Celebrity E

Steve Anderson

4 Edtech Ways To Differentiate In A Student Centered Classroom

When moving from direct instruction to a more student-centered classroom, care and consideration must be taken to reach all learners. Through differentiated instruction, educators rely on several different methods and techniques to ensure students are successful. Differentiation of content, interest, process and demonstration can all serve to increase engagement and challenge students at their level. Effective technology integration provides additional support to a differentiated classroom. Join us as we examine the differentiation processes and how technology fits in the differentiated classroom. You will walk away with a ready-made, technology-infused differentiated toolkit and strategies to implement differentiation in any classroom.

Celebrity D

Talk to the Expert - Richard Byrne

Janet Lawler

Using Fiction and Nonfiction Picture Books and Related Curriculum Tie-In Resources

Using examples from her fiction and nonfiction picture books, and those of other published children's authors, Janet Lawler will review the availability and use of valuable resources offered by authors that can supplement curriculum and save professional development time for busy librarians and teachers, with a focus on K-2 grades.

Involve the Real Experts: The IT Innovators

Fran Kompar, Moderator

Dr. Kevin Smith, Superintendent of Schools, Wilton Public Schools

Erik Haakonsen, Director of Technology

Corey Sabia, student (college sophomore, Wilton High School graduate)

Michael Cassara, Junior, Wilton High School

Max von Bartheld, Senior, Wilton High School

Levels: All Levels

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists, Technology Teachers, Administrators, Technology Coordinators

How do you empower students as stakeholders AND leaders in school digital learning programs that go beyond Help Desk roles? Learn how a team of Wilton Public Schools IT Innovator students were invaluable in the leadership that led to a community-wide, shared vision for ready-access digital learning centered on student voice.

Apps to Preload: We will be using a browser/Internet, we have our own equipment for an AR/VR experience.

Play Area #1

Are You Ready for a Smackdown? Celebrating Youth Book Awards

Jenny Lussier

Levels: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists

Ready to build excitement for book awards such as the Sibert Award while offering opportunities for innovation, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity? In this playground, learn a variety of ways to connect your students, grow enthusiasm for new titles and genres, while meeting standards and curricular goals. It's a win-win!

Apps to Preload: None

ALSO - Talk to an Expert Session in Celebrity D at

Play Area #2

Everybody Has a Story: Immigration Experience, Oral History, & Makerspace

Melissa Thom

Levels: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists

Looking for lessons and activities that will make a tangible connection between your Makerspace & the curriculum? Learn about a successful collaboration between 6th grade middle school social studies teachers and the librarian. Activities included teaching students how to plan and conduct an interview with an individual who had an immigration story to tell and a lesson on questioning taught students how to generate a variety of question types: literal, interpretive, and applied. They were taught how to record the interview and then transcribe it. As a culminating activity, students created a suitcase representing the interviewee’s immigration story in the Makerspace. Examples of final projects, as well as the unit overview will be shared via a webpage.

Apps to Preload: none

ALSO - Talk to an Expert Session in Celebrity D at

Play Area #3

Keep that Research!

Corey Dwyer

Levels: 6, 7, 8

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists, Technology Teachers, Technology Coordinators

For middle school students, research can be frustrating. The Google Keep app can help as it captures and organizes ideas, shares notes, allows for collaboration, and more. Engaging, interactive, and meaningful teaching that meets standards makes the research process come alive. With a collaborative activity, participants will use Keep to take notes from digital sources, record notes, share evidence with collaborators and import learning into documents, all while demonstrating responsible use and sharing of information.

Apps to Preload: Google Drive, Google Keep, Google Docs

Play Area #4

Explore the new ISTE Student Standards

CECA Board Members

Levels: Any

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists, Administrators

Learn about the new ISTE Student Standards that have just been approved by the State of Connecticut. See how easily these standards relate to what you already do in your classroom. CECA Board members will run 3 different playgrounds with different games to help you learn all you need to know about utilizing these standards in your classroom. Stop by and try our games!

Apps to Preload: None

Play Area #5

Virtual Reality: a key to digital citizenship

Jacquelyn Whiting

Levels: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists, Technology Teachers, Administrators, Technology Coordinators

Experience the virtual reality anti-cyberbullying curriculum developed by Google's Trust & Safety team. With a smartphone or iPod and Google cardboard, you can implement this series of lessons to help your students become upstanders and better digital citizens.

Apps to Preload: YouTube app on a smartphone or iPod.

Play Area #6

Code & Go

Kate Wakefield

Levels: Pre-K, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists, Technology Teachers

This hands on opportunity will provide an overview of 360 cameras, Google Street View, Google Expeditions and Dash & Dot robots for the purpose of aligning with the elementary C3 Social Studies curriculum. A K-4 continuum for each tool showing teachers how they can directly connect these technologies with their social studies content will be shared. Participants can learn how to "drive" an Expedition, as well as a robot, through a "journey" exploring a geographical area. Creating Google Expeditions and adding 360 photos to Google Street View will also be explored.

