Teaching Generation Text: Using Mobile Devices to Enhance Learning
March 12, 2014, 8:30 – 11:30
In this fast-paced and interactive presentation, Lisa Nielsen will share real-life anecdotes of her efforts to work with others to stop fighting and start embracing the use of technology and the lifting of filters that will empower students with the freedom to learn with the tools and resources of their world. Participants will discover if they are "smarter than a screenager" and learn how to catch up if they're not. They will be introduced to the building blocks for success for learning with mobile technology and be introduced to the five step plan to harnessing the
power of these devices for learning. Lisa will bring to life the ideas from her book “Teaching Generation Text” and blog The Innovative Educator in this lively presentation during which she will not only display, discuss, and share her ideas, but she will also have the audience join her in harnessing the power of mobile devices for learning. Audience members will leave this presentation ready to meet the needs of “Generation Text.”
Breakout Session: Combatting illTWITTERacy
The illTwitteracy epidemic that has afflicted many educators can be eradicated with a simple plan that will have those who follow it all aTwitter with plenty of ideas for harnessing the power of the Tweet. Tweeps (Twitter using peeps) will not only learn how to Tweet from their phone or computer, but they will also discover why they’d even want to by looking at real examples of Tweeple (Twitter people) who use Twitter to enrich teaching, learning, and leading. Upon completion of this session, Tweeps will be on the road to achieving the basic Twitteracy necessary for success in the Twittersphere.
About Lisa Nielsen
Lisa Nielsen writes for and speaks to audiences across the globe about the future of education and is frequently covered by local and national media for her views on “Passion (not data) Driven Learning,” "Thinking Outside the Ban" to harness the power of technology for learning, and using the power of social media to provide a voice to educators and students. Ms. Nielsen is a seasoned public school educator who began her career in the 90s as a librarian and since then has served in various capacities
including full-time as a permanently certified teacher and educational administrator who supports learning in real and innovative ways that prepare students for success. In addition to her award-winning blog, The Innovative Educator, Ms. Nielsen’s writing is featured in places such as The New York Times, T.H.E. Journal, Tech & Learning, ISTE Connects, Huffington Post, ASCD Wholechild, MindShift, Leading & Learning, The Unplugged Mom, and she is the author the book Teaching Generation Text.
For 21st Century learners, communication and collaboration are key skills in collecting and sharing information. There are so many digital tools that support such skills that it is daunting for teachers to select the appropriate tools to use in the classroom. Some schools support institution-wide Learning Management Systems, while others allow teachers to select a web-presence that they are comfortable with. 
For the un-initiated, flipping one's classroom essentially involves assigning instructional lectures to students for homework, and facilitating homework during class time. This technique has several advantages and disadvantages. What if students don't have access to technology at home? What if they don't view your video tutorials for homework? On the other hand, flipping one's instruction would allow the teacher to facilitate student learning as a "guide on the side" rather than a "sage on the stage." Students could work in collaborative groups at a pace that encourages mastery. See below for some blog posts and YouTube videos about what the Flipped Classroom is...and what it isn't.
I am excited to share with you a fun app for students to demonstrate their content knowledge. For those of you that are familiar with 