Agenda
└ West Bedford School
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10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Capacity: 20
Patrick Poupart
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M1 • Abordons la réalité mixte (virtuelle et augmentée) avec l'outil Delightex |
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Patrick Poupart is a teacher with CSAP tackling interesting new technologies and doing it en français! Avec la prépondérance de la technologie en milieu scolaire, la réalité augmentée s’avère une solution simple et pratique de présenter des projets étudiants sous un autre œil. Avec l’aide de l’application Delightex (anciennement CoSpaces), je vous invite à découvrir cet univers en découvrant le potentiel de cette application, mais aussi de ce moyen de diffusion. N’oubliez pas d’apporter votre ordinateur pour pleinement vivre l’expérience.
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10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Capacity: 20
Terry Ryan
Chris Phillips
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M2 • Lathes |
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Semi-retired Terry Ryan and retired teacher Chris Phillips will join us for the ever-popular lathe activities! They will take a small group through safety and potential project ideas as well as let you make some things to take home!
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10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Capacity: 30
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M3 • Exploring Future Pathway Possibilities with myBlueprint: Supporting O2 Students in Nova Scotia |
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This session will focus on how myBlueprint’s Education Planner supports the goals of Nova Scotia’s Options and Opportunities (O2) program by helping students develop meaningful career and life plans. Designed to align with O2’s emphasis on hands-on learning, personal pathway planning, and informed decision-making, this session will highlight practical strategies to empower students as they explore their future possibilities. Students in O2 can use myBlueprint to:
• Develop personal awareness of skills and strengths, and explore related career pathways,
• Develop an awareness and understanding of labour market information in Nova Scotia,
• Explore and compare post-secondary pathways, including apprenticeships, college, university, and direct-to-work transitions,
• To create a personalized education and career plan,
• Reflect on and document experiential learning opportunities.
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10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Capacity: 30
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M4 • Green Careers: Net-Zero Goals and the Green Building Sector |
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In this interactive, escape-room style challenge, students will work in teams each taking on a green building sector role. Their mission? Design a net-zero home! Each task uncovers a code that leads to the next one, all while learning about exciting careers in the green building sector!
|
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Capacity: 20
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M5 • Hope Blooms |
| TBA |
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Capacity: 15
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M7 • Hand Tool Woodworking |
Participants will build a Try Square with a Bridle Joint entirely from scratch using only hand tools. Learn how to keep every student actively engaged by using hand tools—no standing around, everyone has a job and a tool in hand. Skills and tools covered:
• Measuring & Marking: Combination Square, Marking Guage, and Striking Knife
• Cutting Stock: Crosscut Hand Saw and Rip Hand Saw
• Dimensioning Wood: Hand Planes, Windling Sticks, and Calipers
• Joinery: Chiseling, Gluing, and Boring
• Finishing: Linseed-Based Oil (LBO) |
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Capacity: 20
|
M8 • Greenhouse Grant |
|
Participants will see how to incorporate constructing a premade greenhouse and garden planters from scratch into Math at Work courses. Participants will be able to try a kreg jig and take home a small project.
|
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Capacity: 20
Jared Trefry
Matt Hingley
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M9 • Engraving NS |
|
Come learn how to program a laser engraver to convert topographical maps into wooden replicas! This cross-curricular project combines Tech Ed, Social Studies, Science, ELA, and Math outcomes into a fun activity for students. This project was made possible by Truro Middle School teachers Jared Trefry and Matt Hingley obtaining grants through CTEANS and Brilliant Labs.
