NCED Connect Symposium 2025

In recent years, tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons and Kids on Bikes have surged in popularity, offering more than just recreational fun. These games have proven powerful in developing students’ collaborative skills, critical thinking, empathy, storytelling, and creativity. This session is designed for K-12 educators and librarians who are curious about incorporating TTRPGs into their teaching practice, providing them with the tools, strategies, and firsthand experiences to see how role-playing games can engage students in unique and meaningful ways.  No prior experience with TTRPGs is necessary. By the end of this session, participants will have firsthand experience with TTRPGs, practical ideas for implementing them, and the confidence to facilitate these games with students. They’ll leave equipped to create engaging, imaginative learning experiences that foster a love for storytelling, critical thinking, and collaboration. Agenda:Introduction to TTRPGs in EducationHands-On Mini Campaign WorkshopFacilitating TTRPGS with StudentsQ&A/Resources

During our session on enhancing learning with visual audio (audiograms), educators will gain hands-on experience creating and implementing audiograms. We'll start with an immersive audiogram experience, sparking discussion on its impact and potential. After a tech demo of user-friendly audiogram tools, educators will create their own simple audiogram. Learners will have time to create their own audiogram using a sample audio clip or they can record and design their own. Time will be given for participants to share with those near them. Educators will consider ways to incorporate audiograms into their lessons. We'll also explore the potential of student-generated audiograms as a powerful learning tool. Possible challenges and solutions to them will be discussed as well. The session concludes with participants sharing their implementation plans and key takeaways, promoting knowledge retention and community building. Throughout, participants will learn: Cognitive benefits of visual audio in learning Practical tools and techniques for creating effective audiograms Strategies for integrating audiograms across subjects and grade levels Best practices for using audiograms to support diverse learning needs By the end, educators will have hands-on experience, a toolkit of resources, and actionable plans to enhance their teaching with audiograms. This interactive approach ensures engaged learners who can immediately apply their new skills in the classroom.

School library media coordinators are instructional leaders who can powerfully impact student learning. This interactive presentation highlights how principals can leverage them to elevate reading achievement, integrate digital literacy skills, collaborate with teachers, provide makerspace opportunities, support school improvement goals, and lead professional development. Aligned to evaluation standards, participants will gain insights into utilizing media coordinators as co-teachers, instructional partners and curriculum leaders beyond traditional services. Principals will leave understanding how to capitalize on this resource to advance literacy, technology integration and collaborative teaching.

Discover practical ways to integrate generative AI into various educational roles through an interactive, station-based session. This hands-on workshop is designed for school leaders, educators, and students, focusing on how AI tools can streamline administrative tasks, enhance classroom instruction, and support student learning.

Learn how AI can support English instruction while fostering academic integrity. This session will explore AI tools that enhance reading, writing, and feedback processes. Equip yourself with practical tools and approaches to engage students while maintaining the authenticity of their work.

School librarians, embrace your inner tech innovator! Join this session to see how AI can supercharge your workflow, equip your students, and propel your library to the forefront of digital literacy.  Leave the session feeling confident and empowered to lead your library into the future today, building information and media literacy skills with your students to support their success in our AI-enhanced world.

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.

Thinking critically often requires that students have foundational content knowledge first, which can take time.  Once students have the knowledge needed, they are ready to lean into more difficult learning tasks.  By leveraging Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy, we can accelerate students to higher levels of thinking quickly.  By using Backwards Design, we can ensure students have the necessary scaffolding to support their learning.  
Aligning courses to standards is essential for ensuring student success as it provides a clear framework for what students are expected to learn and achieve throughout any given grade level or course. This alignment helps teachers set clear learning objectives, design effective instructional activities, and assess student progress accurately.
In this session, educators will break down the alignment process and focus on tangible, clear-cut processes to ensure proper alignment to enhance student use of their critical thinking skills.

In this session, presenters from North Carolina Virtual Public School will share their experience leveraging AI tools to update a Middle Success Skills course aligned with future-ready skills including the NC Digital Teaching and Learning Standards. The session will introduce teachers to the Success Skills curriculum and strategies to leverage AI to support their own curriculum development needs. 

Learn how an impact dashboard serves as a powerful visual tool for administrators, educators, and students to access and utilize real-time data. Attendees will learn what an impact dashboard is, as well as the potential power of impact dashboards in promoting positive messaging in educational communities. They will learn how to utilize Google Forms and Google Sheets to collect and organize data, as well as Google Looker Studio to craft the real-time impact dashboard to showcase their data. Attendees will collaborate with one another to discuss types of data sets that could be showcased on an impact dashboard and the impact they could have on their student population. They will be guided on how to craft their own impact dashboard. Attendees will be provided templates and guides for reference when crafting future impact dashboards. At the end of the session, participants will have a working Looker Studio impact dashboard connected to a data set, ready to implement! 

Turn the key to a deeper understanding of Depth of Knowledge (DOK). In this session, we’ll explore what DOK is and what it isn’t, breaking down the different levels and common misconceptions. Learn why DOK is essential for student learning and how it can transform your teaching practice through aligning standards, assessments, lesson plans, and activities to Depth of Knowledge.

Tired of creating slides that bore your audience? Learn to design presentations that are not only visually appealing but also highly effective. Discover the secrets to creating clear, concise, and compelling presentations that will leave a lasting impact.

Tired of creating slides that bore your audience? Learn to design presentations that are not only visually appealing but also highly effective. Discover the secrets to creating clear, concise, and compelling presentations that will leave a lasting impact.

You're probably a pro at using Google Docs, but is it time to take it to Ninja Status? Join Lauren Boucher to learn some new skills when it comes to the Docs app of the Google for Education Suite. Lauren will share underutilized features, time-saving tips, and classroom implementation ideas for all grade levels. Leave inspired and empowered to become a Google Docs Master!

You're probably a pro at using Google Sheets, but is it time to take it to Ninja Status. Join Lauren Boucher to learn some new skills when it comes to the Sheets app of the Google for Education Suite. Lauren will share features and classroom implementation ideas for all grade levels. Leave inspired and empowered to become a Google Sheets Ninja!

Ignite student learning with digital tools! This session will explore how to leverage technology to implement high-yield instructional strategies, transforming your classroom into a dynamic learning environment. You'll see real-world examples and create your own to apply in your classroom.