This is workshop one of three for the series titled “Setting the Stage for Blended Learning.” Establishing blended learning takes intentional planning and shifts in the classroom culture and environment. In this workshop, you will examine ways to transform the learning environment to support blended learning. Dr. Jayme Linton will share tips for designing flexible learning spaces, building a student-centered culture, and establishing procedures and routines to support blended learning. Join us to learn how to create a classroom culture and environment that supports blended learning. Presented by Dr. Jayme Linton NOTE: While we recommend that you attend all sessions of the workshop series to meet the learning objectives, each workshop can be attended as a standalone. Full members will also have access to view the recordings on-demand and earn up to three continuing education credits.

Are you looking for an innovative way to promote literacy, creativity, and problem solving in your classroom? Join Carol Miros for this time-saving, to the point session as she shares, step-by-step, how to use Google Forms to create engaging "choose your own adventure" stories. Not only do these stories promote creativity, but they also are a fantastic way to bring literacy and technology together. In addition, when you design stories that incorporate math, science, or social studies, you provide cross-curricular opportunities for your students. Join us to discover how one form can equal one extraordinary adventure!

Did you know that teaching coding is more accessible and engaging than ever, empowering both students and educators? You do not need to be a tech wizard to teach coding; with the right guidance, anyone can empower students to become coding wizards themselves. Join Lauren Boucher for this hands-on, interactive workshop as she guides you through the basics of block coding and introduces you to a plethora of free coding programs that will ignite your students' passion for technology and creativity. Get ready to discover how to seamlessly integrate coding into your curriculum, making connections across subjects and enhancing student learning in exciting new ways! Lauren’s expertise in technology integration will empower you to unlock the magic of coding...from computational thinking to problem-solving skills, coding opens a world of possibilities for you and your students. Key Takeaways Explore how to introduce coding in your classroom, from kindergarten to high school, even if you have no prior experience. Learn enchanting strategies and activities that will engage students with coding, fostering creativity and digital literacy. Discover the art of using coding to teach problem-solving and logical thinking, empowering students with essential life skills. Gain confidence and expertise in teaching coding, becoming a coding wizard yourself and guiding your students on a magical learning journey. Presented by Lauren Boucher Lauren Boucher is a Regional Consultant for Digital Teaching and Learning with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. She holds a master's degree in elementary education and boasts a rich teaching background, including third-grade instruction and gifted education at both elementary and middle school levels. Her expertise also extends to serving as an Instructional Technology Specialist for Pitt County Schools and she shares her insights through both in-person and online presentations at conferences across the nation.

Are you looking to enhance your students’ research skills? Do you want to integrate technology into your social studies curriculum effectively? In the digital age, technology applications have become an integral part of student research projects. They not only make research more accessible but also foster critical thinking and creativity. Join Dr. Jenna Linskens for this timesaving, to the point session as we explore free and low-cost technology applications that can be seamlessly integrated into your social studies research projects at the middle and high school levels. Get ready to elevate your teaching game for students who are struggling or need acceleration in the social studies classroom! Jenna’s expertise in technology integration will empower you with the tools you need to improve student performance and understanding of concepts through creation, not just consumption. Key Takeaways Discover a variety of technology applications suitable for social studies research projects. Learn how to integrate these applications into your curriculum effectively. Understand how these applications can enhance students’ research skills. Gain insights into assessing student research projects that utilize these applications. Presented by Dr. Jenna Linksens Dr. Jenna Linskens is the Director of the Center for Instructional Design & Educational Technology at Ithaca College, New York, providing leadership in faculty development and coaching support in technology integration, instructional design, and e-learning. With over 25 years of experience in K-12 and higher education and educational technology, she is an industry leader and national presenter with multiple certifications in instructional technology and learning, including recognition as a Certified Education Technology Leader (CETL) through CoSN. Jenna was also named to EdTech Insider magazine’s 2020 Dean’s List of 30 Higher Ed IT Influencers.

