AI and computer science are becoming an integral part of everyday life, yet students are increasingly "screened-out". Looking for a fresh approach? Transform computer science into a hands-on experience with LEGO® Education! Join us to see tactile, collaborative lessons you can use to build computer science skills and help students become responsible digital citizens. From kindergarten through eighth grade, LEGO® Education makes computer science approachable and safe. Join us to learn more.
Dr. Colleen Cannon-Ruffo brings more than two decades of firsthand experience using LEGO® Education solutions to her role as a Solution Architect. She works closely with districts to design learning experiences that align with their curricular goals and to equip teachers with the... Read More →
My passion is in helping educators integrate hands on, inquiry-based learning into their classrooms. My goal is to empower students to think creatively, collaborate effectively, and build real-world problem-solving skills. I began my teaching career in 1993 and have held many positions... Read More →
Wednesday May 27, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am MDT 💡Imaginarium
How do we move students from simply completing assignments to owning their learning journey? Join this hands-on session to discover how Google Drive, Slides, and Vids can be transformed into dynamic digital portfolios for your 6th–8th grade classroom. Explore simple ways for students to curate their best work within organized Drive Portfolio Hubs, record video reflections to explain their thinking and track academic growth over time. We’ll focus on streamlined workflows that make digital archiving manageable for teachers and meaningful for students using the tools they already use every day. You’ll leave with a clear plan to help your students build a digital legacy they are proud to share with parents and peers alike.
AI doesn't have to be scary or overwhelming. Join us to explore safe, engaging ways to teach AI and machine learning in middle school classrooms. Through hands-on activities and standards-aligned lessons, you’ll experience how students can build and test simple AI models, analyze data, and understand the role of human decision-making in technology. Whether you’re new to AI or looking to expand your CS program, you’ll walk away with practical tools and approachable language to help students explore AI with confidence.
Dr. Colleen Cannon-Ruffo brings more than two decades of firsthand experience using LEGO® Education solutions to her role as a Solution Architect. She works closely with districts to design learning experiences that align with their curricular goals and to equip teachers with the... Read More →
My passion is in helping educators integrate hands on, inquiry-based learning into their classrooms. My goal is to empower students to think creatively, collaborate effectively, and build real-world problem-solving skills. I began my teaching career in 1993 and have held many positions... Read More →
Wednesday May 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am MDT 💡Imaginarium
At first glance, the Micro:bit looks like it belongs inside a computer, not in a student’s hands. Yet it is an approachable, versatile tool that helps learners build foundational coding skills and explore how technology interacts with the real world. In this hands-on session, we’ll begin by exploring the Micro:bit’s components, then use our new knowledge to complete several simple coding projects. Finally, we will employ a Micro:bit to control hardware such as the Finch robot, helping learners understand how coding drives the technology around us.
As a Maker Education Consultant, Ben brings a humanities-informed perspective to the STEAM and EdTech space. With degrees in Communications and Design (B.A.) and Teaching (M.A.), he helps schools create meaningful, inclusive maker experiences that connect creativity, critical thinking... Read More →
Artificial intelligence is everywhere—but how do machines actually learn? In this session, we’ll use Micro:bit’s Create AI function as an approachable entry point into AI literacy, helping students can move from passive consumers of technology to critical thinkers and creators of intelligent systems. We’ll begin with AI and machine learning 101, establishing key foundational knowledge. Next, participants will build a dataset and train the Micro:bit to understand how AI models learn from data. From there, we’ll examine how training data shapes outcomes, uncover where bias can emerge, and discuss the ethical challenges that arise when building intelligent systems.
For educators with previous Micro:bit experience, or who completed Making Sense of the Micro:bit.
