On Tuesday, August 22nd, 2017, I had the opportunity to attend the Inspire, Inquire, Innovate, 21st Century Learning and Assessment Symposium, hosted by the Greater Essex County District School Board. I was excited when I learned that the school board extended the invitation to the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Education students and faculty because I saw the symposium as a great opportunity to engage in professional learning as an educator and familiarize myself with the latest teaching resources recommended by the school board.

7 Keys to a Positive Classroom Environment:

Tom Hierck served as the Keynote Speaker for the symposium.

Using the CEFR to Support 21st Century Skills in the FSL Classroom:

Exploring Ministry Resources Available to Support Digital Learning in Your Classroom:

Supporting the Anxious Student – Practical Approaches for Classroom Teachers:

Given the importance of supporting the mental health and well-being of students in schools, I decided that this was an important workshop to attend as a teacher. I built on my repertoire of activities that promote the practise of mindfulness. While everyone has mental health, there are some students who are diagnosed with a mental illness. I learned that, as teachers, it is important to choose our words carefully and display actions that help to make a student with a mental illness more comfortable in his or her learning environment.

Overall, I found the symposium to be a valuable experience of professional learning because I learned about teaching practises and resources not only from the presenters of the workshops that I attended, but also from the teachers in attendance. Brainstorming and group activities allowed me to receive advice about classroom management, learning activities, online resources, and teacher-student interaction from occasional teachers to teachers who have had their own classroom for many years. I plan on keeping their advice in mind when it comes to implementing teaching practises into my classroom. I also plan on attending future education-related symposiums to continue my professional learning as an educator.