2026 Concurrent Sessions

Session Tracks:
DATL:  Digital Age Teaching & Learning
LPD: Leadership & PD
Special Session Notes: Listed at end of tracks.

 

Experience Level:
N: Novice
INT: Intermediate
A: Advanced
TP: Tech Professional
Audience:
DA: District Administrator
SA: School Administrator
CI: Curriculum & Instruction
IC: Instructional Coach
IT: IT Director/Coordinator
TI: Technology Integrators
LMS: Library Media Specialist
GE: Teachers/All Educators

Concurrent Sessions Round One

10:15 - 11:15 | Tuesday

Move past isolated coding activities and step into a collaborative, cross-curricular environment. In this hands-on session, participants will experience how Kai Bots transform abstract computer science concepts into tangible, 3D learning adventures. By integrating physical robotics with Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), students don’t just “move a robot” they are solving complex missions that require high-level spatial reasoning and critical thinking. We will demonstrate a framework for K-12 integration and attendees will leave with a roadmap for implementing collaborative robotics that fosters student agency and deepens engagement across grade levels.

Speaker: Megan Sprague

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: IC,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Technology in the classroom is moving faster than ever. In this session, we’ll break down the most significant updates to Google’s educational platform from the past year. We will cover the core shifts in how educators can use integrated intelligence to differentiate instruction, manage classroom devices more effectively, and prepare students for a digital-first world. Perfect for anyone wanting a high-level update on the current state of Google for Education.

Speakers: Samantha Reeder & Jennifer Brown

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

As schools face increasing demands, AI offers a powerful way to work smarter and lead more strategically. In this session, you’ll explore Google Gemini, with customizable Gems enabling automated professional communications, instructional infographics, and school-improvement goal planning. You’ll also see Google NotebookLM in action‚ a tool that transforms completed school data, such as IEPs, safety plans, and climate surveys, into actionable summaries, insights, podcasts, and study aids. Using authentic examples, this hands-on session demonstrates how educators and leaders can summarize documents, organize complex information, generate insights, and streamline daily tasks‚ all while protecting the data.

Speakers: Rita Mortenson & Brian Cox

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

While critics claim 1:1 devices fuel anxiety and distraction, the real challenge is passive use‚ not the technology itself. This session shows how purposeful, creation-focused implementation transforms devices into tools for storytelling, problem-solving, and multimodal expression through video, voice, and creativity. We’ll explore accessibility benefits textbooks can’t provide and share a proven framework for shifting students from passive consumers to empowered creators. Learn how intentional tech use amplifies student voice, fosters collaboration, builds confidence, and develops creativity and human skills that thrive alongside AI, and leave our session prepared to flip the script.

Speakers: Bethany LaDue Nugent  & Jason Krug

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,DA,IT,CI,TI

During this session, CDW will showcase all the newer options when it comes to modernizing your classroom. We will discuss topics such as interactive displays and accessories, language translation options, casting solutions, digital signage, and lots more.

Speakers: CDW

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: GE

AI literacy isn’t a skill students simply “figure out”‚ it must be taught. This session traces one district’s journey from the AI “Wild West” to a structured, policy-driven implementation. Learn how we empowered staff with Brisk Teaching and Gemini to streamline workflows, then transitioned that expertise to students. We’ll showcase sophomores using NotebookLM as a personalized tutor for resume building and interview prep, plus our roadmap for scaling these skills into senior Law and English courses. Join us for a balanced look at policy, pedagogy, and practical outcomes.

Speakers: Courtney Lovell & Christopher Schiemann

Room: 

Grades: 9-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Time is a teacher’s most precious resource. This session breaks silos between Wisconsin districts to help you get back to your contracted hours. We facilitate a structured “speed-networking” discussion focused on Teacher Efficiency and Student Innovation. Participants will be grouped by grade level and discipline to share “What’s Working Now” from automated grading workflows to AI-enhanced lesson planning. Leave with a list of peer-vetted tools and a regional network of collaborators. We are crowdsourcing time-saving wins to ensure AI reduces the workload instead of adding to it. Join us to find your AI cohort and reclaim your prep time through collaborative genius.

Speakers: Jesse Schwingle & Hannah Gill

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: IC,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Empower your math instruction by moving beyond static curriculum to a world of dynamic, AI-generated resources tailored for every learner. This hands-on session empowers educators to streamline the creation of high-quality instructional materials using AI. We will explore how to rapidly generate tiered practice sets, real-world modeling tasks, and low-floor high-ceiling activities that engage every learner. Participants will discover how to use AI to design custom scaffolds, error-analysis tasks, and precision formative assessments. Walk away with strategies designed to immediately infuse your daily math instruction with efficiency and equity.

Speaker: Tina Lemmens

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: IC,CI,GE

Keeping our elementary students focused through a screen can feel a lot like herding kittens in a thunderstorm, can’t it? But don’t wiggle away just yet! This session is a stepping-stone moving past simple “can you hear me?” video calls. We’re diving into the “magic dust” of teaching‚ real pedagogical strategies that turn sleepy viewers into active explorers. In this session, we will explore some wonderful ways to keep hands busy and brains growing! Attendees will leave with a virtual engagement toolkit full of ideas you can use in your classroom the very next day!

