IETA 2025: Full Schedule

8:00am MST

Actively Engaging with AI in Education

Wednesday February 5, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST

Embark on an interactive journey to discover the foundations of AI algorithms and their potential in education. Participants will engage in hands-on activities, create a text adventure game using generative AI, and share insights on the impact of this innovative technology in teaching and learning. Join us for a thought-provoking session that combines active learning strategies with basic and cutting-edge AI applications. This session offers participants a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of AI while exploring practical ways to engage students and peers in active learning experiences that are both fun and educational.

Speakers

Darren Hudgins

Darren Hudgins is the founder and the heart and soul behind Think Do Thrive, an education consulting venture dedicated to nurturing educators and fostering vibrant learning communities. With over 20 years of experience in education, Darren's passion for empowering others shines through... Read More →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST
410A Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

8:00am MST

Become Cyber Smart! Hands-On Cybersecurity Lessons for K-8 Educators

Wednesday February 5, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST

410B

Learn about the importance of protecting personally identifiable information, password security, and avoiding phishing scams! This workshop is ideal for elementary and middle school educators looking to build cybersecurity awareness into lessons and activities. Participants receive hands-on experience with unplugged lessons aimed at increasing cybersecurity awareness for K-8 students. During the workshop, educators explore a variety of interactive activities designed to make cybersecurity concepts accessible and engaging for students. Lessons focus on teaching cybersecurity principles without the need for electronic devices.

Speakers

Charlene Cooper

Director of Curriculum, CYBER.ORG

Charlene Cooper is a National Board Certified Teacher in the area of Early Adolescent Science with over 20 years of experience as a public school educator. She has a masters degree in Educational Leadership and a Cyber Education Graduate Certificate from Louisiana Tech. Charlene taught... Read More →

Jeff Ramsey

Wednesday February 5, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST
410B Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

8:00am MST

Empowering Educators: Grants, Resources, Partner Power Pitches, AI Lesson Planning, & Exciting Prizes for Educator Success!

Wednesday February 5, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST

120C

Transform your school’s programs with this interactive workshop designed for administrators and educators. Discover how to secure grant funding, leverage our collaborative Community Platform, and integrate AI into your classrooms for free!. Plus, you’ll hear quick 5-minute pitches from key partners who can provide direct support for your initiatives. With prize drawings throughout the session, there’s even more incentive to join and leave with valuable resources! Walk away with practical strategies, new connections, and the tools you need to drive innovation, empower your staff, and elevate student achievement.

Speakers

Idaho STEM Ecosystem

Director, Idaho STEM Ecosystem

Trisha Mick

Statewide Program Coordinator, Idaho STEM Ecosystem

Trisha Mick is a passionate educator with over 15 years of dedicated service in the field of public libraries. Her passion for STEM education is palpable and her commitment to breaking down barriers and ensuring equitable access to high-quality, affordable education is unwavering... Read More →

ReBekha Lulu

Southwest Idaho STEM Hub Coordinator, Idaho STEM Ecosystem

Come visit the Ecosystem and our exciting partners at the Innovation Playground on the 2nd floor of Boise Centre East! ReBekha Lulu brings over a decade of educational experience, including eight years of teaching in Idaho, a master's degree in educational leadership from Boise State... Read More →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST
120C Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

8:00am MST

From Script to Screen: AI's Role in School Film Production

Wednesday February 5, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST

120A

Explore ways that artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in student film production. We’ll look at some free tools that can assist in the process by creating a short movie together. Come have some fun and learn from each other as we see what AI can do.

Speakers

Dean Lake

Special Education Teacher, Bear Lake School District

Making short movies with students is a fantastic way to practice writing, communication, and social skills in a fun project-based learning format. Throughout my thirty plus years working with students as a school librarian, elementary teacher, and high school special education teacher... Read More →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST
120A Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

8:00am MST

Navigating the Shift to Standards-Based Grading: Insights from Borah High School’s Pilot Program

Wednesday February 5, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST

110B

Join educators Megan Bell and Meagan Lyons as they share their journey transitioning from traditional grading to standards-based grading (SBG) at Borah High School. Through a voluntary pilot program, 50% of the school is now participating in SBG, focusing on shifting the conversation between students and teachers from task completion to mastery of concepts. In this session, the two educators will explore the challenges they faced and their strategies to build trust with teachers, students, and families to ensure a smooth transition.

Key Takeaways:
- Understand the necessary steps to prepare for and implement a standards-based grading pilot program.
- Learn how teachers and students shifted from task completion to mastery-focused conversations using student work as evidence.
- Explore the role that technology plays in supporting this transition and how it can be used to enhance grading and assessment practices.

Speakers

Megan Bell

Learning Coach 10-12 All Subjects, Boise School District

Meagan Lyons

High School Math

Carrie Gruber

Regional Sales Manager, Otus

Wednesday February 5, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST
110B Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

8:00am MST

Taking Your Coaching to the Next Level

Wednesday February 5, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST

430B

Research has shown that instructional coaching is instrumental in the success of any change initiative. The coach provides support and professional learning for teachers, advocates for best instructional practices, and supports their principals as they lead change initiatives. In other words - instructional coaches are superheroes, skilled at various tasks and often asked to move mountains. In this session, we invite you to explore how to take your coaching to the next level as you reflect on your coaching practice and cultivate your leadership skills. Whether you're a seasoned coach or just starting your journey, you'll leave with strategies to empower the teachers you serve and gain deeper insights into your unique strengths.

Speakers

Nancy Mangum

Co-Founder, Leading EDge Learn

Nancy Mangum is an experienced educator, author, and co-founder of Leading EDge Learning. Passionate about enhancing educational experiences for all students, she specializes in designing professional learning for teachers, coaches and administrators and collaborating closely with... Read More →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST
430B Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Intermediate

8:00am MST

Using AI to Save Time

Wednesday February 5, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST

110C

Using AI to Save Time

In this engaging and informative session, we will explore how cutting-edge (and free) AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini can revolutionize time management for educators. As middle school educators, we have firsthand experience with the challenges educators face in balancing administrative tasks, lesson planning, rubrics, parent contacts, student engagement, and so much more. This session will demonstrate practical applications of AI to streamline these processes, allowing educators to focus more on teaching and less on busywork.

Key Topics Covered:

Introduction to AI in Education: Understanding the basics of AI and its potential impact on the education sector.

Microsoft Copilot: A deep dive into how Copilot can assist with writing emails, creating presentations, and managing schedules.

Google Gemini: Exploring the capabilities of Google Gemini in automating routine tasks and enhancing productivity.

Real-World Examples: Case studies and success stories from schools that have successfully integrated AI tools.

Interactive Demonstrations: Live demonstrations of AI tools in action, showcasing their ease of use and effectiveness.

Q&A Session: An opportunity for attendees to ask questions and discuss their specific needs and challenges.

Anticipated Outcomes:

Enhanced Understanding: Attendees will gain a clear understanding of how AI can be leveraged to save time and improve efficiency in educational settings.

Practical Skills: Participants will leave with practical knowledge and skills to implement free and accessible AI tools in their own schools.

Inspiration and Motivation: Educators will be inspired to embrace AI technology, seeing it as a valuable ally in their daily tasks.

Speakers

Mark Fisk

Principal, Boundary County School District

Jacob Garrison

Boundary County School District

Wednesday February 5, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST
110C Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

10:15am MST

Chaos (Theory) in the Classroom

Wednesday February 5, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST

110D

Introduce a little chaos (theory) in your computer science or gen-ed classroom! In this session you will walk away with a ready to use activity for your students 6-12. This activity blends plugged and unplugged elements that will engage every learner. Students will be exposed to concepts such as measurement, critical thinking, computer science (CS), and a little bit of chaos theory. The goal of this session is to get educators in any capacity excited about CS concepts and give them the confidence to know that they can teach fundamentals of CS without having to be an expert. More information will be provided about professional development opportunities related to CS and specific curriculum and courses available.

