MACE: Full Schedule

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12:45pm CST

AI As a Companion in the Language Learner Classroom

Thursday March 6, 2025 12:45pm - 1:30pm CST

Integrating AI technologies can revolutionize language education by providing personalized, interactive learning experiences. AI language tools offer students 24/7 practice opportunities, delivering instant feedback on speaking, grammar, and vocabulary. By guiding students to use AI strategically, educators can transform these tools from potential shortcuts into powerful learning companions. Students will develop critical skills in AI interaction, learning to prompt effectively, verify information, and leverage technology for meaningful language acquisition. This approach not only enhances linguistic competence but also cultivates digital literacy, preparing students for a technology-driven future.

Speakers

Crystal Buck

Thursday March 6, 2025 12:45pm - 1:30pm CST
KSU Union Big 12 Room

AI, Language Tools

Audience ALL

12:45pm CST

Level Up Your Review Game!

Thursday March 6, 2025 12:45pm - 1:30pm CST

KSU Union Flint Hills

Want to get past plain paper and pencil reviews, but don't want to just go to Kahoot? Come to this session to learn about some awesome websites I use to take my reviews to the next level! These are highly engaging and FUN for students and teachers alike. I will also talk about some "low-tech" review ways using a whiteboard, some styrofoam cups, and dice. Hope to see you there! I teach middle school now, but these gamifying strategies can be used at the elementary level as well as high school!

Presentation: bit.ly/MACE25Game

Speakers

Nick Coyan

8th Grade Math, Turner Middle School

Thursday March 6, 2025 12:45pm - 1:30pm CST
KSU Union Flint Hills

Instructional Strategies, Classroom Games

Audience ALL

12:45pm CST

The Ed-venture Trail

Thursday March 6, 2025 12:45pm - 1:30pm CST

KSU Union Room 207

Experience bite-sized Professional Learning stations to quickly boost your bank of instructional technology tools.

Speakers

Dr. Virginia Duncan

Associate Principal, Garden City High School

Dr. Virginia Duncan is an Associate Principal for the Arts & Communications Academy at Garden City High School in Garden City, KS. Prior to that, she was an Instructional Coach for 10 years. Before coaching teachers full time, Ginny taught English, History, and Drama in CA for 13... Read More →

Thursday March 6, 2025 12:45pm - 1:30pm CST
KSU Union Room 207

Instructional Strategies, Instructional Technology

Audience ALL

1:45pm CST

AI Spark Hacks: Igniting Classroom Innovation (REPEAT)

Thursday March 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm CST

KSU Union Big 12 Room

Unlock simple AI hacks to transform your teaching. This audience interactive session will have audience members showing off their best ready-to-use AI hacks for streamlining your professional life, inspiring lessons, and personalizing learning. Learn from other session attendees how to automate tasks, engage students with innovative projects, and save time while enhancing classroom excitement.

Speakers

Elizabeth Burke

9-12 Library Media Specialist, Salina South High School

I have been a library media specialist at Salina South High School for the last eight years. Prior to becoming a LMS, I was a social studies teacher at South High for ten years. I love trying new tech tools and strive to be a life-long learner. I also believe in working smarter not... Read More →

Thursday March 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm CST
KSU Union Big 12 Room

AI, SPARK

Audience ALL

1:45pm CST

Using AI To Help Make Your Job Easier

Thursday March 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm CST

KSU Union Cottonwood

In this session you will learn how ChatGPT (and a few other AI sites) can make some of your teacher tasks easier. There will be many tips and tricks on how to make lessons, write letters, help with goal writing, and perhaps a few fun things as well. There will be time for you to explore on your own and create things you can use in your class in the near future. If you have never used ChatGPT this is a great session for you!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14NI5eMV1MDSCKSItU64pqjdH2sr-e8Un6f3DSjyeM5E/copy

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/17zmgme7zZ9ph3R4GKI2kfVLcX3SgO3ymwAaWjPoQk2k/copy

Speakers

Melissa Modig

Middle School Science Teacher, USD #345

Thursday March 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm CST
KSU Union Cottonwood

AI, Chat GPT

Audience ALL

1:45pm CST

Teacher Tech Tips (REPEAT)

Thursday March 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm CST

KSU Union Bluemont

In this session you'll walk away with tips to help you utilize Microsoft and Google Tools to create lessons. Plus a wide range of tools to engage students.

