DEN Summer Institute 2025

DEN Summer Institute 2025

10:15am CDT

Exploring the World of Music and Art Through Google Arts and Culture

Tuesday July 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

We will dive into all the Google Arts and Culture has to offer the classroom. Many will include the use of AI. It will be both for the computer and the phone/iPad. Your students will love what is available and you will too!

Speakers

Cathy Houchin

Online Special Teacher, Watertown Ecampus

I taught music for 42 years in the classroom. I now teach for an online charter school with our District. The DEN has been in my Life for many years and love what I have learned from them

Tuesday July 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Mundelein 407

Concurrent Session

10:15am CDT

Getting Young Writers Excited to Write

Tuesday July 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

Building Engagement for young writers would have a learning goal that attendees would leave with a few concrete strategies for how to get kids excited about writing. We would select a few strategies that we use often and showcase how we do them, but that they are transferable to other writing projects as well. From classroom podcasts to letters to the mayor, all with the ultimate goal of giving writing a purpose outside of the classroom and enhancing student engagement.

Speakers

Amy Jivani

Content Creator/ Scriptwriter

TK

Emily Simon

Content Creator/ Scriptwriter - Mystery Writing

TK

Tuesday July 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Mundelein 404

Concurrent Session

10:15am CDT

Igniting Active Learning for English Learners with Engaging Interactive Language and Content Communication

Tuesday July 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

This session shares effective interactive strategies for engaging emergent bilingual students learning English at all proficiency levels through hands-on demonstrations. Attendees receive resources for engaging activities utilizing varied means of participation to facilitate language and content learning and prepare learners for academic classroom interactions and English language proficiency assessments.

Speakers

Adriane Geronimo

ELA Teacher, Midland Independent School District

Adriane teaches 9th grade English Language Arts with embedded support for emergent bilingual students learning English at Legacy Freshman High School. She was a 2019-2020 Fulbright Teacher for Global Classrooms with an international field experience in Peru and is National Board... Read More →

Tuesday July 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Mundelein 503

Concurrent Session

10:15am CDT

Media Magic with AI

Tuesday July 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

Start by learning to create better prompts as you learn from others. Explore the best image creation sites as you convert text descriptions into unique images. Explore Canva’s Magic Media AI image and video creator, and ideal for younger students, use Padlet’s AI image creator. Explore an assortment of free AI image, video, and song creation tools, including tools from ChatGPT and Meta. We'll finish by exploring selected apps on mobile devices.

Speakers

Andy Mann

Instructional Technology Consultant/Director REMC 4, Muskegon Area Intermediate School District

Andy Mann is the Ed Tech Consultant at the MAISD in Muskegon. He is a Google Certified Trainer and a two-time recipient of the ISTE Making It Happen Award for technology leadership. And presents across Michigan and nationally on AI tools and using virtual reality in the classroom... Read More →

Tuesday July 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Mundelein 508

Concurrent Session

10:15am CDT

Putting MAGIC back in SCHOOL

Tuesday July 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

Join us for an interactive session where educators will explore MagicStudent tools to design engaging lessons. Participants will collaborate on creating lesson plans, learn best practices for technology integration, and share their work for feedback, enhancing their confidence in innovative lesson design.

Speakers

Emily Strickland

Teacher, Greenville County Schools

Emily Strickland is an educator for Greenville K-8 Virtual School in Greenville, SC as the Middle level Math Math/Social Studies teacher. Through this role she helps motivate students to love mathematics and history and to assist in bridging the gap between skills that have been... Read More →

Tuesday July 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Mundelein 504

Concurrent Session

10:15am CDT

Selecting Phenomena to Stimulate Student Sensemaking

Tuesday July 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

The session focuses on the shift from traditional instruction to three-dimensional, phenomenon-based teaching. Participants will explore how students learn better with phenomena that stimulate student questions and a storyline where each lesson builds on what students have learned in earlier lessons and sets the stage for learning in later lessons.

Speakers

Ted Willard

Senior Subject Matter Expert in Science

Ted Willard is a Senior Subject Matter Expert in Science for Discovery Education where he develops three-dimensional, phenomenon-based science curricula. Before joining Discovery Education, Ted spent eight years as the in-house standards expert for the National Science Teaching Association... Read More →

Tuesday July 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Mundelein 403

Concurrent Session

10:15am CDT

Steer Clear of This Session…

Tuesday July 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

…unless you’re ready to subvert expectations, laugh a little, and play with some AI prompts. This hands-on breakout invites the DEN community to explore practical, research-backed strategies for managing stress and building resilience through a mix of therapeutic humor and AI-powered exercises. The tools you’ll explore can be applied immediately in both your personal and professional life (and shared with students). Pop in if you’re ready to laugh, reflect, and recharge.

Speakers

Dr. Lodge McCammon

Tuesday July 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Mundelein 406

Concurrent Session

11:10am CDT

Building Inclusion within Writing Communities

Tuesday July 22, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT

In this session we explore how shared writing experiences can foster inclusion, empathy, and a stronger sense of “Writer Identity.” Participants will explore lessons and the intent behind creating the shared experience that allows students to confidently and collaboratively share ideas, listen to diverse perspectives, and build inclusive writing communities. We will look at the value that a writing community brings to all writers through experiential learning, a zoom out for ‘teacher moves” and the research that supports it. The session will include model lessons, activities, and opportunities to reflect on how inclusive writing practices support social-emotional learning and literacy development. Admin and teachers will leave with routines, strategies as well as conferencing techniques to create a classroom culture where every writer feels seen, heard, and valued.

