CATCA 2025: Full Schedule

Welcome to CATCA 2025! We are excited to see you soon but here are a few reminders...

1. Adding a session to your schedule does not guarantee your attendance. Room capacities are in effect and sessions will be accessed on a physical first come, first served basis on the day of the event. Alternatively, If you are ’Waitlisted", this only means that there are a number of interested delegates beyond the capacity limits for this session - get there early to secure your seat!

2. As we attempt to make CATCA 2025 as amazing as possible, there may be changes made to the schedule up until the day before - Please check your schedule for any time or venue changes or possible cancellations.

3. Please check session description for possible fees associated with materials for some of the art sessions. These will be paid directly to the presenter.

4. Do remember that there might be sessions not at our main venue, do look carefully where the session is at.

A floor plan showing the rooms in RDP that we’re using for convention is available here.

All pre-recording videos will be up until May 31st.

9:00am MST

Empowering Educators: Navigating Grading Reform Through Incremental Changes for Student Success

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

RDP Room 2305

In the midst of numerous demands on educators' time, adapting teaching practices can be a daunting task. However, we invite educators to embark on a journey toward grading reform success, emphasizing incremental changes and practical strategies. Recognizing the pivotal role grading practices play in shaping student learning experiences, this session is crafted to equip educators with the necessary tools and insights for implementing impactful reforms in their classrooms. Join us as we empower educators to navigate the path toward effective grading practices and enhance student learning outcomes.

Speakers

AAC Facilitator

Field Service Facilitator, Alberta Assessment Consortium

Alberta Assessment Consortium (AAC) is a not-for-profit registered society funded by membership. We are a recognized education partner in the province of Alberta and an independent voice able to provide an informed response to questions/issues that impact student learning. We provide... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP Room 2305

Assessment (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), All Divisions | Curriculum & Pedagogy (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), All Divisions

9:00am MST

Place Value is More Than Numbers in a Column!

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

RDP Room 2302

How do you really know what your students understand about Place Value? It is such an important concept that we spend time developing over a child's education. This session will look at what the key aspects of place value are and how ALL 6 need to be mastered for us to claim our students KNOW Place Value. We will work alongside manipulatives and examples to highlight the aspects and share an assessment tool that you can use with your students to check for understanding. Get ready to roll up your sleeves!

Speakers

Chris Zarski

Designer of Professional Learning, ARPDC

Chris is an Educational Consultant supporting Alberta teachers as a Designer of Professional Learning with the Alberta Provincial Learning Consortium (APLC). She has served as a Teacher, Administrator, Curriculum Director of Curriculum, Examiner with Alberta Education, and Author... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP Room 2302

Mathematics (TQS 3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9) | Assessment (TQS 3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9)

10:20am MST

Leveling Up Learning: Using Games as a Formative Assessment Technique

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST

RDP Room 2305

Join us for an interactive session that explores the innovative use of games as a formative assessment tool. Participants will discover how to design and implement game-based assessments that not only gauge student learning but also foster collaboration, critical thinking, and motivation. We will discuss how to create engaging assessments that align with diverse learning objectives across subjects and grade levels.Three Learning Goals for the Session:1.Refine existing assessment practices by incorporating game elements that promote active learning and provide real-time feedback on student progress. 2.Design collaborative and interactive game-based assessments that align with diverse learning objectives across various subjects and grade levels. 3.Implement strategies for integrating game mechanics into formative assessments to foster critical thinking and teamwork among students.

Speakers

AAC Facilitator

Field Service Facilitator, Alberta Assessment Consortium

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
RDP Room 2305

11:40am MST

Using AI to Generate Effective and Personalized Assessments that are Aligned to Curriculum

Thursday February 20, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST

RDP Room 2501

With the increasing demand for personalized learning experiences and the need to align assessments with curriculum objectives, AI presents a powerful solution. This session offers valuable insights and practical strategies to incorporate AI into your educational toolkit. Join us as we explore the frontier of assessment innovation and discover how AI can help you create effective and fair student assessments. This session is designed for teachers who are not yet using AI to create classroom assessments and want to learn practical tips and strategies to get started.

Speakers

AAC Facilitator

Field Service Facilitator, Alberta Assessment Consortium

Thursday February 20, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
RDP Room 2501

Assessment (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), All Divisions | Curriculum & Pedagogy (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), All Divisions

1:00pm MST

Priority Outcomes and Prerequisite Skills

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST

RDP Room 1500 (Cornerstone Restaurant)

Research shows that investing time in identifying and developing lagging prerequisite skills leads to better outcomes for new learning. This session will seek to answer
How do we identify priority outcomes and the prerequisite skills needed to master them?
What do we know about the development of knowledge and skills--looking at cognitive skills through the work of Bloom, Webb and Hess?
How do we assess student prerequisite skills before new learning?
Once we know what skills are lagging, how do we support students to develop them?
How do we scaffold learning to support prerequisite skill development?
At each stage, participants will be invited to develop ideas to use in their classroom practice.

