Dr. Gabriel Ayyavoo (Science Instructor - Ontario Tech University)
Gabriel’s pedagogical experiences include the Ontario Science Center school, a Co-Ed Catholic school, and an all-girls’ Catholic high school with the Toronto Catholic Board. He has researched and taught at University of Toronto/OISE and Ontario Tech University. Currently, he is an adjunct professor in Biological /General Science Education and Mindfulness at Ontario Tech. His current focus is on Learning Garden Projects, Mindfulness, Holistic science education and Inquiry-based scientific investigations. Notable academic achievements include attaining the Canadian BioTechnology Teaching Excellence Award and the Prime Minister of Canada’s Award for Teaching Excellence. |
John Bebbington
John taught for 35 years in the elementary grades for the Scarborough Board of Education and TDSB. While with Scarborough, he had experiences running Saturday Morning Classes for the Gifted in Visual Arts, Visual Arts Summer School and has an instructor at the Scarborough Art Camp for Adults. For the last 12 years, he has been an instructor and university liaison with the Faculty of Education Ontario Tech University, teaching Visual Arts and Foundations courses. |
Iain Brodie (Mathematics and Coding Instructor - Ontario Tech University)
Iain taught for 28 years in grades 1 - 8 for the TDSB. Now retired, he teaches future and inservice teachers both online and face-to-face at Ontario Tech and Western. He has a passion for teaching and learning as well as math and art . . . and science . . . and STEAM. He especially enjoys introducing teachers and teacher candidates to the world of coding and all the possibilities it allows for learning. With any extra time he has on his hands, he likes to visit teachers and their classrooms to help them jumpstart into coding, mathematics, critical thinking or whatever they are curious about. |
Dr. Elizabeth Childs, Ph.D. (Royal Roads University)
Elizabeth Childs is interested in the design, creation and implementation of flexible learning environments that incorporate the affordances of information and communication technology (ICT) and provide learners with increased choice, flexibility and opportunities for co-creation. With expertise in educational technology & instructional design, design thinking, open education and online learning, her research interests include open educational practices and pedagogies; creation of online communities and digital habitats; design thinking, and models for immersive professional development. |
Tricia Dwyer-Kuntz (Academic Associate - Ontario Tech University)
Tricia Dwyer-Kuntz is an Academic Associate in the Faculty of Education at Ontario Tech. She is a veteran educator having previously taught in both elementary and secondary schools as well as Coordinator of Special Education and Consultant for Educational Technology. Her areas of interest include online learning (she has a Master of Distance Education), gamification, special education and digital literacies. She is a proud Apple Distinguished Educator who enjoys pushing technology to its limits. #KnowYourStudents |
Sandra Filetti (Instructor - Ontario Tech University)
Sandra is a veteran educator with extensive experience in special education in the primary and junior divisions. She has been an instructor and university liaison at Ontario Tech University, teaching Foundations and supporting teacher candidates in their practicum. Sandra has also developed and delivered presentations that educate the community on how to empower and support victims of violence. Her commitment to working as an advocate resulted in formal recognition as a nominee for the Attorney General’s Victim Services Awards of Distinction. |
Zeynep Gecu-Parmaksiz (Postdoctoral Fellow - Ontario Tech University)
Zeynep is a postdoctoral fellow at Ontario Tech University in the Faculty of Education. She is originally from Istanbul, Turkey. Before coming to Ontario Tech, Zeynep has worked as a researcher at Yildiz Technical University, Turkey, for six years and worked in Texas A&M in the U.S. as a visiting scholar from June 2013 to December 2013. She is currently teaching the online course, Online Technology in Education, and working as a part of Dr. Janette Hughes’ STEAM-3D Maker Lab team. Zeynep completed her B.Sc. (Primary Mathematics Education) at Bogazici University, and her M.Sc. (Computer and Instructional Technologies) at Marmara University, and her Ph.D. (Computer Education and Instructional Technology) at Middle East Technical University. Her research interests include technology-enhanced learning, primary mathematics education, mobile learning, augmented reality, virtual reality and spatial ability. |
Dr. Shannon Hill (Teaching Faculty - Trenton University)
Shannon has an B.Sc. honours degree (2011) in Comprehensive Chemistry at Ontario Tech University (formerly UOIT) and has worked as a chemical technician assistant in analytical and instrumental chemistry. Her Ph.D. (University of Western Ontario, 2016) focused on electrochemical corrosion behaviour of carbon steel and the surface analysis of the resulting corrosion films for the deep geologic disposal of Canadian nuclear fuel waste. While at Western, she was awarded the Faculty of Science graduate student teaching award for her redevelopment of the instrumental analytical chemistry laboratories. She currently works as a Teaching Intensive Assistant Professor at Trent, and is completing her B.Ed. degree in intermediate/senior chemistry and biology at Ontario Tech University. Her current research and curriculum development interests lie in peer instruction and student engagement techniques as well as implementing project-based learning within upper-year chemistry laboratories. |
Michelle Hillier
