Somehow, our busy conference season is just about over, but we do have a few more coming up at the end of November and beginning of December. Among our appearances are going to be the NYSCATE Annual Conference in Rochester, NY from Sunday-Tuesday, the NAMTC Leadership Summit in Colorado Springs, CO from Nov. 27-28, the AESA Annual Conference (also in Colorado Springs) from Nov. 28-Dec. 1, and perhaps the most important of the all—the Christa McAuliffe Tech Conference in Manchester, NH coming up just following Thanksgiving. Not only are we exhibiting at a booth for two days, we are also lucky enough to have been selected to host a pre-conference workshop!
Among the great deal of incredible proposals, ours was selected and we are set to be a part of the pre-conference festivities on Monday, Nov. 26. Our session is taking place from 8am-3pm and is called ‘Maximizing Learning Outcomes with MakerEd: A Pilot Program for the Future.’ Everyone who signs up for the session will receive an educational technology bundle as part of the registration fee. After the conference, attendees will then, of course, be free to use the tech tools from their bundle in their classrooms however they would like! They will also be eligible to participate in a future pilot program that is in the stages of being developed by Eduporium and NHSTE in which participants will get to try EdTech tools in their classrooms to gauge their compatibility.
We are hoping to have more spots in our session filled before the pre-conference period gets underway on Nov. 26. The cost is $415 for the 7-hour session and everybody who participates will get to choose from two EdTech bundles to take home. The elementary bundle includes a Sphero Mini, Ozobot Bit Dual Pack, Makey Makey, KEVA Structures 200 Plank Set, Bloxels kit, and MakeDo ToolKit. The advanced bundle includes a Sphero BOLT, micro:bit GO, MonkMakes RasPiRobot Rover Kit, and a custom Eduporium Raspberry Pi 3 Kit. Whichever bundle you choose to take home with you as part of this Make It Take It workshop is included in the registration fee.
During the workshop, participants will spend time learning about each of the tech tools in their bundle and then get up and try them out on the spot. Our experts will be there to guide them, inspire them, and answer any questions they have about how to use these products or what can be accomplished with them in the classroom. Here is the full description of the session:
When MakerEd meets the curriculum in the classroom, student learning and engagement are evident and measurable. Learn how to introduce MakerEd technology into everyday teaching and explore best practices for integrating MakerEd activities to support core content areas. This workshop is the first step in joining a NH pilot program sponsored by Eduporium in association with NHSTE. Come discover how to incorporate tech into learning and adjust existing lesson plans when adding MakerEd tools. Then, test the viability of innovative tech in a particular lesson while observing its compatibility with your individual teaching style. Receive a starter collection of appropriate EdTech tools to experience onsite and back in your classroom.
Last year, in partnership with the Highlander Institute, Eduporium organized a successful pilot initiative in five Rhode Island schools and is ready to share their findings and help NH schools participate in a similar program. Every phase of the pilot will be described, including guidance and assistance with tech selection, student involvement, finding and launching projects, reflection, presentation, and sharing. All attendees will be eligible to participate in a limited-time pilot program (November 2018 to April 2019), have a chance to discuss this opportunity, ask questions during the workshop, and then decide if this program is suitable for them.
If you are interested in taking part in this full day of professional learning, we encourage you to sign up very soon! In fact, the deadline to register and attend the Christa McAuliffe Tech Conference is tomorrow! You can also stop by the Eduporium booth on Tuesday or Wednesday. We'll be at Booth 18 throughout those two days! Hope to see you there!