GAIT/ETF Instructional Technology Forum 2020
The IT Forum, which was originally scheduled for March 2020, has been rescheduled as a virtual conference! This event will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2020! Please see below for the schedule of events.
IT Forum Schedule - Saturday, October 3, 2020
The schedule is found below. Please note that all "sessions" are 55 minutes long. Some sessions have one presentation while others have two. Please make sure to register for the sessions individually by clicking on the links found in the first line of the session title. Alternatively, you can view the schedule as a Google Document by clicking HERE.
Opening Session, 8:00 - 8:45 AM ET
Session A, 9:00 - 9:55 AM ET
Session Facilitator - Shannon Gibson
Session Facilitator - Shannon Gibson
1. Visualizing Word Clouds
Word clouds are a visual way to focus attention on essential ideas, improve critical thinking, and help people organize thoughts. The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate how educators and students can utilize word clouds to enhance reflective thinking, brainstorming, organizing and remembering information, and presenting ideas to others in a visual way with text. The presenter introduces teaching and learning strategies that will help the audience obtain a practical knowledge of using word clouds. Also, she will demonstrate the essential functions of different word cloud programs, including practical examples illustrating how word clouds support the teaching of various subject areas such as math, humanities, language arts, and science. Overall, word clouds can assist educators and students in recognizing and organizing topics in a presentation-like display by directing attention to important ideas through the use of text. Ask the audience for feedback and ideas. |
Taralynn Hartsell currently teaches graduate students in instructional technology and curriculum and instruction at Valdosta State University. She is the program coordinator for the master's instructional technology program. Her interest lies in visual learning and how this influences the way people interpret and understand content.
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2. Technology Tools for Differentiation in Teaching and Learning in Science Instruction: A Collaborative Approach
This session provides educators an opportunity to share tools and strategies that they use and are part of their instructional practices. Participants will need an electronic device. The session will begin with an activity that will allow participants to share some of the challenges they face as it relates to creating authentic lessons and personalizing instruction. The facilitator will present a matrix that can serve as a guide to suggest levels of integrating digital learning tools into instruction. The facilitator will speak briefly about the 21st Century and next-generation learning and present four tools (including hyperdocs and collaboration platforms) that are useful in personalizing instruction, increasing productivity, and promoting collaboration. Participants will freely share information based on grade levels. Participants can complete a survey, and the facilitator will provide information for a platform that contains the data from the presentation and additional resources. Participants will engage in a platform (Padlet) that allows for discussion and academic discourse relating to creating authentic learning experiences. Participants will share the challenges faced while designing lessons that create authentic learning experiences. After creating the presentation forms, the participants will also share strategies that they found to be a successful addition to their instructional practice. |
Nerissa McKinnon-Gary is currently a science educator and enjoys providing user-friendly, readily accessible resources for teachers that can be applied in a variety of subject areas. It is her belief that with the right tools, technology can be used to create a learning environment that will not only engage students, but inspire them to take ownership and become co-creators of their educational experience.
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Session B, 10:00 - 10:55 AM ET
Session Facilitator - Phyllis Snipes
Session Facilitator - Phyllis Snipes
1. Expectancy and Value Perception of Students toward Multiculturalism
Throughout the years, there has been much research applying the Expectancy-Value theory across different areas. Yet, the Expectancy-Value perception of students toward multiculturalism is a topic that has not been researched enough. The theories on multiculturalism can be useful in improving motivation in knowing more about the subject as well as helpful in promoting the understanding of diversity. So this study examined the perceptions of college students’ expectancy and value beliefs in multiculturalism. A total of 254 college students participated in the study, and qualitative thematic analyses were conducted via the program MAXQDA to identify the common themes among the participants' responses. The results showed that the most prominent motivator for students toward multiculturalism is the usefulness the subject may be to them in their future careers. However, there is very little motivation when it comes to personal importance or interest in the matter. The results suggest a connection between perceived usefulness with learning and immersion in different cultures. The experience can impact not only students' lives, which could help cultivate more empathy among students and teachers toward those with different cultural backgrounds. Future directions of the research are discussed. The presenter will interact with the audience by engaging in conversations about their perception of people's expectancy and value towards multiculturalism. |
Laura Austin is an international student from Honduras. She came to the United States in 2017 to earn an undergraduate degree in Special Education. She started working as a mentor in the multicultural achievement program at the University of West Georgia. During the 2019 Fall semester, she started working on an undergraduate research project with her Educational Psychology professor. The presentation will describe and discuss the analysis of the qualitative data collected that will shape how she will teach her classes in the future.
