General Conference Sessions – Friday, February 27
8:00 am‑ 9:30 am ‑ Salon I, II, III, IV
Lessons in 4K, Telling Stories Today - Friday Keynote
Jim Sill ‑ EdTechTeam
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
With the constant stream of high quality videos online, it is easy to be mesmerized by the way people are telling their
stories today. Self-produced content is causing a sea change in the film and TV, but in education we have the tendency to
still tell our stories in the same ways that we have for decades. Jim uncovers the lessons that we can learn from the
entertainment industry so we can begin telling the story of our classrooms in passionate and engaging new ways.
9:45 am‑11:15 am ‑ Exhibit Hall Poster 1
EZassessment with TECH tools
Tom Jackson ‑ Aurora University and Pre-service Teachers ‑ Aurora University
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Teachers, leaders, how are you determining the learning needs and gap of your classroom students? We know that
using informed planning to develop the next layer of learning, that is right in the student’s wheelhouse or ZPD would
greatly help (Vygotsky). Are you feeling wounded by a lack of student effort when it comes to participating in testing,
that in fact could identify student wants and needs to become more informed and engaged? Here’s the information for
you! We’ll be looking at and discussing several ways to EZ collection of current student knowledge. Stop by and
participate in a demo of Participoll, Plickers2.0 (no tech required), Todaysmeet, PollEv, Pollcode, Surveyrock, and/or
Google Forms among others (by ICE, I’m sure there’ll be additional cutting edge ways that will reveal student
knowledge on your topic). Stop by and connect!
9:45 am‑11:15 am ‑ Exhibit Hall Poster 2
EZassessment with TECH tools 2
Tom Jackson ‑ Aurora University and Pre-service Teachers ‑ Aurora University
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Teachers, leaders, how are you determining the learning needs and gap of your classroom students? We know that
using informed planning to develop the next layer of learning, that is right in the student’s wheelhouse or ZPD would
greatly help (Vygotsky). Are you feeling wounded by a lack of student effort when it comes to participating in testing,
that in fact could identify student wants and needs to become more informed and engaged? Here’s the information for
you! We’ll be looking at and discussing several ways to EZ collection of current student knowledge. Stop by and
participate in a demo of Participoll, Plickers2.0 (no tech required), Todaysmeet, PollEv, Pollcode, Surveyrock, and/or
Google Forms among others (by ICE, I’m sure there’ll be additional cutting edge ways that will reveal student
knowledge on your topic). Stop by and connect!
9:45 am‑11:15 am ‑ Exhibit Hall Poster 3
Tech Toys in Education
Michael Saracini ‑ Berwyn School District 100
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Learning and being challenged has never been so much fun! Learn how you can engage your students while having
students delve deeper than ever imagined into the common core learning standards. In this poster session you will
play with Lego MindStorms EV3, Sphero and a plthera of coding apps.
9:45 am‑11:15 am ‑ Lucky Pierre 1
1:1 Implementation: Year Zero
John Mehnert ‑ Oak Grove School District 68, Allison Honaker ‑ Oak Grove School District 68, Dave Huber ‑ Oak
Grove School District 68
Strand: Leadership
Thinking about going 1:1? The real preparation starts in year zero! Come learn how Oak Grove was able to have a
smooth start to our K‑8, 1:1 initiative. With a tech skills survey and a dedicated PD team, our staff received a
professional development curriculum designed to support all ability levels. You will leave our session with a successful
formula for 1:1 implementation that could be started in your district tomorrow.
9:45 am‑11:15 am ‑ Lucky Pierre 2
Blended Instruction Models
Aaron Lenaghan ‑ DuPage High School District 88
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
We will review how using blended online models for web‑based learning can expand instruction and learning.
DuPage High School District 88 is using a blended online instruction model for Physical Fitness. We will review how
our internal learning management system, Nucleus can enhance and guide online instruction with students and staff.
9:45 am‑11:15 am ‑ Lucky Pierre 3
Easy Ways to Integrate Tech Into Your Literacy Centers
Kim Eggemeyer ‑ IWCUSD #10, Chris Denton ‑ IWCUSD #10, Deb Talbert ‑ IWCUSD #10
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Are you 1:1? Or do you have access to a class set of devices? Do you want to incorporate technology into your
Reading Workshop or Daily 5 routine more often, or even on a daily basis? We will present a variety of technology
resources to use with your devices/tablets, which will enhance your language arts instruction to engage your students
in reading, writing, listening, and word work activities. Whether you use Apple, Android, or Chromebooks, this session
will offer literacy strategies and applications within the context of the Common Core Anchor Standards. You will be
inspired (and able) to immediately take back and implement the applications in your classroom the very next day.
These techniques are sure to increase student interest and ability for both your struggling and advanced readers.
Come find out how to tech up your literacy centers!
9:45 am‑11:15 am ‑ Lucky Pierre 4
Going Paperless in the 21st Century Classroom
Kristin Richey ‑ South Berwyn School District 100
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
This session will be an introduction to going paperless in the classroom. It will include tips for all types of classrooms‑
from little technology to full on 1:1 learning. All attendees will walk away with a more mindful look at their teaching
practices and a drive to do something more by walking away from the traditional paper and pencil.
9:45 am‑11:15 am ‑ Lucky Pierre 5
Live at 8:25!
Jill Schwartzers ‑ Palatine CCSD15, Vicky O'Boyle ‑ Gower School District 62
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Everyone is looking for creative ways to incorporate Common Core standards in all curricular areas. See how two
schools are accomplishing this task using student led morning broadcasts! There are many tools that will work. Come
see how we set up our program, the students that are involved, costs, administrator buy in, and much more!
9:45 am‑11:15 am ‑ Lucky Pierre 6
Online resources from ISBE Content Specialists
Lisa Ward ‑ ISBE, Jill Brown ‑ ISBE
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Poster session will connect educators to many content and instructional support resources available from ISBE
content specialists. In classroom activities, online resources and assessment supports will be available to view, take
away and discuss with the content specialists.
9:45 am‑11:15 am ‑ Lucky Pierre 7
Technology & Service Learning Hand in Hand
Leslie Zurzolo ‑ Giles School, Norridge 80
Strand: Make it!
Implement or enhance Service Learning in your classroom to foster a lifelong respect for others. Service Learning
offers real world problem solving with the opportunity for students to predict, create, & reflect. Discover agencies &
organizations waiting to develop a partnership. Low cost, classroom tested, projects will be shared to inspire
ownership, goodwill, & generosity.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Augusta I/II
IlliniCloud 101
Melinda Fiscus ‑ LTC 6
Strand: Technology Infrastructure
IlliniCloud is a cooperative of Illinois school district providing low‑cost infrastructure, software and disaster recovery.