Story time is not just a fun activity, it is essential for children's language development and literacy skills. Reading stories to children helps them develop a love for books, so they become lifelong readers. Join Shelly Sanchez Terrell for this hands-on, interactive workshop as she shares a variety of tips and tricks to enhance the books shared during story time. Participants will also walk away with a curated list of resources to animate their stories, such as integrating puppets, web tools, and Total Physical Response (TPR). Additionally, participants will explore strategies to motivate the families of their young learners to create rich story time experiences at home.

Presented by: Kim Munoz Session Description:Canva is a free, online drag-and-drop tool that combines graphic design, photo editing, and layout to help teachers and students create beautifully finished projects. Join Kim Munoz as she shares how to use Canva for Education to introduce basic graphic design skills in your classroom. You will also learn how to use Canva’s extensive library of templates to create project-based learning activities for all grade levels and subject areas.

Presented by: Lauren Boucher Session Description:A good learning management system will provide the tools necessary to create effective and efficient workflows for both teachers and students. Canvas is a robust LMS that offers features like to do lists, calendars, and more to make managing learning easier. Join Lauren Boucher as she explores these tools and shares tips for creating a workflow system that will save you time and energy this school year. This webinar covers the To Do Lists, Calendar, and Speedgrader.

Are you new to using Canvas at the elementary level? Maybe you have experience using Canvas for remote learning and want to learn the most effective ways to use it for in-person learning. Join Deb Norton as she shares tips and tricks for adapting Canvas for use in the elementary classroom. You will also learn how to design your homepage, simplify student navigation, create paced modules, and post audio and video announcements and more!

Presented by: Kim Munoz Session Description:Session Description: As the school year comes to a close, you may have questions regarding how to effectively organize and clean up your learning management system. Join Kim Munoz on as she shares tips and tricks for ending the school year with Schoology. You will also learn best practices for saving and sharing your course work, exporting materials, accessing archived courses, as well as suggestions for planning the next school year. Learning Objectives: Discover best practices for ending the school year with Schoology. Explain how to use Schoology to save and share your course work, export materials, and access archived courses. Develop a plan for transitioning into the next school year with Schoology. Assessment: Participants will utilize a collaborative backchannel chat to discuss their ideas for ending the school year with Schoology to demonstrate their understanding of the session objectives and reflect on their learning.

Presented by: Deb Norton Session Description:As the school year comes to a close, you may have questions regarding how to effectively organize and clean up your learning management system. Join Deb Norton as she shares tips and tricks for ending the school year with Canvas. You will also learn best practices for exporting a course, using the sandbox, accessing a closed course, downloading the gradebook, as well as saving student work examples for the upcoming year!

Presented by: Dr. Matt Bergman Session Description:Would you like to have access to thousands of tools and resources that could make your job easier and help you create engaging learning experiences for students? Join Dr. Matt Bergman as he explores PBS LearningMedia, a free website that provides teachers and students with access to over 100,000 videos, images, interactives, and lesson plans for every grade level and subject area. Matt will share tips and suggestions on how you can use the PBS LearningMedia resources and tools to create engaging and technology rich lesson plans.

Presented by: Lauren Boucher Session Description:Have you ever wondered if there were templates or guidelines you could follow to create truly engaging, interactive lessons for your Interactive Whiteboard (IWB)? Have you wondered what should you include and where's the best spot for it? Join Lauren Boucher as she discusses research-based strategies for creating rich IWB lessons that yield positive learning results. You will be introduced to specific hide and reveal techniques, lesson design and formatting considerations, and ways to get real-time response data from your students. Additionally, participants will walk away with a rubric for evaluating their IWB lessons to ensure they're utilizing their IWB to its fullest capabilities.

If your students are hesitant to dive into dynamic software like Adobe Illustrator to create graphics from scratch, they may need a little more time to build their skills and self-confidence. Join Kimberly Muñoz as she shares how to use Canva for Education to introduce design concepts using different dimensions and elements. In addition, you will learn how to develop lessons using Canva so your students can produce digital and print materials such as banners, logos, and more! Participants will also have an opportunity to create their own graphics that will assist them in teaching their students how to effectively use Canva for Education. Special Technology Instructions: Participants will need access to a computer or laptop, a non-school, personal Google account, and a free Canva for Education account. SimpleK12’s Google Classroom will be utilized for the interactive and hands-on components of this workshop. Assessment: Participants will complete an exit ticket to demonstrate their understanding of the workshop objectives and reflect on their learning.