Speakers

Jenica Stock

5th grade teacher, Washington Elementary School

Thursday March 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm CST
KSU Union Bluemont

Google Tools

Audience ALL

1:45pm CST

Teachers as Private Investigators: Eliciting Evidence of Learning (REPEAT)

Thursday March 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm CST

KSU Union Flint Hills

In this engaging and interactive session, you’ll step into the shoes of a private investigator to uncover the hidden clues of student learning. As educators, we often face the challenge of determining whether our students have truly grasped the lessons we teach. This session will equip you with a toolkit of strategies to gather meaningful evidence of student learning, ensuring you can identify who has mastered the content, who needs additional support, and how to guide all students forward in their educational journey.

Join us to explore a variety of methods for eliciting evidence, ranging from high-tech solutions to low or no-tech options. You’ll leave with practical techniques that can be immediately implemented in your classroom to enhance your assessment practices and support student success. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or prefer traditional approaches, this session has something for everyone.

Speakers

Marie Henderson

Instructional Technology Specialist, PK-12, Hays USD 489

Marie Henderson is the Instructional Technology Specialist for Hays Unified School District in Hays, KS where she serves local teachers as a technology trainer and instructional coach. She designed and continues to facilitate a flexible professional learning model for district staff... Read More →

Thursday March 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm CST
KSU Union Flint Hills

Instructional Strategies

Audience ALL

1:45pm CST

Not just Drones, a STEM Technology Playground

Thursday March 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm CST

KSU Union Room 206

Curious about incorporating STEM into your curriculum but unsure what tools to use? Step into this STEM Playground, where you’ll get hands-on with tools like Makey-Makey, Sphero Bolt and RVR, Ozobot Bit, Edison Robots, Micro:Bit and a drone. Explore everything from basic electronics to block coding and advanced programming. Not sure if you’ll have funds to pay for STEM materials? I’ve got you covered with resources and guidance to help you secure funding. Best of all, you’ll have time to play and discover which tools best fit your classroom!

Speakers

Laura Leis

Tech Integration Support Specialist, Smoky Valley

I am a technology integration specialist and work with staff and students from preschool to 12th grade for Smoky Valley. My ultimate goal is to use technology to engage students with meaningful and relevant instruction and activities that enhance their learning. I am passionate about... Read More →

Thursday March 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm CST
KSU Union Room 206

STEM, Drones

Audience ALL

3:00pm CST

Build Your AI Toolkit

Thursday March 6, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm CST

KSU Union Big 12 Room

Embark on a transformative professional development journey into the realm of AI in education. Elevate your lesson planning, refine communication strategies, and expand your resource toolkit. Gain practical tools and hands-on exploration opportunities in this session, empowering you to integrate AI seamlessly into your teaching practice.

Speakers

Elizabeth Tackett

Library Media Specialist, USD 259 Wichita Public Schools

Master’s Degree- Educational Technology and Library Media Pre-K - 5th Library Media Specialist Collegiate Adjunct Instructor- Wichita State University

Thursday March 6, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm CST
KSU Union Big 12 Room

Audience ALL

3:00pm CST

Hands on Exploration of AI Tools

Thursday March 6, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm CST

KSU Union Cottonwood

Spend 45 minutes exploring an AI Teacher tool. Choose from 1). Magic School AI or School AI, 2). Diffit, 3). Perplexity, or 4). the Brisk extension. Watch some brief video tutorials if you like, ask questions, learn from each other, and have time to become comfortable with an AI platform in order to effectively put it into practice.

