Ed Tech Conference
CEHD to host conference on use of technology in the classroom
9:18 a.m., Feb. 25, 2015--Incorporating technology into the classroom can be equal parts intriguing, exciting and confusing. And for some, there’s even a splash of terror.
It doesn’t have to be that way. To help educators understand the variety of ways technology can revolutionize their lesson plans, the University of Delaware will host its second annual Educational Technology Conference (UDETC).
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The conference, to be held on Saturday, March 14, at the Willard Hall Education Building, is open to teachers of all subjects and skill levels.
Sessions will explain:
- Mystery Skype: A student run, interactive activity through which classes around the country and beyond can collaborate and share in learning about geography.
- Twitter: Learn to use Twitter to manage the wealth of information that is available for educators, and how it can be used to connect and collaborate with other teachers, professionals and experts around the world.
- Google Classroom App: Use the Classroom App to issue assignments, including instructions and rubrics, solicit feedback and post grades.
- Coding: It sounds scary, but children as young as five can learn coding, which helps them develop math skills, geometry skills and general problem-solving skills.
- Marrying olde and new: A high school teacher will explain how he incorporated technology to bring Chaucer to life for students.
UDETC’s keynote speaker is Monica Burns, a UD alumna who graduated in 2007 with a degree in elementary teacher education and a fifth grade teacher in New York City.
Burns has developed an instruction website, ClassTechTips.com, that makes technology exciting and accessible at all grade levels and provides support to organizations looking to use technology to reach children and families in need.
“Monica gave a presentation at last year’s conference and the response was so positive, we invited her back as this year’s keynote speaker,” said Joanne Jennings, director of UD’s Office of Educational Technology. “In fact, many of the presenters will return, as our participants stated they derived great benefit from all the sessions.”
Mark Quinn, a teacher at Salesianum School, was both a presenter and participant last year and has registered again this year. “I found the 2013 iPads in Education Conference extraordinarily helpful! I learned so much both from the keynote speaker and from the presentations… I couldn’t wait to apply the new ideas and techniques I learned.”
The conference is a joint effort by The College School, the Education Resource Center, the Office of Educational Technology, and the Education Graduate Association in the College of Education and Human Development.
The full day event will take place on March 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Willard Hall Education Building. Registration fee is $60 ($50 for full-time UD faculty, staff, and students). Lunch is included, and sponsored by Dell, Intel, Microsoft and ClassPolicy. To register, visit UDETC website.
Article by Alison Burris
Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson