SWATCA 2025 - South Western Alberta Teachers' Convention: Full Schedule

Welcome to SWATCA 2024 on SCHED!

Here you will find the list of all the great sessions, speaker information, exhibitors and more! Check back here often for information on draws, prize winners, session updates and more!!

IMPORTANT REMINDER:
Please ensure that you are completing session evaluations - this helps our SWATCA planning team immensely in preparing for future events! You can evaluate all sessions in the session itself at the bottom of the SCHED. Thank you!

Prize Winners
Goosechase:
Kelsey Schwark and Bryce Wirzba
Katie Walker

Host Draw:
Kara Tarnava

Feedback Draw:
Carla Ferrari
Mark Bergheim

10:30am MST

Exploring the New Curriculum Through MakeCode Arcade Games (Gr.4-6)

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MST

M1090

Gain the foundational knowledge to help your students design and create their own video games with block-based coding. Learn computational thinking skills needed for coding and how to connect games across curriculums.

SESSION HOST: Caryn Swark

Speakers

Whitney Horban

Whitney Horban (she/her) has worked in both formal and informal education and enjoys bridging the gap between the two. She has been atthe TELUS World of Science Edmonton for 8 years, traveling to schools around Alberta with the Science in Motion team and now heading up the Northern... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MST
M1090

Science (TQS 3), Gr 4-6

10:30am MST

Synthetic Biology as a Gateway to STEM Education

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MST

SA7322A

SynBridge, U of L’s synthetic biology maker space, will host a workshop for Alberta teachers interested in learning about synthetic biology. This workshop will bring together enthusiastic high school teachers to learn basic lab techniques in a safe teaching environment. Participants will gain experience in cell culturing, cloning, and DNA analysis, as well as learn the background theory behind the techniques. Teachers will be able to take this knowledge back to their schools to start or continue synthetic biology clubs or iGEM teams.

This session will be in the science outreach space in the science building. Attendees can come to the science building and proceed to the main atrium space on the 7th floor. The lab is right off of there (SA7322A).

Speakers

Laura Keffer-Wilkes

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MST
SA7322A

Science (TQS 3)

12:30pm MST

Intro to Data Analysis in CODAP (Gr. 7-12)

Thursday February 20, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MST

M1090

Whether you teach math, science, ELA, or social studies, you can use data in your classroom – and with a little help from Northern Coding Academy, you will!

SESSION HOST: Gibion Makiwa

Speakers

Whitney Horban

Thursday February 20, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MST
M1090

Science (TQS 3), Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12

1:00pm MST

STEM Interactive Experience 1-4pm

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm MST

Lethbridge College Trades Building

Join the STEM collaboration at Lethbridge College as you explore the Trades shops and brainstorm authentic learning experiences for students in K-12 STEM subjects with an emphasis on the new curriculum.

Parking in Lot V at the Lethbridge College Campus. See the SWATCA office in AH100 for directions/map if needed.

SESSION HOST: Mark Wynder

Speakers

Warren Anderson

The STEM team consists of a diverse set of invested individuals ranging from Trades instructors, learning specialists at Lethbridge College, and community members that all share expertise and knowledge to the STEM subjects and how it relates to their specific field of instruction... Read More →

Brianne Hutchinson

Matthew Prete

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm MST
Lethbridge College Trades Building

Curriculum & Pedagogy (TQS 3), K-Gr3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12 | Mathematics (TQS 3), K-Gr3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12 | Science (TQS 3), K-Gr3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12

2:30pm MST

I Don't Know What To Do and I Don't Know Where To Start!

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 4:00pm MST

TH201

This session will focus on my journey to incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing into the science curriculum. I hope to help other teachers take their first step in their journey of reconcili-action.

This session needs a host! To host, complete the form linked here and include your name and the session title in the form.

Speakers

Clarke Dyer

Winner of the 2022 Earth Steward Teaching Award, Clarke started his teaching career in 2008 after graduating from the University of Alberta with a major in Biology and majorly awesome wife. While teaching at Victoria School, Clarke has worked to develop the school landscape into... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 4:00pm MST
TH201

Indigenous Education (TQS/LQS 5), K-Gr3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12 | Science (TQS 3), K-Gr3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12

2:30pm MST

Problem Solving Through Computational Thinking (Gr. 3-4)

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 4:00pm MST

M1090

Computational thinking is at the foundation of problem solving. Explore computational thinking as it relates to creativity, design, and the new Alberta curriculum.

This session needs a host! To host, complete the form linked here and include your name and the session title in the form.

Speakers

Whitney Horban

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 4:00pm MST
M1090

Science (TQS 3), K-Gr 3, Gr 4-6

2:30pm MST

Sequencing and Debugging in the Elementary Classroom (K-Gr.2)

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 4:00pm MST

M1035

Explore foundational coding concepts in your elementary classroom with the new Alberta curriculum through both plugged-in and unplugged activities.

SESSION HOST: Brandie Fast

Speakers

Whitney Horban

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 4:00pm MST
M1035

Science (TQS 3), K-Gr 3

10:30am MST

Why Grasslands CAN and WILL Save the World!

Friday February 21, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MST

AH176

Alberta’s grasslands have the power to save the world. Curious to know when, why & how? Join us to learn how relationships lie at the heart of why grasslands matter - now and forever!

This session needs a host! To host, complete the form linked here and include your name and the session title in the form.

Speakers

Jaclyn Angotti

Education Director, CPAWS Southern Alberta

Jaclyn has 15 years of experience leading science and environmental education programs throughout Alberta. She has a B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Alberta and a Master of Education from the University of Calgary. Her passion for connecting others with nature is integral... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MST
AH176

Environmental & Outdoor Education (TQS 3), Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9 | Science (TQS 3), Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9 | Social Studies (TQS 3), Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9

10:30am MST

Who to Believe? New resources to help students become critical information consumers

Friday February 21, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MST

M1035

It is apparent that there is a need to help students become critical consumers of information. But, in a crowded curriculum, it is often difficult to find the time to help students evaluate science and health information they encounter. We’ve developed and curated free resources that can be used in secondary classrooms to help students spot disinformation tactics and become more critical consumers of science information. Intended to be used alongside Alberta curricular outcomes, there are resources that can be used in whole-class lessons, short activities, or as asynchronous learning opportunities. Created by experienced Alberta teachers, these resources will help students discern who and what to believe in a world awash in mis/disinformation.

SESSION HOST: Caryn Swark

Speakers

Dr. Kerry Rose

Dr. Kerry Rose taught for more than 30 years in Alberta, and now works as Outreach Project Manager for CMASTE (Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education) at the University of Alberta, where she also teaches pre-service science teachers.

Friday February 21, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MST
M1035

Science (TQS 3), Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12

10:30am MST

Infusing Your Curricular Outcomes with the New Science Curriculum, Computational Thinking & Scratch

Friday February 21, 2025 10:30am - 1:30pm MST

AH147

Creating cross curricular instructional activities infused with Science and Computational Thinking in Scratch.

SESSION HOST: Tanis Machacek

Speakers

Trevor Iampen

Instructor, Consultant, Developer, University of Alberta, EPS, ATLE, ERLC

Trevor has 20 years of experience as an elementary school teacher, university course developer/ instructor, app/web developer and consultant for a variety of organizations and institutions across North America. P.S. Computational thinking is where it’s at…

Friday February 21, 2025 10:30am - 1:30pm MST
AH147

12:30pm MST

Empowering Teachers for Alberta’s Clean Energy Transition

Friday February 21, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MST

M1030

Join Inside Education for innovative teaching strategies, curriculum approaches, and access to our new "Alternative Fuels Poster Resource." Leave feeling inspired and recharged about teaching Alberta’s energy transition!

This session needs a host! To host, complete the form linked here and include your name and the session title in the form.

Speakers

Inside Education

Inside Education is an Alberta-based, environment and natural resource education charity. We have been supporting teachers and students to think critically about environmental topics since 1985! With our no-cost teaching resources, youth summits, in-class and field programs, and professional... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MST
M1030

Curriculum & Pedagogy (TQS 3), K-Gr3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12 | Environmental & Outdoor Education (TQS 3), K-Gr3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12 | Science (TQS 3), K-Gr3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12