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The Focus of GIFT 2024

This year's conference will focus on Sustainability, The Climate Action Plan, and Greening the Curriculum.

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our lifetime. Mohawk College has a significant role to play in both our reduction of our operational emissions and in the education of the highly skilled graduates. In support of the Mohawk College Climate Action Plan, this conference will collectively learn about:

Call for Proposals

Join the Movement Towards a Sustainable Future!

Attention educators and thought leaders! We're thrilled to announce our call for proposals centered around Sustainability, Climate Action, and Greening the Curriculum. Let's collaborate to shape a more sustainable future through education!

Wondering why you should participate?

  • Make an Impact: Your ideas can drive real progress in tackling climate change and promoting sustainable practices.
  • Inspire Others: Showcase your initiatives and inspire educators and learners worldwide to take action.
  • Network and Collaborate: Connect with like-minded individuals and organizations dedicated to sustainability and education.

Submission Guidelines:

  • Topic: Sustainability, Climate Action, Greening the Curriculum
  • Format: Online - Workshop, Presentation, Interactive Session
  • Deadline: Submit your Call for Proposal by: August 15th, 2024

Ready to Lead the Change?

2024 GIFT Proposals are now closed.

GIFT 2024 Keynote Speakers

People call Lindsay Hampson a business-minded tree hugger. She founded ThisRock Inc., an ESG and Sustainability consulting firm in 2022. ThisRock helps businesses get more sustainable in simple and profitable ways. Her firm helps busy people meet new ESG “asks” from their customers, investors or bankers. Lindsay is a communications professional turned Sustainability expert with an MBA, an FSA (Fundamentals in Sustainable Accounting) Credential from the IFRS, and a 15-year career in B2B SaaS with IBM, SAP and Jitterbit. She is a cheerleader to two hockey-playing daughters, and one awesome husband.

Embedding Sustainability in Education: Preparing Future Leaders

Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 9:00am – 10:30am

Join Lindsay Hampson, President at ThisRock Inc., for an energizing and helpful keynote session on embedding sustainability into education. Lindsay spends her days working with organizations across North America, supporting them to attain sustainability certifications and advising them as they launch environmental and social policies, initiatives and targets. This session is designed to assist educators to prepare students to become informed, responsible, and proactive professionals and global citizens. We will begin by establishing a common understanding of sustainability, using real-world stories to illustrate how businesses and professions navigate environmental and social challenges.

Almost every profession includes, or will include, some type of sustainability task or oversight. Lindsay will explore opportunities for clever curriculum additions across major Mohawk pillars, ensuring educational programs align with the real-life demands in jobs and businesses today. Strategies for integrating sustainability into various subjects will be shared, along with discussions on how to prepare students to be leaders and innovators in their fields.

The session will connect with Mohawk’s Climate Action Plan, highlighting the role of educators in advancing sustainability goals and fostering a culture of sustainability within the college. Recognizing the value of Indigenous knowledge, Lindsay will also explore how these perspectives can enrich Mohawk’s approach to sustainability education.

By embedding sustainability into your teaching practices, you will empower students to gain needed skills such as problem-solving, ethical decision-making, and critical thinking. This session will also feature reflections from students and industry professionals, providing practical insights and bridging the gap between theory and practice.

Key Takeaways:

  • Understanding climate action and social impact.
  • Underscoring the importance of sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles.
  • Strategies for integrating sustainability into various curricula.
  • Preparing students to meet environmental and social challenges in their future careers.

Target Audience: Educators, curriculum developers, academic leaders, and anyone interested in integrating sustainability into education.

Register on WAM 


Alysa De Bellis has a Masters of Earth and Environmental Science from the University of Waterloo. Since 2017, Alysa has worked as Mohawk College faculty with the Environmental Technician program. She is an advocate for sustainable practices and co-signor to the Beyond Benign: Green Chemistry Commitment. Prior to working at Mohawk, Alysa held roles in industry, academia, and government with a focus on water resource management and protecting water quality.