IlliniCloud personnel will share services currently available within the cloud, opportunities for involvement and a
roadmap of future projects.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Broadway A
iSWAT
Jordan Garrett ‑ South Berwyn School District 100
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Schools are finding themselves in a situation where devices are plentiful, resources are flowing, yet instructional
coaches and technology departments are unable to support everyone all day long. What better way to ‘multiply’ a
coach and tech department than to create “mini coaches”. Since students are plentiful, lets leverage their skills by
creating a program led by teachers but driven by students. iSWAT stands for ‘I am a Student Willing to Assist with
Technology’. In this session, you will learn how to take your most abundant resources to create a student‑led
program with differentiated learning for students and teachers.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Broadway B
Collaboration & Communication with Google
Steve Wick ‑ Neuqua Valley High School / IPSD #204
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Attendees will be introduced to the Google Apps for Education Suite as a resource to enhance collaboration,
communication, critical thinking, and creativity in their teaching and learning. Emphasis will be placed on ideas,
procedures, and resources that support best practices when using Google Apps for Education for teaching and
learning. Session resources will be built around the 4 Cs of Education and Digital Literacy Skills. Attendees will have
the opportunity to drive their own learning in a learner‑centered environment with the support of the presenters. A
Google Site will be used to support and guide attendees as they learn more about best practices for GAFE in their
classrooms.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Broadway C
Flip it with Flipboard: Creating your Own Online Magazines
Kristin Brynteson ‑ Northern Illinois University
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Remember that great article you read yesterday about that new app? Where did you see it? Did you save it? Where
did you put it? For many of us, these questions are all too familiar. With the abundance of excellent information being
shared across our PLNs on a daily basis, the problem we face is not just finding the information we need but saving it
somewhere we can find it again. It can be a little overwhelming. In this presentation, you will learn how Flipboard can
help you tame the information beast and get organized by creating and sharing your very own online magazines. We
will explore how to set up your Flipboard, connect it to your other social media accounts, follow other magazines, and
start flipping into your own magazines. We will also discuss how you could also use Flipboard with your students. You
will flip for this tool.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Coral
Next Generation Wireless
Greg Kalman ‑ Aerohive
Strand: Technology Infrastructure
Next generation digital learning requires an affordable yet high‑functioning wireless network, one not only with great
capacity, but one that understands application types, load‑balancing, apple bonjour services, even allow teachers to
control what their students can do from class to class. Gregg Kalman, has designed and sold wireless networks for
Cisco, Meru, Motorola and now Aerohive Networks. Come learn about the next generation wireless features that are
critical to K‑12 wireless networks now and for the next few years.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Exhibit Hall Spotlight Stage
Study of Place with the Google Cultural Institute
Jim Sill ‑ EdTechTeam
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Discover the amazing features of Google’s Cultural Institute. Including Historical Moments, World Wonders and the
Google Art Project. Walk the halls of the world's greatest museums and discover history and culture of each of these
amazing places around the globe. Peel back the layers of thousands of artifacts like art, advertising, and personal
collections that showcase how history, culture and geography can be used in the classroom.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Jade
Google Classroom: Learning Management Systems in a Math Classroom
Lauren Bunnell ‑ Flossmoor School District 161, Scott Olson ‑ Flossmoor School District 161
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
This presentation will illustrate how you can use learning management systems, specifically Google Classroom to
assist in the organization and presentation of mathematics content. The strategies in the presentation can be applied
to all classrooms, however the presenters will focus on the benefits of this tool in a sixth grade math classroom.
Presenters will also discuss the flipped classroom and how this learning management system is conducive to this
concept.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Mainstage Theater
Digital Tools to Support Reading and Writing
Nicholas Provenzano ‑ Grosse Pointe Public Schools
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Pen and paper are still great in helping students master reading and writing, but there are great digital tools that can
be introduced into the classroom to help those students who are struggling to keep up with the rest of the class. This
session will explore different web tools that teachers can integrate into their curriculum to support reading and writing
instruction.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ New Orleans Ballroom
Designing Brain‑Friendly Spaces for Blended Learning
Erin Klein ‑ Cranbrook
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Designing Brain‑Friendly Spaces for Blended Learning
Are you looking for easy and creative ideas for your best classroom ever? In this session, international design
consultant and classroom teacher, Erin Klein, will share creative ways you can organize your classroom and create
unique spaces, all in the service of helping children learn. She will also share ways to embed technology within the
curriculum to enhance current instructional practices and increase active engagement, while differentiating instruction
to meet the needs of all learners. Hear about the fundamental elements of creating a space that is developmentally
appropriate, personalized, and brain‑friendly for today’s learners.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Preservation Hall A
We Are The Music “Makers”
William Marsland ‑ Chicago Public Schools/Stone Scholastic Academy
Strand: Make it!
Maker education is taking classrooms by storm, and the music classroom should be no exception! Teachers already
know that music fosters creative right‑brain thinking. But when it is paired with STEM‑focused analytical left‑brain
tasks, students engage in learning that activates their whole brain. Bringing together music and maker education
provides unique opportunities for student engagement, creativity, and achievement. But this type of learning doesn’t
have to be restricted to the music classroom; all teachers can find ways to incorporate music into their STEM lessons!
In this session, we will explore the impact of music and the maker movement, investigate a wide variety of resources
that are available to teachers, and take part in a hands‑on demonstration of some of the maker tools I use in my
music classroom, including the littleBits Synth Kits, MakeyMakey invention kits, and the Drawdio musical pencil kits.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Ruby
Maximizing Student Potential Online and At Home
Debra Marton ‑ Comcast
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
We will discuss the ongoing efforts to close the digital divide. With the goal to get every student in every family online
right at home, there are steps schools can take to help remove the barriers for students to get Internet access. Join us
for this discussion that will show practical ways schools can impact this initiative.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Salon I
Cool Tools Are Fun, But Learning Should Come First
Eric Patnoudes ‑ CDW•G
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Educators and technologists have been making the case for the transformative power of technology in teaching and
learning for decades. However, despite the rhetoric and increasing efforts to integrate technology into the classroom,
in many cases the results are insignificant and are not yielding the return on education that districts are hoping for.
This is in part due to some teachers getting caught up in the latest edtech resources and failing to prioritize
educational value above all else. This session will explore the affordances of technology which open the doors to
transformative 21st century learning. Attendees will discover methods for using pedagogy as the driving force to
selecting the appropriate tools for technology integration and overcome the trap of putting the cart before the horse
with education technology.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Salon II
Playful Learning Part 1: The Unrealized Superpower Of Games
Zack Gilbert ‑ McLean County District Unit No. 5
Strand: Make it!
We can learn to play, and play to learn. We’ve all come against that wall when students disconnect from the material
we’re trying to teach. They struggle to find relevance in their own education, and we, as their teachers struggle to find
inspiring and innovative ways to engage them. To ensure students are equipped with the right tools and skills to think,
create, engage, and flourish in the 21st century, we have an opportunity to give them new opportunities to learn
playfully — not just with the blocks from our own wonder years, but with powerful new games and simulations that
engage and enlighten through experiences. This session will look at the superpower of games and what they can do
for you and your students.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Salon III
Women in Technology
Amy Gorzynski ‑ Leyden High School #212
Strand: Leadership
When Leyden took the initiative to go to 1:1 computing, leadership realized a number of things. One in particular was
the lack of females in the technology‑based courses. After conducting research on how to better serve this
population, administration and faculty worked in tangent to develop an action plan focused on motivating their female
students to be successful in this career arena. Join this session to learn what the plan contained and how the Leyden
School District facilitates and supports STEM programs for its underserved populations.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Salon IV
+1 PLN
Eric Hansen ‑ Zion School District 6
Strand: Professional Learning
Educators will learn and get hands on experience on the benefits of implementing their own PLN (professional
learning network) using Google+ through communities, hangouts, hangouts on air, and circles. All attendees will have
the opportunity to take part in a live hangout, collaborate in a live community for ICE 2014, and get questions
answered.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Salon V
Stump the SMARTian
Mike McGowan Mike McGowan ‑ SMART
Strand: Professional Learning
Here is your chance to ask all your questions regarding SMART. This session is an open free form session designed
around teachers, administrators, or whomever to come and get your questions answered. Do you have questions
how to make your lessons more interactive or engaging? Do you want to know what certain tools do? What to know
what free resources are out there? This is the session for you. Come with your questions, leave with the answers.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Sapphire
Low and No Touch Device Management with System Center
Nash Pherson ‑ NowMicro
Strand: Technology Infrastructure
Managing, updating, patching and upgrading device systems has become increasingly costly and time consuming.