Speakers

Amy Jivani

Content Creator/ Scriptwriter

TK

Tuesday July 22, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT
Mundelein 404

Concurrent Session

11:10am CDT

Generative AI for Educators - Tips & Tricks

Tuesday July 22, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT

Discover tips & tricks to better use generative AI - such as import handwriting, convert to text and summarize. Leverage AI to provide personalized feedback on student writing using AI generated rubrics. Explore the most popular GPTs and streamline lesson planning and generate differentiated learning activities tailored to your students. Custom GPTs can create interactive simulations, personalized learning pathways, and real-time adaptations.

Speakers

Andy Mann

Instructional Technology Consultant/Director REMC 4, Muskegon Area Intermediate School District

Andy Mann is the Ed Tech Consultant at the MAISD in Muskegon. He is a Google Certified Trainer and a two-time recipient of the ISTE Making It Happen Award for technology leadership. And presents across Michigan and nationally on AI tools and using virtual reality in the classroom... Read More →

Tuesday July 22, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT
Mundelein 508

Concurrent Session

11:10am CDT

Solving Real-World Problems through Project-Based Learning (PBL)

Tuesday July 22, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT

PBL is student-centered and aims to help students develop skills like problem-solving, decision-making, and investigation. During the session I will provide tools & methods the will enhance your students': high-order thinking, inquiry skills, understanding of concepts, communication, and engagement. You will also learn how to incorporate different content areas with a spotlight of careers focus that relates to the PBL unit that you are covering.

Speakers

Charline Goodwin

7th grade Science Teacher, School District 5 of Lexington & Richland Counties

Hello my name is Charline Goodwin, and I'm from Columbia, South Carolina. I have been teaching Middle School Science for 20 years. I love my 16 yrs. old son; teaching, science, and serving my purpose of educating my students.

Tuesday July 22, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT
Mundelein 504

Concurrent Session

11:10am CDT

Steer Clear of This Session…

Tuesday July 22, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT

…unless you’re ready to subvert expectations, laugh a little, and play with some AI prompts. This hands-on breakout invites the DEN community to explore practical, research-backed strategies for managing stress and building resilience through a mix of therapeutic humor and AI-powered exercises. The tools you’ll explore can be applied immediately in both your personal and professional life (and shared with students). Pop in if you’re ready to laugh, reflect, and recharge.

Speakers

Dr. Lodge McCammon

Tuesday July 22, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT
Mundelein 406

Concurrent Session

11:10am CDT

Sustainable Development Goals, Micro:Bits, and More

Tuesday July 22, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT

In this session, participants will experience a hands-on learning experience using Forward Education's Climate Action Kit to learn about using the micro:bit to connect learners to both creating and coding.

Speakers

Karie Huttner

6-8 Design Thinking and Technology Teacher, Verona Area School District

Dedicated to inspire all learners to become active creators of knowledge both in the physical and virtual environment through a constructivist based approach to learning, I am.... Experienced in using technology and technology integration in the classroom.Fluent in Spanish.Dedicated... Read More →

Tuesday July 22, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT
Mundelein 407

Concurrent Session

11:10am CDT

Unpacking the Crosscutting Concepts

Tuesday July 22, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT

Participants will learn processes to unpack the crosscutting concepts in the Next Generation Science Standards and other State Standards based on the Framework for K-12 Science Education. These crosscutting concepts provide a useful lens for students when they ask questions about and try to make sense of phenomena.

Speakers

Ted Willard

Senior Subject Matter Expert in Science

Ted Willard is a Senior Subject Matter Expert in Science for Discovery Education where he develops three-dimensional, phenomenon-based science curricula. Before joining Discovery Education, Ted spent eight years as the in-house standards expert for the National Science Teaching Association... Read More →

Tuesday July 22, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT
Mundelein 403

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

AI in Schools: Empowering the Educator

Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT

Do you find yourself working beyond the school day?Have you considered using artificial intelligence to give you time back in your day? Together, we will explore the basics of AI and ways you can use it in your educator life to reclaim your personal time.

Speakers

Brandi Bergeron

Academic Technology Coordinator, Episcopal School of Baton Rouge

See Previous submissions

Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
Mundelein 504

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

Audiobook Adventures: Connecting Generations Through Student Storytelling

Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT

High school media students produced audiobooks, transferred them to themed Tonies, and donated them with Tonieboxes to elementary students. This session explores this project's process, benefits, and impact on literacy and inter-grade collaboration. We will share how to replicate this project.

Speakers

Missy Rivera

IMC Coordinator, Anna Local Schools

Missy Rivera has over 15 years of experience as a library professional and currently serves as the Instructional Media Center Coordinator at Anna Middle & High School. Known for her results-driven approach, she has a proven track record of implementing successful literacy programs... Read More →

Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
Mundelein 404

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

Canva - Design Like a Pro in this Fun Interactive Session for Beginners and Beyond

Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT

Take your Canva skills to the next level and bring stunning, professional-quality designs to your school community! Whether you're creating interactive worksheets, engaging social media content, classroom visuals, or even banners and bulk certificates, Canva has you covered. Discover hidden gems like the background remover, magic resizing, translation tools, and AI-powered design features. Plus, unlock the FREE Canva for Education account, giving you access to exclusive templates, class kits, and branding tools for your school. Get ready to create, collaborate, and inspire—no design experience required!

