NCTIES Virtual Conference

NCTIES and EDTECH Retreat are proud to announce that this year there will be a virtual conference in addition to the NCTIES conference in Raleigh.  Virtual conference activities will take place on the EDTECH Retreat Island in Second Life and will include several outstanding speakers.  Don’t have a Second Life avatar?  Maybe you’ve never even heard of Second Life?  No problem!  Two pre-conference sessions will be dedicated to helping you get started, we’ll also have a virtual playground at the main entrance of the convention center for you to have an opportunity to learn how to get started.

The Virtual Playground

For the first time, NCTIES will have a virtual playground located at the front entrance of the convention center.  EDTECH Retreat Hosts will be available throughout both conference days to answer questions and help you get set up with using Second Life.  Representatives will be available to talk about other virtual worlds as well including World of Warcraft and Reaction Grid.  Please take a moment to stop by and see what virtual worlds have to offer for education.

Thursday, March 4th:  (All times are Eastern Standard Time)

Please note:  All sessions are held at EDTECH Retreat in Second Life as well as being broadcast via projector in the Virtual Playground located at the main entrance of the convention center.  Questions?  Email edtechretreat@gmail.com

7:00 Virtual World Playground Opens

7-8:15 Meet and Mingle in the Playground

Please stop by, create your avatar, meet your Second Life friends and bring a friend or two with you!

8:15-9:15  Jason Epstein presents Are you an A.C.E. Leader?

Some of us are leaders, and others are A.C.E.’s (Agents of Change in Education) but now, more than ever we need A.C.E. Leaders willing to take our schools into the 21st Century. This presentation will look at some of the tools ACE Leaders will need, some obstacles they may face, and some tips to beginning the journey.   This interactive presentation will start with a foundation of the ACE philosophy and depend on the participants to grow and support each other in the journey to becoming an A.C.E..

About Jason:
Jason Epstein (Jupiter Martian) is a 15 year veteran educator with experience as a teacher, technology facilitator and administrator.  His passion for 21st century education is matched only by his belief that the face of education is changing and he wants to ride that wave!  Jason is an intermediate SL user and learning more each time he logs in.  Occasionally you might see him as a docent on ISTE island.  In his personal life Jason loves to read, paint, do home improvement and cook.  He is married and has one beautiful daughter and two big dogs.  Jason currently resides in PA.

9:15-9:30 Let’s get Virtual!

We’re gearing up for two big presentation on virtual learning.  Come grab your seat, chat with your buddies and maybe learn a little about Second Life!

9:30-10:30 Don Lourcey presents Going Live with North Carolina Virtual and Learn and Earn Online:  Getting Organized to Lead Innovation for Virtual Education

NCVPS/LEO will provide an overview of the GO LIVE approach, an approach to partner with Leading Edge Districts to lead innovatively, build leadership capacity, and further SBOE 21st Century Learning Goals. The session will focus on the basic tenets of this approach: the mission, vision, values, PLC-e-LC integration, with support from the GO LIVE Google Site (http://sites.google.com/site/ncvpsgolive/), a participatory learning site committed to offering blended learning and leading solutions across the four service options: Classic, Mobile, Modular, and Blended. This site is intended for district and school leadership teams to start the virtual conversation about the Why? the What? and The How? of virtual learning and getting organized while interacting together to foster strategic planning, deployment, and implementation.

10:30-11:45  Tired?  Come have a seat with us!

Still unsure about Second Life?  This is your chance to learn more!  Come see us in the front lobby and we’ll explain everything!

10:45-11:45  Sharon Collins presents  Virtual Early College High School – A Reality

East Carolina University began the Early College High School program in the virtual world Second Life in the Spring of 2009.  Now two semesters later, the pilot project has expanded with additional students and courses.  Providing rigorous course work is a priority and creating a social presence for improved learning is the goal. Attendees would find out how to start this type of program, what courses are offered, and how to collaborate across institution and county boundaries.

About Sharon:
I am a Project Manager for East Carolina University and have experience in administration, managing the estate and projects of ECU’s Second Life project, as well as do some building. I also have experience in Moodle, the open source course management system, and Centra, a web conferencing system.

11:45-12:00  Party is still going over at the Virtual Playground

Find us open between sessions for fun conversation and techie tidbits!  Come on over and set up your Second Life avatar!

12:00 –1:30  Luncheon and Ron Clark Keynote

We will be in attendance and closing down the virtual playground to cheer on our fellow virtual world buddies being recognized at the awards luncheon.

1:45-2:45    Brendon Schaumburg presents Second Life Graduation Project: Eco Tower

Brendon is working in Second Life to build a multi-level greenhouse for his Graduation Project.  He will be here in-person to talk about his project, what he has learned and what his plans are for the rest of his project.  More information about this project can be found at www.green2sky.blogspot.com

2:45-3:30    Christopher Wiles presents Merging Technologies – Tutoring with Skype and OneNote

I will give resources, downloads, methods, and suggestions for tutoring students via freeware Skype webcam software.  ManyCam is freeware that will be used in conjunction with Skype to allow those involved in the conversation to see your desktop.  Microsoft OneNote is an often overlooked tool in collaboration that is comes with any Microsoft Office 2007 suit.  Most computers running office have this great tool at your disposal.  It will be the platform for working math equations, although Microsoft paint can be used in the same manner.
A wireless writing tablet is a wonderful option when tutoring math and is recommended.