Districts often recognize this is important work but already lean teams often do not have the capacity to stay up to
date like they want to. Join Chicago Public Schools and their partner, Now Micro, as they share how together they
have implemented a solution using Microsoft System Center for no and low touch device management in their
decentralized district to ensure all systems that join their network are safe, secure and properly imaged.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Skybox 4
Reimagine Teaching and Learning with Windows 8.1
Wendell Sumter ‑ Microsoft & Chester County School District
Strand: Professional Learning
Using Windows 8.1, you’ll explore tools and technologies that energize and engage students. You’ll learn how to get
more out of the software you use every day. And you’ll discover how the latest devices and software work together to
unleash 21st century learning.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Skybox 5
Empower Your Educators with ISTE Resources
Kira Prince ‑ Cengage Learning/Gale
Strand: Professional Learning
Cengage Learning is a leader in educational resources designed to engage and empower students. Through a strong
partnership with ISTE/ASCD/Corwin Press, we have online resources designed to empower your greatest assets ‑‑
your teachers. Join us to learn how to create powerful, customizable and sustainable professional development
programs to meet the goals of your district.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Topaz
GoPro Like a Pro
Don Spencer ‑ CUSD 303, Brian Harks ‑ CUSD 303
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
GoPro is the new age in using videos in the classroom. Come and experience some of the ways GoPro can enhance
student learning in and out of the classroom. You will be amazed.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Turquoise A/B
Blogging From the Ground Up
Andrea Kornowski ‑ Kettle Moraine School District
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Are you looking to start your own professional blog or have you considered implementing blogging in your classroom?
This session will help you gain the confidence to move forward with your decisions tomorrow. This session will cover
the groundwork for teaching digital citizenship, choosing your blogging platform, and the “how to” in implementing
blogging tomorrow.
10:00 am‑10:45 am ‑ Zanies
Share your story: giving students a voice through digital storytelling
Corey Holmer ‑ Crystal Lake School District 47, Jamie Trow ‑ Crystal Lake District 47
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Our words tell stories, our voice brings stories to life. Digital storytelling gives voice to students’ ideas, knowledge, and
emotions. Storehouse, Adobe Voice, and Google StoryBuilder allow students to develop creative and collaborative
multimedia and authentic projects. These educational technologies have the power to transform your students’ work
into globally published masterpieces. Within this workshop, we will explore these powerful tools, and you will
experience classroom application firsthand as we support you in creating a story of your own. The story may remain
the same, but the digital presentation will bring the story to life.
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Augusta I/II
The Portal Pillar: It all Begins with the App Launcher
Bernie Acs ‑ University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Jim Peterson ‑ Bloomington Public Schools
Strand: Technology Infrastructure
Session will examine the Federated Service Stack for K12 with a strong focus on the Identity services component.
The operational components and how these are used to provide schools with controls and logical constraints to
implement the AppLauncher portal to benefit their entire population. How can this interface be used to segregate what
it presents based on a given users role and function at their district? How can an administrator customize the content
and visual components of the portal to reflect their district preferences? These two core‑questions will be used to
support an interactive presentation and discussion.
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Broadway A
Blogging to Relieve ELLs' Writing Anxiety
Maggie Essig ‑ Evergreen Park School District 124
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Low anxiety environments are key to an English Language Learners’ success in acquiring English. However, writing is
often a difficult domain for an English Language Learner to develop due to the anxiety it often triggers. Attendees will
learn how implementing blogging provides ELL students low‑anxiety and meaningful opportunities for writing practice
(both output and interaction) that are necessary to develop literacy skills.
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Broadway B
Google Classroom at a Glance
Mary Iwanski ‑ Merton Community School District
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Bring your device and prepare for a hands on learning adventure through Google Classroom. This is a beginner look
at how you could be using Google Classroom to easily share announcements and assignments with your students.
Follow with me as I allow you access to a Google classroom as a student, and in turn show you what I am seeing as a
teacher. This is your opportunity to make the chaos of shared Google docs, copying templates, and submitting and
returning assignments disappear. Walk away with the knowledge and confidence to start your very own Google
classroom with your students Monday morning.
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Broadway C
(S)ubstitution, (A)ugmentation, (M)odification, (R)edefinition: Schoology and Other Learning Management
Systems
Kirsten Rusinak ‑ Riverside Brookfield Township High School, District 208, Bridget Wilmot ‑ Riverside Brookfield High
School District 208
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
In this interactive session, the presenters will demonstrate the many possibilities for enhancing instruction and
engaging students when using learning management systems. While this session will focus on Riverside Brookfield
High School’s 1:1 pilot with Schoology, the principles of the session can be applied to any learning management
system. Using the SAMR model (Substitution; Augmentation; Modification; and Redefinition), the presenters will set
up a framework for organizing virtual classrooms and creating digital repositories of resources. Additionally, the
presenters will share specific examples across disciplines of Schoology use and discuss how learning management
systems can help educators become leaders in curriculum. Attendees are encouraged to bring a device to engage in
the student experience of digital learning as the session walks the audience through each feature of the SAMR model.
This session addresses the Digital Age Teaching and Learning Conference Strand.
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Coral
Quick assessments with Socrative
Steve Layne ‑ Sacred Heart School, Rob Pacey ‑ PBL Unit 10 Schools
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Socrative provides teachers with a powerful assessment tool to use in their classroom. It can be used to quickly poll
your students or can be programmed for tests and quizzes. Socrative provides instant live feedback as your students
answer. It creates reports for both the class and for each student allowing you to reteach to the entire class or a small
group of students. The best part is it runs on any device or in any browser and it's free! Come and check out why you
need to use Socrative!
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Exhibit Hall Spotlight Stage
Blogging: A Blank Canvas for Educators
Nicholas Provenzano ‑ Grosse Pointe Public Schools
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
In this session, teachers will explore how blogging can be used by all K12 students as a portfolio, a personalized
space for creative ideas, and a wonderful place for reflection. Teachers will also see how they can use it for
themselves as a place to communicate, grow, share, and reflect on best practices over the course of the school year.
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Jade
Canvas Makes Teaching and Learning Easier
Kurt Beer ‑ Instructure
Strand: Technology Infrastructure
As schools adopt new technologies and learning initiatives to keep pace with changes in education, learning
management systems are more critical than ever to help unify teaching tools and to manage change. Learn how the
Canvas LMS enables teachers and administrators to streamline instructional delivery, communication, student
tracking, and reporting.
11:45 am‑ 1:15 pm ‑ Lucky Pierre 1
10 Techie Ways to Keep Parents Informed
Tracy Ward ‑ Mahomet‑Seymour Schools, Kelli Kirby ‑ Mahomet‑Seymour Schools
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Have you ever wanted a simple way to give parents a glimpse into their child’s daily classroom life or remind them of
something simple like tomorrow is PJ Day? In this poster session you will learn 10 ways to keep your parents and
families informed and involved using technology. From Instagram to text alerts, come and find new ways to
incorporate parents into the classroom without extra stress by using technology tools. We will have easy to use,
readily available examples of using Class Dojo, Skype Readers, Video Math Problems, Classroom notification apps,
Instagram and other social media sites, Send Home QR code Homework, plus a few more. Join us and you’ll be sure
to walk away with some new tricks you can start right away!
11:45 am‑ 1:15 pm ‑ Lucky Pierre 2
Connections
Melissa Quintana ‑ South Berwyn School District 100
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
One of my first grade students is traveling with her parents this year. The class and I are staying connected with her
through google hangouts once a week, checking each other's blog posts, homework checks on computer programs
and letters/packages sent to and from each one another.
11:45 am‑ 1:15 pm ‑ Lucky Pierre 3
Embedding Technology in Every Lesson
Amanda Baum ‑ DeKalb CUSD 428, Kelli Hamilton ‑ DeKalb CUSD 428
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Wondering how to approach the use of technology in the classroom? How can you take a typical lesson plan and
enhance it with technology? We'll present online tools such as powtoon, padlet, and edmodo. We'll talk about ways
to use technology for assessment, skill building, and building background knowledge.
11:45 am‑ 1:15 pm ‑ Lucky Pierre 4
iCan2, Incorporating Technology into a self‑contained Special Education Classroom
Dana Scalzitti ‑ South Berwyn School District 100 , Dee Verest ‑ South Berwyn School District 100
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Dana Scalzitti and Dee Verest are Special Education Teachers for a self‑contained classroom from South Berwyn
School District 100. The population of students in their classroom consist of children with Autism, Down Syndrome,
Cerebral Palsy, Fragile X and Intellectual Disabilities. In their poster session they will share their experiences and
tools they use to incorporate technology into their classroom. Some of the technologies used are accessibility settings
on the iPads and MacBooks, implementing lessons on the SMARTboard, fun iPad applications, assistive technologies
such as the Big Mac and switches, iMovie and much more!