Speakers

Rita A. Mortenson

Educational Technology Coach, Verona Area School District

Rita A. Mortenson is the Educational Technology Coach at Verona Area High School, where she empowers educators and students to use technology in innovative and creative ways. She is Discovery Educator, an Apple Distinguished Educator, a Google for Education Certified Innovator, an... Read More →

Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
Mundelein 503

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

Did You Hear That? Podcasting in the Classroom

Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT

Students need to be creators of content, not merely consumers. It's time to transform your classroom into a dynamic hub of creation and innovation! This engaging presentation will ignite your imagination and equip you with practical strategies to turn your students into passionate content creators through the power of podcasting. We'll dive deep into the "why" and "how" of integrating podcasting into any subject or grade level. You'll gain a wealth of ideas for bringing this exciting medium directly into your classroom, fostering critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills.

Speakers

Jen Hall

Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
Mundelein 403

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

Steer Clear of This Session…

Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT

…unless you’re ready to subvert expectations, laugh a little, and play with some AI prompts. This hands-on breakout invites the DEN community to explore practical, research-backed strategies for managing stress and building resilience through a mix of therapeutic humor and AI-powered exercises. The tools you’ll explore can be applied immediately in both your personal and professional life (and shared with students). Pop in if you’re ready to laugh, reflect, and recharge.

Speakers

Dr. Lodge McCammon

Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
Mundelein 406

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

Storytelling Reimagined: Making Learning Unforgettable with Book Creator

Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT

This interactive session explores how Book Creator can be used across grade levels and subjects to foster student voice, digital storytelling, collaboration, and curriculum integration. Teachers will leave with ready-to-use strategies and templates tailored to their students' needs, along with ideas for how to assess and celebrate student work.

Speakers

Melissa Epps

Lead Instructional Innovation Specialist, Sumter School District

Melissa A Epps, Lead Instructional Technology Specialist with Sumter School District, Sumter, SC. She has invested 30 years into the education sector. She provides on-going instructional technology professional development to teachers, staff and students in support of Sumter School... Read More →

Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
Mundelein 407

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

Unlock your Google Superpowers! Tips and Tricks for Everyone

Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT

Want to get more out of Google? Join this fast-paced session to discover a wealth of tips and tricks for Google Workspace (Docs, Slides, etc.) and other Google tools. Whether you're a beginner or a power user, you'll learn valuable shortcuts, extensions, and features to boost your productivity. We'll cover everything from formatting tricks and time-saving techniques to exploring the latest AI-powered Google feature

Speakers

Anne Truger

Digital Learning Specialist, TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804

Anne Truger is a Digital Learning Specialist at TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804. She has been an educator for over 25 years. She is also member of the origiDEN. She loves to share her passion for technology with others.

Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
Mundelein 508

Concurrent Session

2:10pm CDT

AI: School is in Session

Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:10pm - 2:55pm CDT

Explore the world of AI in education! This session will cover the fundamentals of AI and dip a little bit into prompt engineering, which is the process of guiding AI tools to achieve desired outputs.. Participants will learn how to craft effective prompts and discover AI tools like MagicSchool.ai, which offers scaffolded prompting and a suite of other AI tools to support all educators. This is a primer for beginners starting their AI journey.

Speakers

Anne Truger

Digital Learning Specialist, TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804

Anne Truger is a Digital Learning Specialist at TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804. She has been an educator for over 25 years. She is also member of the origiDEN. She loves to share her passion for technology with others.

Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:10pm - 2:55pm CDT
Mundelein 508

Concurrent Session

2:10pm CDT

Best Practices for Creating Effective Classroom Assessments

Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:10pm - 2:55pm CDT

Join The DE Assessment and Adaptive Learning team for a practical, hands-on session centered on creating effective Classroom Assessments. During this session, participants will learn industry best practices that can be applied to any assessment, from lesson-level checks for understanding to end-of-course tests. Part of the session will be devoted to creating an assessment using what you've learned for a real topic you'll be teaching in the Fall.

Speakers

Jessica McDermott

Director of Assessment and Adaptive Learning, Discovery Education

As a lifelong educator and lover of learning, Jessica is obsessed with creating solutions to help teachers solve the puzzle of student academic growth and mastery, for every kid.Jessica began her career in education as an elementary school teacher and Teach for America Corps Member... Read More →

Kelly Casoni

Assessment Specialist

Kelly began her career as a bench chemist, specializing in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) and radiochemistry. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Pittsburgh, with a minor in Chemistry. Her academic journey also includes studies in forensic... Read More →

Betsy Sterling

Senior Assessment and Adaptive Learning Specialist

A passionate educator and advocate for equity in learning, Betsy is driven by the belief that all students can succeed when given the right tools and support. She began her career teaching English as a Second Language in South Korea and New York City, then went on to serve in multiple... Read More →

Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:10pm - 2:55pm CDT
Mundelein 403

Concurrent Session

2:10pm CDT

From Seed to Harvest: Back to the Basics

Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:10pm - 2:55pm CDT

In this session you will hear how we took a theme and connected it to everything we did at the school with the staff, students and community. We began with a goal of helping our families in a food scarcity area with creating an urban garden using raised beds across the campus. This sparked a focus on cultivating our garden with connections to a Master Gardener from our local community. She showed our students how to grow produce in our afterschool program with activities as making preserves, butter, using the vegetables to make a stir fry, growing herbs , etc. This initiative has grown to include a hydroponics that was sponsored by one of our faith based partners. Our goal is to one day be able to generate enough produce to have our students sell at the local flea market while learning other entreprenuership skills. I will share resources on how you can create this type of hands on learning initiative through grants and partnerships.

