Educators learn about new technology

At the Greenbush Educational Technology Conference educators viewed 3D printers, software and other programs which would help them better teach their students. The event kicked off with keynote speaker Frank Layden Elementary Fifth Grade Teacher Tim Vesco. He was given the theme “Beyond the Device” to present to the educators. He said he focused on the “beyond” because each student and teacher has someone which went above and beyond for them, whether in the classroom or at home. Vesco pointed to the high school students who were from the Blue Valley Center For Advanced Professional Studies program.

The Blue Valley CAPS students presented a slideshow called “Breaking Bad Habits,” about what students wish they had learned in school, which include communication, digital literacy and more at conference. “We will show them some websites and other applications the teachers may have never seen before,” Blue Valley Northwest student Andrew Lind said. At the end of his speech he shared a photograph of his classroom. He said to acknowledge the miracles happening in their classrooms — such as students making friends for the first time, not shutting down in class, a shy student giving hugs and pushing gifted students to their full potential. “Take a step back and look at all of the miracles that are in front of you today,” he said. Read more.