Speakers

Shelly Cloke

Teacher

A former high school principal, vice principal, secondary teacher and instructional coach, I am currently teaching Grade 7 Language Arts and Social Studies at HW Pickup School in Drayton Valley, as well as a casual Alberta Assessment Consortium contract presenter. My career-long passion... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
RDP Room 1500 (Cornerstone Restaurant)

Curriculum & Pedagogy (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Assessment (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12)

2:20pm MST

Grades that Inform: Using Cognitive-Based Assessment vs. Traditional Grading

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST

RDP Room 1500 (Cornerstone Restaurant)

What is it that we want a student’s grade to tell us? More importantly, what do want a breakdown of their grade to tell us? Too often, traditional grade categories tell us whether students are strong or struggle with unit exams or assignments, but tell us little about what cognitive skills and abilities they need in order to improve their learning.

This session will examine the advantages of cognitive-based grade categories, how it can improve assessment design, and give more detailed feedback to students on what cognitive skills they need to improve their learning. We will also examine examples of cognitive-based grading (including year plans, assessments and grade book setup) in multiple subject areas, and look at ways to adapt your current assessments so this is not more work for teachers.

Speakers

Shelly Cloke

Teacher

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST
RDP Room 1500 (Cornerstone Restaurant)

Assessment (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), All Divisions

2:20pm MST

Unlocking Potential: Integrating Google Gemini for Effective Teaching

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST

RDP Room 2602

In this session, educators will delve into the evolving landscape of educational technology with a focus on integrating Google Gemini into the classroom. Participants will gain hands-on experience with Gemini’s innovative digital tools designed to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. This beginner to intermediate session will cover practical applications, including the integration of Gemini’s interactive platforms and digital resources into various curricula. We will also explore strategies for fostering digital literacy and critical thinking in students, ensuring ethical and effective use of technology in the classroom.

Speakers

Gilles Theriault

Teacher, Red Deer Public School District

Gilles is teaching at École Lindsay Thurber Comp. H.S. in Red Deer. He provides workshops to educators. He has conducted professional development for over two decades. He's a Google Certified Trainer. He's also a recognized Adobe Train the Trainer and an Apple Teacher. Gilles is... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST
RDP Room 2602

2:20pm MST

The Ultimate Multi-grade Classroom

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST

RDP Room 1328

Attention all colony teachers! Come join us as we unpack pedagogy, assessment practices, & curriculum planning for the multi-grade EAL environment. If you have something to share - please bring it along, we will have time to collaborate with our peers!

Speakers

Laura-Lee Toews

President, Alberta Colony Educators

Laura-Lee has worked in colony schools in a variety of capacities for 30 years. She is currently the president of the Alberta Colony Educators group and Principal of Colony Schools in the Prairie Land School Division. She has a passion for providing professional learning opportunities... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST
RDP Room 1328

Reflection/Collaboration (TQS/LQS 2), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9) | Curriculum & Pedagogy (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9) | Assessment (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9) | English Additional Language [EAL/ESL](TQS/LQS 4), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9)

9:00am MST

From play to learning: embracing fun and learning together

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

RDP Room AC147(Studio B)

Join us for a captivating session, "From Play to Learning: Embracing Fun and Learning Together." Through hands-on activities and discussions, participants will explore how play can serve as a potent tool to teach academic concepts across various subjects. By effectively scaffolding play experiences, educators can ensure that they are not only enjoyable but also educational, aiding students in developing crucial cognitive, social, and emotional skills. Additionally, attendees will learn strategies to foster a positive attitude towards play among students and parents, emphasizing its significance in early childhood development. Don't miss this opportunity to blend fun and learning in your classroom!

Speakers

Andrea Mishio

Teacher

With 17 years of invaluable experience in the education field, Andrea brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. After spending 15 years teaching in a junior high school setting, she now finds herself in the world of early childhood education as a dedicated kindergarten... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP Room AC147(Studio B)

Assessment (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K)

9:00am MST

Leveraging Magic School AI for Enhanced Learning

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

RDP Room 2501

In this dynamic session, educators will delve into the evolving landscape of educational technology with a focus on integrating Magic School into the classroom. Participants will gain hands-on experience with Magic School innovative digital tools designed to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. This beginner to intermediate session will cover practical applications, including the integration of Magic School interactive platforms and digital resources into various curricula. We will also explore strategies for fostering digital literacy and critical thinking in students, ensuring ethical and effective use of technology in the classroom.

