Future Ready Schools is a free, bold effort to maximize digital learning opportunities and help school districts move quickly toward preparing students for success in college, a career, and citizenship. The effort provides districts with resources and support to ensure that local technology and digital learning plans align with instructional best practices, are implemented by highly trained teachers, and lead to personalized learning experiences for all students, particularly those from traditionally under-served communities.

The Alliance for Excellent Education and the U.S. Department of Education are leading this effort with the support of the over 50 organizations.

Future Ready Schools Overview
Future Ready Schools is a free, bold effort to maximize digital learning opportunities and help school districts move quickly toward preparing students for success in college, a career, and citizenship. This effort comes at a critical time as districts embrace college and career readiness as the goal for all students and recognize the potential of digital tools to help teachers personalize learning for each student. While less than 30 percent of U.S. schools have the bandwidth they need to teach using today’s technology, federal and state efforts are expanding this capacity to ensure that at least 99 percent of the nation’s students have access to high-speed internet in their schools within the next five years. Such connectivity, along with strategic planning by districts to maximize its availability, has the potential to transform the educational experiences of all students, regardless of their background.

District leaders must respond to these changes with thoughtful planning to align necessary technologies with instructional goals to support teaching and learning. The effort provides districts with resources and support to ensure that local technology and digital learning plans align with instructional best practices, are implemented by highly trained teachers, and lead to personalized learning experiences for all students, particularly those from traditionally under-served communities. The Alliance for Excellent Education and the U.S. Department of Education are leading this effort alongside a vast coalition of national organizations. Future Ready Schools can be found at www.futurereadyschools.org. Districts can download the Future Ready Schools fact sheet here.

Future Ready Schools Pledge
The Future Ready District Pledge, according to the U.S. Department of Education, is designed to set out a roadmap to achieve transformation success and to commit districts to move as quickly as possible towards a shared vision of preparing students for success in college, careers and citizenship. As of November 2015, approximately 2,000 school superintendents have signed the Pledge. To see what Superintendents have signed the pledge in our state, click here.

In an effort to support superintendents and district leadership teams and to fulfill the Future Ready District Pledge—and determine their readiness to do so—The Alliance for Excellent Education has developed both the Future Ready Schools Framework and Future Ready Schools Interactive Planning Dashboard. The Future Ready Framework provides the roadmap for a successful digital transformation. With student learning at the center, a district must align each of the seven (7) key categories, called gears, plus leadership, in order to implement and sustain successful digital learning.

The 7 Gears of the Future Ready Schools Framework are as follows:

• Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
• Personalized Professional Learning
• Robust Infrastructure
• Data and Privacy
• Community Partnerships
• Budget and Resources
• Use of Space and Time

Future Ready Librarians
Future Ready Librarians is an expansion of the Future Ready initiative aimed at raising awareness among district and school leaders about the valuable role librarians can play in supporting the Future Ready goals of their school and district. Two guiding questions are central to Future Ready Librarians.

• How can librarians and libraries support Future Ready schools?
• How can librarians and libraries become more Future Ready?

Future Ready Librarians will provide resources, strategies and connections for district leaders and librarians to be able to work together to promote and implement innovative learning opportunities for students.

The Future Ready Schools Interactive Planning Dashboard is a free, online tool to help district leadership teams plan systemically to use technology effectively to engage students, empower teachers, and improve learning outcomes. Through the dashboard, district leaders assess their digital readiness levels, identify gaps, obtain strategies, action plan and track their progress over time. Districts can download more information about the Dashboard, here.

Source: futurereadyschools.org. For questions, email Sara Hall at shall@all4ed.org.

Future Ready Schools® TED Talk
In this video, Vancouver Public Schools (WA) shares stages of development of a teacher leader program designed to encourage the building of leadership capacity in teachers. The video includes advice for district leaders as they consider the changing role of teachers in the classroom as leaders in the digital transformation.

Future Ready Schools® (FRS) has announced a series of free regional events to support educators who are planning to implement personalizing learning strategies for their students. This student-centered approach tailors instruction to students’ strengths and needs while engaging them in challenging, standards-based academic content. The eight “institutes” include personal professional development opportunities for district leaders, IT directors, principals, librarians and media specialists, as well as teacher leaders and instructional coaches.

FRS is working with an advisory board of education experts to create a research-based, two-day agenda filled with personalized professional learning opportunities for educators led by expert facilitators. Each FRS institute will launch ongoing regional networks of experts who will act as mentors to ensure districts have the resources needed to create personalized learning plans.

Registration is open to one leadership team per district at www.futureready.org/institutes.

The 2017 FRS institutes are free, but space is limited.