Speakers

Travis True

Curriculum Technology Specialist, Topeka Public Schools

Travis True is an accomplished professional with a strong foundation in instructional design and development, e-learning, and curriculum development. With a career that spans over 20 years and various roles, including Technology Integration Specialist/Instructional Designer at Topeka... Read More →

Lydia Huninghake

MTSS Coordinator & Special Education Teacher, Manhattan Virtual Academy

MHK raised, farmers wife, mom of 3, teacher to cool kids - continuously reflecting and learning about Kansas MTSS and how to align goals into the virtual world. I welcome collaboration with other schools and appreciate perspectives that help grow into better supports for students... Read More →

Lori Rice

@MSLRice

I began teaching in 1996 in the very elementary school I attended as a student. I have taught reading, K, 1st, 4th and looped K/1 (an excellent experience). I am currently teaching K-2 elementary and K-12 gifted for Manhattan Virtual Academy online.My passion is helping students think... Read More →

Thursday March 6, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm CST
KSU Union Cottonwood

Audience ALL

3:00pm CST

You Don't Have to be a Genius!

Thursday March 6, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm CST

KSU Union Flint Hills

Instructional strategies and tips for teaching tech at any grade level. You don't have to be a genius or a tech wizard to implement engaging tech-based learning in your classroom. Use these lessons, strategies and tips for everything from multimedia presentations, audio and video projects, to squeezing the most learning from your students' netbooks and iPads. Beginners and veterans, alike, will glean interesting insights and new project ideas.

Speakers

Eric Velander

Journalism and Broadcasting Teacher, USD 457

I teach a creative, high-tech class that gives students the skills to produce and consume content in an infinitely complex media landscape. I pride myself in fostering students' skills and attitudes in a classroom that reflects the here and now of their lives and the world. In my... Read More →

Thursday March 6, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm CST
KSU Union Flint Hills

Instructional Strategies

Audience ALL

3:00pm CST

Interactive Teaching Made Easy: Using Pear Deck and EdPuzzle for Engaging Lessons

Thursday March 6, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm CST

KSU Union Room 206

Looking to captivate your students and make your lessons more interactive? Join us for a hands-on session exploring how Pear Deck and EdPuzzle can transform your Google Slides presentations into engaging, interactive experiences. We’ll focus on Instant Pear Decks to help you create real-time, responsive activities that spark student interest and gauge understanding effortlessly. Then, discover how EdPuzzle’s video integration can deepen learning by embedding questions and tracking student responses. By the end of this session, you’ll walk away with practical strategies for combining these tools, ensuring your lessons are both impactful and easy to implement. Ideal for educators aiming to enhance student engagement and make the most of technology in the classroom!

Speakers

Tuanua Swartz

Technology Integration, USD 361 Chaparral Schools

I have worked in education for 25+ years. I still get giddy when planning new ideas. Four years ago, we implemented a PBL Academy into our 7-12th grade classes. In the district, I wear several hats to keep me busy. I enjoy working in professional development to assist other educators... Read More →

Thursday March 6, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm CST
KSU Union Room 206

Instructional Tools, PearDeck, EdPuzzle

Audience ALL

3:00pm CST

SPOTLIGHT SPEAKER- Sparking Positive Disruption (REPEAT)

Thursday March 6, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm CST

KSU Union Forum Hall

Technology can easily replace paper and pencil in the classroom, which makes teacher life more efficient. What if we used technology as a positive disruptor instead of just a replacement for paper and pencil? In this session, I will introduce you to the T3 Framework and how you can level up the use of technology to disrupt the normal day to day use. We will explore different platforms that can elevate student engagement and learning outcomes and help you spark a positive disruption!

