Through an interactive conversational approach, we will “illuminate” Indigenous teachings on peoples, protocols, and relationships, offering space to reflect on practice and enhance meaningful engagement with Indigenous learners.

Learning Objectives:

• Increase knowledge and understanding of cultural protocols from nêhiyaw perspective.
• Explore the relationship concepts of wâhkôhtowin ᐋᐧᐦᑰᐦᑐᐃᐧᐣ and wicehtowin ᐃᐧᒉᐦᑐᐃᐧᐣ for Recruiting/Recruitment, Retaining/Retainment, and Maintaining/Maintainment of Indigenous learners.
• Consider Indigenous adult‑learning principles when planning instruction and selecting learning resources.

*Please note that a smudge will be offered during this session

Come prepared to put your mouse and navigation skills to the test as we explore the “Digital Tools and Test-Taking Strategies for CAEC” facilitator’s toolkit. This session will give you hands-on experience of the digital skills learners need for online CAEC exams, and the tools to deliver a workshop that will support their test preparation.

Learning Objectives:

• Build confidence and get practice using the tools and accessibility features in the CAEC online testing platform (Vretta)
• Explore a variety of the digital tasks required by test-takers on the CAEC exams and other online testing platforms
• Gain insight and free resources to help learners prepare for exam day and manage test anxiety

Hear how Destination Learning changed a rural CALP! By getting out of the classroom and offices, learning activities were taken directly to the community. The results brought greater visibility to Crowsnest Pass Adult Education, significantly increased learner numbers, economically reduced barriers, and boosted partnerships with local businesses and community agencies.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the Destination Learning Model overview
• Gain strategies for increasing visibility and making community connections
• Take away tips for incorporating the Destination Learning Model

Writing flexible and simple policy helps direct decision making for both board members and employees. This session will look at tips for writing effective policies that guide and direct your organization's creation and use of policies for governance, operations and human resources. Distinguishing differences between policy and procedures enables administrators to be flexible for change within an organization as needs arise.

Learning Objectives:

• Creating workable policies
• Writing effective and flexible policies
• Connecting policy making to every day decision making and operations.

Across the province, especially in rural Alberta, CALPs are often the "go-to" providers of settlement services. Immigration is complex and has recently undergone significant policy changes, impacting CALPs and their clients. This session will discuss recent developments in immigration, the needs of newcomers, and where CALPs can seek supports.

Learning Objectives:

• Build awareness of significant immigration policy changes that occurred in 2024 and 2025, and what those changes mean for their immigrant clients
• Learn about immigration statuses and how this impacts service access; changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker program and other immigration programs that are impacting thousands of people across Alberta and how to support newcomers
• Leave with resources to reach out to in the event of a serious issue with a newcomer (such as human trafficking or labour trafficking, workplace exploitation, and abuse) as well as resources to share with clients

This session sheds light on numeracy as an essential yet overlooked skill in adult ESL instruction. Come gain practical tools to assess and support foundational learners using real-life tasks, explore Essential Skills connections, and leave with strategies, assessment samples, and adaptable templates for inclusive instruction.

Learning Objectives:

• Highlight numeracy’s essential role in adult ESL education for learners with limited literacy, addressing challenges like language barriers and math anxiety while promoting learner-centered strategies for effective instruction
• Explore how numeracy connects to Essential Skills and supports daily life; identify learners’ needs through practical assessments and use results to effectively guide instruction
• Receive practical strategies, real-life assessment activities, adaptable tools, and instructional approaches tailored to foundational learners, along with a mini toolkit of templates for immediate use in the ESL classroom

Explore how the Understanding by Design framework, specifically Backward Design, can spark engaging, outcome-focused CALP programs. Together, we’ll review CALP principles and apply a three-step planning template to shine light on program design, leaving with practical strategies for goal setting, assessment design, and lesson planning.

Learning Objectives:

• Be able to explain Backward Design
• Learn how to plan CALP programs with clear goals, apply simple assessments, choose teaching methods, and keep lessons focused, effective, and learner-centered
• Take away resources including templates, examples, and simple tools to help in designing CALP programs that are compliant to the Policy Manual

AI is changing education—but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. This session helps foundational learning instructors see how chatbots can become supportive teaching partners. Learn how to use AI to simplify lesson planning, explain complex ideas, and create engaging activities, while keeping your teaching approach personal, practical, and learner-focused.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how AI chatbots can simplify lesson planning, support learner engagement, and enhance teaching without needing advanced technical skills
• Learn how to create effective prompts that guide AI chatbots to generate lesson ideas, activities, and explanations tailored to adult foundational learners
• Take away ready-to-use prompt templates, classroom examples, and practical strategies for safely and confidently integrating AI chatbots into teaching