Michelle Hillier is a passionate educator and facilitator who has been dedicated to getting people of all ages and abilities moving for over 25 years. She is on a mission to inspire people to move THEIR way and has “moved ” over 1 million people in the education, corporate, and recreation sectors. Hillier is also a recent TEDx presenter and a published author and currently teaches in the B.Ed program at OTU and the Dance AQ for York. Michelle is also a former classroom teacher, and the best part is that when you move with her, “You Can’t Get it Wrong!” Dance Sessional Instructor - Ontario Tech University, Dance Additional Qualifications Instructional Leader - York University |
Dr. Janette Hughes (Canada Research Chair - Ontario Tech University)
Janette is the Canada Research Chair in Technology and Pedagogy and Professor at Ontario Tech University. She is the recipient of multiple research and teaching awards and research grants. She is widely published and is the author of The Digital Principal, a guide for school administrators who are interested in promoting technology-rich learning environments for students and teachers. Dr. Hughes is a prolific author and presenter, sharing her work both nationally and internationally in prestigious scholarly and professional journals, keynote talks, and conferences. She has presented more than 100 peer-reviewed research conference papers across Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America. Attesting to the recognition of her leadership in technology and pedagogy, Dr. Hughes is routinely contacted by school districts, Ministry personnel and industry partners to consult on a variety of topics, including online teaching and learning, equity issues in ed tech, creating innovative learning environments, establishing Makerspaces in schools, shifting pedagogies in a digital era and how to foster the development of global (21st century) skills and competencies in K-12 and higher education. |
Dr. Bill Hunter
Bill Hunter was the founding dean of the Faculty of Education at UOIT. Prior to that, he spent 16 years as an education professor at the University of Calgary where he also served in such administrative roles as Director of the Educational Technology Unit, Academic Coordinator for the Distance Delivery Unit, Coordinator of the Educational Technology graduate area, and Head of the Department of Teacher Education and Supervision. He has taught educational technology, statistics, measurement, learning theory, human development, program evaluation and other areas of educational psychology. His current research focuses on online learning and intercultural education. His recent book on this topic (with Roger Austin of Ulster University) will be released on October 26. |
Dr. Brenda Jacobs (Academic Associate - Ontario Tech University)
Brenda is a faculty member at Ontario Tech University in the Faculty of Education where she teaches Teacher Candidates in the Bachelor of Education program. Previously, she taught in the Faculty of Education at York University and the School of Early Childhood Education at Seneca College in Toronto. Brenda completed her B.A. (Psychology) and B.Ed. (Primary/Junior) at the University of Western Ontario and her M.Ed., Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education, and PhD at York University. She is a member of the Ontario College of Teachers and the College of Early Childhood Educators. She has taught elementary school-aged children in Oxford, England, Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario. Brenda is the author of the forthcoming book, Self-Regulation and Emergent Curriculum Inquiries in the Primary Classroom. |
Dr. Robin Kay (Professor and Dean of Faculty of Education - Ontario Tech University)
Robin currently the Dean of and a Full Professor in the Faculty of Education at UOIT in Oshawa, Canada. He has published over 160 articles, chapters and conference papers in the area of technology in education, is a reviewer for five prominent computer education journals, and has taught in the filed of computer science, mathematics, and educational technology for over 25 years at the high school, college, undergraduate and graduate level. Current projects include research on laptop use in higher education, BYOD in K-12 education, web-based learning tools, e-learning and blended learning in secondary and higher education, video podcasts, scale development, emotions and the use of computers, the impact of social media tools in education, and factors that influence how students learn with technology. Dr. Kay received his M.A. in Computer Applications in Education at the University of Toronto and his Ph.D. in Cognitive Science (Educational Psychology) at the University of Toronto. |
Margie Lam (STEAM 3D Maker Lab)
After graduating from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science with a major in Biochemistry, Margie worked for several years in technology as an I.T. process manager. She then changed careers and entered the consecutive Bachelor of Education program at Ontario Tech University, graduating in December 2017. Margie immediately continued her educational journey in the Masters of Education program at Ontario Tech and joined the STEAM-3D Maker lab. As a Research Assistant in the STEAM-3D Maker lab, Margie has been involved in PD for educators, facilitation of many onsite and online learning sessions and research projects focused on maker pedagogical approaches to learning. Margie has a deep passion for exploring emerging technologies and discovering effective learning approaches to support all students. This has led to her research focus on pre-service teacher education with maker pedagogical approaches and technologies. When not coding or playing with technology, Margie can be found on the tennis court with her husband and two children or simply enjoying the beautiful outdoors! Connect with Margie on Twitter @margiesam9.
