{"id":701,"date":"2025-04-10T06:58:14","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T13:58:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/?page_id=701"},"modified":"2025-06-02T06:11:43","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T13:11:43","slug":"toronto-at-congress","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/toronto-at-congress\/","title":{"rendered":"Toronto (at Congress)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t<\/span>\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\t

Toronto<\/h1>\n

June 3-5 At Congress
George Brown College, St. James Campus, 200 King St E<\/p>\n

\"button_access-the-otessa-program\"<\/a><\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
\n
\n\t\t \n\t\t \t\t\"The\t <\/a>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n \t
\n\t \t \t\t
\n\t\t George Brown College, Toronto, ON\t <\/div>\n\t \n\t \t<\/div>\n\t\n \t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\t

Overview<\/span><\/h2>\n

By bringing together nearly 7,000 scholars, apprentices, graduate students, policymakers, and community members from across Canada on George Brown College\u2019s campuses, Congress 2025 will invite the research community to bridge the gap between colleges and universities, and promises to be a catalyst for transformative discourse and collaboration. This historic convergence will inspire attendees to explore new avenues of interdisciplinary learning, foster meaningful connections, and ignite dialogues that will shape the world of tomorrow.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\t

Location<\/span><\/h2>\n

Toronto, Ontario, is Canada\u2019s largest city and a global hub of culture, business, and academia. Known for its diverse communities, world-class dining, and vibrant arts scene, the city offers an enriching experience for visitors. Toronto\u2019s extensive public transit system makes navigating its dynamic neighborhoods, waterfront, and renowned attractions\u2014such as the CN Tower and Royal Ontario Museum\u2014convenient.<\/p>\n

George Brown College, located in downtown Toronto, is a leading institution in applied education, known for strong industry connections and modern learning facilities. Its waterfront campus offers stunning views of Lake Ontario and easy access to conference venues, research institutions, and cultural landmarks.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
\n
\n\t\t \n\t\t \t\t\"The\t <\/a>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n \t
\n\t \t \t\t
\n\t\t Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, ON\t <\/div>\n\t \n\t \t<\/div>\n\t\n \t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\t

Chairs<\/h2> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
\n
\n\t\t \"University\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n \t
\n\t \t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMichael Paskevicius\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t \t \t\t
\n\t\t University of Victoria\t <\/div>\n\t \n\t \t<\/div>\n\t\n \t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
\n
\n\t\t \n\t\t \t\t\"Toronto\t <\/a>\n\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n \t
\n\t \t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAnn Ludbrook\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t \t \t\t
\n\t\t Toronto Metropolitan University\t <\/div>\n\t \n\t \t<\/div>\n\t\n \t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\t

Keynotes<\/h2> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
\n
\n\t\t \"jwemigwans_full\"\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n \t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\t

Jennifer Wemigwans, PhD<\/h2>\n

Jennifer Wemigwans (She\/Her) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. She teaches Indigenous Knowledge Education courses in the Adult Education & Community Development Program. Dr. Wemigwans is from Wikwemikong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. She is a new media producer, writer and scholar specializing in the convergence between education, Indigenous Knowledge and new media technologies. Her book, A Digital Bundle: Protecting and Promoting Indigenous Knowledge Online (2018) explores the prospects of Indigenous Knowledge education and digital projects in networked world.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\t\n \n\t\t\t\tAbstract <\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t

Reframing Indigenous Knowledge Education Online<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reflecting Indigenous Knowledge online has the potential to transform education across Canada. In this talk, Dr Wemigwans explores how to ethically present Indigenous Knowledge online through the creation of Digital Bundles.\u00a0 FourDirectionsTeachings.com is an example of a Digital Bundle, an online site where Elders\u2019 Teachings from five distinct First Nations are presented. Digital Bundles represent a way to transform and reframe education by using new technologies to articulate Indigenous Teachings and introduce Canadians to Indigenous epistemologies.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
\n
\n\t\t \"Toronto\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n \t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\t

Anatoliy Gruzd, PhD<\/h2>\n

Anatoliy Gruzd is Co-Director of the Social Media Lab and Professor of Information Technology Management at the Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University. He examines how social media and emerging digital technologies, such as Generative AI and decentralized networks, are transforming information sharing, communication, and public discourse. In recognition of his innovative work, he was named a Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in 2015 and inducted into the Royal Society of Canada\u2019s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists in 2017.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\t\n \n\t\t\t\tAbstract <\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t

From Prompt to Propaganda: How Generative AI Fuels Disinformation and Misinformation and What We Must Do<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Social platforms now algorithmically remix news, memes, and AI\u2011generated content, blurring the line between fact and fiction, and obscuring traditional credibility cues (e.g., source reputation, visual authenticity, consensus). According to a new report, <\/span><\/span>The State of Generative\u202fAI Use in Canada\u202f2025<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/a>,<\/span><\/i><\/span> from the Social Media Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University, 59 percent of Canadians distrust political news online because it may be fake or manipulated, with two-thirds fearing that generative AI could sway elections. Yet paradoxically, students and faculty are embracing these same generative AI tools for study and research support. This apparent disconnect between public concerns and uptake of these tools demands closer scrutiny.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The keynote will examine the features that enable the rapid adoption of generative AI tools by the public on the one hand, and how those same features allow bad actors to create and disseminate dis\u2011 and misinformation at scale on the other. The talk will conclude with a call for actionable research and policy focused on strengthening \u201cepistemic resilience\u201d among students, researchers, and the broader public through critical digital literacy, robust verification practices, and institutional safeguards that ensure the safe and ethical use of generative AI.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
\n
\n\t\t \"Toronto\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n \t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\t

