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Fort Bend Independent School DistrictNEWS RELEASE |
** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **
FBISD’s Annual Technology Conference offers Participants “Infinite Possibilities”
FORT BEND ISD - Fort Bend ISD’s Educational Technology Department took advantage of educators’ free time this summer by hosting its 2012 “Infinite Possibilities” Technology Conference. The conference is held each year to introduce educators to new innovations, ideas and trends to help integrate technology into curriculum and the classrooms.
Held June 6 at Ridge Point High School, the day-long conference offered participants a variety of informative learning sessions, keynote addresses from distinguished educators, as well as services and products provided by vendors. Conference-goers also enjoyed displays of artwork created by FBISD high school students, and door prizes.
Lynette Meyer, Director of Educational Technology, welcomed more than 800 conference-goers to the event and introduced the Opening Keynote Speaker, Steve Dembo of Discovery Education. Dembo spoke of how educational technology is evolving and the need for adequate resources to help educators stay ahead of the curve.
“You don’t have to be an expert to have your students embrace technology,” said Dembo, “but with the proper tools you can guide students to safely navigate this new digital frontier.”
Following Dembo’s address, conference-goers attended various sessions on such topics as: “Incorporating New Media to Improve Campus Communication: Cost Effective Solutions,” “Atomic Learning: Where is AL?” “Social Media for School Administrators,” “Discover the Potential of the Nook in Education,” and “Connecting Language Learners to the Curriculum with Discovery Education.”
Conference-goers also welcomed Dr. Wesley Fryer as the Closing Keynote Speaker. International Learning Consultant and Executive Director of Story Chasers, Inc., Fryer presented a conference session on “Creating Narrated Slideshows”. According to Fryer, “education is ultimately more than filling a classroom seat, it’s about helping students learn to make choices.” He offered session participants advice and online resources to assist students in creating slideshows that can replace the typical written reports that are given during classroom presentations. Like Dembo, Fryer agrees that “we are in the midst of exciting times in how we communicate and must provide students with more opportunities to utilize technology.”
The 2012 FBISD Educational Technology Conference Committee would like to thank the following sponsors who contributed greatly to the success of the event. Contributing were: Discovery Education, H-E-B, Atomic Learning, Barnes & Noble, Brain Pop, Edmodo, eInstruction, Herff-Jones, Houston Museum of National Science, Inspiration, James Coney Island, Learning.com, Lego, Leonetti Graphics, Inc., NA Education Sales, Adobe Systems Incorporated, Pepperoni’s, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Spring Creek Barbecue, Summit Integration Systems, Texas Instruments and TurnItIn.com.
Photo 1: Principals (from left) Vonda Washington of McAuliffe Middle School, Kristi Durham of Settlers Way Elementary and Jaimie Geis of Palmer Elementary helped administrators check into the conference.
Photo 2: Shown from left are: Layni McCubbin, student volunteer; Bryan Bullard, Conference Set-Up Committee Member; Corletta Hill, Conference Coordinator; and Jeannie Langston, Communications Committee Member.
Photo 3: Conference-goers Vicki Barzilla of Mission Bend Elementary, Denise Grove of Kempner High School and Humberto Gallardo of Armstrong Elementary were eager to start a day of learning.
Photo 4: Shown from left are: Robert Calvert, FBISD Chief Information Officer; Steve Dembo, Opening Keynote Speaker; Lynette Meyer, Director of Educational Technology; and Dr. Timothy Jenney, FBISD Superintendent.
Photo 5: Closing Keynote Speaker Dr. Wesley Fryer presented a session on “Creating Narrated Slideshows.”
Photo 6: Tanya Heard, Educational Technology Coordinator, presented a session to administrators titled, “How OneNote Saved My Life!”
Photo 7: Capresha Bernhart and Christina Haass of Holley Elementary and Sherri McElwee of Elkins High School visited vendor booths during session breaks.
Photo 8: Ridge Point High School student conference volunteers included (from left) Rachel Coleman, Brandon Smith, Justice Jefferson, Ashlan Heard, Breanna Sullivan and Tamara Coleman.
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