The Future Ready Schools® (FRS) publication, A Guidebook for Success: Strategies for Implementing Personalized Learning in Rural Schools, helps education leaders capitalize on existing assets while addressing their community’s challenges. This guidebook highlights how district leaders can use the research-based FRS framework and free planning resources to leverage opportunities and overcome challenges inherent in their rural setting to transform teaching and create a personalized learning experience for their students.

To help rural districts overcome these challenges, FRS developed a research-based framework and five-step planning process to guide schools and districts as they transition to a personalized learning model centered on individual student learning and facilitated by innovative instruction accelerated by the smart integration of technology.

Download the guidebook here.

Future Ready Schools® (FRS) announces the release of eight Planning with a Purpose micro-credentials designed for FRS district leaders and leadership teams.

The FRS Planning with a Purpose micro-credentials use the FRS planning tools (interactive dashboard) to show mastery in developing an implementation plan to deploy personalized learning strategies across a school system—public, private, or charter.

Each micro-credential covers one of the seven FRS framework topics (also called “gears”) plus collaborative leadership.

Submission details to consider include the following:

1. Submission is free and should take less than two hours if the district has collected specific gear assessment data via step 3 of the FRS five-step planning process.
2. There is no limit to the number of team members from one district who may earn a micro-credential in each topic.
3. Micro-credentials specifically address step 3 of the FRS five-step planning process and are designed to recognize achievement and mastery of individual team members.

Future Ready Schools® announces FRS Principals, the latest expansion of the FRS initiative that supports personalized learning and innovation.FRS Principals helps school leaders develop the necessary skills to lead a successful FRS school; build an in-depth understanding of change management; and showcase leadership culture necessary for success. Through eight FRS institutes planned for 2017, FRS Principals will tap an active network of like-minded educators beyond their own school, district, and state for help and advice when challenges arise. FRS Principals is the latest track to be added to the FRS initiative, joining dedicated #FutureReady resources for librarians and instructional coaches.

Future Ready Schools® announces the new Instructional Coaches Framework and Strand, created by over 15 leading instructional coaches. The FRS Instructional Coaches strand provides instructional coaches with research-based strategies, protocols, and resources to help coaches effectively collaborate with and support their schools and districts with professional learning designed to strengthen instructional practices.

Instructional Technology Specialist Laura Nylen explores Personalized PD for Future Ready Librarians.

PD LIBRARY Table of Contents 

Blended/Flipped/Personalized Learning
Coding, Makerspaces, and STEM
Digital Content/Open Resources
Google in Education
Student Engagement, Empowerment and Leadership
Common Core and Other Forms of Assessment
Social Media and Other Cool Tools
Video in the Classroom
Privacy, Security and Digital Citizenship

PLANNING AND LEADERSHIP

Future Ready Schools
Creative Learning Spaces
Professional Learning
Leadership Issues and Solutions

TECHNOLOGY

Mobile Computing (including 1:1 and BYOT)

BEYOND THE CUTTING EDGE

Enhancing Learning Outcomes with Cranial Stimulation

Looking for a particular event? Visit T&L Live Archived Programs for a complete listing by date and location

Looking for a particular T&L Live PD event? Visit T&L Live Archived Programs for a complete listing by date and location. To search by topic, visit the T&L Live PD Library Table of Contents.

Sustaining and Energizing 1:1 Programs One-to-One district veterans discuss how they maintain enthusiasm from their communities by making sure their 1:1 programs are integral to the curriculum and student success. PRESENTERS:Colleen Pacatte, Phil Hintz, Mary Mlinar-Stephens, Tim Bryner, Philip Lacey

We Have the Devices: Now What?
Presenters R.J. Gravel, Rico D'Amore, Phil Hintz and Kim Knigge detail seven areas of focus for curriculum and technology, explore the role of the learning management system in a 1:1 initative, and discuss how partnerships can make it all happen. Presentation

iPad in the Elementary Classroom: Paula Stanbridge and Sharon Mumm offer useful shortcuts to using your favorite classroom apps as well as a guide to using the iPad for comprehension in the K-4 classroom.

We Have the Devices: Now What?
Whether your schools are BYOD or 1:1, you have most likely moved past the “which hardware” conversation. Now what? Hear how both sides of the device divide--instruction and tech--came together to provide the meaningful content, training, and buy-in needed to sustain a successful mobile device program.

