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School Library Playground

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Colorado Convention Center, Playground A

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Presenters

James Allen

Statewide School Library Lead

Kentucky Department of Education
@TLJamesA
@TLJAMESA

James Allen is currently the Statewide School Library Lead and a Digital Learning Coach for the Kentucky Department of Education in the Office of Education Technology. Previously he was a school librarian for sixteen years. James is an organizer and regular moderator of #KyLChat which gives librarians across Kentucky a place to share and explore new ideas. James is also a Google for Education Certified Innovator, Google Earth Education Expert, and a member of the ISTE Community Leader group. You can find James on Twitter @TLJamesA and his website TLJamesA.com.

Dr. Robbie Barber

Teacher-Librarian

Tucker High School
@Media_Barber

Dr. Barber is an electrical engineer from Georgia Tech who wandered into a school library. As a teacher-librarian, she works with high school students and teachers to find the best resources, use the technology available, and locate the perfect book. Dr. Barber teaches classes on using research databases and how to better search the internet. She researches the latest technology and creates professional presentations on recognizing fake news and other tech-infused ideas in the classroom and Media Center.

Martha Bongiorno

Creative Learning Strategist

Adobe for Education
@mrsbongiornoedu
@mrsbongiornoedu

Martha Bongiorno is a student voice activist and is currently serving as a school librarian in Metro Atlanta. She supports students and educators by pushing boundaries of traditional education to empower learners as thinkers and creators to make positive change in their communities. With her unique perspective from the heart of the school, she explores how the tapestry of learning is interwoven with literacy, technology, creativity, and student voice. Martha serves others as an ISTE Ambassador, Immediate Past-President of Georgia Library Media Association, a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert and Master Trainer, a Flipgrid Student Voice Ambassador since 2016, and an Adobe Creative Leader.

Traci Chun

Teacher Librarian

Skyview High School
@TraciChun

Traci is a teacher librarian at Skyview High School in Vancouver, Washington. She has presented at ISTE, AASL, Future Ready Institutes, and ASCD. She loves working with technology and teenagers.

Ashley Cooksey

Assistant Professor

Arkansas Tech University
@AshleyCooksey2
@ashley.cooksey2

Ashley Cooksey(she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor at Arkansas Tech University where she also serves as the School Library Program Director. Throughout her time as an educator, she has served as a classroom teacher, a school librarian, and an instructional technology coach. Along with personalized professional learning and growth, Cooksey is a passionate advocate for Universal Design for Learning, technology-enhanced teaching and learning, and ensuring all students have access to a qualified school librarian and a diverse library program. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. and is a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher.

Meggan Ford

METI

Johns Creek High School
@msfordfierce
@msfordfierce

Meggan Ford is a librarian just north of Atlanta. She is a self proclaimed crazy cat lady and a huge lover of Saturdays with coffee and a good book. In 2021, Meggan's library program was chosen as the exemplary library program for the Georgia Library Media Association. In 2020, she was honored to become the Fulton County Library Media Specialist of the Year. Meggan is also a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert and Adobe Certified level 2 Certified Educator.

Dr. Barbara Hagerty

Associate Director of Tech Innovation

Stockton University
@dr_hagerty

An educational leader with 15+ years of experience in PreK-12 and higher education, curriculum, instructional design, educational technology, staffing, budgeting, and project management. Focused work and research in the areas of STEM, professional development, college and career readiness, virtual learning, collaboration, and data analysis.

Christine Hurley

Library Media Specialist

Boonsboro Middle
@MrsCHurley
@digitalbookworm

Teacher of the Year 2020-21 📚, Middle School LMS, Tech Coordinator, Lead Secondary Librarian, Apple Fangirl, Book Geek, Volunteer, Learner, Passionate Leader! she/her

Colleen Larionoff

Innovation Coordinator

Dwight Englewood
@STEAMColleen
@STEAMColleen

Colleen is the Innovation Coordinator at Dwight-Englewood School in Englewood NJ. Her passion is empowering students to construct their own knowledge through student-chosen independent research projects, design challenges, and open maker space time. Colleen works to ensure that research and innovation are woven throughout the k12 curriculum for all students and highlighted in special programming and assemblies for the whole school community, in addition to providing resources for those students who wish to delve deeper and pursue independent work regardless of their age or ability.

