SUECON 2015

This interactive course will focus on helping students and teachers find balance in an increasingly technological world. Participants will utilize teaching strategies designed to promote reflection and critical thinking skills about the effective use of technology in the classroom and in our everyday lives. We will review the findings and recommendations from William Powers (Hamlet's Blackberry) and Sherry Turkle (Alone Together) to help participants build a good life in the digital age.

Whether you are a techie teacher or a techno-novice, there are a number of online tools available to help you increase your productivity and perfect your computer skills. 
This session will cover five main technology areas: storage solutions, password management, bookmarking, information gathering and information sharing. Each of the five areas includes multiple options to help allow for both flexibility of choice and availability of assortment. 
The different areas contain multiple tools, including; online flash drives, applications to help you remember your different passwords, the ability to save your Internet bookmarks to multiple web browsers and computers, sharing your bookmarks with others, RSS feeds, blogs, wikis, Twitter, and URL shorteners. 
Each of the areas contains both free and paid versions of tools allowing everyone the opportunity to use the products regardless of funding and finances. 

Overwhelmed? ….Take time to find time. Come review and learn principles of staying organized, consolidating the workspace, processing email and reserving time for the most important activities. Brainstorm answers to the questions such as

Learn from teachers in the trenches how to increase student engagement in school by implementing STEM extensions. This panel of educators will share how they have implemented over 10 STEM extension courses into the school day; resources for funding; and important tips for successful implementation.

Twitter has become a very popular tool for educators to use when trying to improve their teaching skills because it allows you to connect with other teachers all over the world. Getting involved with different Twitter chats is another way teachers can increase their knowledge and have fun learning. #UTedChat is a weekly Twitter chat that focuses on Utah teachers and helps us connect with one another so we can learn from teachers in our own state dealing with some of the same questions and issues we face.

As fun as and informative as these Twitter chats can be, they can also be downright difficult to figure out how to follow along AND add to the conversation. Come learn how to effectively participate in these chats by learning about different technology tools that can help this process along. We will cover a multitude of different tools that will make following along as well as contributing a snap!

We will look at both free and paid versions of tools allowing everyone the opportunity to learn and grow with #UTedChat each week as well as the many other Twitter chats available!

The class becomes quiet- Something is about to happen. The Roanoke Colony has been established. The students are clearing the land. A Native American appears at the forest line. What are the students going to do? How will they respond to this new event? How will the Native American respond? Will they be able to plant crops? How will they survive? Creating immersive games engages the student in classroom learning by making them a part of the subject. In this class you will learn the basics of how to set up an immersive learning game in your classroom. We will discuss both side games and a game that is scheduled for a block of days. Tips and tricks for keeping it simple for the teacher, keeping the class engaged over time, and how to develop subject oriented themes will be major points of learning.