NCED Connect Symposium 2025

Imagine you were tasked with creating a National Football League sports team, and you could pick the best players—any players you want—to build this dream team, this miracle team. Now, think about how, as educators, we have the same opportunity when planning instruction. We can assemble our own dream team of resources and tools to help us create instructional content that truly benefits our students.

This session is designed for anyone in education looking to help teachers optimize their planning time, allowing them to focus on other essential tasks. You'll gain insights and strategies from this demonstration of free, powerful tools, equipping you to share and train teachers on practices that will ultimately benefit and positively impact students.

In this session, participants will explore how AI can enhance instructional content by incorporating technology and fostering the 4Cs: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. The session begins with a live demonstration using ChatGPT and Notebook LM, showcasing how AI can support lesson planning and resource creation that engages students in deeper learning experiences. Following the demonstration, participants will collaborate with AI to develop instructional materials that integrate the 4Cs and innovative technological elements. Through guided, hands-on activities, attendees will apply strategies modeled during the session, gaining practical skills to immediately enrich their content and instruction. Throughout the session, participants will engage with AI, discuss experiences, and reflect on ways AI can be a collaborative tool for enhancing instructional quality and engagement.

Inclusive education starts by integrating the voices of diverse learners. This session explores how AI, LMS tools, and OER can transform digital learning into accessible and equitable experiences. Participants will examine assistive technologies like screen readers and speech-to-text tools, learn to implement LMS settings that address IEP accommodations, and design alternative assignments that align with student needs.
Through hands-on activities, attendees will apply AI prompting techniques, test LMS features, and explore accessible OERs. A focus on collaborative course design highlights the value of input from students, educators, and support systems to foster innovation and inclusivity.
This session provides actionable insights and practical tools to design accessible courses that empower all learners, ensuring equity and engagement in digital learning environments. Join us to transform your instructional practices and foster truly inclusive learning.

This session will focus on utilizing blended learning instructional practices that allow for small group instruction in secondary classrooms. Participants will explore Station Rotation and Playlists through small group discussions, collaborative activities, and by modeling both methods in the workshop. Participants will leave with concrete ideas on how to support secondary students more effectively and to truly differentiate instruction. Participants will also learn how to use the FREE K-8 Course Content for ELA, Social Studies, Science, and Math to support this small group instruction.

Imagine you were tasked with creating a National Football League sports team, and you could pick the best players—any players you want—to build this dream team, this miracle team. Now, think about how, as educators, we have the same opportunity when planning instruction. We can assemble our own dream team of resources and tools to help us create instructional content that truly benefits our students.

In this session, participants will explore how AI can enhance instructional content by incorporating technology and fostering the 4Cs: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. The session begins with a live demonstration using ChatGPT and Notebook LM, showcasing how AI can support lesson planning and resource creation that engages students in deeper learning experiences. Following the demonstration, participants will collaborate with AI to develop instructional materials that integrate the 4Cs and innovative technological elements. Through guided, hands-on activities, attendees will apply strategies modeled during the session, gaining practical skills to immediately enrich their content and instruction. Throughout the session, participants will engage with AI, discuss experiences, and reflect on ways AI can be a collaborative tool for enhancing instructional quality and engagement.

Go from information to insight with NotebookLM! In this hands-on session, school leaders, administrators, coaches, and teachers will explore how to leverage NotebookLM for tasks such as information analysis, curriculum development, school improvement, and standards-based classroom resource creation. Participants will gain practical skills to streamline complex data analysis and task creation into actionable insights and customized solutions.

Timely feedback is a highly effective strategy and crucial for student achievement, but how can busy teachers swiftly provide feedback amidst so many demanding responsibilities?  Join us to explore AI apps that empower teachers to integrate high quality, personalized, real-time feedback into standards-aligned lessons that promote student reflection and keep teachers in the loop. Discover how K-12 appropriate AI tools foster students' critical thinking and metacognitive skills, revealing their learning potential and lifting the mask to reveal their learning process.