Speakers

Selina Latimore

Principal, Richland County SChool District One

I have 30 years of experience in education serving at all levels. I am currently serving as an Elementary Principal who started her career as a Biology Teacher. I am married with 5 children and 3 grandchildren .

Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:10pm - 2:55pm CDT
Mundelein 409

Concurrent Session

2:10pm CDT

G Suite Magic!

Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:10pm - 2:55pm CDT

I will show how I teach about and use several G Suite products in class, share examples and templates and ideas that make the products more elementary friendly.

Speakers

Heather Willsey

Teacher, River Valley

3rd Grade teacher, tech coach, mom. I love camping, hiking, leading my school's tech club. Google Certified Coach, CSTA member, Pear Deck Coach, DECA

Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:10pm - 2:55pm CDT
Mundelein 503

Concurrent Session

2:10pm CDT

Scaffolding Lessons Lead to Engaged Students

Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:10pm - 2:55pm CDT

Some ELL students and struggling readers feel frustrated and shut down during science lessons that require reading, critical thinking and/or data analysis. During this session, participants will learn ways to support these subgroups to promote student success during lab activities, reading and writing assignments.

Speakers

Tammy Barnes

Instructional Specialist for Secondary Science, Broward County Florida Public Schools

I've been teaching for 23 years in the Broward County Florida Public School system. For the past 10 years I've served as an instructional specialist for secondary science. My roles are to provide support to teachers, develop curriculum resources and facilitate professional development... Read More →

Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:10pm - 2:55pm CDT
Mundelein 407

Concurrent Session

2:10pm CDT

Steer Clear of This Session…

Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:10pm - 2:55pm CDT

…unless you’re ready to subvert expectations, laugh a little, and play with some AI prompts. This hands-on breakout invites the DEN community to explore practical, research-backed strategies for managing stress and building resilience through a mix of therapeutic humor and AI-powered exercises. The tools you’ll explore can be applied immediately in both your personal and professional life (and shared with students). Pop in if you’re ready to laugh, reflect, and recharge.

Speakers

Dr. Lodge McCammon

Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:10pm - 2:55pm CDT
Mundelein 406

Concurrent Session

2:10pm CDT

Tech Connect: Building Stronger Bonds with Your Peers

Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:10pm - 2:55pm CDT

This session is designed for administrators and coaches who are ready to explore the 4 Cs of Trust, personality types, and strategies to strengthen school communities. Dive into thought-provoking ideas and self-reflection to build trust, tailor communication, and prepare for the best school year ever!

Speakers

Brandi Bergeron

Academic Technology Coordinator, Episcopal School of Baton Rouge

See Previous submissions

Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:10pm - 2:55pm CDT
Mundelein 504

Concurrent Session

3:40pm CDT

Cultivating Creators: Elevating Your Lessons & Projects

Tuesday July 22, 2025 3:40pm - 4:25pm CDT

Are you ready to unleash the inner innovator in every learner? Our students need to be creators, collaborators, critical thinkers, and confident communicators – individuals who can make meaningful choices and have their voices heard. But how do we truly foster these essential skills in our classrooms, moving beyond traditional methods to truly ignite engagement? In this session, we'll dive deep into the exciting intersection of pedagogy and technology. This isn't just about learning new tools; it's about reimagining your lessons and projects to empower students as active participants in their learning journey.

Speakers

Jen Hall

Tuesday July 22, 2025 3:40pm - 4:25pm CDT
Mundelein 406

Concurrent Session

3:40pm CDT

In our Top Tips for Student Digital Creation Tools Era

Tuesday July 22, 2025 3:40pm - 4:25pm CDT

Are you tired of passive learning through technology? Are you ready to take your digital creations to the next level? Look no further, because this session is perfect for you! Get ready to amp up your skills as we showcase features of Canva, Adobe Express, and Padlet. But it doesn't stop there! After discussing each tool, you'll have the opportunity to dive in and "Plearn" (play + learn) with hands-on activities, collaborating with others along the way. Our ultimate goal is to create an engaging and interactive session that equips you with valuable resources and practical skills. Get ready to unleash your creativity!

