NILD Canada Online Conference 2020

20/20 Vision:
Enhancing Cognitive Skills for Maximum Learning

We are excited to announce our first ever ONLINE conference! We will be offering both LIVE and pre-recorded sessions. We hope that you enjoy this new format, whether you live here in Canada or are somewhere else in the world.

As we approach this new decade, we anticipate the growth of educational neuroscience and its implications in our classrooms and therapy sessions. The theme for our 2020 conference reminds us that by implicitly enhancing cognitive skills, our students’ brains will be changed!

We had such a great conference weekend! If you missed it, you can now purchase all the recordings!
All 9 Workshops for $75.00! You have until May 31, 2020 to listen and learn. Click here to purchase.

LIVE ONLINE CONFERENCE

Friday April 24, 2020 (7:00 pm – 8:30 pm) 

Session #1:  Reimagining Learning for the Future with Diane Geerlinks *LIVE ONLINE*

Saturday April 25, 2020 (8:30 am – 12:45 pm)

Session #2: Role of Cognition on Reading and Mathematics with Dr. Kristin Barbour *LIVE ONLINE*

Session #3: The Digital Age: How Technology is Affecting the Cognition, Mental Health, and Future of our Children with Mary-Lou Maclean *LIVE ONLINE*

Session #4: The Impact of Anxiety on Educational Achievement with Michelle Hogeterp *LIVE ONLINE*

ADD-ON SESSIONS

There is a package of five pre-recorded sessions available for purchase in addition to the main live online conference. The add-on sessions will be available for viewing for one week after the conference. 

• Constructs of Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment – Dr. Kristin Barbour
• Implementing Social Emotional Components into NILD Educational Therapy Sessions – Dr. Kristin Barbour
• Gifted and Twice Exceptional Learners – Mary-Lou Maclean
• Executive Function: Air Traffic Control – Mary-Lou Maclean
• Movement & The Brain: Move More, Learn More – Diane Geerlinks

Workshop descriptions available below.

For help at anytime with viewing live or pre-recorded sessions, please email support@nildcanada.org

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Dr. Kristin Barbour, Ed.D | Executive Director, NILD US

Michelle Hogeterp, Registered Psychotherapist | OCATT

Mary-Lou Maclean, M.S. | Executive Director, NILD Canada

Diane Geerlinks, PCET | Director of Marketing, NILD Canada

[fourcol_one] Dr. Kristin Barbour[/fourcol_one][fourcol_one] Michelle Hogeterp[/fourcol_one][fourcol_one]Mary-Lou Maclean[/fourcol_one][fourcol_one_last] Diane Geerlinks[/fourcol_one_last]

COST

$49 Live Online Conference (4 Sessions)

Add-On Option: $39 Pre-Recorded Workshops (5 Sessions, available to view for one week after the conference)

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

SCHEDULE

PDF version of the online conference schedule available here.

FRIDAY, APRIL 24 ***LIVE ONLINE*** 

7:00 pm    Conference Kick-Off – Mary-Lou Maclean

7:15 – 8:30 pm    SESSION I

Reimagining Learning for the Future – Diane Geerlinks

We can all agree that our world is changing at a rapid pace. In this increasingly complex world, we must be careful to build students’ knowledge and skills in order for them to navigate their future. How does this change affect our students who learn differently? In this workshop, we will discuss what skills are needed and what we can do to help our students step into this next decade with confidence.

SATURDAY, APRIL 25 ***LIVE ONLINE*** 

8:30 – 9:45 am     SESSION II

Role of Cognition on Reading and Mathematics – Dr. Kristin Barbour

This session will explore the role of underlying cognitive processes in the acquisition of reading and mathematical skills. Cognitive research related to various aspects of the reading process and mathematical thinking and learning will be reviewed, with implications for educational practice and intervention design in mind. This session will also include practical application suggestions for your educational therapy practice. 

 9:45 – 10:00 am     Break

10:00 – 11:15 am     SESSION III

The Digital Age: How Technology is Affecting the Cognition, Mental Health and Future of our Children – Mary-Lou Maclean

The effects of technology on children are perplexing, with both positive and negative outcomes. Whether technology supports or hinders the development of your child’s thinking is dependent upon many variables and research is slowly providing answers. We will take a deep dive into how cognition, executive functions, behaviour, mental health, and physical well-being are affected by screen time in the lives of our children.