Speaker: Amanda Washa

Room: 

Grades: K-6
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,CI,TI,GE

For too long, Special Area teachers‚ Art, Music, PE, Library, and CTE‚ have operated in “content silos,” often disconnected from the high-stakes Math and ELA data that drive district decisions. But what if the “hidden” literacy in a music theory lesson or the protractor-perfect angles of a Kandinsky-inspired masterpiece could be surfaced, measured, and tracked with a single click? This session is designed for those who want to master The Art of Alignment. We will move beyond basic AI hacks to explore how leaders can use generative tools to synthesize complex district data and prove that specialized instruction isn’t just an “extra”‚ it’s a vital engine for core academic success.

Speakers: Lindsay Sayles & Shelley Gard

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: GE

Most AI conversations in education start with the prompt. This session argues that’s the wrong starting point. Drawing on the Critical Continuity framework, developed across my entire teaching and learning career, this session makes the case that teachers need to build their own intellectual frameworks first, then use AI to pressure-test and refine them, and finally use those frameworks to evaluate everything they create for the classroom. A teacher-built framework functions as a pedagogical accountability system, not a content generator. Attendees will leave with a model for building their own framework and a clear argument for why it should come before any tool they pick up.

Speaker: Nicholas Schueller

Room: 

Grades: 9-12
Experience Level: Advanced
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,IC,DA,CI,TI,LMS,GE

The administrative demands on special education teams are immense. This session, co-presented by SPASD’s Digital Media team and Special Ed Program Manager, explores how AI tools like NotebookLM, Gemini, and Brisk ethically reclaim educator time and enhance student support. We cover four key areas:

  1. IEP Technical Writing: Synthesizing data into professional drafts while maintaining privacy.
  2. Scheduling: Strategies for optimizing service provider rotations.
  3. Instructional Differentiation: Transforming core lessons into multiple versions tailored to IEP goals and reading levels.
  4. Student Agency: Using AI as a scaffold for executive functioning and alternative expression of knowledge.

Speakers: Stephanie Sauer & Anne Stanislawski                               
Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,CI,GE

Can you escape an inaccessible “classroom” through applying low effort/high impact accessible content tips? Learn by doing in this hands-on presentation and group activity! There are benefits for ALL students when we proactively design learning environments and resources that are accessible and inclusive. Armed with simple but effective best practices, we can begin to remove barriers to learning with online content. Our gamified session will include resources to take with you and immediate practice/application of what you are learning about accessible content.

Speakers: Larissa Zompolas, Meri Tunison & Steve Duffrin

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: IC,CI,TI,LMS,GE

This session explores best practices for strategic AI adoption across classrooms, schools, and districts. Participants learn to build a coherent vision, engage stakeholders, and implement sustainable, equitable AI practices.

Speaker: Holly Clark

Room: 

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Experience Level: 
Convention Track: 
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12:45 - 1:45 | Tuesday

In its second year, CESA 4’s STEAM Fair has evolved into a high-energy student showcase. This session breaks down our structured framework for managing a large-scale event, growing from 100 to over 200 participants in just one year. We will demonstrate our “AI Play Lab”: a guided tool where students can brainstorm, iterate, and refine project ideas based on their personal interests. Participants will explore the specific AI prompts and organizational tools we used to streamline the planning process, manage logistics, and foster a culture of innovation. Come see first-hand student examples of their STEAM Fair projects and learn how to design your own STEAM Fair.

Speaker: Megan Sprague

Room: 
 
Grades: K-8
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Come to the “tech buffet”. Teachers can “sample” various tools and only take what they actually want to use in their classrooms. You are sure to come away with a bunch of great ideas, or you don’t have to tip your waiter. We will present practical classroom uses for these tools: NotebookLM, Gemini, Flippity, Brisk, Canva, and Magic School. I wanna hear from you as well.  After we learn, we discuss, you try it out, and repeat. This session is fast and the tips are hot.

Room: 

Grades: K-8
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: IC,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Turn your lessons, announcements, and social media content into engaging, high-quality videos‚ no advanced editing skills required! With Canva for Education (FREE for all educators!), you can easily create and edit videos using pre-made templates, drag-and-drop tools, animated stickers, background remover, and even AI-powered features. Whether you’re making classroom tutorials, slideshow videos, Instagram reels, or school promotions, this session will give you hands-on experience to bring your ideas to life. Walk away with the skills to record, edit, enhance, and share videos like a pro!

Speaker: Rita Mortenson

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

The challenges that K-12 IT departments face have changed.  Student 1 to 1 programs born out of the pandemic have become the new national standard in K12.  Meanwhile, the federal grant programs that funded these device initiatives are no longer available. The total number of devices under management has drastically increased, breakage rates have gone up, and IT headcount has by and large remained the same.  How can schools, with the tools they have available to them today, create a financially sustainable 1 to 1 program and deal with all of these challenges?  Join CDW Education to learn about our approach to full client device lifecycle management and see how we have helped schools implement programs that address these issues.