Speakers

Lindsay Davis

AP Computer Science teacher & Code.org facilitator, Boise School District and Code.org

Lindsay teaches AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Computer Science A (Java) at Boise High School. She has also taught AP Physics and several various Mathematics classes in her 19 years as an Educator in the Boise School District.Lindsay has been a Code.org facilitator since 2016... Read More →

Samuel Stafford

Computer Science Teacher, Boise School District

Samuel Stafford is currently teaching Exploring Computer Science, A.P. Computer Science Principles, and A.P. Computer Science A. He is very proud to be a Borah Lion and was born and raised in Boise, Idaho. He graduated from Capital High School, received a bachelors in Secondary Math... Read More →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST
110D Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

10:15am MST

Empowering Every Learner: Tech Tools for Inclusive Education

Wednesday February 5, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST

110C

In the diversity of classrooms, educators face the challenge of meeting the needs of students with varying learning styles, abilities, and backgrounds. This session will explore a range of tech tools designed to foster an inclusive learning environment where every student can thrive. Attendees will learn about digital resources that support differentiated instruction, assistive technologies that aid students with disabilities, and strategies for leveraging these tools to enhance engagement and accessibility.

Participants will leave with practical knowledge of how to implement these technologies in their own classrooms, ensuring that all learners—regardless of their individual needs—have the opportunity to succeed. Join us to discover how technology can be a powerful ally in creating equitable learning experiences for all students.

Speakers

Cassie Luna

Learning Coach, Boise School District

Cassie Luna is a dedicated educator who has been striving to make meaningful impact for over 10 years.Mrs. Luna’s journey in education began in 2011 with earning her Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, Cum Laude, from Boise State University. After graduation, she began her... Read More →

Christine Kruse

Regional Transition Coordinator, SW Idaho, University of Idaho, Center on Disability and Human Development

Christine Kruse is a graduate of Walden University and the University of Washington. She holds a Transition Leadership Certificate from University of Massachusetts, Boston. Mrs. Kruse is currently working towards the Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from the University... Read More →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST
110C Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

10:15am MST

LEGO EDUCATION - IDAHO CS INITATIVE with iSTEM

Wednesday February 5, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST

410B

Wednesday February 5, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST
410B Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

10:15am MST

Preparing Students for an AI-Influenced Future: Insights from the 'Rise of AI' Course

Wednesday February 5, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST

430B

This session will explore how we have intentional conversations with Middle School students around AI tools and usage. It will center on an 8th grade elective entitled "Rise of AI," where students learn about how AI works, how it is currently being applied, and grapple with ethical questions around where it is going. This session will focus on the activities and conversations that the teaching team sets up, and discuss how to apply those same principles within a core classroom. Attendees will walk away with example activities, discussion prompts, and a framework for setting up conversations and tool explorations.

Speakers

Claudia Mihm

Director of Educational Technology and Innovation, Sun Valley Community School

Claudia is the Director of Educational Technology at Sun Valley Community School, where they also serve as the Middle School Technology Teacher. They are particularly interested in building experiential and creative learning environments, and helping students see themselves as programmers... Read More →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST
430B Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

10:15am MST

Tools for Planning and Grading

Wednesday February 5, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST

440

This class would cover different online and AI tools, as well as old-school strategies, that help make grading and planning more manageable for teachers. By easing the load on the planning and grading side of things, teachers can then focus on building relationships and personal health and wellness.

Speakers

Kayla Baker

Teacher, E-sports Coach, Tech Team, Ririe School District

Teaching has been my dream since I was three. Now in my eighth year of teaching there is nothing I would rather do. I teach high school ELA, coach the e-sports team, and am the advisor of the Table Top Gaming Club. As a teacher my goal is to generate great relationships with my students... Read More →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST
440 Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

1:45pm MST

AI Literacy with Minecraft

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST

410B

Speakers

Randy Hawkins

NCCE

Randy Hawkins is a 3rd grade Gifted, and Talented teacher committed to teaching students to be lifelong learners and take ownership for their own learning. He holds a master’s degree from Boise State University (2009) and a bachelor’s degree from Idaho State University (1997... Read More →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST
410B Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

1:45pm MST

Beginning spreadsheets for teachers

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST

430A

This class is intended for beginners. We will cover basic uses for spreadsheet, tips and tricks to make spreadsheets easier, and ideas on how to use spreadsheets in your classroom.

Speakers

Emily Goodwin

Snake River School District

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST
430A Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

1:45pm MST

Chalk- Lesson Planning App

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST

120C

This session will explore using the Chalk app to create lesson plans and units.

Speakers

Tate L. Swensen

3rd Grade Teacher, Fremont County School District 215

I am a third grade teacher at Henry's Fork Elementary, and I also help maintain google accounts at the elementary level. Before teaching 3rd grade I taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Science in Ririe. It was at my time in Ririe I was introduced to the IETA conference and instantly knew... Read More →

Robert Kincheloe

5th Grade Teacher, Fremont County School District 215

Robert Kincheloe has taught elementary students for nine years, and enjoys learning new educational strategies. He says that his students and colleagues are an inspiration for improving himself as a teacher. Robert believes in a growth mindset, and is confident that your best talents... Read More →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST
120C Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

1:45pm MST

Constructive Uses of AI: Helping Teachers Teach Better

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST

110B

Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, etc. can save teachers mountains of time. But how do you use them well? It's not just about generating lessons, but also the follow-up prompts that allow those lessons to be better. It's not just about quickly creating materials for class, but also how to do so in order to build your students' ability to view such materials with a skeptical eye. It's not just about possible accommodations for your students with challenges, but also how you can help students build their confidence. In this hands-on session, we'll look at these and other deeper approaches to making these tools work for us.

Speakers

Rushton Hurley

Executive Director, NextVista.org

Rushton Hurley is a former high school teacher, former principal of an online high school, author of three books on learning and schools, and founder and executive director of an educational nonprofit. Rushton has spoken to and trained over 100,000 teachers and school leaders around... Read More →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST
110B Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

1:45pm MST

Data Science in High School: Preparing the next generation of AI Scientists and Engineers

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST

120A

You want your students to be prepared for the AI world, but where do you start? For students who want to not just use, but build the AI tools of the future, they need to have the technical skills and scientific knowledge necessary to understand AI at all levels. Many high schools already offer computer science courses, but data science courses are also critical as a starting point for students to learn important skills that prepare them for jobs in data analysis, data science, machine learning engineering, and AI science. In this talk, we will look at an introductory course that has been adopted at Boise State University that could be offered at the high school level for concurrent enrollment credit, as well as fulfilling many of the Idaho Computer Science Standards for Data and Analysis, Impacts of Computing, and Algorithms and Programming.

Speakers

Casey Kennington

Associate Professor, Boise State University

Dr. Casey Kennington is an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science at Boise State University where he principally does research on spoken dialogue systems on embodied platforms. His long-term research goal is to understand what it means for humans to understand... Read More →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST
120A Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Intermediate

1:45pm MST

Elevate Your Classroom: AI Tips Every Teacher Should Know

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST

410A

Get equipped with strategies to use AI in the classroom effectively. We'll address pressing concerns, highlight useful applications, and provide time-saving hacks while keeping privacy and ethical considerations in mind. You'll learn how to integrate AI tools to enhance teaching, streamline tasks, and increase student engagement. Suitable for all tech-comfort levels, this session will empower you to confidently implement AI in your classroom. Leave with practical knowledge to transform your teaching practice in the age of artificial intelligence.

Speakers

Eric Cross

Science Teacher, Albert Einstein Academy Middle School

Eric Cross is a full-time middle school science and technology teacher for Albert Einstein Academies, International Baccalaureate schools. He is an Adjunct Professor of Technology and Learning, and Science Methods at the University of San Diego in the School of Leadership and Education... Read More →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST
410A Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

1:45pm MST

Idaho Digital Navigator badges: A collaborative microcredentialing project.

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST

110D

The recently developed Digital Navigator badges are a collaborative microcredentialing project aimed at bolstering Adult Education and Digital Literacy across Idaho. Key stakeholders involved in this initiative include the Idaho Division of Career Technical Education, Idaho Commission for Libraries, University of Idaho Extension, and numerous postsecondary institutions. During this presentation, attendees will gain insights into the new Digital Navigator badge content, curriculum, and the SkillStack® microcredential platform. The content will delve into the various aspects of Digital Navigation, encompassing topics such as:
• Understanding the fundamentals of digital literacy.
• Navigating online resources effectively.
• Evaluating digital information critically.
• Protecting personal data and cybersecurity.
Attendees will learn how Digital Navigator educators can utilize the SkillStack® microcredential platform to track their progress, earn badges, and showcase their accomplishments.
Attendees will leave the presentation with a deeper understanding of the Digital Navigator badges, their potential impact on Adult Education and Digital Literacy in Idaho, and the role YOU might play in driving this initiative forward.

