EdTech Academy @ Southeast Missouri State University 2025

Registration is for all conference attendees. Registration will be located in the main lobby of Dempster Hall. Please be sure to enter at the front/main entrance of Dempster Hall to check in and receive your materials.

Book Sales
Located in the hallway outside Glenn Auditorium. The following books are for sale onsite:

• The Innovator's Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity (by George Couros)
• Innovate Inside the Box: Empowering Learners Through UDL and The Innovator's Mindset (by George Couros with Katie Novak)
• Create: Illuminate Student Voice Through Student Choice (by Bethany Petty)
• Illuminate: Technology Enhanced Learning (by Bethany Petty)

 

Carol Dweck’s work has honed in on the concepts of “fixed” and “growth” mindset, but as educators, we must venture further with these ideas to foster the learning opportunities our students and schools merit. It’s not only about what we know but also how we utilize that knowledge. Change is ever-present, and with the advent of new avenues for learning and evolution through technology, such as AI and emerging technologies, we must be proactive not just in response to changes but also in creating change.

In this talk, George will explore the principles and characteristics of “The Innovator’s Mindset”—a concept detailed in his book of the same name—and present compelling reasons why this mindset is essential for educators to cultivate outstanding learning opportunities, not only for their students but also for themselves.

Known for their emotional depth and humor, George’s presentations engage audiences on a level that resonates both intellectually and emotionally. This message is not just for the moment; it’s crafted to stay with you, affecting genuine change that extends far beyond the talk itself.

There will be a short break between the Opening Keynote and Interactive Session with George Couros.

There are restrooms on both sides of the main level and lower level.

Snacks are available in the hallway between Glenn Auditorium and the Atrium.

Building on the insights from his keynote, this session will allow participants to dive deeper into the practical application of the Innovator’s Mindset. Attendees will explore actionable strategies to empower both learners and educators immediately. This session is designed not only to present ideas but also to model a dynamic, personalized learning experience—one that will feel engaging and relevant to everyone in the room. By the end, participants will have the tools to implement a new mindset and approach to learning in their classrooms, schools, and districts.

AI brings many benefits, but it also comes with some concerns. How do we stay digitally literate when digital technology is changing so fast? How do we help our students be responsible digital citizens in this rapidly changing technology minefield? This session will address these concerns and offer some resources and practical ideas for keeping yourself and your students safe and ethical in the fast-paced world of educational technology.

School administrators have access to a wealth of data—but making sense of it all can be overwhelming. In this session, we’ll explore how to transform raw data into visually engaging, interactive dashboards using Looker Studio (a part of Google Cloud Services). Learn how to streamline reports, track key metrics, and create dynamic visualizations that support informed decision-making. Whether you're looking to monitor student performance, track attendance trends, or analyze budget data, this session will equip you with the tools to turn numbers into actionable insights.

This hands-on session is a deep exploration of artificial intelligence tools for teachers. We will start by working with general tools like ChatGPT and learning how to craft quality instructions for them (called prompts). We will then expand our prompts to include specific tools for creating images and videos. Finally, we will explore tools specific to the classroom for lesson creation, summary, quizzing, and more!

Abstract:
In an era demanding adaptable, critical-thinking learners, educators must embrace innovative pedagogical approaches. This breakout session provides practical strategies for integrating gamification into secondary curricula to cultivate essential 21st-century skills. Participants will explore readily available EdTech platforms and design principles to create engaging, skill-building learning experiences.

Session Description:
This interactive workshop will equip educators with the tools and knowledge to transform their classrooms into dynamic learning environments. We will move beyond superficial gamification, focusing on designing experiences that foster critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and digital literacy.

Participants will:

• Explore Gamification Principles: Understand the core elements of effective gamification, including intrinsic motivation, feedback loops, and progress tracking.
• Discover EdTech Platforms: Gain hands-on experience with versatile platforms such as:
  • Google Earth Voyager: Develop spatial reasoning and global awareness through interactive, location-based learning.
  • Blooket: Implement engaging review and reinforcement activities with diverse game modes.
  • Teachable Machine (Google): Introduce fundamental AI concepts through accessible, hands-on machine learning model creation.
  • AI Dungeon: Foster creative writing and problem-solving through AI-driven narrative exploration.
  • Virtual Reality (VR): Explore immersive learning environments for experiential skill development.

Design Skill-Building Activities: Collaborate to create gamified lessons aligned with specific learning objectives and 21st-century skill development.

Address Implementation Challenges: Discuss practical considerations for integrating gamification into existing curricula, including assessment, student motivation, and technology access.

Ethical Considerations: Discuss the ethical implications of using AI within the classroom.

This session emphasizes practical application, providing educators with concrete strategies and resources to implement gamification immediately. Participants will leave with a toolkit of digital resources and a deeper understanding of how to leverage gamification to create meaningful, engaging learning experiences that prepare students for the demands of the 21st century.

