Conference Breakout Sessions

Dr. Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) presents a variety of conference breakout sessions and is regularly updating / customizing them. A linked list of Wesley’s past presentations since 2010 is available on his Presentation Handouts wiki. Current breakout sessions Wesley offers include:

Creating Multimedia eBooks
Enhanced eBooks on iPads, iPhones and iPod Touches can include audio, video, and interactive animations in addition to digital text, images and links. In this session we’ll view examples of different multimedia eBooks created by both professional authors as well as students. We’ll learn how to use a variety of tools including Apple Pages software, iBooks Author software, and iPad apps like “Book Creator” to create and share enhanced/multimedia eBooks. Participants will also learn how to use Calibre software (free) to convert standard eBooks into Kindle and other formats. We’ll discuss different websites and services for directly publishing your eBooks as well as on-demand print versions of books.
http://wfryer.me/ebooks

Mobile Apps & Curriculum for Your Class
Learn how to create a free mobile application for your class for iOS (iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch) as well as Android smartphones/tablets. In this session we will learn how to create both web apps (which run via a web browser and do not require Apple Store / Android Marketplace approval) as well as basic, native mobile apps. Several different, free mobile app development options will be explored and demonstrated. No prior programming experience is required! Become an educational leader in the mobile learning revolution by offering your students opportunities to access your course content via a customized, mobile application YOU create and update!
http ://wfryer.me/mapps

Creating Narrated Slideshows and Screencasts
Learn how to create and share a narrated slideshow online including recorded audio synchronized to selected photographs or images. We’ll discuss different examples of narrated slideshows and review effective processes for facilitating student narrated slideshows. “John Madden” style digital pen annotations can also be added. Websites and tools for creating narrated slideshows and screencasts we will explore include VoiceThread, Screenr, and the iPad apps ShowMe and Explain Everything.
http://wfryer.me/cns

iPhoneography
Smartphones like the iPhone have ushered in a new golden age of digital photography. The best camera is the one you have with you. The higher resolution along with the editing/processing capabilities and uploading/sharing options of modern smartphones make iPhoneography a flexible as well as fun type of digital photography. In this session we’ll explore a variety of concepts, techniques, and applications related to iPhoneography.
http://wfryer.me/iphoneography

Tell a Story in 5 Photos
Visual literacy and visual communication skills can be developed effectively through image-based communication. In this session we will discuss examples of five photo stories, explore copyright-friendly websites for finding images to use in five photo stories, and learn how to create and share five photo stories with a variety of web-based tools.
http://wfryer.me/5photos

Narrated Art Projects
Draw a picture or take a picture, and then record your voice with a website or app which puts shares your recording with your image. Narrated Art Projects provide excellent opportunities to practice meta-cognition, use nonlinguistic representation to boost student achievement, and improve oral communication skills. In this workshop we’ll view and discuss examples of student-created narrated art, and also create examples together in the session. Websites like AudioBoo and SoundCloud offer cloud-based audio recording and sharing using free smartphone applications as well as browser-based interfaces. Apps like ShowMe and Draw & Tell for iPad can streamline the creation and sharing of narrated art. Learn how narrated art projects can become important elements in students’ digital portfolios.
http://wfryer.me/nart 

iPad Quick Edit Videography
Learn to shoot, edit, and publish a video on an iPad in a fraction of the time this process takes with a laptop computer and “traditional” video gear! Flash-based video camcorders on mobile computing devices (like the iPad) can empower learners to create and publish “quick edit” videos. In this session we will discuss example iPad videos, explore different apps for quick-edit videography, and learn to to successfully facilitate student-created iPad videos. We’ll also learn about options for puppet videography with iPads, including actual finger puppets as well as virtual puppets using apps like Puppet Pals. Prepare to have fun and unleash a wealth of creative ideas on your students during and following this session!
http://wfryer.me/ipadvideo

Interactive Digital Writing
Students and teachers today need to practice interactive digital writing. Learn how to setup, use and moderate content on a classroom blog to improve student writing skills. A moderated classroom blog can be an ideal platform to use to share announcements, classroom news, and student work for a public audience. In this session we’ll use the free blogging site KidBlog to model the digital facilitation of student writing. We’ll also explore how free blogs on Posterous.com can be used by students to not only share text, but also different kinds of rich media including images, audio and video files.
http://wfryer.me/blog

Introduction to Google Docs
Google Docs allows users to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and forms that are stored online and accessible from any computer. Google Docs can help you streamline and organize your tasks and responsibilities. By implementing Google Docs, you will see a direct increase in your productivity and a decrease in your stress level. All the Google tools are free and technophobe friendly.
http://wfryer.me/gdocs

Classroom Radio Shows
Learn how to help improve student reading, writing, and oral communication skills by creating your own classroom radio show! We’ll explore exemplary student audio podcasts and classroom radio shows in this session, and learn how to use free Audacity software as well as mobile audio recording apps to successfully become podcasters.
http://wfryer.me/radio

Puppet Videography
Learn how to use finger puppets, hand puppets, and “app puppets” (in iOS applications like PuppetPals and Sock Puppets) with students to create informative as well as entertaining videos. Puppet videos can have fewer privacy and confidentiality issues in school than other videos, since student faces are not recorded. In this session we’ll discuss different puppet videography examples and learn how to create our own. Come to this workshop ready to have FUN and be CREATIVE!
http://wfryer.me/puppet

Classroom Learning Portals
Learn how to create a website using wiki software which can serve as a classroom learning portal or “home base” for your students. This site can include links, assignments, resources, and other digital curriculum materials. We’ll explore and discuss exemplary classroom learning portals created by other teachers and learn how to create our own. A variety of wiki tools will be compared including WikiSpaces for Educators and Google Sites. We’ll learn how to hyperlink and embed a variety of content into these sites.

Smart Networks: Making K12 computing more like college
A robust, flexible, and accountable computer network is a cornerstone of 21st century learning. The purpose of this presentation is to “catalyze” a dialog about school networks, policies, and leadership vision needed for 21st century k12 schools. Our K12 networks need to operate and look more like college networks. In this session we’ll discuss the why’s, the what’s and the how’s for creating smart school networks.
http://wfryer.me/smart

Support STEM Skills with Scratch
How are you supporting the development of problem solving skills, creativity, and computational thinking skills in your school today? Scratch software (scratch.mit.edu) is free software from MIT which can be used by students and teachers to create animations, games, simulations, music, art, stories, and more. In this session we’ll explore Scratch software, watch and learn from some exemplary student projects, and discuss how you can get started using Scratch with students today.
http://wfryer.me/scratch

Deepening our Learning Through Storytelling: creativity, STEM and stories
As learners of all ages (teachers and students) we need to “play with media” and utilize media tools to communicate. Good stories start with good writing and an invitation to share. In this session we’ll explore and discuss examples of digital media focusing specifically on science and math themes.
http://wfryer.me/stemstories