Speakers

Rick Stoddart

Microcredentials Coordinator, Idaho Division of Career Technical Education

Trevi Hardy

Idaho Division of Career Technical Education

Heather Luchte

Chief Performance and Accountability Officer, Idaho Division of Career Technical Education

Heather Luchte is the Director of Performance Management at the Idaho Division of Career Technical Education. Heather has worked at the division since 2013. She is responsible for collecting performance data, monitoring student outcomes, and performance improvement. Heather also oversees... Read More →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST
110D Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

1:45pm MST

Making Accessibility a Priority: Practical Approaches for Meeting WCAG 2.1 Standards

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST

420A

Ensuring digital content is accessible to all learners is critical for equitable education. This session will provide attendees with practical approaches for meeting WCAG 2.1 Standards in their schools or districts. Using real examples from Idaho Digital Learning Academy’s accessibility initiatives, the session will cover key areas such as creating accessible digital content, leveraging tools for language and disability accessibility, and conducting thorough accessibility audits. Participants will leave with a framework for implementing accessibility improvements that support all learners, regardless of ability.
Outcomes: Attendees will:
Learn actionable steps for implementing WCAG 2.1 Standards in digital content.
Understand how to conduct accessibility audits and use feedback for continuous improvement.
Gain practical tools and strategies for enhancing accessibility for diverse learners.

Speakers

Ashlee Kolar

EdTech Engineer, Idaho Digital Learning Alliance

I’m Ashlee Kolar, the EdTech Engineer at IDLA. I like to think of myself as the teacher on the tech team—I know a little bit about a lot and enjoy helping anyone who needs support in implementing and troubleshooting technology so it works for them. My days are never dull as I... Read More →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST
420A Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

1:45pm MST

Personalized Learning Schoology with AI

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST

120B

PowerBuddy for Learning
Student Assistant PowerBuddy is a conversational AI guide designed to support and motivate students as they learn. Teachers can choose Socratic Mode to prompt deeper learning without giving away answers, or Research Mode for open-ended work. All student conversations are logged and screened for sensitive topics, giving both educators and families transparency into how students use the tool. Multi-language support, text-to-speech, and speech-to-text ensure every student can benefit.
Generative AI for Content Creation Educators can save time by using PowerBuddy to generate ideas and educational content for a wide variety of use cases. Educators can prompt the system in natural language and can control the output parameters such as length, reading level, and language. PowerSchool’s AI framework facilitates human-centered, bias-resistant, and equitable content generation to benefit all students.
Discover the pivotal role that Schoology Learning and PowerBuddy can play in your school district.

Speakers

Cindi Jensen

PowerSchool

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST
120B Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

1:45pm MST

Teams and Classwork, Assignments, Grades and Insights

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST

440

We will jump into learning how to use classwork, assignments, grades and insights. What are the recent updates and streamline learning for you and your students.

Speakers

Lora Evanouski

Information Services Technology Coordinator, Nampa School District

Lora Evanouski is an Information Services Technology Coordinator for the Nampa School District. She has 13 years teaching experience F2F and online. In her job with NSD, she teaches and trains staff and students how to use technology. Lora is an MIE Expert for 8 consecutive years... Read More →

Rachael Lowe

Informations Services Technology Coordinator, Nampa School District

Rachael holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. Rachael began her career in the Nampa School District as the Curriculum Materials Coordinator. Rachael’s current role is Information Services Technology Coordinator. In addition to her many other roles, Rachael taught Art... Read More →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST
440 Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

3:15pm MST

Arthur Interactive Media: A Social Emotional Learning Experience

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST

110D

Encourage social, emotional, and character development in elementary children with the Arthur Interactive Media (AIM) Buddy Project. This hands-on, interactive workshop will guide you through how to implement this FREE curriculum in your classroom.

Speakers

Kari Wardle

Director of Education, Idaho Public Television

Kari Wardle currently works as the Director of Education for Idaho Public Television where she leads the education department and provides training and support to teachers throughout the state. Before joining the IdahoPTV staff in 2017, she worked as an elementary school teacher for... Read More →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST
110D Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, All

3:15pm MST

Constructive Uses of AI: Helping Students Learn Better

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST

110B

You know students might use it to cheat. You are probably aware that it can save you thunderous amounts of time. But do you know how generative AI can turn a mid-range student into an academically confident and much more mature teen? Or how it can help a student who has trouble paying attention? In this session, we'll do a hands-on exploration using ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, or whichever generative AI tool you prefer so that you can bring these academic hacks to students who can use them to significantly ramp up their learning game.

Speakers

Rushton Hurley

Executive Director, NextVista.org

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST
110B Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

3:15pm MST

Crafting Cybersecurity: Empowering Education with Cyber in Minecraft

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST

410B

Speakers

Melanie Drown

Melanie Drown is a Product Specialist for ‘Coding in Minecraft’ and has 11 years of experience as both an educator and a trainer. She is a Minecraft Certified trainer and has trained hundreds of teachers on game-based learning through Minecraft Education. As a former STEM and... Read More →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST
410B Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

3:15pm MST

Exploring BSU's New CS Teaching Endorsement Certificate

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST

430B

Computer Science or CS-adjacent classes are becoming more prevalent and needed at the secondary level. Boise State University has a new online graduate certificate designed to teach teachers the skills required to teach a CS course, from how to write code to how to teach students to think critically and write code. This new certificate is an Idaho-approved teacher certificate program. This session will provide all the details about the new certificate. Participants will leave with an understanding of the content of the certificate, why this certificate is invaluable to a secondary STEM teacher, and how to apply for admission and full-coverage scholarships.

Speakers

Kathryn Rodgers

Boise State University

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST
430B Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

3:15pm MST

Fueling the STEM Mind: Engaging Methods to Motivate Young Thinkers

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST

410A

Energize your STEM classroom and foster deep scientific thinking! Through exemplar activities and teacher moves, discover actionable strategies for fostering a classroom culture that celebrates student thinking, promotes risk taking, and cultivates student growth.

Speakers

Eric Cross

Science Teacher, Albert Einstein Academy Middle School

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST
410A Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

3:15pm MST

Looking Ahead: Resources for Digital Literacy in Idaho

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST

110A

The session will cover resources teachers can look to utilize and teach about AI in a variety of classroom spaces, especially if digital literacy requirements become a new Idaho requirement. The session will focus on code.org and lessons put out by Stanford (CRAFT).

Speakers

Mark Goodell

teacher, Nampa High School

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST
110A Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

3:15pm MST

Personalized Learning Performance Matters with AI

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST

120B

Performance Matters PowerBuddy for Assessment augments educators’ work of developing personalized and effective assessments for students. Questions, passages, and other assessment content are tailored to the appropriate grade level, standard, and topic and can be conveniently generated directly within Performance Matters in a single workflow. PowerSchool brings schools the power of AI developed using responsible AI principles and fine-tuned specifically for K-12 education. Discover the pivotal role that Performance Matters can play in your school district

Speakers

Cindi Jensen

PowerSchool

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST
120B Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

3:15pm MST

Phish and Tips: Reeling In AI Deception and Phishing Scams

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST

440

"Phish and Tips" is a 45-minute interactive session designed to equip school IT professionals, teachers, and administrators with the skills to recognize and respond to digital threats. Through engaging scenarios, participants will test their instincts and decision-making abilities to identify and combat deceptive emails, scams, manipulated media, and other AI-generated content. Attendees will walk away with a virtual "Tackle-box" of resources to share with staff, students, families, and the broader community, empowering their institutions to stay ahead of emerging digital risks.

