InnovateED24 called, and we answered! While most BC teachers were attending their first Provincial Pro-D day of the year, we took on an exciting new role – as presenters at the InnovateED24 Conference in Kelowna. Our road trip to the Okanagan led to a day filled with inspiring connections and creative exchanges. Here are the highlights from our adventure...
Student Podcasting: Our Design Approach 🎙️
by Dylan Ismail
This was our team's conference presentation debut, and I was thrilled. We'd spent considerable time developing a way to effectively communicate our work with teachers, and this session finally gave us that opportunity.
Using Mike's Grade 5 class as our case study, we unpacked how thoughtful design can transform traditional assignments. What started as an immigration unit blossomed into an incredible student driven podcast.
Here's how our design approach broke the project down:
Guiding Questions 💭
- How can we, as podcasters, tell the story of our families immigration?
The role of a Podcaster 🛠️
- Students will take on the role of the Interviewer, Host and Producer.
Using roles to create real-world connections to curricular skills 🌎
- As an Interviewer, students will draw on Social Studies skills
- As a Host, students will draw on ELA literacy and writing skills
- As a Producer, students will draw on ADST iteration and digital tool skills
Authentic Audience 👏
- Students will create their podcasts for real-world Audiences, including their caregivers, families and even the participants of this workshop!
The session was a tremendous success, with the room filled beyond capacity. We heard from so many educators who resonated with the idea of supporting student voice through podcasting. Many were already implementing podcasting in their classrooms, including a marine biologist who produces Dugongs and Sea Dragons - a Dungeons & Dragons podcast ran by marine scientists!
We’re so ready to attend our next conference!
Student Voices Shape the Future 💬
by Carlo Sayo
The conference opened with an insightful panel featuring six high school students in Grades 11 and 12. They shared their perspectives on education, and we heard them emphasizing key themes:
- Relationship-building 💙 Classrooms are a better place to learn when relationships in the room are fostered; between students and teachers, and between students and their peers. Sitting silently listening to lectures or working on group projects with strangers were cited as a waste of time.
- Passion-driven learning ❤️🔥 Students who can incorporate their hobbies and interests into their schoolwork love learning. One student spoke about how his passion for photography has helped him find meaning in his school projects. Getting better at writing helped him be more descriptive in his artist statements.
- The need for stronger Indigenous Representation in Schools 🖤 Two panelists were contemplating careers in Indigenous Education. They advocated for stronger ties to the land and more opportunities to connect learning to indigenous communities.
When discussing technology's role in their education, the students viewed it as essential to their learning process.
- One panelist shared that learning without technology would be challenging, given how integral it is to researching and studying.
- They appreciated how some tools have made learning more accessible, particularly the ability to grasp concepts through short videos rather than traditional lectures.
The students offered some thoughtful suggestions for educators, advocating for more critical thinking opportunities and land-based learning experiences. Their central message was clear: effective teaching goes beyond content delivery to foster meaningful student connections.
Finally the students were asked how AI has impacted their learning in the last few years. While acknowledging AI's benefits in simplifying concepts and enabling flexible learning opportunities, they made a crucial distinction:
- AI can replicate content delivery, but it cannot replace the human elements of teaching—specifically, the genuine care and connections that teachers provide.
Indigenous Storytelling Meets Robotics 📍
by Jen Chen
I attended a workshop on blending robotics with Indigenous storytelling in BC—and if you know me, you know I light up when robots aren't just about coding!
The workshop sparked an exciting possibility: what if students could explore Indigenous stories of BC's regions through robots? My mind was racing with ideas during the session. Students could discover Indigenous stories that captivate them, bring these stories to life through robots (like Spheros, Dash and Dots, or Ozobots), and create their own artistic backdrops for the storytelling journey.
This would be such a fun and impactful classroom project—weaving together storytelling, writing, art, and ADST while authentically embracing First Peoples' Principles of Learning. The principle that “Learning is embedded in memory, history, and story” comes alive in this hands-on approach.
The workshop left me with a powerful takeaway: How do we normalize the telling of Indigenous Stories? Simple—do it more often.
One Zesty Teacher 🍋
by Nick Evans
Our last conference highlight was connecting with Jacqui, a music and fine arts teacher who radiates such incredible energy that another teacher perfectly described her as 'zesty!' After she attended our workshop, we shared lunch and I had the privilege of experiencing her session on Earsketch with students. Her enthusiasm was absolutely contagious—not just about Earsketch, but about teaching and, honestly, about life itself!
Jacqui's mind seems to overflow with creative classroom projects, and her priority is crystal clear: student engagement and joy in learning. No surprise that my team instantly clicked with her spirit. We're already dreaming up future collaborations!
Spending time with educators like Jacqui reignites why I'm so passionate about education—the chance to work alongside teachers who are eager to innovate, grow, and put their students' success at the heart of everything they do.
So, in conclusion...
The best part of sharing what you know? Learning something new in return. Our road trip to InnovateED24 proved that when educators come together - whether to explore podcasting, program robots, or reimagine music education - the possibilities are endless. We're heading back to our classrooms energized, inspired, and already planning our next adventure!