Join us for an engaging professional development session designed to empower educators with the knowledge and skills to integrate Blended Learning and GenAI tools into their teaching practices. In addition teachers will also learn about effective Strategies and Protocols they can easily put into practice.

Join us for an engaging professional development session designed to empower educators with the knowledge and skills to integrate Blended Learning and GenAI tools into their teaching practices. In addition teachers will also learn about effective Strategies and Protocols they can easily put into practice.

Technology has reshaped classrooms at lightning speed, offering exciting opportunities to enrich learning and boost student success. But unlocking its full potential requires more than just jumping on the latest tech trend. This session dives into the ‘how’ and ‘why’ behind impactful technology integration, guiding you on how to plan, implement, and support tech initiatives that genuinely enhance learning outcomes. Join us to explore strategies for purpose-driven technology use that balances innovation with effectiveness, ensuring every tool and trend serves a real purpose in student success.

Participants will learn the basics of starting a student-centered recorded news broadcast that can be used at all grade levels. Examples of resources to use to record and edit will be shared. Both best practices and attendee input will be used in deciding what to include in a news broadcast as well as how to use these recommendations. Participants will learn how to utilize AI for screenwriting and creating images. Once the basics have been presented, attendees will have the opportunity to work with a group to create their own news broadcast. They will be provided with well-known children’s books in order to create “breaking news” based off of a chosen book. The broadcast will also include birthday announcements, lunch menu, special announcements, etc. that pertain to the book. These broadcasts will be shared with the group, which will demonstrate different ways to share the video file.

Go from information to insight with NotebookLM! In this hands-on session, school leaders, administrators, coaches, and teachers will explore how to leverage NotebookLM for tasks such as information analysis, curriculum development, school improvement, and standards-based classroom resource creation. Participants will gain practical skills to streamline complex data analysis and task creation into actionable insights and customized solutions.

Timely feedback is a highly effective strategy and crucial for student achievement, but how can busy teachers swiftly provide feedback amidst so many demanding responsibilities?  Join us to explore AI apps that empower teachers to integrate high quality, personalized, real-time feedback into standards-aligned lessons that promote student reflection and keep teachers in the loop. Discover how K-12 appropriate AI tools foster students' critical thinking and metacognitive skills, revealing their learning potential and lifting the mask to reveal their learning process.

Participants will learn the basics of starting a student-centered recorded news broadcast that can be used at all grade levels. Examples of resources to use to record and edit will be shared. Both best practices and attendee input will be used in deciding what to include in a news broadcast as well as how to use these recommendations. Participants will learn how to utilize AI for screenwriting and creating images. Once the basics have been presented, attendees will have the opportunity to work with a group to create their own news broadcast. They will be provided with well-known children’s books in order to create “breaking news” based off of a chosen book. The broadcast will also include birthday announcements, lunch menu, special announcements, etc. that pertain to the book. These broadcasts will be shared with the group, which will demonstrate different ways to share the video file.

Technology has reshaped classrooms at lightning speed, offering exciting opportunities to enrich learning and boost student success. But unlocking its full potential requires more than just jumping on the latest tech trend. This session dives into the ‘how’ and ‘why’ behind impactful technology integration, guiding you on how to plan, implement, and support tech initiatives that genuinely enhance learning outcomes. Join us to explore strategies for purpose-driven technology use that balances innovation with effectiveness, ensuring every tool and trend serves a real purpose in student success.

School administrators juggle countless tasks daily, from managing school operations to supporting instructional goals. But how can they leverage EdTech tools to streamline their work while modeling best practices for digital teaching & learning? In this interactive session for administrators, we’ll explore a curated selection of time-saving edtech tools that empower administrators to work smarter, not harder. Learn how to incorporate digital tools that not only boost productivity but also showcase best practices in technology integration for your staff. Join us to discover how being a tech-savvy administrator can elevate both your role and your school community.