2019 Utah Rural Schools Conference: Full Schedule

1:45pm MDT

Playground: AR/VR Technologies

Come join us in the conference playground and experience hands-on activities using STEM-inspired technology, among other things. The Playground is not a typical session you attend, but rather a time for you to investigate, explore, and play firsthand with different "toys". Visit with the technology trainers from Utah’s Regional Service Centers, UEN, UofU, and the STEM Action Center. Come and go as you'd like, or spend an hour (or two) in the Playground!

Playground Session Description: Explore some of the cool Virtual and Augmented reality technologies to use in your classroom- or even just for fun! Dissect a human head with zSpace, explore the Taj Mahal using Google Cardboard and Expedition, play with a merge cube, and have dinosaurs battle it out with ibattleAR.

Speakers

Brandon Harrison

Trainer, Central Utah Educational Services

Brandon has been the Innovation Specialist and Technology Trainer for the CUES (Central Utah Educational Services) Region since 2015. Prior to CUES, he taught junior high school in the Murray City School District for a dozen years. Around the turn of the century, Brandon worked for... Read More →

Wednesday July 10, 2019 1:45pm - 2:45pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Playground

1:45pm MDT

Playground: Discovery Engineering

Come join us in the conference playground and experience hands-on activities using STEM-inspired technology, among other things. The Playground is not a typical session you attend, but rather a time for you to investigate, explore, and play firsthand with different "toys". Visit with the technology trainers from Utah’s Regional Service Centers, UEN, UofU, and the STEM Action Center. Come and go as you'd like, or spend an hour (or two) in the Playground!

Playground Session Description: The University of Utah has created a STEM outreach tool called Discover Engineering. Stop by the playground to interact with this display and talk with the College of Engineering about bringing this hands-on exhibit to your high school.

Discover Engineering is a traveling display that introduces high school math and science students to 10 different fields of engineering. It is made up of six back-to-back kiosks including photos, videos, and interactive elements where students enjoy hands-on exposure to each type of engineering. (www.coe.utah.edu)

Speakers

Craig Clifford

Engineering Outreach and Recruiting, and Rural School Liaison, University of Utah College of Engineering

Craig focuses on outreach and recruiting endeavors by engaging with students on the high school level. Through the interactive, traveling exhibit called Discover Engineering, students are exposed to eleven fields of engineering. Lunch with an Engineer takes engineering alumni back... Read More →

Wednesday July 10, 2019 1:45pm - 2:45pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Playground

Audience Curriculum District Specialists, Teachers
Grade Level High School - grades 9 - 12
Subject Area STEM / STEAM

1:45pm MDT

Playground: micro:bit

Come join us in the conference playground and experience hands-on activities using STEM-inspired technology, among other things. The Playground is not a typical session you attend, but rather a time for you to investigate, explore, and play firsthand with different "toys". Visit with the technology trainers from Utah’s Regional Service Centers, UEN, UofU, and the STEM Action Center. Come and go as you'd like, or spend an hour (or two) in the Playground!

Playground Session Description: The micro:bit is a handheld, programmable micro-computer that can be used for all sorts of cool creations, from robots to musical instruments – endless possibilities! Start with one of the over 200 different free activities and resources, from easy experiments to creative coding challenges. From there you can move to coding it using any web browser in Blocks, Javascript, Python, Scratch and more; no software required. Come and give micro:bit a go!

