Jessica Johnson Spotlight Speaker

Jessica Johnson is an Elementary School Principal and District Assessment Coordinator in Wisconsin. She is the 2014 Wisconsin Elementary School Principal of the Year! 

She has previously taught in Minnesota and Arizona. She is passionate about reading, writing, Daily 5/CAFE, principal productivity, social media, technology integration, and the concept of leading with a “coaching hat” as an administrator. 

She has a self-published childrens’ novel, Adventures in Blockworld: A Novel for the Young Minecraft Fans. She co-moderates the #educoach chat on Twitter each Wednesday night at 9pm CST and also co-hosts the PrincipalPLN Podcast. 

You can follow Jessica on Twitter @PrincipalJ and follow her posts on her blog http://www.principalj.net/

Mike Slowinski Spotlight Speaker

Mike Slowinski is in his fourth year as the K-12 Library Media & Technology Coordinator for the School District of West De Pere. 

Mike has presented locally, regionally, and nationally on topics including innovative library design, emerging technologies and makerspaces in schools, and using social media and video games to teach literacy skills. Some of his other professional interests include immersive virtual environments, literacy development, and technology integration models. 

Through his work, Mike is a passionate advocate for the role of libraries in developing student creativity and innovation. 

You can follow Mike on Twitter@mikeslowinski and check out his West De Pere High School Library website.

#WEMTA15 Conference Sessions Live

Wondering what sessions will be at the WEMTA 2015 Conference? Wondering who the Keynotes, Spotlight Speakers, and Session Presenters will be? Well the wait is over. The conference schedule is now live! Sign up or log in to bookmark your favorite sessions and sync them to your phone or calendar. http://wemta15.sched.org

Looking over the schedule, you will see that we have some fantastic professional development opportunities lined up for you. Make sure to share the schedule with the staff in your district. Here is a flyer you can provide for your administration and staff interested in learning more about our conference. Conference registration to open in early January.

Kasey Bell Spotlight Speaker

Kasey Bell is an digital learning consultant with a Master’s degree in educational technology. As a skillful facilitator, authorized Google Education Trainer and Google Certified Teacher, Kasey has led a variety of instructional technology trainings, including presentations at FETC, TCEA, Google Summits, and iPadpalooza. Kasey is co-leader of the North Texas Google Educator Group. 

Kasey’s blog, ShakeUpLearning.com, was recognized as a Must Read EdTech Blog for 2014, and go-to resource for Google tips and tricks. As a blogger, Kasey uses her blog to create and share original technology integration ideas, resources, cheat sheets, and more. 

You can follow Kasey on Twitter @ShakeUpLearning to see her sparkingling personality in action, view Kasey's Google Teacher Academy video.

Chris Crutcher Author Keynote

Crutcher’s years as teacher, then director, of a K-12 alternative school in Oakland, California through the 1970’s, and his subsequent 20+ years as a therapist specializing in child abuse and neglect, inform his 13 novels and 2 collections of short stories. 

Chris has received a number of coveted awards, including the American Library Association’s Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award. His favorites are his two Intellectual Freedom awards, one from the National Council for Teachers of English and the other from the National Coalition Against Censorship. 

Five of Crutcher’s books appeared on an American Library Association list of the 100 Best Books for Teens of the Twentieth Century. 

You can follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisCrutcher and learn more about him by watching this video.

Dr. Kristen Swanson Keynote at WEMTA Conference

We are excited to let you know that Dr. Kristen Swanson will be the keynote at the WEMTA 2015 Conference.

An educational leader, Kristen is a renowned teacher, professional developer, writer, speaker, and consultant on impactful learning designs. 

She has worked directly under the tutelage of Dr. Grant Wiggins and authored both Professional Learning in the Digital Age (2013) and Unleashing Student Superpowers (2014). 

A founder of the Edcamp movement, Kristen is also passionate about effective teacher education. Kristen has a doctorate from Widener University in Educational Leadership. 

You can follow Kristen on Twitter @kristenswanson and watch her Viral Learning: Kristen Swanson at TEDxNYED video.

Save the Date

WEMTA Conference 2015
Sunday, March 22 - Tuesday, March 24th, 2015
Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, WI

Registration opens early January watch the conference website for updates.

Quick submit your #WEMTA15 Proposal

Please submit your one-hour general session proposal by filling out this form http://goo.gl/WmmD4t by October 31, 2014 (ish).

Our theme this year is Make IT, Shake IT, and Move IT @WEMTA15. Make IT refers to the MakerSpace movement. Shake IT refers to shaking things up in education. And Move IT refers to mobile devices and flexible learning spaces. The IT refers to Information Technology. Come on you know you want to join us for an amazing conference. Get your proposal in. Encourage your colleague to submit a proposal too. It's always better with a partner. 


This year is going to be amazing! We have some new and innovative things planned for this years conference.  This year we will have sessions on Sunday as well. Spread the word. Hope to see you all there! Conference dates: Sunday, March 22nd - Tuesday, March 24th, 2015. Check out the conference website for continual updates.

