Student Tech Team Conference

Date: May 29, 2009

Facilitator(s): Various

Location: UMaine Orono
Time: 8:15 AM - 2:40 AM
Registration Information


2009 Focus: M-STEM (Maine Learners, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

Friday, May 29, 2009

**Following up on the success last year, the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at UMaine will be donating more $1000 Scholarships for Middle School Students!

 

The MLTI Student Tech Team Conference is a chance for educators, students, and community members to come together as a team for learning.

Please note - schools do not need to have an "established Student Tech Team" or "established iTeam"
to benefit from this great conference. All are welcome, and the more kids, the better!

As in past years, the conference is designed for hands on participation. Students and teachers should bring their MLTI iBooks. Please see more specifications below.

We would like to extend our thanks to all of UMaine, and especially to the The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and the UMaine Conference Services Division for their help in making this conference possible.

REGISTRATION and PAYMENT

* Conference Registration Details:

  • Will open on April 27, 2009 at 10 AM
  • The registration fee is $15, and includes lunch and snacks
  • Through May 5th districts will be limited to 20 students and 4 adults.
  • On May 6th at 10 AM the number of open slots still available will be announced and will be filled as registrations come in.
  • Registration will close with the 800th registration.

  • Registrations received beyond the 800 available slots will be kept on a "space available list."

* Please register all attending students and adults.

* As always: Please have one adult participant present for every five(5) students attending.

* We will not accept any "adults only" registrations: Adult registrations must be accompanied by at least one student. Sure, we still want adults to attend - but the focus has to be on the kids!

* In order to register you will need participant's first and last name.

* Registration payment: Payments are made to: Treasurer, State of Maine and should be mailed to: MLTI Office, Department of Education, 23 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333

* Some registrants may experiences issues if using Safari as their browser. We recommend you use Firefox when opening the registration to avoid any problems.

NEW for 2009: Lunch: OK, it took us a few years, but now we get it - we have just too many participants to send everyone to the Marketplace for lunch! It has been a real bottleneck, and caused many participants to be late getting to their Block 3 sessions. We are working with our UMaine colleagues in Conference Services to provide lunches to all in a much more organized way. Cost is included in registration.


Purpose:

  • To learn to organize and/or improve a Student Tech Team with students and adults as active participants.
  • To acquire both technical and interpersonal skills for supporting others as their school communities increase their utilization of MLTI technology as an educational tool. Like the MLTI itself, this conference is not only about the computers and the wireless networks - it is about what can be done with them...

    • To support Student Tech Team members in becoming on-the-scene advocates for richer use of the iBooks in classrooms and communities across the state.
    • Efffective Student Tech Team members need to know more than how to fix iBook technical issues or how a piece of software works. They need to be aware of the "why" of the MLTI as well as the "how." Because of this, the technical skills featured will not only include troubleshooting skills but also creative integrations of the MLTI iBooks that can be applied across the curriculum. So while participants will find some sessions that focus on "making the machines work," there will be plenty of sessions that will introduce them to new software tools that do amazing things, as well as amazing new ways to use some of the applications that have become the workhorses of the MLTI. There will also be sessions that have no immediate connection to the MLTI devices, but will provide inspiration for participants of all ages as Maine continues to develop its understanding of how to best harness the incredible potential represented by the MLTI.

    • By modeling effective interpersonal skills, all presenters will help participants understand how important it is to not only know how to do something, but also to be able to pass that knowledge on to someone else without making that person feel "dumb" or less than competent. Effective Student Tech Team Members don't simply "fix problems," they help their school community "build capacity."
    • The original call to potential presenters asked folks to create sessions that might produce these kinds of comments from participants at the end of the day:

      • "Wow - that was cool! I learned how to do some great stuff."
      • "The kids loved it. And I learned a trick or two as well. I wonder if we could..."
      • "I never knew I could do that... I'll have to play around with that."
      • "Hmmm... that looks like a college I could have some fun at."

      • "I guess I am pretty good at working with this computer."
      • "I hope I remember everything I learned!"
      • "Hey, let me show you something I learned in that last session."

      • "I hope they do this again next year!"
  • To visit a college campus and become better aquainted with a technology-rich department such as the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Maine, Orono in which MLTI students can see themselves spending their college years.
  • To make connections with folks from around the state and to have fun.

    Menu

Who Should Attend:

  • Adults and students interested in forming a Student Tech Team.

  • Adults interested in Student Tech Team organization and students interested in participating in one.
  • Educators, parents, and community members who are interested in learning more about Student Tech
  • Teams and the skills they are learning to utilize.
  • Adults and students interested in gaining a better understanding of what the iBooks can do in order to encourage others in their school to use the devices more effectively


Logistics

Location: UMaine - Orono, Maine

Date: Friday May 29, 2009


TImes: 8:15 AM - 2:40 PM (see General Schedule below)

Food: Provided

Supervision: Please bring one adult for every five students.

Parking: Parking is available and passes will be available digitally before the conference. More details to follow...

Hotels: Local lodging information for those traveling from long distances... (NOTE: In all likelihood, mentioning "UMaine" and "conference" when talking with these hotels & motels can make a significant difference in rates)


Technical Requirements

  • Teachers and students should bring their MLTI iBooks in order to participate in hands-on sessions.
  • At least one adult should have the school's Admin password in case of difficulties with network connections. NOTE: If the adult does not know the password already set on the machines, the iBooks going to this event should be configured with a generic admin password for the day. Then when the iBooks are back at school, the school's admin password can be restored by the tech lead.

Other:

  • Certificates of participation will be given to students.
  • Educators will receive 6 contact hours for their participation.

  • Questions? Contact Jim Moulton via e-mail: jim(at)jimmoulton.org

General Schedule: see detailed schedule and session description

* Registration: 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM
* Opening Gathering: 8:50 AM - 9:10 AM
* First Block of Sessions: 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

* Second Block of Sessions: 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM
* Lunch (included in cost of registration) 11:40 AM - 12:50 PM
* Third Block Session: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
* Closing and DOORPRIZES: 2:05 PM - 2:40 PM






 

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