8:55 AM Opening Remarks

9:00 AM “Teach-nology” Exploring the Use of New Technologies in the Classroom to Improve Excellence in Learning

Emerging learning technologies are the new students in class particularly the tablet; as new technologies emerge, faculty often lack a mechanism that would allow them to assess a technology’s educational potential and make an investment in it’s use. Come learn about the new trends in technology, the integration of these into your learning and teaching strategies, and how these novel tools can propel your school to the next level of excellence in learning. The session will offer participants specific, practical ideas for activities that leverage the iPad’s strengths to improve student learning and hear from our expert speakers on their faculty lending program. Takeaway these key considerations:

• Discover the latest technologies for your classroom and plan a pedagogically-sound strategy for the use of classroom technologies.
• Learn how to implement new tools and techniques into your existing learning and teaching methods for a streamlined and convenient transition.
• Assess the advantages and disadvantages of using the iPad in the classroom in order to develop practices that maximize its educational potential.

9:45 AM Receive Buy-in from Faculty and Administration for Learning Technologies

Incorporating new technologies into pre-existing learning strategies is often times met with hesitation; schools and institutions need to be able to communicate to their students, faculty, and administration the logistics of these new tools as well as the benefits that they can produce. Educators and administration must be able to align these new technologies with their institution’s goals in an affordable way. In this session you will learn:

• Strategies to educate students, faculty, and administration about the new technologies available and how they will benefit your school or institution.
• How to receive buy-in to integrate new tools into your classroom.
• Budgeting techniques to allocate funds to integrating new technologies and transforming your classroom in a cost-effective way.

Ryan Bretag
Coordinator of Instructional Technology
Glenbrook North High School

11:15 AM Is Your Learning Technology Use Receiving an A+? Measuring its Success

You have transitioned your classroom to be tech-friendly, how do you measure the success of learning technologies with student performance, engagement, and ease of use? What are the ways in which faculty can determine if these new tools have actually improved learning; in this session, learn from our expert leader:

• The various ways to measure the success of learning technologies and confirm that there is a positive impact.
• Changes that can be made to improve your learning technology initiatives.

Max McGee
President
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

12:00 PM “Teacher’s Lounge”

Open discussion about the role of teachers in a technology world; this Q & A session will allow you to ask freely your pressing questions and concerns about this changing education system. How do you adapt to new teaching techniques and familiarize yourself with the new technology, how do you overcome the road bumps that arise with novel tools, and how do you transition your classroom?

• Engage with your colleagues and peers about the trials and tribulations relating to learning technologies.
• Brainstorm techniques for a smoother transformation into learning tools.
• Learn best practices from other instructors.

Dr. Susan Farber
The Association for Educational Communications and Technology

1:45 PM Morning Session Wrap-Up, Transition to Master Classes

2:00 PMMASTER CLASS: Technology Forum: Hands on Experience

Technology in the classroom has been ever-evolving to become a major player in the way students learn and instructors teach. With emerging technologies and learning platforms the possibilities for technology in education are endless; nonetheless, new challenges arise and obstacles need to be surmounted. In this master class you will be exposed to and able to interact with the latest in learning technologies and learn from our experts in elementary, middle, high school, and higher education technology:

• Learn what the novel technologies are within education from iPads, to digital textbooks, and discover where, when, and how to use these new tools.
• Make your learning environment a tech-friendly space and learn about infrastructure compatibilities as well as equity and accessibility.

Panel Facilitated by:

Ray Rose
Assistant Professor of Instructional Technology, Coordinator of IT/Distance
Houston-Tillotson University

4:00 PMMASTER CLASS: The Changing Role of Teaching: New Learning Platforms for the Classroom

The platforms from which to teach are just as important as the technology used to instruct. The internet, social media, and cell phones are becoming more prominent in the classroom; how do you incorporate these into your lesson plans, and establish guidelines for safe use? Join our panel discussion and learn about the unique and innovative ways for learning; hear about a blended learning game design program as well as an online classroom system. From this master class you will hear from our expert speakers and learn:

• How Web 2.0 tools can be utilized to increase collaboration and learning.
• How game design allows for both content mastery and creativity and how to assess its success by showing an improvement in student learning.
• The basics of one-to-one learning and how you can create a roadmap to implement this strategy into your education system.

Panel Facilitated by: