The 4th Annual Canadian Assessment for Learning Network Members’ Symposium
Faculty of Education, University of Saskatchewan, Saturday May 6, 2017
After a highly successful conference on Friday, CAfLN members attended our symposium on Saturday. The symposium was organized by executive members, Veronica Saretsky and Lori Jeschke, as an opportunity for educators from across the country to connect in a more intimate setting, to share experiences and projects, and to help our network chart its course for the year ahead. Following lunch, we also held our annual general meeting.
The day began with welcomes from David Burgess, Associate Dean of the College of Education and outgoing CAfLN president, Damian Cooper.
“Inside Outside Reflections” was an engaging ice-breaker that got members talking about assessment, early on a Saturday morning!
Several CAfLN members from across the country then shared their own stories and regional observations in “Cross Canada Round Up”, including Jimmy Pai, representing the Ottawa region of Ontario, who joined via Skype. To summarize our learning, members added Post-It notes to a huge map of Canada that had been created for our symposium by students at Prairie Spirit School Division.
Our soon-to-be new president Lorna Earl and research chair, Chris DeLuca from The Faculty of Education at Queen’s University, then presented an exciting proposal that will see CAfLN leading the way forward in terms of Canadian research into assessment for learning. Stay tuned for more details about this much-needed initiative.
Following the AGM, Diana Jemieff from Prairie Spirit School Division, and Jennifer Ferguson from Prince Albert-Saskatchewan Rivers School Division shared with members the good, the bad, and yes, the ugly, from their respective assessment journeys.
As a final task before our new president, Lorna Earl, closed a wonderful day of learning and collaboration, Veronica invited attendees to share their reflections and suggestions for CAfLN as we move forward live and online. Thanks to Lori Jeschke and Veronica Saretsky for providing members with another successful symposium!
by Damian Cooper, Past President of CAfLN
