SUCCESS AT ACIFA 2015

Packs Paddles and Portages: ACIFA 2015 Charting the Course was an inspirational educational experience. Enough alliteration for you? I gather the people who came up with this year's conference title were English teachers.

The initial presentation by the keynote speaker, James Raffan, involved a passionate appeal for increasing risk in our students' education. His background in outdoor education and as professor and head of the Outdoor and Experiential Education Program at Queen's University enabled him to speak with tremendous conviction about the need for more dynamic learning opportunities for students across the country. He sang and recited numerous stories, (most relating to canoe expeditions,) that helped to demonstrate his perspective that real learning requires a certain risk both inside and outside of the classroom. He argues that we have moved too far to a cerebral, (drone like learning,) at the expense of the character building that comes through experiential or (out of the classroom) learning. It was a great way to spark discussion and get the conference kick started.

Among the many other presentations were two from Bow Valley College: Duff Waddell and Jennefer Rousseau's presentation on The Importance of Providing Effective Feedback and Implementing Audio Technology and Penny Marcotte and Maureen Stewart's presentatioScientific Literacy: Supporting Learners in their Science Journey. While I was unable to attend Penny and Maureen's presentation, the feedback was very positive. The audience was very engaged at Duff and Jennefer's presentation with discussion questions centered around what constitutes effective feedback. The audience was also very appreciative of receiving information on the benefits of using audio technology and learning about the various available technologies.

One of the real highlights of the conference was being able to collaborate with other educators in an amazing natural environment such as Lake Louise. Although the snow pack was low enough to close some of the trails, others were ready which allowed us to head up to Lake Agnus and take in the amazing view of surrounding area.

I would highly recommend the ACIFA Conference for any educators interested in stimulating their educational knowledge. The variety of presentation topics certainly offer more than enough to  satisfy the interests of anyone willing to learn something new or reinvigorate their current practice.

We are excited to announce that BVC will be hosting next year's ACIFA conference at the spectacular Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. All staff are welcome to join. Please contact Travis Seaman for details.