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. 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.
Alan was named one of the nation’s fifteen most influential thinkers of the decade by Classroom Computer Learning Magazine. His writing includes numerous articles and best-selling books, including his most recent book “Who Owns the Learning?” 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.
Don’t miss Alan November’s presentation:
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.
Create, share, collaborate, publish, influence and connect with tools available to you and your students on the web. Use these tools to effectively engage elementary students. Lessons and ideas will be shared and can be adapted to any content area.
The Berkeley Heights Public Schools successfully completed the major phases of its 1:1 iPad implementation in the fall of 2013 through a lot of planning, team work, testing, and training. Learn how the steps BHPS took to reach this goal and what it is doing to ensure continued success.
Keeping up with the pace of technology changes can be a challenge in any industry. In schools, this is further complicated by increasing expectations and declining budgets. In this breakout session aimed for school leaders, we will learn how we can target our technology initiatives using data to ensure that we are driving improvement in teaching and learning.
During this session, we will share data on how technology is being used in our schools -- as well as how it isn't being used. Attendees will be introduced to the CASE Technology Framework, a tool that helps link technology to student learning outcomes to assure schools are using the right technology and using it the right way.
Technology has ignited student learning. Now, it is time to bring parents into the 21st Century with innovative communication strategies and tools. Discover effective, efficient, and creative ways to connect with families, and explore best practices for increasing parent engagement. This session will cover successful strategies, a variety of tools and resources for promoting parent involvement, and more.
In 2012-2013 Folsom School District adopted a modified block schedule to increase student access to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics in the middle grades of this PK-8 district. The current press to graduate students who are college and career ready, equipped with the 21st skills of creative problem solving and well-developed communication and collaboration skills, prompted an innovative approach to a middle school schedule that allowed ALL students to participate in the TED (Technology, Engineering, and Design) program utilizing Lego Mindstorms robotics materials; a Digital Photography course taught collaboratively by the Art and Science teachers; an Audio Visual Production course to extend student access to the school's state of the art television studio; and Ceramics studio. This session will include multi-media presentations, sample schedules, curricular materials, and budget information needed to implement similar programs.
The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District began year one of its Digital Conversion in September and is sharing their experiences and suggestions for other districts. From forming a Digital Conversion Committee, to visiting Mooresville Graded School District, to having their first Chromebook Deployment Evening for parents and students, MERS is on the path to success. Providing the teachers with Chromebooks and Google Apps training the community has complete buy in prior to the students receiving their devices. Come and find out the steps they have taken to guarantee success and what positive results they have had as a result.
You’ve heard about the flipped classroom and how teacher-created videos can enhance your instruction, but what about student-created videos? Learn how you and your students can make your own video lessons in class for class! Bring your laptop or tablet to this workshop and you will leave knowing not only how to flip your classroom but also how to use videos and video creation in small group instruction. We will also show you how to leverage social networking to get students talking about what they are learning. Teacher and student-created videos will make you a star!
The Manville School District is very proud of their Research Continuum, an expansive document with numerous components. Organization and management of the research process and its supportive educational technology resources are a priority. Compiled by their Media Specialists, this document requires easy accessibility, be able to link both documents and websites, and offer collaborative opportunities. Using LiveBinders, a cloud-based binder system, is the simplest way to manage resources into a meaningful context that includes privacy settings. Livebinders let Manville create a virtual file cabinet that meets all of their organizational needs; come see how they did it.
"Stop Bleeding Red Ink" will provide educators with digital tools for feedback, evaluation, and assessment, as well as include a framework for implementing student peer-editing and self evaluation. Rather than evaluating student work in the traditional teacher-centered manner, the process is flipped to include students in an authentic, efficient, and student-centered experience that uses various free web 2.0 tools including, but not limited to, Edmodo, Gobstopper, Google Drive, and Chrome Web Apps. Session participants will be provided with a framework and templates that can be customized for use with any assignment or project. No longer will teachers be spending frustratingly long hours grading, and no longer will student papers be bleeding with red ink.
