Educational Technology at IU13

Tonight feels a little like Christmas Eve, full of anticipation and excitement for what tomorrow brings.  In my case, tomorrow brings the Elementary Technology Conference and the following day, the Secondary Technology Conference.  As I am writing this blog post, my phone is lighting up with registered participants tweeting their excitement for what's coming the next two days with thoughts of learning, growing, and collaborating.

We are very pleased to announce our Fall 2015 STARLAB training at Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 on Oct. 22, 2015.  All Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 districts and all Instructional Media Services (IMS) schools are invited to register for this next training session.  In order to reserve one of the 4 STARLAB Portable Planetariums, each participant must attend a half day workshop to learn how to set up, operate, and take down the STARLAB.  

As you may know, Google Edu Certification Exams were closed last Spring 2015 to undergo a major update and revamp of the current system and exams.  As of mid July 2015, the new exams were opened as well as new certification system and training center. There are now 2 certifications titled Google Educator Level 1 and Google Educator Level 2. Level 1 is for those who have learned the fundamentals of Google Apps for Education and Level 2 is for advanced users of Google Apps for Education.  Users do not have to attain Level 1 certification prior to Level 2 certification.

Do you remember the Classrooms for the Future Secondary Collaboration Days several Intermediate Units held a a number of years ago back when the PA Department of Ed issued CFF grants?  It was such an exciting few years where so many secondary education teachers received a lot of technology for their classrooms in order to maximize student learning.  As a result, over the years we held several secondary collaboration days providing a venue for secondary educators to get together and collaborate on best practices and tools for student learning. 

Is it time to start preparing for our annual Elementary Technology Conference coming up this December 8, 2015.  We are pleased to announce that our Keynote speaker is this year's closing Keynote at ISTE, Josh Stumpenhorst. His work has been recognized by the International Society of Technology Educators (ISTE) as they named Josh a member of their “Emerging Leaders Class of 2011”.  Click here for more information Josh Stumpenhorst.  We are very excited to have Josh open our day's events with an encouraging and challenging keynote for elementary teachers.