Enterprise Account Executive at Darktrace and an Ethical Hacker, leverages his experience in digital transformation with the Government of Canada and international governments to enhance cybersecurity for school boards, private companies, and public institutions... Read More →
Friday July 25, 2025 8:45am - 9:30am MDT
Paskapoo 4

8:45am MDT

SDWan the bandwidth solution?
Friday July 25, 2025 8:45am - 9:30am MDT
Explore Black Gold School Division's journey in SDWAN as an alternative to supernet bandwidth increases. What is it? What advantages does it provide? What are some of the challenges? Does it work?
Speakers
avatar for Barry Sheelar

Barry Sheelar

IT Manager, Blackgold School Division
IT Manager with Black Gold School Division, 29 years of experience in an Educational Technology environment.
Friday July 25, 2025 8:45am - 9:30am MDT
Paskapoo 1

8:45am MDT

It’s all in the cards. A practical and fun tool to understand what motivates your team
Friday July 25, 2025 8:45am - 9:30am MDT
Are you struggling to keep talent? Do you understand what truly motivates and engages your team members? Are you new to a leadership position and would love a simple and fun tool to quickly help you improve engagement and retention?

Taking learnings from the Centre for Talent Retention, this session will provide an overview of a hands-on tool that captures the variables impacting why people join, engage, and stay within organizations. Starting with a card game, the presenter will walk attendees through three simple steps to move managers away from the ineffective, "How's it going?", to increased engagement and productivity.

Exceptional leaders understand their people, know their individual motivators, and are able to focus on “hot buttons” to improve morale, attitude and results. This session will provide actionable steps to retaining a happy and productive team.
Speakers
avatar for Mary Friedrich

Mary Friedrich

Director, ShareIT, Cybera
Mary is the Director of ShareIT at Cybera, leading shared IT initiatives in the areas of procurement, professional development and training, and collaboration for Alberta and Saskatchewan's higher ed, K-12 sectors, and municipalities. Mary has managed this program since its inception... Read More →
Friday July 25, 2025 8:45am - 9:30am MDT
Paskapoo 2

8:45am MDT

You’ve Got This!
Friday July 25, 2025 8:45am - 9:30am MDT
Many of us have been in technology in Education for many many years. Some of us are just getting started. No matter how long you’ve been doing this, the pace of change is not slowing down. What are we doing to keep ourselves and our IT teams ready for the challenges ahead? How are we keeping them upbeat and encouraged while the number of things vying for our time explode?
Speakers
avatar for Todd Kennedy

Todd Kennedy

Director of Technology, Golden Hills School Division
Todd is the Director of Technology for Golden Hills School Division, in Strathmore Alberta. His team manages all of the technology and infrastructure for a school population of about 12,000 students and 1,000 staff, spread across 47 schools, both traditional and on-line.Todd has a... Read More →
Friday July 25, 2025 8:45am - 9:30am MDT
Legacy C

9:45am MDT

Generative AI and Google Gemini: Unlocking new levels of creativity and productivity
Friday July 25, 2025 9:45am - 10:30am MDT
Gemini is a powerful AI language model that can revolutionize how you interact with information and generate creative content. But how can it be used by school leadership and in the classroom? Join this session to explore how educators of all kinds can use Gemini (both free and paid editions) to streamline lesson planning, resource creation, and more. We’ll also review security and data protection, and look at some of the new tools that Google is currently developing and testing to empower educators to navigate the AI landscape with confidence.
Speakers
Friday July 25, 2025 9:45am - 10:30am MDT
Paskapoo 4

9:45am MDT

Future-Ready Classrooms: Robotics for K-12 in CBE
Friday July 25, 2025 9:45am - 10:30am MDT
Join us for an engaging professional learning session providing an overview of the robotics platforms used in K-12 education within the Calgary Board of Education, with a focus on how they support the new K-6 Computer Science curriculum. This session will cover essential platforms such as Talebot Pro, Sphero Indi, Ozobot, NEZHA (micro:bit), mBot 2.0, and iRobot Root, highlighting their roles in developing coding, computational thinking, and problem-solving skills. Robotics platforms appropriate for grades 7-12 will also be shared. Participants will learn how these tools align with curriculum objectives, fostering critical thinking and creativity in learners. Additionally, the session will offer opportunities for hands-on exploration with samples of each type of robotics platforms and resources for ongoing support. Enhance your expertise by discovering how these robotics platforms can transform student learning experiences and meet the goals of the new curriculum and learn from the successes we've achieved in one of the largest education systems.
Speakers
avatar for Sarabeth Asis

Sarabeth Asis

Specialist, Teaching and Learning with Technology, Calgary Board of Education
Sarabeth Asis is a Specialist at the Calgary Board of Education on the Teaching and Learning with Technology team. Her teaching experience spans grades 2 – 11. She started her teaching career as an Elementary Generalist, eventually moving up to Middle School as CTF Learning Leader... Read More →
avatar for Scott Blenkhorne