Sustainability in Action: A Framework for 'Greening' College Programs

Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 10:45am – 11:30am

The Mohawk College Strategic directive to 'Make a measurable impact on climate change' and the Climate Action Plan are clear calls to action: it’s time to address sustainability challenges in everything we do. As educators, it is our role to heed the call to embed sustainability across our curriculum and student experience. This task may seem daunting, but with a well-designed plan, action and support, it’s within our reach!

In this presentation, we will provide a framework to embed sustainability into existing college programs. The three pillars of this framework are: curriculum, research and partnerships and campus operations. We will use the Environmental, Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering diplomas as models for how this framework can be applied to any program.

Sustainable Program Framework:

  • Curriculum Integration: creation of Green Learning Outcomes (GLOs) and mapping GLOs and IKLOs to the program of studies
  • Research and Partnerships: research or outreach that supports the low-carbon transition in industry or community
  • Campus Operations: sustainable practices that support reduction in emissions and waste at Mohawk College

We will also present the application process for Sustainable Program Certification. Programs that meet the three pillars will see their graduates recognized for their sustainability knowledge and impact. Small shifts to incorporate sustainability into programs can drive big changes in the student experience, the community and beyond!

Register on WAM 


Shelley taught in the Social Service Work Program at Mohawk College for over 24 years. She retired from full time teaching in June 2024 and currently teaches part time. Her areas of teaching, interest and study include anti-oppressive, anti-racist, anti-colonial theory and practices, political advocacy and activism, community organizing and social welfare policy, environmental social work, and field education in social work. In 2017 she published her first book - Advocacy in Practice: Creating a Culture of Social Change in the Human Services, Oxford University Press.

Prior to coming to Mohawk College, Shelley was the Executive Director of the Housing Help Centre for 11 years. The Centre is a community based not-for-profit agency that works with people who are homeless or in danger of losing their housing. In this capacity she practiced case advocacy and participated in grassroots organizing activities aimed at changing government policies and programs to better support service users.

Shelley’s formal education includes a BA in Sociology from the University of Toronto, a BSW from McMaster University, an MA in Social Welfare Policy form McMaster University and a Doctorate in Education (EdD) from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education University of Toronto.

Climate Crisis: What Human Service Workers Need to Know

Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 11:45am – 12:30pm

This session will include a brief presentation featuring a recently developed resource for students in human services, justice studies, health and other fields. The presentation will be followed by interactive application of one of the reflective practices included in the workbook.

Register on WAM 


Allison Maxted: Allison is responsible for overseeing Mohawk’s campus sustainability and climate action initiatives. Allison works with the Sustainability Office team and partners across the college to integrate sustainability into campus operations and throughout the student experience. Allison holds a Master’s in Community and Regional Planning from the University of British Columbia and has over a decade of experience working towards inclusive and sustainable communities in a variety of settings.

Cassi Brennan: Cassi is responsible for conducting sustainability-focused student outreach, empowering students to learn about sustainability, supporting student-led initiatives that make the campus community more sustainable, and providing administrative support to the Sustainability Initiatives Fee Committee. Cassi works to collaborate with student leaders and student groups to foster sustainability initiatives. Additionally, Cassi develops and leads outreach events, oversees sustainability-focused volunteer opportunities for students, and connects students with ways they can integrate sustainable action into their academic and extracurricular experience. Cassi is a proud Mohawk College alumnus of the Environmental Technician Program.

Co-Creating the Future: Student-Driven Partnerships in Advancing Education for Sustainable Development

Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 1:00pm – 1:45pm

Discover how our college is fostering a collaborative approach to education for sustainable development. Participants will delve into innovative partnerships with students, focusing on initiatives such as the Responsible Futures supported change programme, the Green Team and the Sustainability Initiatives Fund. Gain insights into how these programs empower students to drive meaningful change on campus and beyond, promoting sustainability practices and values. Join us to explore the transformative impact of these initiatives, gain insights from student engagement, and envision pathways for faculty involvement.

Register on WAM 


Dawn Danko: Dawn Danko, M.S.(Ed.), is a Curriculum & Program Quality Consultant at Mohawk College. She has previously worked in health care as a Radiation Therapist, and has over 15 years of experience in teaching, facilitation, and curriculum development. Dawn recently led the collaborative curriculum planning, mapping and development for a proposed cluster of sustainability-related degrees at Mohawk College.