• Moderator Tony Perez leads a discussion with presenters Joani Kay, Janet Copenhaver, Monica Hatchett, Trey Holladay, Chris Hamilton, and Beth McKinney.
• Presenters Lisa Nielsen, Adam Schoenbart and Rick Cave discuss the impacts on learning and instruction and the goals of mobile technology integration.
• This presentation from Kevin Schwartz, Todd Gratehouse, Mike Saenz, Peter Griffiths, Karen Fuller, and Susan Borg takes you step by step through the Klein ISD 21st Century Learning Plan
  

BYOT/BYOD: What’s Working?
Learn from a number of California districts that are leading the way when it comes to “Bring Your Own” technology implementations.

• Scaffolding for Change (Building a Platform for Any Device) in San Juan USD
• BYOT: Technology Scaffolds for Platform Agnostic Classroom
• Elementary BYOD at Capistrano USD
• BYOD in Whittier City Schools

One-to-One: The Classroom perspective
In this video, Theresa Jay, Susan Bisson, and Kathy Cioffi talk about how devices are managed and students learn in the 1:1 classrooms at their schools.

1:1 and BYO Districts Tell Their Stories
The slides below offer multiple perspectives on district approaches to one-to-one and BYOD.

• Batavia Schools slides
• Digital Learning Plan: 1-to-1 Strategy Review slides
• North Boone slides
• Illinois 1:1 Programming survey
• Warren Township slides
• Video: 1:1 and BYO Tips
• Slides from Stephanie Cardella and Jennifer Ferrari
• Slides from Theresa Dunkin and Tom Donovan
• Paul Sanfrancesco’s slides
• Slides from Westwood Public Schools
• Jon Green’s slides
• Tablets in the Classroom: Which One is Best? (Brent Williams)
• Device Rating sheet (Donna Teuber)
• Chromebooks in Richland Two

Looking for a particular Tech&Learning Live Conference? Check out the complete archives here.

New from Tech&Learning Live Chicago and Boston 2017!

A Look at the New Computer Science Standards This session explores the new Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science Standards curriculum, professional development, and more. PRESENTERS: Jim Stanton, Anne DeMallie Paul Foster and Laura S. Chesson. Going Beyond the Hour of Code How can schools integrate coding and other STEM programs into other areas of teaching and learning? Presenters Thomas Chestna, Laurie Center, Deborah Marshall, Robyn McKenney and Whitney Wadecki provide answers.

Not Just Fun and Games
An up-close look at the playful learning taking place in several different schools and the power of gaming, engagement and student agency.

• “Minecraft in the Classroom” slides from Eddie Simoneau and Patrick Beal
• John Umekubo’s “Gamestar Mechanic” slides
• John Wick’s “Aurasma” slides

Want to be a Maker?
Activities and resources from Christopher Michaud, one of the presenters for this Makerspaces session.

Stuart Burt and Randy Rodgers

Learning by Making
Stuart Burt and Randy Rodgers showcase a variety of tools -- from 3D printers to MakeyMakey to robotic kits and more -- involving maker spaces and interactive technology.

Coding, Making, and Learning

• David Held’s presentation on “Putting the A in STEAM”
• Eileen Lennon’s presentation on coding

STEM, STEAM, and the Maker Ed Movement
Resources from Ley Hatchock, one of three presenters.

The Other Two Letters in STEM: Technology and Engineering’s Role in Today’s Classrooms
Learn how the Maker Movement, student coding experiences, game design, robotics, and other high tech explorations are converging to transform student learning.

• Vinnie Vrotny’s STEAM Resources
• Patricia Haughney’s Coding and STEM resources
• Coding and Makerspace Resources from Silvia Martinez and panelists

Looking for a particular Tech&Learning Live Conference? Check out the complete archives here.

Why #GoOpen? Presenters Leo Brehm, Andrew Marcinek, Mike Jamerson and Grace Magley explore how to #GoOpen using openly licensed educational materials to transform teaching and learning -- as well as ensuring those materials play nicely with your other systems. Digital Content in a Post-Textbook WorldPresentationOER Resources

Diana Laufenberg, Leo Brehm, and Paul Tritter explore tools for curating content and building/managing digital content repositories to replace or supplement printed resources.

The Ins and Outs of Building Curriculum
Using Free and Open ResourcesVideo
Slides

Steve Baule and Philip Lacey share tips and resources.

Open Education ResourcesVideo John Fleischman, Jay McPhail and Jeremy Davis talk about where to find, how to evaluate, and when to use open education resources. Slides

Looking for a particular Tech&Learning Live Conference? Check out the complete archives here.

Life with PARCC
RJ Gravel, Mikkel Storaasli and Maureen Miller lead an interactive discussion on how not to lose formative assessment in a summative environment. RJ Gravel, Mikkel Storaasli and Maureen Miller

Getting to the Core
Scott Bailey and Robert Sidford of Washoe County, Nevada, share perspectives and experiences with Smarter Balanced assessments.

