Session 4

Empowering Students to Spark Peace: Integrating Creative Visions’ Students Rebuild Program into Your Classroom

Room: Susquehanna/Yellow Breeches 

Presenter(s): Alyssa Buscaglia and Miriam Scott  

Description: Join us for an inspiring breakout session where we explore how to empower students to make a difference through the Students Rebuild Spark Peace Project, powered by Creative Visions. This initiative encourages young people to engage with pressing global issues and use their creativity to foster a more peaceful world. The program provides ready-made lesson plans and creative resources to help students explore the concepts of peace and compassion within themselves, their communities, and globally. Each student artwork or engagement sparks a $5 donation to organizations dedicated to peacebuilding worldwide. 

By integrating the Students Rebuild Spark Peace Project into your classroom, you empower students to use their creativity for meaningful change and foster a deeper understanding of global issues and the power of compassion. Join us to discover how you can make a lasting impact on your students and the world.

Grade Level Focus: Overall focus (K-12)

Audience: Classroom Teachers, Specialists, Principals, Librarians/Media Specialists, Technology Directors/Facilitators

Bio: Alyssa Buscaglia is a dedicated educator with 10 years of teaching experience in Harrisburg, including 5.5 years at Rowland and 4.5 years at Marshall Math & Science Academy. She holds degrees from Lock Haven and Shippensburg University and is pursuing her Principal Certification. Alyssa is a proud mother to a 15-month-old son and enjoys the company of her English Lab, Carson. She loves pasta and snacking on popcorn.

Miriam Scott, Director of Impact Education, Creative Visions Foundation

AR Creation with iPad

Room: Keystone

Presenter(s): Chris Barnabei

Description: In this hands-on session you will learn how your students can create immersive scenes using the iPad and AR Makr and Reality Composer apps. Both beginner and advanced strategies will be discussed. We will conclude with a discussion and examples on how to integrate AR creation across the curriculum. Attendees will leave this session with the ability to create basic experiences in AR and ideas for lesson integration.

Grade Level Focus: Overall focus (K-12)

Audience: Classroom Teachers, Specialists, Librarians/Media Specialists, Technology Directors/Facilitators

Bio: Chris is a librarian, tech integrator, and computer science teacher in the Chambersburg Area School District, and also an Apple Distinguished Educator. At the Career Magnet School in Chambersburg, he manages the school’s media center/makerspace, iPad deployment, and teaches AP Computer Science Principles and AR App Design. He is passionate about providing students with meaningful project-based learning experiences. 

"I Know What to Do: Routines to Build Student Independence and Executive Functioning in the Classroom."

Room: Meadow

Presenter(s): Carrie Baez

Description: Within this presentation, teachers will learn some valuable information on how to structure their classroom set-up, classroom materials, and classroom procedures to create a learning environment that enhances student independence and classroom management. We will look at material placement, student involvement, and ways to enhance transitions. We will also take a look at how to organize your lesson plans and lesson plan examples to keep them easy to find and use year after year. Your classroom may have the same students all day with different subjects, or you may have different classes coming and going throughout the day. No matter your situation, you will be a more effective teacher if you can keep your space organized and teach your students to be as independent as possible within the established routines of the classroom.

Grade Level Focus: Overall focus (K-12)

Audience: Classroom Teachers, Specialists

Bio: Carrie Baez has been the Art Teacher at Vida Charter School in Gettysburg, PA, for the past 5 years. Before this, she was an art teacher in the Dominican Republic for 6 years. It was in the DR that she learned to speak Spanish, which prepared her to become the art teacher at Vida which is a bilingual school that teaches 50/50 in English and Spanish. Over the past 5 years, she has been developing her own line of bilingual art classroom materials and has written her own art curriculum.

Click HERE for session resources.

Race to Nome in Your Classroom

Room: Laurel

Presenter(s):  Kim Dunlap

Description: The Iditarod race was first run in 1973 and is based on the Serum Run. The Iditarod has an education department that provides lessons and other opportunities to integrate the Iditarod into your instruction. Each year, there is an Iditarod Teacher on the Trail who has applied and demonstrated how they used the Iditarod in their classroom and has been chosen to come to Alaska to be a part of the Iditarod race. We will give you information on how you can integrate and interact with the Iditarod race and the mushers. You will also get to explore how we have integrated it in a 5th and 6th-grade STEAM Lab.

Grade Level Focus: Overall focus (K-12)

Audience: Classroom Teachers, Specialists, Librarians/Media Specialists, Technology Directors/Facilitators

Bio: Kim has been an Instructional Technology Specialist at Spring Grove Area SD for 4 years. Previously, she has taught K-4 Library, and K-2 Autism Support. After vacationing in Alaska and visited a Sled Dog Kennel Kim became more interested in the Iditarod race. She learned about the Iditarod EDU programming and was able to attend the Iditarod Summer Conference in Michigan during the summer of 2023.

Click HERE for session resources.

Enhance Classroom Learning with Custom AI

Room: Juniata

Presenter(s): Michael Stein

Description: This presentation explores AI's transformative role in education, showcasing its impact on student learning using AI-enhanced audio and video experiences and curriculum/instructional development. Educators will learn how AI-powered tools enhance engagement. The session will cover practical applications, including using audio (Voice & NotebookLM) for custom learning experiences and creating AI personalities for video to enrich instruction. Attendees will discover strategies to integrate AI seamlessly into their teaching methods, fostering creativity and collaboration. By leveraging AI’s capabilities, educators can optimize their time, enhance student outcomes, and create more dynamic, interactive learning environments. This session aims to empower educators with the knowledge and confidence to implement AI-driven solutions effectively.

Grade Level Focus: Overall focus (K-12)

Audience: Specialists, Librarians/Media Specialists, Technology Directors/Facilitators, Curriculum Directors/Specialists

Bio: Michael Stein, with 20+ years at Berks Career & Technology Center, is the CTE Innovation Systems Coordinator. He has spent the last 8 years mentoring faculty and improving student outcomes through integrated curriculum and instructional tech. He holds an M.S. in Education and multiple certifications.

The STEELS are Elementary with EbD!

Room: Friendship

Presenter(s): Jen Gossert and Kristen Landers

Description: The 2025-2026 PSSA Science Assessments will include Technology & Engineering for the first time! Learn to use the Engineering by Design Curricular Resources to teach the T&E Components of the STEELS Standards. We will show you what ITEEA offers (for free to PA teachers!) for curriculum aligned to the new STEELS Standards.

Grade Level Focus: Elementary focus (K-6)

Audience: Classroom Teachers, Specialists, Principals, Librarians/Media Specialists, Technology Directors/Facilitators, Curriculum Directors/Specialists

Bio: I am a lifelong learner who entered into education as a second career. I started as an Educational Technology teacher in our middle school for ten years before advocating for a STEAM program for all elementary students. I have been the K-4 STEAM teacher in our building for ten years now! I am lucky that I love what I do and do what I love! I live and work in Berks County, PA. 

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Room: Board

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