Usha Vivegananthan: Usha Vivegananthan, Ph.D., is a seasoned educator with 20 years of experience in curriculum development and program creation at Mohawk College. She has spearheaded innovative projects like the Biotechnology - Advanced Diploma and Applied Degrees in Sustainability. Usha is passionate about bringing innovative student-centred education to fruition and translates theory into practice throughout her work.

Navigating Sustainability: A Roadmap for Curriculum Development

Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Are you planning to incorporate sustainability competencies into your curriculum? Leveraging lessons learned from sustainability degree development at Mohawk College, this interactive session will provide participants with strategic approaches to consulting and identifying core knowledge, values, skills, and resources that can guide program-specific sustainability curriculum development.

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Dr. Athanasios (Ethan) Paschos is full professor of Biotechnology in the Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Environmental Department of Mohawk College with a Master’s and PhD degree from the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich. He brings significant research experiences with a strong record of accomplishments in the interface of microbiology, biochemistry, environmental monitoring, medicine, and chemistry.

Dr. Paschos bridges as liaison between national content expertise organizations and his program to benefit the success of Mohawk graduates. While supervising several Mohawk biotech students in their research activities he has secured successfully for his trainees CIC Clean Tech & Career Launcher internship subsidies and managed recently a Canadian Bio-Cleantech Applied Research Network project in collaboration with a chemical sector industry partner.

With a deep understanding of the complex environmental global issues and challenges facing our planet, Dr. Paschos uses science to offer practical solutions and inspiring insights that empower students inside and outside of the classroom to adopt more sustainable lifestyles.

Applied Research and Experiential Learning Activities at Mohawk College addressing Sustainability, Environmental and Water Related Challenges

Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 3:10pm – 3:45pm

Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology offers dynamic programs in Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, and Environmental Technology. As an instructor at Mohawk College, my goal is to equip students with essential technical skills and critical reasoning abilities to excel in these fields. A significant portion of my curriculum is dedicated to addressing pressing global environmental challenges, including aquatic pollution, treatment strategies, and water toxicology, analysis, and purification.

Within the framework of Education for Sustainable Development, our biotechnology course curricula empower students to recognize and engage with sustainable practices. Through experiential learning activities, they actively shape their understanding of sustainability and its applications in real-world scenarios.

Through courses like "Environmental Biology" and faculty driven extracurricular or research activities, my students cultivate a deep sense of responsibility towards the environment, enhancing their comprehension of the intricate and interdependent relationship between humanity and nature. They critically analyze and explore methods for responsibly managing ecological, economic, and social resources, ensuring that current and future generations have access to sustainable livelihoods and opportunities, both locally and globally. Ultimately, students gain a comprehensive understanding of environmental and developmental issues, along with their complex causes and effects. They engage with ethical norms and values, enabling them to creatively influence their surroundings and contribute to a more interconnected world through the lens of Global Learning.

In this talk, I will present few examples and my personal observations from the chemical, biotechnology and environmental course perspective of how to integrate sustainability and environmental education into college curricula.

This presentation will explore examples and insights from the chemical, biotechnology, and environmental education perspectives on how to integrate sustainability content into college curricula. Attendees will learn how the extracurricular and research activities within the biotechnology program at Mohawk College empower students to develop a profound sense of responsibility towards the environment. This engagement enhances their understanding of the intricate and interdependent relationship between humanity and nature.

Join us to discover examples of how we can cultivate environmentally conscious leaders of tomorrow!

Register on WAM 


Michael Dean: Michael Dean leads the Energy, Carbon, and Sustainability Office at Mohawk College and the implementation of the College’s Climate Action Plan and climate action plan roadmap. Michael supports the development and implementation of Mohawk’s long-term sustainability goals, aligning goals with post-secondary sector, global trends and local needs and oversees engagement, operations, and community relations related to sustainability.. Michael holds a Masters Urban Planning from the University of Toronto and has more than a decade of experience in climate change initiatives and local sustainability planning, mostly in the municipal government sector.