11:45 am‑ 1:15 pm ‑ Lucky Pierre 5
Math is Flipping Awesome!
Carrie Griffin ‑ WCE
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Have you read about flipped learning and wondered what it would take to make this happen in your
classroom?Turning your class into a flipped learning environment is not as scary as it sounds. Attend this session for
tips and tricks on flipped learning from a teacher using it in an upper elementary special education math class.
11:45 am‑ 1:15 pm ‑ Lucky Pierre 6
Primary Sources in the Professional Learning Community
Lisa Dettling ‑ Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Lisa Dettling, Head Librarian at Adlai E. Stevenson High School will demonstrate the use of free primary sources
using materials available through the Library of Congress. Discuss how to inspire departments to incorporate primary
sources in their curricula.
11:45 am‑ 1:15 pm ‑ Lucky Pierre 7
Using of Multimedia and Interactive Projects in the ELA Classroom
Susan O'Day ‑ Prairie Hills School District 144, Scherrie Davis ‑ Prairie Hills School District 144
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
We will focus on the various types of technology and media that are engaging for students in the English Language
Arts classroom. Our students will be working on various multimedia and interactive projects ranging from an
interactive research paper to Genius Hour projects.
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Mainstage Theater
Google Tools: Helping You Be a Superhero in the Classroom
Katie Aquino ‑ High School District 86 (Hinsdale), Jim Bondi ‑ Hinsdale South High School
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Google tools! The 21st century teacher is inundated with changing curriculum, shifting
standards, new technologies, & much more. This session will show YOU how to leverage Google tools to increase
efficiency, organization, & time management outside your classroom so that you can be your best inside your
classroom.
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ New Orleans Ballroom
Sharing the Student Voice
Erin Klein ‑ Cranbrook
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Klein has spent the past year capturing inspirational moments of children shining through helping others learn. Klein
shares examples of children who are helping one another in creative ways. See how highlighting student voice can
support classroom practices and create a more student‑centered learning environment.
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Preservation Hall A
Coding with the Core in Mind
Heather Knobloch ‑ CCSD59, Marisol Audia ‑ CCSD59
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Have you ever felt left behind because the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) courses worked
on coding all of the time? I know many teachers have felt the same. As an ELA teacher, coding may seem like a
challenge, but if you let your imagination guide you, you’ll see that coding in ELA can be tied to Common Core
Standards and therefore, possible! Perhaps, you would rather like to travel through history and decode a secret
language, much like the Hieroglyphs are to us today! Come join the conversation as we walk you through examples of
lessons that focus on story elements after creating a Flappybird masterpiece.
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Ruby
Polishing Your Chrome Browser
Michael Geraghty ‑ Consolidated High School District 230
Strand: Technology Infrastructure
While any Google Apps user will tell you that the Chrome browser is ideal for their work, it can do so much more than
just edit your Drive documents. With a variety of extensions, settings tweaks, keyboard shortcuts and other “hacks”,
Chrome can be the only browser you will ever need or want!
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Salon I
Do you want to build a snowman?
Super Awesome Sylvia ‑ Super Awesome Sylvia Maker Show
Strand: Make it!
Description: Getting kids making can be hard, get some tips from a kid maker. Learn about "Super‑Awesome"
Sylvia's journey as she shares with you her maker spirit, upcoming projects and more. Sylvia is excited to spend time
with you as she demonstrates an experiment, shares a project from her book and gives examples of how you can get
started in making with your students, at home with your kids or just for fun!
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Salon II
Teacher Revolution
Josh Stumpenhorst ‑ NCUSD 203
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
With a changing landscape of teaching and learning in our schools, how can teachers and administrators be prepared
to meet the needs of this new generation of learners? Hear stories and anecdotes from in class experiences and gain
a roadmap for future practice on a school and district level.
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Salon III
1:1 Success, More Than Devices in Everyone's Hands
Philip Pulley ‑ Fieldcrest CUSD #6
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
One of the popular trends in educational technology is the movement to 1:1 learning environments. Regardless of the
device chosen, improving the effects on students and learning requires planning, supervision, training, and
pedagogical change. This session will look at one‑to‑one implementation from the point of view of both administration
and classroom teachers. We will discuss research on one‑to‑one learning, transforming teaching and student
learning through additional opportunities, resources, and techniques—like flipped classrooms, mastery learning, and
project based instruction—that are made possible in a one‑to‑one environment. We will look at planning for
implementation (including surveys, piloting, and LMSs) and professional development for teachers (including types of
training and duration) and support for users and the technology. We will also discuss technology monitoring systems
and share considerations for sharing information electronically with students, including those without home Internet
access.
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Salon IV
Make Parent Teacher Conference Scheduling Painless!
Ed Joras ‑ AllCovered
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
The PT Conference Maker system automates the majority of the work involved in this time consuming task. This is
accomplished primarily by enabling parents of K‑8 and High School students to schedule conference with their
children’s teachers on‑line. Learn how to easily implement this system for your teachers and students.
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Salon V
Designed for Success: Professional Development and Digital Badges
Angela Elkordy ‑ National Louis University
Strand: Professional Learning
Professional presence is so important for educators, particularly in the digital age. What do you know? How do you
communicate your present skills or plan to develop additional competencies? Digital badges are a way to make
professional learning targets visible. By articulating learning pathways and providing evidence of learning, digital
badges can foster meaningful goals for professional development. Districts can set their own learning goals aligned
with school improvement objectives. Educators can accumulate digital badges through their districts, or through
rapidly developing opportunities available online and in other contexts. Craft your professional presence using digital
badges to showcase your competencies and skills! Digital badges can be earned, then displayed in various online
contexts (eportfolios, blogs, social media, online resumes, "digital backpacks"). What kinds of skill sets would you like
acknowledged and recognized? Resources will be shared. Suitable for teachers and administrators.
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Sapphire
HP Partner Managed Print Services
John Olson ‑ HP
Strand: Technology Infrastructure
Optimize, manage, and improve printing and digital workflows with HP Managed Print Services (MPS). HP combines
our innovative hardware, software, and services to help your organization harness the power of information within
your printing environment.
The value you gain from HP MPS depends on the particular needs of your business. Whether you’re looking for point
solutions or a full MPS consult and customized offering, HP has the expertise and technology innovation to optimize
your printing environment, digitize and automate workflows, simplify management, and increase security—all while
helping to lower your costs.
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Skybox 4
In the Cloud: File Storage, Collaboration, and Communication with Office365
Wendell Sumter ‑ Microsoft & Chester County School District
Strand: Professional Learning
Office 365 provides virtually anywhere access to familiar Office tools, free e‑mail, shared team sites, online document
editing and storage, instant messaging, as well as video conferencing for students, faculty, and staff ‑ and it is free to
your district! Using the new SharePoint, teachers will learn how to build class and team sites. Through Lync, teachers
can meet virtually for parent conferences, team or student meetings, or to just touch base with struggling students.
They will also learn strategies to stay organized, easily share files, and use SkyDrive’s Office Web Apps.
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Skybox 5
FileWave: Complete Systems Management for OSX, Windows and iOS
Jerry Case ‑ FileWave
Strand: Technology Infrastructure
FileWave's Complete Systems Management software: Image, Deploy, Manage/Maintain and Inventory. FileWave’s
multi‑platform capabilities for Windows and Mac OS X offers flexibility and more granular control of files, both
pre/post‑deployment.
Key Features: Self‑healing of files, Rollback/Scheduling Tool, Resume Interrupted Deployments, facilitate Updates
and an end‑user Kiosk/catalog. Seamless iOS MDM enables you to streamline and manage all platforms within a
single Admin Interface.