Getting Ready for the Common Core Assessments
Andrew Wallace, Eric Conti and Andrea Kupps share advice 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.

• Video
• Slides

Web Tools and Apps for Common Core
A variety of resources from Hoke Wilcox, Eva Harvell, Mindy Ramon and David Lockhart.

• Video
• Chart of Common Core apps
• Eva Harvell’s slides

Embracing Common Core
Ideas for supporting and encouraging teachers to explore the new standards, incorporate relevant CCSS resources, and share successes and advice with one another.

• Video
• Jenith Mishne’s slides
• Slides from Scott Bailey and Robert Sidford
• Slides from Susan Tandberg and Rick Hassler

Getting Ready for SBAC
Slides from Catharine Reznicek, Ventura County Office of Education

Tools and Approaches to Digital Assessment
Slides from presenters Connie White, Eva Harvell, and Jaime Vandergrift

Brian Gervase

Formative Assessment and Personalized Learning

An exploration of the different ways that schools and teachers can leverage information and technology to personalize learning for students.

• Brian Gervase's Prezi
• Bob Schuetz's slides
• Maureen Chertow Miller's slides

Looking for a particular Tech&Learning Live Conference? Check out the complete archives here.

The Latest Tech ToolsChris Skrzypchak, Gerry Marchand and R.J. Gravel discuss the latest tech tools for blended and personalized learning, and how to evaluate the effectiveness of these tools.

Building District Capacity

Panelists Hilary Lundgren, William Black, Jessica Geremia, Jason Appel and moderator Maeve Murray share their insights on how to build district capacity in blended and personalized learning programs.

Best Practices

Presenters Matthew Joseph, Rachel Discko, Arzinia Gill, Anna Nolin, and moderator David Ross consider the use of technology to tailor instruction, expression of learning, individual assessment and more.

Blended Learning: The Key to Personalized, Scalable Instruction?

• Presenters Beverly Berns, Allison Gest and Phil Lacey offer a blended learning approach to digital literacy.
• Presenters Grace Magley, Corey Lennon and Shawn Rubin explore both the big picture and the critical details of a successful implementation of blended learning.

Brent Hollers and Amanda Massie share their stories of how they used blended, online, and virtual learning to improve the learning experience for their students.

Blended Learning: Is it the Answer?VIDEO

Kecia Ray’s keynote focuses on ways in which “disruptive” ideas from such leaders as Michael Horn and Clayton Christensen can scale to a larger, established school district.

Flipping and Blending Learning for Maximum ImpactVIDEO

Jon Bergmann, one of the two “fathers” of the flipped classroom, leads a learning discussion with Dale Loggins, Joe Taylor, Kecia Ray and audience members.

Next Steps for Flipping the Classroom: Part OneVIDEOSLIDES Dan Gagnon, Andy Boyle, Max Monroe and Randy Smith discuss their approaches to flipping the classroom and invite conference participants to join in.

Next Steps for Flipping the Classroom: Part TwoVIDEO Back by popular demand, Dan Gagnon and panelists Matthew Barry, Becky Faulkner, Clint Purcell and Jeff White discuss what’s working for them -- and audience members – in the flipped classroom.

Pedagogy and Practices for Personalizing Learning Kim Carter'sHeather Neil's Digital handouts from this session, which looked at best practices and resources to help teachers let go and embrace student personalization.

Make it Meaningful: How to Personalize Learning for Every StudentSLIDES

Information-packed slide deck from Aaryn Schmuhl, Angie Foerster, Kari Nguyen, and Justin Castile with background info (including a video about Skinner’s early teaching machines) and current examples of personalized learning initiatives.

Tools and Approaches to Digital Assessment SLIDES

Slides from presenters Connie White, Eva Harvell, and Jaime Vandergrift

Looking for a particular Tech&Learning Live Conference? Check out the complete archives here.

New from Tech&Learning Live Chicago and Boston 2017!

Play to Learn: A Look at Gamification in the Classroom

Panelists Michael Biondo, Vita Carnduff and Carrie Baughcum share their tips for gamifying a classroom and demonstrate how teachers can create their own gamified curriculums.

HyperDocs Workshop Rayna Freedman offers insights into the hyperdocs revolution and how teachers can use it to transform learning in the classroom.

Breakout EDU Workshop Chrystal Hoe discusses the power of Breakout EDU as a learning tool.

Beware the Transformation Trap
Jennie Magiera’s keynote on making meaningful change.Video

Student Agency: Beyond Genius HourVideo Handout Kim Carter, Jennie Magiera, Ayla Gavins, and two MC2 students, look at ways for supporting and assessing the learning that takes when students guide their own learning.