Students of today are digitally wired in their everyday life from listening to music, texting to friends, watching videos, and making connections through social media. When they come to school, they are often ‘cut-off’ from this world and have difficulty making connections with traditional teaching approaches. This session will show attendees how to incorporate the iPad and various apps into the classroom to actively engage students and motivate them. The presentors will provide classroom examples using a variety of apps such as Educreations, Nearpod, and Socrative that they have used with success.
New Jersey Online Learning Services is a new program offering from NJASA that provides online learning options to New Jersey schools and students. New Jersey Online Learning Services provides a substantial menu of high school level courses in the core academic areas, world languages, various electives, AP® courses, and credit recovery options. In this session you will learn about these new offerings as well as information about the growth of online learning, both nationally and in New Jersey.
There is more to PARCC than what device is going to be used to take the test. This session will take a look at other aspects surrounding technology and allow individual insight to one district's experience as they ready for PARCC. Discussions will include some aspects of technology such as bandwidth, redundancy, and wireless as it pertains to PARCC. This session will take you on a data journey from the device to the internet and you will leave with a better understanding of what is going on behind the curtain and allow you to make more informed decisions to be technologically successful.
Improving educational outcomes for children with special needs is dependent upon numerous and highly variable factors. The cornerstone which connects all these dynamics is the quality of the IEP. It documents how a student’s special needs will be met and drives the entire special education process. IEPs of high quality help to ensure that special education students realize their full potential. Learn how 30% of school districts in New Jersey have revolutionized how they develop and quality check their IEPs using the new technology of IEP Direct. Find out how this technology has improved collaboration and helped to create more individualized IEPs. Hear from colleagues how they are using IEP Direct to support best practices, enhance compliance, improve with the quality of IEPs, and contribute toward improved outcomes.
Are your students’ comfortable taking online assessments? Will they be ready for PAARC in 2014? In this session teachers and administrators will be introduced to ten free online assessment tools that can transform paper tests into an online, interactive experience for students. Explore how tools such as MobyMax, Sumdog, ClassMarker, Edmodo Quizzes, and more can prepare students for testing in an online environment.
All Things Flip! This presentation is intended for beginners of the flip model. Attendees will learn the basics and benefits of flipping the classroom, Professional Development, and staff meetings.
Especially in light of the upcoming PARCC testing, many districts are considering going to 1:1 computing. Pascack Valley Regional was the first school district in New Jersey to have a 1:1 computing program, and among the first in the nation. Come learn what 10 years of having a 1:1 laptop program in our school district has taught us...and can teach you.
To improve teacher effectiveness, and ultimately the outcomes of the students they serve, districts must have a comprehensive approach to teacher improvement. Learn how one EE4NJ grant recipient district piloted and implemented Charlotte Danielson’s Framework for Teaching and robust teacher evaluation and professional learning technologies to establish a common language of effective teaching and a cycle of continuous improvement. Attendees will learn about the district’s challenges and successes, as well as how a similar initiative could be replicated in their own districts.
Problem Based Learning embodies the 21st century skills we want our students to have: collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity. In a problem based learning environment technology should be an autonomous tool for our students and teachers. From applications to social media to Google apps script, this session will focus on the instruments of a techie’s toolbox and how they are implemented to create an engaging, student-focused classroom and connected educator.
Are your assessment practices data rich but information poor? Effective data initiatives require systematic implementation, powerful tools, and leaders with the capacity to use the information to truly drive teaching and learning. This session will focus on strategies North Brunswick's teachers and leaders employ to collect, analyze, and utilize student performance and teacher effectiveness data. Administrators from the district will share lessons learned from over ten years of formative assessment experience and model the use of the LinkIt data dashboard and Navigator tools.
Designing interdisciplinary instruction is easy when you have 1:1 computing in your classroom. Several third grade projects that incorporate multiple disciplines, including a rock and mineral field guide and book reviews will be examined. Students also design their own website that becomes their digital portfolio through middle school. Breaking down the walls of a fragmented curriculum frees the teacher to extend instruction across multiple class periods and students are able to complete assignments faster.
