Brian Aspinall

In this insightful discussion, Brian Aspinall, an award-winning educator and digital literacy advocate, embarks on an exploration of the ever-evolving landscape of online learning and its profound impact on today’s students. Leveraging his extensive experience in education reform, Aspinall delves into the complexities of virtual education, illuminating its vast opportunities, inherent challenges, and transformative potential. By providing real-world examples and sharing personal insights, Brian equips participants with an understanding of the key factors that create an effective online learning environment. This includes the development of dynamic digital content that captures students’ attention, strategies to nurture active participation in a virtual space, and innovative ways to use technology to meet diverse learning needs and preferences.

Shifting the focus to the crucial role of ‘maker’ culture in the digital realm, Aspinall will discuss how hands-on, project-based learning can flourish within online classrooms. Emphasizing a paradigm shift in assessment methods, he will highlight the value of portfolios in the digital context, where the process of learning and the documentation of the journey supersede conventional grading. In this interactive session, Aspinall will also provide valuable insights into student engagement in an online setting. He will delve into techniques for establishing an inclusive digital community, strategies for maintaining consistent communication, and the importance of individualized feedback to foster student growth.

Brian assists educators to adapt, innovate, and effectively educate in the virtual world, continually sparking curiosity and inspiring lifelong learning in students across geographical and physical boundaries. This discussion is essential for educators seeking to skillfully navigate and embrace the transformative potential of digital education.

As we navigate an unparalleled mental health crisis among our youth, Brian Aspinall, renowned educator and speaker, underscores the need for a comprehensive, unified response. He believes that the solution lies in strengthening the capabilities of the individuals who interact most frequently with students: educators, mental health practitioners, and administrators within our schools.

This presentation equips educators with the tools and knowledge necessary to support students grappling with mental health challenges. The fundamental aim of this trauma-informed approach is to break down existing divisions within schools and community programs. It fosters a shared language and collective understanding among professionals committed to assessing, treating, and supporting our students and their families.

Brain Aspinall will unpack the components of this innovative program, illuminating its foundational principles, the advantages of implementing trauma-informed strategies, and the profound effect it can have on the overall well-being of students. The session will also spotlight the role of educators and administrators in reshaping school culture, raising mental health awareness, and nurturing an empathetic, understanding environment for all students.

Brian connects the audience to insights into the transformative potential of a trauma-informed approach in education. This talk is essential for all educators, school leaders, and policymakers committed to reshaping the support system for students amidst the ongoing mental health crisis

Brian Aspinall is an educator on a mission to expose as many kids as he can to coding and computer science. In this passionate talk, he makes a case for the importance of exposing youth to the principles of coding and computational thinking to prepare them for a rapidly changing future utilizing 21st Century competencies for online learning, coding, STEM & systems deevelopment.

This presentation will explore the use of digital tools to engage learners, build knowledge construction and revisit the pedagogical history of Jean Piaget’s Constructivist Learning Theory. By enabling the “maker” in all of us, assessment and evaluation become immediate, effective, and ongoing using digital technologies to communicate thinking with staff, students and parents.

As schools progressively evolve, change, a constant companion, often poses a challenge for many. This presentation, centred on fostering an innovator’s mindset and emphasizing our collective ‘why’, is designed specifically for leaders seeking to help their colleagues not just accept change but embrace it, and in doing so, create more impactful learning opportunities for their students. Brian Aspinall, a distinguished educator and speaker, steers away from the ‘how-to’ of technology in this discourse. Instead, he prioritizes conversations aimed at guiding staff to move forward in a way that leaves them feeling both excited about and supported in their journey.

By attending this presentation, leaders will gain insights into how they can motivate their teams to welcome innovation and change. This presentation aims to ensure educators are empowered to navigate the evolving educational landscape with confidence and enthusiasm, ultimately enhancing the learning experiences of their students. Join us in this dynamic discussion and be a part of the transformative journey in education.

Twenty first century learning requires students to create, collaborate and think critically. Progress “STEMs” directly from immediate feedback and a personalized learning platform. Coding forces students to problem solve, make mistakes and overcome barriers because programs can only run if written correctly. In this passionate talk, Brian makes a case for the importance of exposing youth to the principles of coding and computational thinking to prepare them for a rapidly changing future.

Crack the code for your student’s success! future-ready students need to be creative. They need to know how to communicate their ideas and how to collaborate as problem solvers. And to master these and other twenty-first-century requirements, they will need to be critical thinkers. In this talk, Brian Aspinall shares his insights on how to turn curriculum expectations into skills. Students identify problems, develop solutions, and use coding and computational thinking to apply and demonstrate their learning.

In this insightful presentation, acclaimed educator and speaker Brian Aspinall challenges the prevalent concern that ‘kids these days’ are our greatest worry. Whether you know a child, work with a child, or love a child, this presentation offers something enlightening and pragmatic for everyone. Indeed, it has the potential to be game-changing.