Programs that Encourage Student Leaders
Meet student leaders from a variety of districts who are providing tech support, developing entrepreneurial programs, creating new technologies, and more.

• The 3 Elements of Student Leadership
• The Student Computer Science Initiative
• Maine East Student Technology Programs
• Niles Township: Student Leadership in a 1:1 Environment

Cultivating Curiosity in the 21st CenturyVideo In Ramsey Musallam’s keynote he explores curiosity as a cognitive construct, pedagogical tool, and perhaps the most essential, one of the most transcendent and dissonant emotions a student will experience.

Beyond Engagement: Making Learning Irresistible

Slides from Jim Klein’s presentation on this topic.

Finding the Passion
Slides from Clare Taylor’s presentation on promoting passion in learning.

Student Collaboration
Notes from a roundtable discussion on this topic.

Nurturing Passion, Wonder and Voice
Examples of meaningful, engaging student projects and learning experiences that nurture wonder and passion and give students the opportunity to find their own voices.

• Presentation by Rafranz Davis
• Presentation by Aimee Bartis
• Presentation by Lisa Carnazzo
• Presentation by Andrea Keller
• Presentation by Leslie Barrett and German Ramos

Young Learners and Technology
Great examples of primary grade students taking control of their own learning with help from technology.

• Video of this session
• Slides from kindergarten teacher, Megan Powers (Poway USD)
• Slides from K-1 teacher Silvia Martinez (Portola Valley)
• Prezi: A Day in the Life of Templeton Elementary (San Luis Obispo) Techies, Ages 5-8
• "Day in the Life" Handout

Looking for a particular Tech&Learning Live Conference? Check out the complete archives here.

The How and Why of Video in the Classroom
Lee Green, Dan Gagnon, Jaime Vandergrift, and Arvin Ross share examples of the uses of video with students for everything from student broadcasting to creating Touchcast interactive videos.

From Consumption to Creation
Slides from Mickey Chavannes and Sue Gorman for the session on “Students as Multimedia Creators and Authors.”

Unlocking Creativity in the Classroom
Adam Phyall’s Prezi on movie-making and other creative projects with students.

Looking for a particular Tech&Learning Live Conference? Check out the complete archives here.

New from Tech&Learning Live Chicago and Boston 2017!

Demos of the latest tools for K-12 Presenters Kristin Lagerquist, Joan Biese, Natalie Profita and Deanna Nelson explore app smashing, augmented reality apps and cool online formative assessment tools. Carol Holzberg demonstrates Smithsonian TweenTribune, Pixlr Editor, and more while Cassandra Charles demonstrates the Summit Personalized Learning Platform.

Cool Tool Smackdown
Both sides of the device divide--instruction and tech--come together to provide the meaningful content, training, and buy-in needed to sustain successful 1:1 and BYOD programs.

• Presenters: Anne Truger, Charlene Chausis, Mary Mlinar-Stephens, Hank Thiele, Dan Rezac and moderator Michael Gorman debate the merits of Choosito, Analyze My Writing, Google Keep and many more cool tools for the modern classroom.

Really Cool Tool Duels

• Stephanee Stephens moderates this Cool Tool Smackdown from presenters Sharon Mumm, Kati Searcy, Staci Gelbaum, Jennifer Liang, Marcus Borders, and Cynthia Hardy.
• Salvador Contes and Chris Casal make their cases for apps, add-ons, and other edtech tools.
• In this lightning-paced “cool tool” duel, David Jakes and Dan Rezac advocate for their top edtech tools while the audience votes on their favorites.

Social Media in the Classroom

David Lockhart, Jessica Jackson, Heather Cox, Stephanee Stephens, and Stacy Brown talk about their favorite social media tools and how they are using them with students.

• Video of this session
• Slides

Twitter and Social Media as Tools for Teachers and Students
Notes from a presentation and discussion facilitated by Michelle Russell and Julie Smith.

From Social Media to Co-Learning
Howard Rheingold’s opening keynote on the shift to “co-learning” in which students take more responsibility for their own and each other’s learning and the instructor gives them power to shape curriculum and design/redesign pedagogy on the fly.

• Video
• Resources

Strategies and Tools to Support the Four Cs
A variety of tools and strategies that district leaders have used to support the “4Cs” (Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking and Creativity).

• The 4 Cs Overview slides
• Collaboration resources
• Communication resources
• Creativity resources
• Critical Thinking resources
• 4Cs Assessment resources

Listen to the Students: The Ultimate Smackdown
Students from Newport Mesa USD, Long Beach USD and Los Angeles USD share their favorite tools.

60in60 Inverted
Brandon Lutz encourages audience members to share their very favorite digital resources – in small groups and with the broader audience.

