Synchronous Conference Day!

We are all systems go for synchronous events on Saturday March 6th. You have received a personalized schedule with your sessions and zoom links. The keynote starts at 9 am!

Some program meet up breakout rooms have been added to the Conversations with Asynchronous Presenters Session. Arrange to meet your colleagues there.

Share your learning and thoughts throughout the day on Twitter using #medVIU2021

In case of technical difficulties contact your session moderator or learnsupport@viu.ca.

Looking forward to seeing and hearing your presentations, conversations and questions. Have a great day!

Dancing Between Traditions: A Critical Examination of Learning Systems Through the Metaphor of Athabaskan Fiddle Music

By: Ryan West

In many ways, our education systems are failing to meet the needs of our Indigenous learners. There is a growing urgency to meet students where they are at, but not just academically. Programming needs to begin acknowledging and creating space for the diverse set of individuals, cultures, and learning systems present in schools today. This narrative study suggests that the story of Athabaskan fiddle music and the learning experiences of local fiddler players can help the greater educational community understand the benefits of bringing formal education outside the realms of standardization and compartmentalized learning by creating space and honouring Indigenous learning systems within our classrooms.

Important Conference Info

To register to attend and/or present please fill in this survey.

This year’s conference is virtual, with synchronous sessions on Saturday March 6th, 2021 and asynchronous sessions from February 28-March 6th.

There are five ways to present your work at the conference:

  • Oral presentations (synchronous)
  • Roundtable presentation (synchronous)
  • Ask me anything mentor (synchronous and asynchronous)
  • Poster or creative work (asynchronous)
  • 3 min thesis (asynchronous)

Contact Rachel Moll, rachel.moll@viu.ca for conference information.

Latest updates!

Check here for up to date information and news!

February 26th Update: Blog posts are going live as we speak! How exciting! Please check them out and comment over the next week. Conference schedules with Zoom links to attend sessions will be emailed out early next week. If you were not able to book sessions, you will be place in sessions that had space. Schedules will be sent out by 4 pm on Tuesday March 2nd, 2021. Please watch your email. Emails to presenters with information about preparing to present were sent out on February 25th.

February 3rd Update: Registration to attend is now closed. The draft detailed program was sent to presenters for feedback. Presenters will be invited to register to choose the sessions they would like to attend on February 4th. Attendees will be able to register starting February 8th.

We are excited to announce our Keynote Speaker: Monique Gray Smith. Monique is an award winning Vancouver Island author and speaker. She is Cree, Lakota and Scottish and speaks about resilience, reconciliation and her journey of healing.

On January 15th, registration for presenters closed, and on January 20th, presenters were informed of their presentation format.

We have over 60 student presenters!!!

Registration for attendees closes on January 31st.

Watch this space for an updated detailed conference program which is coming soon!!