Jacqueline Liesch

Media/Technology Integration Specialist

Eau Claire Area School District
@jdliesch
@jdliesch

Ms. Jacqueline Liesch has taught students from PK-12 for nearly 20 years in Wisconsin, Ecuador, South Carolina, and Japan. Working domestically and internationally in formal and informal experiences has strengthened her passion for connecting students worldwide. An active member of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association (WEMTA), she enjoys collaboration among peers. When not teaching, Ms. Liesch enjoys reading, traveling, cooking, hiking, and swimming. She is an Ed.D. candidate in Educational Sustainability at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Dr. Kristen Mattson

Educational Consultant & Adjunct Professor

Edvolve; University of Illinois
@DrKMattson
@DrKMattson

Dr. Kristen Mattson is an award-winning educators with nearly 20 years in the field. As a recovering middle school English teacher and high school librarian, she works in a variety of roles from adjunct professor to content area expert and PD provider. Kristen's mission is to help educators create learning opportunities that empower students as healthy and responsible digital decision makers who value community in both digital and non-digital spaces. Kristen is the author of Digital Citizenship in Action (2017) and Ethics in a Digital World (2021).

Jennifer McKenzie

K12 District Teacher Librarian

Siuslaw School District 97J
@jenmarymckenzie
@jenmarymckenzie

Jennifer McKenzie is a Fulbright Teachers For Global Classrooms Alumni, a Future Ready Librarian presenter and podcaster, a 6-time Teacher of the Year and Oregon’s District Librarian of the Year 2023, the President Elect for the Oregon Association of School Libraries, and she is pursuing her Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in Social Justice Leadership. She is the K12 District Teacher Librarian for Siuslaw School District in Florence, Oregon, a coastal Pacific Northwest town. She is a leader in the school library, virtual field trip and virtual reality communities and believes in the power of amplifying voice through technology.

Shannon Miller

District Teacher Librarian

Van Meter Community School District
@shannonmmiller Twitter
@shannonmmiller Instagram

Shannon serves as the preschool-12 district teacher librarian and innovation director at Van Meter Community School District in Iowa. She is also the Future Ready Librarians Spokesperson working with the Alliance of Excellent Education in Washington DC. Shannon is an avid blogger at, The Library Voice, writing, speaking and consulting on librarianship, education and students around the world.

Diana Rendina

Teacher Librarian

Tampa Preparatory School
@DianaLRendina
@TPrepLibrary

Diana Rendina, MLIS, is the teacher librarian at Tampa Preparatory School, an independent 6-12 school. Previously, she was the media specialist at Stewart Middle Magnet School where she transformed their library and piloted their makerspace program. Diana has received several awards including the 2016 ISTE Outstanding Young Educator Award and the 2015 American Association of School Librarians Frances Henne award. She coauthored Challenge-Based Learning in the School Library Makerspace and is the author of Reimagining Library Spaces: Transform Your Space on Any Budget. You can find her at RenovatedLearning.com and on social media as @DianaLRendina.

Kristy Rubeck

Library Media Specialist

Washington County Public Schools
@mrs_rubeck

Kristy Rubeck is Library Media Specialist, Tech Coordinator, and Climate & Culture Coach at Boonsboro Elementary School in Maryland. She is also the Lead Elementary Librarian for Washington County Public Schools. Kristy is passionate about infusing children's literature and technology into all library lessons. she/her

Michelle Wendt

Technology Integration Specialist

SRI&ETTC of Stockton University
@meechele7
@meecheleann

Michelle Wendt is a Tech Integrationist, CS Coach Mentor of the SRI&ETTC, and Adjunct Instructor for Stockton University. She designs and delivers professional development programming and coaching in tech skills-building to K-12 teachers. Michelle is embedded in several SJ School districts as their in-house Technology Coach. Modeling the design and implementation of technology-enhanced learning experiences, addressing content standards and student technology standards, she speaks at conferences around the country, modeling the use of online and blended learning, digital content, and collaborative learning networks to support and extend student learning and expand opportunities and choices for online professional development.