Speakers

Rachel Meenen

Instructional Coach, Andover Public Schools

With 15 years of experience in education, I have dedicated my career to helping students reach their potential. For the first eight years of my career I was a classroom teacher and for the last seven years I have been working as an Instructional Coach. Both of these roles have allowed... Read More →

Thursday March 6, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm CST
KSU Union Forum Hall

STEM

Audience ALL
Subject STEM

4:00pm CST

Prompt Engineering: Unlocking the Potential of AI in Education

Thursday March 6, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm CST

KSU Union Room 226

Unlock the full potential of AI in K-12 classrooms with effective prompt engineering! This session will guide educators through crafting precise prompts to maximize the utility of AI tools like ChatGPT, MagicSchool, and Canva. Learn strategies to create engaging lesson plans, streamline grading, and encourage critical thinking in students. Attendees will gain practical tips and hands-on examples to integrate prompt engineering into daily tasks to enhance productivity and foster innovative learning experiences.

Speakers

Tom Vontz

Professor and Director of the Center for Social Studies Education, KSU College of Education

Thursday March 6, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm CST
KSU Union Room 226

AI, Classroom Organization

Audience ALL

4:00pm CST

Spark Up Your Prompts! Tips For Better AI Prompt Engineering (REPEAT)

Thursday March 6, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm CST

KSU Union Big 12 Room

The Pandora's Box of AI is open, and learning to use it well and properly in the classroom will be a vital objective in helping make our students as "future ready" as possible! Much like we had to learn how to use search engines well, the same is needed with AI usage through something called prompt engineering. The goal of this session is to equip K-12 educators with foundational skills in prompt engineering for AI applications, with a focus on creating effective, educationally relevant AI interactions. We will cover the basics of prompt engineering, its relevance in the classroom, and practical tips to help educators integrate these skills into their teaching practice.

Canva Slide Deck

Speakers

Jeff Yearout

High School Computer Science Teacher, Derby High School

Thursday March 6, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm CST
KSU Union Big 12 Room

Audience ALL

4:00pm CST

Mastering Google Sites: Empowering Teachers to Create Engaging Classroom Websites (REPEAT)

Thursday March 6, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm CST

KSU Union Cottonwood

In this session, educators will explore the power of Google Sites to create dynamic, user-friendly websites. Whether you're a novice or have some experience with website creation, this session will guide you through the process of designing an organized, visually appealing site that enhances communication with students, parents, and colleagues. You'll learn how to integrate multimedia, embed Google Workspace tools, and use customization options to showcase resources and announcements. By the end of the session, educators will have the confidence and skills to launch a fully functional Google Site that supports student engagement and streamlines classroom management.

Speakers

Erin Lewis

Instructional Coach, Elmont Elementary

Thursday March 6, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm CST
KSU Union Cottonwood

Google Tools

Audience ALL

4:00pm CST

Engage, Explore, Enhance: The Power of HyperDocs in Blended Learning (REPEAT)

Thursday March 6, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm CST

KSU Union Flint Hills

Join returning presenter, fresh off last year’s popular “Shifting Your Workload with AI” session, for an engaging dive into the world of HyperDocs! In this interactive session, you’ll learn what HyperDocs are by experiencing one firsthand, all within a blended learning setup. Discover how these dynamic, digital lessons can boost engagement, and enhance blended learning. Walk away with inspiration and resources transform your own teaching! This presentation is suited for anyone who teaches any topic and those who deliver PD themselves.

Speakers

Katelyn Hobby

Social Studies, Shawnee Heights High School

Hi! I'm a teacher in my 11th year of education who's just about done it all from elementary, to middle, and now high school! I'm extremely passionate about teaching, learning, and teacher advocacy; always looking for ways to improve my craft and help others do the same.

Thursday March 6, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm CST
KSU Union Flint Hills

Instructional Strategies, Hyperdocs

Audience ALL

4:00pm CST

SPOTLIGHT SPEAKER- Sparking Positive Disruption (REPEAT)

Thursday March 6, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm CST

KSU Union Forum Hall

Speakers

Rachel Meenen

Instructional Coach, Andover Public Schools

Thursday March 6, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm CST
KSU Union Forum Hall

STEM

Audience ALL
Subject STEM