Agenda
8:30 a.m. – Registration
9:00 a.m. – Welcome
John Halpin, Vice President, Strategy and Programs, Center for Digital Education
9:05 a.m. – Morning Keynote
Demographics: A Guide to the Future
How will Texas’ demographics affect its schools? How can educators leverage population data to improve student success?
A fresh conversation about student achievement, featuring nationally-recognized speaker Ron Crouch. Crouch will use data on population, education and other social indicators to provide an understanding of what the future holds for students, specifically in Texas, and how to help prepare them for success.
Crouch, an expert in enhancing the public’s understanding of statistical information, will discuss U.S. trends and similar demographic shifts occurring in other countries, and address the possible implications for U.S. schools. Change is a reality! Do we understand it? Are we ready to embrace its consequences and its opportunities?
Ron Crouch, Principal Consultant, Crouch and Associates
9:55 a.m. – Roundtable Discussion Rotation Begins
Table 1: 10:05 to 10:40 a.m.
Table 2: 10:40 to 11:15 a.m.
11:15 a.m. – Break
11:25 a.m. – Roundtable Discussion Rotation Continues
Table 3: 11:25 a.m. to Noon
Table 4: Noon to 12:35 p.m.
12:35 p.m. – Lunch
1:10 p.m. – Roundtable Discussion Rotation Continues
Table 5: 1:10 to 1:45 p.m.
Table 6: 1:45 to 2:20 p.m.
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION TOPICS
ROUNDTABLE 1: Overcoming Barriers to Digital Learning – Student Devices, Instructional Tools, Flexible Settings
The transition to digital teaching is upon us. As districts adopt a wider variety of digital assets, they must also provide tools to make this content useful for students and teachers. This discussion is about how schools are addressing the issue of student devices, instructional tools and support technologies to help students continue their learning outside the classroom. In short, it discusses tools to enable effective digital teaching.
Diane Ashby, National Education Business Development Manager, Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
ROUNDTABLE 2: How Are Digital Content and Technology Driving Your Online Learning Programs?
It has been argued that some of the greatest short-term traction we can make in school transformation is through the effective use of technology and online learning programs. The foundation has been set and the early results have proven that students can succeed with online learning programs – whether through stand-alone courses or through the combined power of a virtual school. This table will discuss the relationships between online learning courses, digital content and the effective use of technology as it relates to the many stakeholders in education: students, teachers, administrators and the educational community at large.
Dr. Michael Maslayak, Vice President of Marketing, K12 Inc.
ROUNDTABLE 3: The Wireless Swarm is Approaching
According to Merriam-Webster, a swarm is a large number of animate or inanimate things massed together and usually in motion. That is exactly what is approaching most K-12s. In this case, the “things massed together” are the multiple Wi-Fi™ devices that the typical student carries. Let's face it, that's one of the big challenges of 21st century learning. Join this roundtable to discuss how to prevent Wi-Fi™ meltdowns, what's working in the schools, how IT managers have learned to cope with issues of security, bandwidth, user management and improving the learning process.
Steve Asche, Director, Field Marketing, Meru Networks
ROUNDTABLE #4: School Security – How Do We Create Greater Situational Awareness in Our Schools?
In an effort to create a healthy learning environment, school administrators have begun leveraging technology to assist in greater situational awareness. Schools have been tasked with creating emergency action plans, but the challenge now stands in the execution process. How can schools make the technology in which they have invested work for them in a more proactive approach? The new more is less – less staff, less funding, less time . . . Let’s do more with what we have.
Ron Carlson, National Director, Physical Security Practice, Insight Public Sector
ROUNDTABLE #5: The Role of Technology in Transforming the Assessment Process
Data-driven decision-making assumes two things: that you have data and use that data to drive instructional decisions. Both are easier said than done. With the 2014 online assessment deadline, Common Core and an increased emphasis on longitudinal performance assessment is undergoing wholesale changes. This session explores the challenges and opportunities of online assessment, the role of student response systems (present and future), BYOD and data mining.
Sarah Acord, Team Lead, Education Solutions – Central, SMART Technologies
Eric Jansson, Senior Education Advocate, SMART Technologies
ROUNDTABLE #6: Mobile Video Learning to all Students
As schools implement 1:1 initiatives, many are integrating video learning into their curriculum. This rich multimedia content is delivered to student’s school-issued or personal mobile devices over the wireless network. Today, students – along with teachers and staff members – are regularly accessing school network resources using a wide array of Wi-Fi™ devices. However, the real-time characteristics of video across various types of devices simultaneously represent challenges of which many schools are not aware. This table will discuss how IT leaders are addressing the new wave of video learning and Wi-Fi™ infrastructure challenges that come with mobile devices.
Marshall C. Huffman, Vice President Professional Services, ONE Network Enterprises, Inc.
2:20 p.m. – Roundtable Recap
2:35 p.m. – Closing Keynote
Connecting the Dots – How Today’s Hot Issues Impact Schools and What to Do About It
The closing keynote will “connect the dots” between the headlines and their impact on today’s students. With changes in the political landscape, ever-improving technology advances and districts placing greater emphasis on more impactful curricula, there are many dots to connect. Topical issues could include: Where are the new funding sources? How can you prepare students for more promising career opportunities? How are the newest E-Rate rules impacting theprogram? How are districts ‘going digital’ and surviving? What is the evolving role of state initiatives to embrace core standards? The closing keynote will also address the latest timely issues facing schools and discuss ways to maximize on opportunities.
John Halpin, Vice President, Strategy and Programs, Center for Digital Education
3:00 p.m. – Adjourn
Ron Crouch, Principal Consultant
John Halpin, Vice President, Strategy and Programs
NSBA’s Technology Leadership Network is pleased to participate with the Center for Digital Education in presenting the Connecting the Dots road show series.
