TRETC 2025: Full Schedule

10:15am EST

Differentiating the Writing Process with AI

Monday January 20, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am EST

Many educators are concerned about the future of academic writing assignments due to the unethical and dishonest use of AI writing generators. However, with a writing process approach, AI can enhance, not take over, student writing, and in fact, provide scaffolded support. During this presentation, attendees will learn how to use AI to differentiate instruction for students with diverse learning needs, providing customized support such as personalized feedback for brainstorming, outlining, editing, and revising based on student proficiency levels and needs. For each part of the writing process participants will learn about a specific AI tool that can support students. Participants will leave this session knowing how to apply these resources to their writing instruction.

Objectives:
1. Understand how to use AI to differentiate instruction for students with diverse learning needs.
2. Learn how to provide personalized feedback using AI for tasks such as brainstorming, outlining, editing, and revising.
3. Apply AI tools to customize support based on student proficiency levels and specific learning needs.

Speakers

Jenna Copper

Assistant Professor of Education, Slippery Rock University

Sam Fecich

Professor, Slippery Rock University

Monday January 20, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am EST
Middle School, Room 103

Session, Engage and Connect

Company Slippery Rock University
Audience EdTech Leaders, All grade levels (k-12)
Subject Ethics in AI, AI for All (SEL), Integrating AI into the Classroom, EdTech Accessibility, Inclusive Education Through Technology, Emerging Tech

10:15am EST

POD x TECH: Using Audio-Storytelling to Enhance Digital and Media Literacy

Monday January 20, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am EST

Middle School, Room 109

Since 2018, PART has operated a K-12 digital literacy program in 8 school districts across the greater Pittsburgh region. We call our program POD x TECH, in abbreviation for two components that represent growing fields of increasing significance to students workforce readiness — podcasts and technology.

Now in its fourth year, the POD x TECH program, in which PART grew the program to 15 classrooms across 12 schools, PART works directly with students in supplementing their year-long curriculum in two equally important ways, where technology is at the intersection of each student's preparedness for continuing education and entry into the workforce.

Attendees will explore PART's methodology, our successes and failures, and leave with tools for their students and schools.

Mike Zula, or “Mr. Mike” is a Pittsburgh native with an education background spanning the state of Pennsylvania, culminating in matriculation from Penn State and Pitt Law—Mike understands the education landscape in Pennsylvania and abroad as it pertains to both higher education and career readiness programs.

Mr. Mike’s passion is situated somewhere between storytelling and technology—how we tell our stories utilizing technology profoundly impacts the way in which future generations will understand our use (hopefully the responsible use) of technology.

A staunch advocate of individualized education and multimodal education methods, bringing Mike and PART into your classrooms, libraries, or board rooms provides an energetic and entertaining look at how we interact with technology in our educational journeys—journeys which are lifelong.

The Partnership to Advance Responsible Technology (PART) is a Pittsburgh-based, independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit think-tank that engages key, multi-sector stakeholders to ensure the responsible research, development, deployment, and governance of emerging and data-driven technologies, notably artificial intelligence. The POD x Tech program is funded by the Grable Foundation.

Objectives :

Understand the methodology behind the POD x TECH program: Attendees will learn how PART integrates podcasts and technology into K-12 classrooms to enhance digital literacy and career readiness, and how this approach can be applied in their own schools.
Identify key successes and challenges in implementing a digital literacy program: Attendees will gain insights into the growth and development of the program, including practical takeaways from both its successes and challenges, enabling them to better plan and adapt similar initiatives in their institutions.
Gain tools and strategies for enhancing student workforce readiness: Attendees will leave with actionable tools and strategies to integrate technology and storytelling into their educational programs, fostering students’ preparedness for higher education and the workforce.

Speakers

Mike Zula

Education Program Manager, Partnership to Advance Responsible Technology

Monday January 20, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am EST
Middle School, Room 109

Session, Engage and Connect

Audience Elementary Educators (K-5), Middle School Educators (6-8), High School Educators (9-12), Administrators, Appropriate for All Audiences, EdTech Leaders, All grade levels (k-12)
Subject Ethics in AI, Integrating AI into the Classroom, EdTech for Equity, Emerging Tech

12:00pm EST

Innovation Hall: Exhibitor, Vendor, Poster Sessions, and Student Showcase

Monday January 20, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST

Snyder Gym

Earn TRETC Cash for just entering the Innovation Hall! Then collect more TRETC Cash as you visit each table. There is SO much to explore. You will use your TRETC cash at the TRETC Auction in the REA Auditorium at the end of the day!

Monday January 20, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Snyder Gym

Booth Showcase

Audience Appropriate for All
Subject Design Thinking, AI for All (SEL), Computational Thinking Pathway, Career Connections, Data Driven Education, EdTech Accessibility, EdTech for Equity, Effective Assessment Strategies, Emerging Tech, Ethics in AI, Inclusive Education Through Technology, Integrating A

1:00pm EST

Innovation Hall: Lighting Talks

Monday January 20, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST

Snyder Gym

Monday January 20, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST
Snyder Gym

Booth Showcase, Create and Explore

Audience Appropriate for All
Subject AI for All (SEL), Career Connections, Computational Thinking Pathway, Data Driven Education, Design Thinking, EdTech Accessibility, EdTech for Equity, Effective Assessment Strategies, Emerging Tech, Ethics in AI, Inclusive Education Through Technology, Integrating A

2:15pm EST

Panel: The Transformation of AI in Industry

Monday January 20, 2025 2:15pm - 2:45pm EST

Gregg Theater (Below the Cafeteria)

Monday January 20, 2025 2:15pm - 2:45pm EST
Gregg Theater (Below the Cafeteria)

Panel Discussion, Engage & Connect

Audience Appropriate for All
Subject Integrating AI into the Classroom, Ethics in AI, Career Connections

3:00pm EST

Closing Keynote: Dr. Aaron J. Sams

Monday January 20, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm EST

REA Auditorium

Dr. Aaron Sams is an Associate Professor of Education at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. After teaching high school Chemistry in California and Colorado and receiving the 2009 Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science teaching, he spent many years working with schools and ministries of education worldwide primarily around flipped classroom concept. During this time, he co-published seven book through ISTE and ASCD.

Realizing he is better suited to be in a classroom than on an airplane, he got his Ph.D. In STEM education from Texas Tech and settled into his role at Saint Vincent preparing pre-service teachers for a career serving students. Aaron is currently exploring ethics and bias in AI models and seeks to determine the impact those can have on educational applications of AI.
When he is not teaching, Aaron can generally be found cooking with his wife, paying for college application fees for his kids, rock climbing, or remodeling his back yard chicken coop. Classes and presentations with Aaron are likely to contain ridiculous analogies, mediocre singing, self-deprecating humor, and healthy dose of the absurd.

Speakers

Aaron J. Sams Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Graduate Program Director: Education, St. Vincent College

Dr. Sams holds a Ph.D. in STEM Education from Texas Tech University and is an Assistant Professor of Education at St. Vincent College. Dr. Sams is an internationally recognized education keynote speaker and has trained thousands of teachers, administrators, and professors to integrate... Read More →

Monday January 20, 2025 3:00pm - 3:30pm EST
REA Auditorium

Feature Speaker, Engage and Connect

Audience Appropriate for All
Subject Ethics in AI

TRETC 2025

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