Find the resources for this and all of my URSA 2019 sessions here

Speakers

Clint Stephens

Educational Technology Specialist and UCET Preside, Southwest Educational Development Center

During his twelve years teaching secondary Science, Regional Technology Integration Specialist Clint Stephens was awarded the Utah Middle School Science Teacher of the Year award in addition to several technology innovation grants & awards. Currently, Clint is a Level 1 & 2 Certified... Read More →

Wednesday July 10, 2019 1:45pm - 2:45pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Playground

Audience Teachers
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Subject Area Technology, STEM / STEAM

1:45pm MDT

Playground: Shrink Art: Curriculum Connections on a Tiny Scale

Speakers

Anne Dibble

Presenter, University of Utah

Prior to joining the University of Utah, Anne spent several years as a visual art specialist with the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program in Granite School District. She has a genuine passion for the arts and enjoys sharing that enthusiasm in various learning communiti... Read More →

Wednesday July 10, 2019 1:45pm - 2:45pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Playground

Audience All of the above
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Subject Area Performing Arts / Visual Arts, Special Education, Social Studies

1:45pm MDT

Playground: Sphero, Ozobot, Makey Makey, and Hummingbird

Speakers

Nathan Wilson

Technology Integration Specialist, Southeast Education Service Center

I am a Technology Integration Specialist for the Southeast Education Service Center serving Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan school districts. I received a Bachelors degree in Graphic Design and a Masters degree in Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences from Utah State... Read More →

Theresa Wilson

Technology Integration Specialist, SESC

Technology Integration & Data Mentoring Specialist for the Southeast Education Service Center since 2002. SESC serves Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan School Districts.

Wednesday July 10, 2019 1:45pm - 2:45pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Playground

Audience Teachers
Grade Level All Grade Levels

1:45pm MDT

Playground: STEM Action Center

Speakers

STEM Action Center

The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Action Center prioritizes STEM education, which works to develop Utah’s workforce of the future. The program drives research and implementation of STEM education best practices across Utah by coordinating STEM-related activities... Read More →

Wednesday July 10, 2019 1:45pm - 2:45pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Playground

1:45pm MDT

Playground: Utah Digital Badges

Come join us in the conference playground and experience hands-on activities using STEM-inspired technology, among other things. The Playground is not a typical session you attend, but rather a time for you to investigate, explore, and play firsthand with different "toys". Visit with the technology trainers from Utah’s Regional Service Centers, UEN, UofU, and the STEM Action Center. Come and go as you'd like, or spend an hour (or two) in the Playground!

Playground Description: Utah Digital Badges, or U-Badge, is Utah's new microcredential system. U-Badges are a way to earn USBE credit for ALL the professional learning you do, both formal courses and self-directed, independent learning. Come learn how to earn U-Badges and how to create new badges for other educators to earn!

Speakers

Daron Kennett

Utah Microcredentials Manager, Davis School District

Daron received his PhD from USU. He has been a professional educator for 24 years, teaching English Language Arts, Reading, and ESL. Daron served in Davis's Curriculum Department as the Secondary ELA Supervisor, at USBE as the state ELA and ESL Assessment Specialist, and is currently... Read More →

Wednesday July 10, 2019 1:45pm - 2:45pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Playground

Audience All of the above, Teachers
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Subject Area All Subject Areas

1:45pm MDT

Playground: Vernier Probes and Graphical Analysis 4

Speakers

Jason Snow

Regional Trainer, NUES

Regional Technology Trainer for Northeastern Utah Educational Services, 21 years Science Teacher and Backyard Astronomer.

Wednesday July 10, 2019 1:45pm - 2:45pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Playground

1:45pm MDT

URSA Conference Playground

Feedback Survey

Come join us in the conference playground and experience hands-on activities using STEM inspired tech toys such as Sphero, Ozobot, Lego Mindstorm, Bee-Bots, Hummingbird, micro:bit, Vernier Probes, VR, app building and more! Visit with the technology trainers from Utah’s Regional Service Centers, UEN, and the STEM Action Center about STEM, coding, and makerspace activities.

Speakers

NUES

SESC

Southeast Education Service Center

The Southeast Educational Service Center (SESC) is one of Utah’s four Regional Service Centers (SEDC, CUES and NUES) established to assist school districts in providing equitable and cost effective services and programs for students in rural Utah. SESC is a not-for-profit service... Read More →

CUES

SEDC

Southwest Educational Development Center, or SEDC, provides services requested by our member schools in order to better serve the students in southwest Utah.

