Thursday, 8:15-9:15

Session: 77 Title: Gadgets: Are You a Gadget Head?
Presenter: Leslie Fisher, Featured Speaker
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: Salon 1 Seats: 260
Strand: Best Practices Audience: Instructional PK-12
Do you surf the net or listen closely to geeks talking in hopes of hearing about a cool software product or gizmo? The presenter will show you some of her favorite hardware and software gadgets that do everything from make your life easier to provide piles of fun. Hardware, software, and even completely off-topic gadgets will be discussed.

Session: 78 Title: Digital Portfolio Development: A Method for Documenting Student Growth and Development
Presenter: Tonya Witherspoon, Featured Speaker
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: Salon 2 Seats: 260
Strand: Best Practices Audience: Instructional PK-12
There is much more to student achievement than written tests show. Digital portfolios allow students to showcase what they have done and are capable of doing. A digital portfolio is not a scrapbook of all student work, but rather a deliberately well-chosen selection of artifacts that demonstrate mastery of skills and knowledge. This presentation will share examples of
student portfolios PK-12 and demonstrate and discuss tips and techniques for introducing electronic portfolios into the classroom and how to create them.

Session: 79 Title:
Presenter: Tammy Worcester, Featured Speaker
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: Salon 3 Seats: 260
Strand: 21st Century Learning Environments Audience: Instructional PK-12
In this session, you will learn how to use common computer programs in clever ways for teaching and learning mathematics. See how math lessons and learning can be enlivened, enhanced, and updated through the integration of resources and tools found on the the Internet and on the classroom computer. Explore some fascinating ideas and resources that will inspire both teachers and students. You’re guaranteed to go away with many ideas you can implement tomorrow with your students!

Session: 80 Title: Crispen on Security: Home Computer Security Basics
Presenter: Patrick Crispen, California State University, Featured Speaker
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: Salon 4 Seats: 800
Strand: Internet Audience: Technical
When you connect your home computer to the Internet, the Internet connects to your home computer. And with that comes a whole bunch of nasty stuff like viruses, exploits, and crackers. In this session, participants will learn the basics of how to avoid the varied security issues plaguing most Internet-connected home computers.

Session: 81 Title: Statewide K-12 Network Update
Presenter: Charlie Jackson, Georgia Department of Education
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: Salon 5 Seats: 800
Strand: Internet Audience: Technical
This session will provide details of the upgrades and changes to the Georgia Department of Education Statewide K-12 Network. Participants will learn about current ongoing projects on the K-12 Network as well as future enhancements.

Session: 82 Title: Marriage of Interactive Whiteboards and Graphing Calcs - "We're Engaged"
Presenter: Jimmy Bostock, National Science Center ETTC
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: Salon 6 Seats: 260
Strand: Best Practices Audience: Instructional PK-12
Want to see what a Georgia 21st Century math/science classroom could look like? In this session, attendees will participate in a hands-on activity using graphing calculators and an interactive whiteboard. They will learn how to engage students in real-world, authentic tasks. This session will focus on the seamless integration of multiple forms of technology in a math
and/or science classroom and ways teachers can keep their students active as they master the new Georgia Performance Standards.

Session: 83 Title: Tablet vs Laptop PC
Presenter: Tina Young, University of West Georgia
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: Salon 7 Seats: 260
Strand: Networking/Technical Support Audience: Technical
What makes a Tablet PC a good choice for a student and a teacher in a classroom? The Tablet PC has the potential to dramatically alter the educational process. This new technology significantly changes the way students and teachers interact. With its light weight and versatile capabilities, it adds completely new dimensions to classroom interaction. For digital ink and drawing tools for writing, sketching, drawing, and real-time collaboration, will it be a Tablet or Laptop PC?

Session: 84 Title: First LEGO League Coaching, The First Year
Presenter: Elizabeth Hughes, Bartow County
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: Salon 8 Seats: 260
Strand: Best Practices Audience: Instructional PK-12
This session will describe the process of coaching a First LEGO league team and give tips on how to be successful. The presentation will go step-by-step through the FIRST competition year. Along the way, use of the LOGO RCX (and possibly NXT), presentation, technical judging, and other details will be discussed.

Session: 85 Title: FREE Web-Based Reservation System
Presenters: Joyce Davis, Jeff Davis County; Keith Osburn
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: Swiss 1-2 Seats: 88
Strand: Library/Media Audience: Instructional PK-12
phpScheduleIt, a free open source Web-based reservation system, allows users to reserve any kind of resource, such as conference rooms, computer labs, and media centers. Features such as recurring reservations and restricted times are supported. Through central control, administrators have authority over all aspects of this software. Reservation data can be
viewed using a flexible search tool and displayed in a variety of formats. Statistical reporting on resource usage is available for administrative personnel.

Session: 86 Title: Winking with Audacity
Presenter: Clay Gunter, Cherokee County
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: Swiss 3-4 Seats: 88
Strand: 21st Century Learning Environments Audience: Instructional PK-12
Using two free programs and FrontPage, teachers can create presentations, directions, and teaching tools that are accessible to all students and make differentiated teaching easy. Step-by-step instructions will be given. and examples of how to implement this technology in the classroom will be demonstrated.

