Presenters: Thomas Christner and Michael McCabe

Session Title: The Multiverse of Educational Technology...Boosting Engagement in your "Marvel"ous Classroom

Session Description: Educators Assemble! In this interactive presentation, participants will channel their inner superhero by "fighting" the villain of Boredom. Using the multiverse of educational technologies available to educators, participants will engage in a mission of epic proportions to save their classrooms from the evil Boredom. The multiverse of educational technologies will elevate the participants powers to defeat Boredom and protect their classroom from the absence of engagement.

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Presenter: Thomas Christner

Session Title: Seeing Your Learning...Teaching Visually to Reach Your Students 

Session Description: In this interactive session, participants will learn how to engage their future students using visual teaching so that their future students can see their learning. Participants will be introduced to the idea of visual teaching through different educational technologies. The use of educational technology for the creation of tools to be used in teaching will be a focus of this presentation as a way for future teachers to engage learners in their first year in the classroom.

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Presenters: Crystal McCabe and Michael McCabe

Session Title: Friend or Foe? Balancing Relationships, Teaching, and Authority

Session Description: Deep down, we all want to be liked. This does not change when we become a teacher, but how do we make sure to keep a balance between being liked and remaining in charge? Some may say, “Don’t smile until Christmas” or tell you that if you are too nice, students will take advantage of you. You’ll hear that “Having too much fun in the classroom will make students misbehave,” but also be told to make sure to build that classroom community. Where do you even begin? Through this interactive session, these and other myths about being a teacher will be discussed, along with strategies for establishing, maintaining, and restoring relationships, building classroom community, and maintaining authority in the classroom. Participants will leave feeling more confident about their role and presence as a teacher. Who knows, you may even smile before Christmas!