STEM Action Center

Education Partner

UETN - We Network for Education and Healthcare in Utah!

Ray Timothy

UETN connects all Utah school districts, schools, and higher education institutions to a robust network and quality educational resources. UETN is one of the nation's premier education networks. That mission encompasses a variety of services and a substantial infrastructure that serves... Read More →

Wednesday July 10, 2019 1:45pm - 2:45pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Technology

Audience All of the above
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Subject Area Computer Science, STEM / STEAM
Session Format 2 hour In-Depth exploration workshop

3:00pm MDT

Playground: AR/VR Technologies

Speakers

Brandon Harrison

Trainer, Central Utah Educational Services

Wednesday July 10, 2019 3:00pm - 4:00pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Playground

3:00pm MDT

Playground: Discovery Engineering

Come join us in the conference playground and experience hands-on activities using STEM-inspired technology, among other things. The Playground is not a typical session you attend, but rather a time for you to investigate, explore, and play firsthand with different "toys". Visit with the technology trainers from Utah’s Regional Service Centers, UEN, UofU, and the STEM Action Center. Come and go as you'd like, or spend an hour (or two) in the Playground!

Playground Session Description: The University of Utah has created a STEM outreach tool called Discover Engineering. Stop by the playground to interact with this display and talk with the College of Engineering about bringing this hands-on exhibit to your high school.

Discover Engineering is a traveling display that introduces high school math and science students to 10 different fields of engineering. It is made up of six back-to-back kiosks including photos, videos, and interactive elements where students enjoy hands-on exposure to each type of engineering. (www.coe.utah.edu)

Speakers

Craig Clifford

Engineering Outreach and Recruiting, and Rural School Liaison, University of Utah College of Engineering

Wednesday July 10, 2019 3:00pm - 4:00pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Playground

Audience Curriculum District Specialists, Teachers
Grade Level High School - grades 9 - 12
Subject Area STEM / STEAM

3:00pm MDT

Playground: micro:bit

Come join us in the conference playground and experience hands-on activities using STEM-inspired technology, among other things. The Playground is not a typical session you attend, but rather a time for you to investigate, explore, and play firsthand with different "toys". Visit with the technology trainers from Utah’s Regional Service Centers, UEN, UofU, and the STEM Action Center. Come and go as you'd like, or spend an hour (or two) in the Playground!

Playground Session Description: The micro:bit is a handheld, programmable micro-computer that can be used for all sorts of cool creations, from robots to musical instruments – endless possibilities! Start with one of the over 200 different free activities and resources, from easy experiments to creative coding challenges. From there you can move to coding it using any web browser in Blocks, Javascript, Python, Scratch and more; no software required. Come and give micro:bit a go!

Find the resources for this and all of my URSA 2019 sessions here

Speakers

Clint Stephens

Educational Technology Specialist and UCET Preside, Southwest Educational Development Center

Wednesday July 10, 2019 3:00pm - 4:00pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Playground

Audience Teachers
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Subject Area Technology, STEM / STEAM

3:00pm MDT

Playground: Shrink Art: Curriculum Connections on a Tiny Scale

Speakers

Anne Dibble

Presenter, University of Utah

Wednesday July 10, 2019 3:00pm - 4:00pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Playground

Audience All of the above
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Subject Area Performing Arts / Visual Arts, Special Education, Social Studies

3:00pm MDT

Playground: Sphero, Ozobot, Makey Makey, and Hummingbird

Speakers

Nathan Wilson

Technology Integration Specialist, Southeast Education Service Center

Theresa Wilson

Technology Integration Specialist, SESC

Technology Integration & Data Mentoring Specialist for the Southeast Education Service Center since 2002. SESC serves Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan School Districts.