Speakers

Gilles Theriault

Teacher, Red Deer Public School District

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP Room 2501

9:00am MST

Effective Assessment in the Jr./Sr. High Science Classroom

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

RDP Room 1435

This workshop explores a number classroom assessment strategies that have been utilized in the high school classroom to improve student learning. These include introducing students to the cognitive expectations framework, designing formative assessment questions and the active use of whiteboards. The session will culminate with introducing rubrics and their use with summative assessment questions.

Speakers

Kristian Basaraba

Kristian Basaraba (he/him) is a father of two, teacher, lead singer in the punk rock cover band Dad Religion, podcast host, semi-retired skateboarder and the founder of the community organization known as Rad Dads Edmonton. He is currently on a secondment from his school board working... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP Room 1435

Science (TQS 3), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 3 (Gr 7-9) | Assessment (TQS 3), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 3 (Gr 7-9)

10:20am MST

Getting Students to Welcome Assessments

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST

RDP Room 1437

We expect students to show up in our classes ready to learn, ready to incorporate new ideas into their canon of knowledge, skills and attitudes. But often students show up having been trained to perform on assignments, quizzes and tests for marks. There is a disconnect between these two expectations that can often lead to frustration for both teachers and students. This workshop will explore building a classroom culture that will have students valuing assessments as a measure of their learning rather than as a hoop to hop through. The facilitators, Jason Cooper and Laura Pankratz, have decades of classroom and assessment experience. Participants in this workshop will engage in discussion and exploration of what is currently working in Alberta classrooms.

Speakers

Jason Cooper

Onsite contact: Jason Coooper

Jason Cooper is the creator and owner of SmarterMarks, a tool that helps teachers and students do more with paper and online assessments. Before making the switch to supporting and developing SmarterMarks full-time, he worked as a high school science teacher in Calgary for 9 year... Read More →

Laura Pankratz

Western Canada Teacher Network Coordinator, Perimeter Institute

Laura Pankratz is an educator with more than 30 years of working with students and teachers. One of her principles of education is the learning is messy. Her passion is finding the nugget of value in that mess and then helping the learner to build around it. Laura’s career included... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
RDP Room 1437

Mathematics (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Science (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Social Studies (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Assessment (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Language Arts (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12)

11:40am MST

"Look Teacher... Come See My Amazing Wintercount!"

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST

RDP Room 1503

Developing and applying foundational knowledge about First Nations, Metis, and Inuit for the benefit of students has been a new task challenging teachers in the classroom. In this session, Erin reviews a simple, effective and interesting project that makes these FNMI Connections for students, yet isn’t too complicated or time consuming and can be used across any subject area or grade level. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about what Wintercounts are, their value in the classroom and will engage in the Wintercount process first hand. Exemplars will be shared along with templates that are ready to use in classrooms on Monday morning. If you are a teacher that values inclusion, creativity and literacy, then this session is for you!

Speakers

Erin Montgomery

Erin is an experienced Secondary Science Educator with 20 years of teaching experience within Elk Island Catholic Schools. She is currently on leave from EICS, and now serves as the Curriculum and Assessment Learning Coach for St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Schools, where she provides... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
RDP Room 1503

Indigenous Education (TQS/LQS 5), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Science (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Assessment (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Language Arts (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12)

11:40am MST

Using Data to Build Better Assessments

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST

RDP Room 1437

So, you have just finished scoring your students’ tests. You have a bunch of data! What do you do with that data? This workshop will explore some key tools for interpreting assessment data and discuss how they can be used to build assessments that are fair, reflect a range of student understanding, and provide meaningful feedback to students. The facilitators, Jason Cooper and Laura Pankratz, have decades of classroom and assessment experience. Participants in this workshop will engage in discussion and exploration of what is currently working in Alberta classrooms.

Speakers

Jason Cooper

Onsite contact: Jason Coooper

Laura Pankratz

Western Canada Teacher Network Coordinator, Perimeter Institute

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
RDP Room 1437

Language Arts (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Mathematics (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Science (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Social Studies (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Assessment (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12)

1:00pm MST

Making the Most of Outcomes in Assessment

Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST

RDP Room 1437

You are a great teacher! You engage your students in rich learning tasks, and your students are successfully learning. How do you make sure your assessments reflect the breadth of student learning, and that feedback to students, parents and school administration helps them make informed choices moving forward? Blueprinting assessments (and class time) can help you. This workshop will explore the ideas of intentionally addressing mandated curriculum outcomes and cognitive load through blueprinting. The facilitators, Jason Cooper and Laura Pankratz, have decades of classroom and assessment experience. Participants in this workshop will engage in discussion and exploration of what is currently working in Alberta classrooms.

