There's still time to register for the Three Rivers Educational Technology Conference on Nov. 17th & 18th. TRETC is the premier K-16 educational technology conference in Western Pennsylvania. Over 350 educators from K-12 schools, higher education and non-profits come to the event. In addition, each year over 30 vendors showcase their new technologies.
CREATE Lab has been featured in the past at TRETC and this year, the Hummingbird and Finch will be part of the Maker Space and will be part of Breakout Session B: Featured Presentation – Ball Room – 11:10 am – 12:10 pm
Presenter: Zee Poerio, K-8 Computer Teacher, St. Louise de Marillac Catholic School
Presentation Title: EdTech Takes the Runway at TRETC: Trends to Rock your Classroom Style
Description: This session will present trending APPS and tools in a fast-paced, fashion show format. Learn how to engage your students, stimulate creativity, foster collaboration, and encourage deeper learning while putting your teaching style in a class of its own.
We have proposed a Children's Innovation Project Workshop session for the South by Southwest conference this Spring.
Conference sessions are selected based on a panel picker process where people cast votes. If you could, please take a minute to log in (it will ask you to create an account) and vote for our session:http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/15149 Thanks!Melissa and Jeremycippgh.org
On Wednesday, May 23, 2012, PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION FOR EDUCATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY (PAECT) SouthWestern Chapter held its first Regional Event. This “Taste of Technology” TECH and TELL was held at St. Louise de Marillac School in (Upper St. Clair) Pittsburgh, PA from 5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.
Zee Ann Poerio, Technology Teacher for K-8 at St. Louise de Marillac, was the host and event chair. Ken Klase, principal of St. Louise de Marillac School welcomed everyone and Dr. Shirley Campbell, Past President of PAECT, thanked everyone for attending.
Following a light technology themed dinner with APPetizers, BYTE sized sandwiches, computer potato CHIPS to munch, and COOKIES, the attendees were invited to a visit a student showcase which featured technology from Carnegie Mellon University’s CREATE Lab. http://www.cmucreatelab.org/ An exhibit featuring a Robotic Ancient Coin made by the STL Student Technology Team using the ARTS & BOTS (formerly Robot Diaries) - Hummingbird Kit was displayed for human robot interaction. Also, 8th grade student, Tom W., invited attendees to attempt challenges he programmed for the FINCH, another robotic device. A GigaPan was on display along with a large print for attendees to post comments. Jillian G. and Francesca G., eighth grade students, also volunteered at the event. They demonstrated how Turning Technologies http://www.turningtechnologies.com/ response devices or “clickers” can be used in the classroom, and they assisted in registering teachers with EDMODO http://www.edmodo.com/ accounts to prepare for the workshop.
Dan Plesco of Direct Tech Solutions explained the benefits of using a Meraki Wireless Access Point. The access point was installed that day and attendees were able to see how quickly schools could benefit from the technology. SWPAECT members presented the attendees with a “taste of technology” that they could put to use in the upcoming school year. Attendees learned how to power their classes with EDMODO http://www.edmodo.com/ (Zee Ann Poerio, K-8 Technology Teacher), engage their students with the new SMART Notebook 11 http://smarttech.com/notebook11 (Brandie Boback, Certified SMART Trainer), and use Twitter http://twitter.com/ for the Classroom and PD (Silvina Orsatti, IT Specialist.) The session ended with a TECH & TELL where attendees shared their favorite web tools.
Thanks to the following organizations for donating these fantastic door prizes:
Smart SolutionTechnologies, L.P. Smart Board Interactive Whiteboard SB680 Smart Board or Smart Response Training http://smarterguys.com/
Special thanks to Dom Salvucci who joined us via SKYPE to share his experiences with Edmodo, Jana Baxter of SW PAECT, St. Louise de Marillac School administration and staff, and Theresa Enyeart, Toni Luvara, and Jean Rowles for their help on the day of the event. This event was FREE for PAECT Members and $5.00 for Non–Members. Attendees received PA ACT 48 credit and left with “cookies” (to eat) and great ideas to share with their colleagues and use immediately in their classrooms.
Photos from this event can be viewed here: (Created with ANIMOTO http://animoto.com/ another great web tool!)
Submitted by Zee Ann Poerio, SW PAECT Member (Event Planning Committee) Teacher, St. Louise de Marillac Catholic School
On June 26, 2011, I presented GigaPan as part of a joint technology panel with the Excellence Through Classics Committee and the National Committee for Latin & Greek at the American Classical League Summer Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I enjoy sharing ideas using technology in the classroom especially with Classics teachers. Using GigaPan is great way to integrate technology and bring the study of the ancient past to life.
Conference attendees, learned how to explore panoramas using the gigapan.org website and the process of taking snapshots and leaving comments. The display of a large gigapan print of the Roman Forum generated lots of interest and allowed attendees to participate in dialogues throughout the conference. They were invited to attach sticky notes to the print in English or Latin, creating a truly interactive exhibit.
There were comments about objects in the panorama, observations about the weather, plant life and architecture. There was even a recommendation on a place to eat near the Forum. Above an image of young girl, someone wrote, “Ecce! In pictura est puella.” (Look! In the picture is a girl.) Attendees would read the post and laugh. They recognized the famous first line in Ecce Romani – a Latin textbook. Notes also included drawings; someone had “rebuilt” the deteriorated sculptural form on the top of a column to restore Rome to all its glory.
GigaPan.org is a wonderful resource for teachers of all disciplines!
Special thanks to the Committee on Latin in Elementary Schools of the National Committee for Latin & Greek, Frank Neuperger, photographer, and the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University - with special thanks to Clara Phillips.
This is an animoto with images, audio and video clips from the event:
Zee Ann Poerio, Teacher-St. Louise de Marillac School Chair for the Committee on Latin in Elementary Schools, National Committee for Latin & Greek