Target Audience:
Secondary educators across all disciplines, curriculum developers, and technology integration specialists.

Expected Outcomes - Participants will:

•  Gain practical knowledge of gamification principles and EdTech tools.
•  Develop strategies for integrating gamification into their teaching practices.
•  Design gamified activities that promote 21st-century skill development.
•  Understand the ethical implications of AI and gamification in education.

Lunch is provided for all attendees in the Dempster Atrium. There will be two double-sided buffets, one on each side of the Atrium. Seating will be available in the lower and upper levels (balcony) of the Atrium.

Book Sales
Located in the hallway outside Glenn Auditorium. The following books are for sale onsite:

• The Innovator's Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity (by George Couros)
• Innovate Inside the Box: Empowering Learners Through UDL and The Innovator's Mindset (by George Couros with Katie Novak)
• Create: Illuminate Student Voice Through Student Choice (by Bethany Petty)
• Illuminate: Technology Enhanced Learning (by Bethany Petty) 

Explore learning kits available for FREE checkout from the EDvolution Center on SEMO’s campus. There are kits for PK as well as K-5, and are self-contained; they have everything you need, including all supplies (even markers and scissors), lesson plans, books, and more. The kits are aligned with state and national standards and include lessons on water pollution, testing different materials, solving an engineering problem, habitats and organisms, and more!

In this interactive breakout session, educators will explore and develop key strategies for managing student behavior in the classroom through the lens of high-leverage practices. These practices focus on evidence-based, proactive approaches that promote positive behaviors, improve classroom climate, and support student learning. Participants will examine techniques for creating clear expectations, using reinforcement and motivation strategies, fostering social-emotional learning, and effectively addressing challenging behaviors. Through collaborative discussions and hands-on activities, educators will leave with practical tools and a deeper understanding of how to apply these practices to create a more positive and productive learning environment for all students.

In this professional development session, educators and library professionals will dive into the critical intersection of media literacy, digital literacy, and artificial intelligence in today’s educational landscape. As technology continues to evolve, so does the necessity for students to understand and critically evaluate the information they encounter. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of resources and strategies for integrating these essential literacies into K-12 curricula. Attendees will explore innovative lesson plans and hands-on activities designed to help students grasp the importance of media and digital literacy, while also understanding how AI plays a role in shaping the information they consume. Through practical examples and collaborative discussions, participants will be equipped to empower students with the skills needed to navigate and critically assess the digital world.

Unlock the potential of Google's cutting-edge AI tools, Notebook LM and Illuminate, in this interactive workshop! We'll move beyond theory and get straight to practical applications. Learn how Notebook LM acts as your personal AI research assistant, synthesizing your uploaded documents into powerful knowledge bases for research and lesson planning. Plus, experience Illuminate's unique ability to transform any text into a personalized listening experience, simplifying complex information. This session provides ample time for hands-on exploration, ensuring you leave with concrete strategies and a clear understanding of how these tools can streamline your workflow, save time, and enhance student learning.

This session empowers Missouri educators and librarians to equip parents with crucial skills to guide their children in the digital world, focusing on AI literacy and media literacy. Attendees will learn how to explain the basics of generative AI and its potential for inaccuracies, and provide actionable strategies for parents to help children develop critical thinking to evaluate online content and AI-generated material. The session will also address fostering a balanced digital life by discussing concepts like digital pull and the importance of managing screen time for better focus and well-being, ultimately enabling parents to nurture informed and responsible digital citizens in an AI-driven future.

The effective management of student discipline is critical to the success of any school.

Educators are confronted with the challenge of maintaining school safety while minimizing the number of long-term suspensions. Student and teacher safety are extremely important, but in order for students, who compromise the safety and conduciveness of the learning environment, to be successful, they need to be in class.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a program that could provide school administrators with a restorative practice to help minimize the number of out-of-school suspensions, supply teachers, counselors, and behavior interventionists with an evidence-supported intervention that teaches students individualized self-regulation skills, enabling them to be successful in the classroom and beyond school? Moral Reasoning Training, MRT, is a program that can address all of these needs.

MRT is an evidence-supported intervention that provides a sequence of twelve detailed lessons to help students improve their skills for self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, building positive relationships, responsible decision-making, creating goals, and developing action steps to achieve them. The interactive lessons that are found in the MRT workbook incorporate components from art therapy, oral and written expression, and self-reflection, all of which help students identify and acknowledge the behavior(s) that prevent them from being successful, their triggers, and positive behaviors they can develop to replace the negative. My presentation will explain how this intervention helped decrease discipline referrals by approximately 80 percent while increasing attendance and graduation rates.

On your way to Glenn Auditorium, grab a quick snack and enter the drawing for door prizes! Your door prize entry ticket is in your nametag holder.

We will draw for door prizes immediately following the closing message from Jennifer Jones, 2025 Missouri Teacher of the Year.

Must be present to win!