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10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Capacity: 20
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M10 • vCarve Introduction |
| This hands-on workshop introduces participants to the fundamentals of VCarve, a versatile software used for designing and preparing files for CNC machining. Participants will learn how to navigate the VCarve interface, create basic 2D designs, generate toolpaths, and simulate machining processes. By the end of the session, attendees will have the skills to design a simple project and prepare it for CNC cutting. |
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Capacity: 25
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M11 • Hide Glue/Shellac |
|
A workshop offering the fundamentals of traditional hide glue, its uses, and best applications suited to student needs. We will look at traditional finishing techniques that can be applied and dried within the same class to cut down on idle time. A perfect way to finish off your day! Stick around!
|
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Capacity: 20
|
M12 • Skills Canada NS |
Come and join the SkillsNS team as they talk about the Try-a-Trade Takeout menu and let you tackle a project you might get from them to complete with your students! This year's session will feature the Renewable Energy kits which are build-your-own mini wind turbines!
|
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Capacity: 30
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M13 • Breaking Barriers in the Trades: Encouraging Gender Inclusivity in Career & Technology Education |
Woodworking and the trades have historically been male-dominated fields, but that’s changing. More women, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals are finding careers in fine craft, carpentry, and related trades—but barriers still exist. This session will explore ways educators can make their classrooms more inclusive, ensuring students of all genders feel welcome, supported, and empowered to explore woodworking and skilled trades. Through real-life experiences, practical strategies, and group discussions, this session will help teachers rethink how they present hands-on skills, create an environment that fosters confidence, and introduce students to diverse role models in woodworking and the trades.
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10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Capacity: 14
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M14 • Coding Made Easy with Codingville (Grades 3-12) |
Unlock the potential of coding in your classroom with Codingville, a comprehensive platform designed to engage students of all levels. From introductory block-based programming to the complexities of JavaScript, Codingville offers a diverse range of interactive activities and challenges. Explore themed worlds where coding concepts come to life, fostering creativity and problem-solving skills. Track student progress, customize lessons, and empower your students to become confident coders. Join our workshop to discover how Codingville can transform your teaching and inspire the next generation of innovators.
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10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Capacity: 30
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M15 • Building Bridges: Advancing Inclusion in STEM |
| Join the NSERC Chairs for Inclusion in Science and Engineering – Atlantic (CISE-Atlantic) for an interactive session on equity in education within Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Consider the following: What motivates learners towards pursuing careers in STEM? How can we better understand the diverse needs, motivations, and external factors that impact a learner's decision between different STEM fields? This session asks participants to unpack the realities of the classroom, identifying barriers and bridges to inclusion. Participants are encouraged to reflect on their own positionality and experiences within the STEM education ecosystem, drawing upon connections between one another and leaving with tools to develop more inclusive learning environments. |
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Capacity: 30
|
M16 • Trades Ex Hall |
This session will start and finish at West Bedford but participants will take a bus to Ragged Lake for a tour of the Trades Exhibition Hall, a state-of-the-art and first of its kind facility. If you haven't been and teach students trades, tech ed or career education, this will be a slam dunk!
|
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Capacity: 25
Brainy Buttons
|
M17 • Love Minds of All Kinds |
| Autism and school from an Autistic teens perspective. This session will cover autism and neurodivergence from a first voice perspective with a button making activity that Naphtali presents to students all over HRM. |
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Capacity: 25
David Giles
|
M18 • STEM Learning - Engage and Empower: Strategies for Today's Classrooms |
| Today’s high school classrooms are filled with students who learn best by doing. For educators in STEM and the skilled trades, providing opportunities for engagement is key to helping with curiosity and building confidence. This session invites teachers to explore how hands-on activities and structured training systems can transform complex concepts into practical, real-world understanding. We will focus on strategies that help students connect theory with practice by working directly with systems that teach fundamentals in areas such as mechanics, electronics, and energy. Participants will see how tactile learning bridges gaps between traditional instruction and the problem-solving skills demanded in modern trades and technology fields. Through demonstrations and examples, educators will gain insights into creating classroom activities that are both engaging, fun and aligned with curriculum outcomes. The session also highlights the use of dedicated training systems designed for high school environments—tools that make complex STEM concepts approachable and relevant. Attendees will leave with fresh ideas for projects, resources for teaching system fundamentals, and methods for motivating students to take ownership of their learning. Whether you are introducing students to basic technical skills or preparing them for advanced pathways in trades and engineering, this session provides practical approaches to engage, empower, and inspire. |
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
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Lunch |
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Capacity: 20
Patrick Poupart
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A1 • XTOOL: le petit graveur laser pour de grands projets |
|
Patrick Poupart is a teacher with CSAP tackling interesting new technologies and doing it en français! Between the CNC and the pyroengraver, the laser engraver is a way to produce projects that meet your expectations. Through its simplicity, versatility and small size, the xTool D1 Pro allows you to cut and burn wood, metal, paper and even acrylic with high precision. During this workshop, you will be able to observe this machine at work in addition to discussing its operation, its strengths and its limits. Entre la CNC et le pyrograveur, le graveur laser est un moyen de produire des projets à la hauteur de vos attentes. Par sa simplicité, sa versatilité et sa taille réduite, la xTool D1 Pro permet de couper et de brûler avec une haute précision le bois comme le métal, le papier voire même l’acrylique. Lors de cet atelier, vous pourrez observer cette machine à l’œuvre en plus d’abordant son fonctionnement, ses forces et ainsi que ses limites. Perfect for French language teachers and maker space or tech ed teachers!
