Create SPARKs: Student Participating and Really Knowing A,T
Tracie Gones

How do you get students excited about learning while making it personal and real? Learn how to use the internet, blogs, a SMART Board, and other multimedia tools to create SPARKs in your class by enhancing the lessons you already teach! Be prepared to share your own ideas and you will leave with a wealth of new ideas to try as soon as you get back to school.

You Mean I Am Supposed to Teach Science, Too? T
Diana Dell, Vince Szewezyk

With the push to meet AYP in communication arts and math, many teachers have been forced to skimp on science instruction. Attend this session to discover online science tools and resources, aligned with the GLEs, to help prepare students for the expanded 2008 Science MAP testing. A laptop would be beneficial in this session, but not necessary.

DOK - Developing Opportunities for Knowledge by Integrating Technology into Classroom Instruction A
Carol Kliesen

Participants will see how to use clips from educational movies/media as a tool for engaging students in learning. A description of Norman Webb's Depth of Knowledge will be provided, along with how this information can be used to focus questions and activities to go along with the video clips.

Understanding By Design; Where Does Technology Fit? S
Tom Swoboda, Jennifer Sisul & Peggy Wald

What is the Understanding By Design model (UBD)? Where does technology fit in this model? This presentation will get you up to speed on UBD and give examples of how and where technology integration occur in the planning and instruction.

Capture the Student's Voice A,T,S
Jenny Robins

StoneSoup is a free, digital, portfolio system that uses customizable, Internet forms to collect short student writing assignments. StoneSoup has separate interfaces for administrators, teachers, and students, helping teachers individualize instruction and track performance. Attendees will be introduced to the system, work with it in the roles of teacher and student, and discuss ways to use it in their classrooms.

Using QuizStar to Give Formative Quizzes Online A,S
Doug Adams

This session will demonstrate the features of QuizStar, a Web-based free tool that allows teachers to create online formative quizzes. Items can be true/false, multiple choice, or short answer, and can include images, sounds, and movies. Students take the quiz anywhere, using a Web browser. The teacher can receive reports on the performance of each student, including item analyses and histograms.

Using GIS and Digital Cameras to Teach Science A,T
Jeanette Hencken, Cici Faucher

Join us to learn about using GIS and digital photography in courses to motivate student learning. In our classes, we teach five different science courses where we use digital images to help our students learn. We also use digital images and GIS for mapping images.

Book Backdrops: Bringing Historical Fiction to Life with Primary Sources A
Gail Petri

Enrich students' reading experiences! Increase their historical understanding! Spark their curiosity! Develop their research skills! Discover the wealth of primary source materials available online at the Library of Congress and create curriculum connections that will make history come alive in your classroom.

Internet Tools and Resources for Math T
Diana Dell, Vince Szewczyk

Explore all of the best K-6 math tools the web has to offer! From basic addition to geometry and fractions, from virtual manipulates to interactive games, from online calculators and converters to graphing tools. You will leave this session with resources for every math topic you teach. A laptop would be beneficial in this session, but not necessary.

Podcasting with Purpose - 25 Models to Energize Research & Learning A
Dan Schmit

See 25 podcasting activities designed to engage your students in deep thinking, better writing, and authentic learning. The session will provide important background material and concrete examples of quality podcasting activities. We will move the discussion about podcasting forward into the curricular realm to consider the strengths and opportunties that it can bring to teaching and learning.

Technologies That Are Changing Education A
Dan Schmit

Looking for some new tools to ramp up the learning environment in your classroom? We'll take a look at a number of free and low cost software applications that allow your students to get creative and constructive with technology by building virtual worlds, producing videos, writing collaboratively, and much more.

Hidden Treasures and Tools - Using Microsoft Office in the Classroom T
Gail Lovely

Use the tools built into Word, PowerPoint, and Excel to create learning materials or to provide learning opportunities to students…remember the things you forgot Word can do, and learn new ways to use PowerPoint and Excel to your advantage.

The Three E's of IWBs (Interactive White Boards) Educate, Empower and Engage
 A
Jennifer Johnson

"If I don't learn the way you teach, why don't you teach the way I learn!"  Come and explore a truly interactive educational environment where teaching is far from ordinary and learning is exciting and fun. We will be using a Promethean interactive white board to explore a variety of ways to effectively integrate technology throughout the curriculum.

Supplement Your Textbooks with Digital Tools to Increase Comprehension A,T
Christine Tomasino

Are students having trouble comprehending your classroom textbook? As instructional leaders, we are always looking for alternate texts for students. This session will identify some Internet sources for finding new texts to use in learning and strategies for annotating or marking them up to help increase student comprehension. Great ideas for helping struggling readers!

Integrate Free, Web-based Writing Tools A
Amber Rowland

PersuadeStar, ThinkTank and NoteStar are FREE online writing tools that assist teachers and students in grades 5-12 with the writing process. Outlining, note taking, and authoring expository and persuasive essays with teacher and peer support is now paperless! Participants will leave this session with examples and strategies for implementation.