Speakers

Heather Anderson

Technical Support Specialist, IDLA

Ryan Gravette

IDLA

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST
440 Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

8:00am MST

Cybersecurity Basics for Educators: A Day in the Life of A Hacker

Thursday February 6, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST

410B

Speakers

Dixie Harper

Dixie Harper has been an educator for 30+ years. She holds a Bachelors in Education, a Masters in Library Media Technology, and a Specialist Degree in Education Leadership. Throughout her career, she has been employed in three different school districts in Georgia as a teacher... Read More →

Thursday February 6, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST
410B Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

8:00am MST

How One District is Supporting Diverse Learning Needs with Office 365

Thursday February 6, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST

110D

Attendees will learn how one district leverages the power of Microsoft Office 365 and Windows 11 to support diverse learning needs across their classrooms. The session will highlight specific strategies and tools that are used to create more inclusive and accessible learning experiences for all students. Features like Immersive Reader, Dictate, Live Captions, and Translator in Word, PowerPoint, and Edge as well as accessibility options in Windows 11 to support students with learning differences will be discussed. Bring your laptop and Microsoft Office login for this hands-on session. Attendees will walk away with practical, ready-to-implement ideas for using Office 365 and Windows 11 within the universal design for learning framework.

Speakers

Christy Butler

Assistive Technology Specialist, West Ada School District

Gaye Keith

Special Services Consulting Teacher, West Ada School District

Thursday February 6, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST
110D Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Intermediate

8:00am MST

Managing MTSS with Unified Insights/ Analytics/ Data/ Dashboards

Thursday February 6, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST

120B

Support Any MTSS Facet or Framework MTSS models can vary greatly from district to district. PowerSchool MTSS is a comprehensive solution that’s adaptable to any MTSS framework—helping districts ensure that all students have equal access to the support they need. Connect All Data and Leverage Intervention Analytics Bring together the data from your district’s SIS, behavior management, SEL, and assessment solutions in a single platform. Users can identify student needs and attach critical data to student plans and interventions. Connected data also provides educators with the intervention analytics needed to measure success.

Speakers

Cindi Jensen

PowerSchool

Thursday February 6, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST
120B Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

8:00am MST

The Think Do Thrive Variety Session: A Showcase of Curated Gems

Thursday February 6, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST

410A

Escape the ordinary at IETA with this one-of-a-kind variety session! This unique interactive session, curated by a seasoned educator, combines a variety show format with a curiosity-driven algorithm your students are attracted to on social media platforms. You will discover prompts, multi-modal tools, and strategies to enhance your teaching and ignite your student's interest. If you want a session palette cleanser, don't miss this opportunity to refresh your teaching toolkit, leave with artifacts to ponder post-IETA, and have fun!

Speakers

Darren Hudgins

Thursday February 6, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am MST
410A Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

10:15am MST

25 Innovative Assessment Resources in 45 Minutes

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST

120C

Part of the barrier to innovative assessment practices is often just having the resources in place to facilitate new methods of grading and assessing students. In this blazingly-fast session, participants will be given 25 resources to support innovative assessment practices with an explanation of the purpose and function of each one.

Speakers

Tyler Rablin

Innovative Learning Coach, Sunnyside School District

Tyler Rablin is an award-winning instructional coach and former ELA teacher for Sunnyside School District in Sunnyside, WA. He is also the owner of Tyler Rablin Consulting, is the author of Hacking Student Motivation from Times 10 Publications, and has been a featured speaker and... Read More →

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST
120C Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

10:15am MST

AI Tools and How to Use Them in the K-12 Classroom

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST

410A

The purpose of this session is to provide an overview of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and platforms for K-12 education. We will discuss the definitions and types of AI for education, identify and review currently available and popular AI tools, and provide a quick reference for teachers. Additionally, we will address ethical concerns such as data privacy and algorithmic biases. The goal of this session is to provide information for teachers to choose specific AI tools for different purposes. The use of AI tools and their associated concerns in the K-12 classroom will also be discussed, encouraging teachers to create more dynamic, inclusive, and effective learning environments while preparing students for the future. This session is connected with a submitted article under review in the AI, Computer Science, and Robotics Technology Journal.

Speakers

Nicole Sarty

Teachers, West Ada School District

Nicole Sarty Bio Link:https://msd2-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/r/personal/sarty_nicole_westada_org/Documents/Professional/Goals/Sarty%20Resume%202022.pdf?csf=1&web=1&e=maWf9V

Gina Kwid

Teacher, West Ada School District

Gina Kwid is an educator in the West Ada School District. She has taught 2nd grade and elementary engineering at Galileo STEM Academy for the past 17 years. In addition to ISTA, she is an active member of the Idaho STEM Ecosystem, ARISS Education Committee, ITEEA, and 100Kin10. She... Read More →

Dazhi Yang

Professor, Boise State University

Dr. Dazhi Yang is professor in educational technology with joint/adjunct appointment in the College of Engineering at Boise State University. Her current research interests include technology- supported STEM education, engineering and computing education, online and distance learning... Read More →

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST
410A Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

10:15am MST

Distinctive Stories from Amazing Projects

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST

430A

Education is not about the number of minutes we have our students, but rather the number of great moments we craft for them to experience. In this session, we'll look at innovative approaches from students and how they are making the world better, with attention to what kind of learning allows them to build confidence, explore cool, connect with students globally, and pursue personal excellence. Examples will be taken from the Creative Solutions for the Global Good class taught by the presenter, though the ideas can be incorporated into individual projects for other classes or activities specific to school clubs.

Speakers

Rushton Hurley

Executive Director, NextVista.org

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST
430A Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

10:15am MST

Empowering Educators with AI-Infused Solutions for the Modern Classroom

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST

110A

Educators and school leaders, join us to explore how Gemini for Education and Merlyn Mind can revolutionize your teaching practices. Gemini helps generate personalized learning experiences, streamline administrative tasks, and integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace tools to enhance your classroom workflow. Merlyn Mind further elevates your teaching by offering voice-activated control over technology, including within your Google Drive, freeing you to focus more on instruction and student engagement. With Merlyn Chat and PrepTime AI, you can effortlessly interact with technology, lean into those 'teachable moments', and optimize lesson planning. In this session, you'll see how both tools can save time, boost student engagement, and create a more inclusive and efficient learning environment.

Speakers

Anna Hanrahan

Teaching and Learning Consultant, Trafera

Anna Hanrahan has been a classroom teacher for more than 20 years and currently serves as a Teaching and Learning Consultant with Trafera. Anna is a Google for Education Certified Trainer and her expertise includes STEM education, promoting literacy within STEM instruction, instructional... Read More →

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST
110A Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

10:15am MST

Power up With PBS

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST

440

What if there were just one website you could use for all of your lesson planning that holds a variety of resources, tools AND is easy to use? Sound too good to be true? Think again! The PBS LearningMedia site is a powerful FREE tool for teachers who are interested in using video, online games, primary sources and self-paced digital lessons with their students. If you are a teacher in a K-12 classroom, a librarian, a technology specialist or an administrator there is something for you on PBS Learning Media. The real power comes when PBS LearningMedia is paired with your favorite digital assessment and presentation tools to create engaging and fun activities for students of all ages and abilities. Join IdahoPTV for this session and get ready to launch the power of PBS in your classroom!

Speakers

Kari Wardle

Director of Education, Idaho Public Television

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST
440 Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, All

10:15am MST

Project STEM Coding for MS / HS

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST

110D

Teaching Computer Science: How I use Project STEM in my classroom and what it can offer. How to use a program that offers coding lessons that are easy to follow and easy to understand. This program is very scaffolded and can be taught / used in a variety of ways. Includes : Scratch, Micro:bit, and Earsketch, python and block coding.

Speakers

Michelle DiPaula-Craig

Technology Teacher, Nampa School District / Lone Star Middle School

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST
110D Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

10:15am MST

STEM Career Profiles and Skills

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST

110C

This session is focused on what some may characterize as non-traditional STEM careers, ranging from healthcare to technology to other industries that are not commonly recognized as such. The goal is for attendants to learn cohesive ways to present STEM careers (and the paths to achieving those careers) for students of all ages. These careers are not found within linear confines but are characterized by skills (hard and soft), networking, and academic trajectories.

Speakers

Carina Minardi

STEM From LLC

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST
110C Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Intermediate

10:15am MST

Transforming Computer Science Education in Idaho with ‘Coding in Minecraft’

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST

410B

Do you want to teach coding in a game-based environment but are not a gaming or coding expert? In this session, you will learn how teachers in Idaho have already begun using ‘Coding in Minecraft’ to create a student-led, highly engaging learning experience where the educator becomes the facilitator, and the students lead their own learning to learn how to code in Blocks, JavaScript or Python. In addition, they can earn a credential through our Capstone Credential Exam. See how the immersive curriculum and credential pathway has all the resources you need to teach your students how to code.

