Rushton Hurley has been a Japanese language teacher, a principal of an online high school, a teacher trainer, and an educational technology researcher who has worked and studied on three continents.  He is now director of the educational nonprofit Next Vista for Learning, which houses a free library of educational videos by and for teachers and students at http://www.NextVista.org.

Rushton's graduate research at Stanford University included using speech recognition technology with beginning language students.  In the 1990's his work with teenagers at a high school in San Jose led him to begin using internet and video technologies to make learning more active, helping him reach students who had struggled under more traditional approaches.  Rushton has trained teachers around the country, presenting in featured and keynote spots at national and regional conferences.  His fun and thoughtful talks center on the connection between engaging learning and useful, affordable technology, as well as exploring teachers' professional perspectives.

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KEYNOTE SESSION

Teachers and Technology: Lessons from Dancing and Flying

- How do we explore what's possible in our classrooms? What in what we do opens up possibilities, and what keeps us from tapping into the best parts of ourselves?

How do we deal with change and overcome our own barriers in order to dance and discover our wings?

 This talk will explore what it means to face challenges and opportunities in our tech-infused age.
 

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CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Getting Teachers to Adopt Technology: What To and Not To Do

- Some are ready, some want no part, and the rest need inspiration and direction, in that order. 

This session includes a dozen suggestions on what to and not to do regarding the best use resources and funds,

building collaboration and promotion of schools and programs,

and pulling the inner technophile out of even the most technophobic. 

The presenter will include information on training, implementation, and equipment.

iPads, Android Tablets, Chrome Notebooks and What’s to Come

- The presenter is one of a small number of teachers who regularly work with both iOS- and Android-powered devices,

as well as Google’s cloud-focused Chromebook.

With these and other cutting-edge technologies, what are the instructional issues in play for teachers,

and what should one consider when evaluating various new and powerful mobile technologies?

Finally, what’s on the way?

Digital Video Contests and Their Power for Engaging Learning

- You know how much you know when you try to teach! 

Getting students to do this in digital video is not only fun for them and you, but helps them focus on revision powerfully -

after all, to be a contest finalist, one truly has to craft the very best piece possible.

Find out in this session what you can do to help students prepare entries for a contest as they produce digital video projects for you and each other.

The presenter will cover logistics and implementation, show sample student work, and provide template material for how to get started next week!