Keynote Speakers
Opening Keynote: Monica Burns
Tasks Before Apps: Designing Rigorous Learning in a Tech-Rich Classroom
When we place tasks before apps we value the importance of identifying goals for students and elevating traditional experiences with digital tools. The purposeful design of tech-rich learning experiences can enhance classroom collaboration and honor curiosity in the context of creation experiences for students. Dr. Monica Burns will introduce strategies for examining technology integration to empower students as creators and collaborators. With thoughtful planning and purposeful connection to learning objectives, students can become creators in your classroom as they explore content in any subject area.
Dr. Monica Burns is a Curriculum and EdTech Consultant, Apple Distinguished Educator and Founder of ClassTechTips.com. As a classroom teacher in New York City, Monica used digital tools to create an engaging, differentiated learning experience to meet the unique needs of her students. Monica started her blog ClassTechTips.com in 2012 to help make EdTech easier for fellow educators, and launched the Easy EdTech Podcast and her membership site the Easy EdTech Club to support educators who want to simplify and streamline technology integration.
Since starting ClassTechTips.com, Monica has led workshops and webinars, and provided keynote presentations to teachers, instructional coaches, administrators and tech-enthusiasts at numerous national and international conferences including SXSWedu, ISTE, FETC and EduTECH. Monica is the author of Tasks Before Apps: Designing Rigorous Learning in a Tech-Rich Classroom (ASCD), two quick reference guides for ASCD on Distance Learning Essentials and Classroom Technology Tips, as well as several other publications.
Learn More About Monica Burns
General Keynote: Alan November
Creating a New Culture of Teaching and Learning
Access to timely information and communication tools can empower educators to focus on the individual learning needs of their students. These same tools can lead to a wealth of benefits, such as greater collegiality, stronger relationships, self-directed students, curriculum-aligned technology, authentic work, rigorous and motivating assignments, and the development of a strong learning community. Learn all about this potent new culture of empowered teaching and fearless learning.
Alan November is an international leader in education technology. He began his career as an oceanography teacher and dorm counselor at an island reform school for boys in Boston Harbor. While Alan was a computer science teacher in Lexington, MA, he was probably the first teacher in the world to have a student project on line in 1984, a database for the handicapped. He has been director of an alternative high school, computer coordinator, technology consultant and university lecturer. He has helped schools, governments and industry leaders improve the quality of education through technology.
Audiences enjoy Alan’s humor and wit as he pushes the boundaries of how to improve teaching and learning. His areas of expertise include planning across curriculum, staff development, new school design, community building and leadership development. He has delivered keynotes and workshops in all fifty states, across Canada and throughout the UK, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Central America.
Alan was named one of the nation’s fifteen most influential thinkers of the decade by Technology and Learning Magazine. He was listed as one of eight educators to provide leadership into the future by the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse. He was selected to speak at the Cisco Public Services Summit during the Nobel Prize Festivities in Stockholm, Sweden. His writing includes numerous articles and two best-selling books, Empowering Students with Technology and Web Literacy for Educators. Alan was co-founder of the Stanford Institute for Educational Leadership Through Technology and is most proud of being selected as one of the original five national Christa McAuliffe Educators.