Make the most of your conference experience, and join us the day before the conference for some in-depth, interactive, how-to sessions on today’s hot topics.

Advanced registration is required; fee is $85 (TLN and NA members); $100 (non-members).

Morning Sessions • 9:00 am – Noon

WH1: Exploring the K–12 Virtual Universe: Second Life and Other Tools
Lisa Blair, Greenbush Southeast Kansas Education Center (KS), Kylie Stewart, Pittsburg State University (KS)

Learn more about emerging technologies for the K-12 environment. This session will introduce the basics of 3D virtual worlds, including Second Life, Second Life Teen Grid, and Edusim. You'll hear about current K-12 applications and professional development opportunities.
Leadership and Vision, Ed. Games & Simulation, 4C2

WH2: Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works
Howard Pitler, Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) (CO)

Work with the authors of ASCD's bestselling book, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works, in this highly interactive half day session geared to technology directors. With your own laptops, you'll take part in activities that use technology to enhance research based teaching strategies. We'll create a "wiki" that you can use in your district to share the information with your colleagues.
Each participant must bring his or her own laptop with wireless Internet connectivity.
Leadership and Vision, Student Engagement, 618/619

WH3: Approaching Grantgivers — How to Write It, How to Sell It!
Sheryl Abshire, Calcasieu Parish Public Schools (LA)

Join an accomplished educational grant expert and hear the straight facts. Find out exactly what funders look for in a grant proposal, and learn to avoid the pitfalls that will send your proposal speeding to the rejection pile. This session will ensure you walk away with the know-how to devise fundraising strategies that connect with the people controlling the major money in the educational arena. Gain proven strategies for capturing your piece of the billion dollar funding pie.
Support, Management, and Operations, Transforming District Ops., 2AB

WH4: Intellectual Property in Schools: Issues, Trends, Coping with Change in 2008
Janis Bruwelheide, Montana State University (MT), Tom Hutton, National School Boards Association (VA)

Are your district's policies and practices regarding copyright and intellectual property rights up-to-date? This workshop will provide an overview on current copyright law with interpretations for educators. We'll also present school board policy content ideas, discuss ownership models, and suggest "best practices" for school applications. Attendees can bring copies of their district policies to share and discuss.
Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues, Tech. & The Law, 611/612

WH5: Exploring Open Source
Steve Hargadon, CoSN (CA), Randy Orwin, Bainbridge Island School District (WA)

The use of Open Source software is predicted to significantly increase in K-12 schools, with resulting financial, technological, and educational benefits. We'll look at case studies of successful Open Source use, both in the administrative office and in the classroom. Join us in a candid discussion of the positives and negatives of Open Source software in general, and specific programs being used today.
Support, Management, and Operations, Open Source, 607

WH6: CTO 2012
Bailey Mitchell, Forsyth County Schools (GA), Bev White, Wake County School System (NC), William Rust, Gartner, Inc. (MD)

CTO 2012 is based on the latest cross-industry efforts to help school district technology leaders and CTO's understand the critical trends that will change their jobs over the next three to five years. Explore the new skills that will be essential to succeed. Join us for a provocative half-day discussion focused on three key topics: how CIO trends in other industries change your work; how emerging technologies and critical initiatives such as the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and Web 2.0 change your role; and how to communicate with other leaders in your district to garner support for technology.
Leadership and Vision, Transforming District Ops., 605/606

Afternoon Sessions • 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

WH7: Hot Legal Topics in School Technology
Tom Hutton, National School Boards Association (VA)

The increasing technological sophistication of school districts has raised a host of new legal issues and created new twists on old ones. The list is long and growing: cell phone policies, technology contracts, cyberbullying, online threats, personnel policies, records management, and more. Update your knowledge on today's hot ed tech legal issues, and explore the roles of school boards, administrators, and technology personnel in confronting them. Come with your own questions to discuss with the group.
Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues, Tech. & The Law, 611/612

WH8: The Power of Data
Howard Pitler, Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) (CO)

Learn about a four-stage process for building your capacity to use data to improve student learning. You'll discover the important link between building a purposeful community and a data-driven culture focused on student achievement. The session will highlight the critical elements of each step in the process, increasing your background knowledge and skills to lead a data-based change initiative in your school or district.
Assessment and Evaluation, Transforming District Ops., 304

WH 9: Web 2.0 in the Classroom – Podcasts, Blogs, and Making Connections
Eric Langhorst, Liberty Public School District (MO)

Learn how to use Web 2.0 tools to enhance your curriculum and improve test scores. Explore how to create "StudyCasts" that students download to MP3 players to review for tests. Discover how to use digital video editing and find out how to create an interactive book blog project, an oral family history project, and an online assessment that gives the teacher immediate feedback to adapt classroom instruction to best fit the needs of the students.

Each participant must bring his or her own laptop with wireless Internet connectivity. Please download Audacity and PhotoStory 3 prior to the session.
Learning and Teaching, Social Networking/Web 2.0, 618/619

WH 10: IMPACT: Assessing Student Work in the 21st Century
Bernajean Porter, Bernajean Porter Consulting (CO)

This session will examine the use of data-driven results from large grants and other school initiatives that used student digital products as tangible artifacts and evidence of successes. Learn about comprehensive, research-based assessment tools for using your own student digital products to organize effective staff development, accelerate school-wide goals, and make a pervasive impact on student learning.
Book signing Tuesday, October 28 from 11:00 am - 11:30 am, in the South Lobby in front of the NSBA Bookstore.
Learning and Teaching, 21st Century Learning, 4C2

WH11: Moodle — Why and How
Steve Hargadon, CoSN (CA), Randy Orwin, Bainbridge Island School District (WA)

Join us for an in-depth look at the Open Source course management software program called Moodle. More than just a presentation, you'll benefit from this hands-on exploration of Moodle's functionality, the variety of ways it can be used, and how it compares with other programs.
Learning and Teaching, Open Source, 607