Speakers

Jason Cooper

Onsite contact: Jason Coooper

Laura Pankratz

Western Canada Teacher Network Coordinator, Perimeter Institute

Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
RDP Room 1437

Mathematics (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Science (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Assessment (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12)

1:00pm MST

"Look Mum... Come See My Awesome Science Journal!"

Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST

RDP Room 1503

In this session, teachers will learn about the structure, function and application of science journals that can be used in the Secondary Science classroom. Including resources that support Assessment For Learning practices and FNMI connections, these journals serve 2 large purposes. They are a "guided home study program" to supplement student classroom learning (especially useful for chronically absent students or student athletes), and they serve the larger purpose of becoming evidence of a student's learning for parents/guardians to be displayed during parent meetings or conferences. Exemplars of these journals will be shown as well as tips, ideas and templates for teachers to start to use them in their own classroom immediately with their own diverse learners. Science 9 and 10 journals will be specifically shown during this session but Science Journals can be implemented in any 7-12 classroom with the templates and resources shared in this session. If you are a teacher that values student hard work, dedication, organization, pride in work and good study habits, then this session is for you!

Speakers

Erin Montgomery

Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
RDP Room 1503

Science (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Assessment (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12)

3:20pm MST

Classroom Assessment Techniques

Friday February 21, 2025 3:20pm - Saturday May 31, 2025 11:30pm MDT

Recording

This session will demonstrate formative assessment strategies that will enhance student learning and provide teachers with valuable feedback about their teaching practice. This information can guide instruction and will benefit all students; however, it will particularly have a positive impact on low-achievers. This is a valuable session because it will introduce teachers to a range of formative classroom assessment techniques, how to use them, how to analyze the data that they gather, and how to share that data with students. The takeaways from this session are very practical and could be smoothly incorporated into any classroom regardless of teaching situation or teaching style.

Speakers

Tyler Buchan

Tyler Buchan is a teacher at Salisbury Composite High School in Sherwood Park, Alberta. He has taught science for over 15 years at schools in Alberta, Burkina Faso and Jamaica. He has degrees in Education and Arts from the University of Alberta, and a Master’s of Science in Science... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 3:20pm - Saturday May 31, 2025 11:30pm MDT
Recording

Assessment (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 2 (Gr 4-6)

Post Convention Recordings Tyler Buchan

3:20pm MST

Outcomes, Triangulation and Gradebooks - OH MY!

Friday February 21, 2025 3:20pm - Saturday May 31, 2025 11:30pm MDT

Recording

We know that tests and traditional grading are not necessarily the most effective for assessing and reporting student learning, but how to make the transition from what we’ve always done to what we want to do? This session will share ideas and resources for tracking student progress, setting up an outcome based gradebook and reporting achievements in a way that meaningfully describes what students know and can do.

Speakers

Julie Arsenault

Science Lead Teacher, Science Council

After receiving her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Microbiology and Biotechnology, Julie entered the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta to pursue her teaching career. She has been teaching with Edmonton Public Schools since 2002 and has developed a passion for incorporating... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 3:20pm - Saturday May 31, 2025 11:30pm MDT
Recording

Assessment (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 1 (Gr 1-3)

Post Convention Recordings Julie Arsenault

3:20pm MST

Student Self-Marking as Formative Assessment

Friday February 21, 2025 3:20pm - Saturday May 31, 2025 11:30pm MDT

Recording

This presentation is an overview of an action research project on the effects of having students mark their own formative quizzes upon their level of metacognition, attitude and academic achievement. In addition, the reliability of student self-grading, and the potential benefits upon the instructor’s time were also evaluated. Come to this session to hear about how this action research was conducted and the takeaways from this project.

Speakers

Tyler Buchan

Friday February 21, 2025 3:20pm - Saturday May 31, 2025 11:30pm MDT
Recording

Assessment (TQS 3), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Science (TQS 3), Division 4 (Gr 10-12)

Post Convention Recordings Tyler Buchan

3:20pm MST

Lab Skills Performance Assessments in Chemistry

Friday February 21, 2025 3:20pm - Saturday May 31, 2025 11:30pm MDT

Recording

Performance assessments are authentic ways for students to demonstrate their abilities and can positively affect students’ attitudes toward the lab, their academic achievement, and upon the overall environment of the classroom. When used in conjunction with student self-assessment checklists performance assessments can also promote metacognitive activity. This session will present how to administer performance assessments of five basic lab skills and the benefits to the classroom that result.

Speakers

Tyler Buchan

Friday February 21, 2025 3:20pm - Saturday May 31, 2025 11:30pm MDT
Recording

Science (TQS 3), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Assessment (TQS 3), Division 4 (Gr 10-12)

Post Convention Recordings Tyler Buchan