As a Maker Education Consultant, Ben brings a humanities-informed perspective to the STEAM and EdTech space. With degrees in Communications and Design (B.A.) and Teaching (M.A.), he helps schools create meaningful, inclusive maker experiences that connect creativity, critical thinking... Read More →
Ready to bring the videos you already use in your classroom to life and boost student engagement? In this hands-on session, you'll explore how to transform any video into an engaging, interactive learning experience. Learn how to find the perfect video, embed purposeful questions, and add interactive elements that meet every learner's needs. You'll also discover how to use real-time student data to guide instruction and celebrate progress. Dedicated work time is built in so you can build, troubleshoot, and swap ideas with colleagues. You'll leave with a ready-to-use video lesson you can launch in your next class.
Sarah Caffee brings 15 years of experience in education to her role as an Edpuzzle trainer. She has taught special education at both the elementary and high school levels, early math and literacy, and 9th grade history. Beyond the classroom, she has served as a high school principal... Read More →
Edpuzzle is no longer only an interactive video tool. In this hands-on session, you'll get a working tour of the full platform—Videos, Quizzes, Slides, Docs, and Student Projects—and see how each feature fits into the rhythms of your classroom. Learn when to reach for a Quiz over a Video, how interactive Slides can replace a static lecture deck, and how Docs let you deliver chunked, scaffolded reading with built-in comprehension checks and accessibility supports. We'll also look at how Student Projects flip the script by putting learners in the driver's seat as content creators. Dedicated work time is built in so you can start building in the feature that fits your next unit, with support on hand. You'll leave with a ready-to-use lesson and a clear sense of which tool to pull off the shelf for which job.
Sarah Caffee brings 15 years of experience in education to her role as an Edpuzzle trainer. She has taught special education at both the elementary and high school levels, early math and literacy, and 9th grade history. Beyond the classroom, she has served as a high school principal... Read More →
This session establishes a foundation for AI in K–12 by building a shared language and a "human-first" mindset. Participants will explore the current AI landscape through collaborative mapping, identifying high-value, low-risk use cases that streamline school workflows while prioritizing data privacy and accuracy.
Attendees will move from theory to action by co-creating responsible use norms and a personalized use-case map. By balancing time-saving automation with critical oversight, participants will leave with the practical tools and ethical frameworks necessary to lead intentional AI integration in their classrooms and offices.
Explore Newsela content and features to enhance your lessons and support student needs. Discover varied content types, instructional resources like leveled texts and engagement features such as Annotations, Quizzes, and Write Prompts.
Not all screen time is created equal. As schools and teachers across the country rethink device use and push back on passive tech, Edpuzzle offers a way to use its suite of tools so that students are actually doing something meaningful on their screens.
In this hands-on session, you'll learn how to use the full platform with intention by choosing the right format for the job and embedding purposeful questions that require thinking, not just clicking. We'll explore interactive videos that replace passive viewing, Quizzes that gamify formative assessment without turning it into a points chase, Slides that bring a lecture to life with embedded checks for understanding, Docs that deliver chunked, scaffolded reading with built-in accessibility supports, and Student Projects that shift students from consumers to creators. We'll also cover how to pair Edpuzzle with discussion, off-screen tasks, and small-group instruction, plus how to use real-time data to guide next steps. You'll leave with a ready-to-use lesson and a clear framework for deciding when an Edpuzzle is the right tool for the job—and when to put the screens away entirely.
Sarah Caffee brings 15 years of experience in education to her role as an Edpuzzle trainer. She has taught special education at both the elementary and high school levels, early math and literacy, and 9th grade history. Beyond the classroom, she has served as a high school principal... Read More →
Middle school students thrive when digital learning spaces are simple, consistent, and easy to navigate. In this hands-on session, 6-8 teachers will explore practical strategies for designing student-centered Canvas/Open Access courses that reduce confusion, increase engagement, and support student independence. Participants will learn how to organize modules and create consistent layouts that help middle school learners focus on learning instead of searching for information. Teachers will leave with ready-to-use templates, examples, and at least one revised module or page they can immediately implement in their classroom.
