Presenters
Digital Media Producer
ReynoldsCenterTLC
A mentor, video editor, and content creator, Jaysen Bass, a recent graduate of Boston College, brings his expertise in storytelling and technical prowess in media to the FableVision/Reynolds TLC team as the digital media producer. While at Boston College, Jaysen was awarded the Digital Media Field Production Best Editor Award and second place in the Leonard Persuasive Speaking Contest. He also honed his leadership and creative problem solving skills as president of Writer’s Circle. He graduated with a B.A. Communication, Minor in Sociology and a heart for community. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaysenbass/
Elementary Technology Teacher
David is an Instructional Technology teacher for Howard County Public Schools. He has been teaching instructional technology for 18 years. David has presented technology integration at the school and county levels.
Sophia Garcia-Smith is an educator who loves to create, collaborate, and share her love of teaching and technology. She currently works at a suburban Chicago school district. She has presented at many educational tech conferences across the United States. She has connected with schools from around the world looking to give her students an authentic audience.
Technology Integration Specialist
Laurie taught at Cleveland Public Schools, and served as the technology coordinator for Laurel School for Girls, Summit County ESC, and Buckeye Local Schools, Medina, Ohio. She was also the online learning coordinator for PBS ideastream®, conducted numerous workshops for Western Reserve Education Services PBS, taught at Cleveland State University, and has worked with the Kent State University Research Center for Educational Technology in their AT and T Classroom. Laurie enjoys developing customized professional development experiences for faculty and staff through her company Mrs.Geeky LLC.
Instructional Technology Coach
Nikki Jones is an Instructional Technology Coach in Northern Virginia. Prior to moving into her current role where she supports K-5, she taught 1st and 3rd grades. Nikki has a Master’s in Education and 17 years of experience using technology to challenge students to think critically, problem solve and be creative. Nikki focuses on creativity, STEAM and CS! She is passionate about helping, inspiring and training educators to integrate technology in ways that are innovative, highly engaging and promote student choice and creation. Nikki is a Flip SVA, HP Felllow, MIEExpert, NovelEffect Ambassador, Ozobot C.E. + Adobe Leader.
Olga is a passionate and results-oriented EdTech Specialist, ISTE Community Leader, ISTE Certified Educator, and Google Champion. She has a proven track record of boosting student learning outcomes through innovative and effective technology integration strategies. Now, she empowers educational institutions across Chile by equipping educators with seamless technology integration skills, ultimately enhancing the educational experience. When not geeking out over EdTech, Olga can often be found traveling the world, savoring local delicacies, and indulging her foodie cravings.
Meet Teraye Law, a Digital Learning Coach with over 25 years of dedicated experience in the field of education. Mrs. Law not only brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to every interaction but more importantly a passion for inspiring and supporting teachers and students. Mrs. Law thrives on empowering educators to seamlessly integrate technology into their classrooms, creating engaging and dynamic learning environments.
Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education
I am a former PreK and First-Grade teacher who now teaches at the university level. I teach F2F and online courses in the field of Early Childhood Education at Texas Woman's University in Denton, TX. I conduct research on the integration of technology in early childhood classrooms, the inclusion of STEM and computational thinking activities with young learners, and pedagogical support for Early Childhood Educators.
Chelsey has been teaching for 10 years in classes from 2nd to 5th grade. She loves incorporating hands on technology into her lessons for students of all ages.
Gail began her career as an inner-city teacher of young learners. She is an early adopter of technology, earning her Master’s Degree in Educational Computing from Pepperdine University in the early 1980s. Gail has been an Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine University, University of Houston, and the University of Northern Iowa. She had long-time columns for Scholastic, Classroom Connect, ISTE and others. Gail is proud of her book “Using an iPad with Your Preschooler” (with Gayle Berthiaume.) Gail founded the ISTE Early Learning Network and was one of the first at NECC/ISTE Conferences to focus on using technology with young learners.
