TVOParents and People for Education teamed up again for the 15th annual conference at York University. This year’s theme was success. How do we create an education system that allows students to do their very best? About 250 conference participants heard from Ontario’s new Minister of Education, Laurel Broten, as well as keynote speaker Pasi Sahlberg, who shared the Finnish secrets to school success. TVOParents’ Cheryl Jackson moderated a discussion on what makes a great teacher, an event which was streamed live so people across the province could participate. Cheryl also caught up with a few of the conference speakers one-on-one, speaking to Toronto Star columnist Rick Salutin about school choice, Finnish education expert Pasi Sahlberg about what Ontario can learn from the Finnish system, and OISE professor Ben Levin on innovation in education – he says we should innovate less, improve more.  You can check out all those videos right here. We also have a number of blogs ranging from the role of technology in our classrooms to the role of school trustees. Happy watching and reading!

Plenary Panel: What makes a great teacher?

Laurel Broten The new Minister of Education gives her inaugural speech to the 2011 People for Education conference.
Annie Kidder The education advocate gives her view on the ideas and challenges from the conference’s first day.
Pasi Sahlberg, in the keynote address, talks about what other countries can learn from Finland's renowned education system.
Ben Levin The OISE professor suggests we look carefully at innovation in schools - perhaps improvement of what works would be better.
Pasi Sahlberg The Finnish system does really well on international tests. But they didn’t always. What can we learn from Finland?
Rick Salutin There are pros, but more cons, in allowing school choice into Ontario’s public school system.

We also have blogs and articles that will explain some of the day's happenings:

Special Education: Navigating Your School System by Albert Wisco

The Technology Obsession - getting perspective by Nicola Pulling

Accountability v. Responsibility by Cheryl Jackson

Face Off on Education by Albert Wisco

Listening to People for Education by Cheryl Jackson

The Case Against School Choice and More... by Cheryl Jackson

Annie Kidder on People for Education 2011

 

  • Day 1

    Here's what we're talking about - and who's talking about it - on the first day of the conference.
    Also, we've added TVOParents resources to give you some background on the issues before the conference.

  • Day 2

    The "unconference" is for you and by you. If you were running the education system, how would you define success and how would you measure it? Attendees will create a new definition of a successful student, teacher, and school.