James Slotta, PhD<\/h2>\n

Jim Slotta (co- PI) is Professor and President’s Chair in Knowledge Technologies and Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. Since 2005, Dr. Slotta has led a team of students, designers and developers to investigate new models of collaborative and collective inquiry. These studies have advanced a pedagogical model known as Knowledge Community and Inquiry (KCI), in which students and teachers collaborate as a learning community to engage in STEM inquiry projects. Slotta currently directs the ENCORE lab (http:\/\/encorelab.org<\/a>) in which KCI curriculum and technology environments are developed and researched.\u00a0 From 2006 – 2011, Slotta served as Canada Research Chair in Education and Technology, serving as PI or co-I on more than 30 funded projects and supervising 20 doctoral and post-doctoral researchers.\u00a0 In 2019, Slotta launched the Critical Action Learning Exchange (CALE), where teachers develop, exchange and discuss competency-centered curriculum that empowers students as learners, providing meaning and purpose to their schooling experience and scaffolding their formation of learner and career identity.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\t\n \n\t\t\t\tAbstract <\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t

This presentation will review my previous work in pedagogies for learning communities, including the use of “smart classroom” technologies to support collective inquiry and scaffold students and teachers.\u00a0 It will then introduce Critical Action Learning, as an international professional learning community of teachers.\u00a0 I will present the CALE design framework, pedagogical approaches, and present several examples of teacher enactments.\u00a0 I will also discuss new roles for physical classroom space and technology environments.

<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n

\n\t
\n\t\t

Invited Speakers<\/h2> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t<\/span>\t\t\t\n
\n
\n\t\t \"I\u2019m\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n \t
\n\t \t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHelen DeWaard\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t \t \t\t
\n\t\t I\u2019m a long-time learner in digital spaces, coming out of the shadows of my introversion to share in virtual communities. I teach at the Faculty of Education with Lakehead University in Ontario, Canada. I focus my teaching energies to digital and media literacies, critical digital pedagogy, digital storytelling, open educational practices, professional e-portfolios, learning design and infusing professional practice with effective technology use.\t <\/div>\n\t \n\t \t<\/div>\n\t\n \t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t<\/span>\t\t\t\n
\n
\n\t\t \"Stephen\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n \t
\n\t \t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStephen Downes\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t \t \t\t
\n\t\t Stephen Downes works with the Digital Technologies Research Centre at the National Research Council of Canada specializing in new instructional media and personal learning technology. His degrees are in Philosophy, specializing in epistemology, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of science. He has taught for the University of Alberta, Athabasca University, Grand Prairie Regional College and Assiniboine Community College. His background includes expertise in journalism and media, both as a prominent blogger and as founder of the Moncton Free Press online news cooperative. He is one of the originators of the first Massive Open Online Course, has published frequently about online and networked learning, has authored learning management and content syndication software, and is the author of the widely read e-learning newsletter OLDaily. Downes is a member of NRC’s Research Ethics Board. He is a popular keynote speaker and has spoken at conferences around the world.\t <\/div>\n\t \n\t \t<\/div>\n\t\n \t<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/use><\/svg><\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/use><\/svg><\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/use><\/svg><\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t<\/span>\t\t\t\n
\n
\n\t\t \"Robert\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n \t
\n\t \t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRobert Luke \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t \t \t\t
\n\t\t Robert Luke, PhD, is Chief Executive Officer of eCampusOntario, which provides leadership to Ontario\u2019s Indigenous Institutes, universities and colleges promoting digital by design education, collaboration and innovation. eCampusOntario helps to inform and shape Ontario\u2019s postsecondary education system in consultation with sector stakeholders. \t <\/div>\n\t \n\t \t<\/div>\n\t\n \t<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/use><\/svg><\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/use><\/svg><\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/use><\/svg><\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t<\/span>\t\t\t\n
\n
\n\t\t \"Dr.\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n \t
\n\t \t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJessica O'Reily \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t \t \t\t
\n\t\t Dr. Jess O\u2019Reilly is a person of mixed European-Canadian and Algonquin Anishinaabe ancestry who is committed to centering Indigenous ways of knowing in education. She is a Professor and Program Coordinator at Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario, where she focuses on open education, Indigenous perspectives, and decolonizing post-secondary learning.\n As a recent graduate of Athabasca University\u2019s Doctor of Education in Distance Education program, Jess\u2019s dissertation research explored how college students in a Truth and Reconciliation course engaged with Open Educational Resource-Enabled Pedagogy (OER-EP) by creating renewable assignments. Grounded in Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing), her study examined how learners made meaning through their work, considered their audience, and navigated ethical decisions around licensing and anonymity. Her findings contribute to ongoing conversations about open education, reconciliation, and student agency in learning.\n\t <\/div>\n\t \n\t \t<\/div>\n\t\n \t<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/use><\/svg><\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/use><\/svg><\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/use><\/svg><\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Toronto June 3-5 At Congress George Brown College, St. James Campus, 200 King St E George Brown College, Toronto, ON Overview By bringing together nearly 7,000 scholars, apprentices, graduate students, policymakers, and community members from across Canada on George Brown College\u2019s campuses, Congress 2025 will invite the research community to bridge the gap between colleges […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/701"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=701"}],"version-history":[{"count":41,"href":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/701\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1158,"href":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/701\/revisions\/1158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=701"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}