AAIM 2019

This interactive session will highlight the benefits of using children’s literature (from fairy tales to picture books) to foster more dynamic discussions-regardless of age. The presenter will share what elements to look for and discuss at the heart of children’s literature to elicit a variety of responses that will increase students’ attentiveness, engagement, and ability to recognize and appreciate diverse experiences of their peers stemming from recognizing common experiences and the emotional connections at the core of the readings.

Using historical artifacts and art in a lesson can grab your students and create an opportunity for critical thinking. The Arkansas Declaration of Learning (ADOL) is an intensive summer training opportunity that focuses on object-based learning leading to civic engagement. This session will provide a glimpse into the program and offer some of the strategies & resources introduced in the ADOL training.

We all know how to create presentations with Google Slides, but what if I told you that Slides can be used for so much more? This session will introduce participants to some of the unique features of Slides that engage students and unlock their thinking. Google Slides is first and foremost thought of as a presentation tool, but by thinking creatively teachers can engage students and unlock their thinking. Create interactive activities that students can manipulate, analyze images, build apps, compose interactive stories and poetry, empower students through digital storytelling all while engaging students in a collaborative environment. This session will begin with participants contributing to Google Slides activities that will be introduced during the session. These activities will be followed by a discussion of the alternative uses of Slides with supplemental resources provided by the presenter. Participants will brainstorm uses and create an activity to use in their classroom. Please bring your laptop!

You can access my presentation here:  bit.ly/mtvaaim

There's a saying, "Generalized writing is where good fiction goes to die."  Join Arkansas children’s author and armchair research expert Kristin L. Gray as she shares, through her own work and forthcoming releases, four easy rules to writing fun-filled, fact-based fiction.

MakerCare – Creating for a Need, Through Design Thinking
The maker movement has global impact and is quickly spreading through our
communities and education system. Join Maker Maven to learn more about design
thinking and the ‘empathy impact’ for 21st century student makers. This session will
give you the history of making and design thinking, and inspire you to foster
empathetic makers in your makerspace and classroom. Great take-away ideas and
immediate implementations available.

Does your school use a learning management system(LMS) with single sign on for students(Google Classroom, Canvas, Moodle, Office 365, Schoology)? You can now deliver an ebook to all students at the same time! Students can bookmark, annotate, collaborate, embed voice and video on pages of a PDF ebook. Learn how to provide PDF ebook content to your teachers that can easily be shared with students.

Today's students will be citizens of the world more than any generation before them. They live in an age of instant, world-wide communication. After graduation, many will be employed by internationally based companies and will work and live side-by-side with people from all over the world. So, learning about other people and their cultures is a vital part of their education. The Cultural Kaleidoscope can help prepare students to be effective citizens in the global community. Our programs introduce students to the cultures through authentic music, dance, history, geography, language, art and cultural traditions. Teaching Resource Guides are provided to the schools. In this hands-on session you will be fully engaged and active participants. Join us for this unique arts-in-education learning experience.