As education institutions we profess that we are going green, supporting our communities in bringing in their own devices, and eliminating textbooks in favor of digital resources. Really? So what does a digital workflow really look like in this new age of digital media? Come explore what the learner workflow should encompass from replacing traditional textbooks, to digitizing text, to enhanced digital resources, to efficiently searching, to textbook and text-to-speech options. Come participate to build a vision of what our students need to know in order to interact with digital media in a digital workflow.
It is vital that our teachers and administrators consistently and effectively model best practices using technology in order to successfully implement all the initiatives designed to make our students college and career ready. To do this, educators must embrace their role as “lead learner”, shift their mindset, and learn along with our students. The purpose of this presentation is to provide practical applications of how and where to begin to integrate technology throughout a district that will engage students, teachers, and administrators in common learning experiences.
A robust wireless environment is essential for moving districts forward to support the demand for mobility and PARCC. However, with those advancements come management and security nightmares. In these robust technology ecosystems, Network Administrators are wrestling with the onslaught of client-owned devices – rogue or authorized – that are present on the wireless network.
In this session solutions will be discussed to address the following issues:
• Visibility into the types of mobile devices on the network
• Getting devices enrolled
• Creating compliance
• Exert policy management
• Exert device remediation
• Guest access
• Automatic provisioning
Are your teachers grasping the Common Core? Do they need a confidence boost before PARCC? Here is a key rule: it’s all about connections! In this session, learn how savvy schools are positioning their curriculum to maximize its value, and building meaningful connections between standards, lesson plans, resources, and classroom data. Participate in a demonstration of keys tools and strategies for Common Core.
• Create a strong foundation for PARCC preparation
• Promote best practices in curriculum and planning
• Share curriculum with other districts
• Boost effectiveness of educators through collaboration
Khan Academy has been revolutionary in education. Districts and schools can empower their teachers while providing free on-demand professional development by creating their own flipped resource library. All it takes is an iPad and a dream.
Students and teachers are both being impacted by the growth of the digital classroom. In this session, local educators and Amplify staff will share early learnings from the Amplify Tablet deployments in their schools, including findings on professional development and how best to roll out new technology across schools. We will also explore the instructional impact of the tablets -- how students and teachers are using the devices in the classroom, what the power apps are and what kinds of new interactions are taking place.
This workshop will discuss ways to launch iPads successfully into the middle school. Follow the journey from the very beginning of the process to the end of the first year. Discussions will include the costs (hidden and visible) of a 1:1 initiative, the pitfalls to avoid, and the many successes that occurred as a result. You will be introduced to meaningful apps, interactive activities, strategies to differentiate instruction, and sample projects to bring back to your district regardless of where you are in your implementation.
Participants will learn how to use online resources, including access to settlement data and summaries of Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) decisions to further effective collective bargaining and grievance handling.
Participants that attend the session will come away with the following tools:
Marc Prensky, coiner of the terms “Digital Natives and “Digital Immigrants, is an internationally acclaimed speaker, writer, consultant, innovator and visionary on education and learning. Considered one of the world’s leading experts on the connection between learning and technology, Marc’s professional focus is on understanding students and their future needs and designing better pedagogy and curriculum for the digital generation. Prensky’s original ideas on how to adapt both our teaching methods and content to prepare young people in better ways for their future are being adopted around the world.
Marc has published scores of essays and articles, and is the author of five books: Digital Game-Based Learning (McGraw-Hill, 2001), Don’t Bother Me Mom – I’m Learning (Paragon House, 2006), Teaching Digital Natives: Partnering for Real Learning (Corwin, 2010), From Digital Natives to Digital Wisdom (Corwin 2012) and BRAIN GAIN: Technology and the Quest for Digital Wisdom (Palgrave-Macmillan 2012). He holds Master’s degrees from Yale University, Middlebury College and The Harvard Business School, ran a charter school in East Harlem, NY, and has taught at all levels, from elementary to college.
