Let's Go Minnesota Summer Institute
Let's Go Minnesota Summer Institute
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Get more details about sessions, presenters, and more here!
8:00-8:30 Breakfast and Registration
8:00-8:30 Breakfast and Registration
8:30-8:45 Welcome - Saint Paul Public Schools and Let's Go Minnesota
8:30-8:45 Welcome - Saint Paul Public Schools and Let's Go Minnesota
8:45-9:45 Keynote: Dave Blanchard
8:45-9:45 Keynote: Dave Blanchard
10:00-10:45 Session 1
11:00-11:45 Session 2
11:45 - 12:30 Lunch
12:45 - 1:30 Session 3
1:45 -2:30 Session 4
2:30 - 3:00 Closing and Prizes
Keynote: AI can produce the answer. But who is building the learner?
Keynote: AI can produce the answer. But who is building the learner?
AI can generate polished answers, explanations, and products in seconds. But the most important question is not what the technology can produce - it is what kind of learner the experience is designed to build.
This keynote explores how educators can design learning experiences that strengthen knowledge, judgment, connection, agency, and intellectual independence. Rather than beginning with where AI fits into a lesson, we will begin with what learners must notice, practice, question, create, explain, and eventually do for themselves. Together, we will examine how AI can expand access, feedback, and possibility while preserving the intellectual friction through which deeper learning develops.
The future of learning will not be determined by how quickly students reach an answer, but by whether our learning environments help them become more capable, connected, and discerning along the way.
Session 1 Choices
Session 1 Choices
Seesaw AI: Smarter Tools for Elementary Classrooms - Taylor Zweber, Seesaw
Seesaw AI is purpose-built for elementary classrooms to tackle real challenges and boost student success. Our AI tools support teachers in creating meaningful learning experiences that connect with every student and lay the foundation for lifelong learning. Discover how to save time on assignments, assessments, and communication so you can focus on what matters most: your students.
Audience: Elementary/Seesaw Users Skill: Any
Automate it with the Shortcuts App - Jason Molesky, Apple
Discover how the Shortcuts app can save you time and eliminate repetitive tasks. In this hands-on session, participants will build their own custom automations—from QR generators to task buttons to automating routines—and leave with ready-to-use shortcuts they can implement immediately.
Audience: Any Skill: Intermediate
Learning Before Answers: Designing AI-Supported Experiences That Build Skills, Thinking, and Independence - Dave Blanchard, St. Cloud State University
AI can generate a lesson plan quickly, but strong planning requires reflection, context, and professional judgment. In this hands-on session, educators will build a personalized AI thought partner designed to ask better questions, challenge assumptions, and strengthen lesson design. Participants will shape their agent around standards alignment, deeper learning, accessibility, divergent learner needs, student agency, and the specific communities they serve. They will leave with a reusable planning partner and a clearer process for using AI to improve decisions rather than simply speed up production.
Audience: Any Skill: Any
Absolute Cinema: Reflection Reimagined - Andy Leiser, Farmington Public Schools
Great teaching happens quickly and documenting it should keep up with your pace. If you are tired of typing long reflections or sending plain text emails, it is time for a visual upgrade. With an iPad in hand, you have a portable production studio ready to capture fresh perspectives from around your room. In this hands-on session, we will gather quick video clips and hand them off to Magic Movie for instant editing. Add a brief voiceover, and you have a clear, professional window into your learning space.
You can use these mini-movies for your own lesson reflections, or to build classroom hype by celebrating student wins. They work brilliantly as sleek recaps for administrative walkthroughs, quick updates for families, or sharing creative ideas with your team. Best of all, this flexible workflow will not eat up your prep period. You will leave ready to create and share high-quality videos in moments, showing that your classroom is “absolute cinema.”