Speaker: Chris Hanson

Room: CDW

Grades: 
Experience Level: 
Convention Track: 
Audience: 

Cybersecurity is EVERYONE’S responsibility. According to the US Dept of Ed, districts experience an average of 5 cyber incidents per week. How do you prepare for a significant cyber-attack? We know our IT team will “pull the plug” but what happens next? How do schools operate without digital systems? Attend this session to experience & plan a tabletop exercise for your organization. Learn about how to engage and enlist building principals, directors, & clerical staff in a scenario that gets them thinking about, “What if?” This is a fast-paced session designed for non-techies; IT staff are welcome. Leave with steps and strategies that you can implement right away with your leadership team.

Speaker: Elizabeth Freeman, Tera Rogers & Zone Vang

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,DA,IT,CI

As established information literacy leaders, library media specialists are committed to working with other district leaders to implement policies and strategies around the use of AI in education. In the newly revised Future Ready Librarian Framework, which is used for district library planning, AI is highlighted in multiple areas featuring developing AI literacy and responsible, ethical use. Additionally, library media specialists use the Wisconsin Information and Technology Literacy Standards for both direct instruction and collaborations. In this session, we will explore how these tools and others help school libraries play an essential role in this evolution of education.

Speaker: Monica Treptow

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Tech Professional
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,DA,IT,LMS,GE

Looking for a high-engagement strategy for any grade or subject? Podcasting amplifies student voice while building literacy, critical thinking, and collaboration. In this interactive session, educators explore how podcasting supports speaking, listening, research, and standards-based learning in grades 4K-12. Experience a‚ Podcasting Tool Slam Choice Board‚ as a learner, comparing tools like Seesaw, WeVideo, Adobe Podcast, Canva, Brisk, and NotebookLM. Walk away with ready-to-use lessons, a simple workflow, and practical strategies to launch podcasting immediately, no special equipment required.

Speaker: Gina Marchionda

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,CI,TI,LMS

This session showcases how elementary & middle school students use AI tools (Gemini GEMS) to become independent, student-led learners. Grounded in real classroom practice, we demonstrate how AI supports inquiry, problem-solving, and ownership rather than replacing thinking. Participants will explore ready-to-use GEMS, engage in hands-on collaboration, and leave with practical tools including AI protocols, implementation strategies, and classroom systems that can be used immediately.

Speakers: Samantha Rolbiecki & Betty Glander

Room: 

Grades: K-8
Experience Level: Tech Professional 
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: IC,CI,GE

Enhance inquiry-based learning by exploring practical strategies for integrating AI tools into the C3 (College, Career, and Civic Life) Framework. Gain hands-on experience and discover how AI can support students throughout all dimensions of inquiry. Learn how to introduce AI tools gradually and effectively within each stage of the inquiry process, ensuring a smooth and manageable transition. Proficiency scales and classroom examples will be shared as we emphasize the appropriate use of AI and take steps to thoughtfully and intentionally put AI into the hands of students.

Speaker: Jake Boll

Room: 

Grades: 9-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,CI,TI,LMS,GE

The heartbeat of social studies is the compelling question, yet many classrooms are stuck in the delivery of facts. How do we move from the theory of the Inquiry Design Model to inquiry-based, high-engagement lessons that work in a 45-minute block? The answer lies in using AI as an Inquiry Engine‚ a tool that doesn’t just provide answers but helps students and teachers curate the perfect questions and primary sources to investigate them.

Let’s shift to the “how” of high-leverage implementation. We will demonstrate how to use generative AI to transform static curriculum into immersive, evidence-based investigations that meet state standards while sparking genuine student curiosity.

Speakers: Lindsay Sayles & Shelley Gard

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Participants will explore how artificial intelligence can power up Professional Learning Communities by making collaboration more efficient, focused, and impactful. This session highlights strategies for using AI to clarify standards, learning targets, and success criteria; design aligned assessments that provide meaningful evidence of learning; and support curriculum development across teams. Participants will also examine how AI can enhance a Multi-Layered System of Support (MLSS) through the curation of additional resources. Discover how AI can deepen analysis, streamline processes, and support data-informed decisions while staying grounded in the four critical questions of a PLC.

Speaker: Jennifer Olson

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,CI,GE

A student drops a flawless assignment in minutes: then can’t explain it. That’s AI fatigue. This session shows how I fight it with badges, leveling systems, and esports-style structure in my web design class. Using retro-gamification‚ clear rules, visible progress, and skill unlocks students shift from quick completion to real mastery, ownership, and pride in their work.

Speaker: Jim Vaughn

Room: 

Grades: 9-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,IT,CI,GE

Schools are being asked to do two things at once: accelerate technology and AI readiness, and respond to growing concerns about student mental wellness, sleep loss, and distraction. Leaders need guardrails that avoid, ban everything‚ or anything goes. This session shares a classroom-tested, neuroscience-informed decision framework and implementation moves used in 6-12 settings to balance learning impact, attention cost, well-being risk, and skill value. Participants will practice the 4-filter tool and leave with practical routines, scripts, and an action plan they can implement immediately.

Speaker: Kurt Wismer

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Discover powerful Generative AI tools designed for authentic, student-centered experiences. This hands-on session spotlights practical, research-backed strategies, powered by thoughtful AI integration, to engage all learners.