Call for #WEMTA15 Conference Session Proposals - Now Open

Please submit your one-hour general session proposal by filling out this form http://goo.gl/WmmD4t by October 31, 2014.

Our theme this year is Make IT, Shake IT, and Move IT @WEMTA15. Make IT refers to the MakerSpace movement. Shake IT refers to shaking things up in education. And Move IT refers to mobile devices and flexible learning spaces. The IT refers to Information Technology. This year is going to be fantastic. We have some new and innovative things planned for this years conference.  Spread the word. Hope to see you all there! Conference dates: Sunday, March 22nd - Tuesday, March 24th, 2015. Check out the conference website for continual updates.

Conference Planning Committee

#WEMTA15 Conference Planning Committee

We are getting ready for #WEMTA15 at the Kalahari on March 22-24. We have some great things planned for this year. We have fresh new ideas we hope you are going to love.

Watch for Presenter Applications to come out very soon. Hope you can join us. Registration will open in December. 

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

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.

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.

Sunday Volunteer Spots   -   Monday Volunteer Spots   -    Tuesday Volunteer Spots

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

Get 1 credit for attending WEMTA Conference!

Did you know that you can earn 1 credit for attending the conference?  If you are interested, find out more here.

Early Bird Pricing ends Saturday, New Hotel & Sunday Workshops

Make sure to register if you haven't done so to take advantage of early bird registration pricing.

Holiday Inn Express Block
Our hotel blocks are going fast! The discounted rate is guaranteed up to March 7th, but there are a limited number of rooms so book as soon as you can. A discounted rate of $129 (3/22) and ($89) (3/23 & 3/24) will be available until March 7th, 2014 if you mention "WEMTA Block" during reservation.

Sunday Workshop Space Still Open! $50 per workshop if you are attending the conference, cost of workshop/s +$50 if not.

11:30-1:30
A. Going Google! (beginning Google Admin Console) - Mitch Dowhower
B. Any Device Will Do! - Naomi Harm

2-4pm
C. Google Apps Management (Advanced) - Mitch Dowhower
D. Time Saving Scripts: Google Scripts - Jennie Magiera

Conference Website: http://www.wemta.org/conference/
Online Program: http://wemta14.sched.org
Twitter: #wemta14

Online Scheduler is Live!

Ready to set up your own personal schedule for the conference?  Here is your opportunity. The online scheduler is live.  Visit it here http://wemta14.sched.org

Get the mobile web app for your iPhone, Android & Blackberry. Bookmark on your phone by visiting http://wemta14.sched.org/mobile  View your personal schedule, or search for what you want. The mobile app stores the schedule data locally on your phone for offline access too.

There will be changes/updates on the schedule - so continue to check back.  Please mark what sessions you plan on attending - we will try to adjust rooms (but keep the time slot the same) to reduce standing room only sessions.

We are not having a printed schedule. You are able to print your own personal schedule of sessions you plan on attending.  See this video for how to navigate the site http://www.wemta.org/conference/program_cfm

Early Bird Pricing ends on February 22nd!

Hope to see you at the WEMTA Conference!

Kalahari special rate - Sold Out!

We have been informed that the Kalahari hotel block for our March 23-25th conference has been sold out.  WEMTA is not able to get more rooms at the discounted rate.

We reserved an additional block of rooms at Wintergreen Resorts, which is very close by.  Call 800-648-4765 press 1 to reserve. Mention WEMTA block and get a single room for $69 per night.  Tax exempt rooms must provide a tax exempt number upon reserving or check in.  There is a limited number of rooms.

The program sessions/presenters list is located here.  It will be on sched.org in the next couple of weeks.

1 week left for EARLY bird pricing

Time is running out to save on registration! Try out the online registration process.  It is so quick and easy to use. Still have a paper version too. Hurry up.  Time is running out!

Registration Link

Don't forget to book your hotel room by Friday, February 21st.

Hotel Registration Link

Volunteers Needed

Please consider volunteering to help us during the conference. Did you know that the WEMTA Conference leadership positions are comprised completely with volunteers too? 

Use the links below to sign up.  We thank you SO much for helping us out. The conference is possible because of the great support of the WEMTA membership community!

Sunday Volunteer Spots

Monday Volunteer Spots

Tuesday Volunteer Spots

Early Bird Pricing Ends In 2 Weeks

Register by 2/22 to get your early bird pricing. Sunday workshops are limited to 40 participants. Some are already half full. Get your registration in to get the workshop you desire.

Registration Link

#WEMTA14 Conference Sessions Sneak Peak

Want to see what sessions will be at the conference? Here is a preview  goo.gl/lVLFfl

Make sure you register. Early Bird pricing still available.

Conference Registration is OPEN!

WEMTA 2014 Spring Conference

Sunday March 23rd - Tuesday March 25th

Kalahari Convention Center

WI Dells, WI

All the details for registration are here. Session schedule will be released very soon! Check out the schedule overview here.  We will be having 9 concurrent sessions from all the great presenters this year. Get your Early Bird pricing by signing up now!

2014 WEMTA Conference: Vendors & Exhibitors

Let your voice be heard.