Speakers

Melanie Drown

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST
410B Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

10:15am MST

What is a Power Buddy?

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST

120B

All About PowerBuddy! AI-powered assistant for Everyone in Education PowerBuddy is PowerSchool's AI assistant uniquely developed for students, families, teachers and administrators to deliver personalized education and individualized insights, foster engagement, and create a supportive environment for everyone in education at every step unlike ever before.

Speakers

Cindi Jensen

PowerSchool

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MST
120B Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

1:45pm MST

Decrypting Cybersecurity: Hand’s On Learning with the CYBER.ORG Range

Thursday February 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST

410B

With the rise of online threats and the increasing significance of technology in our lives, cybersecurity education has become more vital than ever before. Join us as we highlight the CYBER.ORG Virtual Range to teach engaging lessons and labs while exploring the methods of various cybersecurity related events. These cybersecurity events will be demonstrated by CYBER.ORG staff and performed by attendees within the CYBER.ORG Range. Methods used to mitigate attacks will be discussed as well. Participants will receive an introduction to the curricula, explore tools used by security researchers, and step through cyberattacks against a target system on the cyber range. U.S. K-12 Educators will gain free access to the curriculum from CYBER.ORG as well as access to the CYBER.ORG Range to use in their classrooms. Participants will leave the session with the tools and resources needed to teach cybersecurity concepts at many grade levels.

Speakers

Charlene Cooper

Director of Curriculum, CYBER.ORG

Jeff Ramsey

Thursday February 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST
410B Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

1:45pm MST

Learning to Search: A Critical Digital Literacy Skill

Thursday February 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST

110B

Children are increasingly interacting with resources online, often outside of controlled environments in which teachers can curate, guide, and scaffold how they access information. Developing search literacy skills and effective strategies for locating and utilizing information on the internet has become essential. Each step of the search process (choice of search tool, task definition, query formulation, search result evaluation, etc.) presents specific challenges for children that adults do not often face, so additional scaffolding and support is needed to provide children with the tools they need to become better searchers. In this workshop, we will explore the obstacles encountered by children at each of these steps in the search process and discuss strategies for addressing these aspects across different search tools. We highlight the importance of learning to search and the necessity of providing tools that empower children to determine what is appropriate for them and their unique and individual information needs.

Speakers

Jerry Alan Fails

Department Chair and Professor, Boise State University

Jerry Alan Fails is a Professor and the Chair of the Department of Computer Science at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho. He has been researching and designing technologies with and for children using participatory design methods for more than twenty years.

Christine Pinney

Boise State University

Thursday February 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST
110B Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

1:45pm MST

Microsoft AI: Saving teacher and administrator time, while optimizing student learning outcomes.

Thursday February 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST

430B

Please join us as we discuss the new AI innovations from Microsoft. We elaborate on how districts are using AI to save teachers and administrators significant time on a weekly and monthly basis. We will also dive into how AI is improving student outcomes.

Speakers

Dale Perrigo

Director--Windows in Education, Microsoft

I lead the Microsoft Windows business for K12 in the US, Canada, and Latin America.

Thursday February 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST
430B Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

1:45pm MST

Next-Gen Tools for Next-Level Learning: Mastering Diffit and NotebookLM in Education

Thursday February 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST

410C

Join us for "Next-Gen Tools for Next-Level Learning: Mastering Diffit and NotebookLM in Education," a dynamic professional development session that empowers educators to utilize cutting-edge tools for creating interactive, visually engaging instructional materials. This workshop will explore how to differentiate instructional content by adapting language and reading levels, integrating multimedia, and employing best practices such as Thinking Maps and Eduprotocols for enhanced learning outcomes. Participants will gain practical skills to enhance lesson engagement, improve material quality, and foster a collaborative classroom environment, all aimed at elevating student learning experiences.

Speakers

Dr. Melyssa Ferro

Digital Integration and Innovation Specialist, Caldwell School District #132

After transferring college majors from lab scientist to science educator and graduating from Boise State University with a B.S. in Biology, Secondary Education, Melyssa has spent the last 25 years of her career dedicated to providing hands-on and enriching science and engineering... Read More →

Thursday February 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST
410C Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Intermediate

1:45pm MST

Telling the Stories of Your School or Program

Thursday February 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST

110A

Most schools do an abysmal job of promoting their stories in a way that prompts people to share and support what happens on campus. The perceived hurdles are technological, logistical, and psychological, and in this session, participants will learn how these hurdles are far less formidable than one might imagine. We will look at how to foster, gather, and share stories to build support for programs that can make one's school truly distinctive.

Speakers

Rushton Hurley

Executive Director, NextVista.org

Thursday February 6, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm MST
110A Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

3:15pm MST

AI Game Changers and Time Savers: Everyday Tools for Teachers

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST

410B

Speakers

Dixie Harper

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST
410B Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

3:15pm MST

Morning Meetings In Elementary Classrooms

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST

440

This presentation explores the critical role of morning meetings in fostering a positive classroom environment. Morning meetings are a foundational practice that sets the tone for respectful and engaged learning, creating a sense of community among students and teachers. We will discuss how these gatherings facilitate the modeling and practice of essential social and emotional skills, enabling students to develop empathy, communication, and collaboration abilities. By merging social, emotional, and academic learning, morning meetings enhance individual growth and promote a cohesive classroom culture. Join us to discover the effective use of technology to create strategies for implementing morning meetings and their profound impact on student relationships and overall classroom dynamics.

Speakers

Erika Willsey

Elementary Counselor, Twin Falls School District

I create content for elementary educators to facilitate teaching social and emotional skills with a focus on morning meetings.

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST
440 Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

3:15pm MST

The NEW Idaho technology standards!

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST

410C

Did you know Idaho has new technology standards K-12? Come to this session for an overview of the K-12 technology standards and spend some time diving in and taking a look at what these standards mean for our learners. We will also look at how these standards can be integrated into other subject areas.

Speakers

Andrea Baerwald

Science and Technology Coordinator, Idaho Department of Education

Tell me about all the wonderful science and technology things you are doing in your classroom! Running into roadblocks? I want to hear about those as well.

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST
410C Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Intermediate

3:15pm MST

Validating Student's AI, Cloud Computing and Data Science Skills with Microsoft Fundamentals Certifications.

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST

110C

You may be able to receive Microsoft Fundamentals certifications, offered through Certiport, at no charge to you or your school through the Idaho Statewide Certification programs. Join us to learn more about the Idaho Certification Programs, how to join the program and the Microsoft Fundamental certifications that are provided to the members.

Speakers

Jason Majors

Director of Global Deployment, Certiport

Jason Majors is the Director of Global Deployment for Certiport. He leads the Certiport Deployment team, who works with large accounts to ensure teacher and student success with certification programs. He and his team provide guidance to teachers on the entire certification process... Read More →

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST
110C Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Intermediate

3:15pm MST

Writing with AI: A Teacher’s Guide to Leveraging Technology as a Tool

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST

430A

As AI becomes increasingly prevalent in our students’ lives, it’s time to shift our perspective from seeing it as a threat to academic integrity to viewing it as a powerful tool for enhancing learning. In this session, we’ll explore how AI can be integrated into writing instruction to support creativity, critical thinking, and skill development. We’ll discuss practical approaches to teaching students moving beyond detection and prevention toward empowering students to harness AI’s potential. Attendees will leave with some lesson plan ideas and strategies for incorporating AI in your classroom, as well as an introduction to Class Companion, a program designed to help students receive targeted feedback on their writing.

Speakers

Danielle Bainbridge

English Teacher, Bishop Kelly High School

Danielle currently teaches 9th grade English and AP Language and Composition at Bishop Kelly High School in Boise. She also serves as a faculty liaison for the IT department.

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MST
430A Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Intermediate

8:30am MST

Cybersecurity CTE Teaching Endorsement and Risk Assessment

Friday February 7, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MST

440

This is a presentation for teachers and administrators. In this presentation, we will share how to earn the Career Technical Education (CTE) Cybersecurity Teaching Endorsement. We will also share what free and open source resources you can use to build your CTE Cybersecurity high school program. Supported by the Cyber Operations and Resilience degree program at Boise State University, we conduct risk assessments for school districts to improve cybersecurity posture. Learn how we can help you with your cybersecurity risk assessment.