Speaker: Holly Clark

Room: 

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Experience Level: 
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2:15 - 3:15 | Tuesday

Traditional direct instruction often creates a bottleneck in the classroom. In this session, we demonstrate how to leverage LIFToFFS Learning Collaborative and Google’s NotebookLM to create “Digital Learning Hubs” that empower students to navigate complex content at their own pace. By grounding the AI in specific course materials; textbooks, primary sources, and teacher-curated PDFs, students receive instant, sourced-backed answers to their questions, freeing the teacher to facilitate high-level Performance-Based Assessments that are rooted in the community. We will share a workflow for transforming units into interactive, AI-guided explorations that use the LIFToFFS four core experiences.

Speakers: Megan Sprague & Brad Malpert

Room: 

Grades: 9-12
Experience Level: Advanced
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: IC,CI,TI,GE

This session details the Sun Prairie Area School District’s (SPASD) comprehensive, human-centered roadmap for scaling AI literacy and PD across middle/high schools. We move beyond “cool tools” to share a framework balancing teacher efficiency and student agency.

Speakers: Anne Stanislawski & Curt Mould 

AI Staff Planning Team: Lisa Allaman, Nicholas Watkins, Maggie Gugel, Joel Coyne, Karen Walters

Room: 

Grades: 9-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Have an idea? Let AI write the code. In this session, discover how AI and Google Apps Script can streamline workflows, automate tasks, and enhance learning in K-12 education. You’ll see how you can generate and refine scripts for Sheets, Docs, and other Google tools‚ no advanced coding required. Hear how our school district has used AI-powered automation in creative ways to save time, simplify processes, and bring efficiency to both classroom and school operations. Walk away with practical strategies to automate your work and unlock the full potential of Google tools.

Speakers: Rita Mortenson & Brian Cox

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Educators will investigate the collapse of youth mental health in the era of smartphones, social media, and big tech while discussing ways we can promote a healthier childhood for our students. Jonathan Haidt proposes four simple rules that might set us free and describes steps that parents, teachers, school, and tech companies can take to end the epidemic of mental illness. Our discussion is based on Jonathan Haidt’s book, but reading before the session is not required.

Speakers: Amy Frank & Sarah Wendorf

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: GE

 

Speaker: CDW

Room: 

Grades: 
Experience Level: 
Convention Track: 
Audience: 

Within the context of Wisconsin’s Act 42, how do we embrace AI and EdTech while protecting students from the “Great Rewiring”? This session shifts the focus from tech output to the student brain. Drawing on Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation, we’ll explore how phone-based childhoods erode cognitive endurance. We will move past mandate compliance to discuss why “phone-free” spaces actually improve intentional EdTech integration. Participants will learn to distinguish between high-agency tools (AI, LMS) and low-agency distractions (algorithmic feeds). Leave with a framework to reclaim student focus and balance the digital-human scales. No book required!

Speakers: Jenny Seymour & Larissa Zompolas

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Discover how artificial intelligence can enrich your math classroom. Using NCSM’s national AI guidance, explore practical strategies, tools, and examples that keep teachers in charge and students thinking deeply. Learn how to use AI to enhance reasoning, creativity, and access‚ without losing the heart of great math teaching.

Speakers: Kim Pencil & Tina Lemmens

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,CI,TI,GE

In the rapidly evolving AI landscape, the ability to transform raw data into actionable intelligence is a foundational skill for the modern student. This session presents a proven, classroom-tested roadmap for teaching the complete five-step data analysis process: Collect, Clean, Analyze, Visualize, and Communicate. Participants will explore a high-impact curriculum that has already demonstrated success using a massive dataset of over 271,000 FBLA Olympics Athlete records. We will demonstrate how students move beyond the limitations of standard spreadsheets‚ addressing row limits and speed issues in Excel‚ by mastering a diverse toolset including SQL, Python (Pandas), and Tableau.

Speaker: Kate Kaster

Room: 

Grades: 9-12
Experience Level: Intermediate 
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: CI,TI,GE

Today’s principals face an unprecedented load, balancing instructional leadership, culture building, operations, compliance, and communication. This session demonstrates how generative AI can serve as a powerful, ethical, and reliable support system to help leaders do their work more efficiently and with greater clarity. Drawing from real implementation in a middle school setting, this presentation will show how AI can accelerate the drafting of observation notes, strengthen feedback in alignment with performance standards, streamline family and staff communication, generate protocols and systems, and support data-driven decision-making. Participants will see concrete examples.

Speaker: Jeremy Lubus

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,DA,CI

The greatest challenge in the classroom isn’t a lack of data; it’s the time required to act on it. AI offers a solution, but only if as the teacher we know how to engage with the tool to move beyond basic queries to explore strategic prompting to specifically design for diverse learners. 

In our session, participants will learn how to move from generic AI prompts to ones which scaffold and support students with IEPs, multilingual learners, and high achievers simultaneously. Together, we will dive into how to transform a single lesson plan into a multi-tiered learning experience by designing prompts that save time, ensuring ALL students’ needs are continuously met.

Speakers: Tom Freesmeier & Misi Kandel

Room: 

Grades: 6-8
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: IC,TI,LMS,GE

In this interactive session, educators will explore simple, playful ways to build Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy with students in grades PK-3.

