ASSET 20th Annual Technology Conference

Children are naturally curious about nature and what’s going on around them. Research indicates that children, who have more nature experiences, demonstrate more advanced cognitive and emotional development. Yet, sadly more and more children are suffering from Nature Deficit Disorder, where although they may go outside for play or sports, children lack a connection to nature and the outside world around them. We know teachers want to give students more opportunities to practice their observations skills and have more real world experiences with science. How can we build awareness of the world around our students and practice science in a real, tangible way with meaning? By giving our students a role in Citizen Science. Our presentation will discuss the value of bringing Citizen Science into the classroom. We will introduce concept of Citizen Science, describe many Citizen Science programs offered to all age groups and discuss our Glen Cove STREAM Program’s K-5 involvement in eBirds, Project Budburst, and CoCoRah’s. Our presentation will include unit and lesson ideas with these programs, as well as demonstrations of the apps used and how students can submit their observations. Participants will see how these submissions actually help real scientists with their research. Our presentation will show how Citizen Science blends the use of technology with the study of the great outdoors to benefit scientists everywhere. Citizen Science offers students a chance to not just learn about science, but to feel like a scientist using data to discover changes in the world around them. We hope you will give us this opportunity to share Citizen Science at the Suffolk ASSET Technology conference.

Abracadabra, Sorcerers of Education! EdTech secrets revealed! Hear the astonished gasps… “ I didn’t know it could do THAT?!” “This lesson is LEVITATING!!!” Come witness and try out supernatural classroom technologies that will metamorphosize your lessons and make your students believe that you are summoning the dark arts or using sleight of hand … all while secretly getting them to LEARN! Empower your students to summon their own inner wizards as they conjure and create models of learning in ways that are engaging, exciting, and indeed, limitless. Come behind the curtain, where we will reveal secrets of edumagic, including the illusions of green screen, virtual worlds with content-driven augmented reality, the cryptic codes behind Digital Breakouts, spell-binding Google tricks for all subject areas, and enchanting apps and extensions. Your admission guarantees you will walk away with a mystical menagerie of purposeful and fantastical tech tools to add to YOUR bag of tricks. And have no fear! These tools can be pulled out of the hats of any grade or subject. Just like the mysteries of magic, the future is yet to be unveiled. As educators, it’s time we facilitate lessons and foster skills that will allow our students to take the wand to create new and imaginative solutions, and unforgettable learning experiences. Then when those students are ready to face their own futures, they will be prepared for the challenges and triumphs of the greatest show on earth.

Menus are not just for restaurants! Help create a classroom filled with voice and choice for your students. Digital learning menus are at the forefront of differentiated instruction. Attend this workshop to learn the rationale behind creating learning menus in the classroom: the why, the how, and the what now. This workshop will also focus on the digitalization of these menus through the G-Suite where teachers will be able to hyperlink assignments to create choice boards, learning menus, and even Tic-Tac-Toe assignments. This workshop will be useful for all educators and administrators in a 7-12 setting, and will be especially useful for those in a co-teaching environment (both ENL and Special Education).