Speakers

Sin Ming Loo

Professor/Director, Boise State University

Friday February 7, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MST
440 Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

8:30am MST

Discover Downtown Boise! An Inquiry Adventure Featuring the City, a Smartphone & YOU!

Friday February 7, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MST

430A

Discover Boise on this jam-packed immersive inquiry as we tour near the Convention Center and learn about the history & the communities that shape the city. Using curiosity as a catalyst, we’ll ignite creativity with Google Photos, leverage digital tours, publish to curate learning & provide resources to use with students.

The Participants will…
-Gain a better understanding of Boise's history and the cultural diversity that influences the city's identity.
-Develop the ability to use curiosity as a driving force for inquiry and creativity.
-Acquire skills to enhance and edit photos using Google Photos, transforming them into compelling visual narratives.
-Learn how to integrate digital tours into educational settings effectively.
-Be equipped with practical strategies and resources to bring these experiences and tools into their classrooms, promoting a deeper connection between students and historical and cultural contexts
-Collect images, articles, videos, and podcasts to layer multimedia that differentiates for learners, builds background knowledge, and sparks curiosity.
-Create a mini-inquiry for students to introduce and explore a new content area.
-Leverage a handful of easy-to-use tools that invite students to create and scale for authentic audiences.

Speakers

Darren Hudgins

Nancy Mangum

Co-Founder, Leading EDge Learn

Friday February 7, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MST
430A Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Intermediate

8:30am MST

Get Hands-On with ‘Coding in Minecraft’

Friday February 7, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MST

410B

Speakers

Melanie Drown

Friday February 7, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MST
410B Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

8:30am MST

Hands-on learning to implement drone curriculum into secondary STEM disciplines

Friday February 7, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MST

110B

The hands-on workshop will run 3 hours for K-12 educators interested in implementing similar STEM activities into their teaching curriculum. Each will pick up a drone kit to build their small educational drone from scratch. The workshop organizer will provide the essential parts and components for coding exercises. The K-12 STEM educators will develop their own drone from scratch and a step-by-step building instruction will be provided by the instructor. The electronic version of the manual will also be provided, and technical issues/problems will be solved by interacting with the instructor at the IETA venue. The basic coding exercise using Arduino IDE and MIT Scratch will take place to control motors, adjust power to lift a drone from the ground, and discuss the fine-tuning methods for a safe flight. Understanding the instructor's federal regulations and safety guidelines is another avenue for all participants to fly their own drones safely and legally in the public domain. Each participant must bring their own laptop computer (preferably, Windows OS) equipped with a USB port. The workshop tuition is FREE for on-site registered personnel (Max 20 people) while an additional cost will be charged if the attendees want to keep their drones after workshop.

Speakers

Jae Ryu

Professor, University of Idaho

Dr. Jae Ryu is a Professor at the University of Idaho. His research interest is to advance environmental monitoring using Unmanned Aerial System (UAS, a.k.a drone). Dr. Ryu is currently hosting Idaho/Interstate Drone League (iDrone) to engage students through an immerse experimental... Read More →

Friday February 7, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MST
110B Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

8:30am MST

Promoting Cybersecurity Awareness for Students

Friday February 7, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MST

430B

Learn how to use CYBER.ORG’s grant-funded range to bring cybersecurity into classrooms. Paired with CYBER.ORG’s no-cost curricula, K-12 US educators can gain access to CYBER.ORG’s Range to help teach hands-on cybersecurity and networking lessons. Observe how cyber-attacks work and how professionals use cyber tools through a preview of labs while content developers share their knowledge of guidelines, best approaches, and experiences of the range in middle and high school classrooms. We encourage teachers to sign up for our no-cost curricula access(https://cyber.org/form/curricula-sign-up) and Range access (https://apps.cyber.org/apply) prior to the professional development session.

Speakers

Charlene Cooper

Director of Curriculum, CYBER.ORG

Jeff Ramsey

Friday February 7, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MST
430B Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Intermediate

8:30am MST

Robot Simulator...NO Robots needed.

Friday February 7, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MST

420A

Botball Virtual Simulator: Bringing Robotics to Life in the Classroom
Session Description:
The Botball Virtual Simulator, developed by the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics (KIPR), is a powerful educational tool that empowers educators to bring the exciting world of robotics into their classrooms. In this comprehensive session, attendees will explore the capabilities of the Botball Virtual Simulator and discover how to leverage this engaging platform to inspire students and foster their passion for STEM learning.
Key Topics Covered:

Navigating the user-friendly Botball Virtual Simulator interface and understanding its core functionalities
Designing and programming virtual robots to navigate complex environments, complete challenges, and showcase their autonomous capabilities
Integrating the Botball Virtual Simulator into lesson plans to reinforce key concepts in computer science, engineering, and problem-solving
Leveraging the simulator's extensive library of pre-built robot models and customization options to encourage creativity and critical thinking
Exploring the Botball Virtual Simulator's assessment and reporting features to track student progress and measure learning outcomes

Anticipated Outcomes:
By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

Confidently utilize the Botball Virtual Simulator to create engaging, hands-on learning experiences for their students
Develop effective strategies for incorporating the simulator into their curriculum to support STEM education and foster 21st-century skills
Understand how to leverage the Botball Virtual Simulator's assessment tools to monitor student learning and optimize their instructional approaches
Feel empowered to introduce the Botball Virtual Simulator to their schools and classrooms, leading to increased student engagement, improved problem-solving abilities, and a deeper appreciation for the field of robotics

This session is designed for educators of all levels, from classroom teachers to STEM coordinators and school administrators, who are passionate about integrating cutting-edge technology into their teaching practices to inspire the next generation of innovators.

Speakers

Penni Aufderheide Keck

Jerome School District

Penni Aufderheide Keck is a highly experienced educator with 28 years of teaching under her belt. She is currently teaching at Jerome High School. She specializes in teaching robotics and technology, as well as CTE and Music. Her passion for education and her dedication to her students... Read More →

Friday February 7, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MST
420A Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

8:30am MST

These Bots Go to 11: Using Micro-bits and Hummingbird Robotics to up your CS game in the classroom

Friday February 7, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MST

110C

In this session, educators will explore the fundamentals of using Micro-bits and Hummingbird Robotics Kits. These tools are accessible to learners of all ages, from elementary school through the collegiate level, and serve as excellent resources for introducing computer science concepts to students of varying abilities. During the session, participants will engage hands-on with Micro-bits to learn the basics of the equipment. Educators will leave with practical examples and resources they can immediately implement in their classrooms. This workshop is designed for educators who are new to, or have some experience with, Micro-bits and Hummingbird Robotics Kits.

Speakers

Myriah Leisher

3-5 Technology teacher and 6-8 STEM Lab teacher, William Thomas Middle School

Myriah Leisher has worked in schools for 11 years as a Media Specialist Librarian and Technology/STEM teacher in Nebraska and Idaho. Her work in Nebraska included implementing STEM/Technology Education in Juvenile Detention Centers and the pre-K-12 schools she worked in. For the last... Read More →

Rebecca Porter

South Fremont Jr. High School

Friday February 7, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MST
110C Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Intermediate

8:30am MST

Want to receive Microsoft or Adobe Certifications to validate your students' skills along with online curriculum to use in your class?

Friday February 7, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MST

110A

Join us to learn about the Idaho Statewide Certification programs that provide Microsoft and Adobe certifications, offered from Certiport, and online curriculum for your classes. These benefits are provided at no cost to you or your school. We will discuss the program, how to join, Microsoft Office Specialist certifications, Adobe Certified Professional Certifications and BrainBuffet curriculum provided to you through the program.

Speakers

Jason Majors

Director of Global Deployment, Certiport

Friday February 7, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am MST
110A Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Intermediate

10:15am MST

Bridging Languages with Tech: A Multilingual Toolbox

Friday February 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am MST

410B

Explore the innovative digital tools and technologies transforming language learning for multilingual students. This presentation will introduce educators to a variety of accessible, user-friendly tools designed to enhance language acquisition, improve comprehension, and facilitate communication across diverse linguistic backgrounds. From translation apps to collaborative platforms and AI-driven language models, I will demonstrate how technology is breaking down language barriers, fostering inclusion, and creating personalized learning experiences for students of all ages and abilities. Whether you're teaching in a multilingual classroom or looking to improve your own language skills, this session will provide practical insights and strategies to help you leverage technology effectively in a multilingual world.