Speakers

Chantel Fortescue

MTSS Interventionist, Craven County Schools

Chantel is a dedicated educator with experience in digital learning and a passion for student support. Currently serving as an MTSS Interventionist at a rural North Carolina middle school, she works to ensure all students receive the academic and behavioral interventions they need... Read More →

Leslie Pope

AIG Specialist/AP Intern, Craven County Schools

Leslie Pope is an AIG Specialist for elementary and high schools in her district. A prior Media Coordinator and District ITF with a demonstrated history of working in the education industry, she is an NC Rethink Ed Badged Facilitator who regularly presents on STEM and EdTech. She... Read More →

Tuesday July 22, 2025 3:40pm - 4:25pm CDT
Mundelein 407

Concurrent Session

3:40pm CDT

Pear Deck: Flash Card Factory

Tuesday July 22, 2025 3:40pm - 4:25pm CDT

I will teach about a tool within Pear Deck: Flascard Factory and Gimkit.

Speakers

Heather Willsey

Teacher, River Valley

3rd Grade teacher, tech coach, mom. I love camping, hiking, leading my school's tech club. Google Certified Coach, CSTA member, Pear Deck Coach, DECA

Tuesday July 22, 2025 3:40pm - 4:25pm CDT
Mundelein 503

Concurrent Session

3:40pm CDT

Teacher PLCs

Tuesday July 22, 2025 3:40pm - 4:25pm CDT

I will showcase data driven PLCs led by teachers. Structures and protocols to keep the PLCs focused on data and structures to determine intervention strategies. I will share resources and structures used in PLCs and what data tools are used with individual teacher meetings and whole school meetings to anaylze data and create next steps to improve our practices with entire staff that include teachers and paraprofessionals. ALL is apart of our strategy to move students.

Speakers

Selina Latimore

Principal, Richland County SChool District One

I have 30 years of experience in education serving at all levels. I am currently serving as an Elementary Principal who started her career as a Biology Teacher. I am married with 5 children and 3 grandchildren .

Tuesday July 22, 2025 3:40pm - 4:25pm CDT
Mundelein 404

Concurrent Session

3:40pm CDT

Using Generative AI to boost creativity and collaboration

Tuesday July 22, 2025 3:40pm - 4:25pm CDT

Generative AI is EVERYWHERE in toda's world and certainly in many classrooms across the globe. If you feel unsure about where to begin on this journey, this session is for you. Join the Assessment and Adaptive Learning team for a session on fun and exciting session on Generative AI. This will be a hands-on session where we will explore various tools to get your toughest-to-engage learners excited about learning. We will be creating songs, vision boards, slideshows and more during this session. All materials will be shared so that you can easily use them with your students.

Speakers

Jessica McDermott

Director of Assessment and Adaptive Learning, Discovery Education

As a lifelong educator and lover of learning, Jessica is obsessed with creating solutions to help teachers solve the puzzle of student academic growth and mastery, for every kid.Jessica began her career in education as an elementary school teacher and Teach for America Corps Member... Read More →

Kelly Casoni

Assessment Specialist

Kelly began her career as a bench chemist, specializing in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) and radiochemistry. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Pittsburgh, with a minor in Chemistry. Her academic journey also includes studies in forensic... Read More →

Betsy Sterling

Senior Assessment and Adaptive Learning Specialist

A passionate educator and advocate for equity in learning, Betsy is driven by the belief that all students can succeed when given the right tools and support. She began her career teaching English as a Second Language in South Korea and New York City, then went on to serve in multiple... Read More →

Tuesday July 22, 2025 3:40pm - 4:25pm CDT
Mundelein 403

Concurrent Session

3:40pm CDT

Using Infographics to Increase Data and Scientific Literacy.

Tuesday July 22, 2025 3:40pm - 4:25pm CDT

We will use an infographic to show several lessons and ideas on data literacy that can be used in the classroom. Lots of easy take aways to use in any classroom.

Speakers

Rob Lamb

Teacher Dept. Lead, Pattonville School District

I have been a Science Teacher for 22 years. I am infographic-obsessed. I have been in the DE Community since 2012.

Tuesday July 22, 2025 3:40pm - 4:25pm CDT
Mundelein 508

Concurrent Session

3:40pm CDT

Your District PD Starter Kit: Empowering School Tech Leaders

Tuesday July 22, 2025 3:40pm - 4:25pm CDT

Learn how we (district tech coaches) set up district-wide PD for designated teachers from all our schools to take their learning back to their schools. Get resources you can use to start planning your own PD and experience a micro-mini-Technology Trailblazer Summit!

Speakers

Shantanien Lewis

Instructional Technology Coach, Darlington County School District

Shan Lewis has dedicated 26 years to the Darlington County School District, with 22 of those years spent as a high school math teacher. This extensive classroom experience has prepared her for her current role as a Secondary Instructional Technology Coach. In this position, she focuses... Read More →

Laney Rogers

Instructional Technology Coach, Darlington County School District

Laney Rogers is an innovative educator with 15 years of experience, including the last 3 years as an instructional technology coach. In her role, she collaborates with teachers on instructional technology initiatives (including AI for teaching and learning). She works to support creativity... Read More →

Tuesday July 22, 2025 3:40pm - 4:25pm CDT
Mundelein 504

Concurrent Session

10:15am CDT

Beyond the Green Circle: Driving Deeper Math Growth with DreamBox

Thursday July 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

Move past surface-level usage and explore how DreamBox Math can be used as a true instructional partner for all three tiers of instruction. In this session, we’ll dig into actionable strategies to drive meaningful student growth, differentiate support, and empower teachers to make informed decisions using DreamBox insights. Be prepared to leave with ready-to-implement ideas!