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Turquoise A
Increase Student Achievement through Blended Learning with i‑Ready
Don Masters ‑ Curriculum Associates, Arelys Villeda ‑ Chicago Public Schools
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Come hear how one Chicago Public School is seeing students make great gains in a blended learning model with
i‑Ready Diagnostic & Instruction, a web based computer adaptive assessment and online instruction program on a
single platform. The K‑12 adaptive diagnostic, written to the CCSS for both Reading and Mathematics, pinpoints
students' strengths and areas of instructional need, and prescribes a path of both teacher directed and online lessons
to grow student achievement. Engaging, motivating, and proven to work, i‑Ready is a perfect fit for whole school
implementation, Tier 2 and Tier 3 instruction, supporting ELL students, and motivating Special Education students.
11:45 am‑12:30 pm ‑ Zanies
Let Me Tell You a Story
Mark Hess ‑ St. Paul's Lutheran School Bourbonnais
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Tell me a story daddy! Jokes, George and the cherry tree, Honest Abe. A great story is at the core of education.
Common Core requires that students create narratives from kindergarten on. Kids love to tell stories so much so we
have to cut them off in class. They say,"can I just tell you.... " Let's give them a device and have them save it for later
to bank it for later refinement.... It is still writing when they dictate it to a device and the device does the typing... Let's
get them published! We will look at the hows of great story telling as well as the tools that get children to share them
with you, classmates, family and the world.
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ Augusta I/II
The Identity Pillar: Single Sign On and Data Security
Bernie Acs ‑ University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Jim Peterson ‑ Bloomington Public Schools
Strand: Technology Infrastructure
Q: What’s behind the security of the Presentation Pillar known as the Portal? A: The Identity Pillar! This session will be
a discussion of the Single Sign On technology. We’ll see the process for district participation and how the district data
is protected. Hear from two districts about their set up and experience. The logical next step is to manage the birth
and life of a user account and a discussion of technology to automate and manage the associated identity.
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ Broadway A
Let's try another way to measure student learning
Dr. Tom Jackson ‑ Aurora University; William Anderson, student, Taylor Techenbrock, student ‑ Aurora University
Strand: Professional Learning
Research indicates that students are most engaged when prompted to learn using achievable challenges.
Classrooms that function in this way are active and developmental. In active classrooms students look forward to
exploring and learning. Why then, aren’t students excited to express their knowledge in classroom discussions or on
achievement tests?
In this workshop we’ll review several ways to formatively assess student knowledge that are anonymous, immediate,
and provide the analytics and narrative necessary for teachers to structure targeted lessons for students. We’ll review
“EZ & free” technology tools that collect immediate student input (todaysmeet, polleverywhere, participoll) as well as
those that do not require devices (plickers)to reveal critical thinking as well as factual knowledge. Attendees will learn
to design and use free classroom technologies, and confidently teach use of these EZ tools to their students or
colleagues.
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ Broadway B
Going 1:1 – A Teacher Panel/Discussion
Joel Margliano ‑ Consolidated High School Distrcit 230
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Have you already gone 1:1 or have you thought about going 1:1 in your classroom or district? Come join in this panel
discussion of teachers from a variety of subject areas as they talk about the District 230 1:1 program and how it has
evolved. Which device is better to use, or does it matter? How has using a device in the classroom changed the
students and the teachers? What direction do we head in? How Google and other tools have played a big part of our
program. Share your input and become a part of this interactive session. Session moderator – Joel Margliano –
Instructional Technology Manager and coordinator of the D230 1:1 program.
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ Broadway C
Visually Jazz up your Content
Al Ochsner ‑ SD 304
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
You can visually Jazz up your lesson. Art usually takes a backseat to content, but the right visuals can be used to
drive your curriculum. How can you use your art ability (or undiscovered potential for art ability) to pique your
students' interests? How can you use visuals in your media? Tools are available. Discover sites and direction to
develop the visual stimuli to motivate your class. Cultivate of your art ability. Find out why there is an A in STEAM.
We need more "A" s in our class.
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ Coral
Selecting and Integrating The Best Digital Tools for Learning
Tamara Kaldor ‑ Common Sense Media, Laura Ferrell ‑ D 123
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
There are thousands of educational apps, websites, and games out there. How can educators identify the best for
learning? Learn about essential edtech skills that help you discover and integrate digital tools for learning with the free
platform Graphite by Common Sense Education. Graphite offers rigorous ratings and reviews by teachers of learning
products, covering a broad range of core academic subjects such as math and ELA, and all products are aligned to
Common Core State Standards. You’ll hear from an Assistant Principal and Graphite Certified Educator who uses
Graphite as a tool and common conversation among teachers about how to use the best tools for learning with
students. You’ll also hear about App Flows, a framework on Graphite that helps teachers integrate technology into
their lessons with pedagogical intent.
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ Jade
Managing Large Technology Deployments
Michael Aloba ‑ KBS, Erica Bell ‑ KBS
Strand: Technology Infrastructure
KBS has installed more than 450,000 desktops, notebooks, tablets, printers and interactive whiteboards into
classrooms throughout the country. For more than 23 years, our technicians and engineers have spent countless
time in wiring closets, under desks and in classrooms installing technology. We have established excellent processes
and best practices while working with our K‑12 customers on their deployments. If your school/district is planning to
deploy new technology, this session will provide unique insight and valuable information on how to have a successful
experience.
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ Mainstage Theater
Digital Age Teaching with Blended Learning
Eric Patnoudes ‑ CDW•G
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Attendees will learn how to implement the Rotation Model of Blended Learning. A variety of websites will be shared
that will allow for teachers to aggregate various types of content into a central location such as Blendspace, Learnist,
Google Forms and TedEd. At the end of this session, participants will understand the value of an Blended Learning as
it applies to student motivation and engagement and be equipped with some practical ways to do achieve this
approach in their classroom.
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ New Orleans Ballroom
Digging Deeper into Persuasive Writing and Non‑Fiction for Elementary Authors
Erin Klein ‑ Cranbrook
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
A great way to engage students is with collaborative projects that align to Common Core standards. In this session,
Erin Klein shares a few projects she did with her second grade class to dig deeper into the Common Core.
Understanding the need to bring students to a higher level and encourage critical thinking while still maintaining a
stress‑free, fun environment, Klein offers strategies to achieve this workshop model in a K‑2 setting. As a member of
The National Writing Project, Klein emphasizes the importance of writing as a process and stresses the importance of
collaboration. You'll see two writers' workshop projects her class published while they worked together to support
each others' learning.
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ Preservation Hall A
Storyboard That!
Rob Pacey ‑ PBL Unit 10 Schools, Steve Layne ‑ Sacred Heart School
Strand: Make it!
Looking for new ways to reach out to visual learners? Storyboard That is a simple way for students to find their
creative voice in a unique media format. The drag‑and‑drop storyboard creator includes characters, scenes and text
features that help all types of learners communicate ideas and concepts. Attention ELA Teachers! Use the storyboard
framework for endless possibilities: Plot Diagrams, Cause and Effect, Story Mapping, Character Traits, Conflict and
Symbolism.
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ Ruby
A Walk in the PARCC
Jason Janczak ‑ Grayslake Central High School, Barb Georges ‑ Grayslake Central HS
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Join these administrators for a discussion on how to best use technology to prepare not only students but staff for the
upcoming PARCC assessments. Issues that will be discussed will range from school‑wide scheduling, to teacher
professional development, to student preparedness for the assessment. Come to this session to make sure your staff
and students are ready for success on PARCC!
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ Salon I
Truly Unleashing Creativity with Mobile Devices
Shawn McCusker ‑ Libertyville High School
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
The Ultimate Evidence of Learning is Creation. This session will explore the many possible avenues for creative
student expression made possible with iPad, Chrome Books or other devices as well as ways to create and foster a
CULTURE of creation in your school or classroom. Also discussed will be the barriers to creation that exist
institutionally and philosophically.
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ Salon II
You Can’t Make IT Happen If You’re Not Connected
David Tchozewski ‑ Jenison Public Schools
Strand: Professional Learning
The day of a teacher being the sole resource for student learning is long gone. Today, with the help of technology, you
can be connected to many resources for teaching and learning. In this session, we will explore a few of the current
ways to “connect” with other educators across the planet including Google+, Glide, Voxer, LinkedIn and more. Join us
in this session if you want to expand your personal learning network (PLN).