After graduating from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science with a major in Biochemistry, Margie worked for several years in technology as an I.T. process manager. She then changed careers and entered the consecutive Bachelor of Education program at Ontario Tech University, graduating in December 2017. Margie immediately continued her educational journey in the Masters of Education program at Ontario Tech and joined the STEAM-3D Maker lab. As a Research Assistant in the STEAM-3D Maker lab, Margie has been involved in PD for educators, facilitation of many onsite and online learning sessions and research projects focused on maker pedagogical approaches to learning. Margie has a deep passion for exploring emerging technologies and discovering effective learning approaches to support all students. This has led to her research focus on pre-service teacher education with maker pedagogical approaches and technologies. When not coding or playing with technology, Margie can be found on the tennis court with her husband and two children or simply enjoying the beautiful outdoors! Connect with Margie on Twitter @margiesam9.
Alison Mann (Academic Associate - Ontario Tech University)Alison Mann has been an educator for over 20 years and has focused on film and media education for the last 15 years. She is completing a Ph.D. in Education that focuses on film production in global online learning environments. As an online educator for secondary school students, Alison has been using instructor videos in her classes as a way to maintain engagement with students and to humanize the online learning environment.Presently, Alison is an expert advisor for the Toronto District Catholic School board and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education for online instructor video creation.
As an academic associate at the Faculty of Education at Ontario Tech University, Alison teaches variety of courses including Foundations, Learning in Digital Contexts, Equity and Diversity and Independent Inquiry and Internship. |
Lori McCaw (K-8 Literacy & Numeracy Facilitator - Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board)
Lori has worked as a classroom educator and special education resource teacher in the ALCDSB for 18 years. She currently holds the position of K-8 Literacy and Numeracy Facilitator. Lori is passionate about self-regulation and teacher language and the impact that both have on student learning. She is currently working as part of a board team focused on improving early literacy for all students, focused on building educator content knowledge and pedagogy around phonemic awareness, phonological awareness, decoding and orthographic mapping. She is excited to participate in the Teaching & Learning with Technology 2020 Conference, as both a facilitator and a learner. |
Heather Michel
Heather Michel is currently the Assessment Evaluation and Reporting consultant for PVNCC District School Board. With close to 20 years of teaching experience, she has held a variety of roles, including the Ropes-Course Coordinator for the Scarborough District School Board Outdoor Education School. Heather has written several system curriculum resources for PVNCCDSB, with a focus on adapting assessment and evaluation practices to meet the needs of learners currently enrolled in virtual learning and remote learning experiences. |
Laura Morrison (Instructor Technology and Education - Ontario Tech University)
Laura Morrison is a sessional instructor in the Faculty of Education at the Ontario Tech University. She currently teaches the online course, Learning in Digital Contexts, to teacher candidates. Laura is also the project manager of research in Canada Research Chair, Dr. Janette Hughes' STEAM3D Maker Lab, located within the Faculty of Education. Laura completed her M.A. at UOIT, with a focus on the impact of digital literacies in education. She is currently completing her Education Doctorate at the University of Calgary. Her thesis will focus on best practices associated with online, maker-focused professional learning for teachers. Her favourite ways to communicate are through poetry, narrative and image. |
Melissa Oliver
Melissa Oliver is the Information Technology Department Chairperson at St. Peter's Catholic Secondary School, where her leadership and innovative ideas are widely recognized and sought out by her students and colleagues alike. As an experienced educator and conference presenter, she has used her passion for GAFE to train teachers on alternative programming for various levels of learners, both in the classroom, online, and in blended learning environments. Melissa holds a Masters in International Education specializing in Assistive Technology; her most recent focus has been as a lead in Google Classroom Applications with Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board. Today she can be found venturing into the world of Minecraft with her secondary school students in her robotics and communications technology classes to utilize a fun and interactive way to learn as a group, but yet still social distancing. |
Dr. Diana Petrarca (Associate Professor - Ontario Tech University)
Diana is an Associate Professor and a founding member of the Faculty of Education at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. She helped redevelop and implement a new Bachelor of Education program by serving as Program Director for four years. Her research interests include web-based learning tools to support the practicum and mindfulness, and preservice teacher education program enhancement. She is currently exploring the conceptions of teacher candidates as they progress through a pre-service program via a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)-funded research documentary film project entitled The (Un)Making of the Teacher. |