Audience: Any Skill: Any
Session 2 Choices
Session 2 Choices
Schoology's PowerBuddy AI for Learning - Ericka Waterman, Schoology
Schoology customers can now explore the benefit of PowerBuddy for Learning by opting in to AI features included in Schoology. PowerBuddy for Learning is the personal assistant for teaching and learning. PowerBuddy makes educators’ lives easier by helping them easily create high-quality assignments and instructional content. Students benefit from an always-available personalized assistant to support them in the way they choose to learn.
Audience: Any Skill: Any
Multi-Faceted Gems: Shaping Custom AI for Everyday Needs - Andy Leiser, Farmington Public Schools
Stop re-typing your favorite prompts every single day. In this hands-on session, we will explore Gemini Gems. These are custom AI assistants designed to keep your most frequent frameworks, rubrics, and workflows right at your fingertips.
Just like polishing a rough stone into a brilliant jewel, Gems are meant to be honed over time so that they can really shine. You will learn how to build, test, and tweak your custom assistants so they deliver sharper, more brilliant results with every single use. Beyond individual productivity, we will cover how to share your best Gems with colleagues, remix existing Gems created by others, and unlock educational efficiencies we could only have dreamed about in the past.
The beauty and brilliance of Gems is unlimited, and because they live in the cloud, you can access your customized AI tools anytime, from any device.
Session Requirements: This session will utilize Google Gemini Gems. Please check that your district has Gemini turned on for staff accounts. A Google account is required to participate. A school-provided Google account is preferred, but you may use a personal Google account if necessary.
Audience: Any Skill: Intermediate/Advanced
iPad Essentials: Mastering Tools to Use Every Day - Jason Molesky, Apple
Whether you're new to iPad or looking to sharpen your skills, this session covers the core features, gestures, and built-in tools every educator should know. Participants will get hands-on practice with multitasking, organization, and accessibility features that make everyday teaching more efficient.
Audience: Any Skill: Beginner
Technology with Intention - Kathryn Klug, St. Cloud Area Schools
As concerns over screen time in education continue to grow, it is time to shift our focus from 'how much' technology we use to 'how' we use it. "Technology with Intention" explores how educators can move beyond using technology as a "digital workspace," to using technology as an intentional way to get students thinking. When learning is designed with intention, technology is used with intention.
Audience: General Education/Classroom Skill: Beginner
Session 3 Choices
Session 3 Choices
Plan With Pushback: Building an AI Thought Partner for More Responsive Lesson Design - Dave Blanchard, St. Cloud State University
AI can generate a lesson plan quickly, but strong planning requires reflection, context, and professional judgment. In this hands-on session, educators will build a personalized AI thought partner designed to ask better questions, challenge assumptions, and strengthen lesson design. Participants will shape their agent around standards alignment, deeper learning, accessibility, divergent learner needs, student agency, and the specific communities they serve. They will leave with a reusable planning partner and a clearer process for using AI to improve decisions rather than simply speed up production.
Audience: Any Skill: Any
Apple Intelligence for Mac - Jason Molesky, Apple
Explore how Apple Intelligence and on-device AI transforms everyday Mac tasks—from writing support and summarization to image tools and smart search. In this interactive session, educators will experiment with these built-in AI features on Mac and discover practical ways to streamline lesson planning, communication, and feedback.
Audience: Any Skill: Intermediate/Advanced
Scaling Apple Vision Pro and Global Partnerships to Transform the Student Experience - Bethany Nugent, School District of LaCrosse
What if innovation started with, “What's the best that could happen?” For the School District of La Crosse, this meant pioneering the world's first large-scale 8-12 launch of Apple Vision Pro.
Attendees will learn from a first-hand experience how to create a strategic framework for scaling emerging technology, including managing personal devices in a shared-cart environment, and establishing international developer partnerships to build engaging student experiences.
This session will also highlight how spatial computing can foster global empathy and accessibility, learning how to empower students to share their unique stories and "travel" the world. We'll talk about how speaking your crazy ideas into the world can lead to a world of innovation.