Scott Blenkhorne

Teaching and Learning with Technology Specialist, Calgary Board of Education
Scott is a technology learning specialist with the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), where he has been an educator for the past 17 years. He has taught students in grades 6-12, specializing in Math, Science, and a wide range of complementary subjects including robotics, graphic design... Read More →
Friday July 25, 2025 9:45am - 10:30am MDT
Legacy B

9:45am MDT

Revolutionizing Remote Learning: Building Engaging and Effective Virtual Classrooms for Today's Students
Friday July 25, 2025 9:45am - 10:30am MDT
2020 changed how education was delivered to students across the province. The fall of 2020 saw districts creating programs to address students learning from home. I was one of the teachers in my district that built this airplane while flying it. Four years later, this program has only grown in our little corner of the province. Remote Learning has evolved and taken hold in Alternative Education and it is not just for pandemics and homeschooling. We now have students and families who seek out Alternative Education programs because it works for them but also allows students who are in rural areas to access courses they might not be able to due to a variety of reasons. But how do you engage students from all around to not just learn the content, but also engage with teachers and other students to form community in a virtual world? How do we navigate the world of synchronous vs asynchronous learning? How do we address attendance issues? And what about credits for high school? Can students really learn if they are online? Answers to ALL of these questions and more will be addressed in this session! I will show some tools that I use in my virtual space to help engage. I will address the expectations and communication with parents and students that help with course completions. Also the scheduling that is needed to meet the needs of a synchronous online program. We need to revolutionize remote learning to provide students with creative and innovative education opportunities.
Speakers
avatar for Melanie Golding

Melanie Golding

Peace Wapiti School Division - PWEC
My name is Melanie Golding and I am finishing up my 19th year of teaching! I spent 9 years in the US teaching elementary students in the mid 2000's and was one of the first teachers in my district to get a Smartboard and laptops for all my students. I spent about half my years in... Read More →
Friday July 25, 2025 9:45am - 10:30am MDT
Paskapoo 3

9:45am MDT

Disrupting Sophisticated Cyber Attacks at Machine Speed
Friday July 25, 2025 9:45am - 10:30am MDT
In this presentation we will do a deep dive into Microsoft's security strategy and the technology needed to automate at machine speed. From malicious OAuth apps, to Adversary in the Middle, Business Email Compromise, Human Operated Ransomware, and more, come learn how to disrupt attacks at scale automatically. After this session you will have a better understanding of how to use Microsoft's security tools to better protect your organization.
Speakers
Friday July 25, 2025 9:45am - 10:30am MDT
Legacy C

9:45am MDT

Seamless Integration: PowerSchool and Alberta Provincial Reporting
Friday July 25, 2025 9:45am - 10:30am MDT
Come learn about seamless integration between PowerSchool and Alberta Provincial Reporting.
Speakers
JW

Jessica Wojnas

PowerSchool
Friday July 25, 2025 9:45am - 10:30am MDT
Paskapoo 1

9:45am MDT

Bridging the Gap: Ensuring Project Success Through Strategic Communication
Friday July 25, 2025 9:45am - 10:30am MDT
The success (or failure) of implementations often comes down to effective communication. No matter how great the solution is, the needs of your IT team and the classroom have to be carefully considered! Join Stephanie Proctor, a System Applications Consultant at the Calgary Catholic School District, to discuss strategies to bridge communication gaps and ensure the success of your next project!
Speakers
avatar for Kaleb Motz

Kaleb Motz

Chief Operating Officer (Imagine Everything), Imagine Everything
At Imagine Everything, our team is your team.In a refreshing change of pace, we offer boundaryless partnerships with the K12 community to deliver tailor-made solutions. From tackling online student safety to reimagining the student planning process, we’ve embraced a model that puts... Read More →
avatar for Stephanie Proctor

Stephanie Proctor

Educatoinal Technology Consultant, CCSD
Stephanie Proctor is an Educational Technology Consultant for the Calgary Catholic School Board. She works with a team to support the use of technology in schools, and support the implementation of district wide initiatives. Prior to this she taught technology to students in grades... Read More →
Friday July 25, 2025 9:45am - 10:30am MDT
Paskapoo 2

9:45am MDT

IT Unconference
Friday July 25, 2025 9:45am - 12:00pm MDT
Are you involved in IT? Is there something you would love to discuss with others? This unconference style session will have you, the attendees, in control of the discussion topics. We look forward to generating some engaging discussion and sharing our best tips and tricks with each other.