Presented by: Lauren Boucher Session Description:In this step-by-step webinar, you'll learn everything you need to get started with the Canvas LMS. The Canvas LMS offers everything you need to create appealing courses, communicate with students and parents, and track student participation and learning. Join teacher trainer Lauren Boucher as she shares an overview of Canvas and the tools it has to offer and the types of activities you can design.

Presented by: Dr. Samantha Fecich Session Description:Are you looking for ways to encourage creativity and enhance collaboration in your classroom? Join Dr. Samantha Fecich as she explores the benefits of using Canva for Educators, a free, drag-and-drop graphic design tool that makes visual learning and communication easy and fun. You will learn where to access free educator templates, as well as how to create engaging lessons, agendas, virtual classroom resources, and so much more!

Presented by: Susan Brooks-Young Session Description:Start from where you are and what you are already doing with the technology available to you on campus, then create a vision of where you'd like to go with that. It's important to accurately identify ways that technology currently available on your site is being used and then plan how to expand and enhance that use to provide more effective learning experiences for students. Attend this webinar to acquaint yourself with a three-step process you can use to achieve this goal and discover free resources that support this work

Ever wondered how to spark your students' curiosity about artificial intelligence (AI) and prepare them for the future? Introducing AI to students can spark their curiosity, ignite their creativity, and prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of the digital age. Join Lauren Boucher for this hands-on, interactive workshop as we learn how to introduce artificial intelligence concepts in an engaging and accessible manner. Through interactive activities and discussions, educators will discover strategies for incorporating AI into their curriculum, fostering critical thinking skills and digital literacy among their students. Get ready to embark on an adventure that will empower your students to navigate the frontiers of AI with confidence! Lauren’s expertise in digital teaching and learning will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to guide students towards a future where they are not just consumers, but creators of artificial intelligence technology. This is workshop six of six for the series titled “Empowering Educators with AI: Unlocking New Frontiers in Teaching.” Key Takeaways Discover practical strategies for introducing AI to students in an engaging and accessible way, from interactive discussions and hands-on activities to real-world examples and case studies. Learn how to integrate AI into your curriculum to promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and ethical decision-making skills in students, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities of the digital age. Explore the ethical considerations and implications of AI in education, including issues of privacy, equity, and algorithmic bias, and learn how to navigate these challenges responsibly. Gain insights into the future of AI and its potential impact on society, economy, and education, and learn how to empower your students to become informed, ethical, and responsible digital citizens. Presented by Lauren Boucher Lauren Boucher is a Regional Consultant for Digital Teaching and Learning with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. She holds a master's degree in elementary education and boasts a rich teaching background, including third-grade instruction and gifted education at both elementary and middle school levels. Her expertise also extends to serving as an Instructional Technology Specialist for Pitt County Schools and she shares her insights through both in-person and online presentations at conferences across the nation.

This is session two of two for the workshop series titled Adobe Photoshop for Beginners Workshop Description: If you are new to using Adobe Photoshop, this workshop will use the basic tools and techniques introduced in part one to create a multi-photo composition. Join Kim Munoz as she shares how to navigate the Photoshop work area to apply adjustments, brushes, and filters such as blend modes, to achieve a desired result. Participants will also have an opportunity to create their own multi-photo composition that will assist them in teaching their students how to effectively use Adobe Photoshop. Special Technology Instructions: Participants will need access to a computer or laptop, a non-school, personal Google account, and Adobe Photoshop Software (they offer a free trial for 7 days). SimpleK12’s Google Classroom will be utilized for the interactive and hands-on components of this workshop. Assessment: Participants will complete an exit ticket to demonstrate their understanding of the workshop objectives and reflect on their learning.

This is session one of two for the workshop series titled Adobe Photoshop for Beginners If you are new to using Adobe Photoshop, this workshop will introduce you to the basic tools and techniques to begin editing photos. Join Kim Munoz as she shares how to navigate the Photoshop work area by using the menu bar, options bar, and tool panels, including the controls used to zoom, pan, and save your work. Participants will also have an opportunity to edit their own photo that will assist them in teaching their students how to effectively use Adobe Photoshop. Special technology instructions: Participants will need access to a computer or laptop, a non-school, personal Google account, and Adobe Photoshop Software (they offer a free trial for 7 days). SimpleK12’s Google Classroom will be utilized for the interactive and hands-on components of this workshop. Assessment: Participants will complete an exit ticket to demonstrate their understanding of the workshop objectives and reflect on their learning.