Miranda Floreano: Miranda is responsible for supporting the college-wide implementation of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) through communications, awareness strategies, capacity building, data collection and reporting. Miranda provides support to the CAP Steering Group and working groups and builds opportunities for both students and staff to get involved. Miranda is a proud alumnus of the CityLAB Hamilton Semester In Residence Program. Her expertise focuses on project management, community engagement and sustainability best practices. Miranda holds an HBSc. in Life Sciences from McMaster University, and an Advanced Diploma in Ecosystem Management Technology from Fleming College.

From Strategy to Action: Insights and Updates on Mohawk’s Climate Action Journey

Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 3:45pm – 4:30pm

Join us for an informative session to gain a comprehensive understanding of our college's climate action plan. Discover the plan's scope and targets aimed at enhancing sustainability across our campus and engaging our students and partners. Learn about the governance structure and implementation strategies that guide these initiatives. Explore notable achievements and ongoing actions that contribute to our commitment to environmental stewardship. Get inspired and informed as we pave the way towards a greener future together!

Register on WAM 


Sarah Dimick: Sarah provides strategic oversight for Ideaworks operational planning, budget and project management and communications, working across all Ideaworks applied research centres to assure quality, regulatory compliance and financial sustainability. Prior to Mohawk College, Sarah served as Project Manager for the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI) at Niagara College, responsible for network operations and program management. Sarah has extensive experience at the intersection of analytics, innovation, information services and public policy through her past roles including as Director of Research at rel8ed.to, a data analytics firm, and at the Conference Board of Canada within the Technology and Innovation group. She holds a Bachelor’s degree (Law and Political Science) and a Master’s degree in Legal Studies, both from Carleton University in Ottawa and has earned her designation as Project Management Professional (PMP). In addition, Sarah currently sits on the Board of Directors of the St Catharines Public Library as the Vice-Chair and has contributed as Committee Member and Speaker for past Niagara Leadership Summits for Women. 

Julie Florio: A skilled manager, project leader and communicator, Julie thrives on delivering impactful solutions for complex challenges. With an impressive record of accomplishment at Mohawk College, Julie has managed over 20 Applied Research projects, co-authored several research and investment fund submissions, led teams in the development and launch of institutional policy, employee tools, templates and resources, and devised communications and training resources on several subjects.   Previously within the Ontario Government, Julie led numerous projects and initiatives within the Ministries of the Attorney General, Government Services, Culture, and Treasury Board Secretariat. Julie has an interdisciplinary background, graduating from both the University of Toronto and Sheridan College, and believes strongly in new ideas, creative collaboration, and fostering strong communities. 

Pathways into Sustainability Research at Mohawk

Monday, October 21th, 2024 11:00am – 12:00pm

This session has been envisioned as a panel presentation (60-90 minutes in length) that will showcase current examples of successful Sustainability Research. It will highlight some of the recent sustainability focused applied research projects and present tactical take-aways for the following three opportunities:

  1. How to engage Ideaworks
  2. Sample capstone projects
  3. Alternate pathways to engaging students in Sustainability Research

We have identified two speakers for these presentations and will follow their short presentations with a panel discussion.

This panel presentation could be run virtually or in person, our preference would be in person for this event.

(The team behind this session is the Climate Action Plan Working Group chaired by Kate Flynn, Julie Florio and Sarah Dimick.)

Register on WAM 


Allison Maxted: Allison is responsible for overseeing Mohawk’s campus sustainability and climate action initiatives. Allison works with the Sustainability Office team and partners across the college to integrate sustainability into campus operations and throughout the student experience. Allison holds a Master’s in Community and Regional Planning from the University of British Columbia and has over a decade of experience working towards inclusive and sustainable communities in a variety of settings.

Ashley Packer: Ashley is responsible for the coordination of sustainability programs and services at Mohawk College. Ashley works to both align current campus operations with the College’s Climate Action goals and works with students, employees, and community members to support Mohawk's sustainability programs, helping to connect people to programs based on waste, local food systems, and sustainable transportation to demonstrate the importance of healthy and sustainable lifestyles. Ashley is a proud Mohawk College alumnus of the Architectural Technology Program.

