Program for Friday February 7, 2025

This session introduces Kialo Edu, a free platform designed to transform classroom discussions through research-backed argument-mapping principles. A live demo will showcase Kialo’s ability to foster participation, build confidence, promote deeper comprehension, and encourage civil discourse, and highlight its practical classroom applications. Our completely free tool reflects our commitment to empowering students everywhere, regardless of their circumstances, to think critically and discuss civilly, aligning with the conference theme of using technology to make education equitable.

This presentation overviews the Noyce Master Teaching Fellowship program entitled “Mechatronics Integrated into STEM Teaching for Transformative Inclusive Communities (MISTTIC).” Mechatronics is an interdisciplinary field that integrates mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering to create and design intelligent systems and products. Central to mechatronics are essential problem-solving, modeling, and reasoning skills, all highlighted in standard mathematics and science documents. The MISTTIC project equips teachers with the technological pedagogical knowledge needed to prepare the future workforce and ensure students maintain a competitive edge in a technologically advanced environment and meet societal demands. By integrating mechatronics into their classrooms, Master Teaching Fellows can foster critical thinking and encourage students to apply mathematics and science practically.

The children we are teaching today need to use computational thinking in their careers. Robots can introduce an element of play as the students reinforce the mathematical concepts they are learning, use mathematics to accomplish tasks, and apply computational thinking skills. This presentation shares how robots can be integrated into a mathematics curriculum.

 Low graduation rates among first-generation students concern education policymakers and practitioners. With 2 million students dropping out of college and 2022 NAEP data revealing a national decline in math scores, this has affected underserved students’ abilities to dare to dream and think big in the classroom.  This presentation will highlight the main takeaways of Dr. India White’s TEDx Talk on “The Power of G.R.I.T..” It will feature tangible strategies leaders and educators can use to incorporate grit to produce measurable results and break down invisible barriers between students and their teachers. 

This session will examine how generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) models, such as ChatGPT and other GenAI tools, can be integrated into the computer science and English classroom. We will explore how GenAI promises to help students through every step of the coding and writing processes and improve the student learning experience. This session will also explore the ethical issues surrounding using GenAI for students and the potential for student overuse. Attendees will leave this session knowing about different GenAI tools and the best strategies to effectively utilize GenAI in the classroom.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) tools have become commonplace for many faculty and students in higher education. Faculty and students can use these tools to enhance learning and streamline tasks. While these tools offer educational benefits, they also introduce concerns related to their responsible use. This session explores guidelines for educators and students to responsibly integrate GAI. Participants will walk away with a checklist and resources to foster responsible use in teaching, learning, and research.

The rapid advancement of Generative AI has opened new possibilities for teaching and learning in educational settings. In mathematics education, Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Photomath, and Gemini provide opportunities for dynamic engagement, problem-solving assistance, and personalized learning experiences. However, the integration of these tools presents both opportunities and challenges.  Therefore, as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes integral to educational technology, its implications for teaching and learning, particularly in mathematics, must be thoroughly examined. This presentation focuses on preservice teachers using Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Photomath, and Gemini in an undergraduate mathematics education course. This presentation shares participants' perceptions of the advantages and challenges of using these tools and highlights specific applications of Generative AI in mathematics classrooms. Data was collected from classroom observations and an 8-item survey administered via SurveyMonkey in two sessions: the first and seventh of an 8-week course. The findings suggest that although initially hesitant to acknowledge using AI, participants, throughout the course, discussed and explored the integration of AI in math education. Conference participants will engage in a practical exploration of the identified Generative AI and add their voices to the discussion on recommendations for future practice.

Join us as we close out the conference in style with our FDLA/FAMTE Award Ceremony! This special event honors outstanding contributions, innovative ideas, and dedicated professionals who have made a significant impact in the field. Don’t miss this moment to recognize and applaud excellence in our community! Come be a part of wrapping up the conference on a high note!