Teacher Conference

Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, come and join us for the 3rd annual Docs For Schools Teacher Conference. If you teach beyond the GTA, the Friday conference date can be an educational and inspirational start to a long weekend in Toronto to visit family, friends or just enjoy the city.

School of Image Arts, Ryerson University
122 Bond St, Toronto

Friday, February 24, 2017
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Cost: Free
Requirement: Teaching grades 7 through 12 or a school librarian |available to attend for the full day

Send an email with your name, school, board, grade and subjects taught to Lesley Sparks at [email protected].

Who Should Attend:

• Use documentary film to supplement your curriculum
• Want to gain a richer understanding of the medium in an engaging and fun manner
• Learn about some new technologies
• Teachers from all subject areas attend, including many school librarians, English teachers, and those under the Geography and Social Sciences umbrella

To Book: Email Lesley Sparks at [email protected] with your name | school | board | grade(s) | subject(s) taught

Day Includes:

• Keynote speaker: Anna Maria Tremonti*, Host of The Current, CBC Radio One
• VR and new digital documentary technologies – Richard Lachman**
• Role of the public broadcaster in the doc world, and how educators can benefit
• Screening of FRAME 394*** (29 min) - discussion with filmmakers to follow
• Docs For Schools, Hot Docs Festival and The Sidra Project
• Coffee Breaks
• Lunch - NOT provided, but there are many venues close by, and places to sit in the conference building if you bring your own lunch

Final details will be announced late in January.
Booking is now open. Please do not book until you have received your necessary approvals. Space is limited.
Touch base with Lesley if any questions at [email protected] or 416-203-2155 x253.

*Anna Maria Tremonti
Anna Maria Tremonti has won two Gemini awards, and a life Achievement Award from Women in Film and Television Toronto. During her time at The Current, she and the program have won numerous awards at the New York Festivals, including: Gold for Best News Documentary of Special (2013), Gold for Best Talk Special: Interview (2009), Silver for Best Newsmagazine (2013), Bronze for Best Talk Show Host (2008, 2014 and 2015), Bronze for Best Coverage, Breaking News (2015), and Bronze for Best News Documentary or Special (2014). Her work at The Current also has been recognized with an Amnesty International Canada Media Award (2012), three Gracie Awards (2011, 2014 and 2015), and several Gabriel Awards and RTDNA Awards, including the Adrienne Clarkson Diversity Award (2013), the Peter Gzowski Information Program Award (2009, 2011 & 2014) and the Gord Sinclair Live Special Events Award (2014).

**Richard Lachman
An Associate Professor and the Director of the Transmedia Zone in the RTA School of Media at Ryerson University, as well as a Technology and Creative Consultant for entertainment and software-development projects. Richard has a Bachelors in computer-science graduate of MIT, holds a masters degree from the MIT Media Lab’s “Interactive Cinema” group, and a doctorate in Computer Science at the University of New England in Australia. Lachman often makes his research an experimental collaboration with industry, and his projects have been honoured by the Gemini awards, Canadian New Media Awards and the Webbys. Prior to his time at Ryerson, Lachman worked on some of the top new media/broadcast projects and with many of the major networks in the country, as well as publishing and presenting his works around the world. Prior to returning to Canada, Lachman served as Lead Designer and Lead Engineer for the US “Petz” entertainment software line which shipped over 3 million units worldwide, garnering awards from ID Magazine, Communications Arts, and Invision Children’s Entertainment. His research interests include transmedia storytelling, digital documentaries, applied/serious gaming, and locative media. He also teaches in the Master of Media Production and Master of Documentary Media programs.

***FRAME 394
The truth of images is tested through footage of Walter Scott’s highly publicized shooting in South Carolina. A Toronto man analyzed the shaky cellphone video with stabilization software and uploaded it to Reddit. He very quickly became embroiled in one of America’s most racially and politically charged police shooting cases.

Stay in touch! Email Lesley Sparks to be added to the Docs For Schools mailing list and follow us on Facebook.