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ Salon III
1:1 Deployment in the Middle School: iSucceed, WeSucceed
Candace Marcotte ‑ Glenview School District #34, Helene Davitz ‑ Glenview School District #34
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
How do you prepare students and staff for a 1:1 resource allocation? Both presenters successfully deployed a 1:1
Resource Allocation Initiative distributing and supporting 1800 Middle School students and 200 staff members with
devices. How do you manage all of the resources and make information navigable and digestible? How do you keep
the focus on learning at a deeper, more meaningful level? Learn how we effectively navigated the challenges of
deployment and successfully reshaped the learning environment. We will share strategies, resources, and our
school’s journey of change and transformation from year 1 to year 2 of deployment.
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ Salon IV
Google Forms for Everyone!
Kate Fahey ‑ Lockport Township High School District 205
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Come learn new and exciting ways to use Google Forms in your classroom. We'll explore ideas for not only teachers,
but also technology staff and administrators. We'll even get a little geeky with some awesome add‑ons that can send
out automatic emails or even grade the form so you can use it for assessments.
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ Salon V
Windows 10: What’s next for Windows in Education
Troy Sharpe ‑ Microsoft
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Please join us for a look at what’s next for Windows in Education. Windows 10 is the platform for doing, helping
education institutions unlock the potential of students and teachers.
This session will focus on three areas:
•Better learning outcomes: technology should help students learn and improve the education process.
•Affordable devices and solutions: We understand the need for a range of devices and solutions to meet the diverse
needs of schools around the world.
•Simple to deploy and manage: For 1 classroom or 100, 1 Teacher or 1,000 Windows 10 allows schools to deploy
and manage their way.
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ Sapphire
1:1 on a Budget
Michael Kuzniewski ‑ J.S. Morton High School District 201, Keith Beisman ‑ J.S. Morton High School District 201
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
J. Sterling Morton High School District 201 has one of the highest free and reduced lunch rates in the state and yet
they have successfully rolled out a 1:1 initiative starting this school year. Come learn from the district leaders how
they received a grant enabling this project, how they decided on a device, how they organized and managed
professional development and how they managed the logistics to allow this challenged district to take a significant
step forward in preparing their students for college and career.
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ Skybox 4
The Ultimate Collaboration Tool: An Introduction to OneNote
Wendell Sumter ‑ Microsoft & Chester County School District
Strand: Professional Learning
With Microsoft OneNote, you can create digital notebooks that support academic standards and education outcomes
across disciplines and tasks, such as writing, reading, mathematics, science, history, CTE, and elective courses.
Students may use OneNote across content areas and grade levels, and use OneNote to compile and organize
unstructured information, research, and content. OneNote also supports research, collaboration, information
management, communication, note taking, journaling, reflective writing, and academic requirements.
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ Turquoise A/B
PBS LearningMedia: PreK‑12 Introduction to Digital Learning Tools
Faith Carr ‑
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
"PBS is a leading source of digital learning tools for grades PreK‑12 classrooms and the gateway for educators to
access these resources is through PBS LearningMedia." Join Faith Carr, a 2014 PBS LearningMedia Digital
Innovator, for an overview of the major components of this vast online resource portal. PBS LearningMedia content is:
highly searchable contextualized materials, aligned to state and national standards, materials complement curriculum
and teaching strategies, ie. Flipped Classroom, Project Based Learning, Inquiry Based Learning, STEAM, etc., has
won 2 CODiE Awards for excellence in education (Best K‑12 Solution), and was recognized as a “Cool Tool Award”
from EdTech Digest (e‑learning). Take a look at the site at http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/, then come with
questions you have on how to implement these invaluable resources in your classrooms. Video, interactives, images,
primary source documents, audio, lesson plans, self‑paced lessons, and productivity tools for students and teachers,
PBS LearningMedia has it all!
12:45 pm‑ 1:30 pm ‑ Zanies
From QR to AR
Michelle Thorne ‑ Orland School District 135
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Learn how to spice up your student activities with the implementation of Augmented Reality (AR). This session will
include a basic how‑to introduction on using the Aurasma app from the App Store or Google Play on your Tablet. Not
only is this great for engaging classroom activities, but this is also a great resource to showcase student work and
increase parent involvement.
1:45 pm‑ 2:30 pm ‑ Augusta I/II
The Data Pillar: Real Time Data Collection, Validation and Reporting
Bernie Acs ‑ University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Strand: Technology Infrastructure
Q: What automates the data for cloud‑based applications, ISBE SIS reporting and more? A: The Data Pillar! This
session will demonstrate the successes of the 30+ Race to the Top Districts who have been using the IC Data
Services to allow educators access to data, resources, and tools that will enhance student performance. The project
incorporates real time ETL to a central, cloud‑based data store available for Illinois School Districts including a data
validation and correction, error reporting services and a set of analytical tools to allow interoperability between student
data, assessments, and other data related to student achievement and learning. You will hear from two districts
involvement with this IlliniCloud service, as well as extensibility of the tools for your district. We will see the process for
how additional districts can participate and how your district data is protected.
1:45 pm‑ 2:30 pm ‑ Broadway A
It's Elementary My Dear Watson‑‑Research With Digital Databases
Debbie Kaczar ‑ Community Unit School District 300, Bridget Demetriou ‑ Community Unit School District 300
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Engaging research and digital resources for elementary students. We will give overviews of several subscription and
other digital resources, lesson plans, and research ideas for elementary students. Sharing by all is encouraged.
Research outcomes identified in the CCSS include: Conduct short research and more sustained research projects;
Gather relevant information from multiple sources, including digital and print; Demonstrate understanding of the
subject matter; Assess credibility and accuracy of sources; Integrate information while avoiding plagiarism; Draw
evidence to support analysis, reflection, and research. Check out some subscription databases and digital resources
to get students excited about research.
1:45 pm‑ 2:30 pm ‑ Broadway B
Top 10 Strategies to Communicate with Mobile Devices
Julie Reinhart ‑ Saint Xavier University, Renee Robinson ‑ Saint Xavier University
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
This presentation will showcase 10 ways to use mobile devices for communicating with students in the learning
process. We will address ways to increase teacher‑student and student‑student interaction in face‑to‑face courses
with a focus on communication aimed at formative and summative assessment via student engagement and
peer/instructor connection. Case studies will be used to illustrate how to effectively communicate with students during
the learning process. The case studies will focus on all phases of the writing process and on creating video
documentaries for social studies classes. The methods for communicating in each case study translates well to other
subjects and instructional projects.
1:45 pm‑ 2:30 pm ‑ Broadway C
Parent Communication Made Easy
David Fisher ‑ School District Palm Beach
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
As a teacher, I’ve often told colleagues that I work the parents of my students as hard as I work my students.
Meaning: I strive to over‑communicate to my parents. Why? No surprises means little to no problems. Every
teacher is different when it comes to parent communication. In today’s fast paced digital world, where news of your
classroom is on FaceBook before your students even arrive home, you must have a communications strategy in place
for you classroom just like you have a behavior management plan in place. This session will help you do just that!
Learn how the digital tools you use daily can be used to your advantage without adding more work to your already
packed schedule.
1:45 pm‑ 2:30 pm ‑ Coral
NGSS, Literacy, and Tech
Kristin Thorsen ‑ CLED#47
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Are you or your district struggling to find time to cover the Next Generation Science Standards? Come and learn how
the CCSS and NGSS can align during an elementary literacy block using technology resources. Specific classroom
activities will be shared with a focus on iPad stations (not a one to one environment).