Speakers

Becky Plotkin

Partner Success Manager, Discovery Education

Becky Goddard Plotkin has been an educator for more than 25 years. She is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescent Mathematics, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, and earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Media. Becky works closely with the North Carolina... Read More →

Thursday July 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Mundelein 408

Concurrent Session

10:15am CDT

Curiosity Cues to Captivate Middle School Minds

Thursday July 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

Explore strategies for engaging middle school students, showcased through new and enhanced Experience resources.

Speakers

Katie Sandler

Instructional Strategy and Design Lead

Katie leads the instructional strategy and design of educational resources for middle school teachers and students within Discovery Education's Experience product. Previously, she served as a Professional Development Facilitator for Discovery Education, coaching and training K-12... Read More →

Thursday July 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Mundelein 503

Concurrent Session

10:15am CDT

Igniting Curiosity: Engaging Students with Mystery Science

Thursday July 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

Spark curiosity and bring learning to life with Mystery Science! This session will equip educators with seamlessly integrating inquiry-based lessons that align with standards while fostering deeper student exploration. Join us to discover how Mystery Science can transform your classroom and empower students to think, question, and learn in exciting new ways!

Speakers

Erica Kovacevic

Manager, Teaching and Learning

Thursday July 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Mundelein 404

Concurrent Session

10:15am CDT

It Started with a Book...Introducing STEAM through Literature

Thursday July 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

Discover how a simple story can launch powerful, cross-curricular STEAM experiences! In this hands-on, idea-packed session, you will learn how to use literature as the perfect springboard for STEAM challenges that incorporate coding, robotics, engineering, digital media, and more. Using a design thinking framework, you will see model lessons that begin with a book and lead students on a journey of curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving. You’ll leave with ready-to-use resources, book pairings, and planning tools to help you weave STEAM seamlessly into your curriculum—and inspire your students to think deeply, design boldly, and connect learning to the world around them.

Speakers

Carrie Willis

STEAM & Technology Director, Valley Preparatory School

Carrie Willis is the Technology & STEAM Director at Valley Preparatory School, a private school in Redlands, CA, educating students in grades preschool through eight. During her 24 years of teaching, she has developed a love for educational technology and project-based learning... Read More →

Thursday July 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Mundelein 508

Concurrent Session

10:15am CDT

K-5 Core Science Instruction Made Easy!

Thursday July 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

How do DE curriculum designers develop K-5 lessons in Science Techbook? Take a peek behind the curtain into the activity-based National NGSS-aligned K-5 program. We will highlight features and resources in the program that can be implemented in your classroom right away!

Speakers

Hailey Adams

Director, Curriculum, Instruction, & Student Engagement

Hailey Adams is the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Engagement for Science at Discovery Education. Hailey attended North Carolina State University graduating with a degree in secondary science education with a speciality in life sciences. Hailey has 10 years of experience... Read More →

Desiree Sasko Sujoy

Senior Director, Teaching & Learning Team

Thursday July 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Mundelein 403

Concurrent Session

10:15am CDT

Organizing all the Discovery Education Goodness

Thursday July 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

As a tech coach or librarian, do you struggle with organizing your Discovery Education resources? Do teachers find it too much to sift through? I'll share some of my organizing/search strategies and how I work with teachers to provide all these great resources.

Speakers

Brandi Bergeron

Academic Technology Coordinator, Episcopal School of Baton Rouge

See Previous submissions

Thursday July 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Mundelein 504

Concurrent Session

10:15am CDT

The Best Experience has to offer for K-5!

Thursday July 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

Learn about instructional resources that are new, revised, or coming soon to Experience for grades K-5!

Speakers

Libby Galster

Manager, Instructional Strategy for Experience, Discovery Education

Libby Galster is the Manager of Instructional Strategy at Discovery Education. Leveraging her extensive expertise in teaching across grades K-5, she leads the K-5 strategy for the Experience product. Libby joined Discovery Education full-time in 2023 as part of the Curriculum, Instruction... Read More →

Thursday July 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Mundelein 407

Concurrent Session

11:10am CDT

Connect & Captivate: Video Strategies for Modern Classrooms

Thursday July 24, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT

Ready to connect with and captivate your modern students? Discover powerful video strategies and tools like Screencastify, WeVideo, Edpuzzle, and DiscoveryED. Explore practical overviews,
cost considerations, best implementation practices, and engaging project ideas drawn from real middle and high school experiences.

Speakers

Missy Rivera

IMC Coordinator, Anna Local Schools

Missy Rivera has over 15 years of experience as a library professional and currently serves as the Instructional Media Center Coordinator at Anna Middle & High School. Known for her results-driven approach, she has a proven track record of implementing successful literacy programs... Read More →

Thursday July 24, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT
Mundelein 503

Concurrent Session

11:10am CDT

Getting Started with Mystery Writing

Thursday July 24, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT

Getting started with Mystery writing would be more similar to a PD about how to use the product and what it offers for students. More like a product showcase for: people who are interested in the product, people who have it for next year and don’t really know what it is or how to teach it, or a “you may have heard about this Mystery Writing thing before… but what is it really? Let’s take a look” This session would also showcase how Mystery Writing has embedded best practices for supporting ALL students as writers.

