CAC Fall Workshop
A Pivotal Moment: AI, Evidence, and the Future of Assessment
with Tom Schimmer & Danielle Paloposki
Vancouver, BC | September 25, 2026 | 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Early Bird Discount Ends June 30, 2026
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Built by Canadians, for Canadians, leading the movement to transform assessment into the heart of teaching and learning.
Register TodayAbout the Workshop
We are at a pivotal moment in Canadian education.
The rapid emergence of artificial intelligence hasn’t created new problems in assessment; it has exposed the ones that have been quietly limiting learning all along. When students can use AI to complete tasks with ease, it forces us to confront a deeper question: What actually counts as evidence of learning?
In this one-day workshop, Tom Schimmer and Danielle Paloposki reframe the role of assessment in an AI-rich world by shifting the focus from task completion to the production of defensible evidence. Participants will explore why many traditional grading practices (e.g., reliance on averages, task-based rubrics, and compliance-driven work) struggle to hold up under the pressures of AI. More importantly, we will examine how this moment creates an opportunity to strengthen clarity, elevate professional judgment, and design learning experiences that require genuine thinking, transfer, and understanding.
Grounded in next-generation grading principles, this session will connect big-picture shifts to practical classroom implications. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to design for meaningful evidence, how to interpret that evidence with confidence, and how to ensure that grades remain an accurate reflection of student learning, even as the tools students use continue to evolve.
Workshop Outcomes
- Examine the impact of AI on assessment practices, identifying where traditional approaches rely on task completion rather than credible evidence of student learning.
- Design outcome/competency-based tasks, rubrics, and feedback systems that make student thinking visible, clarify quality, and generate meaningful evidence over time.
- Define what constitutes accurate and defensible evidence of learning, including the role of independence as a condition of evidence and the limitations of averaging and compliance-based grading.
- Refine and evaluate assessment artifacts through the lens of professional judgment, ensuring that resulting evidence can support clear, confident, and defensible grading decisions.
Meet Your Speakers
Tom Schimmer
Tom Schimmer is a global leader in assessment and grading reform, partnering with schools in more than 27 countries to transform grading practices. He is the author of 10 books, including best-sellers, Grading from the Inside Out and Standards-Based Learning in Action. With 35 years in education, Tom is known for turning complex research into practical strategies educators can use immediately.
Danielle Paloposki
Danielle Paloposki is a veteran educator, former Director of Teaching & Learning, and current CAC consultant who helps schools shift toward purpose-driven, student-centred assessment systems. She has been deeply involved in implementing proficiency scales and OBG in high schools, aligning assessment philosophy with provincial policies to put learners at the center.
Detailed Agenda:
7:30-8:30: Registration & Breakfast
8:30-9:45: A Pivotal Moment: Rethinking Evidence in the Age of AI
AI hasn’t created new problems in assessment; it has exposed the ones that have been limiting learning all along. This session reframes the conversation from task completion to defensible evidence, setting the foundation for assessment and grading practices that prioritize accuracy, clarity, and professional judgment.
9:45-10:00: Break
10:00-11:30: Designing for Evidence: AI-Powered Tasks, Rubrics, and Learning Experiences
If the problem is weak evidence, the solution is better design. In this session, participants will explore how to create tasks, rubrics, and learning experiences that require genuine thinking, while leveraging AI to clarify quality and support deeper learning.
11:30-1:00: Lunch (On Your Own)
1:00-2:15: The Design Lab: Building Tasks, Rubrics, and Evidence Systems
This is where ideas turn into action. Participants will design or refine tasks, rubrics, and assessment tools that generate meaningful, observable evidence of learning. They will also develop clear criteria that is aligned to outcomes or competencies, and are built to hold up in an AI-rich classroom.
2:15-2:30: Break
2:30-3:30: Refine & Defend: Strengthening Evidence Through Feedback and Judgment
Strong assessment doesn’t end at design; it requires refinement and professional judgment. Participants will calibrate their work, test the strength of their evidence, and ensure their assessment practices can be confidently defended as accurate reflections of learning.
The Workshop will be held at:
Executive Hotel Vancouver Airport
7311 Westminster Hwy
Richmond, BC
V6X 1A1
To secure a room at the workshop hotel for, follow the link below or call the hotel:
(604) 278-5555 or 1-800-663-2878
Please quote "Canadian Assessment" when booking.
Booking Link Coming SoonInvest in Your Transformation
Your registration gives you more than access; it gives you momentum.
What’s Included:
✔︎ 1-Day workshops
✔︎ Full breakfast, coffee and tea at breaks (extended lunch on your own offsite)
✔︎ Access to all workshop materials & digital resources
✔︎ Connection with a growing network of Canadian assessment leaders
Refund Policy
We understand that plans can change. Conference registrations are eligible for a full refund up to September 11, 2026. After this date, refunds are no longer available due to event planning commitments. Only the conference fee and the HST can be refunded; other processing fees added by Simpli Events cannot be refunded.
If you’re unable to attend, you are welcome to transfer your registration to a colleague at any time. Just reach out, and we’ll help facilitate it.
In the case of unforeseen circumstances (e.g., illness or emergency), don't hesitate to get in touch with us. While refunds cannot be guaranteed after September 11, 2026, we will do our best to support you on a case-by-case basis.
If the event is cancelled or rescheduled by the organizers, registrants will be offered a full refund or the option to transfer their registration to a future event.
What they say about Danielle
"Danielle is passionate about the work she is doing and leading the shift in thinking. Her experience in the classroom doing this work is the cornerstone to her presentation and stance on its importance and ability to do the work."
What they're saying about Danielle
"Strong practical knowledge of and experience with what she is presenting. Authentic! Excellent presence and ability to redirect conversation when necessary."
What they say about Tom
"Tom has a strong command of the content and room. He is relatable, clear, engaging, and funny!"
Join the Movement to Transform Assessment
Don’t just attend another PD event, become part of Canada’s growing community of educators who believe that assessment is the key to student success.
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