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2. Augment Your Reality: My Experience Using AR in the Classroom
Is that a dragon on the table? Is Yoda sitting on my computer monitor? You have probably seen Augmented Reality (AR) in use before. Video game companies have been using this technology for years to create games in which a digital image is superimposed on a camera view of the real world. Now, this technology is available for teachers to create interactive lessons for their students for FREE. And it's not as hard as you might think! This session will cover the experience of one college-level librarian who implemented an augmented reality lesson in an otherwise-typical "how to use the library" session. She will discuss the entire process from beginning to end: how to create an AR experience for free using the Metaverse app, how to view an augmented reality experience or game, as well as the successes and failures of the first attempt at implementation of one of these lessons. If you can create an online survey, you can create an Augmented Reality experience! Other participants will participate in your AR Experience at the during the session. |
Amber Spratlin is the Electronic Resources Librarian (Assistant Professor) and Director of Online Learning at LaGrange College. Her research focuses include technology integration, Open Educational Resources, library instruction, and online pedagogy. Amber lives in Newnan, GA with her husband. Follow her on Twitter: @AmberSpratlin
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Session C, 11:00 - 11:55 AM ET
Session Facilitator - Shannon Gibson
Session Facilitator - Shannon Gibson
1. Connections – Reaching Kids with Coding
The presenter will introduce teachers to coding tools they can use with their students to teach coding. The session will look at Scratch Jr., and Scratch for animation type coding. Then, the presenter will show the participants more advanced coding they can do with robotics including completing hands-on activities after viewing examples of students’ work. Introduce the coding program Scratch and have teachers use this individually or as a group. Then show them the coding they can do with robotics and give them a chance to do it themselves. |
Janet Youmans has been a Media Specialist for 23 years with the last 19 years in Henry County Schools (15 of those years at Dutchtown Elementary). She was the Media Specialist of the year in Henry County for 2007. Janet received her Specialist degree in Instructional Technology from The University of West Georgia in 2015. She has been teaching her students coding for the past few years during Hour of Code week and has had a robotics team after school.
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2. Makerspace in the Making
Makerspaces are on the rise in media centers around the nation. What is a makerspace, and what is a maker? Makers are you and me. If you can dream it, then why not make it? Makers learn by tinkering and experimenting free from rigid rules and instructions. Learn how to start a Makerspace in your media center that allows your students the space they need to tinker and learn hands-on. Develop and use a blueprint to help you establish a makerspace. In addition to learning how to build a Makerspace, stations will be set up for you to experiment and become a Maker yourself! Stations available include Dash and Dot, Makey Makey, Sphero, STEM activity tubs, Ozobots, Legos, and Trash to Treasure, to name a few. The audience learns how to get a Makerspace started in their schools. Also, the audience gets hands-on experience with some stations like coding robots, circuits, and STEM activities. They will learn about grants available to help fund their Makerspace projects. |
Shannon Burge has been an educator for 19 years, the past four as a media specialist at East Lake Elementary. She was selected as Teacher of the Year in 2008 while teaching in the classroom, and again this year as a media specialist. Her focus on 21st century skills and incorporating makerspace into media lessons daily enhance the learning experience for her students.
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Session D, 12:00 - 12:55 PM ET
Design Thinking in Action: A Showcase of Lessons
The session showcases the teachers' design thinking lesson plans that they implemented in the 2019-2020 academic year. The literature defines design thinking as iterative problem-solving. However, in most cases design thinking involves opportunities for learners such as emphasizing with and understanding a problem, conducting research, brainstorming ideas that could serve as solutions to the problem, consolidating those ideas into a design plan, prototyping that design, redesigning that prototype, and sharing their progress as well as what they learned. Design thinking is a beneficial process because of several reasons; perhaps one of the most valuable reasons is that this approach tasks students with a challenge within their learning environment. Learners often encounter "struggle" within a situation where this approach is employed. Through its natural sequence, design thinking takes these "struggles" and turns them into learning experiences. Thus, learners within this environment can learn how to rebound from their shortcomings. An additional reason for integrating this approach is that it can foster 21st Century skills, such as creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. The participants within this session will be teachers who participated in a week-long summer professional development on integrating design thinking into their classrooms. |
Logan Arrington is an Assistant Professor of Instructional Technology at the University of West Georgia. His research interests focus on failure-based instructional strategies, authentic learning opportunities for underrepresented groups, and trends and issues in the field of IDT. Lara Willox has been an educator for 25 years, the last 10 years at the University of West Georgia. Currently, she is serving as the Department Chair of Educational Technology & Foundations (ETF) in the College of Education and is an Associate Professor. Under her leadership, the department has created and continues to serve an Innovation’s Lab and Mobile Innovation’s Lab. |
Session E, 1:00 - 1:55 PM ET
Session Facilitator - Taralynn Hartsell
Session Facilitator - Taralynn Hartsell
Digital vs. Non-Digital Engagement Strategies to Increase Student Engagement in Your Classroom
This session focuses on different strategies that teachers can implement to increase student engagement. How do we break away from the screens and still engage our students? We will explore creative hands-on ways to promote student engagement, both with digital and non-digital means. Participants will examine strategies that can be implemented with minimal effort and will give maximum engagement. Examples include Human tic-tac-toe, Respond-Reflect-Review, and Castles that allows students to strategize, review concepts, and collaborate all at once without even realizing it. A few digital engagement strategies include Edulastic, Gimkit, and Chatterpix. Edulastic is a new way to help prepare students for the end goal of testing by narrowing down concepts to find the right review questions. This website does it for you and will give you the biggest bang for your buck. Gimkit is a game-based platform that has changed the excitement and enthusiasm in our classrooms. Kids are eager to get to class and play Gimkit. After we explore the 3-4 of the resources, participants will have time to explore the different resources. The best PLs give work time, and I want to make sure each person who attends walks away with resources that can implement immediately. |
Catalina Wright is an educator for Carroll County Schools. She has been teaching for 14 years and just became an instructional coach. Her passion is student engagement and building relationships with students. She also loves all things Edtech! She serves her county as an E3 Innovator which allows her to provide professional development sessions to all teachers. When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her eleven year old daughter who just started middle school, and a baby girl born this past July!