1:45 pm‑ 2:30 pm ‑ Jade
Gaga for Google‑ Helping Staff Take the Leap to GAFE
Patience Bertana Patience Bertana ‑ Mundelein Elementary School District #75, Dan Swartz ‑ Mundelein Elementary
District #75, Camron Nystrom ‑ Mundelein Elementary District #75
Strand: Professional Learning
Do your teachers give you a Poker Face whenever you discuss GMail transitioning? Do you and Microsoft have a
Bad Romance? Need help remembering when friends were Born. This way to a session in which we will share our
tips and tricks for effective professional development that helped our K‑8 staff go GAGA for Google. We’re in our
second year of full staff deployment and first year of student implementation. Come learn from our challenges and
successes!
1:45 pm‑ 2:30 pm ‑ Mainstage Theater
Creating a Genius in Every Hour: 20 Time in Education
Nicholas Provenzano ‑ Grosse Pointe Public Schools
Strand: Make it!
Giving students one day a week to work on anything they want may sound like madness, but it is one of the best
things that can happen in the classroom. Students explore passion projects on their own, while the teacher acts as a
guide on the side. This session will explain what 20 Time is, how it can be integrated into the classroom, and why you
should make the change as soon as possible.
1:45 pm‑ 2:30 pm ‑ New Orleans Ballroom
Let's Publish! Tools for Digital Storytelling
Patti Harju ‑ St. Stephen School
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Students have many great stories to tell. Web 2.0 tools and iPads offer a variety of creation and publishing options
from the quick and easy to the more detailed. Using technology to create and publish engages students in a way that
paper and pencil never did. This combination of engagement and creativity has transformed my classroom and the
way my students write. My students know their writing will travel beyond the walls of our classroom. I will share my
students' digital writing created and published using a variety of Web 2.0 tools including Storybird, Kidblog, iMovie,
and iPad apps including Puppet Pals, Shadow Puppet as well as Paper Slide Videos. Visit our school tech wiki to see
examples. www.ststech.wikispaces.com
1:45 pm‑ 2:30 pm ‑ Preservation Hall A
Playful Learning Part 2: Finding The Best Classroom Games
Zack Gilbert ‑ McLean County District Unit No. 5
Strand: Make it!
What are the essential questions to ask yourself when looking for games? Educators are implementing games in their
classrooms in many ways and although there is a wide variety of games, there are some tips that apply across most
games to help you maximize your chances of a successful implementation. This session will get you started with tips
and strategies on finding, selecting and using games that will be the right fit for you and your students.
1:45 pm‑ 2:30 pm ‑ Ruby
Play to Learn! How to Implement Effective Game‑Based Curriculum
James Sweet ‑ UChicago Charter School
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
The potential benefits of game‑based learning are now well established in educational research, but the
nuts‑and‑bolts of this kind of digital teaching and learning are still unfamiliar to many educators. This session focuses
on practical strategies for effective implementation of game‑based learning in the elementary grades. The North
Kenwood/Oakland campus of the UChicago Charter School has developed a supplemental game‑based learning
curriculum for grades 2 through 5. Participants will learn some tested techniques and receive proven resources for
ensuring deep student learning of important concepts (with an emphasis on science) from games such as Max and
the Magic Marker, GameStar Mechanic, World of Goo, and Spore. In addition, participants will learn how to use game
play to teach computational thinking skills such as abstraction. Finally, participants will learn how to assess
game‑based learning and have an opportunity to evaluate authentic student artifacts.
1:45 pm‑ 2:30 pm ‑ Salon I
Telling Stories with the Youtube Editor
Jim Sill ‑ EdTechTeam
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Lots of us have uploaded video to Youtube. Now learn how to edit your videos with Youtube's amazing editing
features. Video production teacher and Youtube Teacher Studio presenter, Jim Sill, will walk you through the basics of
the cinematic narrative using Youtube’s online Editor and show you how to produce better videos with your own
content right in the browser. Learn to take advantage of the amazing tools hidden in the tool like Creative Commons
videos, music, voice overs and more.
1:45 pm‑ 2:30 pm ‑ Salon II
Engage! Using Google Apps to Enhance Learning
Michael Biondo ‑ Maine South High School, District 207, Allison Gest ‑ Maine District 207
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
The purpose of this session is to model and present ways to make Google Apps for Education work for you.
Transform the teaching and learning process in a way that will encourage reflection, organization, communication, and
collaboration with and among students. Tips, tricks, and strategies for engaging students in high‑level learning
activities will be explored and examples will be shared.
1:45 pm‑ 2:30 pm ‑ Salon III
iPad apps A to Z ‑ apps for all classrooms
Brandi Argentar ‑ District 125, Christina Erickson ‑ District 125
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
In this day and age when more and more schools are going to 1 to 1 devices it is difficult to maneuver through all of
the apps out there. In this session we will share with you a laundry list of apps, some free and some paid apps, that
can be used in any classroom across any curriculum. Our hope is that you leave this session with at least a few new
apps on the brain.
1:45 pm‑ 2:30 pm ‑ Salon IV
Unleashing the Teacher Technologist
Jeffrey Hunt ‑ Concordia University Chicago, Ardelle Pate ‑ Concordia University Chicago
Strand: Leadership
The teacher technology specialist can support teaching and across grade levels and classrooms as well as provide
professional development and support to learning communities. This presentation identifies those capacities. A
wide‑ranging discussion with session participants will further identify emerging practices and success stories. Digital
handouts will be provided. Bring a tablet or laptop to use them.
1:45 pm‑ 2:30 pm ‑ Salon V
Literacy Lessons for a Digital World
Meg Knapik ‑ Barrington CUSD 220, Jamie Diamond ‑ Barrington CUSD 220
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Wikis, blogs, and podcasts are necessary tools needed to make curriculum more relevant to 21st century learners.
We will also delve into the world of social media to motivate students to become better writers, readers, and speakers
in order to meet the Common Core Standards. Harnessing the power of these tools will encourage a learning
environment fostering creativity, collaboration, and engagement. Specific ideas for using wikis, blogs, and podcasts
will be shared to help get you started, as well as ways to share student work with a global audience via Twitter and
YouTube. You will walk away with a plethora of ideas for authentic formative and summative assessment
opportunities.
1:45 pm‑ 2:30 pm ‑ Turquoise A/B
Utilizing Chromebooks in order to engage 21st century learners
Hilary Stevens ‑ NSSD112
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Chromebooks in elementary classrooms? You bet! This session is focused on how to set up your classroom for
success, upcycle resources to teach Common Core standards, and find fun websites/apps/extensions to meet the
needs of all learners. Be sure to join me if you are finding Google devices arriving in your classroom soon or if you
would like some new ideas!
1:45 pm‑ 2:30 pm ‑ Zanies
Browser Battle ‑ Why Chrome Remains Supreme?
Andy Fekete ‑ Indian Prairie School District 204, Steve Wick ‑ Neuqua Valley High School / IPSD #204
Strand: Professional Learning
So much of our technology lives are spent living within a browser. In the battle of browsers, why get caught in one
that slows you down or throws too much at you? In this session, we will explore why Google Chrome remains
supreme. Apps, Extensions, the Omnibox for search and much more, accessibility to your connected Google services
are just some of the features of Chrome that put the smackdown on every other browser. You will walk away with
some tips and tricks as well as a better of understanding as to how to take full advantage of Google Chrome and how
it can make a huge difference in the your online experience.
2:45 pm‑ 3:30 pm ‑ Augusta I/II
IlliniCloud 3 Pillars: The Future of the Federated Services Stack
Bernie Acs ‑ University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Strand: Technology Infrastructure
This session will be a panel discussion with partners who have developed the IC 3 Pillars from the previous sessions,
and the outstanding questions within future enhancements to the Federated Service Stack for K12. State partners,
including those from the state of Nebraska, will participate in discussing how we are collectively taking a
standards‑based approach that aligns with district need for ownership and security of their identity, data and
presentation and the policy implications for districts.
2:45 pm‑ 3:30 pm ‑ Broadway A
iPads for Teachers
Peter Kupfer ‑ Lake Zurich District 95
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
A lot of focus is placed on how students use the iPad in the classroom as a learning tool. In this session we will look at
apps and tools that the teacher can use to make use the iPad for organization, classroom management, teaching, and
fun.