Don’t miss Marc Prensky’s presentation:
FUTURE-CATION: New Basics and New Balance for a New World
The context we and our students live in is rapidly changing, and it is our job, as leaders, to help education adapt. Offering our students an education from the past, mostly about the past, and using mainly the methods of the past --- no matter how much better we make it, or how good our students get at it --- is little help to them as they face their world. The changes we need to make go way beyond adopting the Common Core and adding a few “21st century skills.” What we need, says Prensky, is "Future-cation.” This involves, he says, an immediate resetting of priorities and taking a range of important practical steps. It also means redefining our mission and what we think of as our “basics.” In this talk, Prensky discusses the practical steps we need to take today to assure that our kids are effectively prepared for their future, including what an administrator’s role should be.
This session will reveal how teachers and students, through the mobile computing initiative, personalize their learning and generate their knowledge. Examples of content creation and how it transforms teaching and learning will also be shared.
Additionally you will hear from River Dell partners Microsoft and HP on the Windows 8 Education Slate\Tablet and the professional learning opportunities they provide to schools.
Finally, this presentation will explore APP Marketplace ‘Must Haves’, TCO, deploying slates, tablets and other mobile devices as well as managing a consumer vs. enterprise device in K-12.
This session will explore mobile applications created for school districts for the school community. Mobile apps, responsive web design, and mobile websites will be reviewed. There will be a discussion of each of these options along with their respective pros, cons and costs. Additional information about using social media to reach community members will be discussed. Calendar integration, push messaging and other features will be included.
Heard of these "Ed-Camps", but you don't know what they are? Trying to put your finger on the next big thing? Join fellow New Jersey Superintendent Jason Eitner as he explains the recent "un-conference" movement. Built on principles of connected and participatory learning, Edcamps strive to bring teachers and administrators together to talk about the things that matter most to them: their interests, passions, and questions. Those who attend Edcamp can choose to lead sessions on those things that matter, with an expectation that the people in the room will work together to build understanding by sharing their own knowledge and questions. Come see why these are becoming more popular by the week, how they exactly work, and how your district can even start one for your staff.
It happened again this year! The requirements for NJ SMART change and get more complex each year. Districts are spending more time preparing and submitting NJ SMART, while the accuracy of the data often does not improve. The challenges and stakes are especially high when it comes to NJ SMART special education data. Duplicate data entry, mismatched records, error corrections, and above all, inaccurate source data are longstanding problems. Learn how school districts are using a new technology enabled workflow solution from IEP Direct which improves the quality of source data, saves time and improves NJ SMART data accuracy. Find out how 30% of New Jersey school districts are using IEP Direct to transform how they manage NJ SMART special education data and seamlessly integrate with their SMS. Hear from your colleagues how this solution will make a difference in your school district.
Every year, school districts are faced with many new challenges – yet with fewer resources. Blended learning, the fastest growing online learning model in the United States, is a cost-effective way to meet these challenges. In this session you will learn about:
The Harrington Park APP has allowed for greater communication and a central location to a social networking portal. The district has seen greater communication and connection with family members, stakeholders and staff through its use. Through its use we have been able to connect with families where English is not the primary language in the home and it has also allowed us to begin to utilize QR codes as a way to continue to push the envelope in the area of Communication Technology.
The Harrington Park School District has recently announced a new partnership with SchoolInfo App for the 2013-2014 school year to bring the Harrington Park families and fans the SPARTAN APP for iPhone®, iPad® and Android™ devices.
The app is free and can be found in the Apple App Store℠ and Google Play. It allows users to:
The evaluation of the CSA is one of the primary responsibilities of the board of education. In this session, we will review the evaluation process commencing with goal setting, addressing conflicts and obstacles, and concluding with the summary conference
This interactive session will allow participants to better understand how Student Growth Objectives (SGOs) can serve as an effective vehicle to promote best practices in instructional and assessment design. Participants will be engaged in an interactive demonstration of the TMI/FEA's SGO Toolkit, a comprehensive online professional learning resource to alleviate the challenges of SGOs, and, ultimately, enhance student achievement.