Digital Learning Specialist
Sara is a Digital Learning Specialist from Pulaski, Wisconsin. She is driven by a deep passion for equipping educators and students with the tools to thrive in our technology-rich world. She believes that seamlessly integrating technology into the classroom serves as a catalyst for fostering 21st-century skills such as critical thinking and collaboration. In her DLS role she collaborates with teachers to infuse technology into their lessons, offering professional development to enhance their skills, and directly engaging with students to teach responsible and creative technology use. Sara is an Apple Distinguished Educator, Seesaw Certified Educator and a Google Certified Educator.
Jennifer Mayen is an innovative educator dedicated to shaping the minds of four year olds at the Biomedical Preparatory at UT Southwestern. Her passion for fostering curiosity and critical thinking drives her to create learning experiences that challenge and inspire her students.
Technology Integration Coach
A National Board certified teacher, Cameron’s a career switcher who worked at IBM in marketing, and then as a military marketing director overseas in Germany and Georgia. Returning to Alabama, she switched to education where she taught secondary computer classes for 7 years and has worked since 2003 as a technology integration coach. She also teaches online classes for the state virtual school. She earned a masters (2007), an EdS (2009) and her doctorate (2021) in education technology. A Google Certified Innovator and Google Education Trainer who strives to ensure the use of technology makes the world a better place.
Bilingual Teacher
Dallas ISD
Educator and teacher at heart working in early childhood with 3yrs old, 4yrs old and mixed age groups for the past seven years for Dallas ISD, currently at the new Biomedical Preparatory at UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX. Fascinated with brain development of young learners and how I can provide diverse experiences to empower students and shape their brain. As an Apple Vanguard Teacher had the opportunity to learn digital tools and implement them in my classroom. My campus has been a playground to nurture a safe environment that promotes curiosity, innovation, leadership, and discovery.
Nancy Penchev is a STEM/Design Teacher and Instructional Technology Coordinator. She has led webinars on Uncommon Test Prep and Incorporating Technology for EdWeb.net and various Teacher Tech webinars for PBS SoCal. She was published in Teaching in the Middle magazine, Association of Middle Level Educators, ISTE point/counterpoint, and PBS SoCal Teacher Blog. Nancy founded Girls Building STEAM and is a local award winner for the National Council for Women in Information Technology and a 2019 honorable mention for the STEM Excellence award from ISTE. She is a 2022-2023 Fulbright DA- Vietnam participant.
Instructional Technology Coach
Traci is a kindergarten teacher at heart, currently helping teachers and students use technology to create, learn & share in meaningful ways as a Technology Integration Specialist. Traci is an Apple Distinguished Educator, Seesaw Certified Educator, PBS KIDS Early Learning Champion and Media Literacy Certified Educator, and a Google Certified Educator. Traci loves sharing about using digital tools with little learners to make learning meaningful, and has had the opportunity to share at ISTE, NAEYC, NCCE and other national & regional conferences.
Michelle Pivonka, MEd, is a 5th Grade Teacher in Prince William County, Virginia. She's going into her tenth year as an educator with previous experience in 2nd and 3rd grades. Michelle is excited to present at her first ISTE Conference and share her passion for authentic and engaging student learning opportunities education as well as presenting on her favorite Ed Tech tool: Microsoft Flip!
MEd Curriculum & Instruction (PreK-6)
MIE Expert 2023
Adobe Level 2 Creative Educator
3x Microsoft Flip Student Voice Ambassador
3x Class Dojo Ambassador
Quizizz Certified Game Changer
Book Creator Certified Author
Co-Founder/Exec. Director
Director of Technology at Mayfield Junior School, a K-8 Catholic independent school in Pasadena, CA.
