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Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

High School Workshops

Engineering Outreach at Ontario Tech University offers a variety of workshops for grades 9 through 12. Our workshops target specific curriculum topics and increase student understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Our elementary workshops run in blocks of 75 minutes. All bookings require a minimum of 2 workshops.

We are pleased to offer all of our current high school workshops FREE OF CHARGE.

Automation and Automotive Workshops

  • Zumi Automation Adventure (Grades 9 - 12)

    In this FREE workshop, high school students will embark on an exciting journey into the world of automation and automotive engineering! In this immersive and hands-on experience, participants will explore the cutting-edge technology of Zumi robots while simulating a mock food delivery service. This workshop is designed to foster creativity, problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of automation principles.

    Students will complete the workshop using block code or Python code.

  • Zumi Automation Adventure - Mission on Mars (Grades 9 - 12)

    In this FREE workshop, high school students will embark on an exciting journey into the world of automation, automotive, and aerospace engineering! In this immersive and hands-on experience, participants will explore the cutting-edge technology of Zumi robots while simulating a Mission on Mars while retrieving samples for further analysis. This workshop is designed to foster creativity, problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of automation principles all while incorporating a space theme.

    Students will complete the workshop using block code or Python code.

Electricity Workshops

  • Pitch Black (Grade 9)

    Pitch Black is a FREE workshop for grade 9 science classes, taught by Ontario Tech engineering undergraduate students. The objective of this activity is to restore power to a breadboard community after a power outage. Using basic electrical components, students will work collaboratively to complete a circuit, restoring power to the community and turning on their lights. Through this experience, we hope students will be inspired to consider future education in engineering while learning about electrical circuits and electricity in a hands-on environment.

    This activity aligns with the Grade 9 science curriculum.

  • Powering Up (Grade 11)

    Powering Up is a FREE workshop for grade 11 physics classes that teaches renewable energy and circuits through hands-on learning, taught by engineering students from Ontario Tech University. The workshop combines the principles of electricity and physics with the topics of renewable energy and circuits. Students will collaboratively design, build and troubleshoot a microgrid system for a city of the future using breadboard circuits. At the end of the Powering Up workshop, we hope students will have a better understanding of what it means to be an engineer and be inspired to pursue engineering in the future.

    This activity aligns with the Grade 11 physics curriculum.

Thriving in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

  • Module 1: Introduction to AI - (Grades 9 - 12) - Alan Turing Test Simulation

    In this FREE workshop, students will be exploring the basics of Artificial intelligence, the history and evolution of AI and the different types of AI. 

    Activity: Alan Turing Test Simulation

    In this fun activity, students will attempt to identify if the response to a question is human-based or computer-based, recreating the Turing Test!

    Curriculum Connections: 

    Math

    • Grade 9 De-streamed Math: Data collection: applying the process of data modelling and collection

    Science

    • Grade 9 De Streamed: STEM Skills: STEM investigation Skills

    Open Technologies

    • Grade 9-12 Computer Science: Simple Algorithms, connections to society, condition statement

    • Grade 10 Computer Technology: Connections to the idea of digital logic

    Computer Science

    • Grade 9 and 10 Simple Algorithms, connections to society and condition statements

  • Module 2: Machine and Deep Learning Grades 9 - 12) - Neural Network Classification

    In this FREE workshop, students will explore the importance of Machine Learning and how to develop a Machine Learning model. Students will discover the depths of Deep Learning and the different branches of AI in more detail and learn about how Machine Learning and Deep Learning techniques are used for different applications.  

    Activity: Neural Network Playground

    This activity builds on the content presented in Module 2, specifically how neural networks function and the math required for AI to accomplish its tasks. 

    Curriculum Connections:

    Math

    • Grade 9: De-streamed Math: Algebra: development of algebraic concepts, application of relations

    • Grade 10: Principles of Mathematics: Determining quadratic relations

    • Grade 11: Functions: Understanding algebraic and graphical representations 

    Science

    • Grade 9 De Streamed: Connections to Matter

  • Module 3: Applications of AI - (Grades 9 - 12) - Data Analysis with Numpy

    In this FREE workshop, students will explore the power of Artificial Intelligence and how these techniques have been used to influence and leverage applications in the real world. This module will cover some key areas including anomaly detection and how businesses are able to detect anomalies through different techniques.