Melanie Wood

Librarian

Parkway School District
@Melanie_In_The_Library

I'm an elementary librarian from the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, serving approximately 375 K-5 students, I bring over a decade of educational experience with a passion for technology integration. Currently in my second year in the library, my goal is to empower young learners and my colleagues by seamlessly integrating innovative technologies into our learning environment.

Session description

Play and explore the future of school libraries! Our interactive tech playground allows hands-on tinkering with the latest tools and trends. From digital curation to makerspaces and beyond, this session will re-energize your passion for innovation through immersive demos and PLAY! School librarians are so fun!

Purpose & objective

Purpose:
This hands-on playground session allows educators to explore emerging tools and instructional ideas and experience how they can be implemented to enrich teaching and engage students.

Objectives/Outcomes:

Discover new education technologies through interactive demos.
Discuss practical implications and applications for school libraries and other classrooms.
Make connections for future collaboration around edtech integration.
Leave re-energized and excited with ideas to enhance teaching and empower students.

Challenge:
School libraries seek new ways to provide cutting-edge technology experiences that prepare students for the future. However, limited budgets, knowledge, and access to the latest tools are barriers. Presenters will keep this in mind and offer possible solutions and strategies.

Intervention:
This playground session offers direct experience with emerging tech like VR, 3D printing, robotics, gaming, coding tools, and more. Participants will get to tinker and discuss applications.

Models:
Small rotating groups experience immersive, hands-on demos of each tech tool led by edtech experts. Open play time allows informal, relaxed, and enjoyable exploration.

Activities:
Guided challenges related to STEM/STEAM, computational thinking, literacy, and digital citizenship provide specific examples of lesson integration.

Evidence:
Post-event surveys will capture feedback on new knowledge, takeaways, and ideas generated. Ongoing connection on implementing tools in schools.

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Outline

I. Introduction (digital resources available ahead of the conference)
A. Overview of emerging tech tools attendees will experience through hands-on demos and play
B. Explanation of rotation schedule and session structure

II. Small Group Tool Demos (two 60 minutes sessions total)
A. Attendees will rotate freely different demos and presentations led by expert school librarians/teacher librarians

III. Open Play
A. Participants freely explore tools and tinker through informal, self-guided play
B. School library tech experts circulate to answer questions and assist as needed
C. Collaboration encouraged to brainstorm integration ideas

IV. Discussion & Reflection (through digital resources after the conference)
A. Attendees can discuss key takeaways and applications for their libraries and plan future collaborations
B. Share out their favorite highlights with all attendees

V. Closing Remarks & Feedback (through digital resources after the conference)
A. Feedback forms collected

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Supporting research

https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/10-reasons-librarians-are-more-important-than-ever

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Session specifications

Topic:

Library/media

Grade level:

PK-12

Skill level:

Beginner

Audience:

Library media specialists, Principals/head teachers, Teachers

Attendee devices:

Devices useful

Attendee device specification:

Smartphone: iOS, Windows, Android
Laptop: Chromebook, Mac, PC
Tablet: Android, iOS, Windows

Participant accounts, software and other materials:

Once playground presenters are recruited, we will have a more specific list here if any particular accounts or software would be helpful for attendees.

Subject area:

Language arts, STEM/STEAM

ISTE Standards:

For Educators:
Learner

Stay current with research that supports improved student learning outcomes, including findings from the learning sciences.

Collaborator

Use collaborative tools to expand students' authentic, real-world learning experiences by engaging virtually with experts, teams and students, locally and globally.

Facilitator

Create learning opportunities that challenge students to use a design process and computational thinking to innovate and solve problems.

Related exhibitors:

Brown Dog Gadgets

School Library Playground

, Colorado Convention Center, Playground A

Presenters

Session description

Purpose & objective

Outline

Supporting research

Session specifications

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Colorado Convention Center, Playground A