Wednesday July 10, 2019 3:00pm - 4:00pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Playground

Audience Teachers
Grade Level All Grade Levels

3:00pm MDT

Playground: STEM Action Center

Speakers

STEM Action Center

Wednesday July 10, 2019 3:00pm - 4:00pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Playground

3:00pm MDT

Playground: Utah Digital Badges

Come join us in the conference playground and experience hands-on activities using STEM-inspired technology, among other things. The Playground is not a typical session you attend, but rather a time for you to investigate, explore, and play firsthand with different "toys". Visit with the technology trainers from Utah’s Regional Service Centers, UEN, UofU, and the STEM Action Center. Come and go as you'd like, or spend an hour (or two) in the Playground!

Playground Description: Utah Digital Badges, or U-Badge, is Utah's new microcredential system. U-Badges are a way to earn USBE credit for ALL the professional learning you do, both formal courses and self-directed, independent learning. Come learn how to earn U-Badges and how to create new badges for other educators to earn!

Speakers

Daron Kennett

Utah Microcredentials Manager, Davis School District

Wednesday July 10, 2019 3:00pm - 4:00pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Playground

Audience All of the above, Teachers
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Subject Area All Subject Areas

3:00pm MDT

Playground: Vernier Probes and Graphical Analysis 4

Speakers

Jason Snow

Regional Trainer, NUES

Regional Technology Trainer for Northeastern Utah Educational Services, 21 years Science Teacher and Backyard Astronomer.

Wednesday July 10, 2019 3:00pm - 4:00pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Playground

3:00pm MDT

URSA Conference Playground

Feedback Survey

Speakers

NUES

SESC

Southeast Education Service Center

CUES

SEDC

Southwest Educational Development Center, or SEDC, provides services requested by our member schools in order to better serve the students in southwest Utah.

STEM Action Center

Education Partner

UETN - We Network for Education and Healthcare in Utah!

Ray Timothy

Wednesday July 10, 2019 3:00pm - 4:00pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Technology

Audience All of the above
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Subject Area Computer Science, STEM / STEAM
Session Format 2 hour In-Depth exploration workshop

10:45am MDT

Intelligence (AI): Where are we now?

Open discussion format, showcasing 5-6 examples of the recent/rapid progress in AI, with ideas/thoughts about how they might effect your classroom/school.

Here is the basic (Slide Deck) that we will be using to spark the discussion topics, and is taken mostly from Brett King's book Agumented, and UEN's CTO Leadership retreat 2018.

Please, come join the conversation. We would love to hear your opinions on the future of Education.

Speakers

Cody Spendlove

Ed Tech Director, Alpine School District

I think people should be sharing the BEST Pedagogical Practice you have seen during COVID 2020-21 school year. Things you think Teachers/Schools SHOULD KEEP Doing it AFTER the pandemic.

Thursday July 11, 2019 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Technology

Audience All of the above
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Subject Area Technology
Session Format 1 hour traditional lecture/audience participation

1:45pm MDT

What is your strategy for keeping yourself relevant in Education?

Feedback Survey

Come join us for a conversation about current trends, augmented living, everyday automation technology partnerships in education. (Also, enter to win one of our great door prizes!)
1. What is better done by Humans? By machines? (Human-Machine Strategy)
2. What can’t we function without? Mobile/wearable technology… (Augmentation Strategy)
3. How can/does technology give you an edge? What can/does technology do for you? (Automation Strategy)

Speakers

Cody Spendlove

Ed Tech Director, Alpine School District

I think people should be sharing the BEST Pedagogical Practice you have seen during COVID 2020-21 school year. Things you think Teachers/Schools SHOULD KEEP Doing it AFTER the pandemic.