• Video
• Slides
• Audience cheat sheet

Looking for a particular Tech&Learning Live Conference? Check out the complete archives here.

New from Tech&Learning Live Chicago 2017!

Digital Citizenship Presenter Cheryl Parmenter takes a student-centered approach to creating a digitally responsible school culture.

Digital Citizenship: Harnessing the Power of Social Media
This workshop focuses on how to create policies and procedures to educate school communities on their roles in the appropriate use of social media. Presentation by Paul Sanfrancesco and Owen J Roberts.

Student Data Privacy
This presentation by Steve Young and Sheryl Abshire explores the issues and law surrounding student data privacy and what steps your school and district can take to protect it.

Using Social Media to Encourage Responsible Digital Citizenship
Jerry Crisci, Luz Minaya, Marie Vargas discuss how they use social media for teaching and learning with students, parents and colleagues.

Defining Digital Citizenship: One Topic, Many Perspectives
This workshop dissects specific scenarios, from appropriate use of social media to cyberbullying to plagiarism, and offers takeaways you can bring back to your district and put into action.

• Video with Themy Sparangis, Ray Chavez, Joe Oliver, and Ashly McNamara
• Ashley McNamara’s slides

Student Data Privacy and Security
Notes from a roundtable discussion led by Tony Inglese and Craig Williams.

The Path to Digital Citizenship
A look at issues related to student privacy, incorporating social media into acceptable use policies, and ways to reach out to the parent community in order to educate the whole family about digital citizenship issues.

• Video of the session
• Julie York's presentation
• Tali Horowitz’s presentation

Understanding Digital Citizenship and Identity
Video featuring Alec Couros.

Digital Citizenship and CIPA
Resources from Dana Greenspan (CTAP specialist, Ventura County Office of Education)

Creating a Positive Digital Footprint
Slides from Lisa Nielsen, Jackie Patanio, Darlynn Alfalla, Timothy Comer, and Paul Sanfrancesco

Looking for a particular Tech&Learning Live Conference? Check out the complete archives here.

Sarah Connell's Growing Apps Presentation explores the use of apps for activating green spaces while presenter Alice Barr looks at how technology can impact and create a positive school culture

The Evolving School Library: Joining Forces with Tech Departments
Many successful school library programs are joining forces with technology departments. This session offers tips for successful library/tech collaboration and tools to remix the Library Media Center for today’s students using podcasts, ebooks, blended learning, and more. Presented by John Marcus, Donna Liebman, Deborah Marshall & Lisa Ward, and Barbara Johnson.

• The Evolving School Library Presentation
• Deborah Marshall and Lisa Ward's Presentation "Joining Forces"
• Deborah Marshall and Lisa Ward's Website Resources

Rethinking Learning Spaces
The right mix of interactive hardware solutions and mobile devices can improve traditional teaching methods with cross-curriculum content and resource-rich lessons. Presented by Steven Baule, Kevin Ryan & Melissa Wilson, Tom Neff and Ed Kitchen.

• Rethinking Learning Spaces Presentation #1
• Rethinking Learning Spaces Presentation #2

Redesigning Your Learning Space on any Budget
Michelle Cooper and Tanna Fiske present ideas and examples for rethinking your learning space- and how to pay for it.

Evolving Role of the Library Media Center
Resources, images and examples from presenters Andy Marcinek, Kevin Windsor, and Jennifer Trombino

Rethinking Learning Spaces
Images, resources and ideas from districts all across the country that are revamping the way in which their classrooms and schools are laid out to accommodate new ways of teaching and learning.

• Resources from Buffalo Grove High School
• Photos
• Video: Reinvisioning Learning Spaces Panel, moderated by David Jakes
• Video: Rethinking Learning Spaces
• Laura Fleming’s slides
• Sherri McNair and Shannon Mersand’s slides
• Slideshows from the Sydney Centre for Innovation in Learning (shared by Kay Abernathy)
• Karen Fuller and Ian Powell’s slides
• Carolyn Foote’s slides

Looking for a particular Tech&Learning Live Conference? Check out the complete archives here.

Google in Education: Beyond the Basics
Notes from sessions in numerous venues offering tips to help you make the most of Google Apps for Education and other Chrome-based tools.

• Slides from Google Apps for Education Idea Exchange
• Matt Jackson’s slides on Google Play for EDU
• Donna Teuber’s slides on Enhancing Creativity with Chrome Extensions
• Google Classroom Help Site (shared by Lee Green)
• Video of the team from Maine 207 talking about ways they use GAFE
• Slides from this session
• Video on newer and lesser known options for Google users in education
• Slides from this session

Google Roundtable Notes
Notes from a discussion on using Google Apps and Chromebooks in education.