About Christopher:
In real life I am a 9th grade Algebra 1 teacher using as much technology as I can to enhance my students motivation to learn as well as broaden the scope at which they can learn.  Through Second Life I hang out at the EdTech Retreat and ISTE islands.  My primary role at the moment is heckling and beating Mo Hax at the game “Greedy.”

3:30-4:30  Andy Wheelock presents  “Looking for a Revolution?”  Join the Virtual Pioneers!

The Virtual Pioneers started as a small group of history minded teachers that used Second Life to meet and discuss social studies issues.  However, the group grew and developed into a powerful consortium of educators from around the world that meets, shares, and collaborates  to enhance their professional development.  We have guest speakers, teacher -to- teacher sharing sessions and tours of social studies based landmarks.   The Virtual Pioneers have begun a revolution to change the way teachers and students learn about history and culture.

About Andy:
Technology Coordinator – WNYRIC- in Western New York
Founder and organizer of the Virtual Pioneers
SL docent and Moderator at ISTE Island

4:30-5:45     Mix and Mingle

Stop by the Virtual Playground on your way out to dinner or the Discovery Channel Preview.  This is a great opportunity to get help creating your avatar, to sit and talk with other ed-techies or to just catch up on your email!

6:30  Second Life Dinner

Interested in joining us?  Email edtechretreat@gmail.com today!  More information coming soon.

Friday, March 5th (All times are Eastern Standard Time)

Please note:  All sessions are held at EDTECH Retreat in Second Life as well as being broadcast via projector in the Virtual Playground located at the main entrance of the convention center.  Questions?  Email edtechretreat@gmail.com

7:00 Virtual World Playground Opens

7-8:00 Breakfast and Rev-Up in the Playground.

Bring your breakfast over to the Virtual Playground, learn about Second Life and prepare for your day of conference activities.

8:00-9:00  Amy Wehner presents Virtual Language:  Bringing experiential learning to the student

This presentation will discuss the prospects for language learning inside a virtual world, based on current usage by students in a Spanish foreign language classroom.  At the University of South Florida, we are currently researching the implementation and design of a course enhancement program in Second Life to provide experiential learning environments to foreign language students.  This study looks at ways to teach in Second Life as well as the effects on motivation and oral proficiency in these students.  While the study is still in progress, the presenter will discuss both benefits and difficulties that have been encountered in the program to date and the implications of this study to foreign language programs.

About Amy:
I am a Spanish educator both in Real Life and in Second Life.  I am currently working on my PhD in Second Language Acquisition and Instructional Technology for which I am studying the use of Second Life in the foreign language classroom.

9:00-9:15  Need to set down your bags?

We have space for your bag!  It must be hurting your shoulders by now!  Come chat with us and learn how you can use Second Life as a professional development tool!

9:15-10:15  Lynne Goodhand presents Education at Hand

In this session we will describe  in a real and pragmatic way how we coached and trained all staff to gain an understanding of and become proficient in using iPod Touches as learning tools, with a focus on engaging students in authentic learning. And we’ll go through how at Culbreth we moved to a 1 to 1 iPod touch environment. We will also explain how to identify educationally appropriate apps within the sea of offerings in the iTunes AppStore; and  how we have assessed the currently available education apps and determined each one’s connection to national education standards.

About Lynne
educator of 25+ years teacher and school administrator
written online middle level coursework
taught online through Blackboard
presented at NCTies ‘08-’09
presented at NECC (DC) ‘09
presented in SL with Culbreth staff
presenting at Macworld Feb. ‘10

10:15-10:30  Come take a break with us!

Join us in the playground as we prepare for the final conference sessions.  Only a few more hours left for one on one help getting started in Second Life!

10:30-11:15 Teryn Bivens presents Embeddable Technology Activities/Projects for All Classrooms

This presentation will discuss a wide variety of (free) technology tools that can be used for a variety of classroom activities and projects and are embeddable into blogs, wikis, and websites (be them student or teacher sites). (Examples of tools discussed are: glogster, voicethread, blabberize, animoto, goanimate, sumopaint, wordle, shared copy, voki, toondoo, scribd and more.)

About Teryn:
I am a Spanish/ESL/Teaching World Languages Online Instructor and work for Midway High School, NCVPS, and LEARN NC.  I am a technology nut and integrate technology constantly into my classes.  All of my students create blogs and publish a variety of posts/projects on their blogs.

11:15-12:15  Sam Walker presents Integrating technology into Problem Based Learning

Problem based learning provides relevant, self-directed learning experiences and builds conceptual understanding with multiple solutions. Technology lends itself well to the PBL process. Through their partnership with The Center of Excellence for Research, Teaching, and Learning (CERTL) see how Kimmel Farm Elementary is working to integrate 21st Century skills into PBL experiences.  Sam is  a Technology Facilitator at Kimmel Farm Elementary and a Second Life explorer

12:15 -1:00  Farewell Friends!

Stop on by to say farewell to all your new friends!  We’ll be relaxing in the playground after an awesome conference!

Call For Volunteers

Are you interested in volunteering for the Virtual Playground?  We are looking for volunteers to help get new Second Life avatars set up, answer questions about using Virtual Worlds and to just sit and chat with other VW users!   Please fill out the call for volunteers form if you are interested in volunteering a part of your day.