Program: Tech Forum Texas 2011

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Program: Tech Forum Texas 2011

8:15 am - 9:30 am

Welcome and Opening Keynote

What Matters Now?

Dean Shareski

Education today involves exploring new ideas and simultaneously wrestling with old ones, trying to make sense of it all and determine what's best for our students. Let's critically examine together stories and possibilities around teaching and learning and explore how technology is useful – and perhaps not so useful – as we move forward.

9:45 am - 11:00 am

Morning Breakout Sessions
Geared especially to administrators, IT leaders, mentor teachers and other ed tech visionaries, these concurrent sessions feature widely-acclaimed and respected speakers covering the hottest topics.

Habits and Habitats: Learning Spaces for the 21st Century

David Jakes

Emerging technologies are shaping all facets of education, but how are our spaces being designed to maximize teaching and learning? This presentation leads participants through the world of physical and digital space design for 21st Century learning and teaching. Through personal experiences and case studies, you'll leave with visionary concepts, practical ideas, and key themes for shifting a critical but often forgotten piece to the learning environment puzzle.

Project-Based Learning: What Does it Look Like Today?

Scott Floyd (moderator); Humberto Perez, Chris Fancher, and students from Pflugerville and Manor ISD

Project-based learning – the idea of building curriculum around authentic, inquiry-based projects relevant to students’ lives – might not be a new concept but it’s more relevant today than ever. PBL supported by digital technology engages students in meaningful learning experiences that require higher-level cognitive processing. Students from two districts will showcase projects they’re excited about and share tips and advice for educators interested in nurturing student engagement, learning and success.

Student-Owned Devices: Issues and Opportunities

Karen Fuller (moderator); Lenny Schad, Sean Casey and Carl Hooker

What role do student-owned devices play in your district? What role should they play? Several district technology leaders share their answers to these questions, along with advice for schools and districts considering the pros and cons of BYO technology.

Tapping into the Backchannel

Carolyn Foote and Paul Wood

What is a backchannel and what role can it play in professional development, the K-12 classroom and other aspects of school life? From Twitter to less well known tools such as CoveritLive and Todaysmeet, we'll explore the ways in which backchanneling can be used to build professional learning networks, enhance the curriculum, and keep students focused and engaged.

1:20 pm - 2:10 pm

Roundtable Discussions
These discussions, on topics suggested by attendees when you register, provide a great opportunity for you to network with fellow technology leaders.

  • Job-Embedded Staff Development (Mike Kuhrt)
  • Implementing Google Apps Districtwide (Karen Fuller and Monica Martinez)
  • Video Game Design in Schools (Laura Minnigerode)
  • Funding Strategies (John Alawneh)
  • iPads in School (Patsy Lanclos and Tammy McLain)
  • Balancing Safety and Access (Steve Young and Ed Zaiontz)
  • BYO: How and Why (or Why Not) (Sean Casey and Carl Hooker)
  • Online Communities of Practice for Professional Development (Raymond Rose)
  • Online Learning (Diane Mason)
  • Student Achievement Gains Through the Use of Technology (Karen Kahan)
  • ePortfolios for Learning and Assessment (Kay Abernath)
  • Presentation (PDF)
  • Presentation (PDF)
  • Presentation (PDF)

2:15 pm - 3:30 pm

Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Geared especially to administrators, IT leaders, mentor teachers and other ed tech visionaries, these concurrent sessions feature widely-acclaimed and respected speakers covering the hottest topics.

Developing Guidelines for Emerging Technologies

David Jakes (moderator); Dean Shareski, Carolyn Foote and Scott Floyd

Social media tools, along with handheld technologies such as smartphones and tablets, continue to push educational practice and how schools operate in a 24-7, always-on, connected digital environment. Effectively positioning your school to utilize social media, leverage student-owned technology and embrace other disruptive technologies requires a thorough understanding of the policy, guidelines, and recommendations that support such use. Join a panel of experienced administrators for a lively discussion of the issues.

Searching With and Without Google

Howie DiBlasi

Become a "Power User" of Google and other research tools. You will have a free pass to the inside workings of “Hidden Google Pages,” Google's new research commands, and numerous other little-known features of the world's largest search engine. Then step outside the Googleverse to consider alternatives. Do you know about "Wolfram Alpha" or sites like Quintura, Carrot2, or MrSapo? Discover tips and tricks for classroom and professional use of Google and its alternatives.

Learning on the Go

Anna Adam and Helen Mowers

Harness the power of mobile devices for learning, teaching, and leading. Discover a multitude of apps for iPods, iPhones, and iPads and explore innovative ways to use them both in and out of the classroom. Learn engaging ways to use QR codes to rev up both the classroom and professional development like never before!

Project Share

Lannon Heflin (moderator); Juan Orozco, Kerry Ballast and Becky Cook

With TEA’s Project Share expanding this year from a professional development environment to one that can be used, for free, by students throughout the state, we invite you to a discussion of what’s possible with this rich online platform. Come learn about Project Share’s tools for creating online classes, ePortfolios, collaborative learning communities and more.

Tech & Learning