Applying Higher Order Thinking Skills to Student Assessment Devices A,T
Scott Caulfield

Within the context of a digital lesson using an interactive whiteboard and voting system, come see how formative assessment can be used effectively in the classroom environment. Using Promethean’s Activstudio software along with the Activboard and Activotes, teachers can bring voting beyond the standard summative assessment questioning strategies and improve student achievement and while promoting higher order thinking.

Engaging Students: Let the Games Begin!!
Zach Lancaster

Electrify your students with interactive games customized to your curriculum! Learn how to create several different games in a matter of minutes that will make learning any subject an interactive experience. Let the games begin!

SMART Board Instructional Activities Using SMART Notebook
Stephanie Wyatt

Did you know that SMARTboard software is FREE? You don’t need to have a SMARTboard in your classroom in order to plan ahead and develop great lessons to use with the SMART interactive whiteboard and digital projector. Using SMART Notebook and online resources and templates, a teacher who has used this resource by planning ahead and scheduling in lab time for access to a shared SMARTboard will highlight some lesson planning strategies to make your instruction really SMART!

Integrating Technology Tools into the Music Classroom A
Rhonda Fischer

Teach a musical concept differently by integrating a variety of technology/media tools from SMART Board programs, available free software downloads, keyboards, computers and videotaping to just tape recorders and scoring guides. These lessons will assist those students that need hands-on and/or visual stimulants for better learning, as well as those students who want to expand their talents beyond the expected.

Technology Infused History Classrooms A
Scott Small, Leslie McIntire, Colleen Gildea, Matt Hizenbaugh, Elizabeth Helfant

Online Portfolios, Social Networks, and Electronic Museums! Find out how MICDS history classrooms have transformed to make learning collaborative, networked and transparent. Students and teachers use a variety of tools including xTimelines, Ning, Squarespace, and Google's entire suite of applications to explore history in an increasingly performance based environment.

Put Three Favorite Lessons Using TI Technology S
Wendy Freebersyser, Matt Alonzo, Julie Parks

Three high school math teachers will present a favorite lesson using Texas Instruments' newest technologies. The presenters will demonstrate how to get all students actively engaged in daily classroom activities, collect and use class generated data, assess students learning instantly and create a free tutor at home including live video and sound on the World Wide Web!

What’s New in Promethean Activstudio Version 3.0 A,T
Cornelius Green & George Stith

Student Technology Leadership Program: How Students Can Lead a School to 21st Century Learning A
Anthony Chivetta, Elizabeth Helfant

Hear how MICDS' Student Technology Group operates to help other students use technology more effectively. It encourages the use of web-based tools in learning, making suggestions about applications students might use to help them study and learn and it serves as a basic help desk for students having trouble with either hardware or software. This student group managed a school server that supported blogs and wikis and maintained support documentation for students and teachers.

Electrify Your Classroom with ELMO T
Colin Davitt

Come learn how to transform your classroom with this innovative tool. The ELMO is a revolutionary document camera that allows you to visually project anything onto a screen, chalkboard or TV. It is a modern day overhead on steroids! See how this visual device will enrich your classroom and engage your students like never before. You will experience modeling which will enable you to easily implement this high tech gizmo in your own educational setting.

The Paperless Classroom A
William Bass

In the paperless classroom students submit all of their work electronically via email and Moodle submissions. There is no exchange of papers between student and teacher and feedback is given through in text comments and email. Students are engaged in their work and become self-directed learners. Learn how to make your classroom paper free!

Making Learning Transparent A
Katie Voss, Elizabeth Helfant

Many tools are currently available, likeDyKnow, that enable educators to collaborate and share work with students either collectively or individually. These tools can serve as powerful windows into the way students learn and approach problems. DyKnow's replay panel allows teachers to see the steps students used and the mistakes they made when they solved a problem. DyKnow also allows for instant feedback either as a specific answer to a content question or as a general "do you understand?" prompt. Shared wikis, Google docs, and Google notebooks allow teachers to interact with students outside the classroom and allow teachers to see how the project is developing. Librarians and technology coordinators can view projects in progress and make suggestions about the appropriate resources and tools to utilize to create the best product and best learning experience.

From Audio Files to Podcasting: Some Practical Examples A
Bill Bass, Eve Diehl, Christian Goodrich, Drew McAllister

Drawing from examples in the classroom, this presentation will focus on implementing a digital audio project in place of a typical research paper or poster. Presenters will address relevant issues surrounding implementation, including unit design, using Audacity software, library resources, fair use, publishing on the web, and taking audio to the next level with RSS feeds.

TINspire: HS Math Teacher Inspires & Engages Students Using TI Calculators T
Wendy Freebersyser

Experience hands on data collection, interactive graph manipulation with dynamic equations and a transformation of thinking about teaching mathematics using Texas Instrument's newest and exciting from TI. A full integration of Word, Excel, Geometer's Sketchpad, Fathom and MathType with the added "wi" like interactivity for a few dollars more than using a TI-84 Plus or a TI-89. Come be Nspired! This technology engages your students, expands your curriculum and turns your classroom into a discovery lab environment. No experience necessary to participate in this hands on experience.