Through movement, games, and unplugged activities, teachers will see how complex technology concepts can be translated into engaging classroom experiences for early learners. Lessons in the session will be aligned with Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS), ensuring activities and materials are developmentally appropriate for young learners. Participants will leave with ready-to-use activities and ideas for helping our littlest learners become curious, thoughtful users of AI in an increasingly digital world.

Speakers: Kate Euler & Jennifer Olson

Room: 

Grades: K-7
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: TI,LMS,GE

Young people’s lives are filled with digital media. In the age of AI-generated media, supporting students in becoming savvy, critical consumers is more important than ever. Let’s practice our media literacy skills by analyzing how media is made. We’ll discuss ways to analyze the messages media creators send, with a special emphasis on the creative decisions creators make. Discover how these creative choices shape our students’ perceptions and actions. We’ll share tips, tricks and free resources from public media for analyzing media and discuss how to inspire students to become more critical consumers of media.

Speaker: Nick Ostrem

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: IC,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Is the “screen time struggle” a family concern? We heard our community and families! In this session, learn how a multi-departmental team shifted from one-off events to Connected and Balanced, a sustainable monthly digital wellness series. We’ll offer a “behind-the-scenes” look at our cross-departmental collaboration, covering monthly theme curation (like “Pro-Social Video Games” to “Screen Time Contracts”), planning, communication, and translation to support all families. This “make-and-take” workshop provides templates and planning guides to immediately start building your own district-wide series.

Speakers: Elizabeth Chavez & Amy Jaeckel

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS

This session demonstrates how AI can enhance inquiry-based learning by personalizing questions, providing instant feedback, and supporting authentic exploration connected to student passions.

Speaker: Holly Clark

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3:30 - 4:30 | Tuesday

Grab a “slice” of innovation with the GEG Wisconsin community! In this high-energy, rapid-fire session, local educators from the Google for Education group will lead you through a series of 5-minute lightning talks showcasing the best of Google Workspace for Education. From Gemini time-savers to Classroom hacks, we’re tapping into the collective wisdom of the Badger State. Think of it as a Friday night fish fry for your brain‚ fast, satisfying, and uniquely Wisconsin. Whether you’re a “Newbie” or a “Tech Pro,” you’ll leave with a bushel of fresh ideas to transplant directly into your classroom. Ope, don’t miss out!

Speakers: Deb Norton & Gina Marchionda

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

The voters of the School District of Belleville approved safety enhancements for the District in April 2025. That included a new public address system that integrated the Standard Response Protocol by leveraging Informacast. Learn how the Belleville worked with first responders and technology vendors to develop a system to support our District’s safety plan.

Speakers: Jim Schmitt, Chris Armstrong & Becca Johnson

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Advanced
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,DA,IT

Discover how NotebookLM is helping teachers and school leaders work smarter, faster, and more strategically. In this session, you will see authentic examples of how educators and administrators use NotebookLM to summarize documents, organize complex information, generate insights, prepare communications, support professional learning, and streamline daily tasks. Presented by a school leadership team, this session focuses on practical strategies that save time while improving clarity, efficiency, and decision-making. Whether you are new to NotebookLM or ready to expand its use, you will leave with ideas you can apply immediately in your own school.

Speakers: Rita Mortenson & Brian Cox

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

As educational landscapes evolve, the demand for integrated STEM education has moved beyond elective clubs into the core of the elementary experience. This session outlines a comprehensive five-year journey of implementing a robust STEM pipeline, beginning with the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Launch curriculum for PreK-5 and culminating in a competitive middle school robotics program.

Participants will explore how to tap into the “naturally wired” exploratory nature of young learners through hands-on activities that blend computer science, engineering, and biomedical science with foundational Math and ELA standards.

Speakers: Kalli Peterson, Matelyn Farber & Jimi Zawacki

Room: 

Grades: K-8
Experience Level: Tech Professional
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

 

Speaker: CDW

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This session provides a practical update on Wisconsin DPI initiatives shaping teaching and learning in 2026, including the revised Information and Technology Literacy (ITL) Standards, AI guidance, and digital learning efforts. Participants will explore how these initiatives are already being applied in schools and libraries, with examples from early adopters, pilot districts, and professional learning networks. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of what’s new, what’s working, and how to apply these efforts locally.

Speakers: Amanda Albrecht, Amy Bires & Monica Treptow

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Tech Professional
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) ensures access for every learner, NotebookLM helps you build it faster and smarter. In this interactive session, educators will explore how NotebookLM can support multiple means of representation, engagement, and expression by transforming curriculum materials into summaries, guiding questions, study supports, and differentiated resources. Participants will learn practical strategies for using NotebookLM to reduce planning time while increasing access, clarity, and student voice. Leave with ready-to-apply ideas that make UDL actionable‚ not overwhelming.

Speaker: Kim Pencil

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Tired of searching for the “perfect” math visual? Stop settling for generic clip art and start generating precise, custom curriculum assets. This session moves beyond theory to showcase proven classroom results using AI image generation to visualize complex word problems, geometric concepts, and abstract functions. Demonstrations on how specific prompting techniques have already increased student engagement and conceptual clarity in school settings. Participants will see real work samples, learn to create inclusive mathematical diagrams, and leave with a toolkit of prompts to immediately transform their lesson delivery.

