Laurier launches Innovation in Education lecture series in partnership with Waterloo Public Library

Jan. 12, 2021
For Immediate Release

Waterloo – Wilfrid Laurier University’s Faculty of Education and Government and Community Relations team, in partnership with the Waterloo Public Library, are set to launch the inaugural Laurier EdTalks: Innovation in Education lecture series. Members of Laurier’s Faculty of Education will present virtual talks each month from January until June on topics relating to child and youth education, design thinking, well-being and community connections.

“The Innovation in Education lecture series is a wonderful opportunity for Laurier faculty members to share their expertise and vast experiences with our broader community,” said Maria Cantalini-Williams, dean of the Faculty of Education. “We hope to inform and inspire parents and educators with our evolving ideas based on research and collaborative inquiry.”

Since March 2020, there has been increased concern about how children and youth are adjusting to remote learning and social distancing. The Laurier EdTalks: Innovation in Education lecture series was created in response to these conversations and to share the Faculty of Education’s leadership and expertise.  

“The Waterloo Public Library works closely with Laurier, regularly looking for opportunities to support our community through partnered events and activities,” said Kelly Kipfer, manager of community engagement and children’s services at the library. “We know that this year has sparked many conversations about education and the ways in which young people experience learning, community connection and well-being. At the same time, we have learned so much about the complexities and opportunities of technology as a means of learning.

“Given this interest, and as two organizations that prioritize lifelong learning, a speaker series on education just makes sense. We are thrilled to be able to offer our customers the opportunity to learn from the incredible Faculty of Education at Laurier.”

The first lecture, titled Re-Imagining Education in Haiti, Nepal, Egypt… and Beyond, will be delivered by Associate Professor Steve Sider and Instructor Judy Halpern, both coordinators of Laurier’s Educator and Leadership Institute, which provides professional learning courses and workshops to educators in Haiti, Nepal and Egypt. Sider and Halpern will discuss how the institute has supported the professional development of more than 2,000 educators, the impacts of that training on student learning and the ways in which individuals, organizations and businesses in Waterloo Region have contributed to the initiative.

Re-Imagining Education in Haiti, Nepal, Egypt… and Beyond will be held via Zoom on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. The virtual lecture is free to attend and everyone is welcome, including educators, students, parents and the broader community, but registration is required. The lecture will be an interactive experience, with opportunities to ask questions.

Future Laurier EdTalks lectures will cover topics including building resiliency, inspiring innovation, computational thinking, digital fluency, physical literacy and harnessing the power of stories. Find out more about the Laurier EdTalks: Innovation in Education series.