Over four days, educators from anywhere can learn some of the latest and most effective uses of technology from master's students at the IU School of Education at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
The second annual "Education in an Evolving World" cyber-summit is hosted by students in the Master's in Education with a Focus on Technology program from 4 to 8 p.m. from Monday, April 30, through Thursday, May 3. The webinars are free to attend and provide an opportunity for teachers to learn promising practices and new techniques for using technology in teaching.
"It's something that teachers can attend and immediately apply in their classrooms," said Joanna Ray, director of online development for the IU School of Education at IUPUI, noting that licensed educators can also earn Professional Growth Points through participating in the webinar.
Ray said the current cohort of students is large, allowing for 26 presentations over the four days. The variety of topics touches on the technology concerns of classroom teachers.
"Student presenters have selected topics where they've seen a need or interest in their schools, or maybe it's a personal interest," Ray said. "They do the research and hopefully emerge as leaders in these special topics."
Specifically, these students are in the Research in Instructional Computing class, which is concluding the spring semester. Research in Instructional Computing is a fourth-semester course in the sequence for the master's program, which is designed for teachers who want to earn a master's degree online. The entire Master's in Elementary Education or Secondary Education with a Focus on Technology program is 36 hours over six semesters.
The sizable cohort presenting in this year's webinar also brings an array of experience and interests. The variety of topics includes sessions on using iPads in the classroom, using e-readers in various ways to promote literacy, using social media to promote blended learning options, creativity for today's classrooms, and project-based learning.
"There's a lot of focus on inquiry-based learning and teaching with mobile devices this year," Ray said. She added that the projects focus particularly on modes of 21st-century teaching and learning that use technology in ideal ways.
"Learning is all about collaboration and sharing," Ray said. "It's empowering our learners through technology."
Complete descriptions of the webinar topics and links to the individual sessions are available athttp://evolvingeducation.tumblr.com/. The page includes a link to the registration allowing educators to earn Professional Growth Points.
Read more about the Learning by Design program. A new cohort begins in January 2013, with an application deadline of Nov. 1.
