Fall Ed Tech Conference - Younes Conference Center - Kearney

Conference Registration is Now Closed!!

The Nebraska Council of School Administrators and Nebraska Educational Technology Association are excited to announce a new Educational Technology Conference, October 2nd and 3rd at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney.  While we realize that your staff development calendar for 2013-14 is probably already set, this would still be a great opportunity to send a teacher or administrative team from your district or perhaps a professional learning community team who have not had the opportunity to attend the Annual NETA Conference in April.

Schedule at a Glance

Wednesday, October 2nd

1:00 pm to 5:00 pm - Preconference Sessions
Google Collaboration
Tips, tricks, tools and guidelines to use as a starting point to getting your students, faculty, and staff ready and excited about Google Apps for Education. With an overview of top used web apps to a break out for administrators and teachers. Administrators will work on change management, policies, productivity, collaboration and training and support options. Teachers will dive into devices, collaboration, administration, digital citizenship, search and discovery, and more options in Google Apps.

iBook for Creating Course Content
iBook author is a free application that allows users to create an interactive book that can be used on an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. Video, audio, slide shows and other interactive media will be added to the sample book created in this workshop.  If you have always wanted to create your own iBook but didn't know where to start, this is the session for you.  Participants will need to come with iBook author loaded on their computer and will want to bring their iPad and synch cord for previewing and viewing their created book.

Social Media Bootcamp
Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Path, YouTube, LinkedIn, Slideshare, Blogger.  The list of social media sites could go on forever.  In this session Craig Badura, pK-12 Integration Specialist for Aurora Public Schools, and Laura Kroll, Elementary Principal for Exeter-Milligan Elementary, will discuss how social media is revolutionizing the education field.  Craig has a passion for digital citizenship and will be sharing his knowledge and expertise on the dos and don’ts of social media and the importance of leaving a positive digital footprint.  Laura Kroll is one of the co-founders of #nebEDchat and will be sharing her experiences with making connections through social media and the importance of becoming a connected educator. Participants will need to come prepared with a device and a little enthusiasm. This will not be a sit and get session. You will be creating a Twitter account which will help you begin the exciting journey of creating your own PLN and becoming an informed, responsible, connected educator.

6:00 pm - Dinner (included in your registration)
7:00 pm - “Leading in a Learner-Centered Learning Environment”
Keynote Speaker: Patrick Larkin
This session will answer the following questions:  1. What is social learning and why is it more important today than ever before?  2. How can increased technological connectivity expand, change or improve student learning?   3. Is connectivity expanding our concept of who is a literate or educated person today? In answering these important questions we will look at some well articulated standards that can assist in the implementation of these digital tools. Discussion will focus on getting community support, professional development, and concrete examples of how this shift is necessary to best prepare our students for their future. Schools need to find ways to use technology in the classroom without the unneeded restrictions due to fear and uncertainty. In this session, Andy will share the good, the bad, and the ugly of "letting kids drive" the technology at Andrew CSD. Andy will also share his vision and thoughts of where technology is taking his district and your district whether you like it or not. Buckle up and let's start moving forward!

Thursday, October 3rd

7:00 am - Exhibits Open/Registration
8:00 am - Select-a-Session I
8:45 am - Break
9:15 am - Select-a-Session II
10:00 am - Break
10:15 am - Select-a-Session III
11:15 pm - Lunch
1:00 pm - Select-a-Session IV
1:45 pm - Break
2:00 pm - Select-a-Session V
2:45 pm - Break
3:00 pm - Select-a-Session VI

Free Apple Leadership and Learning Event (Independent of the conference)

For more information and registration see: https://edseminars.apple.com/event/9xUb3-mAu54