Speakers

Emily Simon

Content Creator/ Scriptwriter - Mystery Writing

TK

Thursday July 24, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT
Mundelein 404

Concurrent Session

11:10am CDT

Literacy Lab: Deepening Comprehension with Innovative Technology

Thursday July 24, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT

This interactive session explores technology tools that support comprehension through integrated reading and writing instruction. Attendees will engage with Magic School AI, Canva, and Discovery Education to enhance text analysis, summarizing, and interpretation. Participants will create and leave with practical, ready-to-use tools to differentiate instruction and streamline lesson planning.

Speakers

Judith Philias

Teacher, Miami-Dade

I am a Florida-born educator with over 17 years of experience in elementary education. I excel in Intensive Acceleration reading instruction, working closely with students performing below grade level to build foundational skills and boost confidence. As a lifelong learner, I embrace... Read More →

Thursday July 24, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT
Mundelein 407

Concurrent Session

11:10am CDT

Math Motivation Matters: Igniting Student Ownership in DreamBox

Thursday July 24, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT

Getting students to log in is one thing, getting them to care is another. This session is packed with creative, practical ways to build student ownership and excitement around DreamBox. From goal-setting routines to class-wide celebrations, explore how educators are transforming DreamBox from “just another program” into a tool students love to use. You’ll leave with new ideas, downloadable templates, and success stories to inspire your own implementation.

Speakers

Becky Plotkin

Partner Success Manager, Discovery Education

Becky Goddard Plotkin has been an educator for more than 25 years. She is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescent Mathematics, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, and earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Media. Becky works closely with the North Carolina... Read More →

Thursday July 24, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT
Mundelein 408

Concurrent Session

11:10am CDT

Social Studies Techbook & Inquiry

Thursday July 24, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT

Join us for an engaging session where educators will discover how SSTB supports inquiry-based learning, empowering students to ask questions, analyze sources, and think critically about history, culture, and current events in meaningful, interactive ways.

Speakers

Lauren Gomez

Toni Robinson

Director Teaching and Learning, Discovery Education

Thursday July 24, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT
Mundelein 508

Concurrent Session

11:10am CDT

Spotlight on Strategies

Thursday July 24, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT

Join a deep dive into Discovery Education's cross-curricular library of instructional strategies that engage students and enhance learning experiences.

Speakers

Michael Capps

Instructional Design Sr. Manager, Curriculum and Instruction Director

Michael Capps is a Curriculum and Instruction Director with Discovery Education. He leads the development of instructional activities and lessons, including our library of instructional strategies. for the Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Engagement team. He first joined DE as... Read More →

Thursday July 24, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT
Mundelein 504

Concurrent Session

11:10am CDT

Using Phenomena to Engage Students in Science

Thursday July 24, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT

What is Phenomena and what makes it engaging? By centering science education on phenomena that students are motivated to explain, the focus of learning shifts from learning about a topic to figuring out why or how something happens and connects that learning to the natural world. Explore hands-on examples of phenomena-based lessons as we share resources to get you started on building your own phenomena based science lessons.

Speakers

Brad Fountain

Senior Director Teaching and Learning

Brad is a passionate educator with over 20 years of educational experience. He began his career teaching in a 3-5 multi-age classroom in rural North Carolina where he utilized some of the earliest educational internet based web resources. He launched one of the first technology based... Read More →

Thursday July 24, 2025 11:10am - 11:55am CDT
Mundelein 403

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

App Smashing with SOS: Supercharge Your Lessons with Discovery Education Strategies & EdTech Tools

Thursday July 24, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT

Ready to take Discovery Education's SOS (Spotlight on Strategies) to the next level? In this fast-paced, idea-packed session, we'll explore a dozen of my favorite SOS strategies and show how they can be app smashed with popular edtech tools to create interactive, student-centered learning experiences. From Seesaw to Canva, Figjam to Padlet, see how pairing proven strategies with powerful tools leads to deeper engagement and more dynamic classrooms. You’ll leave with ready-to-use examples and plenty of inspiration to try your own SOS App Smash!

Speakers

Carrie Willis

STEAM & Technology Director, Valley Preparatory School

Carrie Willis is the Technology & STEAM Director at Valley Preparatory School, a private school in Redlands, CA, educating students in grades preschool through eight. During her 24 years of teaching, she has developed a love for educational technology and project-based learning... Read More →

Thursday July 24, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
Mundelein 407

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

Buy in Before the Pencil: Using Mystery Writing to Spark Student Engagement

Thursday July 24, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT

Write about your favorite summer vacation….write about your favorite ice cream flavor and why… Boooooo. Students are already assessed with these low engagement prompts so why should they learn like this too?! This session highlights the critical role of student buy-in when building strong, motivated writers. We will explore why writing can feel intimidating or even irrelevant to some students and how to overcome these barriers by creating meaningful, engaging, and student-centered writing experiences. The session will highlight how Mystery Writing can help writers develop their ideas through research, note-taking, graphic organizers, oral rehearsal, drawing, peer discussion, and much more before ever putting pencil to paper. Participants will leave with tips and tools to cultivate a writing environment where students can feel empowered, capable, and excited to write.

