by Project Tomorrow at FETC
Dr. Julie A. Evans, CEO of Project Tomorrow is presenting four offerings at FETC in Orlando, Florida. Her two sessions include addressing the critical and timely issues of generative AI in education and providing foundational data to support the national emphasis on closing the access, design and use divides in American education, and identify specific areas of “unfinished business” that will help local, state, and national leaders understand the need for urgency and targeted attention on the inequities inherent in the divides. Her two workshops are fun, interactive opportunities to translate integrating computational thinking across content areas from lofty goals into actionable classroom strategies, and explore new ways to enhance your communications skills as an education leader.
Learn more below about the details for all of Dr. Evans’ sessions and workshops:
Computational Thinking 101: Embedding Problem-Solving Strategies within Everyday Classroom Instruction Workshop on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 8:30 AM ET in South 230F
Many district vision statements or Portraits of a Graduate include a phrase about helping students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, skills highly valued by both colleges and employers. But what does that really mean in terms of classroom instruction? Helping students develop highly effective problem-solving skills is a new equity imperative but that only happens if these experiences are embedded within all content areas. In this hands-on workshop for educators and leaders, we will introduce you to the four essential components of computational thinking as a set of problem-solving strategies that all teachers can integrate across their curriculum, and all students can master to support increased self-efficacy as a learner. Leveraging Project Tomorrow’s expertise leading professional learning and capacity development in Michigan and New York around computational thinking, participants will gain a new appreciation for how to translate those lofty vision statements into actionable classroom strategies.
Developing your Superpower: Effective Communications with Staff and Parents Workshop
on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 11 AM ET in South 230F
As an education leader, you have many superpowers but increasingly the most important talent you must have to succeed is being an effective communicator. With the pervasiveness of social media in our society, small misunderstandings can explode into bigger issues with only a few clicks. In this interactive and fun workshop, we will explore how to develop your personal emotional IQ and leadership communication superpowers to create an environment for more open and safe dialogue with staff and parents, and how to head off disputes resulting from erroneous messaging about school or district issues. Included in this workshop will be the opportunity for you to learn about your own crisis communication style and new research findings from Project Tomorrow about parents’ desires for effective engagement with their child’s school or district. Join us (superpower cape optional) to explore new ways to enhance your communications skills as an education leader!
Unfinished Business: Understanding the Digital Divides in American Schools
Wednesday, Jan 15 at at 11 AM ET in SOUTH 210C
In support of the release of the first new National Educational Technology Plan in 7 years, Project Tomorrow has created a new series of reports that examine each of the three digital divides through the lens of the Speak Up Research findings. Each report in the series provides foundational data to support the national emphasis on closing the access, design and use divides in American education, and identify specific areas of “unfinished business” that will help local, state, and national leaders understand the need for urgency and targeted attention on the inequities inherent in the divides. This session will provide a summary of the key findings and discuss ways that local schools and communities can address this unfinished business. Participants will gain access to a new assessment that they can use to understand their school or district’s readiness for closing the digital access, use and design divides.
Promise or Peril: What do Educators Think about AI?
Thursday, Jan. 16 at 10 AM ET in South 320BC
Sal Khan is promoting a revolutionary idea – that educators should be active participants in the discussions about how AI will impact teaching and learning, and not allowing these critical decisions to be shaped by the tech industry, the media, or policymakers. But what are the current perceptions of classroom educators, building leaders or district administrators about the potential role of AI within education? Over the past year, Project Tomorrow has been collecting ground-breaking research from these key education stakeholders nationwide (and students and parents also) about the potential promise of AI along with their valid concerns. Using this research as table setting, a panel of education leaders will share their insights about the current state of AI in schools and discuss what is needed to ensure that educators are leading these discussions both locally and nationally.
Go to the complete FETC agenda: here.
Not attending #FETC2025 but want more information about any of the workshops or sessions that Dr. Evans is offering? Contact us at support@tomorrow.org. We would be happy to learn more about your interest and needs.
