TVO featured Trent University professors and students as experts for TVO on the Road’s Learning: 2030 Tour – exploring how science and technology are transforming the way people learn and teach. The visit to the Peterborough area on March 2 and 3 was themed Teachers: Then, Now and Tomorrow – an examination of how prepared teachers are to integrate new technologies in the classroom. Online, on-air, and activity-based events brought citizens from the community together with Trent and visiting experts to share their ideas on the future of learning.

A Proud Moment for Indigenous Students in the Gathering Space

On Saturday March 2, as part of The Agenda’s Learning 2030 special, Steve Paikin, anchor of TVO’s The Agenda hosted an important, live-streamed discussion featuring Professor David Newhouse, chair of Indigenous Studies at Trent; student Ryan DeCaire of Wáhta Mohawk Territory, who is in the Sustainability Studies M.A. program; and Jennifer Henry, an outstanding student in the undergraduate program in concurrent education, who is also the post-secondary representative on the Provisional Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario.

In his Mohawk language, Mr. DeCaire introduced himself and welcomed TVO’s Steve Paikin, along with the packed crowd to the Gathering Place. An impressed Mr. Paikin asked him, “How many people your age do you know who can do that?”

Mr. DeCaire pointed to numbers that show the historical decline of the Mohawk language, but noted positively that the trend may reverse now that more youth are engaging in the study, which he himself is leading on a volunteer basis at Trent University.

The engaging discussion addressed a number of issues faced in Indigenous communities, including approaches to Aboriginal education in the current provincial system, with Trent faculty and students continuing the conversation with many community participants online.

Trent’s Canada Research Chair, Dr. Panagia Addresses Parents’ Digital Fears

TVOKids and Mozilla Hosted a “Hive Pop-Up” event for kids and parents on Saturday March 2, engaging kids in digital literacy workshops and activities designed to spark their imagination.

While kids were learning how to “hack” websites and create their own e-books, their parents explored the digital future of education with Trent’s Canada Research Chair in Cultural Studies, Dr. Davide Panagia. Professor Panagia held the attention of interested parents as he discussed the common fear of excess information in the digital age, and the implications of data-mining in kids’ everyday use of the internet. He encouraged parents to participate alongside their children in activities on the internet and in the digital universe, in order to learn with them, while explaining what is happening when they click on something of interest, so that kids can participate in and become contributors to the digital information mine as it develops.

Education Professor Cathy Bruce Sits in on The Agenda

On Sunday March 3, members of the public came out to the transformed Great Hall at Champlain College to be part of the audience for live recordings of two TVO programs. Steve Paikin hosted a special Big Ideas lecture by leading education authority, Michael Fullan, on the challenges awaiting teachers in making their classrooms open to the technological revolution that is changing the face of education. Following the lecture, TVO’s flagship current affairs program, The Agenda with Steve Paikin, brought together experts and educators including Trent University’s Dr. Cathy Bruce from the School of Education and Professional Learning, to debate and discuss how ready Ontario’s teachers are to take on this challenge. Professor Bruce provided insight to the community on how the use of technology may enhance learning in the classroom. She addressed the challenges faced by professionals in developing their technology skills through suggested collaboration, an interest her current research is exploring.

Both programs were streamed live and at tvo.org/learning2030, where people shared their questions, comments, and ideas in a live chat.

The Agenda with Steve Paikin program will also air on TVO on Monday March 4 at 8 p.m and 11 p.m.