Audience: Any Skill: Any
Canva for the Classroom - Ali Flaata, South Washington County Schools
Take your Canva skills up a notch! Learn how to use Canva with students to increase creativity and student engagement.
Audience: Any Skill: Intermediate
Session 4 Choices
Session 4 Choices
Experiencing AI and CS: AI literacy and foundational computer science: - Andrea Wilson Vasquez, Raspberry Pi
What foundational computing skills and concepts do students need to understand in order to develop AI literacy? This session introduces the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s Experience CS program - which supports educators in teaching foundational computer science - and Experience AI program - which supports educators in teaching artificial intelligence and machine learning. Both resources are free, classroom-ready, and require no prior knowledge.
Participants will examine how core CS and AI concepts are taught in engaging, accessible ways, while examining the connection between foundational computing concepts and AI literacy.
Leaders will leave with practical and concrete next steps for implementing and scaling computer science and AI education across classrooms, schools, and districts; using high-quality resources that are freely available to all.
Audience: General Education/Classroom Skill: Intermediate
Exploring Machine Learning on iPad - Jason Molesky, Apple
Step into the world of on-device machine learning with hands-on iPad activities. Participants will explore built-in ML for vision, language, and creativity, and discover kid-friendly ways to introduce students to AI concepts through everyday iPad tools.
Audience: Anyone Skill: Beginner
Policy and Practice: Panel on AI - Donna Roper, St. Cloud Area Schools; Amanda Otero, ISD 196 Rosemount, Apple Valley, Eagan; Dave Blanchard, St. Cloud State University; Amber Sorenson, South Washington County Schools
This panel brings together K-12 educational leaders and higher educational professionals to explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence in practice. Attendees will gain practical insights into integrating AI tools, addressing ethical considerations, and preparing both students and educators for an AI-driven future.
Audience: Any Skill: Any
About Our Presenters
About Our Presenters
Dave Blanchard
Dave Blanchard
Dr. Dave Blanchard is a learning architect, educational strategist, and Director of Online and Distance Learning at St. Cloud State University. His work sits at the intersection of AI, accessibility, and institutional transformation, helping bridge academic vision, technology, and governance to build human-centered learning ecosystems. Dave is passionate about bringing people together, translating complex ideas into meaningful action, and preparing education for what’s next.
Ali Flaata
Ali Flaata
Ali is aTechnology Integration Coordinator with South Washington County Schools.
Kate Klug
Kate Klug
Kate is the Innovation Coordinator in St. Cloud Area School District. Prior to moving into Technology and Innovation she taught preschool for 5 years and middle school science for 5 years. Kate is passionate about innovation in education.
Andy Leiser
Andy Leiser
Andy Leiser serves as the Instructional Technology Coordinator at Farmington Area Public Schools, where he specializes in using Mac, iPad, and AI tools to inspire student creation, media literacy, and curiosity-driven learning. A proponent of proactive digital leadership, Andy places intentional, responsible tech use at the heart of everything he does.
On a personal note, Andy is a string bassist and baritone. He’s a proud dad of two, a double-dog dad, and married to the best teacher ever—which means he's always learning and striving to be better.
Bethany Nugent
Bethany Nugent
Bethany is an energetic educator and K-12 Technology Integration Specialist for the School District of La Crosse, supporting over 6,000 students and 600 teachers. With a background in graphic design and experience teaching art across all grade levels, she specializes in merging creativity with classroom technology, including co-leading the world's first large-scale launch of Apple Vision Pro in 8-12 education.
Andrea Wilson-Vazquez
Andrea Wilson-Vazquez
Andrea works as a Senior Learning Manager on the North America team with Rasperry Pi working on Experience CS. When she's not working, you can find her with her family exploring one of the many Minnesota state parks or lakes, engaging in a variety of creative and DIY projects, and discovering the tastiest local burger and wing spots.
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