This is session two of two for the workshop series titled Adobe Illustrator for Beginners If you are new to Adobe Illustrator, this workshop will introduce you to the tools you need to create amazing graphics, starting with using and making brushes. Join Kim Munoz as she shares how to create custom shapes with the pen and shapebuilder tool, apply new drawing tools, and incorporate text in a variety of ways. Participants will also have an opportunity to create their own designs that will assist them in teaching their students how to effectively use Adobe Illustrator.

If you are new to Adobe Illustrator, this workshop will introduce you to the tools you need to create some fun graphics, starting with basic shapes. Join Kim Munoz as she shares how to navigate the drawing interface by zooming in and out of your designs, use the properties panel to add color, and use the pathfinder panel to combine shapes in a variety of ways. Participants will also have an opportunity to create their own designs that will assist them in teaching their students how to effectively use Adobe Illustrator.

How do your students share their reading experiences with the world? Movie-making activities help students talk about favorite books. They can use this format to share what they've learned from reading. Join Dr. Monica Burns as she provides an overview of Adobe Spark's free, easy-to-use creation tools that can be used on a variety of devices. Whether you're focused on literature or informational text, students of all ages can share their reading experiences in video projects!

Collaboration is essential for students to be successful, and it is a skill that must be practiced in order to be mastered. Join Lauren Boucher as she shares seven easy-to-use digital tools for creating and managing collaborative group projects. You'll take a tour of the most popular features of each website or app, as well as walk away with engaging project ideas that will help you get the most out of each tool.

Presented by: Naomi Louise Session Description:The basic definition of literacy means to be able to read and write. However, to be successful in today's digital world, literacy goes far beyond being able to read and write and must include how information is processed, delivered, and received. In this webinar, Naomi Louise will provide examples of why it is important for students to be digitally literate through the use of communication tools to locate, evaluate, use and create information to perform tasks effectively in a digital environment. While the list of digital tools seems never-ending, Naomi will showcase how educators and students must thoughtfully determine which tools are essential to add to their digital literacy toolbox for personal and professional growth. Naomi will also explain why it is our responsibility as educators to model and teach digital citizenship skills. We need to allow students to access, analyze, evaluate, create and participate in meaningful digital literacy experiences. These new and essential skills of inquiry and self-expression online are necessary to prepare our students to be globally competent, and responsible digital citizens.

It's time to explore the true power of Canvas! Join expert trainer, Deb Norton, as she unveils 10 of the most mind-blowing features and functions of the Canvas LMS that she has discovered. Don't worry – you don't have to be a Canvas Expert to be ready for this session. Deb will give you tips and tricks on everything from giving students extended due dates, customizing assignments, recording audio and video right in Canvas, quizzing features and so much more!

If your students are hesitant to dive into dynamic software like Adobe Illustrator to create graphics from scratch, they may need a little more time to build their skills and self-confidence. Join Kimberly Muñoz as she shares how to use Canva for Education to introduce design concepts using pre-made graphics and templates. In addition, you will learn how to build a digital classroom using Canva where you can assign lessons to your students that incorporate the elements of design and color theory. Participants will also have an opportunity to create their own graphics that will assist them in teaching their students how to effectively use Canva for Education. Special Technology Instructions: Participants will need access to a computer or laptop, a non-school, personal Google account, and a free Canva for Education account. SimpleK12’s Google Classroom will be utilized for the interactive and hands-on components of this workshop. Assessment: Participants will complete an exit ticket to demonstrate their understanding of the workshop objectives and reflect on their learning.

Presented by: Lauren Boucher Session Description:We all want our students to have the skills to become creative constructors of knowledge, but what are their rights when it comes to using digital-age tools in the design process? Join Lauren Boucher for an interactive discussion and explore tools and resources that you and your students are free to use when creating digital products.