Looking for a particular Tech&Learning Live Conference? Check out the complete archives here.

Enhancing Learning Outcomes with Cranial Stimulation

It's not your average edtech presentation. Brent Williams offers a fascinating exploration of brain science and how electrical brain stimulation (Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation) may enhance memory and cognition while reducing learning disability.

New from Tech&Learning Live Chicago and Boston 2017!

A Look at the New Computer Science Standards

Jim Stanton, Anne DeMallie, Paul Foster and Laura S. Chesson explore the new Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science Standards curriculum, professional development, and more.

Communicating Effectively with Your Community
This session for school district leaders examines how districts can better tell their stories to their communities and the media. Presenters: Christina Maryland, Paul Sanfrancesco, Andrew Wallace.

Leadership Track: Moving to the Cloud
Questions addressed in this session include integrating open resources, personalizing learning, and providing guidance to the school community. Presenters: Steve Dembo, Jill Gildea, Nick Polyak.

The Business of EdTech: From Purchasing to PR
Presenters Diane Doersch, Henry Thiele, Rico D'Amore and Phil Hintz discuss the ongoing challenges of edtech.

Resources to Fight Fake Newsfrom Carol Holzberg

Leading Educators in Using Data Wisely
How can K12 educators use data effectively to make real changes in practice? In her Boston keynote address, Kathryn Parker Boudett, director of the Data Wise Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, offered examples of the process for keeping the core work of schools focused on improved outcomes for students.

• Leading Educators in Using Data Wisely Presentation
• Introduction to Data Wise: A Collaborative Process to Improve Learning & Teaching (Free online course)

Leading, Learning and the Modern School
In his Chicago keynote address, Chris Lehmann, founding principal of Science Leadership Academy discusses not just why schools need to change to meet the evolving needs of technology-rich environments, but how schools can take these ideas from theory to practice.

How can you become an agent of change?
Keynote speaker Henry Thiele believes change agents must spend time getting to know their students, their staff, their parents, their communities in order to make change—and today's technology tools can facilitate this goal.
Becoming an Agent of Change

What are the keys to teacher buy-in?
Technology Integration Specialist Kim Buice addresses the administrator's role in technology integration, habits of effective tech-leading principals and more in this "Anything goes" discussion, Administrative Modeling: The Key to Teacher Buy-In.

What Is Future Ready Schools?

• Download the Future Ready Fact Sheet.
• Check out the free Interactive Planning Dashboard, which provides ongoing support to district and leadership teams who take the Future Ready Pledge.

Our PLNs, Ourselves
Karen Blumberg discusses ways school leaders can find the time and resources needed to grow their Professional Learning Networks and get the support they need to navigate the sometimes difficult role as liaison between curriculum & technology, teachers & administrators, parents & school boards.

Seeing Results Video
Several New England districts share data to show that student-centered, blended learning has had a positive impact on several fronts.

World Class Schooling: Educating Creative and Entrepreneurial Students
Video of Dr. Yong Zhao’s keynote proposing a new paradigm of education involving personalized curriculum, product-oriented learning, and the globe as the campus.

The Impact of Technology on Pedagogy
Notes from a roundtable discussion on this topic.

Leading for Transformative Change
From innovation incubators to teacher leadership teams, presenters in several venues share examples of the approaches being used in their schools or districts to facilitate meaningful change.

• Presentation by Donna Teuber, Kate Matthews, Wanda McClure and Nishant Mehta
• Presentation by five Chicago-area leaders
• Presentation by West Morris Regional High School District
• Scarsdale Center for Innovation's presentation
• Hudson High School of Learning Technologies' presentation

Keys to Effective Leadership
Ann McMullan’s notes from a roundtable discussion on this topic

IT and Curriculum Together: A Marriage for the Ages?
Presentations from sessions bringing together leaders from IT, Instructional Technology, and Curriculum to discuss challenges and solutions for working together to create successful initiatives.

• Slides from Vanitha Chandreskhar and Brian Jackson (Long Beach USD)
• Slides from Robert Gravina and Rich Newman (Poway USD)
• Video from Tech Forum Texas, 2014
• Slides from Tech Forum Texas, 2014
• Questions and resources

It Takes a Village: Communicating with and Building Community
Many different perspectives about ways of building community support, involving stakeholders, and getting the word out about what’s working.

• Brad Currie’s presentation on “Telling your story”
• Slides from Tech Forum Chicago, 2014
• Paul Sanfrancesco’s slides
• Video from Tech Forum Atlanta, 2014
• Slides from Tech Forum Atlanta, 2014
• Slides from Tech Forum California, 2014

What the Heck Do We DO With all This Data?
See how to build a supportive data culture in your school or district and how to use the data you’re collecting to personalize learning and drive key decisions.