Speakers

Katie Mason

Friday February 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am MST
410B Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

10:15am MST

Enhancing 6-12 Education with Cybersecurity

Friday February 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am MST

110A

Join a CYBER.ORG curriculum specialist for an overview of our Intro to Cybersecurity course. The goal of this course is to introduce middle and high school students to basic cybersecurity concepts and inspire interest in cybersecurity careers. This course does not require any prerequisite knowledge in computing or cybersecurity for either the student or teacher.
In this session, our content experts will walk you through a variety of lessons that include unplugged activities, and cybersecurity labs using the CYBER.ORG Range. You will experience it through the eyes of a student, and we will also share tips for success! We encourage teachers to sign up for our no-cost curricula access(https://cyber.org/form/curricula-sign-up) and Range access (https://apps.cyber.org/apply) prior to the professional development session.

Speakers

Charlene Cooper

Director of Curriculum, CYBER.ORG

Jeff Ramsey

Friday February 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am MST
110A Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

10:15am MST

Magic School Ai

Friday February 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am MST

410C

The MagicSchool AI chatbot is a powerful tool designed to support educators in their day-to-day work. In this session, we will explore how this AI-powered assistant can streamline lesson planning, content creation, and classroom management tasks. Attendees will learn how to leverage the chatbot's natural language processing capabilities to generate engaging lesson plans, customize educational resources, and access a wealth of teaching strategies and best practices.
Key Topics Covered:

Harnessing the MagicSchool AI chatbot to enhance lesson planning and content creation
Utilizing the chatbot's knowledge base to access teaching techniques, classroom management tips, and subject-specific resources
Integrating the chatbot seamlessly into your existing workflow to save time and boost productivity
Exploring the chatbot's multilingual capabilities and customization options to meet the diverse needs of your students
Anticipated Outcomes:
By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

Confidently use the MagicSchool AI chatbot to streamline their daily teaching tasks
Discover innovative ways to leverage the chatbot's capabilities to create engaging, personalized learning experiences for students
Understand how the MagicSchool AI can be tailored to their specific educational context and teaching style
Feel empowered to incorporate the chatbot into their classrooms and schools, leading to increased efficiency and improved student outcomes
This session is designed for educators of all levels, from classroom teachers to instructional coaches and school administrators, who are interested in exploring the transformative potential of AI-powered educational tools.

Speakers

Penni Aufderheide Keck

Jerome School District

Friday February 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am MST
410C Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

10:15am MST

Scratching the Surface of Coding With Kids

Friday February 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am MST

120A

PBS KIDS ScratchJr. is a free coding app specifically designed for children in grades K-5. During this hands-on session, teachers will WATCH, PLAY, EXPLORE, CREATE & SHARE! They will take on the roles of Programmer, Background Designer, Character Designer, Sound Designer and Editor creating projects using their favorite PBS characters. Come learn to code with your favorite PBS characters, and develop curricular connections you can use in your classroom tomorrow.

Speakers

Kari Wardle

Director of Education, Idaho Public Television

Friday February 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am MST
120A Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

10:15am MST

Stress Less: From Frazzled to Focused

Friday February 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am MST

110D

What is stress? How can we not only survive stress but actually use it to make our lives better?

We will analyze sources of stress, discuss approaches to defuse stressful situations, and develop stress management techniques for both teachers and students such as mindfulness, active meditation, tapping and even color theory.

I will share and demonstrate a series of eight short (3-5 minute) mindfulness lessons you can take and use with students.

Then we will learn about the role of stress in job burnout and how we can make not every day a good day, but find good in every day.

Speakers

Christine Lake

High School Science Teacher, Idaho Virtual Academy

HS science teacher for over 10 years with a current teaching assignment of Honors Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Environmental Science and Computer Science Discoveries. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, a Master’s in Health Education degree both from Idaho State... Read More →

Friday February 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am MST
110D Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

1:00pm MST

AI Playgrounds: Exploring School AI Spaces and Magic School Student for Student Innovation

Friday February 7, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MST

120A

Join us for "AI Playgrounds: Exploring School AI Spaces and Magic School Student for Student Innovation," a professional development session designed for educators ready to enhance AI learning. This workshop will introduce School AI Spaces and Magic School Student—tools for creating safe, engaging AI sandboxes. We'll cover setting up these environments, integrating AI activities into curricula, and strategies for teaching AI fundamentals. Educators will learn to monitor progress and provide feedback, ensuring a supportive space for students to develop AI skills effectively. Ideal for teachers looking to foster creativity and problem-solving through interdisciplinary AI education.

Speakers

Dr. Melyssa Ferro

Digital Integration and Innovation Specialist, Caldwell School District #132

Friday February 7, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MST
120A Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Intermediate

1:00pm MST

Creating "Simple Solution" resources for Teachers and Staff.

Friday February 7, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MST

120C

Providing training for teachers and staff alike as a teachers teacher can be a difficult job; whether as an IT professional or in a professional development position. Having the time to sit down one on one or engage in remote help can be draining or time consuming. This session helps unite Google's Screencast tool and Scribe with Google Sites to create an internal resource page for teachers and staff. In our time together my hope is to be able to bring creatively and innvotion by using free tools that come with our Google Education Domains to provide how-to's, instructionals, and troubleshooting content so that teachers and staff can provide "self-help". Learn how to link calendars, PDF how-to's, and videos through Screencast to make a vibrate area of learning that is easy to use and simple to manage.

Speakers

Nate Luotonen

IT Administrator, The Ambrose School District

Hi, my name is Nate Luotonen. I have the wonderful opportunity to give some nuggets of information from my neck of the woods to my fellow teachers and IT professionals. For the last 10 years or so I have been developing my craft in IT management and support. I started as a lowly consultation... Read More →

Friday February 7, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MST
120C Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Intermediate

1:00pm MST

CS 100: Not Intro to Programming

Friday February 7, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MST

110A

What, exactly, do students need to know about Computer Science (CS)? What skills can be presented that will transfer for those who continue in CS, but more importantly, for those who continue to different careers? This talk will focus on the approach taken in BSU's CS 100 - Introduction to CS Professions, including what is being taught and why. You'll get an overview of computer science, the career paths in computer science, careers that seem like they're computer science but aren't, and what your student can expect in a computer science degree. Participants will leave with answers for students' and parents' questions about computer science, resources to help guide students as they explore their career options (no matter what field they choose), an explanation of the skills students can learn in a CS class that aren't restricted to CS, and resources for incorporating these types of activities and lessons in their own classes (whether they're CS or not!).

Speakers

Kathryn Rodgers

Boise State University

Friday February 7, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MST
110A Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

1:00pm MST

FREE technology programs offered by the Idaho Department of Education

Friday February 7, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MST

110D

Learn about programs offered by the Idaho Department of Education and how to get involved. Programs offered: Adobe Express, Certification in Adobe and Microsoft, Coding in Minecraft

Speakers

Andrea Baerwald

Science and Technology Coordinator, Idaho Department of Education

Tell me about all the wonderful science and technology things you are doing in your classroom! Running into roadblocks? I want to hear about those as well.

Sydney Hansen

Idaho Department of Education

Friday February 7, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MST
110D Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

1:00pm MST

Innovating and inventing with students!

Friday February 7, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MST

110C

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, fostering innovation and invention among students is more crucial than ever. This session is designed to equip educators, mentors, and technology enthusiasts with practical strategies to inspire and guide students from beginner to intermediate levels in their journey towards becoming inventors and innovators.
Participants will explore a variety of tools and methodologies that can be seamlessly integrated into educational settings. The session will cover key topics such as cultivating a creative mindset, leveraging technology to solve real-world problems, and encouraging collaborative projects that stimulate inventive thinking.
Attendees will leave with a toolkit of actionable ideas to help students navigate the innovation process, from ideation to prototyping and beyond. Join us to unlock the potential of the next generation and empower them to shape the future through technology and creativity.

Speakers

Benjamin Davis

Cassia Joint School District

Lisa Hitt

Math and Science Teacher, Cassia Joint School District

Chrystelle Murdock

English Teacher, Cassia County School District/Oakley High School

Friday February 7, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MST
110C Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

1:00pm MST

Leadership

Friday February 7, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MST

410B

How leaders leverage technology to communicate and connect with their community? How do leaders navigate the ever changing world of technology? How do leaders keep staff and students safe in a digital world? How do leaders ensure that the tools they do have are used effectively? These are just a few questions that will be explored.