Apps to Preload: Blockly for Dash and Dot, Google Streetview, & Google Expeditions

11:30 - 12:00

App-Smashing Tweens IRL

Shannon McNeice

Levels: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists, Technology Teachers, Administrators

Not really sure about how students could or should “app-smash”? Come experience the real-life app-smashing of an 11-year-old and start to wonder, like me, about how to capitalize on these skills to enhance student learning and to make sure all students have equitable access. Any 11-year-old with a device can be a mighty power in her own online world, but how can we bring this relevance to the classroom?

Apps to Preload: Google Drive

12:00 - 12:30

Personalizing Standardized Learning - Renzulli Makes it Easy!

Exhibitor Presentation: Renzulli Learning

Jeanne Pascon

Suggested for: Administrators, curriculum specialists, classroom teachers, media specialists, and technology staff who are interested in providing technology driven enrichment opportunities for all students.

Focus on the standards… Differentiate the curriculum… Engage your students… How?? With a focus on differentiation and enrichment in the everyday classroom, learn how Renzulli Learning enables you to easily bring personalized, meaningful, standards-based content and experiences to your students. With Renzulli Learning, all students can achieve more when engaged in learning based on their individualized profile results. Join us for a quick demo and the opportunity to sign up for your own free trial!

Celebrity F

Standards in Action: What Real Adoption of the ISTE Standards Looks Like

Douglas Casey

Levels: All Levels

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists, Technology Teachers, Administrators, Technology Coordinators, Higher Education

Our Commission for Educational Technology led Connecticut to become the first state to adopt the ISTE Student, Educator, and Administrator Standards, and that is just the start. Join this interactive session to learn about the work underway across the state to revise school policies, provide crosswalks to other standards, and change teacher preparation programs to support digital learning. Leave with the tools and insights you need to support the Standards in your classroom, school, and district.

Apps to Preload: None - plan to use Poll Anywhere, which only requires text messaging

ALSO - Talk to an Expert Session in Celebrity D at 1:30 - 2:30

Celebrity G

It's Not Easy Being Green: Teaching Middle School Computer Science (a collaborative session for those of us in the middle)

Rachel Smith

Levels: 6, 7, 8

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists, Technology Teachers

After presenting at the CT CSTA Conference on my adventures in teaching middle school coding, I learned that the 30+ attendees felt the exact same way I did: alone and wondering what they should do regarding content, standard, and pedagogy. This interactive session will attract middle school CS educators who want to connect, share ideas, and develop plans to improve their instruction. I'll begin with a brief (5-10 min) presentation, and then facilitate group activities to accomplish those three goals (connecting, sharing, developing). I hope that the topic and format will attract attendees, as there is a real need for these discussions.

Apps to Preload: These are optional, but I'd like to use: Google Sheets, Kahoot!, and PearDeck.

Celebrity H

Using Primary Sources to Develop Standards Aligned, Real-World Relevant Curriculum

Mary Kuechenmeister

Levels: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists, Technology Teachers, Technology Coordinators

Original, primary source recordings of notables in the arts, sciences, and humanities provide the foundation from which participants will develop curriculum that is real-world based. Primary sources are the raw materials of history as well as serving as roadmaps to scientific discovery and windows to the mind of artists. By integrating authentic stories and related standards-aligned curriculum into the classroom, students understand that their learning has meaning and purpose.

Apps to Preload: None

Celebrity I

Around the World in 80 Books: An Author's Perspective

Alicia Klepeis

Levels: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists

From candy around the globe to vampires, Alicia Klepeis makes geography and history more than just a laundry list of facts. She will discuss how to get kids, even reluctant readers, excited about reading and researching. A former middle school teacher, Alicia will also provide concrete ideas about hands-on activities for the classroom that connect to her 80+ books, from A Time for Change to The World’s Strangest Foods. Attendees will be given a takeaway lesson plan.

Apps to Preload: None

Celebrity J

iRest to Restore Balance

Jenny Gilley

Levels: All Levels

Suggested for: All

I will briefly introduce the 10-step practice of Integrative Restoration (iRest), define a few key terms (5 minutes), and invite participants to sit or lie down comfortably to experience the practice for themselves (35 minutes). I will guide the practice as we set an intention, scan our bodies from head to toe, become aware of the breath, welcome sensations and emotions, witness thoughts, experience well-being, observe the self, and reflect on the practice. We will reserve the last 10 minutes of the session for questions, comments, and discussion of implications for the school community.

Apps to Preload: None, but they might like a yoga mat.

Encore A/B

Using Technology to Personalize learning with UDL

Scott (and Amy) Silver-Bonito (Korn)

Levels: All Levels

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists, Technology Teachers

In this session, there will be a presentation of the big ideas surrounding Universal Design for learning and will equip educators to use technology to foster this within their own classrooms. Participants will learn how to use web-based tools to achieve the goal of personalized learning which will help to encourage the creation of successful, authentic, and relevant learning experiences for all students. This session is for all educators, at any level and any discipline.

