Session/Workshop Descriptions

App Smackdown! 

Join Janet and Joan in this fast-paced session showcasing our favorite apps for teachers and students. Audience members will also have an opportunity to share their favorite apps.

App-Smashing Don’t Just Stop With One App!

Why limit your students to just one app? Let their creativity explode by combining multiple apps to create a project or activity. We will explore apps that encourage the use of higher order thinking skills including creating, evaluating, and analyzing.  By combining these apps, your students can produce products that can then be published and shared. You’ll be amazed at what App-Smashing can do for your classroom!

Augmented Reality (AR) – Better Than the Movies
What is augmented reality? Movies have given us a sense of “alternative reality” for years. Augmented reality makes something come to life! It seems like magic. Come experience AR activities that are readily available and learn how to extend your students' learning.

Bring It On!  BYOD/1:1 Activities That Work
Your school has adopted a BYOD or 1:1 program, so what meaningful activities can students engage in? Participate in hands-on, engaging activities that can be modified for multiple subjects and grade levels using most any device that can access the Internet. Preferred device for attendees to bring: iPad, tablet, laptop, or smartphone. 

Building Better Lessons with Nearpod
Grab your favorite presentations and we will use the tools in Nearpod to reconstruct your lesson with real-time interactivity and assessment. Nearpod is a web tool/app that allows teachers to deliver interactive content and assessment activities to students. The ability to add engaging interactive features like polls, drawings, quizzes and free text activities not only increases engagement but also provides teachers with valuable feedback on student learning.

Digital Tools for the English-Language Arts Classroom
Where do you find great digital resources for the English-Language Arts classroom?  Who should you follow on Twitter and what blogs should you read to develop a robust PLN?  This session will introduce you to awesome websites, apps and educators that will enhance your digital classroom. 

Digital Tools for the Mathematics Classroom
Where do you find great digital resources for the Mathematics classroom?  Who should you follow on Twitter and what blogs should you read to develop a robust PLN?  This session will introduce you to awesome websites, apps and educators that will enhance your digital classroom.

Digital Tools for the Social Studies Classroom
Where do you find great digital resources for the Social Studies classroom?  Who should you follow on Twitter and what blogs should you read to develop a robust PLN?  This session will introduce you to awesome websites, apps and educators that will enhance your digital classroom.

Digital Tools for the Science Classroom

Where do you find great digital resources for the Science classroom?  Who should you follow on Twitter and what blogs should you read to develop a robust PLN?  This session will introduce you to awesome websites, apps and educators that will enhance your digital classroom. 

Digital Tools to Strut Your Stuff

There are tons of digital tools that allow your students to demonstrate mastery of a skill or their newest acquired knowledge.  These tools can be used for a presentation, to create a website, make a cartoon or timeline and much more.  In this session, we will discover some of the best apps and websites that allow students to be creative as they “strut their stuff” and show the world what they know!

Digital Tools for Writing

When writing in any classroom, we want our students to use their imagination, write with rich detail and paint a picture with words. Join us as we share activities that use technology to provide engaging writing activities for your students, including augmented reality, QR codes and online tools. 

Formative Assessment Using Technology

Teachers and students can be provided ongoing, real-time feedback utilizing many technology tools that are currently available in schools. The immediate results that can be accessed through technology tools assist educators as they strive to improve instructional strategies and student learning in their classroom. Attendees in this session will learn how teachers can utilize technology to easily assess student understanding before they move on to the next topic or lesson.

Formative Assessment Tech Tools for Early Learners

Get excited about the endless opportunities to use technology in your classroom—even if you have only one or two devices. Janet and Joan present formative assessment methods that include activities that develop students' creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Thrill your digital natives while individualizing and differentiating your instruction. 

Go Noodle...It's More Than Just Dance Videos!

The GoNoodle website uses interactive videos for physical activity integrated with core subject content. Join Janet and Joan as they show you how to use GoNoodle to gain focus and academic achievement in your classroom.

Green Screen Magic

Your K-12 students can easily create videos for storytelling, book reviews, historical reenactments, weather reports and more using Green Screen Technology. Janet and Joan will show you how to create awesome videos with an iPad, some cool apps and various inexpensive green screen backgrounds. 

Increase Your Super Human Skills with Nearpod

You might not leave this session with x-ray vision or the ability to leap tall buildings, but you will learn super-human Nearpod skills that allow you to combine your existing presentations with real-time interactivity and feedback.  