Sustainability Engagement for Faculty: Opportunities with the Sustainability Office

Thursday, October 24th, 2024 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Join us to discover the role and offerings of our Sustainability Office, and how you can get involved and collaborate with us to advance sustainability on campus. Learn about our diverse programs, services, and resources aimed at promoting environmental stewardship and education. Explore successful past collaborations between faculty and our office, gaining inspiration for learning tied to campus sustainability. Whether you're new to sustainability efforts or seeking to deepen your involvement, this workshop is your gateway to meaningful partnership and collective action toward a better future.

Register on WAM 


Kelley Hoyt: Kelley Hoyt has been a post-secondary educator at Mohawk College for over 23 years with a specific focus on inter-cultural competency development for the last several years. She is a Qualified Administrator of the Inter-Cultural Development Inventory®, a restorative justice trainer, and Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) and Facilitator Development Workshop (FDW) trainer, and a strong advocate for immersive educational experiences for personal growth and cultural awareness. Kelley has led short-term abroad student and faculty experiences to Costa Rica, Guatemala, India, Greece and Ecuador. During these experiences, Kelley has deepened her understanding of the urgency of climate action through learning about food justice and equity, bee health, and direct trade coffee. Kelley also volunteers her time as a Kids Help Phone Crisis Responder and is mum to 3 wonderful children.

Patrick Cross: Patrick is in his 24th year as an Academic Upgrading professor at Mohawk College. He also teaches a General Education elective course titled, “The Holocaust: Perspectives of the Deaf and the Disabled” in ASL with interpreters to an all-hearing audience. Patrick is a strong advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion, with a passion to ensure all people have an equal playing field to succeed with their goals. In addition to taking part in Guatemala’s Seed to Shelf program, Patrick also took part in two other Mohawk faculty trips to Ecuador and is already hard at work planning his next adventure. An experienced traveler, Patrick has been to 53 (so far) countries with the ultimate goal to visit all 197 recognized countries. At home, Patrick is hard at work giving wings to his four children as they navigate through young adulthood and create their own thriving lives. He is also a zookeeper with two cats, two dogs and a rabbit in the house, with the hope of adding a llama and a sloth in the near future to the menagerie.

From Seed to Shelf: Teachings from Guatemala

Wednesday, October 30th, 2024 12:00am – 1:00pm

In-person

Please bring your own mug to enjoy some coffee straight from Guatemala while we share our experience with Seed to Shelf at the GIFT conference. We will also provide an opportunity to order some direct trade coffee from De La Gente in Antigua, Guatemala at the session. If you cannot attend the session, but would like to order some coffee, please contact Kelley Hoyt at kelley.hoyt [at] mohawkcollege.ca (kelley[dot]hoyt[at]mohawkcollege[dot]ca).

This session is intended to share knowledge that we learned from the Indigenous coffee farmers in Guatemala. This was new information for us and we want to pass this knowledge along AND provide the Mohawk College community an opportunity to actively engage in coffee justice by ordering delicious direct trade coffee from the very farmers we stayed with! When we buy direct trade coffee, we reduce the coffee industry footprint by eliminating several steps in the process. Additionally, network with faculty who organize and facilitate short term abroad experiences like this with students to find out more about how these experiences might be a fit for your students and yourself; and how they might contribute to your "greening the curriculum" goals.

Register on WAM 


Kate Dunn (she/her) is a Professor with over 13 years of post-secondary teaching experience. She earned her M.A. in Sociology from Western University and an Hons. B.A. in Sociology and Women's Studies from McMaster University. She obtained her certification in Unified Mindfulness (2022) and is a positive psychology enthusiast.

Helping Heal Eco-Anxiety: Applying Positive Psychology Principles to Build Resilience and Inner Peace

Friday, November 1st, 2024 11:00am – 12:00pm

In recent years, the impacts of climate change have become increasingly apparent, causing widespread fear, anxiety, and despair among individuals. This workshop aims to provide participants with the tools and strategies to alleviate eco-anxiety, while acknowledging our role towards addressing climate change and sustainability. By incorporating principles of positive psychology, participants will learn how to shift their perspective, build resilience, feel empowered, and take action towards creating a more sustainable future.