The innovative SGO Toolkit highlights include:
You are not alone! Join us in this important interactive session - and - join the many professional colleagues and members of our virtual professional learning community!
Technology is changing parent and student expectations about when, where and how your district communicates with them. Attend this 60-minute event and find out how Centricity2 TM Essential and mobile solutions from Schoolwires can help you engage parents and students more effectively — even when they’re on the move. You will learn about:
This session will be dedicated to an introduction to the NWEA assessment tool, analyzing data generated by NWEA and how to use it to drive classroom instruction. This adaptive student evaluation tool can be used to form leveled groups, differentiate instruction, target specific student skills and meet Student Growth Objectives all while in a learning environment modeled after the new PARCC assessments. You will leave with a handout and a PowerPoint you can turnkey with your staff.
As a follow up to the presentation from last year; Rolling out Google Apps For Education in Your District, this session will discuss tips, tricks and pitfalls to avoid as we enter year two in implementing Google Apps for Education.
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) is an 18-state consortium working together to develop next-generation online K-12 assessments in English, Language Arts and Mathematics that are aligned to the Common Core State Standards. PARCC assessments will replace New Jersey’s current assessments and are scheduled to be administered statewide in 2014-2015. This presentation will review PARCC’s online assessment technology requirements and provide an update on current PARCC and NJDOE activities regarding technology readiness for assessments and digital learning.
The flipped classroom "flips" traditional teaching methods by delivering instruction online outside of the classroom and "homework" becomes classwork. By reducing the time needed in class for direct instruction, it frees up time for more effective learning activities and increased student-teacher interactions. It gives time back to the teacher to work with students and provide face-to-face feedback and guidance. Students can take ownership of their learning by choosing how they learn content and demonstrate understanding, all while being allowed to master it at their own pace. This workshop will focus on both and what it means to "flip" your class.
The educational use of social media is expanding in schools and districts. There are a number of social media applications available that can be used to promote the great things happening in schools and school districts. This presentation will identify and demonstrate 10 social media applications that educators can use immediately after the session.
Teachers will learn easy, proven ways to turn their classroom into a video game. This includes making a Leaderboard, Badges, and an Item Shop. For the truly daring the Teched Up Teacher, Chris Aviles, will explain how he turned his English class into the world's first Alternate Reality Game.
Participants will be introduced to how technology can be utilized to dramatically improve how local board policy and meetings can be managed and accessed; how both can play a role in the effective governance of their school district and in improved commnication to their community; and how these improvements will save them money and demonstrate their commitment to the environment.
BYOD/BYOT (Bringing your own device/technology) is growing widely throughout the state of New Jersey and in the United States, but there are still many that face resistance from the IT departments, teachers, administrators and parents. In this session, attendees will learn the process that the Sayreville Public School District, Lower Alloways Creek and Green Brook Public School District are using to become BYO LEARNING districts for the future.
Attendees will also learn:
Several AchieveNJ forums were held in 2013, where NJ district leaders shared strategies and best practices for succeeding in their initiatives. Join this session to hear best practices for improving teacher buy-in, to saving money to improving transparency and accountability. Also, see a demonstration of brand new SGO technology offered by New Jersey organization OnCourse Systems for Education, which streamlines SGO creation for teachers and speeds up management by administrators.
What am I looking for when I visit a connected classroom? Discussions will include how to implement it and a variety of tips, tools and tricks to making it successful. Tellegami, PicCollage, EDModo, Remind 101, Google Voice, SignUp Genius, Doodle, Skype, Mystery Skype, ClassDojo, EverNote, Google Drive, DropBox, Dropittome, infuse learning, Instagrok, Pinterest, Twitter, TodaysMeet, LinkdIn, bit.ly, Red Laser and QRafter will be discussed and demonstrated. Each participant will also receive a handout as well as a link to these interactive resources to be shared with their staff.