As an Education Technology Specialist, Katrina has 25 years of experience working with schools to achieve the goal of integrating technology into the curriculum. Katrina has a bachelor's degree in K-8 Education from Haskell University and a master's degree in Instructional Technologies... Read More →
I’m a Digital Learning Coach with over four years of experience helping teachers and staff integrate technology into their instruction and planning, and 8 years of teaching experience in middle school classrooms. With a background in science and technology education, I’m passionate... Read More →
Enhance student accessibility and explore how Newsela supports High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM). Review the latest articles and platform features, and learn effective strategies for utilizing Newsela to facilitate student research.
Grade 6–8 teachers are invited to tune in and turn up the volume on classroom podcasting! In this session, we’ll explore the nuts, bolts, buttons, cords, and occasional mysterious blinking lights behind student podcast projects. Participants will get an overview of practical podcasting equipment, easy-to-use apps, recording tips, and classroom-friendly workflows that make audio storytelling manageable, even if you don’t know your mic from your headphone jack. Whether your students are creating history debates, science explainers, book reviews, or the next smash-hit middle school talk show, this session will help you get started without needing a professional recording studio (or a radio voice). Come ready to learn, laugh, and maybe accidentally say “You’re on mute” at least once.
I started my journey as an educator as a middle school science teacher. I had so much fun using different technologies in the classroom that a transition to digital learning coach was was inevitable. In the 7 years I've been a DLC I've enjoyed learning alongside teachers and students... Read More →
I am in my first year as a Digital Learning Coach at Santa Fe Public Schools, where I support educators in integrating technology to create engaging, student-centered learning experiences. Before joining Santa Fe, I taught Math and Science for 8 years and served as a STEM Coordinator... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm MDT 📚 Library
In a world of notifications, fast-paced tech integration, and relentless digital demands, educators are being asked to teach from within systems that often leave their nervous systems overstimulated, dysregulated, and depleted. This session explores how digitally driven classrooms impact educator well-being at a physiological and emotional level, and how we can build more sustainable practices from the inside out.
Blending neuroscience, trauma-informed practice, and Human Sustainability principles, this session will guide participants in identifying how digital workflows, tech tools, and communication platforms contribute to chronic stress patterns. More importantly, it will offer concrete, doable strategies for creating calmer professional ecosystems, including sensory-aware tech routines, nervous system reset rituals, emotionally intelligent scheduling, and mindset shifts around digital urgency.
This session is about reclaiming emotional regulation, focus, and agency in a world that rewards constant connectivity. Educators will leave with actionable strategies and a renewed sense of what it means to teach well in a tech-rich environment.
This session will explore Skill Struck's age-appropriate, engaging, and ethical AI courses. For grades 6-8, the Explorations of AI equips students with essential knowledge of AI technologies, data, and ethics to help them navigate the world of AI.
Grade 6–8 teachers are invited to tune in and turn up the volume on classroom podcasting! In this session, we’ll explore the nuts, bolts, buttons, cords, and occasional mysterious blinking lights behind student podcast projects. Participants will get an overview of practical podcasting equipment, easy-to-use apps, recording tips, and classroom-friendly workflows that make audio storytelling manageable, even if you don’t know your mic from your headphone jack. Whether your students are creating history debates, science explainers, book reviews, or the next smash-hit middle school talk show, this session will help you get started without needing a professional recording studio (or a radio voice). Come ready to learn, laugh, and maybe accidentally say “You’re on mute” at least once.
I am in my first year as a Digital Learning Coach at Santa Fe Public Schools, where I support educators in integrating technology to create engaging, student-centered learning experiences. Before joining Santa Fe, I taught Math and Science for 8 years and served as a STEM Coordinator... Read More →
I started my journey as an educator as a middle school science teacher. I had so much fun using different technologies in the classroom that a transition to digital learning coach was was inevitable. In the 7 years I've been a DLC I've enjoyed learning alongside teachers and students... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT 📚 Library
