Opening Dinner Reception

Relax, meet new friends, and reconnect with colleagues at the opening Summit dinner at the SIXTYFOUR - WINE BAR & KITCHEN. Voted best wine bar in the Western Suburbs four of the last five years, the SIXTYFOUR - WINE BAR & KITCHEN offers bold cuisine, a selection of 64 wines, and a spectacular selection of spirits, cocktails, and beer.

Registration and Breakfast
Attendees arrive to register, network, and enjoy breakfast, as well as get their “Passport to Prizes” pass. Throughout the day, attendees will complete their Passport by visiting with our partners either in scheduled meetings or during lunch if they do not have scheduled meetings. 

Welcome & Introductions
Edtech luminary and international keynote speaker Carl Hooker brings his enthusiasm and passion for education to the Summit as our host and MC for the day. Attendees will be grouped into teams where they will work collaboratively to assemble a share out of lessons learned at the closing session. 

 

Keynote: Antidotes for the Anxious Generation 

To ban or not to ban? That is the question when it comes to cell phones in the classroom. Now more than ever, educators need to be equipped with strategies to address student anxiety through mindfulness, Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) techniques, and effective classroom management. Learn how to implement SEL practices that build resilience, and strategies for students to reduce distractions and anxiety. This session provides actionable insights to create a calm, focused learning environment where students can thrive emotionally and academically. Join us to discover how to transform anxious energy into positive engagement, fostering a supportive classroom culture for the Anxious Generation. Presented by: Carl Hooker
 

Problem-Solving Table Discussions or Partner Meetings
During this breakout, attendees either participate in a problem-solving table discussion or meet with industry partners. Table discussions will include:

• Integrating Computer Science Standards into Existing Curriculum 
• College Career and Life Readiness Framework 
• Integrating AI Into Curricula 
• STEM and Makerspaces

Problem-Solving Table Discussions or Partner Meetings
During this breakout, attendees either participate in a problem-solving table discussion or meet with industry partners. Table discussions will include:

• Personalizing Learning with Generative AI 
• Virtual Reality Projects 
• Esports-Minecraft in Education 
• Asset Management
• Transitioning to Standards-Based Reporting

Problem-Solving Table Discussions or Partner Meetings
During this breakout, attendees either participate in a problem-solving table discussion or meet with industry partners. Table discussions will include:

• AI for School Administrator Efficiency
• AI Ethics Passport for Middle School Students    
• AR/VR Pilots 
• Adopting a Student-Facing AI Program  
• Automating Account/Access Provisioning 
   

Session Topic - Smacking Down AI

Carl Hooker leads attendees through an interactive “AI Tools Smackdown”. Attendees will look at a wide range of tools in a variety of categories including LLMs, image generators, and more. Then, using their tool of choice, they will attempt to create the best output for different scenarios in the ultimate battle for AI supremacy! 

Networking Lunch  & Meet Our Partners

Session Topic -  Scholastic Esports: More Than Just Gaming

In this session, esports expert John Phillips, Technology & Innovation Consultant at the Berrien RESA (MI), discusses how scholastic esports programs provide students with meaningful career and STEM education alongside their tournament experience using specific examples from his district and NASEF, the international Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations.

Session Topic - Minecraft for Students 

Chicago Public Schools welcomes you to Chi-Craft: a creative, collaborative, and competitive usage of Minecraft Education. With over 60 schools and over 500 students participating in our eSports preseason, we spark innovative responses to our Build and Present Challenges. Build and Present Challenges are open-ended prompts that focus on imaginative storytelling or real-world problem solving. Their world and videos are scored using our STEM-powered rubric that encourages critical thinking. We encourage students of all backgrounds to embrace their STEM-identities in Chi-Craft and attendees will learn more about our work. Presented by Rene Ananya, Tech Support Coordinator, CPS and Katrina Miller, Computer Science Program Manager, CPS. 
 

Problem-Solving Table Discussions or Partner Meetings

During this breakout, attendees either participate in a problem-solving table discussion or meet with industry partners. Table discussions will include: 

• Integrating Computer Science Standards into Existing Curriculum 
• Creating Collaborative Spaces
• The Importance of STEAM Curriculum
• Data Privacy
• Esports and Drone Racing

Problem-Solving Table Discussions or Partner Meetings

During this breakout, attendees either participate in a problem-solving table discussion or meet with industry partners. Table discussions will include: 

• Personalizing Learning with Generative AI 
• Virtual Reality Projects   
• Esports-Minecraft in Education      
• Asset Management 

 Team Activity: Tech & Learning Olympics

The winners of the Tech & Learning Olympics and Tech & Learning Innovative Leader awards will be announced, followed by the Passport to Prizes drawing. 

Closing Remarks & Awards 

The winners of the Tech & Learning Olympics and Tech & Learning Innovative Leader awards will be announced, followed by the Passport to Prizes drawing.