 11:15- 11:30 am      Break

 11:30 – 12:45       SESSION IV

The Impact of Anxiety on Educational Achievement – Michelle Hogeterp

Anxiety impacts every aspect of education and especially affects our students with neuro differences. It can present in a variety of contexts, in a variety of ways. Anxiety often stands in the way of their learning progress. How can we, as educators, identify anxiety and then address these needs? Let’s help our students find strategies to help them calm themselves so that anxiety doesn’t “win” and learning can continue.

 12:45 pm    Conference Closing – Mary-Lou Maclean

ADD-ON SESSIONS ($39)

The following pre-recorded sessions will be available for viewing for one week after the conference if you purchase them.

Constructs of Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment – Dr. Kristin Barbour

Mediated learning, the Cognitive Map, and cognitive functions are core constructs of Reuven Feuerstein’s Instrumental Enrichment theory and approach to developing students’ thinking and learning. Participants will explore and experience mediated learning instructional practices, learn the language of thinking using cognitive functions, and strengthen their prescriptive approach to intervention using the Cognitive Map. 

Implementing Social Emotional Components into NILD Educational Therapy Sessions – Dr. Kristin Barbour

Learning science research indicates that psychological beliefs, learning, and achievement are intertwined. Educational therapists play a key role in shaping students’ psychological beliefs, specifically the psychological beliefs of mindset, self-efficacy, identity, and belonging. This session provides participants with the content and instructional practices that can be implemented in NILD educational therapy that facilitate students’ social-emotional competence. 

Gifted and Twice Exceptional Learners – Mary-Lou Maclean

This workshop will help us identify these two areas that often intersect. How can we support our students who have been assigned a ‘gifted’ label, as well as those students who are gifted but also have other learning challenges? What kind of motivational strategies can we use? How do we support them emotionally? We will unpack topics such as communication, underachievement, self-management, perfectionism, peer relations, interventions for learning disabilities and how to find professional help.

Executive Function: Air Traffic Control – Mary-Lou Maclean

Executive function strategies are an important foundation for helping students grow and develop their academic skills as well as building their confidence levels.  Students who recognize how to use these strategies in working with their weaknesses and strengths also see improved grades. Learn how to implement and build an executive function culture in your classroom and how to foster strategies that will create confident and resilient students to create open gateways for success.

Movement & The Brain: Move More, Learn More – Diane Geerlinks

Research shows that for our students’ brains to function at their peak, their bodies need to move! Dr. John Ratey and others teach us that movement is integral for improving attention, warding off anxiety, controlling ADHD symptoms and stimulating general cognitive function. Dr. Harald Blomberg and others teach us how unintegrated primitive reflexes can affect student’s academic and emotional skills. In this workshop, we will discuss this research and share ideas on how we can promote and incorporate movement in our classrooms.

2020 Online Conference Schedule and Workshop Topics PDF Format 

ONLINE CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Dr. Kristin Barbour, Ed.D | Executive Director, NILD US

Kristin recently completed her Ed.D at Johns Hopkins University in the Mind, Brain, and Teaching specialization. Her dissertation focused on developing educational therapists’ knowledge, efficacy beliefs, and instructional practices related to developing a growth mindset in students with learning disabilities. For 15 years, Kristin has provided national and international educational workshops on research-based instructional practices to develop students’ thinking and learning abilities.

Michelle Hogeterp, Registered Psychotherapist | OCATT

Michelle is a registered psychotherapist who specializes in adoption, trauma and attachment. She received her Master’s in counselling from Tyndale Seminary in Toronto and her BA in psychology from Redeemer University College in Ancaster. She is also a certified Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Practitioner and Consultant. She works from a trauma informed and attachment-focused perspective. Michelle recently opened the Ottawa Centre for Attachment and Trauma Therapy (OCATT) where she and other therapists serve the foster and adoption community in Ottawa.

Mary-Lou Maclean, M.S., PCET, CDT | Executive Director, NILD Canada 
Mary-Lou’s passion is helping struggling learners reach their full potential. For 25 years, she has taught children and adults in the field of education – high school, college, and as an educational therapist. Mary-Lou has continued her passion for education and, since 2004, has been training educators and parents at conferences, schools and in NILD Canada’s summer graduate program. She continues her quest for learning and providing research-based practices to support students’ thinking abilities.

Diane Geerlinks, PCET, CDT | Director of Marketing, NILD Canada
Diane is passionate about helping kids learn, developing their strengths and improving their weaknesses. She has worked in the field of education for the past 25 years perusing her passion for learning with a particular focus on the neuroplasticity of the brain and how can improve our capacity for learning at any age. In 2009, Diane trained as an NILD Educational Therapist and opened up her own practice, GeerLINKS Educational Therapy & Consulting. Diane is an instructor with NILD Canada and speaks at educators’ conferences across Canada.