Monday Sessions

Session A

micro:bit CreateAI: classroom friendly machine learning

Amanda Jeane Strode

Bring classroom-friendly, safe AI into your teaching practice. micro:bit CreateAI brings machine learning concepts down to earth with hands-on, student-centered projects that work beautifully in grades 3–8. In this session, you won't just watch — you'll actually build and train a machine learning model using micro:bit MakeCode. No prior AI experience needed, just a browser, your micro:bit, and a sense of adventure.

Session B

3 Lenses for Designing Student Centered STEM Projects

Gerald Aungst

Most STEM projects ask students to follow someone else's process to reach someone else's answer. What if the project belonged to them instead? In this interactive workshop, you'll use 3 Lenses grounded in the presenter's research and experience in culturally relevant pedagogy to transform a project or lesson from your own classroom. This framework will help you turn it from a task to complete into an investigation students will own, and one they will never forget.

Session A

5 quick tips to removing barriers

Melissa-Ann Pero

Join me for 5 quick tips you can use to adjust instruction to remove barriers we didn’t know were there and allow students easier accessibility to learning.

Session B

Controlled Chaos - Simple Gamification for Every Classroom

Jaime Emmel

Engagement doesn’t require a full tech overhaul—just a little controlled chaos. This session explores how to transform everyday lessons into playful, competitive experiences that drive motivation and mastery. Learn simple strategies for layering game elements like teamwork, challenge, and choice using tools you already have. You’ll see how quick, low-prep games can turn routine content review into a lively learning adventure. Leave with plug-and-play templates, scoring systems, and practical examples from a classroom where “fun” and “focus” work hand in hand.