The presentation draws upon countless narratives of children, their families, and their support systems that Brian encountered during his work across Canada and the USA. No matter who he met or where the underlying message was consistent: our children are fine ONLY if those nurturing them are fine. Recognizing that during the formative years, schools and educators form the most crucial connection point for almost every child on this continent,

This presentation is aimed at parents and educators including teachers, bus drivers, administrators, educational assistants, librarians, administrative assistants, custodians, and anyone who leads, loves, and supports them. Attendees of this enlightening presentation can expect to gain everything they need to connect with kids in today’s world, both as educators and parents. They will receive clear, actionable advice, and support that inspires. Participants will also earn a professional development certificate and will benefit from ongoing support and accountability measures designed to reinforce the strategies discussed. This is a must-attend for all who are invested in the wellbeing and success of our educators, and through them, our children.

In this thought-provoking presentation, acclaimed educator and speaker Brian Aspinall explores an often-overlooked aspect of our students’ digital engagement. We frequently remind students that their online activities can have long-term consequences, but are we equally committed to illuminating the unique opportunities their digital engagement can present?

Aspinall shares inspiring examples of individuals and students using the power of digital tools not only to enhance their own prospects but to effect positive change in their schools, communities, and even globally. The potential for our young people to make a difference is vast, and our focus should be on equipping them with both the opportunities and the tools to effect change through strategic use of technology and social media.

This presentation aims to inspire educators and leaders to guide students from merely being digital users to becoming digital leaders. Attendees will gain insights into how they can empower students to leverage their digital footprint responsibly and use it as a tool for positive influence.This presentation sheds light on the crucial dialogue for the movement shaping the digital leaders of tomorrow.

In this compelling presentation, renowned educator and speaker Brian Aspinall leads us on a journey to explore how to proactively address change within our schools and classrooms. As we encourage our staff to construct innovative learning environments for all students, what are the essential elements that we need to establish and maintain to support educators in their approach, and why is it significant?

Aspinall argues that we can’t shape the innovative schools of today and tomorrow by merely replicating past models of leadership. Instead, we need to reassess and reimagine the ways in which we support our educators, communities, and students, particularly in times when feelings of being overwhelmed are all too common. So how do we adopt the ‘Innovator’s Mindset’ when innovation has become not a choice, but a necessity for all learners, including ourselves?

Brian will delve into what he terms the ‘nucleus of innovative teaching and learning,’ focusing on four key areas where we need to extend and challenge our thinking. These areas include exploring new learning opportunities and leveraging emerging technologies, thereby creating an environment that empowers our students to become not just the leaders of the future, but also of the present. The overarching aim is to ensure every learner in our schools achieves success in a way that is meaningful to them. Join us in this insightful discussion and take the first steps towards building a culture of innovation in education.

In this eye-opening presentation, renowned educator Brian Aspinall shares his unique journey of exploring an innovative pedagogical approach. In 2012, Brian and his team embarked on an experiment to challenge traditional grading norms and reinvent teaching and learning. Their approach was radical – feedback replaced grades entirely, and except for mandatory report cards, numerical evaluations were eliminated over the course of the academic year.

This bold experiment yielded inspiring results. Not only did it lead to an increase in student engagement, but it also fueled student curiosity, deepened interest in learning, and fostered a more comprehensive understanding of subjects. The gradeless classroom approach transformed the learning process from a goal-oriented pursuit into an immersive journey of discovery.

In this presentation, Brian delves into the highs and lows of implementing a gradeless system. He shares valuable insights and practical tips on how educators can adopt this revolutionary approach in their own classrooms, whether in-person or online. Emphasizing the role of digital learning tools in facilitating feedback-based evaluation, Aspinall discusses the potential of technology in enhancing this student-centric approach to teaching.

Brian explores tested and proved concepts that explore how a gradeless approach can reinvent the learning experience, shifting the focus from scores to genuine learning, and from performance to personal growth. Be part of the change in fostering a holistic, feedback-oriented educational environment, whether in a traditional classroom or a digital one.

In this compelling presentation, Brian Aspinall, a renowned educator and advocate for technology in learning, examines the role of education in an increasingly digitized world. Once, schools were the repositories of knowledge; today, it’s crucial for students not just to acquire knowledge but to apply it profoundly and innovatively.

Brian delves into the history and pedagogy of computer science, illuminating its significance for the future and outlining strategies for its integration into existing curriculums. With a particular emphasis on 21st-century skills, he explores new frameworks for assessment and evaluation that prioritize deep learning over rote memorization. This presentation is not just a theoretical discussion; it’s a hands-on exploration of learning. Participants will engage in the learning process themselves, gaining first-hand insight into the transformative potential of an integrated approach to computer science education.

This session explores the landscape of modern education and strategies to prepare our students for the future. Attendees will leave this session equipped with the understanding and tools to foster an environment where students can apply their knowledge in deeper, more meaningful ways. The session promises to be an enlightening journey into the future of education in the 21st century