Tire-toi une bûche: Conversations and Stories

Hello everyone!

For the third post about the 2024 QACVE conference, let’s look at the poster sessions! 

The poster sessions were a new-ish format for the conference, held in the large, open hall on the morning of the last day.  Poster sessions are a more informal way to learn about a topic, where a large poster or infographic highlights key points and the author is present to discuss their work and findings.  Although they have been a long-standing fixture in academic conferences to highlight research, the QACVE conference committee modified the formula to focus on conversations.  Learning can happen in both formal situations, with targeted learning goals and outcomes, and informally through discussions about our thoughts and questions around a topic.  This type of learning has great meaning to us because it allows us to consider individual experiences, ideas and conundrums from our own perspective and someone else’s. Humanist learning theories explore the connections we create between ourselves and how empathetic relationships support learning  – the relational pedagogy approach to learning.  The poster sessions were a great way to blur the lines between teacher and learner and through conversations, learn from each other!  We talked about…

1. Biophilia and how flora and fauna in the classroom can support a happy learning environment – Thanks, Denise and Kelly!
2. Teacher leadership and psychological safety and how it relates to classroom climate and group learning – Thanks, Chris!
3. RÉCIT VT’s digital spaces, opportunities to learn about integrating technology into teaching, and offers of service – Thanks, James and Marc!
4. Universal Design for Learning when constructing assessments and how BIM creates evaluations in this framework – Thanks, Pina!
5. Neurodivergent learners and some of the approaches we can take as educators to create inclusive spaces for all learners – Thanks, Susan and Colleen!
6. Communicating divers and sometimes difficult subject matter through self-expression, art and creativity – Thanks, Mariam!
7. Learning, well-being and student life with two representatives from the Services Éducatives Complémentaires (SEC) and how they can help teachers, consultants and centres reflect on inclusive practices in education – Thanks, Lucie and Martine!
8. Becoming autonomous in choosing professional development through one department’s journey to learn about building assessments – Thanks, Joe, Liz and Guy!
9. Acquiring the necessary skills to teach a trade through University of Sherbrooke’s applied academic model that leverages working environments to live core pedagogical approaches – Thanks Bonnie, Nolan, Xavier-Michel, Alexandre and Annie!
10. Promoting vocational training in Indigenous context through a training series developed with collaboration between the University of Sherbrooke, the First Nations Adult Education School Council and PROCEDE – Thanks, Diane,  Jo Annie and Marie-Josée!
11. Approaching training through simulations and the framework used to set up the learning environment for supportive, collaborative and constructive learning – Thanks, PACC SIM team Catherine, Ellen, Gurpreet, and Sylvia!
12. Creating and using a group tracking tool with spreadsheet software that is as user-friendly as it is useful in the lab! – A special thanks to Eric, since he was put on the spot to do this live!
13. The Voc Talk Café by Après-cours as an online space where VT teachers can connect with each other to discuss how they teach their trade – Thanks to Marc and Robin!

What are your memorable moments and key takeaways from the poster sessions?  

Thanks for the read,

 📱👩‍🍳 Robin