Sunday, March 23, 2014

Bring Your Quarters for PET

Make sure to bring your quarters to support WEMTA PET (Permanent Endowment Trust). PET has begun a fund raising campaign A Quarter Million for a Quarter Century to celebrate the 25th anniversary of PET in 2017. Find out more about PET here http://www.wemta.org/committees/pet.cfm

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Are you ready for tomorrow?

Those of you attending tomorrow may start your game to "level up" toward becoming the Master of WEMTA. Make sure to pick up your registration bag to get your game card. Which level will you attain:  The Master, the Researcher, the Collector, or the Professor. Watch the video explanation.

Sunday GLS Arcade

Come and experience the GLS Game Arcade at WEMTA where you can play educational and commercial games, chat with researchers and other educators about using games in classrooms and after-school clubs, and gather teaching materials and resources for using games in your school! The GLS Game Arcade is from 3-5 pm on Sunday in Ballroom 4, and free for all attendees of the conference.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Please Volunteer


The conference is planned entirely by volunteers. We need many on-site volunteers to make the conference run smoothly. Even if you can just volunteer 1 hour, it is much appreciated. Below are the volunteer links.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Jennie Magiera - Spotlight Speaker

Jennie Magiera is the Digital Learning Coordinator for the Academy for Urban School Leadership, a network of 29 Chicago Public Schools. An Apple Distinguished Educator, Google Certified Teacher and CPS’ 2012 Tech Innovator of the Year, Jennie works to redefine education through digital learning. She explores how to leverage 1:1 devices such as Chromebooks and iPads to increase student metacognition, collaboration and creativity. You can follow Jennie on Twitter at @MsMagiera.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Naomi Harm - Spotlight Speaker

Naomi Harm, Master of Education in Professional Development, ME-PD, best known as an 21st century educational technology literacy specialist, welcomes every opportunity to share her expertise and best practices relating to technology infused teaching and learning environments. Her dynamic career focus includes many exciting and cutting edge jobs which include: an Intel National Senior Trainer, Google certified teacher, SMART certified trainer, certified online instructor, and manages her own "Innovative Educator" consulting corporation. Naomi is truly passionate about building global relationships with educational technology leaders, while engaging in meaningful and collaborative conversations to meet the needs of today's diverse learners. Follow Naomi on Twitter - @nharm

Monday, March 10, 2014

Mitch Dowhower - Spotlight Speaker

Mitch Dowhower is an expert in the field of Google Apps management. School districts across the world have benefited from Mitch's work. Wisconsin is one of the very first states that began Mitch's journey into Google Apps consulting. He has served as a spotlight speaker at every Google Apps Midwest Summit as well as the Google Apps Midwest Mini-Summits. Mitch serves as the Network Systems Administrator at the Northwest Area Education Agency in Sioux City, IA and holds a master's degree in organizational management. Follow Mitch on Twitter - @mdowhower

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Tuesday Author Keynote: Jarrett Krosoczka

Jarrett Krosoczka has been passionate about storytelling through words and pictures since he was a kid. Six months after graduation, Jarrett received his first contract for a trade book that he authored. Knopf Books for Young Readers published Good Night, Monkey Boy on June 12, 2001 and Jarrett hasn’t stopped or slowed down since. He currently has authored twenty published books—ten picture books, nine graphic novels and his new chapter book—Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked. His Lunch Lady series has twice won a Children's Choice Book Award, in the Third to Fourth Grade Book of the Year category, and was nominated for a Will Eisner Comic Industry Award. Jarrett's TED Talk, which chronicles his journey form boy to artist, has been viewed more than a half-million times. Both his Punk Farm and Lunch Lady series are in development as feature films. While Jarrett awaits seeing his work adapted for the silver screen, he can be heard on The Book Report with JJK, his radio segment on Sirius XM's Kids Place Live. Jarrett is happily living out his childhood dream in Northampton, Massachusetts, where he resides with his wife and daughters and their pug, Ralph Macchio.  Follow Jarrett on Twitter - @StudioJJK

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Monday Keynote: Dean Shareski

Dean Shareski is a Digital Learning Consultant with the Prairie South School Division in Moose Jaw, SK, Canada. He specializes in the use of technology in the classroom. Since late 2004 he has been immersed in understanding what the Read/Write Web is all about and how the new shape of knowledge changes how we all learn. Dean believes teachers and students ought to use technology to connect ideas and learners in safe, relevant, authentic ways to answer questions, share ideas and develop community. Learning can be, and should be, fun and personal. He was awarded the 2010 ISTE Award for Outstanding Leadership in Technology and Education. You can learn more at http://ideasandthoughts.org/ or follow Dean on Twitter @shareski . You can also view his WEMTA Wired Wednesday interview here.

Monday, March 3, 2014

Conference Information Update


Please Volunteer
The conference is planned entirely by volunteers. We need many on-site volunteers to make the conference run smoothly. Even if you can just volunteer 1 hour, it is much appreciated. Below are the volunteer links. Additional spots may be added closer to the conference so check back, thanks in advance.
Sunday   -   Monday   -    Tuesday

Sign Up @ Sched.org to Prevent Standing Room Only Rooms
Go to wemta14.sched.org and create a login or log in with facebook. I made a short video here:
By marking interested sessions, you will help us to adjust rooms (time slots stay the same) to prevent overcrowding. There is no printed schedule this year. You can download to your phone, export to a calendar and more!

Hotel
Our blocks have sold out quickly. We have 2 more hotel blocks. When calling the hotels listed below please be sure and mention WEMTA to get the discount.

Ramada Inn (block expires March 10th but may sell out before then)
Note: if less than 20 rooms in the block are sold, the price will be $10 more per night.
Monday/Tuesday nights $69.75 plus tax, 2 suites $79.75 per night

Attendees will need to call 1-800-845-2251 and secure the room with a credit card.

Holiday Inn Express (block expires March 7th but may sell out before then)
Monday/Tuesday nights $89 plus tax per night (Call 1-608-253-3000 and ask for WEMTA Block Group Rate)

Sunday Workshop Space Still Open! $50 per workshop if you are attending the conference, cost of workshop/s +$50 if not. Contact wemta@wiscow.com to register.

11:30-1:30
A. Going Google! (beginning Google Admin Console) - Mitch Dowhower
B. Any Device Will Do! Best Practices of BYOD Implementation, Classroom Management and Student Projects - Naomi Harm

2-4pm
C. Google Apps Management (intermediate/advanced Google Admin Console) - Mitch Dowhower
D. Time Saving Scripts: Automate Your World with Google Scripts - Jennie Magiera

Parking
Parking is free at the Kalahari.

Registration Check-In Hours (pick up your name tag, meal tickets, & conference bag)
Sunday 11am-6pm
Monday 7am-6pm
Tuesday 7am-1pm