Teachers, Keep Your Computers Clean T
Luke Allen

“My computer’s not running like it used to.” How often have you said this? This session is for teachers and will demonstrate simple maintenance procedures for keeping your hard drive and registry clutter (whatever that is!) to a minimum, removing junk files, eliminating that horrid spyware and adware and streamlining the start-up sequence. After implementing these tips, you’ll say “wow, my computer boots up faster!”

Teleporting to the Past with Present-Day Technology A
Susan Petroff, Amy Johnson

How can technology resources link the present to the past by using primary source documents? Learn how to integrate primary source documents into multimedia projects that can be implemented right away. Keep history, science, math, and literacy alive for students through touching the past.

Senteo - Not Your Parent's Response System A
Christopher Klein

Come get a closer look at the new student response system that is changing the way clickers are being used in the classroom. The new Senteo Student Response System is the latest addition to the classroom productivity suite of products from SMART Technologies.

Literal Links - Great Online Activities, Tools and Resources for Improving Literacy
Gail Lovely

Explore a variety of websites that will help teachers motivate and educate students in writing, reading, spelling and more of the Language Arts areas. We will also explore places where teachers can find numerous resources on children’s books and literature. Participants will learn about technology-rich projects that will integrate reading and writing skills.

What's New From SMART Technologies
Christopher Klein

A look at the new offerings in both hardware and software from the industry-leading interactive whiteboard company, SMART Technologies. Come see what's new and stay ahead of the curve with new technologies instead of being left behind.

Science and Technology: A Natural Partnership T
Ladd Skelly

Discover ways for integrating technology into the science classroom including topic research, online tools, working with experts, and collaborative projects. Participants will gain the confidence and skills to integrate such learning technologies in the science curriculum. The session will include an overview of an Internet-based activity or project that promotes collaboration and technology integration.

Web Resources for the Elementary Math Classroom A
Peter Larson

Learn a large variety of math websites that can be used for instruction or extra practice for students, both at school and home. There are also sites for assisting teachers in planning their math instruction. A brief overview of the sites will be given along with advice on how to best use them.

SmartBoard, Computers, & Mathematics A
Mary Jude Schmitz

See how one math teacher integrates computers (both in and out of the classroom), projectors, and Smart Boards in her mathematics classroom. Learn how the SMART Board, websites, message boards, chat rooms and other interactive computer activities can be used in mathematics instruction to enhance teaching and student learning.

SMART Board in the English Classroom T
Barbara Wachal, Dr. Nancy Linzy

Learn the SMART Board basic skills and see how it can be integrated into the English classroom to enhance instruction and student learning.

E-Passport Project A
Kendra Reif

At Villa Duchesne, grade seven geography students create a year-long digital portfolio. Using tablet pcs, a digital camera and scanner, and a variety of applications, students incorporate artifacts into an "E-Passport," and reflect on their learning throughout the year. In this presentation, teacher and student will share their experiences using technology to empower student learning.

An Easy Way to Use Technology to Create Student-Oriented Projects T
Elizabeth Blanton

See an easy website for webquests. Teachers learn to create individual webquests or how to select existing webquests that compliment their subject. The presenter will demonstrate her WebQuests which result in student PowerPoints. These webquests integrate technology with student exploration followed with student presentation. See web-based means of assessment and other free web-based activities.

Curing Your Student Email Headaches A
Mark Elder

Explore facets of utilizing safe student email and learn about implementing and managing this powerful communication tool into your school. Hear about liability issues schools face and leave with new insights to safety and compliancy issues. Learn how this evolving technology CAN be easily, and safely, integrated into your curriculum.

You Mean I Am Supposed to Teach Science, Too? T
Diana Dell & Vince Szewczyk

With the push to meet AYP in communication arts and math, many teachers have been forced to skimp on science instruction. Attend this session to discover online science tools and resources, aligned with the GLEs, to help prepare students for the expanded 2008 Science MAP testing. A laptop would be beneficial in this session, but not necessary.

Writer's Workbench - Track Writing Improvement While Guiding Your Students to Become Better Writers A,T,S
Diane Tinucci & Greg Oij

Attendees will discover how Writer's Workbench will help make their students better writers. They will walk away with a mechanism for tracking writing improvement through a new, instructional writing assessment module. Attendees will hear, first hand, how Writer's Workbench has helped in teaching writing skills at Lafayette High School.

Web Sites Within Minutes T
Doug Lyons

WebBlender is an exciting new Web authoring tool which includes podcasting. Modern communication via the internet is how we get and provide information. Learn how to create rich web sites with text, graphics, and sound to share school reports, field trips, photo galleries, hobbies, and much more. You will discover that WebBlender truly is the fastest way from your mind to the web!

From Chalkboards to ACTIVboards: Transforming Teaching and Learning A,T
Allisa Parrish, Kerry Arens

Are you bored with the same old PowerPoint presentations? Do you wish learning could be more hands-on for your students without being a ton more work for you? Are you looking for a way to intrigue your students, energize your teaching, and simplify formative assessments? Well, look no further. You'll leave this presentation with the knowledge of how to create flipcharts, annotate over websites and other documents, and generate simple formative assessments.