Margarita María Rigó, OCT (Toronto District School Board)
Margarita is a TDSB Educator and a member of the TDSB Digital Lead Learner (DLL) program. She has spent the past decade in a variety of roles at the Primary, Junior, and Intermediate levels. As part of the Principal Qualification Program practicum with OPC, Margarita has been able to disseminate her passion for online teaching, as well her deep interest in current and emerging technology, through the development of her PD series ‘Teach VIRTUALLY Anything’ (www.teachvirtuallyanything.ca). Working closely with classroom teachers, and students, Margarita strives to achieve best practice technology infusion into teaching and learning with her high energy and down-to-earth style. Margarita has a Specialized Honours Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic Studies (Glendon, York University) and a Bachelor of Education (York University). She is a proud Google Certified Educator who believes that it is not just about the technology, but the purpose given to that technology by the educator. As part of her PLN, Margarita can be found on Twitter @MargaritaMRigo. |
Jennifer Robb (STEAM 3D Maker Lab)
Jennifer is a graduate student in the Faculty of Education at Ontario Tech University, a research assistant with the STEAM-3D Maker Lab, and an OCT-certified educator. She completed her undergraduate education at Brock University, where she studied Child and Youth Studies (B.A., Honours) and Primary/Junior Education (B.Ed.). Her current research explores how students engage in citizenship and socially-conscious activity through passion-based making with the Internet of Things. In her role with the STEAM-3D Maker Lab, Jennifer has facilitated professional learning in making and maker technologies for pre-service teacher candidates, K-12 teachers, administrators, post-secondary educators, corporate trainers, and more. She is passionate about the role of technology in education to promote meaningful, authentic, and equitable learning, and loves sharing that passion with others. Connect with Jennifer on Twitter @_JenniferRobb |
Dr. Diane Tepylo (Assistant Teaching Professor - Ontario Tech University)
Diane strives to connect theory and practice in her teaching. Her PhD in teaching and learning is supported by 20 years of teaching in mathematics, science and programming classes. Presently, Diane teaches mathematics education and coding to teacher candidates at Ontario Tech. An avid gardener and maker from coastal BC, she sees math, science and computational thinking in almost everything she does. |
Stephanie Thompson (B.Ed. Program Director - Ontario Tech University)
Stephanie Thompson is an Academic Associate and the B.Ed Program Director and teaches a number of courses in the B.Ed program at Ontario Tech University. She previously taught at the Junior and Intermediate levels in the Durham District School Board. She holds a BA from the University of Toronto, a B.Ed from OISE-UT and an MA in Education in Digital Technologies from Ontario Tech University. Her research interests include digital literacies, digital storytelling, maker pedagogies and most recently, creativity and critical thinking in teacher education. She has been involved in several research projects exploring social justice topics, adolescent identities, bullying and the effects of media on young adults. She looks forward to working with teacher colleagues in this exciting learning opportunity. |
Dr. Theresa Whitmell (Instructor - Ontario Tech University)
Terry is a former music, computer science, math and business teacher who has worked with three generations of Ontario curriculum, and supported teachers from K-12 as a resource teacher, instructional coordinator, and principal. She has a strong interest in learning and assessment as a life-long learner herself, and as both a practitioner and academic. She is a PhD candidate at OISE, and will be defending her dissertation, "Navigating Dilemmas in "Going Gradeless": Experiences of Teachers in Ontario, Canada" in September. As an instructor in the Faculty of Education at Ontario Tech University and School of Education at Laurentian University, she continues to support teachers, and build upon her experience of 37 years with Ontario students. |
Dr. Lesley Wilton, PhD, OCT
Lesley has been an instructor at Ontario Tech University since 2015, teaching Foundations and Digital Literacies. Lesley’s PhD research was in the area of online teaching and learning – with a particular focus on the new literacies of online learning. She is also a part-time elementary teacher and recently completed a part time 8-month LTO teaching Kindergarten, remotely! Aligned with integrating technology into teaching, Lesley writes and presents at conferences, including BIT 2019 in Niagara Falls, AERA, LRA and CSSE. Last year her article, “Quiet Participation,” was published in the Online Learning Journal. She can be followed @LesleyWilton on Twitter |
Dr. Roland van Oostveen, PhD, OCT
Dr. Roland van Oostveen holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning from the University of Toronto. He spent 18 years as a science educator in private and public K-12 formal education settings, concluding as Science Curriculum Coordinator for Toronto District School Board. Dr. van Oostveen currently serves as Director of the Educational Informatics Laboratory (EILab) at Faculty of Education, UOIT, an innovative research facility, which focusses on Human Computer Human Interactions (HCHI). |