Revitalize, reenergize and redirect the training you offer your staff. Give your staff the power to access professional development anytime and anyplace. Break free from the traditional course offerings and delivery method and provide your staff professional development they want. In this session, you will learn how to create a data driven professional development academy in your district.
This session is designed for teachers and administrators looking to become more comfortable using the collaborative learning tool Edmodo. This discussion tool allows teachers to transform the traditional classroom into one that meets students in their digital and interactive world. It can also extend the classroom to the home, the community, and the world.
Presenters will demonstrate how to guide students in meaningful discussions, conduct interactive polls, administer quizzes, post learning resources, and much more. Participants will leave this session with authentic applications of Edmodo that will allow them to guide collaboration and interaction between students, teachers, and administrators.
Join CDW•G for a workshop on using Chromebooks to meet the PARCC testing and online educational needs of students. You will hear from industry experts on how to successfully roll out Chromebooks to your educators and students, as well as interact with the latest Chrome devices and accessories. Plus, discover the benefits of Chromebook Professional Development services, which will help your instructors optimize the Chrome learning experience.
The CCSS and PARCC Assessment will require students to build a deep understanding of content and its application. What we know of the coming PARCC Assessment is that it will be application-oriented, with an emphasis on higher-order thinking. Preparing students for the PARCC Assessment means engaging them in grappling with content. The Springfield School District has paired its 1:1 laptop initiative with IDE Corp.’s Learner-Active, Technology-Infused Classroom model to create classrooms that are problem-based, differentiated, student-centered, and technology-infused; the perfect recipe for achievement on the PARCC Assessment.
Today’s students are digital natives. Finding effective strategies to engage these students in the learning process is a challenge. Games are an integral part of students’ daily lives. Educators are already using tools and techniques like the flipped classroom, group work, inquiry-based learning, methodical narratives, and creation of individual education plans for students. Adding gamification elements to these techniques can further support classrooms and improve the educational experience. This presentation demystifies gamification by providing clear and simple ways that game elements can be implemented and used to enhance student engagement and learning.
The benefits and challenges with social media in schools are clear. Students use social networks like Facebook and Twitter on a daily basis to collaborate with each other in real-time. While they certainly have benefits, the dangers of cyber-bullying and other suspicious activities on social networks are very real. This session highlights how schools can selectively control what students do on social networks, be proactively alerted of certain dangerous activities, and archive these communications for e-discovery and litigation purposes.
Platforms and technology are playing an increasing roll in driving school improvement and it's not just about your student information system anymore. Come learn how platforms can provide the mechanism for single sign-on and data sharing across the organization to drive instruction and personalize learning for better student outcomes.
In today's global world of education, the power of community and collaboration can be crucial to a successful district, school, and classroom. Too often old ways of thinking do not allow for this to happen.
Lower Alloways Creek and Green Brook School Districts have knocked down the barriers inside and outside the school and have brought new vigor and ideas to help change the way learning occurs in their districts.
Creative discussions with participants on a variety of topics will occur, including how to change policy and regulations, how to get staff involved with Twitter and Unconferences, and how to keep going when times to get tough.
Explore in detail four of the most versatile apps and websites for iPads. Learn how you can use Nearpod and Infuselearning to create presentations which students can interact with through polls, quizzes, videos, drawing interactivity, website-sharing, self-guided quizzes and more. Learn how Socrative and Google Drive can be used to create open ended questions, collect student responses, give immediate feedback, and assess understanding. Walk in a beginner, walk out an expert in four applications which have the potential to transform the way you use iPads in the classroom.
In this session you will learn how to Flip instruction and look at online and blended learning strategies to enhance classroom practice. With the advent of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) like Khan Academy and free software like Jing, teachers now have the opportunity to provide students with direct instruction at home and really spend their time in class on problem solving and having the big discussions that drive higher level thinking and demonstrated student skills.