• Sheryl Abshire’s presentation
• Bryan Doyle’s presentation
• Peter Griffith’s presentation

eRate: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
A video interview with Sheryl Abshire about changes in the eRate program and how to tap into it.

Putting SAMR and TPACK Into Practice
Presentations from three conferences on using SAMR and TPACK as a tool for impactful technology implementation.

• Slides from “The SAMRized School” session
• Slides from “Putting SAMR and TPACK Into Practice”
• Slides from “Stop Integrating & Start Innovating” (with TPACK and SAMR)

Looking for a particular Tech&Learning Live Conference? Check out the complete archives here.

Next-Gen PD

• Presenters John Martin, Ken Veon, Mandy Vasek, Mike Daugherty, and Jessie Butash examine the keys to success in local, regional and global professional development, while John Martin's The Giving Tree offers an in-depth exploration of the care and growth of your PLN.
• This session from Jarod Bormann and Steve Wick covers a variety of successful PD models related to differentiated learning, the 4 Cs of PD (collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking), Google Apps for Education, and more. Next-Gen PD InteractiveNext-Gen PD Presentation

Rethinking Academic Coaches

• What is the philosophy underlying academic coaching for educational technology? What coaching models are most effective? And how can technology itself support successful coaching? These questions and more are answered by presenters Kevin Windsor, Paul Sanfrancesco and Laura Chesson.
• These sessions provides examples of successful instructional coaching models and offers tips and guidelines you can use to replicate these best practices in your schools. Presenters: Educators from Madison Metropolitan School District, Winnetka Public Schools, & Park Ridge Niles School District (K-8) and Leyden High School District & Maine ISD (9-12)

PD That Works
Bryan Phillips, Melissa Jackson, Suzan Brandt, and Susan Grigsby present examples of proven professional development techniques. Moderator: Beth Miller, president of GLMA (Georgia Library Media Association).

Rethinking Academic Coaches

This presentation provides examples of successful instructional coaching models and offers tips and guidelines you can use to replicate these best practices in your schools. Donna Teuber, Christine Horowitz, Wanda Greenfield, Heather Cox, and Christian Padgett present.

Pivot Points for Tech Integration
Joan Hughes' presentation demonstrates how schools get stakeholders on board for edtech integration, and offer tips and tools to replicate these success stories in your schools and districts.

PD That Works
Learn about four types PD programs that work, including: tiered and blended PD; motivating teachers through innovative PD; preparing for the new T-TESS; and redefining PD to keep up with a rapidly changing world. Presenters: Rachel Calabretta, Suzette McIntyre, Scott Floyd, and Wendy Jones.

Rethinking Academic Coaches
These sessions provide examples of successful coaching/mentoring models and offers tips and guidelines you can use to replicate these best practices in your schools.

• Presentation by Daniel Diamond, Rafranz Davis, Mike Kuhrt and Aimee Bartis
• Presentation by coaches and SPOCs from NYCDOE, Hendrick Hudson, River Dell, Wayne, Fort Lee and Ramsey Public School Districts

Rethinking Coaching
A look at how rethinking and extending the role of instructional technology coaches in schools can improve the overall learning landscape.

• Ed Kitchen’s presentation
• Ashley Coblentz and Jackie Moreno’s presentation
• Allison Gest’s presentation

Brandee Ramirez and Steve Regur

Personalizing PD
A roundtable discussion handout from Brandee Ramirez and Steve Regur

Paperless Professional Resources
Charlene Chausis offers a roundup of apps and services for paperless PD

Paul Hermes

Revamping/Redefining PD and Professional Learning
Administrators from several parts of the country share what’s working for them when it comes to professional learning/PD.

• Video of the session
• Paul Hermes’ Presentation on Flipping Staff Meetings
• Resources for Flipping Staff Meetings
• Angie Foerster’s Presentation
• Angie Foerster Handouts
• Gary Shattuck and Melissa Jackson’s Presentation
• Donna Teuber’s Presentation
• Slides for the whole session (Atlanta 2014)
• Kate Matthews resources
• Student Tech Teams (Melissa Jackson)
• Tech Teacher Leader Roles and Responsibilities (Melissa Jackson)
• Slides for the whole session (Long Beach 2014)

The Smartest Person in the Room: An interactive learning challenge
A hands-on wrapup session led by Carl Hooker challenges participants to collaborate and create slide shows about their experience at the conference.

• Presentation
• Presentations participants created

Looking for a particular Tech&Learning Live Conference? Check out the complete archives here.