Jami is an experienced innovative educator able to transition easily in today's education environment online and in-person. She has a demonstrated history of working in the primary education industry with years of classroom experience. Jami is a curriculum developer and writer using content and technology for hands-on experience. She is a coding, robotics and STEM instructor at the elementary school level. She has taught at numerous grade levels with over 25 years of experience. She has a master's level education with an emphasis in ESL and Curriculum and Instruction. Jami is a dedicated educator working on her National Board Certification.
Heidi Shorter is an Instructional Technology teacher with the Howard County Public School System in Ellicott City, MD. She has an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood and a Masters in Special Education. Heidi has presented technology integration strategies at the school, county, and state levels. Her students have won several Maryland state awards for the use of technology in graphic design and multimedia. Heidi prides herself on knowing her students and making learning balanced, meaningful, and engaging whether they are elementary students or colleagues trying to grow and learn appropriate and effective technology integration enhancing 20th centrury learning for all.
Christine is a STEAM Coach in Northern Virginia working with students PK-5. She has taught Kindergarten, 2nd, and 3rd grades as well. Christine has a Master’s in Education and 14 years of experience working with learners to encourage them to reach for their potential. She is passionate about students and teaching them as whole humans, tapping into their gifts and talents to build deeper thinking and creativity. Christine is a Flip Student Voice Ambassador, Ozobot Certified Educator, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, Book Creator Champion, Canva Canvassador and National Board Certified Teacher.
Director of Teaching and Learning
Mayfield Junior School
Nicole Wirth is the Dean of Academics at Mayfield Junior School, a K-8 Independent School in Pasadena, California.
Session description
The Early Learning Playground offers a mix of hands-on and minds-on playful-yet-meaningful experiences focused on learners ages 3 to 8. It's a playground, so expect to play with ideas, tech and other educators. The emphasis is on ISTE Standards, computational thinking, active learning and FUN!
Purpose & objective
The purpose of the Early Learning Playground is to provide a time, a place, and experiences to encourage discussion, sharing, thinking and learning for all educators interested in young learners ages 3- 8 years old. It is developed to provide hands-on explorations and minds-on discussions in a playful, non-threatening environment. It is a goal that participants will leave with new colleagues, new ideas, new strategies and an eagerness to develop meaningful technology experiences for children and others.
It has long been difficult for educators who work with young children to find their place to learn, meet others interested in this most important age group and to explore ideas, tools, and methods in a non-sales environment, at educational conferences. The ISTE Early Learning Playground offers a wide variety of experiences, tools, approaches, discussions and a group of facilitators and participants who are focussing on little learners.
The facilitators in the Early Learning Playground will provide opportunities for hands-on participation by all who visit the playground with a special emphasis on the ISTE Standards and a real-world understanding of young learners. Participants will leave the playground with new ideas for implementing meaningful technology experiences for young learners. Participants will leave the playground with ideas to further explore in STEM/STEAM and literacy with young learners. Participants will have added to their early learning professional colleagues.
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Outline
Activities, displays, presentations, and resources in the Early Learning Playground will focus on the ISTE Standards, Computational Thinking (CT), and active learning with technologies for young learners ages 3-8 years.
There will be activities facilitated by educators using robots, collaborative software, online and offline tools and resources, and concrete manipulatives and objects, always with a focus on young learners and their learning and development. These activities will encourage hands-on use, peer-to-peer discussion, and problem solving in a supportive, fun atmosphere. Additionally, there will be interactive presentations, a collaboration station, and even some typical classroom materials (paper-based books, classroom manipulatives, and more) with examples of ways to connect technologies with other learning tools.
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Supporting research
Research related to active learning and choice for adult learners:
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1143328.pdf
https://elearningindustry.com/interactivity-in-adult-learning-what-need-know
https://www.leadingagemn.org/assets/docs/15_Workforce_103_CreatingEffectiveOrientationPrograms-CRasmussen.pdf
https://www.canr.msu.edu/od/uploads/files/PD/Facilitating_Adult_Learning.pdf
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Explore and create: Playground 
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