Register on WAM 


Sarah Dimick: Sarah provides strategic oversight for Ideaworks operational planning, budget and project management and communications, working across all Ideaworks applied research centres to assure quality, regulatory compliance and financial sustainability. Prior to Mohawk College, Sarah served as Project Manager for the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI) at Niagara College, responsible for network operations and program management. Sarah has extensive experience at the intersection of analytics, innovation, information services and public policy through her past roles including as Director of Research at rel8ed.to, a data analytics firm, and at the Conference Board of Canada within the Technology and Innovation group. She holds a Bachelor’s degree (Law and Political Science) and a Master’s degree in Legal Studies, both from Carleton University in Ottawa and has earned her designation as Project Management Professional (PMP). In addition, Sarah currently sits on the Board of Directors of the St Catharines Public Library as the Vice-Chair and has contributed as Committee Member and Speaker for past Niagara Leadership Summits for Women. 

Julie Florio: A skilled manager, project leader and communicator, Julie thrives on delivering impactful solutions for complex challenges. With an impressive record of accomplishment at Mohawk College, Julie has managed over 20 Applied Research projects, co-authored several research and investment fund submissions, led teams in the development and launch of institutional policy, employee tools, templates and resources, and devised communications and training resources on several subjects.   Previously within the Ontario Government, Julie led numerous projects and initiatives within the Ministries of the Attorney General, Government Services, Culture, and Treasury Board Secretariat. Julie has an interdisciplinary background, graduating from both the University of Toronto and Sheridan College, and believes strongly in new ideas, creative collaboration, and fostering strong communities. 

Building a Community of Practice: Driving Sustainability Research

Tuesday, November 5th, 2024 1:00pm – 2:00pm

As part of the Climate Action Plan Working Group, we have been tasked with the job of building a Community of Practice for Mohawk College to inform and support current and emerging practitioners of sustainability and climate research. This workshop will be an opportunity for us to engage with interested parties to present our proposed themes / topics of interest, gather additional feedback and topics and shape a Community of Practice that is engaging for practitioners and able to provide value. We will use a variety of tools as we run this workshop to keep participants engaged and comfortable in providing feedback including anonymous real-time survey and feedback tools. This session could be run either in person or virtually.

Register on WAM 


Amanda Malkiewich: Amanda Malkiewich is the Director of Co-operative Education and Experiential Learning at Mohawk College. Her role connects community partners and students, to co-create quality learning experiences and strengthen communities. Over the past 19 years, Amanda has worked for several Canadian post-secondary institutions including; Mohawk College, Brock University (Goodman School of Business), the University of Victoria, Royal Roads University, and Bow Valley College. With a Master of Education in Administration and Leadership, Amanda’s diverse background in post-secondary includes roles in curriculum development, student leadership, student affairs, and experiential learning.

Jason Peng: Jason is the Manager of Experiential Learning within Mohawk College’s Centre for Experiential Learning. His team is responsible for enabling the college’s placement strategy and supporting faculty who embed experiential learning into their courses and programs. Jason has been involved in experiential learning within higher education for over 8 years. Early in his career, he travelled coast-to-coast to supply pedagogical lab equipment to colleges and universities across Canada. Jason has since supported co-op education and other forms of work-integrated learning, managing portfolios ranging from business to math and science programs, supporting partnership development, student coaching, and quality assurance through accreditation.

CityLAB Hamilton - Civic Collaborations in Experiential Learning

Thursday, November 7th, 2024 10:00am – 11:00am

At the heart of CityLAB Hamilton is collaboration. The program provides a platform for Hamilton's city leaders working hand-in-hand with students and academics from Mohawk College, McMaster University, and Redeemer University, to deliver a better Hamilton for all.

Through the power of community service-learning, students tackle the toughest city challenges and experiment with student-led solutions, all while mentoring and engaging the next generation of leaders.

In this presentation we will share the history of CityLAB, provide examples of select projects with successful sustainability and civic outcomes, discuss how CityLAB delivers high quality work-integrated learning opportunities for students, and share how faculty members can incorporate a CityLAB project into their course.

Register on WAM

GIFT 2023 Workshop Videos

AI Integration: Academia and Industry

October 26th, 2023 10:00am-12:00pm

The "AI Integration: Academia and Industry" workshop is designed to bridge the gap between academic research and practical industry applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI). As AI continues to revolutionize various sectors, understanding its potential and challenges becomes paramount for both researchers and industry professionals.

