Shaelynn Farnsworth is a leader in the convergence between literacy and technology. She redefined her classroom using contemporary modes to amplify student voice and connect them with a global audience. She has worked at the state and regional level in Iowa; primarily focusing on school improvement, literacy, and technology. Shaelynn is the ELA Community Manager and Professional Learning Associate at Open Up Resources, a non-profit focused on OER to increase equity in education by making excellent, top-rated curricula freely available to districts. She is a Certified Microsoft Innovative Educator, Google Certified Innovator, and Apple Educator.
Website: shaelynnfarnsworth.com
Twitter: @shfarnsworth
Featured Presentation
Ballroom A at 1:15 p.m.
Flat Earth, AntiVax, 9/11: Misinformation in the Digital Age
Description - With ubiquitous access to information, why is it that we still have people who believe that the Earth is flat, 9/11 never happened, and vaccinations cause autism? Technology provides users with unprecedented amounts of information at the click of a button. From primary sources to catching up on the hottest celebrity gossip, readers are inundated with endless search results that are filled with truths, half-truths, fake news, bias, fallacies, and fictitious websites. To be literate in this information age, it is imperative educators develop healthy skepticism within their students. Teach students how to think, not what to think; by providing them with opportunities, strategies, and tools to hone skills to analyze, evaluate, and debunk the misinformation that they encounter daily. Join me as we discuss the changing definition of literacy and how all educators can support students in honing skills necessary for their working, civic, and personal lives.
Tech Talk
Room 16 at 10:45 a.m.
Meeting the Needs of All Learners with Immersive Reader and OER Curricula
Description: OER curricula available in OneNote helps educators meet the needs of all learners. Educators will be amazed by the capabilities of Immersive Reader and it's ease of operability. Text to speech, translation in over 70 languages, built in picture dictionary and much more promote inclusive classrooms and differentiation.