    Activity: Incorporating AI into Business

    This activity is focused on using Numpy to explore trends within companies and how to interpret the data.

     Ccurriculum Connections:

    Computer Science

    • Grade 9-10 Computer Science

      • A: Simple Algorithms, connections to society and condition statements A4.4, A4.5

    • Grade 11 & 12 Computer Science & Computer Programming

    • A: Programming Skills and Concepts A 4.4, A 4.5, A 4.2

    • A: Programming Skills and Concepts & D: Computers and Society - A 3.5, D3.2 A 4.3, D 3.3

  • Module 3: Applications of AI - (Grades 9 - 12) - Incorporating AI into Business

    In this FREE workshop, students will explore the power of Artificial Intelligence and how these techniques have been used to influence and leverage applications in the real world. This module will cover some key areas in which AI has been used to optimize businesses and their operations by looking more into the impact on business models, uses of recommender algorithms.

    Activity: Incorporating AI into Business

    This activity consists of designing a business plan to incorporate AI into the business.

    Curriculum Connections:

    Marketing

    • Grade 11 Marketing

    Business

    • Grade 9 and 10 Information and Business Communication Technology in Business

    • Grade 9 and 10 Introduction to Business

    • Grade 11 Information and Communication Technology: The digital environment

    • Grade 12 Information and communication technology: Multimedia Solutions

    Open Technologies

    • Grade 9-12 Computer Engineering Technology

      • C: Simple Algorithms, connections to society, condition statement - C2.1, C2.2

    • Grade 10 Computer Technology:

      • C: Technology and Society - C2.1, C2.2

    • Grade 10 Digital Technology and Innovation in the Changing World

      • A: Computational Thinking and Making Connections A1.1, A2.3, A3.1

  • Module 4: Core Skills for Thriving in the Age of AI - (Grades 9 - 12) - Probability Activity

    How do we thrive in a world with AI?  Should we be concerned that these AI systems will take our jobs? Can we find a way to work alongside these systems or develop skills that cannot be automated? This FREE workshop will cover some of the ways in which AI and humans differ and the importance of working together. 

    Activity: Probability Activity

    As we all learned from the course, we need a lot of data to train the AI models. In this activity, we will explore how data affects AI models.

    Curriculum Connections: 

    Math

    • Grade 9 Math: Data collection: Data modelling and collection

    • Grade 12: Data Management: Probability of an event 

    Science

    • Grade 9: STEM Skills: STEM Investigation skills 

    Open Technologies

    • Grade 10 Comm Technology: Digital logic 

  • Module 5: The Societal and Ethical Impacts of AI (Grades 9 - 12)

    In this FREE workshop, students will explore the societal and ethical implications of AI, key concepts in AI ethics and learn how to apply it so that AI is beneficial to all individuals and to society as whole.

    Activity: Ethics of AI on Vehicles

    This activity examines and engages in a class discussion regarding the forthcoming ethical dilemmas and the profound societal implications posed by self-driving cars in the future.

    Curriculum Connections:

    Social Science

    • Introduction to Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology

    • Challenge and Change in Society

    • Philosophy: The Big Questions

    • Philosophy: Questions and Theories

    Note: This workshop relates to every course so if you are interested in having us join your class to discuss Artificial Intelligence and ethics please choose this workshop.

  • Module 6: The Future of Artificial Intelligence (Grades 9 - 12)
    In this FREE workshop, we will take a look at exactly how the power of AI is spreading across different industries and what to expect in the future. 

 

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Actua provides training, resources and support to its national network of members located at universities and colleges across Canada in the delivery of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education outreach programming. Each year, these members engage over 350,000 youth in 500 communities nationwide. Please visit Actua at www.actua.ca

 

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