2:45 pm‑ 3:30 pm ‑ Broadway B
Increase Communication Using Twitter
Chris Vipond ‑ Libertyville District #70
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Communication is the goal…Twitter is the Tool!
Participants in this session will see how classroom teachers have used Twitter to increase communication with
parents in addition to how the District 70 Technology Department has used Twitter to increase communication with
parents and staff. It takes a lot of time to constantly update a classroom website or blog to keep parents updated, but
it only takes a minute to keep them updated with a tweet.
2:45 pm‑ 3:30 pm ‑ Broadway C
Teaching Today for Tomorrow
Renée Cartier ‑ Discovery Education, Cheris Beaty ‑ CCSD 62, Ania Figueroa ‑ CCSD 62
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
CCSD 62 is a pre‑k through eighth grade school district in Des Plaines, IL that has begun a partnership with
Discovery Education (DE). The Professional Learning Framework that D62 is embarking on with DE, is called the
Digital Leader Corps (DLC), and is comprised of teachers and building principals, who will receive foundational
professional development to build capacity to: effectively integrate digital content to accelerate student engagement
and achievement by introducing, reinforcing, extending, assessing, and remediating student mastery of curricular
targets. model and share best practices for and with their peers to effectively integrate content, tools and technology
to ensure that instruction is learner‑centered and responsive, and initiate a Digital Leader Corps learning community
that employs the Continuous Improvement Model to achieve long term goals to shift pedagogy and better serve
students.
2:45 pm‑ 3:30 pm ‑ Coral
Using Kidblog to create ePortflios for students
Lauren Beversdorf ‑ Bannockburn School
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Short presentation of how Spanish middle school classroom uses Kidblog.org and how instructor is using it in her
classroom, followed by guidance setting up participants own students' blogs and ePortfolios. Participants will join a
Kidblog site created in this session to practice using it, and then create their own for their own student's use.
Participants should bring a device to practice and create during this session.
2:45 pm‑ 3:30 pm ‑ Jade
Genuine Teacher Leadership for Change
Kevin Konsler ‑ Ridgewood High School, Lisa Balata ‑ Ridgewood High School
Strand: Professional Learning
When designing professional development experiences for teachers, who knows better about their areas of interest
and growth opportunities than the teachers themselves? Many years ago, it became apparent that the professional
development programs, speakers, and videos currently available in the name of professional development weren’t
meeting our needs. When we went in search of speakers for one of our Institute Days, we realized that we need look
no further than our own staff for cutting edge ideas in curriculum, instruction, and assessment. As a result, the staff at
Ridgewood has a dynamic voice in the design of their professional development experiences. Our model empowers
teachers through a distributed leadership framework, most evident when staff members design and implement
workshops for colleagues centered on identified professional development needs. This presentation will highlight how
schools of any size can empower their teacher to be leaders and develop a meaningful professional development
program.
2:45 pm‑ 3:30 pm ‑ Mainstage Theater
Danielson and Technology
Jennifer Goettsche ‑ Libertyville HS 128, Jason Janczak ‑ Grayslake Central High School, Barb Georges ‑
Grayslake Central HS
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
: From Domain 1 to Domain 4, the three administrators who are presenting in this fast paced and engaging session
will show you tools you can use to improve your ratings from proficient to excellent! Tools and resources
demonstrated will engage students, develop effective assessments, communicate with parents, manage classroom
procedures, and much more. Come learn from these three certified classroom evaluators and take your teaching to
the next level!
2:45 pm‑ 3:30 pm ‑ New Orleans Ballroom
A Year of Living Dangerously ‑Implementing Making Into the Curriculum
Vinnie Vrotny ‑ Kinkaid School
Strand: Make it!
In early 2013, I was given the permission and received the funding to transform a 625 square foot computer lab into a
Maker space. This event began one of the most transformative and exhilarating journeys of my professional career. In
this session, I will share the lessons that I learned along the way, Additionally, I will provide a variety of school models
showing how you can begin to implement Making into a variety of curricula, from the humanities to STEM courses
using low cost tools set up in a corner of your room and scaling up to full blown fab labs. I will share how I was able to
create a safe place designed to break down the barriers to unleash a student’s creativity by creating a place for them
to tinker, explore, experiment, fail, learn, and grow.
2:45 pm‑ 3:30 pm ‑ Preservation Hall A
Middle School Robotics
Bill Barnum ‑ Woodridge District 68
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Attendees will learn about teaching a middle school robotics class using VEX Robotics Kits and Robot C. Teachers
will see samples of hardware and software, learn about instructional techniques, and discuss ways that a robotics
program can complement math and science classes.
2:45 pm‑ 3:30 pm ‑ Ruby
Infusing Reading Intervention with Technology
Michelle Kedzierski ‑ Orland 135
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Teachers of small group reading intervention will benefit from learning how to combine research based intervention
strategies and programs with technology to boost student engagement and interest levels. Technologies discussed
will include haiku deck, socrative, kahoot, google docs, student blogging, twitter in the classroom, SMART tools, and
many more.
2:45 pm‑ 3:30 pm ‑ Salon I
Connected Educator
Josh Stumpenhorst ‑ NCUSD 203
Strand: Professional Learning
As our world grows increasingly flat, how does the role of an educator change to reflect that landscape? This session
will delve into the role social media plays in connecting educators and the moral imperative to share good work. In
addition, specific examples will be shared on how being a connected educator has direct impact on student learning.
2:45 pm‑ 3:30 pm ‑ Salon II
Googlefficient!
Eric Hansen ‑ Zion School District 6
Strand: Professional Learning
Using a Chromebook or Chrome browser educators will learn how to be Googlefficient utilizing Chrome Apps and
Extensions‑ when presenting to your class, Google Apps‑ for holding in class discussions and meaningful
communication, and G+ Hangouts‑ for team planning and differentiated student presentations.
2:45 pm‑ 3:30 pm ‑ Salon III
Chromebook Ninja Training
Adad Ocampo ‑ Maine Township High School
Strand: Professional Learning
Did you know your Chromebook has hidden shortcuts that let you use your it more efficiently? Learn some tips and
tricks that will help you maximize your Chromebook experience.
2:45 pm‑ 3:30 pm ‑ Salon IV
"Shark Tank" in Your Classroom
Justin Ohlinger ‑ CCSD93
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Overview of how to set up "Shark Tank" with your students. Students brainstorm to invent a new product, then work
with Sketchup to develop prototypes and Gimp to create their invention. Students not only work on creating new
products, but also develop entrepreneurial skills by producing digital magazine ads and commercials with iMovie.
Finally, students pitch their product to the "Sharks" in an effort to convince them to invest.
2:45 pm‑ 3:30 pm ‑ Salon V
Engaging All Learners In a 1:1 Classroom
Lisa Berghoff ‑ Township HS District 113
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
Today's classrooms have a wide variety of learners at different levels, including students with 504's and IEP's. Come
and learn from Lisa Berghoff, Special Educator for 19 years, about free, online tools that will have all of your students
participating, learning, and having fun. Topics will include classroom management, formative assessment, creation
tools and more.
2:45 pm‑ 3:30 pm ‑ Sapphire
The Online Learning Environment
Eric McFadden ‑ West Leyden High School
Strand: Digital Age Teaching and Learning
This session will explore how to create and teach an online class. Topics will include: curriculum development, the
use of Google Drive, student communication and learning management systems. Additionally, student performance in
the online world will be discussed.
2:45 pm‑ 3:30 pm ‑ Turquoise A/B
Where Have All the Web Tools Gone?
James Gubbins ‑ Maine Township High School District 207
Strand: Professional Learning
The past few years have provided an explosion of Internet based resources and applications designed for use on
mobile devices. Social Media was abuzz with excitement for how these assets could be integrated into the curriculum
to make lessons more engaging. Lately, there has been a noticeable lull in the enthusiasm for resources and a push
towards pedagogy and assessment. Join this session for a candid discussion focused on how to start applying the
wealth of tools you have already collected in ways that are meaningful, sustainable and transformative!