Charles Starnes is beginning his 8th year in education. He taught all grades 2-5 and had served on the Professional Advisory Council for West Georgia ReSA. He obtained his Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Piedmont College in 2015. He is a member of the E3 (Educators Empowering Educators) Innovators for Carroll County Schools. He currently serves as a 5th Grade Math teacher at Ithica Elementary. He is married to an incredible woman who also serves as a 5th Grade Math teacher and lives with their two year old son. |
Session F, 2:00 - 2:55 PM ET
Session Facilitator - Phyllis Snipes
Session Facilitator - Phyllis Snipes
Session G, 3:00 - 3:55 PM ET
Session Facilitator - Taralynn Hartsell
Session Facilitator - Taralynn Hartsell
2. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality on a Shoestring Budget
Interested in learning how to integrate virtual reality and augmented reality into your instruction? Are you hesitant because of the cost or overwhelmed with the different options? This session is for you! Quickly learn some easy and cost-efficient ways to use VR and AR in the K-12 setting. Facilitators will guide participants through individual, small group, and whole-group options. Some of the technologies presented will be Nearpod VR, Merge Cube, Quiver Vision, and ThingLink. Attendees can expect to leave this session with hands-on experience, resources for immediate use, and the chance to win great door prizes. This session is for anyone looking to learn more about virtual and augmented reality but is especially suited for K-12 educators, media specialists, and educational technology coaches. The audience will be able to interact with different types of virtual and augmented reality. They will also have access to an interactive presentation through Nearpod for 30 days, and a Google Slides presentation. |
Kendra Chambless is an avid reader and technology enthusiast. She has worked in education for thirteen years. Her first nine years in education were spent as an elementary school classroom teacher for special education and students identified as gifted. Currently, Kendra is a school library media specialist at Miller Fine Arts Magnet Middle School . She also has been a district academic technology coach. In all areas of service, Kendra strives to integrate technology in meaningful ways to enhance student learning. She loves to assist teachers and students grow in their utilization of technology.
Bobby Brian Lewis is the Academic Technology Coach for BIbb County. Additionally, he serves as the STEM Coordinator. He has various professional credentials including: Microsoft Innovative Educator Trainer, Edmodo Certified Trainer, Edmodo Support Ambassador, SMART Certified Trainer NB 17, and SMART Response VE Certified Trainer. He has won many awards including the PBS Teacher Learning Media Innovation Award in 2010 and 2016, the SMART Exemplary Educator, and the Brain Pop Lesson contest. |
Session H, 4:00 - 4:55 PM ET
Session Facilitator - Logan Arrington
Session Facilitator - Logan Arrington
Increase Student Learning and Independence with a Single Sign-On Solution in K-12
Each day students waste countless hours logging into computers and then logging into numerous online applications to access carefully thought out lessons. Students find this process frustrating and often rush through their lessons or do not have time to finish. Staff also become frustrated by having to continuously log in to products, reset passwords, and keep up with lists of URLs for their favorite sites. Hear how the Bibb County School District is leveraging a single sign-on resource, ClassLink, to increase time on task for students and reduce the need to remember “one more thing” for staff. This session will provide insight into how single sign-on operates and who needs to be involved planning such a solution. We'll also discuss how teachers can increase student accountability, remove barriers of time and location, and offer increased independence to our students at school and at home. The presenter will share the planning for the initial roll-out and the lessons learned during each phase. She also will talk about the plan to roll out single sign-on to parents. There will be time for participants to share their experiences. Participants will have a demo account to try out during the presentation. |
Michelle Lenderman is the Director of Media Services for the Bibb County School District in Central Georgia. Before becoming the Director of Media Services she served as a media specialist at Central High School and Appling Middle School. She also taught 4th and 5th graders at Hamilton Elementary School in Bibb. During her educational career Michelle attended Valdosta State University, Georgia College and University, Macon Jr. College, and Clayton Jr. College. In addition to her work in the Bibb County School District Michelle has assisted with the Georgia Student Media Festival in various roles for the last 20 years. When she’s not working she loves cooking and finding fun things to do with her 3 grand kids McKayla, Hudson, and Brady.
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Special Poster Session | Click HERE to view the poster presentation website provided by Dr. Griffin and participate in the discussion!
Big Thanks to the Session Facilitators!