She has had the honour of being a presenter, featured speaker, and keynote speaker at conferences throughout Canada, the U.S., and virtually around the world. She is passionate about showing teachers, parents and students how they can use technology and social media to make the world a better place.

Here is a collection of what people have had to say about my talks. 

Keynotes

Empowering students to be digital leaders

Are you worried about the impact technology and social media are having on our learners? Jennifer Casa-Todd will inspire you to think differently about the role of technology and social media in our classrooms and in our schools.  She highlights student Digital Leaders who are using technology and social media to learn & share learning, address social inequality, and be a more positive influence in the lives of others.,She will talk about WHY digital leadership is important, WHAT it looks like, and HOW we can begin to empower our students to become digital leaders when they are young enough for it to make a difference.

Let’s stop focusing on what kids CAN’T do online and focus on what they CAN do and how they can make a difference in the world. (based on the book, Social LEADia)

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Digital Leadership (keynote or breakout session)

If there is one thing we have learned from the pandemic, it’s that technology’s impact is far reaching and ubiquitous. Increasingly kids are using technology at younger ages and the impact of this is making its way into our classrooms. Using the CASEL framework for social emotional learning (relationship skills, social awareness, self-awareness, self-management, and responsible decision making), this talk will give you ideas and strategies for building SEL skills to empower students to be leaders in online spaces. 

Digital Wellness 

Technology is ubiquitous and kids are using devices at younger and younger ages. We know that technology sometimes has a negative effect on our social and emotional well-being. In this talk, Jennifer will share four (4) big ideas for how to shift to digital wellness in our schools and classrooms. 

Redesigning Learning for a Connected World (keynote or breakout session)

We already have so much to teach and many of us have moved to an online or hybrid model. What if we designed learning to make our curriculum come alive for students without adding to our already full plates?  In this session, Jennifer Casa-Todd highlights 3 big ideas: redefine literacy, empower student voice, and rethink assessment so that we might teach global competencies and meet the needs of today’s learners in the context of our subject area. 

Mentoring Matters (keynote or breakout session)

In a world where devices are so ubiquitous, how do we ensure that the things we value: empathy, compassion and kindness make their way into our classrooms when we are limited by age restrictions, curriculum, and time restraints? In this session you will come away with ideas for creating a classroom social media account to empower your students under the age of 13 and to forge new connections with parents.

Redefining Literacy  (keynote or breakout session)

How do we define literacy in a world that is visual, connected, and information-rich? In a 2019 Stanford study, 96% of high schoolers could not distinguish between a credible news article and sponsored content. This session explores a new definition of literacy: reading and writing the world. It includes ideas for media literacy, information literacy, curation, and real-world literacy applications.

Shift to Positive: Create a better world with social media and technology

Every day, headlines scare us that technology and social media are making us more apathetic, depressed, anxious, and cruel. Indeed we can see the ill-effects of technology dependency on children and adults. But what if we change the way we look at the role of technology and social media in our lives? In this inspiring talk, Jennifer will share small yet significant ways we can make a positive difference in the lives of others by shifting to our outlooks.

Parent Talk: Raising Digital Leaders

Parenting today is impacted by the reality that technology and social media are a part of our world.  In this talk, Jennifer will share some of the research, challenges and strategies we can use to ensure that our kids are using the power at their fingertips not just to consume, but to create and make a positive difference in the world.

Student Talk: You’ve got the power

In this talk, Jennifer takes a different approach than most presenters when it comes to the use of social media. Jennifer touches on topics such as tech dependence, cyberbullying, credibility of sources, and digital wellness but from a positive lens. The overarching theme for kids: leadership has no limits, their voice matters, and they can change the world. Can be customized to middle school or high school.

Workshops

Digital Storytelling: Tools & Ideas (workshop)

Stories and storytelling make up the very foundation of who we are as human beings. Today’s tools allow for us to not just create stories in digital format, but to collaborate and share our stories across the world. This session will delve into using a variety of tools (Virtual Reality, social media, Google Slides, to name a few)  as ways to amplify your students’ voices through stories. 

