EduTech+Conference

I virturally attended the 2009 Georgia Educational Technology Conference. The theme was "The Challenge of Change." It was held at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta, GA from November 4-6, 2009. Keynote Speaker:   Cost: || Full Conference Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday  ||  $175   || //(Tote Bag Not Included)//   ||  $35    ||  **Themes:**  Visual and Audio Movie making Powerpoint presentations  Technology Topics: How to make learning fun for students through hands on visual aids, such as movie making.  <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **Vendors:** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">eInstuction <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Infinity Network Solutions <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Xerox Audio Visual Solution <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Bytespeed <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Learning Technology <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Logical Choice Technologies <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Net Trekker <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">CDW-G <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Pearson <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">ANC Group <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">**Sessions:** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Georgia Education Technology Conference: GaETC 2009 featured over 250 concurrent sessions presented by educators and vendors, with special sessions by featured speakers and conference sponsors, and the Georgia Department of Education scheduled several leadership sessions throughout the conference. GaETC 2009 also included poster sessions, student showcase presentations, and Bring Your Own Laptop (BYOL) sessions. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> The three sessions I would have attended are as follows: ** W7: The FREEloader's Guide to Educational Software ** Time: Tuesday Afternoon 1:00-4:00 Location: TBA Strand: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Audience: General Interest, Skill Level: All ** This session is a hands-on workshop to introduce educators to the free educational tools and software found on the internet. The presenters have compiled various free resoources and learned how to use them so that they can teach them to workshop attendees. In this economy and with most school systems being underfunded, it is very important to think realistically about how to intergrate technology in the classroom. This workshop has applications for even the most "cash-strapped" educators, schools, and school districts. It's also a great bonus that all participants will receive a FREE 2GB USB drive loaded with software explored in the workshop. ** W11: The Flip Camera....Windows Movie Maker... The Classroom ** Time: Wednesday Afternoon 1:00-4:00 Location: TBA Strand: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Audience: Instructional PK-12, Skill Level: Beginning ** I really like the idea of using digital cameras, Windows Movie Maker, and iMovie in the classroom. I'm particularly interested in their use with alternative book reports, such as the book trailer. I am familiar with the basics of this software, but i think that attending the session could expand my knowledge base. Perhaps they will have a step-by-step tutorial that I could use with students when giving the assignment. .
 * GaETC 2009
 * || || <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The Keynote Speaker was Michael Horn, who recently co-authored //Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns// <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">(McGraw-Hill: June 2008) with Harvard Business School professor and bestselling author Clayton Christensen and Curtis Johnson, president of The Citistates Group. BusinessWeek named the book one of the 10 Best Innovation & Design Books of 2008, and Strategy + Business awarded it the best human capital book of 2008.
 * || || <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The Keynote Speaker was Michael Horn, who recently co-authored //Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns// <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">(McGraw-Hill: June 2008) with Harvard Business School professor and bestselling author Clayton Christensen and Curtis Johnson, president of The Citistates Group. BusinessWeek named the book one of the 10 Best Innovation & Design Books of 2008, and Strategy + Business awarded it the best human capital book of 2008.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Single Day **–** Wednesday //or// Thursday  ||  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">$125   ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Single Day **–** Friday  ||  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">$75   ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Workshops*  ||  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">$75 Each, One Meal Included   ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Exhibit Hall Only Pass
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">*Workshop participants must pay for a day's conference or an Exhibit Hall pass.  ||
 * Presenters: Daniel Rivera, First District RESA ETC, and Jeff Giddens, Georgia Virtual School
 * Presenter: Rae Spradley, Heart of Georgia RESA ETC

<span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> W21: Projects the Project Understanding: PowerPoint vs. Movie Maker vs. Photo Story ** <span style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Presenter: Bill Harris, Armstrong Atlantic State University ETC Time: Thursday Afternoon 1:00-4:00 Location: TBA Strand: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Audience: Instructional PK-12, Skill Level: Intermediate **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> Though I am familiar with the technology in this workshop, i choose this one due to the student-centered activity showcased in the session. I was recently told by an educator that PowerPoints are "so 1990s" and should not be used in the forward-thinking classroom anymore. I am curious to hear Bill Harris's thoughts on the program.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">  <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">