LTC EdTech Next

Welcome

8:00 AM – 8:10 AM – Presented by Ben Songeroth

Opening remarks from the Learning Technology Center

Back It Up with Understanding by Design‘s Curricular Planning Techniques

8:10 AM – 9:00 AM – Presented by Anne Kasa & Patricia Ferris

In this session, we’ll explore the three stages of “backward design planning”, as structured in Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe’s book Understanding by Design. To do that, we’ll begin with the end in mind and build a path towards creating learning experiences that connect to our standards, build critical thinking skills in our learners, and effectively achieve the desired result of moving towards enduring understanding.

Social Entrepreneurship as a Catalyst for Better Schools and Societies

9:10 AM – 10:00 AM – Presented by Eric Santos

Make it matter to students, and make the world a better place! By designing units around problem solving that enacts a positive change, you increase engagement, critical thinking, and authenticity.

Whether you’re teaching soil science, persuasive writing, area & volume, or historical perspectives, tossing a new app into your lessons isn’t necessarily improving student outcomes. Instead, redevelop existing lessons to focus on a meaningful end goal, and use technology to support the tasks they’ll do to reach that goal. Your students can build community gardens, advocate for social causes, and develop ADA-accessible products, but they need your guidance! Sprinkle in a little cooperation and competition, and you have a recipe for authentic, dynamic learning experiences with students in the driver’s seat.

EdTech for All: Creating Accessible Digital Content

10:10 AM – 11:00 AM – Presented by Joe Cipfl

As you’ve shifted your curriculum to include blended, technology-rich instruction, have you been creating digital content that is accessible to all students? Would your content be accessible to students with visual/hearing impairments or neurodiversity?

By intentionally and thoughtfully considering accessibility in the initial phases of content design, we can develop content that is readily available to all learners. Join us to explore the qualities of creating accessible digital curricular content that works for everyone. This session will focus on best practices for creating accessible titles, headings, formatting, hyperlinks, and visual content across a variety of digital mediums, as well as the edtech tools that can make implementing these changes a breeze.

Bringing Media Literacy into Your Classroom

11:10 AM – 12:00 PM – Presented by the LTC Staff

Media literacy remains a critical skill for all students to master, both in and out of the classroom. This session will help you better understand the scope of media literacy, as well as how to make it easier for students to understand its real-world implications.

Innovation Stations: Move with Technology

8:00 AM – 9:45 AM – Presented by Lisa Schwartz & Holly Kelly

During this extended session, we’ll explore different emerging technologies that districts can expect to see in the near future. As you move from station to station, you’ll get hands-on with several technology types that are already finding robust uses in the classroom, including programmable robots, coding, e-glass whiteboards, AR/VR, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence.

Student Work that Matters

10:00 AM – 10:50 AM – Presented by Elizabeth Byam & Brian Krause

Constructing authentic learning experiences is at the top of every teacher’s list, but many lack the time and resources needed to achieve fully-fledged authenticity. Real world connections matter to student, so it’s time to learn what it takes to make authentic learning an achievable part of your teaching toolkit. To do that, we’ll explore some of the tools, strategies, and practices that teachers can use to bridge the gap from the classroom to the future workplace.

Everyone’s an Influencer: Bring the Social Media Influencer Mindset into your Classroom

11:00 AM – 11:50 AM – Presented by Ben Sondgeroth

Do your students want to be influencers or YouTubers? While the influencer and YouTube lifestyle may look easy and glamorous, the truth is that it’s a lot of work, requiring real skills to create an engagement-ready end product. How do we capture that passion for creating and translate it into our curriculum?

At the same time, today’s businesses rely more than ever on social media to connect with their customers. So, how do we provide students the skills needed to become an online influencer, or more likely, a business’ social media manager?

No matter how old your students are, they have all been exposed to or inspired by, an influencer. This session will explore a set of online tools available to teachers that can get students thinking about and practicing the skills needed to be an effective influencer – no matter where their aspirations take them!

Closing

11:50 AM – 12:00 PM – Presented by Ben Sondgeroth

Closing remarks from the Learning Technology Center.