The conference was packed with a series of meetings and workshops that strengthened the project team and cooperation with different actors. On the first day, the participants were treated to a visit to the Geo Centre, which put on display a range of geological features of Newfoundland and Labrador, and its unique location in the world.

On the second day participants attended a workshop on augmented and virtual reality devices held at the Rooms museum. The workshop highlighted the importance of digital tools for immersive learning and explored various aspects of AR/VR, including data visualization and digital storytelling.

In addition, the days were devoted to a series of meetings on future activities and funding. Participants discussed the scalability of project ideas and their potential social and economic impacts. The third day culminated with a keynote presentation by Dr. Steve Burton from Leeds Beckett University, who delivered a thought-provoking talk titled "Digital pedagogy as an agent for transformation in 21st century learning: the potential for paradigm shift".

The final day of the conference ended with a panel discussion titled "Reimagining the use of Creative Technology in Educational Spaces," which brought together experts in the sector of Educational Creative Technology to talk about the future of the emerging digital landscapes for children and youth and consider what these emerging technologies mean for educational programming. The panelists were:

  • Janice Hertel - Instructor/Artist/Expert in creative gaming and immersive technologies College of the North Atlantic
  • Julie Lewis - Entrepreneur and owner of Sassy Tuna
  • Laun Shoemaker - Teacher & Digital Learning Makerspace Rooms Project
  • Kyla Gibbons - Professional Learning Expert Carnegie Learning

Overall, the conference proved to be an excellent platform for exploring new ideas, sharing insights, and building networks. The participants left St. John's energized, inspired, and with a renewed sense of purpose in their quest for excellence and innovation in education.

The original news story and more information about the ADVOST project can be found here.