|
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Capacity: 20
Terry Ryan
Chris Phillips
|
A2 • Lathes |
|
Semi-retired Terry Ryan and retired teacher Chris Phillips will join us for the ever-popular lathe activities! They will take a small group through safety and potential project ideas as well as let you make some things to take home!
|
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Capacity: 30
|
A3 • Building Career Connections Across the Curriculum with myBlueprint |
Discover how to seamlessly weave career-connected learning into any subject area using myBlueprint’s dynamic tools. This session will equip educators with practical strategies to integrate career awareness, real-world relevance, and future-focused language into daily classroom instruction. Through interactive examples and best practices, learn how myBlueprint can help you:
• Introduce career-related language and concepts across disciplines,
• Support students in building meaningful and personalized career and life plans,
• Help students recognize, document, and showcase the skills and competencies they develop across subjects by building a comprehensive portfolio—preparing them to be future-ready.
|
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Capacity: 30
|
A4 • Green Careers: Net-Zero Goals and the Green Building Sector |
|
In this interactive, escape-room style challenge, students will work in teams each taking on a green building sector role. Their mission? Design a net-zero home! Each task uncovers a code that leads to the next one, all while learning about exciting careers in the green building sector!
|
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Capacity: 20
|
A5 • Hope Blooms |
| TBA |
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Capacity: 20
|
A6 • Scotia Tech Water Meters |
| TBA |
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Capacity: 15
|
A7 • Hand Tool Woodworking |
|
Participants will build a Try Square with a Bridle Joint entirely from scratch using only hand tools. Learn how to keep every student actively engaged by using hand tools—no standing around, everyone has a job and a tool in hand. Skills and tools covered:
• Measuring & Marking: Combination Square, Marking Guage, and Striking Knife
• Cutting Stock: Crosscut Hand Saw and Rip Hand Saw
• Dimensioning Wood: Hand Planes, Windling Sticks, and Calipers
• Joinery: Chiseling, Gluing, and Boring
• Finishing: Linseed-Based Oil (LBO)
|
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Capacity: 20
|
A8 • Greenhouse Grant |
|
Participants will see how to incorporate constructing a premade greenhouse and garden planters from scratch into Math at Work courses. Participants will be able to try a kreg jig and take home a small project.
|
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Capacity: 20
Jared Trefry
Matt Hingley
|
A9 • Engraving NS |
| Come learn how to program a laser engraver to convert topographical maps into wooden replicas! This cross-curricular project combines Tech Ed, Social Studies, Science, ELA, and Math outcomes into a fun activity for students. This project was made possible by Truro Middle School teachers Jared Trefry and Matt Hingley obtaining grants through CTEANS and Brilliant Labs. |
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Capacity: 30
|
A10 • High Skills Major |
Leads and Coaches Roundtable: If you support multiple HSM programs, you have unique challenges. Come to discuss 3 specific challenges with colleagues:
1. Centralized vs Local: How do YOU balance central support with local program ownership?
2. Empowerment on a Shoestring: How do you motivate the people you support?
3. Admin Hacks: What are your best time-saving tips to get everything done? |
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Capacity: 25
|
A11 • Hide Glue/Shellac |
|
A workshop offering the fundamentals of traditional hide glue, its uses, and best applications suited to student needs. We will look at traditional finishing techniques that can be applied and dried within the same class to cut down on idle time. A perfect way to finish off your day! Stick around!
