August 17th | Mount Si High School ✨
August 17th | Mount Si High School ✨
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BLAST (Building, Learning, and Supporting Technology) is SVSD's annual technology conference designed for certificated staff. This year, you can expect a timely keynote from neuroscientist Dr. Melina Uncapher, as well as a multitude of sessions covering plenty of topics... there's something for everyone!
Daily Schedule
Daily Schedule
8:00 - 8:50 AM: Keynote - The Science of Learning in the Age of AI (Dr. Melina Uncapher)
Keynote will take place in the Mount Si Performing Arts Center (PAC).
9:00 AM - 3:50 PM: Sessions and Workshops (register via our scheduling platform, Sched- see below)
Sessions will take place in Mount Si High School classrooms (see map below).
🧠 New This Year: Brain Science & Technology Workshops
🧠 New This Year: Brain Science & Technology Workshops
We're excited to offer targeted workshop opportunities exploring the intersection of brain science and technology. To help you prioritize your learning experience, all sessions and workshops are labeled by intended audience: Elementary, Secondary, or All (P-12).
Workshop Times
Secondary Brain Science Workshop: 10:00-11:50 AM
Elementary Brain Science Workshop: 1:00-2:50 PM
‼️ Please note: We encourage all attendees to participate in the Brain Science & Technology workshops. To support this goal, no other Secondary sessions will be offered during the Secondary workshop (10:00-11:50 AM), and no other Elementary sessions will be offered during the Elementary workshop (1:00-2:50 PM). Please use the audience indicators when building your schedule to select the sessions that best align with your role and interests.
Sessions (with the exception of Dr. Uncapher's 2-hour workshops) will start every hour on the hour with no official lunch break. Participants are welcome to bring their own snacks or take a lunch break at their desired time. If desired, participants can pre-order lunch from Rio Bravo, which will be prepared in the South Commons at 11:00 am.
Optional Rio Bravo Lunch Pre-Order
Optional Rio Bravo Lunch Pre-Order
Save yourself a trip! BLAST attendees have the option to pre-order lunch from one of our favorite local lunch spots. Rio Bravo staff will prepare your lunch for you and have it ready for you in the commons by 11:00 am.
Pre-orders will open by August 10.
Attendees are also welcome to bring their own lunches or take a break during the day to grab lunch offsite.
Clock Hours and Compensation
Clock Hours and Compensation
All certificated staff members have 7 paid technology hours to use each year. You can get paid for up to 7 tech hours for 26-27 at BLAST. You can also earn up to 8 total STEM clock hours at BLAST. Make sure to sign in to each session you attend (this will be done online!)
To get paid using your tech hours:
You will use a QR code sign in to each session at BLAST - no pink sheets required this year! Make sure you sign-in at each session; no late sign ins will be accepted this year.
The keynote and all sessions are worth 1 paid tech hour, with the exception of workshops as noted in Sched.
To earn clock hours:
Register for BLAST in Frontline.
The keynote and all sessions are worth 1 clock hour, with the exception of workshops as noted in Sched.
Note: classified staff members are welcome to attend BLAST and to earn clock hours, but no compensation is available.
Register for Sessions with Sched
Register for Sessions with Sched
Pre-registration using Sched is highly recommended for all sessions and requested for the keynote presentation.
Session sizes are capped based on feedback from previous years.
To sign up for sessions, you can sign in (and up!) below, download the Sched app (search for BLAST 2026), or go to http://blast2026.sched.com. Use your SVSD credentials to sign in.
Review session offerings and plan your schedule! Returning this year: in addition to instructor-led sessions, participants have the opportunity to sign up for up to one Process and Apply session! Take a breath and take a few minutes to digest and play around with all of the information you've learned.
Sign up! Sign up for the sessions that interest you. If a class you're interested in is full, you can add yourself to the waitlist. You'll be notified if a space becomes available.
Detailed directions for logging into and using Sched can be found here.
Parking at BLAST
Parking at BLAST
Attendees can park in the west, south, or north lots of Mount Si High School.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BLAST required?
No! BLAST is an optional event designed for certificated staff. Classified staff are welcome to attend, but we are not able to provide pay for attending.
Do BLAST sessions count for STEM clock hours?
YES! We've worked to make sure that all BLAST courses meet the OSPI requirements around STEM clock hours.
How will I earn my 7 tech hours if I am unable to attend BLAST?
There will be many additional learning opportunities throughout the school year where staff can earn hours toward tech pay. In August, we'll release a Fall Semester calendar containing ample PD options. You can also keep an eye on the SVSD Tech Hub and monthly digital learning newsletters!
Do I have to attend the whole day?
No. You can come and go as you please (just make sure to sign in for the sessions you attend to receive credit for them!)
Is there a lunch break?
We do not have an official "lunch break" at BLAST, but because the day is 8 hours long, attendees have the option of taking one session off and still earning all 7 paid tech hours. Attendees have the option to pre-order food (see above), bring their own lunch to eat at MSHS, or go somewhere else.
Do I have to pre-register for sessions?
While not required, we recommend pre-registering for sessions as we do cap the total class size based on feedback from previous years. If a session is full and you have not pre-registered, you may be asked to find a different session.
I registered for sessions, but am no longer able to attend. What should I do?
Please remove yourself from any sessions that you're no longer able to attend, so that a space opens up for anyone who might be on the waitlist. Thank you!
Have more questions?
Contact Anjuli Johnston (johnstonam@svsd410.org), Jaime Evans (evansj@svsd410.org), or Justin Talmadge (talmadgej@svsd410.org).
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