Session: 87 Title: HISTORYTREK: Enhancing Georgia Studies through Technology
Presenter: Kirk Heriot, The History Game Company, Inc.
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: Kenyan 1-2 Seats: 88
Strand: Best Practices  Audience: Technical
Participants in this session will learn about HISTORYTREK, a new educational software program that will enhance the social studies teacher's ability to engage students in learning Georgia Studies. HISTORYTREK is a full-featured multiplayer game complete with over 1000 questions from basic to advanced levels on Georgia history, geography, economics, government, and more. HISTORYTREK will take students to a new level of ability in social studies. It is an educational game designed with the new Georgia Performance Standards in mind.

Session: 88 Title: GIS: A Tool to Improve Student Problem-Solving Skills
Presenter: Marc Dastous, Henry County
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: Kenyan 3-4 Seats: 88
Strand: 21st Century Learning Environments Audience: Administrative
Simply put, GIS is a collection of computer hardware, software, and geographic data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. It is an excellent tool to improve student problem-solving skills--one of the main problem areas on the recent administration of the CRCT. This session will expose teachers and administrators to the benefits of implementing a GIS program in their schools and to example curriculums that are available.

Session: 89 Title: Current Technology Use Among Preservice Teachers
Presenters: Elizabeth Downs, University System of Georgia; Stephen Jenkins; Terry Diamanduros
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: Italian 1-2 Seats: 88
Strand: Research/Assessment/Accountability Audience: College
In this session, attendees will learn about the results of a pilot study that was developed to assess undergraduate students’ ownership and use of technology. Research has shown that students in these age groups are increasing their ownership of computers and wireless devices and using them for emailing, instant messaging, browsing the Internet, playing computer
games, talking with friends, and listening to music. Results of this study will have an impact on the design of a new instructional technology course that is currently being designed for pre-service teachers.

Session: 90 Title: Let's Exchange Pets
Presenters: Millicent Johnson, Rockdale County; Melanie Holbrook
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: Italian 3-4 Seats: 88
Strand: Multimedia Audience: Instructional PK-5
Participants will learn how to use the Pet Exchange project to integrate technology, creative writing, social studies, and science skills in one interesting, engaging project for primary students. The Pet Exchange involves exchanging a stuffed animal with a same-grade student in another state. This activity allows students to learn subject content and also valuable
technology skills such as digital photography, PowerPoint, wordprocessing, graphic organizers, desktop publishing, and email. The Pet Exchange also gives students the opportunity to form lasting friendships and pen pals in a safe and supervised environment.

Session: 91 Title: A Day and A Life of an Online Instructor
Presenter: Jeannie Barden, Georgia Department of Education
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: German 1-2 Seats: 88
Strand: eLearning  Audience: Instructional PK-12
Participants in this session will learn about a typical day in the life of an online instructor. What does an online instructor do each and every day? Where does the teacher teach? How is it possible to teach without ever leaving the house? How does an online instructor teach students who are never seen? What tools do online instructors use? The presenter will answer these and other questions about online instruction.

Session: 92 Title: Are You Blue? Well, You Should Be! Let's Talk About Bluetooth.
Presenter: Stephen Rahn, Kennesaw State University ETTC
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: German 3-4 Seats: 88
Strand: 21st Century Learning Environments Audience: Instructional PK-12
Bluetooth technology allows you to wirelessly connect many different types of devices to create a better and more efficient learning environment. In this presentation, participants will see demonstrations of many different types of Bluetooth devices. Bluetooth technology isn't just for cell phone headsets. It has evolved into what might be a viable alternative to standard wired technologies or, in some cases, WiFi.

Session: 93 Title: Grab a New Concept: Tablet PCs 
Presenter: Sheila Hall, Valdosta State University
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: Spanish 1-2 Seats: 88
Strand: 21st Century Learning Environments Audience: Instructional PK-12
Tablet PCs are changing the way we use computers. Not only does this innovative concept in computing makes learning, working, and playing fun and mobile, the unique features are practical, functional, and way-cool for both educators and learners. Participants will see how to use the Tablet PC in the classroom and office and learn about amazing features, grant
opportunities, and free downloads. So come on, don't just grab that pen and paper; instead grab a new concept: a Tablet PC.

Session: 94 Title: Geocaching at GaETC
Presenters: Traci Redish, Kennesaw State University ETTC; Michael Murray
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: Spanish 3-4 Seats: 88
Strand: Instructional PK-12 Audience: Administrative
Geocaching has been described as a 21st century treasure hunt. Individuals or organizations hide a cache (or treasure chest) somewhere around the world and share its coordinates (latitude and longitude) on the Internet. Using these coordinates and a GPS unit, visitors try to find the hidden cache. Once found, a cache may have a wide variety of rewards inside. The visitors are asked to swap the reward with one of their own and sign the visitor’s log onsite and online. If you are a current geocacher, please come prepared to share how you are successfully using geocaching in your classroom.

Session: 95 Title: Grow Into Your Network, Not Out of It
Presenter:  Mike Hurley, Waters Network Systems, Vendor;  Debbie Haydock, Chris Ragsdale
Time: Thursday, 8:15am - 9:15am Location: Australian 3-4 Seats: 88
Strand: Networking/Technical Support Audience: Technical
Participants will hear how Georgia districts have implemented future-proof LAN foundations for cost-effective delivery of data, VoIP, video, and security for fixed and portable classrooms. The discussion will include network architecture, financial considerations, application features, implementation, and operational issues of the projects.