Apps to Preload: Though not required, Google Apps for Education is heavily presented.

ALSO - Talk to an Expert Session in Celebrity D at 2:30 - 3:30

Spotlight A

Learner Led Libraries

Tracy Mercier & Amy Bansak

Levels: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists, Technology Teachers, Technology Coordinators

With the ever growing demands of technology, students demands for learning have changed. Students expect to learn collaboratively, at their own pace, with materials and tools of their choice, and with assistance from adults as needed or requested.

Apps to Preload: none

Spotlight B

Mindfulness and Yoga in our Technological Classrooms

Helen Desrochers

Levels: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists, Technology Teachers, Administrators, Technology Coordinators

Ancient Yoga and Mindfulness techniques are imperitive to our modern day learning. Learn how mindfullness and yoga in the classroom helps students. Students who learn these current and relevant techniques will acquire the attitudes and interpersonal skills needed to achieve technology skills associated with collaboration, innovation, and communication. Learn first-hand how to plug in some of these strategies immediately.

Apps to Preload: none

ALSO - Talk to an Expert Session in Celebrity D at 1:30 - 2:30

Star Room

Exhibitor Presentation: Finalsite

10 Tips for a Successful District Redesign

Gerard Gustafson

Levels: All Levels

Suggested for: School Librarians/ Media Specialists, Technology Teachers, Administrators, Technology Coordinators

Are you ready for a redesign? Finalsite will share the top 10 tips for a conquering a successful district redesign project. With a strong focus on parent communications, brand, streamlined processes, and accessibility, Finalsite will show you how everything can go right during the redesign process. Learn how to re-engineer your website for the digital age!

Apps to Preload: Additional apps are not required for this presentation

ALSO - Talk to an Expert Session in Celebrity D at 2:30 - 3:30

Table #1

Richard Byrne

Table #2

It's a Bird... No It's a Plane...No, It's the C.A.T Squad to the Rescue!!

Kristen Clark

Levels: All Levels

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists, Technology Teachers, Administrators, Technology Coordinators

My Computer Assistance Team, (C.A.T) Squad, has become a huge asset over the past 4 years. Students apply for participation, training, and of course perks, to helping with the mounting demands for technology assistance. Students learn to set up Chromebooks for K-1, replace toner, act as classroom troubleshooters, peer experts and assist in lab log-ins and upgrades. I will give the resources you need to build your own team!

Apps to Preload: none

ALSO - Traditional Presentation Session in Celebrity F at 1:30 - 2:30

Table #3

Credo Source: Combining Reference & Instruction to Build Better Researchers

Exhibitor Presentation: Credo Reference

Lisa Hill

Levels: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Suggested for: School Librarians/ Media Specialists

Among the biggest challenges librarians face today is preparing students to navigate the complex world of digital information. Attendees will be introduced to Credo Source, a one-stop platform that integrates e-reference content with high-quality, standards-aligned videos and tutorials to provide a more engaging level of research instruction. Aligned to standards guiding both high school and college researchers, Credo Source prepares students for the rigors of academia while also cultivating essential 21st-century skills.

Apps to Preload: None

Table #4

Exhibitor Presentation: Mackin

Connect Your Students to Digital Resources in MackinVIA

Hugh Ahearn

Levels: Pre-K, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists, Technology Teachers, Administrators, Technology Coordinators

Join Mackin Educational Consultant Hugh Ahearn and explore the industry’s leading eResource management system, MackinVIA. Bring your own mobile device or laptop for a hands-on experience using eBooks, online databases, and audiobooks within MackinVIA. We will demonstrate how this robust system can be customized to meet your educational needs and desires in the classroom and library, as well as assist administrators in purchasing and managing your school’s digital resources

Apps to Preload: None required; MackinVIA optional

ALSO - Traditional Presentation Session in Encore A/B at 9:00 - 10:00

Table #5

How to Survive a 1:1 Rollout

Michaela Durand

Levels: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists, Technology Teachers, Administrators, Technology Coordinators

Learn from our experiences! Come here how we successfully rolled out our 1:1 Chromebook initiative last year at our middle schools. I will share how we prepared, launched, and are now thriving in a 1:1 environment.

Apps to Preload: None

CANCELLED

Why Coding? Unlock the Language of the Future for Students (Even if You're Not Fluent Yourself)

Theresa Welch

Levels: Pre-K, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Suggested for: Classroom Teachers, School Librarians/ Media Specialists

Coding teaches the important skills of problem solving and persistence all while helping students become marketable in the 21st century job market. But what if you don't know the language? Can you still teach it to your students? Yes! Join as we discuss the basics of coding and how it can help build the problem solving skills and persistence muscles in both your students and you!

Apps to Preload: Lightbot Hour, Cargo-Bot, Sphero Edu, Tynker (not necessary, but will be demo-ed)

ALSO - Playground Session in Celebrity A at 1:30