Please note that this is a 2 hour session with a break at 10:30 AM.
Speakers
BB

Bob Barrett

Board President, Alberta Technology Leaders in Education Association
avatar for Kylie Kissel

Kylie Kissel

Director, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools
Kylie is the current Director of Education Technology at Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools. Growing up in a family of educators, he never imagined that he would end up in the Alberta K-12 education system, but by good fortune, he accidentally became a teacher in 2009. Since then... Read More →
Friday July 25, 2025 9:45am - 12:00pm MDT
Legacy A

10:45am MDT

Lego & Computational Thinking: Let's Get Coding!
Friday July 25, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Are you ready to transform your classroom into a hub of innovation and problem-solving? In this interactive workshop, educators will discover how to harness the engaging world of Lego to introduce and reinforce crucial coding concepts. Perfect for teachers of all experience levels, from coding novices to tech enthusiasts, this session will equip you with practical strategies to:

- Introduce fundamental programming concepts through playful, hands-on activities
- Develop students' logical thinking and problem-solving skills using Lego Spike Prime's intuitive interface.
- Design cross-curricular projects that seamlessly blend STEM learning with other subject areas
- Foster collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking in your classroom
- Adapt Lego Spike Prime activities for various grade levels and learning styles

Participants will have the opportunity to experiment with Lego Spike Prime sets, exploring its user-friendly hardware and software components. By the end of this session, you'll leave with a toolkit of engaging lesson ideas, troubleshooting tips, and the confidence to implement Lego Spike Prime in your classroom.
Speakers
avatar for Sue Mylde

Sue Mylde

Rundle College
Sue Mylde (she/her) is an educator with several years of experience in communication, STEM, computer science, coding, and education. She is most excited about the space where technology meets pedagogy meets innovation and advocates for balance in today’s increasingly digital world... Read More →
Friday July 25, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Legacy B

10:45am MDT

PodCasting 101
Friday July 25, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Discover the power of podcasts and how they can transform your classroom into an engaging and dynamic learning environment. Step into the world of podcasting as Cornelius shares his personal journey and experiences, and learn how he successfully incorporated podcasting into his curriculum. Explore the exciting project "Grade 7's Talk to Experts" where students interview professionals and gain valuable insights. Get ready to take the first step in podcasting!
Speakers
avatar for Cornelius Krahn

Cornelius Krahn

Ed Tech Consultant, Lloydminster Public School Division
Friday July 25, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Paskapoo 3

10:45am MDT

Accelerating Copilot deployments to empower your organization with AI
Friday July 25, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
This presentation will delve into the transformative potential of AI-driven Copilot deployments and how they can revolutionize your organizations day-to-day operations, impact classrooms scenarios, and more. In this session you will discover practical strategies for seamless integration, best practices for maximizing efficiency, and real-world examples of successful Copilot implementations.
Speakers
Friday July 25, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Legacy C

10:45am MDT

gET techy with IT
Friday July 25, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, the intersection of teaching and technology is more critical than ever. Kandis, Adam and Lyle will explore the immense value of integrating educators within the technology departments of Alberta school divisions. As frontline experts in pedagogy, teachers bring a unique understanding of student needs, classroom realities, and curriculum design, which enhances technology implementation in schools. Attendees will learn how educators and technical staff can bridge both technical solutions and instructional goals, ensuring that technological tools support organizational practices in meaningful ways. Plus, these three presenters are incredibly fun, so it will be a good time!
The session will focus on several key points:
  • The unique perspectives of technical staff and educators guide the development of user-friendly and effective tech solutions.
  • The role of educators in advocating for students and teachers while still considering technical systems during tech decision-making processes.
  • Examples of how embedding educators in the tech department has improved organizational outcomes and logistics.
  • Best practices for fostering collaboration between IT and ET professionals to create a cohesive and innovative approach to technology use for all stakeholders.
  • How the investment of ET staff maximize the impact of technology processes and tools
This session is ideal for school leaders, IT specialists, and educators looking to understand the strategic advantage of having a cross-disciplinary team, where technology meets pedagogy for improved learning outcomes. Now lets gET techy with IT!

Speakers
avatar for Adam Fragomeni

Adam Fragomeni

EdTech Teacher Consultant, Grande Yellowhead Public School Division
avatar for Kandis Gilks

Kandis Gilks

Supervisor Teacher - Educational Technology, Grande Yellowhead Public School Division
avatar for Lyle Lee and group

Lyle Lee and group

Director of Information Technology, Grande Yellowhead Public School Division
Friday July 25, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Paskapoo 2

10:45am MDT

Optimizing School Operations: Field Trip Management and Behaviour Data Tracking
Friday July 25, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
This session will showcase how SchoolEngage simplifies field trip management with approvals and real-time tracking, while Dossier empowers schools with advanced behaviour data tracking to support student success. Learn how these tools enhance efficiency and improve the student experience in your district.
Speakers
CW

Chris Walberg

Software Engineer, Intellimedia
Friday July 25, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Paskapoo 4

12:00pm MDT

Lunch
Friday July 25, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm MDT
Friday July 25, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm MDT
Event Centre

12:30pm MDT

Lunch Prizes!
Friday July 25, 2025 12:30pm - 1:00pm MDT
Friday July 25, 2025 12:30pm - 1:00pm MDT
Event Centre

1:00pm MDT

ATLE Annual General Meeting
Friday July 25, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
Friday July 25, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
Legacy A

1:45pm MDT

AGM Prizes!
Friday July 25, 2025 1:45pm - 2:00pm MDT
Friday July 25, 2025 1:45pm - 2:00pm MDT
Legacy A
 
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