TRETC 2025: Full Schedule

9:15am EST

AI + Early Literacy Development: The Early Learning Collaborative a Model for Change

Monday January 20, 2025 9:15am - 10:00am EST

In partnership, the Early Excellence Project, The Center that CARES, and Jeremiah's Place have created the Early Learning Collaborative that leverages AI to enhance literacy development, focusing on addressing opportunity gaps for young learners. This project aims to address systemic inequities in literacy by targeting foundational challenges in early childhood education. With a commitment to equity and access, we integrate technology to deliver personalized, culturally responsive literacy support. Attendees will interact with the project’s AI powered curriculum, Waterford, firsthand and explore our approach to assessing impact and adapting to the needs of Black and other historically marginalized children. This session will illustrate how our collaborative model strives to create lasting change in early learning systems.

Objectives
1. Understand Collaborative Approaches for Equitable Early Literacy Development:
Participants will explore how the Early Learning Collaborative leverages educational technology to bridge equity gaps in early literacy, emphasizing strategies that address root causes in early childhood development for lasting impact.
2. Identify Best Practices in Implementing AI for Early Learning Programs:
Through interactive discussion, participants will identify actionable steps for implementing technology in early learning environments, including key factors that enhance access and equity in literacy programs, to apply within their own schools or organizations.
3. Identify Best Practices in Implementing AI for Early Learning Programs:
Through interactive discussion, participants will identify actionable steps for implementing technology in early learning environments, including key factors that enhance access and equity in literacy programs, to apply within their own schools or organizations.

Speakers

Shinora Johnson

Chief Operations Officier, The Center That CARES

Cassandra Brentley

Non Profit Leader, Early Excellence Project

Monday January 20, 2025 9:15am - 10:00am EST
Middle School, Room 103

Session, Engage and Connect

Company Early Excellence Project
Audience Elementary Educators (K-5), EdTech Leaders
Subject Integrating AI into the Classroom, EdTech for Equity

10:15am EST

Differentiating the Writing Process with AI

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

Middle School, Room 103

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

1:45pm EST

Engaging Students Through AI Songwriting, Scratch Coding, and Makey Makey Activities

Monday January 20, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm EST

Middle School, Room 103

Learn how to take your students’ ideas and turn them into engaging songs to help concepts stick. Leveraging AI, teachers can now be song writers and creators. Music sticks in our heads longer than most information, so why not learn to use that to your advantage. Learn to create amazing lesson hooks, engaging activities, and more with some great AI apps.

Engage your students in creating virtual musical instruments, animations, and games with Scratch! Using Makey Makey, you can introduce them to interactive technology by turning everyday objects like fruit, aluminum foil, or even their own bodies into fun, hands-on controllers for their Scratch projects. Makey Makey lets students see the science behind conductors and insulators while exploring creativity and coding. It’s perfect for STEAM activities, sparking curiosity and making abstract concepts real through touch and play!

Objectives:
1. Discuss AI and different uses in the classroom
2. Learn to create music with Suno AI, and utilize different programs to help with lyrics.
3. Utilize whiteboard programs to collect ideas and collaborate on this process.
4. Audience will learn to code with Scratch
5. Audience will learn how to use Makey Makey
6. Audience will explore how to use Scratch and Makey Makey in their classrooms.

Speakers

Junko Yamamoto

Professor, Slippery Rock University

I used to be a high school Japanese teacher. I have been teaching at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania since 2005. I have taught instructional technology and world language teaching methodology. Hence, I like thinking about "What is a pedagogically sound use of technology in... Read More →

Matt Karabinos

6th grade teacher, Williamsburg Community School District

Monday January 20, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm EST
Middle School, Room 103

Session, Engage and Connect

Audience High School Educators (9-12, Middle School Educators (6-8, Elementary Educators (K-5), Appropriate for all Audiences
Subject Robotics & Coding, Computational Thinking Pathway, Integrating AI into the Classroom

TRETC 2025

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