Speaker: Mary Walz

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Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: IC,CI,TI,GE

Keep up with all of the great features being added to Google Classroom! Note that most of these features are only available in Google Workspace for Education Plus so if your district has Google Fundamentals, you may not see all of these features. This session will demo tools such as Practice Sets, Read Along, Classroom Insights, Gemini Feedback on Writing, Audio and Video Recordings. If your school allows students to access Gemini and NotebookLM, you’ll learn how they can be shared via Google Classroom as well.

Speaker: Jake Boll

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Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

We know the weight of 400 daily micro-decisions and the burnout of being at max capacity. Students thrive when we are present, but it’s hard to show up when buried under prep and IEP compliance. This session is a lifeline to move AI from “one more thing” into your most reliable partner. Grounded in Danielson and UDL, we use Brisk, NotebookLM, and Gemini to automate the clerical so you can amplify the pedagogical. We will live-model the Bridge Method to instantly match accommodations to classroom scaffolds. Let AI handle the heavy lifting so you can remain the Human Sentinel, the heart of the classroom. Leave with a Prompt Library to bring the joy back to your teaching.

Speakers: Emily Jussila, Jessica Weiss & Scott Roehl

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Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Discover how to create a powerful synergy between AI tools and the research and inquiry process in secondary classrooms. We’ll move past the basics to show you how to transform Gemini Gems and NotebookLM into a reliable set of research partners that handle the “heavy lifting” of organization and feedback. Learn how to design a “hand-off” between these specialized tools, using Gems to spark initial curiosity and NotebookLM to manage complex evidence, making it easier to guide learners through multi-step, long-term projects. You will explore how to help learners investigate bias, challenge their own perspectives, and maintain a “human-in-the-loop” framework.

Speaker: Zak Lenski

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Grades: 9-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: IC,CI,GE

Experience the power of student agency in this K-8 innovation showcase. Our students aren’t just consumers of technology; they are creators using STEAM to solve real-world Wisconsin challenges. This session features live demonstrations of student-built prototypes, ranging from early robotics to AI-assisted environmental solutions. Attendees will see the direct results of a school-wide STEAM culture that prioritizes hands-on, project-based learning. Discover how we scaffold technical skills across grade levels to turn kindergartners into curious investigators and 8th graders into capable engineers ready for the future.

Speaker: Britni Walz

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Grades: K-8
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,DA,CI,GE

Organizing a successful tabletop exercise (TTX) is not an easy task. This session will provide valuable tips and tricks on timing, layout, and gathering support and involvement from key stakeholders. Learn how to implement changes within your organization to enhance the security posture of your district. Discover best practices for conducting TTX activities, from setting objectives and developing scenarios to conducting after-action reviews and creating implementation plans. Whether you’re new to TTX or looking to refine your approach, this presentation will equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to run impactful exercises that drive real improvements in security.

Speaker: Amy Jaeckel

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Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Advanced
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,IC,IT

Participants explore strategies to integrate AI-powered formative assessments that provide instant, personalized feedback, enabling students to monitor their own growth and take ownership of their learning.

Speaker: Holly Clark

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8:15 - 9:15 | Wednesday

Digital games and interactive media have evolved from simply entertainment into powerful learning tools in PK-12 classrooms. In this session, we’ll explore how public media is designing free, classroom ready games and interactives that spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and connect directly to academic standards. You’ll get an inside look at games, interactive lessons, and immersive media that bring history, science, media literacy, and authentic First Nations cultures into your learning environment. Collaborate with fellow educators to brainstorm creative, realistic ways to plug these tools into your own teaching.

Speaker: Nick Ostrem

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Grade Level: K-8
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: IC,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Discover how Canva can help educators create polished, eye-catching materials quickly and creatively. This interactive session explores unique and practical ways to design classroom resources, school communications, presentations, certificates, social media graphics, and more using both beginner-friendly tools and advanced features. Learn how to use AI-powered design support, background remover, magic resize, translation tools, brand kits, and hidden shortcuts that save time while elevating quality. Whether you are just getting started or already comfortable in Canva, you will leave with fresh ideas, practical tips, and ready-to-use strategies for your school community.

Speaker: Rita Mortenson

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Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

This panel highlights how Wisconsin districts are implementing AI guidance through DPI-supported tools and resources. Panelists from CESA-led projects will share real examples of AI readiness toolkits, governance practices, and classroom use cases developed through statewide contracts. Participants will hear how districts are addressing policy, instruction, and equity while building AI literacy across systems. Attendees will leave with practical insights and strategies for applying AI guidance in their local context.

Speakers: Amanda Albrecht & Amy Bires

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Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

 

Speakers: CDW

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This session will explore how two educators (one teacher, one tech coach) transformed a classroom experience by empowering students to authentically design and thoughtfully integrate artificial intelligence throughout an entire instructional unit. Participants will learn how intentional structures and clear expectations allowed for meaningful AI integration without the experience devolving into what might be described as an AI rodeo. The session will provide practical strategies for fostering student ownership, critical thinking, and purposeful engagement with emerging technologies.