It’s Time for a Refill!

Are you tired of using the same old websites, programs and apps in your classroom?  We’ll look at some of the best new tech tools for engaging students and delivering curriculum as well as new and different ways to use some old favorites.

It’s Tool Time for Instructional Technologists

Are you a campus/district instructional technologist looking for the latest tech tools, PD ideas, new colleagues for your PLN or you just to share your thoughts and have your questions answered? Join your colleagues in this session designed specifically for the people who collaborate with teachers to facilitate the use of technology in schools.

Let Their Voices be Heard!

Audio and video recording tools can be used as a method for students to reflect on their learning, practice their reading and communication skills and to present information to others. Teachers can use these same tools for formative assessment and support their instruction. Join Janet and Joan as they shows you tech tools to let your students’ voices be heard!

Library Tech Tools

Are you a school librarian/media specialist looking for the latest tech tools, PD ideas, new colleagues for your PLN or you just want to share your thoughts and have your questions answered? Join you peers in this session designated specifically for the people who collaborate with all teachers.

Meaningful Differentiation with Technology

Every day you face the daunting task of finding ways to help your students show mastery of the curriculum in engaging and meaningful ways. Join us as we demonstrate and discuss some of the best instructional practices using technology to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of every student.  

Nearpod Tips and Tricks

Nearpod is already one of your go-to tech tools, but you want to learn some advanced tips and tricks and see what has been added to make it even better! You will leave this session with new ideas for using this amazing tool in your classroom.

No More PowerPoints - Make Your Presentations Interactive!

Do you want to jazz up your presentations?  Would you like to have innovative and interactive content available to your students 24-7?  We’ll explore how to make your lessons more engaging with a few simple web tools: ThingLink, Canva, Smore, Nearpod, Spark and more.

Professional Development Extreme Makeover

Revolutionize the integration of 21st Century technology skills into the curriculum by transforming your professional development. Learn new methods and strategies to create this extreme makeover for your campus or district. The workshop will address different learning environments, best practices for integrating technology into the curriculum and ideas for increasing teacher productivity and professional status.

Slammin’, Jammin’ Apps & Apptivities

The educational apps just keep popping up in the App Store, so how do you know which ones are right for your students?  Are there apps that can effectively be used as a creative, instructional tool in the classroom? Which apps encourage the use of higher order thinking skills including creating, evaluating, and analyzing?  In this rapid-fire, action-packed presentation, we will highlight educational apps and "apptiviities" that will engage students and enrich learning. 

Staff Meeting Fixer Upper

Does your staff look forward to attending your meetings?  Do they come up with all kinds of excuses to be absent? Let Janet and Joan help you redesign and remodel your meetings with fresh new approaches that are authentic, engaging and meaningful to all involved.  Your staff will soon be asking, “When’s the next staff meeting? I can’t wait to be there!

Tech Talk for Administrators

What technology tools are you using in your role as an administrator? How do you model the use of technology for your staff? Which administrators do you follow on social media? Let's discuss these questions and more in a lively discussion format!

Tech Tools for Early Learners

Your little ones love to use the iPad and computers to play "games", but how can they be used for instruction? You'll be amazed at the things even your tiny tots can do when given the chance to use iPads and computers to create and learn.  Walk away with ideas that can be used immediately in the classroom.

These are a Few of Our Favorite Apps

There are so many apps available and new ones are being introduced every day, so how do you know which ones to download? Janet and Joan will show you our favorites and where to find app reviews, sales and freebies!

Twitter 101 – Where Do I Begin?

If you are a Twitter newbie or you have not jumped on the Tweeting bandwagon, this is the session for you! You will leave with a Twitter account, a list of great educators to follow, a calendar of Twitter Chats and the ability to begin communicating, sharing and learning with the world! 

What’s New?  What’s Hot? What’s Cool?

Have you seen the latest technology tools, websites, gadgets and apps?  We’ll explore some of our favorite finds that will make your head spin! Audience members will have an opportunity to share their favorite new, hot and cool tech tools.  You will not want to miss this engaging, fun and informative session!

Watch Your Classroom Explode with Cool Web Tools

All you need is a computer or device and an Internet connection to transform your classroom into an exciting learning community. The session will highlight free web 2.0 tools for all grade levels and curriculum areas.