Mastering Prompt Engineering: Crafting Dynamic Conversations with ChatGPT

October 27th, 2023 11:00am-12:00pm

Discover the secrets of prompt engineering and learn how to create dynamic conversations with ChatGPT to learn how to use ChatGPT as a tool to save you time, grow your educational resources and create authentic assessments for your students.

Exploring AI with Adobe Firefly - Ideation and Brainstorming Through Prompts, Generative Fills and Image Manipulation

October 30th, 2023 1:00pm-2:00pm

With the aid of Adobe Firefly we can create and manipulate images with ease. We'll look at how to generate and then manipulate an image from scratch. This session will also focus on the ethical and responsible use of image/art in the creative industries.

Creating a Toolbox for Meaningful Engagement With AI Through a Lens of Academic Integrity

November 2nd, 2023 11:00am-12:00pm

This workshop aims to engage colleagues to create a toolbox for meaningful engagement with AI and collaboration on course assessments, AI and academic integrity. This session will begin with discussing academic integrity at the College, and how we are building, maintaining and promoting a culture of Academic Integrity in the age of AI. We will explore the benefits and challenges regarding the use of AI in coursework, examine ways to navigate these challenges and collaborate on positive next steps in the age of AI.

InStage Demonstration - Experiential Learning through AI to Help Students Improve their Communication Skills

November 2nd, 2023 11:00am-12:00pm

InStage is an AI-based software that offers a straightforward way to add experiential learning assignments to our courses, allowing students to improve their communication skills through interactive 3D simulations. This tool is designed to make our lives easier by automating student feedback, thus giving us more time to focus on core educational tasks.

Unlocking Potential: Rethinking Student Achievement in an AI-Empowered World

November 6th, 2023 1:00pm-2:00pm

In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming education, it's imperative that we re-examine our teaching approaches and the role of assessments.

How ChatGPT Works: A Non-Technical Explanation

November 8th, 2023 10:00am-11:00am

What is ChatGPT really doing? Why does it hallucinate? What's going on inside its "brain"? Does it teach itself somehow, or are human beings involved in its training? This session will present a non-technical, explanation of how ChatGPT and other Large Language Models are built and trained. Knowing how they work can help you use them more effectively and can help you get perspective on all the hype, both positive and negative, surrounding these amazing new tools.

Mentimeter Training Webinar for Mohawk College

November 8th 2:00pm - 3:00pm

This interactive session will focus on making the online and in-person education and development experiences at Mohawk more engaging, inclusive, and fun using the interactive presentation and survey software, Mentimeter. During the session, we will review various examples of Mentimeter slides and question types. The session will also cover:

  • Reimagining class content to focus on human skills.
  • Training faculty to redesign assignments and syllabi to avoid AI traps.
  • Teaching students how to demonstrate the value they bring to assignments, classrooms and the workplace.

Can I have a side of Piccles with that? Visualizing Engagement in the Classroom

November 9th, 2023 11:00am-12:00pm

Student feedback and assessments have consistently involved text-based responses to articulate pluses, opportunities, and new thinking. Yet, 65% of the population are visual learners and images can convey at least 1000 words. This interactive presentation provides a side of Piccles with your appetite for knowing how learners are thinking and feeling about class content. Feed your hunger for quality discussion prompted by a side of Piccles and see how this creative tool can enliven your audience.

GIFT 2023

Save the date! The 2023 GIFT conference is being planned for Wednesday October 11, 2023. Our new format will feature keynote speakers on October 11th, additional workshops and presentations will be scheduled throughout the following month between October 12 to November 10th.

This year's conference will focus on Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education. As AI becomes more prevalent in society, it's important for educators to understand its potential and limitations, be prepared to integrate AI technologies into their practice, and help students develop the skills they'll need to use these technologies wisely and effectively in school and in their future professions. At this conference we will collectively examine:

  • Adapting teaching & learning to grow with AI.
  • Assessments in the age of AI like Chat GPT.
  • Benefits and challenges of using AI tools in teaching and learning.
  • Aligning use of AI with the Mohawk College Strategic Plan.