Speakers: Michelle Walny & Abigail Felten

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Grades: 9-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,IT,CI,LMS,GE

Ready for the ultimate AI showdown? Join Deb Norton and Naomi Louise for our high-energy, annual AI SmackDown! We’re stripping away the hype to deliver a rapid-fire showcase of the most effective AI tools and resources for 2026. Whether you’re looking to revolutionize classroom instruction, personalize student learning, or streamline leadership workflows, this interactive session has you covered. Come ready to vote for your favorites, discover game-changing resources, and leave with a digital toolkit packed with transformative power. Don’t just keep up with AI‚ lead the way!

Speakers: Naomi Louise & Deb Norton

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Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

This session focuses on using AI as a thought partner to design meaningful instruction‚ not just generate materials. Facilitated by a middle school Math and ELA team, participants will be guided through a structured process to build a lesson, unit component, or instructional resource during the session. We will model effective prompting, revision, and decision-making while keeping rigor and student thinking at the center. Participants will leave with something they created and a process they can use immediately.

Speakers: Jessica Weiss & Emily Jussila

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Grades: 6-8
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,IC,TI,GE

Need help navigating dozens of open Chrome tabs, finding lost Drive files, and keeping up with evolving technologies? Join us! We’ll improve your online efficiency by optimizing your toolbar, tabs, bookmarks, and more. Learn useful tricks like how to collapse tabs into groups, create and organize bookmark folders, and customize your Chrome experience. We’ll also demo how Google AI tools such as Gemini and NotebookLM can be used to improve efficiency and productivity in our digital lives.  Instead of adding more to your plate, let’s organize it!

Speaker: Jake Boll

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Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly entering education, yet many teachers are unsure how to use it in ways that save time while maintaining professional judgment and student privacy. This session introduces KAIIT (Kairo Artificial Intelligence IEP Tool) a practical AI workflow developed by a special education teacher to support the complex process of writing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Rather than replacing teacher expertise, KAIIT follows a 90/10 partnership model, where AI performs the heavy drafting work and educators provide the professional insight, compliance review, and student-centered context.

Speaker: Tim Ranis

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Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,TI,GE

Over the past three years, our school transformed what was newly renovated space into a fully functioning STEAM program, evolving from a shared lab model to a dedicated STEAM specials class for all students. In this session, I’ll share what we’ve learned along the way‚ what worked, what didn’t, and how we built a sustainable program and effective learning environment. You will also have the chance to explore and interact with the materials we use, leaving with practical ideas and strategies to start or strengthen your own STEAM or Makerspace programs.

Speaker: Derek D’Amico

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Grades: K-6
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,CI,LMS,GE

Artificial intelligence is ubiquitous and growing exponentially. While it is easy to use when one has critical thinking skills, developing those skills when such tools exist is becoming more challenging. This presentation will discuss the ethical implications of AI in our society and schools, how to teach students to use AI with a critical mindset, and how to detect AI-generated writing in order to ensure that students are still thinking for themselves.

Speaker: Kim Butterfield

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Grades: 9-12
Experience: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Ready to move from AI-apprehensive to AI-empowered? This session shares a step-by-step journey of school-wide AI integration. We cover the essentials: assessing staff readiness, teaching students’ safe usage, and establishing ethical guidelines for educators. Discover how to transform AI from a tech challenge into a time-saving tool for instruction and assessment that supports both teachers and learners.

Speakers: Suzanne Dunbar, Kelsey Meyer & Amy Keup

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Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,IC,DA,TI,LMS,GE

In “Teach Like a PIRATE,” author Dave Burgess shows teachers how to use passion and presentational skills to engage students and create memorable experiences. In this session, attendees will get lots of ideas for combining student engagement and technology to connect with students like never before. Matt will share specific tools in combination with PIRATE engagement hooks, giving teachers plenty of “use tomorrow” content.

Speaker: Matt Miller

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Concurrent Sessions Round Six

9:30 - 10:30 | Wednesday

In this hands-on workshop, teachers will learn how to use AI tools to create short, engaging videos for the classroom. These videos can be used to tell a story, demonstrate a concept, or bring moments in history to life. Participants will explore simple, accessible AI platforms that help turn ideas into visual content‚ no advanced technical skills required. By the end of the session, teachers will have created their own short video and gained practical strategies for integrating AI-generated media into everyday instruction. Whether you’re looking to enhance lessons, support different learning styles, or spark student creativity, this workshop will provide easy-to-use tools and ideas.

Speaker: Cathy Houchin

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Grade Level: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: IC,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Are you familiar with Google but looking for new ways to enhance your workflow? This session is packed with time-saving tips, creative tricks, and innovative ideas to share with students and colleagues. Discover powerful Google features, explore fresh updates, and learn how to maximize essential tools to transform your classroom or school. Join me for an engaging and fun session filled with practical takeaways you can start using right away!

Speaker: Rita Mortenson

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

This panel explores how Wisconsin districts are implementing the revised Information and Technology Literacy (ITL) and Computer Science (CS) Standards through CESA-led partnerships. Panelists will share real examples of district readiness tools, crosswalks, and classroom use cases developed through statewide contracts. Participants will learn how schools are integrating ITL and CS into core subjects, building educator capacity, and using WISELearn resources to support implementation. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for scaling standards implementation locally.