|
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Capacity: 20
|
A12 • Skills Canada NS |
|
Come and join the Skills NS team as they talk about the Try-a-Trade Takeout menu and let you tackle a project you might get from them to complete with your students! This year's session will feature the Renewable Energy kits which are build-your-own mini wind turbines!
|
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Capacity: 15
|
A13 • Making a Salt Spoon: Hands-on Woodworking for the Classroom |
|
This interactive session will guide educators through the process of crafting a small wooden salt spoon—a perfect beginner-friendly project that introduces students to woodworking techniques in an approachable way. Participants will learn about design, carving, and finishing methods that can be easily adapted to classroom settings with minimal tools. The workshop will also highlight how such projects can foster creativity, problem-solving, and hands-on engagement in Career and Technology Education (CTE). Attendees will leave with a finished spoon and practical knowledge on how to bring similar projects into their classrooms, making woodworking accessible to all students, regardless of skill level.
|
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Capacity: 30
|
A14 • Make Beats. Learn Code. Promote Equity: Your Voice is Power |
|
This workshop offers a unique opportunity to show how students can blend the creative worlds of hip-hop music production and Python coding. Using the EarSketch platform, they'll remix beats from iconic artists like Pharrell and Alicia Keys, and discover fresh samples from talented Indigenous artists from across Canada like Samian, Dakota Bear, Jaylee Wolf, Aysanabee, Twin Flames and Dr. Duke Redbird. This experience goes beyond just technical proficiency. We'll be fostering critical conversations about social justice using content developed by Black and Indigenous educators, encouraging participants to explore and address real-world issues through the lens of music and technology. Teachers will leave this lesson with a solid grasp of EarSketch basics, ready to inspire their students to dive in and enter the 'Your Voice Is Power' contest, with a chance to win a $5000 scholarship.
|
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Capacity: 30
|
A16 • Trades Ex Hall |
|
This session will start and finish at West Bedford but participants will take a bus to Ragged Lake for a tour of the Trades Exhibition Hall, a state-of-the-art and first of its kind facility. If you haven't been and teach students trades, tech ed or career education, this will be a slam dunk!
|
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Capacity: 25
Brainy Buttons
|
A17 • Love Minds of All Kinds |
| Autism and school from an Autistic teens perspective. This session will cover autism and neurodivergence from a first voice perspective with a button making activity that Naphtali presents to students all over HRM. |
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Capacity: 25
David Giles
|
A18 • STEM Learning - Engage and Empower: Strategies for Today's Classrooms |
| Today’s high school classrooms are filled with students who learn best by doing. For educators in STEM and the skilled trades, providing opportunities for engagement is key to helping with curiosity and building confidence. This session invites teachers to explore how hands-on activities and structured training systems can transform complex concepts into practical, real-world understanding. We will focus on strategies that help students connect theory with practice by working directly with systems that teach fundamentals in areas such as mechanics, electronics, and energy. Participants will see how tactile learning bridges gaps between traditional instruction and the problem-solving skills demanded in modern trades and technology fields. Through demonstrations and examples, educators will gain insights into creating classroom activities that are both engaging, fun and aligned with curriculum outcomes. The session also highlights the use of dedicated training systems designed for high school environments—tools that make complex STEM concepts approachable and relevant. Attendees will leave with fresh ideas for projects, resources for teaching system fundamentals, and methods for motivating students to take ownership of their learning. Whether you are introducing students to basic technical skills or preparing them for advanced pathways in trades and engineering, this session provides practical approaches to engage, empower, and inspire. |