Speakers

Janet Avery

Superintendent, Potlatch School District

Janet Avery has been an educator for 32+ years. She is currently Superintendent in Potlatch School District. Janet has also served as a Curriculum Director, Middle School Principal, Assistant Principal, and Secondary English Teacher. She has lived and worked in many places around... Read More →

Janet Avery

Friday February 7, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MST
410B Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

1:00pm MST

Panel: Leveraging Idaho STEM Action Center Resources

Friday February 7, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MST

430A

Idaho educators discuss how they have leveraged the resources offered by Idaho STEM Action Center to improve their instruction and student outcomes.

Speakers

Dee Mooney

Idaho STEM Action Center

Friday February 7, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MST
430A Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

1:00pm MST

Tech Tools to Make Teaching Easier

Friday February 7, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MST

110B

This session will go over a variety of easy to use websites and tech tools to help new teachers or just any teachers wanting some new tools.

Speakers

Jamie Clark

8th Grade Science/ISTA Region 5 Representative, American Falls School District #381

Jamie has been teaching science in southeast Idaho for the past 10 years. She has taught 6th and 8th grades at William Thomas Middle School in American Falls. She is currently a region representative of the Idaho Science Teaching Association. When she is not in the classroom, Jamie... Read More →

Friday February 7, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MST
110B Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

1:00pm MST

Using AI Tools as an Educator

Friday February 7, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MST

410A

Copilot: Assists teachers in creating lesson plans with resources in just minutes.
Magic School: An award-winning, most used, and most loved AI platform for schools around the world. Educators use MagicSchool to help lesson plan, differentiate, write assessments, write IEPs, communicate clearly, and more.
Reading Coach: Provides personalized, engaging AI-powered reading fluency practice for all learners.
Microsoft Class Teams Assignments: Enables teachers to craft clear and concise instructions quickly.

Speakers

Joanie Arendse

Technology Integration and Instruction, Cole Valley Christian Schools

Joanie Arendse is a technology integration coach and instructor at Cole Valley Christian Schools. She has been in education 40 years. Joanie has been a Certified Microsoft Innovative Educator since 2015, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert since 2019, and a Microsoft Innovative Educator... Read More →

Jordyn Mulvihill

Cole Valley Christian Schools

Friday February 7, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm MST
410A Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Intermediate

2:00pm MST

AI Amplified: Launch Synchronous Learning to the Next Level

Friday February 7, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm MST

420A

Step into the future of education as IDLA’s Launchpad Program showcases how AI has been harnessed to combat the summer slide and bridge reading skill gaps across Idaho's school districts. In this session, we’ll dive deep into IDLA’s cutting-edge approach to synchronous classrooms, exploring how AI not only transforms the online learning experience but also enriches traditional brick-and-mortar settings.

Unveil powerful, time-saving AI tools designed to enhance and differentiate curriculum for students of all abilities. Engage with strategies that tie student involvement directly to relevant content and standards. Discover how IDLA can become your essential partner in addressing literacy challenges and driving successful ELA outcomes.

Join us to explore evidence-based practices, adaptive technology, and personalized learning solutions that empower educators and students on the path to proficient reading. Don’t miss this chance to level up your ELA instruction with IDLA's proven methods and digital innovations—because, at IETA 2025, we're cranking it to 11!

Speakers

Amy Marlowe

Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA)

Driven by a passion for equitable education, I believe every student deserves a learning experience that empowers them to succeed, honors their unique community, and is rooted in evidence-based practices. For me, "what's best for students" is a guiding principle for everything I do... Read More →

Friday February 7, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm MST
420A Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Intermediate

2:00pm MST

Bridging AI and Education: Applying 1EdTech Standards to AI Goals

Friday February 7, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm MST

110B

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the educational landscape, but its integration requires careful consideration to ensure ethical and effective use. In this session, participants will explore how the 1EdTech AI Data Rubric can help schools implement AI-driven tools in a way that promotes privacy, equity, and educational value. Drawing from experiences at Idaho Digital Learning Academy, we will discuss how to align AI initiatives with educational goals while safeguarding student data. This session is ideal for educators and technologists interested in the responsible use of AI in schools.
Outcomes: Attendees will:
Understand the 1EdTech AI Data Rubric and its application in K-12 settings.
Learn practical strategies for incorporating AI into teaching while ensuring privacy and equity.
Gain insights into aligning AI initiatives with school and district goals.

Speakers

Ashlee Kolar

EdTech Engineer, Idaho Digital Learning Alliance

Friday February 7, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm MST
110B Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

2:00pm MST

Empowering the Future: Unleashing STEM and Career Potential with Learning Blade and Career Blade

Friday February 7, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm MST

410C

Discover how Learning Blade and Career Blade, in collaboration with the Idaho STEM Action Center, are transforming the educational landscape by bridging the gap between classroom learning and high-demand STEM and career pathways. These online learning resources, aligned with the First Step Standards, offer hands-on, interactive activities and industry-aligned curricula that inspire students to pursue STEM subjects and prepare them for real-world challenges.
Educators will learn how to leverage these tools to empower themselves and their students. Learning Blade, designed for grades 5-9, introduces students to STEM careers through contextualized, integrated learning experiences. The platform’s newest AI module enables students to uncover the science behind artificial intelligence and explore emerging AI-oriented careers. Career Blade, suitable for K-12 students, engages learners in career exploration and provides career-specific activities that equip them with essential skills and knowledge for the future workforce.
Participants will also explore how the Idaho STEM Action Center supports and enhances the use of these platforms, providing additional resources to strengthen STEM education across the state.
Join us to dive into the future of STEM and career education with your fully funded account at www.learningblade.com/ID.

Speakers

Idaho STEM Action Center

STEM Ed. Coordination Officer, Idaho STEM Action Center

Mission StatementProviding coordination for statewide STEM education and activities to enhance opportunities for educators, students, communities, and employers in their work to build a competitive Idaho workforce and economy through STEM and computer science education.Vision StatementA... Read More →

Lauren Duris

Learning Blade

Friday February 7, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm MST
410C Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner

2:00pm MST

Microsoft Class Teams Search Progress/Search Coach

Friday February 7, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm MST

110D

Microsoft Search Progress/Search Coach is a feature within Microsoft Class Teams for Education aimed at improving students’ information literacy. It enables educators to assign and monitor research projects while offering real-time guidance on crafting effective search queries and recognizing trustworthy sources. It is a helpful tool to streamline information literacy instruction. Let us share with you how we have used Search Progress/Search Coach in our classrooms grades 3-5 and ways to use Search Progress/Search Coach in grades 6-12.

Speakers

Joanie Arendse

Technology Integration and Instruction, Cole Valley Christian Schools

Caleb Nielebeck

Elementary and Middle School STEM Teacher, Cole Valley Christian Schools

I serve as a STEM teacher at Cole Valley Christian Schools, teaching elementary and middle school classes in a variety of STEM topics. I have a background in Ecology laboratory and field sciences with publications in both PLOS One and Ecosphere. Over the past three years, two at CVCS... Read More →

Friday February 7, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm MST
110D Boise Centre West - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Intermediate

2:00pm MST

Navigating Ethics and Bias in AI

Friday February 7, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm MST

410B

Speakers

Dixie Harper

Friday February 7, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm MST
410B Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional

2:00pm MST

Unlocking the World of eBooks

Friday February 7, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm MST

430A

Discover the power of digital libraries with LiLI.org’s Gale eBooks and the IDEA by ICfL OverDrive collection. In this presentation, we’ll explore two leading e-book platforms designed to enhance research, learning, and leisure reading. Learn how to access, navigate, and utilize these platforms to support education, professional development, and personal reading. Whether you’re an educator or librarian this session will provide valuable insights into the features, benefits, and best practices for using LiLI.org’s Gale eBooks and the IDEA by ICfL OverDrive collection.

Speakers

Marina Rose

E-Resources Consultant, Idaho Commission for Libraries

Marina has been with the Idaho Commission for Libraries since 2022. In her current role, she oversees the LiLI databases and the IDEA collection, as well as manages the ShareIdaho program. She has worked in Idaho libraries since 2009 and has been an avid Overdrive user for nearly... Read More →

Friday February 7, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm MST
430A Boise Centre East - 850 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702

Teachers/Instructional, Beginner