GIFT 2023 Keynote Speakers

Harnessing the Power of Generative AI in Teaching & Learning - Possibilities and Challenges.

October 11th, 2023 9:15am-10:30am

Video for Power of Generative AI in Teaching & Learning

Dr. Alec Couros will explore the potential and implications of using generative AI, such as ChatGPT, in teaching & learning. This engaging keynote presentation will provide teachers with the tools, resources, and ideas needed to better understand and embrace AI in the classroom. With a focus on rethinking traditional approaches to education and transforming the learning experience for students, this keynote is a must-attend for anyone looking to stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving field of AI and education.

Partnering with Artificial Intelligence to empower digital learning.

October 11th, 2023 10:45am-11:30am

Video for Artificial Intelligence to empower digital learning

Rachel Boorsma is a registered Occupational Therapist, part time OTA/PTA faculty, and an Adjunct Clinical Professor at McMaster University. She works full time as a Digital Learning Technician, where she consults with faculty and staff to create engaging and accessible online learning assets. In all areas of her work, Rachel's goal is to create technology-enabled learning experiences that are fun, accessible, and easy to use!

AI Proceed with caution. The Good, the Bad, the Ugly.

October 11th, 2023 11:45am-12:15pm

Video for AI Proceed with caution

Marie McKeary is a sociologist who specializes in health and health care issues, with a focus on diversity/accessibility. As a lecturer at McMaster University she was associated with Sociology, Indigenous Studies, Women Studies and the Department of Social Work. She also earned an MSW and is a trained critical incident/trauma counsellor and has held numerous counselling positions, including Victim Witness counsellor for The Tainted Blood Trial. As an independent consultant she has collaborated with numerous community and non-profit organizations and all three levels of government. As the Research Facilitator for the McMaster Institute of Environment and Health (MIEH) she carried a diverse portfolio of research projects examining the health impact of both our social and physical environment. She was co-investigator on a seminal research project on Refugee Health resulting in a number of published articles. She is currently employed with Accessible Learning Services (ALS) at Mohawk College.

Rising to Meet the Challenge of Generative AI.

October 11th, 2023 1:00pm-2:30pm

Video for Rising to Meet the Challenge of Generative AI

Higher education is at a crossroads: we must either evolve to meet the challenge of generative AI, or quickly become irrelevant to our students and our society. We cannot meet this challenge by simply adapting our existing practices. Instead, we must think more deeply to ask: what content do students in an AI-assisted world need? How can we protect and prioritize human thinking? And, how can we be sure our students are obtaining mastery of our learning objectives when AI-assisted cheating is so hard to catch? In this dynamic keynote, I provide examples of an integrated approach to AI that addresses post-secondary education, discipline and individual class issues.

She will focus on three primary routes to meet the challenge of generative AI:

  1. Reimagining class content to focus on human skills.
  2. Training faculty to redesign assignments and syllabi to avoid AI traps.
  3. Teaching students how to demonstrate the value they bring to assignments, classrooms and the workplace.

Perspectives in teaching with Chat GPT

October 11th, 2023 2:45pm-3:15pm

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Alice Pivniceru holds an M.A. in English (McMaster 2001) with a focus on contributions of ethnic writing to Canadian literature of the 1920s. She is also a Fulbright Teacher Exchange alumna (Washington, DC, 2000) and a certified TESOL (2018) member.

Perspectives in teaching with Chat GPT

October 11th, 2023 2:45pm-3:15pm

Video for Perspectives in teaching with Chat GPT

Maria Lee Fook joined the McKeil School of Business in 2018 teaching marketing and business studies. A seasoned marketing communications professional, Maria enjoys working with students and specializes in innovative digital teaching and learning strategies.

Stories of AI: How artificial intelligence is transforming teaching and learning in higher education

October 11th, 2023 3:00-4:00pm

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Through a series of engaging narratives, attendees will first develop a greater understanding of some of the challenges posed by generative artificial intelligence (GAI) and then open their minds to the ways in which this technology can (potentially) transform teaching and learning to create an environment of equity, inclusion, student success and faculty satisfaction.

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