David Long

Director, Logan City School District

Jim Stewart

CTO, UETN

James L. Stewart has 40 years of experience working in the technology profession. He is currently the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the state-wide Utah Education and TeleHealth Network (UETN) organization and has been working directly the past 21 years supporting technology for... Read More →

Cory Stokes

Senior Project Manager, UEN

Cory Stokes has worked in educational technology for more than 30 years. He has worked as a technology coordinator in a district, a technology director at a regional service center and is now managing statewide digital teaching and learning initiatives and projects in Utah. He works... Read More →

Thursday July 11, 2019 1:45pm - 2:45pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Technology

Audience Teachers, District / School Administrators, Library Media Specialists, Technology Coordinators / Facilitators, Curriculum District Specialists, All of the above
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Session Format 1 hour traditional lecture/audience participation

3:00pm MDT

Electricity and Magnetism: Hands-on 3D Activities and Resource Kits (Hour 1 of 2)

Feedback Survey

Experience several activities developed by Clark Planetarium for the 5th grade Electricity and Magnetism Science Curriculum (Standards 3 and 4). These hands-on activities allow students to experience static electric, current electric, and magnetic phenomena and are aligned with the three dimensions of science understanding. Resource kits valued at $200 each are available to distribute to up to 10 teachers that attend this session. (If more teachers attend than the number of available kits, priority will be given to individual schools, districts, or a random drawing.)

Speakers

Robert Bigelow

Education Program Specialist, Clark Planetarium

Robert Bigelow has been providing science education programs to Utah students and teachers for over twenty-five years with the Hansen/Clark Planetarium. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and is a NASA Solar System Ambassador.

Thursday July 11, 2019 3:00pm - 4:00pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Utah Core Curriculum

Audience Teachers, Curriculum District Specialists
Subject Area Science, STEM / STEAM
Session Format 2 hour In-Depth exploration workshop

4:15pm MDT

Electricity and Magnetism: Hands-on 3D Activities and Resource Kits (Hour 2 of 2)

Feedback Survey

Speakers

Robert Bigelow

Education Program Specialist, Clark Planetarium

Thursday July 11, 2019 4:15pm - 5:15pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Utah Core Curriculum

Audience Teachers, Curriculum District Specialists
Subject Area Science, STEM / STEAM
Session Format 2 hour In-Depth exploration workshop

10:30am MDT

I Broke Out! Now What!?

Feedback Survey

This session is for those that have participated in a Breakout EDU activity before and have questions like:

How do I buy a kit?
Can I just make one?
How do I find games?
How do I manage the locks?
Can students make games?

Join us as we dive deeper into Breakout EDU to see what resources are available!
Click here for presentation.

Speakers

Chris Haught

Media Specialist, SEDC

Chris Haught is the Technology/Media Mentor at Southwest Educational Service Center (SEDC), a regional Service Center that serves six district and seven charter ELA’s.Chris works closely with the region’s librarians providing support and training on Utah’s Online Library, the... Read More →

Friday July 12, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Utah Core Curriculum

Audience Teachers, District / School Administrators, Library Media Specialists, Technology Coordinators / Facilitators, Curriculum District Specialists, All of the above
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Subject Area Language Arts, Performing Arts / Visual Arts, Music, Computer Science, ESL, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, World Languages, STEM / STEAM, Special Education, Career and Technical Education
Session Format 1 hour BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Hands-On-Activities

11:45am MDT

Interactive Lessons on Digital Citizenship

Feedback Survey

Information literacy includes the ability to identify, find, evaluate, and use information effectively. From effective search strategies to evaluation techniques, students learn how to evaluate the quality, credibility, and validity of websites, and give proper credit. Living in a “copy/paste” culture, students need to reflect on their responsibilities and rights as creators in the online spaces where they consume, create, and share information. From addressing plagiarism to piracy, students can learn about copyright and fair use.
Come see how you can engage students using interactive lessons using Peardeck
Click here for presentation

Speakers

Chris Haught

Media Specialist, SEDC

Friday July 12, 2019 11:45am - 12:45pm MDT
Multi Purpose A, Jennifer Leavitt Student Center, USU Eastern 452 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501

Technology Utah Core Curriculum

Audience Teachers, Library Media Specialists, Technology Coordinators / Facilitators, Curriculum District Specialists
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Subject Area Language Arts, Digital Citizenship
Session Format 1 hour BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Hands-On-Activities