Program: Tech Forum Boston 2014

Program: Tech Forum Boston 2014

7:00 am - 8:15 am

Registration and Breakfast

8:15 am - 9:30 am

Welcome and Opening Keynote

Building Systems and Structures for Modern Learning

Diana Laufenberg

In the age of standards, we spend much time discussing the ‘what’ of classrooms and learning, but today we will look at the ‘how.’ Join Diana Laufenberg in an interactive conversation about building systems and structures of our classrooms, schools and organizations that allow us to adapt in an ever-changing learning landscape. How do we create enough structure to be effective without becoming so rigid that we can’t innovate? How do we honor the human experience and not just the efficient outcome? How do we ensure that it's the technology that serves the learning and not the other way around? This is a conversation that can change the way you think about every decision you make from a daily learning objective to the mission and vision of your institution.

9:30 am - 9:45 am

Refreshment and Networking Break

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.

The Other Two Letters in STEM: Technology and Engineering’s Role in Today’s Classrooms

Andrew Tessier and Nivedi Das, Laura Chesson, Andy Marcinek

When we talk about STEM education, the emphasis is often on math and science. But what about the learning that takes place when students are encouraged to use technology and engineering tools and skills to become real-world problem solvers and inventors? Come learn how the Maker Movement, student coding experiences, game design, robotics, and other high-tech learning experiences are converging to transform K-12 education.

1:1 and BYO Districts Tell Their Stories

Paul Sanfrancesco, Peter Sanchioni, Jon Green, John Antonuccci

As schools and districts implement 1:1 and BYOD programs they learn a great deal about the most effective approaches to teaching and learning. In this session, several district leaders will talk about their funding and evaluation models, how and why they chose the devices they are using for 1:1, and the role that BYO does or does not play in their initiatives. Come hear about their challenges, successes, and lessons learned.

Getting Ready for the Common Core Assessments

Andrew Wallace, Eric Conti and Andrea Kupps

The year is 2014, which means the PARCC and SBAC assessments are heading for your district. Are you ready? Our presenters will share advice -- based on pilot projects -- about equipment, infrastructure and staffing requirements, as well as pitfalls to avoid and ways to maximize the benefits and minimize the pain associated with the CCSS assessments.

Digital Content in a Post-Textbook World

Diana Laufenberg, Leo Brehm, and Paul Tritter

In the age of content curation, there are a wide array of tools available for collecting, analyzing and organizing content. This session will explore those geared particularly for schools and look at the process of building and managing digital content repositories to replace or supplement printed resources.

11:00 am - 11:15 am

Refreshment and Networking Break

11:15 am - 12:20 pm
Industry Spotlights & Demos
Hear from the companies that are sponsoring this event and shaping the future of educational technology.
12:30 pm - 1:40 pm

Lunch and Dessert Reception

1:45 pm - 2:40 pm

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

IDEA EXCHANGES:

  • One-to-One: The Classroom Perspective
  • Device & Tool Faceoff
  • The Flipped Classroom: What’s Working?

For a complete list of roundtable discussions, please click here.

2:45 pm - 4:00 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.

Listen to the Students

Elementary through high school students from South Burlington VT, Burlington MA, Groton-Dunstable Regional and Arlington Public Schools.

Hear from the end users – classroom students – about their favorite digital tools and the most effective and engaging ways they are using technology each and every day. Come to see what the students are excited about and what they wish their teachers would do differently when it comes to technology and learning. Leave with solid ideas to share at your school.

Building Community with Social Media

Laura Chesson, Peter DeWitt and Paul SanFrancesco

Your stakeholders are using Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. If you are not seeking and promoting interaction in these spaces, you are missing out on powerful opportunities. We can break through the isolation and change the conversation by sharing good news, inviting parents and community members in, and building widespread support. We will explore the most impactful ways to connect with your community to create transparency and build public support at the local level.

The Path to Digital Citizenship

Andy Marcinek, Julie York and Tali Horowitz

In this session, panelists will describe the concepts and skill sets necessary to prepare students for a digital and information-driven world, and the strategies they use for teaching these concepts. We will explore student privacy, up-to-date acceptable use policies that include social media, and ways to reach out to the parent community in order to educate the whole family about digital citizenship issues.

Pedagogy and Practices for Personalizing Learning

Kim Carter, John Armentrout and Heather Neil

Personalization has become a centerpiece in education redesign. But what exactly is personalization and how does it differ from individualization or differentiation? Whether online, blended, or face to face, competency-based learning requires a set of tools and practices for shifting pedagogy from teacher-centered to student-centered, with a focus on proficiency for every learner. We’ll explore best practices and resources to help teachers let go and embrace student personalization.

4:00 pm - 4:45 pm

Sponsor-Hosted Reception
Join the party! Unwind and network with colleagues and industry partners.