Design Thinking in the 6-12 classroom

Design Thinking is a model which can be embraced in person and online and allows for student choice and voice and depth of knowledge. Design thinking allows students to engage in effective research, and allows for differentiation in both product and assessment. This workshop is based on the IDEO model (empathize, define, ideate, create, test, and share), and will provide templates, examples, ideas, and best practices for how to use design thinking in your classroom in any subject area.

Content Curation and Digital Portfolios using Wakelet

We are bombarded by information in greater numbers and faster speeds than we ever have been in history. One of the most important skills we can teach is how to evaluate and curate information. Whether you want to curate your own content for yourself or for your students or create opportunities for student collaboration, Wakelet is a robust and FREE tool with endless possibilities. Learn how to use the tool, create sub collections, collaborate with students, and even how adults and student leaders are using Wakelet as digital portfolios. 

Curation and Digital Leadership (workshop)

In this session, participants will get an overview of what curation is, why it is necessary, and what online tools both teachers and students can use to curate information, follow their interests, and develop a more positive online presence.

Amplify student voice using Microsoft Flip

In this idea-packed and practical workshop, you will explore ideas for using Flipgrid with any age of students, while learning how to use its features. See why so many teachers are flipping for Flipgrid.

Connect to Learn: Creating a Professional Learning Network (PLN) (workshop)

Do you wish sometimes that you could find like-minded educators? That you could be inspired to get new ideas or learn new things at your own pace and in your own time?  In this session, we will look at ways you can find and connect with other like-minded educators by using Twitter for professional learning and growth. You will learn how you can use social media to re-energize your practice.

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: BreakoutEDU/ Escape Rooms (workshop)

BreakoutEDU and Breakout EDU provide opportunities for critical thinking,  problem-solving and FUN. In  this session, you will play a Breakout EDU game to learn more about how it works, get an overview of free vs platform access to the Breakout EDU site, and will have the opportunity to peruse games and/or create your own. 

Google-Specific Training

Whether it’s Google Jamboard, Sites, Classroom, Google Keep, Google Forms, or Extensions, as a Google Certified Trainer and Innovator, I can create a session based on your Google Workspace for Education Needs. A couple of sample sessions are below:

Google Jamboard: Collaboration, Connection, Citizenship

In this session, you will get templates and ideas for how to use Google Jamboard to collaborate with your students, to forge connections, and to reinforce important digital citizenship lessons.

Google Slides: Beyond Presentations (workshop)

If you only use Google Slides for presentations, you are missing out! Google Slides are a go-to tool for newsletters, posters, and digital storytelling. Discover how to use them in creative and innovative ways.

YouTube and Your Classroom (or Library) (workshop)

YouTube is an incredible tool and a Library in and of itself.  In this session we will go over how to create a customized channel, how to create playlists, how to upload videos, blur faces and ideas for what to do with your YouTube channel to make it an important part of your class or school’s journey to digital leadership.

Google Arts & Culture

Have you looked at Google Arts & Culture lately? Whether you are teaching Art, History, Language Arts, Music or Math or looking for ways for your students to experience life beyond the walls of your school (online or bricks & mortar), Google Arts & Culture is your portal to multi-modal experiences which can provide entry points for inquiry, critical thinking, empathy and global perspectives for anywhere, anytime learning.

Parent and Student Talks

Moving Students from Digital Citizenship to Digital Leadership (Full Day Workshop)

In this full day workshop, you will explore Digital Citizenship resources and ideas for extending these lessons from what kids can’t do to what kids can do. You will be inspired by students who are using social media to learn and share learning, celebrate others and to make a difference in their communities and will come away with ideas to implement this in your own school or District.

Empowering Students to Be Digital Leaders (District Course)

Are you looking for a way to engage your teachers in meaningful learning to empower your students to be digital leaders? This multi-modal course is ready to implement into your own District’s 

Overview of course here.

Additional Resources

Cellphones in the Classroom on TVO’s The Agenda 

Publications here