Highlights

First Timers Sessions
If this is your first TCEA convention or you just want to be prepared for a week packed full of presentations, special events, and networking, then you don’t want to miss the TCEA First Timers Session. Join Janet and Joan for tips and tricks to help make your convention a grand experience. These TCEA commentators will help unravel the challenges of the convention. Tuesday, Feb. 3, 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. or Wednesday, Feb. 4, 8:00 a.m.–8:45 a.m.

Exhibitor Tutorials
Need more information on the various technologies on display in the exhibit hall, but don’t want to stand inside a booth dodging traffic? Here’s your chance! Presented by representatives of exhibiting companies, the 45-minute sessions will be offered on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 4 and 5 during the convention. These tutorials are a unique opportunity to enhance the presentation of products and services in a comfortable environment. And, they are absolutely free to attend!

eSchool News ‘Best Practices Summit’
In cooperation with TCEA, the eSchool News Network presents a two-day eSN “Best Practices Summit” — FREE for TCEA attendees! Here’s your chance to get first-hand, in-depth briefings on the most effective practices in education technology today. Leading companies will be on hand at the eSN “Best Practices Summit” with their key executives and educator customers who can answer your questions, share experiences, and give you practical insights into solutions that might be exactly what you’re looking for. At no additional cost, TCEA attendees will meet and talk with a select number of leading TCEA exhibitors in a special, limited attendance professional development event presented by America’s No. 1 ed-tech network — eSchool News, eSchool News Online, and eSN-TV. eSN’s “Best Practices Summit” will be Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 4 and 5.

The Green Room
TCEA is offering an array of sessions addressing the growing environmental concern and its impact on educational technology. A selection of sessions on best practices, getting students involved and interested, and reducing your schools carbon foot print will be presented from industry professionals and teachers who have taken the plunge to get involved. Featured sessions include Carbon Footprints in the Classroom Wednesday, Feb. 4, 8:00 a.m. and Green IT Options Wednesday, Feb. 4, 10:15 a.m.

Panel of Experts
Join us for these Q & A sessions addressing the hottest topics in the classroom right now. TCEA’s moderators are equipped to put these panelists on the spot. Come see what they have to say!

Web 2.0 Panel: Where Do We Go From Here?
This century brought many innovative technologies to the classroom, from podcasting to streaming video and from online courses to geocaching. So what’s next for Web 2.0? Find out Thursday, Feb. 5, noon- 1:30.

Panelists:

• Patricia Schnee, Lead Trainer and Curriculum Coordinator, University of Texas Professional Development Center
• Caleb Schutz, President of The JASON Project
• Bradley Kessler, 21st Century Student

Gaming Panel: Gaming In Education
Teens and preteens make up a huge percentage of the gaming industry. For this reason, education professionals have tapped into the world of gaming as a means to teach to their audience (teen gamers). Join the panel discussion and be exposed to the trends and advancements in gaming and learn of their effects on education. Where is the gaming industry heading? How are the new learners being affected? How can education jump on board and be a part of this shift? What should educators, specifically teachers, know when it comes to gaming? What can educators do now in the classroom to entertain the minds of gamers? Find out the answers to these questions and get industry professional feedback. Join the discussion on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 2:00 p.m.

Panelists:

• Lee Wilson, Principal Consultant for Headway Strategies
• John Rice, Director of Technology for Iola ISD and doctoral candidate in Educational Computing at University of North Texas
• Dr. James M. Bower Ph.D., Founder, Chairman and CVO of Numedeon Inc.
• Donna McKethan, Director of Career Technology Education, Waco ISD

BYOC (Build Your Own Computer)
The BYOC program is designed to provide educators with the knowledge to build computers and troubleshoot the systems when something goes wrong. Participants are given step-by-step instructions as well as trouble shooting techniques to take back with them.

BYOC provides quality parts from which to build a computer system. This training enables participants to return to their district/campus and work with students or teachers to help them also build computer systems for their own use.

The goal is to give students skills that will enhance their employment opportunities and/or success in college and to ease the apprehension some educators have about using computers.

TCEA is providing the Windows operating system and Microsoft Office for participants to install on the computers they are building.

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 8:00 a.m –3:00 p.m. or Thursday, Feb. 5, 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Cost is $750 per participant. Space is limited and you must register prior to Jan. 9.

Model Classroom ‘Pit Stop’
See exemplary technology integration in action. In the model classroom, presenters assume the role of the teacher providing instruction while the audience assumes the role of students or observers. See how teachers from across Texas rev students’ engines with the use of technology in the 21st century classroom. Model Classroom presentations will be held throughout the day (Wednesday, Feb. 4 and Thursday, Feb. 5,) Click here to view the full schedule including session descriptions.

Educational Technology Research Symposium
Step up your knowledge! It is not enough anymore to just keep teaching the way you always have. To help you learn about the latest in educational technology, TCEA invites you to attend the Third Annual Educational Technology Research Symposium. Participants will be able to hear paper presentations, receive a copy of the Paper Proceedings, and enjoy lunch with the presenters. The fee is $250 and includes a full registration to the TCEA Convention and Exposition. The event will be Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009. Details are available at www.tcea.org/convention/Symposium.

Leadership Seminar
The Leadership Seminar, held in conjunction with the TCEA convention, focuses specifically on district superintendents, central office administrators, and campus level administrators. The daylong event begins with a technology update from Anita Givens of TEA and includes an array of breakout sessions from leading professionals along with a luncheon keynote featuring David Jakes ‘Hitting a Moving Target: Best Practice Teaching and Learning’. Registration for the Leadership Seminar is $250 includes a full registration to the TCEA Convention and Exposition. Event is Tuesday, Feb. 3. Click here to view details of the seminar.

TEA Update Sessions
Texas Education Agency staff will share information on the latest statewide initiatives. Sessions are Wednesday through Friday. A complete listing with room numbers and session times will be in the final on-site program.

Technology Applications K-12 Teacher Network Event
Please join us again for a FREE full-day series of best practices sessions. Advanced registration is required. Exemplary teachers from across the state will share lesson plans, student projects, and assessment rubrics focused on the integration of the Technology Applications TEKS into the core content areas. After a brief opening session, participants will have the opportunity to attend dedicated strands for all grade levels. Participants may attend all sessions in one strand or move between strands. Following the closing general session, each participant will each receive a CD of the day’s presentations. For information, please go to www.techappsnetwork.org

Strands will include:

• Grades K-2
• Grades 3-5
• Grades 6-8
• Desktop Publishing
• Multimedia
• Web Mastering
• Digital Graphics
• Computer Science
• Video Technology
• 6-8 Core Integration
• 9-12 Core Integration

This will be the seventh TATN event to be held as part of the TCEA pre-convention. In 2008, there were more than 900 attendees. This special event is on Tuesday, Feb. 3 from 8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. It is free, but convention registration is required.

TCEA’s Adobe Training Center
TCEA has partnered with Adobe trainers to offer training sessions on Adobe software from Photoshop to Premiere Elements, and Dreamweaver to Acrobat Pro 9. These hands-on workshops are presented by Adobe experts, and are designed to provide in-depth exploration on Adobe software products. Attendees can choose from 3-hour to 6-hour workshops, or 30-32 hour courses that start at convention and span over six months for complete online and hands-on professional development. For Adobe workshop options see schedule under workshops and for Adobe courses, see the professional development page.

Door Prizes Galore
TCEA has some of the best door prizes and we have lots of them! We will give away loads of computer equipment and software. Last year, TCEA and the TCEA exhibitors gave away more than $20,000 in door prizes during the general sessions. Remember, you have to be present to win, so make plans to attend the General Sessions and Social.