Theme 2
EDI & Digital Activism
Theme 2 - Sessions
Would Fully-Realized EDI Initiatives Reduce Economic Inequality?
Handout
Session 201 (Tue May 24 - 6pm)
Dr. Brian Campbell
The research literature shows that economic inequality has increased in rich industrial societies over the last 50 years, exacerbated by the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID pandemic. EDI initiatives within institutions targeting visible minorities are part of a response to this legitimation crisis. In this session, we will engage in thought experiments on some successful equality outcomes to consider how different types of successful social equality initiatives might affect economic inequality.
Using an E-Tool to Navigate Difficult Conversations on Campus
Handout + Presentation Video
Session 202 (Thu May 26 - 8pm)
Dr. Allyson Eamer
Who amongst us hasn't been part of a difficult conversation that left them feeling alienated? Conversations in families, workplaces, and campuses have become increasingly politicized, and many have chosen to stay quiet rather than risk being called-out or publicly shamed on social media. In response to cancel-culture and the shutting down of dialogue, we've come up with a set of modules to help post-secondary educators facilitate discussions where all voices are heard. This session will help you understand how to engage in difficult conversations and help others do so.
Girl's Experiences and Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence during a Virtual AI Camp
Handout + Presentation Video
Session 203 (Tue May 24 - 8pm)
Dr. Janette Hughes & Tess Butler-Ulrich
With the rising influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on our everyday lives, it is increasingly vital to ensure youth have opportunities to examine AI through a critical lens. In this session, we will explore the experiences and perspectives of a group of girls in a virtual camp focused on the social and ethical implications of AI. Considering AI development and regulation are male-dominated, it is vital to broaden tech policymaker diversity to minimize AI algorithm bias and prejudice. We propose the first step is to encourage girls’ interest in AI and support the development of critical AI literacy for all youth and share promising educational practices to promote girls’ participation and interest in critical AI use.
TikTok as a Platform for Social Activism
Trailer Video + Handout + Presentation Video
Session 204 (Wed May 25 - 6pm)
Dr. Janette Hughes & Kelly Wang
Since its launch in 2016, TikTok has been a popular social media platform internationally. In the years that followed, the platform has gained a growing number of influencers, both adults and youth, who engage as advocates for various issues and causes, such as climate change, anti-racism, and body positivity. We will discuss and examine how Canadian youth engage with TikTok through activism. We will also explore how the platform enables civic engagement and can help youth to develop a global voice.
Conflict vs. Contact: What's Up with That?
Presentation Video
Session 205 (Wed May 25 - 7pm)
Dr. Bill Hunter
Conflict and threats of conflict within and between nations have increased alarmingly in recent years. At the same time, more than half a century of social science research has shown that increased interpersonal contact between people from opposing groups can lead to reduced prejudice among participants. In this session, we report on the related school-based initiatives that illustrate a route toward a more peaceful future and discuss ways to participate in making those changes.
Digital Technology Supporting Indigenous People's Language and Literacy Skill Development
Trailer Video + Handout + Presentation Video
Session 206 (Wed May 25 - 8pm)
Dr. Jia Li and Novera Roihan
This session examines the evidence for the efficacy of using digital technologies to support Indigenous people’s learning of language and literacy skills. It provides a profile of extant studies’ comprehensive attributes and focuses on Indigenous people and educators’ perspectives on digital technology use for Indigenous people’s learning of language and literacy skills. This literature review provides insights for teaching practice and gaps for future research. In particular, language and literacy development of Indigenous school children and youth.
Posts Against Prejudice: Resisting Marginalization Through Art, Community, and Social Media
Trailer Video + Handout + Presentation Video
Session 207 (Tue May 24 - 7pm)
Dr. Anna Rodrigues
Using social media can be an effective and engaging way to teach students about equity, diversity and inclusion. This presentation will discuss how the social media activity of the Aravani Art Project, an art collective comprised of trans women in India, can be a way to learn about the prejudice and misrepresentation the trans community experiences in India. Participants will leave this session with an understanding of how social media can be used in educational settings to engage learners in issues of equity, diversity and inclusion.
Slacktivism-Activism: Differentiating between Settler and Indigenous Approaches to Social Change
Trailer Video + Handout + Presentation Video
Session 208 (Wed May 25 - 8pm)
Dr. Kaitlyn Watson and Dr. Allyson Eamer
We will explore how activism is used differently as a tool for social change among settlers and Indigenous peoples. Likes, retweets, and online petitions have empowered some to feel that they contribute to social justice initiatives without any in-depth understanding of the injustice. Likewise, settlers' rote recitation of land acknowledgements allows us to tick off a box without any meaningful investment in reconciliation, or the more transformational movement, decolonization. We will contrast how Indigenous-led movements resist assimilation, address residential school atrocities, fight back against infringement on Indigenous lands, and against settler engagement in social media, which is largely performative.