Speakers: Amanda Albrecht & Amy Bires

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

 

Speakers: CDW

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We learn best through stories and real examples which is why in this session, CESA 10 instructional technology coaches are sharing AI success stories from the field. Drawing from our work across 30+ Wisconsin districts, we’ll share how educators are embracing AI responsibly in their classrooms. We’ve found that when teachers hear relatable, peer-led examples of what works (and what doesn’t), implementation feels much less daunting. Instead of “what if,” we focus on what is working now. You’ll leave with field-tested strategies and resources to bring your own classroom/district!

Speakers: Hannah Gill & Jesse Schwingle

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Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Stop “fishing” for the same three students! Join this high-energy session bridging Total Participation Techniques (TPT) and AI. TPTs are vital for equity, but manual design is time-consuming. We’ll model a “participation-first” room where you’ll move, think, and create. Discover how AI tools like Brisk, Gamma and Gemini to instantly generate high-quality Quick-Writes, Chalkboard Splashes, and Pausa-Star-Rank prompts. You won’t just watch; you’ll use AI to build custom strategies that maximize engagement and minimize prep. Leave with an “All-in-One AI Participation Toolkit” ready for your classroom tomorrow!

Speakers: Naomi Louise 

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Moving from theory to practice with Smith & Stein’s 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discourse requires significant prep time – until now. This session demonstrates how to leverage Gemini to streamline the front-end instructional design of the 5 Practices. We will explore specific prompt frameworks to anticipate diverse student strategies, craft precision assessing and advancing questions, and strategically sequence discourse to build conceptual understanding. Participants will engage in a live-prompting workshop, leaving with a ready-to-use toolkit that promotes the five strands of mathematical proficiency and ensures every student has a voice in the math classroom.

Speaker: Tina Lemmens

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Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,CI,TI,GE

Discover how Brisk, an AI-powered Chrome extension, can revolutionize your K-12 teaching workflow and enhance student learning. Brisk is a Swiss army knife that includes many different tools and features. One tool that we’ll demo is Brisk Boost so educators can experience having a coach or tutor provide them with real time, personalized, and actionable feedback on their writing. No prior experience with Brisk or AI is required, just bring your device and a willingness to learn!

Speaker: Jake Boll

Room: 

Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Moving from AI experimentation to district-wide implementation happens by more than just a coincidence; it requires a foundational shift in leadership, professional development, and policy. In this session, we break down the specific steps taken to establish a solid district-wide AI structure, from responsible use frameworks to aligning AI usage with existing curricular goals. Learn about our multi-year planning process, including vetting tools, communication plans & using AI for onboarding. Discover our roadmap that empowers staff to use with confidence. Learn how to move your district from a reactive to a proactive culture that prioritizes both online safety, integrity, and academic rigor.

Speaker: Adam Hengel

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Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Advanced
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,IC,DA,CI,TI,LMS

Wisconsin districts face a paradox: restricting smartphones while relying on 1:1 devices for instruction. WETL officially adopts the 2025 CoSN Blaschke Report to bridge this gap. We move beyond the generic “screen time” label to distinguish between Social Media/Entertainment and intentional Educational Technology (EdTech).

By addressing “Parental Screen Guilt” (PSG), we help leaders communicate the pedagogical efficacy of digital tools. Our stance shifts the focus from “minutes spent” to “instructional purpose,” ensuring technology serves as a bridge to achievement, not a barrier to well-being.

Speaker: Dan Scott & Amy Jaeckel

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Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS

Ready to move from AI “hype” to a real-world “how-to”? We’re pulling back the curtain on our district’s AI implementation journey. Learn how we used Backwards Design and the Engineering Design Process to build a phased plan for all stakeholders – from the Board of Education to the classroom. We’ll share the “messy middle” of stakeholder engagement and the big wins of our rollout. Come for the story, stay for the workshop‚ you’ll leave with a framework and phased plan that you could use or, in embrace the Engineering and Design mindset – review, reflect and revise your current plan. Walk away with what you need to help guide your district’s safe and intentional use of AI!

Speakers: Elizabeth Chavez, Shelly Geiser & Elizabeth Winkler

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Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Novice
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS,GE

This session provides concrete, easy to integrate, research based strategies for learning paired with current and emerging digital tools. Level up professional and student learning with strategies that have impact. We will model AI infused and other commonly adopted digital tools through the lens of retrieval practice and other cognitive science based strategies.

Speaker: Caroline Haebig

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Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: DATL
Audience: SA,IC,CI,TI,LMS,GE

Want to build a strong STEAM program in a small, rural district? This session shares the School District of Lodi’s journey in developing a scalable, sustainable K-12 STEAM program. Learn how district vision and strategic planning laid the foundation, and how our Technology Department launched and continues to grow the program. We’ll highlight staffing, scheduling, curriculum design, community partnerships, and program assessment. Participants will leave with practical tools, timelines, and insights to start or strengthen STEAM in their own districts.

Speakers: Tyler Potter, Matthew Horan & Vince Breunig

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Grades: K-12
Experience Level: Intermediate
Convention Track: LPD
Audience: SA,IC,DA,IT,CI,TI,LMS

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