Speakers

Amy Jivani

Content Creator/ Scriptwriter

TK

Emily Simon

Content Creator/ Scriptwriter - Mystery Writing

TK

Thursday July 24, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
Mundelein 508

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

Getting all students engaged in learning using the Discovery Education Quiz Tool

Thursday July 24, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT

Have you ever wondered how to get the most out of DE's Quiz Tool (found in Experience and STB)? Join the Assessment and Adaptive learning team for a session all about Quiz! We will surf the Quiz library (over 600 ready-to-use quizzes), show you how to launch live quizzes or plan them in advance, and show you how to create your own custom quiz in under 5 minutes! We will do a full walkthrough of the Quiz Dashboard nd results and talk through ways you can use the insights to make your next move in the classroom. Come with a resource or topic you plan to teach next year; we will be creating Quizzes in this hands-on session!

Speakers

Jessica McDermott

Director of Assessment and Adaptive Learning, Discovery Education

As a lifelong educator and lover of learning, Jessica is obsessed with creating solutions to help teachers solve the puzzle of student academic growth and mastery, for every kid.Jessica began her career in education as an elementary school teacher and Teach for America Corps Member... Read More →

Kelly Casoni

Assessment Specialist

Kelly began her career as a bench chemist, specializing in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) and radiochemistry. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Pittsburgh, with a minor in Chemistry. Her academic journey also includes studies in forensic... Read More →

Betsy Sterling

Senior Assessment and Adaptive Learning Specialist

A passionate educator and advocate for equity in learning, Betsy is driven by the belief that all students can succeed when given the right tools and support. She began her career teaching English as a Second Language in South Korea and New York City, then went on to serve in multiple... Read More →

Thursday July 24, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
Mundelein 504

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

Increasing Engagement while Understanding Burnout Indicators

Thursday July 24, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT

In this session, you will learn how to setup your Discovery Education (DE) platforms and classroom/building for long term success built upon an engaging foundation of genuine motivation. You will be presented with three key burnout indicators that apply to staff who are experiencing digital fatigue and students are under-motivated and underperforming. We will drill down on two key points: 1) motivation/resilience and 2) understand the dependent relationship between accountability and empathy and how these ideas contribute to long term success especially in DE products.

Speakers

Tim Johnson

Discovery Education - Dreambox Learning

I've been in education for 24 years as a middle school math/science teacher, principal, superintendent, and a Montana State Deputy Superintendent. I've been an educator in MN and currently in MT. I've served in law enforcement for 5 years. I'm passionate about education and ran... Read More →

Thursday July 24, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
Mundelein 408

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

It’s Alive!! Engaging Science Lessons in Today’s Classroom with DE's STEM Ecosystem

Thursday July 24, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT

Explore to myriad of possibilities with Discovery Education Science as we look at ways to make science classes more engaging than ever before with practical tools, instructional strategies, and lesson ideas that will bring excitement and joy the science classroom.

Speakers

Brad Fountain

Senior Director Teaching and Learning

Brad is a passionate educator with over 20 years of educational experience. He began his career teaching in a 3-5 multi-age classroom in rural North Carolina where he utilized some of the earliest educational internet based web resources. He launched one of the first technology based... Read More →

Hailey Adams

Director, Curriculum, Instruction, & Student Engagement

Hailey Adams is the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Engagement for Science at Discovery Education. Hailey attended North Carolina State University graduating with a degree in secondary science education with a speciality in life sciences. Hailey has 10 years of experience... Read More →

Ted Willard

Senior Subject Matter Expert in Science

Ted Willard is a Senior Subject Matter Expert in Science for Discovery Education where he develops three-dimensional, phenomenon-based science curricula. Before joining Discovery Education, Ted spent eight years as the in-house standards expert for the National Science Teaching Association... Read More →

Thursday July 24, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
Mundelein 404

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

Learning through Lived Experiences

Thursday July 24, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT

Educators will use DE tools, such as virtual field trips, and learn how to build upon these to create simulations for students to truly be involved "in" the learning experience.

Speakers

Karen James-Wilson

Teacher, Darlington County School District

I don't just teach; I invite opportunities for students to demonstrate their creativity, and I make learning experiences unforgettable. My goal is to always try to transform learning into adventures where every student can see their power, their purpose, and their potential.

Thursday July 24, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
Mundelein 503

Concurrent Session

1:15pm CDT

Science Sleuths: Ignite Learning as Mystery Science Meets Discovery Education Experience

Thursday July 24, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT

In this engaging and interactive session, we will explore how to harness the power of Mystery Science to ignite and sustain curiosity in the classroom. Participants will discover practical strategies for integrating hands-on exploration with Mystery Science and learn how to seamlessly implement these activities alongside Discovery Education Experience to create a dynamic and enriching learning environment. Get ready to roll up your sleeves, have some fun, and walk away with a ready-to-use alignment between Mystery Science and Experience!

Speakers

Melissa Hampton

Senior Director, Teaching and Learning

Melissa Hampton is a Senior Director of Teaching and Learning for Discovery Education. Prior to joining Discovery Education, Melissa spent 20 years in public education serving as a junior high and high school teacher, instructional coach, high school administrator, and a K-12 district Director... Read More →

Thursday July 24, 2025 1:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
Mundelein 403

Concurrent Session

DEN Summer Institute 2025

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