Handout
Session 201 (Tue May 24 - 6pm)
Dr. Brian Campbell
The research literature shows that economic inequality has increased in rich industrial societies over the last 50 years, exacerbated by the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID pandemic. EDI initiatives within institutions targeting visible minorities are part of a response to this legitimation crisis. In this session, we will engage in thought experiments on some successful equality outcomes to consider how different types of successful social equality initiatives might affect economic inequality.
Using an E-Tool to Navigate Difficult Conversations on Campus
Handout + Presentation Video
Session 202 (Thu May 26 - 8pm)
Dr. Allyson Eamer
Who amongst us hasn't been part of a difficult conversation that left them feeling alienated? Conversations in families, workplaces, and campuses have become increasingly politicized, and many have chosen to stay quiet rather than risk being called-out or publicly shamed on social media. In response to cancel-culture and the shutting down of dialogue, we've come up with a set of modules to help post-secondary educators facilitate discussions where all voices are heard. This session will help you understand how to engage in difficult conversations and help others do so.
Girl's Experiences and Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence during a Virtual AI Camp
Handout + Presentation Video
Session 203 (Tue May 24 - 8pm)
Dr. Janette Hughes & Tess Butler-Ulrich
With the rising influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on our everyday lives, it is increasingly vital to ensure youth have opportunities to examine AI through a critical lens. In this session, we will explore the experiences and perspectives of a group of girls in a virtual camp focused on the social and ethical implications of AI. Considering AI development and regulation are male-dominated, it is vital to broaden tech policymaker diversity to minimize AI algorithm bias and prejudice. We propose the first step is to encourage girls’ interest in AI and support the development of critical AI literacy for all youth and share promising educational practices to promote girls’ participation and interest in critical AI use.
TikTok as a Platform for Social Activism
Trailer Video + Handout + Presentation Video
Session 204 (Wed May 25 - 6pm)
Dr. Janette Hughes & Kelly Wang
Since its launch in 2016, TikTok has been a popular social media platform internationally. In the years that followed, the platform has gained a growing number of influencers, both adults and youth, who engage as advocates for various issues and causes, such as climate change, anti-racism, and body positivity. We will discuss and examine how Canadian youth engage with TikTok through activism. We will also explore how the platform enables civic engagement and can help youth to develop a global voice.
Conflict vs. Contact: What's Up with That?
Presentation Video
Session 205 (Wed May 25 - 7pm)
Dr. Bill Hunter
Conflict and threats of conflict within and between nations have increased alarmingly in recent years. At the same time, more than half a century of social science research has shown that increased interpersonal contact between people from opposing groups can lead to reduced prejudice among participants. In this session, we report on the related school-based initiatives that illustrate a route toward a more peaceful future and discuss ways to participate in making those changes.
Digital Technology Supporting Indigenous People's Language and Literacy Skill Development
Trailer Video + Handout + Presentation Video
Session 206 (Wed May 25 - 8pm)
Dr. Jia Li and Novera Roihan
This session examines the evidence for the efficacy of using digital technologies to support Indigenous people’s learning of language and literacy skills. It provides a profile of extant studies’ comprehensive attributes and focuses on Indigenous people and educators’ perspectives on digital technology use for Indigenous people’s learning of language and literacy skills. This literature review provides insights for teaching practice and gaps for future research. In particular, language and literacy development of Indigenous school children and youth.
Posts Against Prejudice: Resisting Marginalization Through Art, Community, and Social Media
Trailer Video + Handout + Presentation Video
Session 207 (Tue May 24 - 7pm)
Dr. Anna Rodrigues
Using social media can be an effective and engaging way to teach students about equity, diversity and inclusion. This presentation will discuss how the social media activity of the Aravani Art Project, an art collective comprised of trans women in India, can be a way to learn about the prejudice and misrepresentation the trans community experiences in India. Participants will leave this session with an understanding of how social media can be used in educational settings to engage learners in issues of equity, diversity and inclusion.
Slacktivism-Activism: Differentiating between Settler and Indigenous Approaches to Social Change
Trailer Video + Handout + Presentation Video
Session 208 (Wed May 25 - 8pm)
Dr. Kaitlyn Watson and Dr. Allyson Eamer
We will explore how activism is used differently as a tool for social change among settlers and Indigenous peoples. Likes, retweets, and online petitions have empowered some to feel that they contribute to social justice initiatives without any in-depth understanding of the injustice. Likewise, settlers' rote recitation of land acknowledgements allows us to tick off a box without any meaningful investment in reconciliation, or the more transformational movement, decolonization. We will contrast how Indigenous-led movements resist assimilation, address residential school atrocities, fight back against infringement on Indigenous lands, and against settler engagement in social media, which is largely performative.