Explore how AI tools create inclusive learning environments where every student thrives. Learn practical strategies for real-time differentiation supporting English language learners, students with disabilities, and diverse learning profiles. Through universal design principles, discover how AI creates equitable learning opportunities. Leave with actionable resources to implement immediately, making your teaching more accessible, engaging, and responsive to student needs.
Communication Practitioner & Inclusion Leader, Norton Public Schools
Kim Zajac, MA CCC-SLP/A is a certified Speech/Language Pathologist and Audiologist in Massachusetts. She is an affiliated virtual practicum instructor at Emerson College in the Speech@Emerson Graduate Program. Kim holds specialized certification in the area of Neuro-developmental... Read More →
Thursday October 9, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am EDT Augusta
This session is actually the presentation I gave to all students grades 7-12 ahead of opening up Gemini for Education for students. It has students discuss the risks of AI tools, and how to use them for their benefit. Academic integrity is highlighted as well as resilience and perseverance.
District-Wide Technology Integration Facilitator, East Bridgewater Public Schools
Erin Fisher is the Technology Integration Facilitator, PreK-12, for the East Bridgewater Public Schools. This position was implemented in the 2016-2017 school year. In this role, Erin leads initiatives focused on purposeful integration of educational technologies to maximize teaching... Read More →
Participants will experience curated highlights from Magic Student, the student facing AI portion of Magic School AI. Participants will build Magic Student Classrooms, and will leave having created at least two fully usable tools for their current classes. Special educators will be able to leave with tools to help aid their students as well. Please bring a computer and a social attitude as we will be actively interacting with these tools and each other!
Computer science is for every student—but how do we ensure our instruction meets the diverse needs of learners across elementary and middle school grades? In this session, we’ll explore practical strategies for differentiating computer science content by grade level, ability, interests, and learning style. From unplugged activities to scaffolded coding projects, participants will leave with adaptable tools, lesson ideas, and classroom-ready resources that support inclusion and engagement for all students, including those with little prior experience, multilingual learners, and students with IEPs. Whether you're just getting started or looking to deepen your practice, this session will help you bring equitable, differentiated CS instruction to your classroom or program.
There is no try, only do! Computational thinking emphasizes problem solving, project planning, collaboration, creativity, and the practice of failing fast and testing again. Computational thinking empowers people to understand and utilize tools and resources to work smarter, not harder. This hand-on, station-based workshop will get participants up and moving, using their brains, making connections, and leaving with accessible, applicable activities to bring directly into all classrooms.
Explore Me3D, a hands-on workshop where students use 3D scanning, modeling, and printing to create expressive self-portraits. Starting with a scan of their own head, students transform their digital likeness to reflect personal identity, interests, or emotions. This session covers technical steps, shares student examples, and offers strategies for integrating storytelling, creativity, and digital fabrication in the classroom.
Community STEM nights have become a fun and impactful way to provide engagement opportunities for community members and highlight CS-driven careers. MMSA’s Workforce Ready 2030 project, which includes 14 districts around Maine, has supported educators in member districts to host these popular events. In this session, learn valuable insights from a panel of educators who have hosted STEM nights in their communities, and find out how to create a successful event of your own.
I am a Co-PI on Workforce Ready 2030, and have worked at MMSA in STEM education research for nearly a decade. I'm especially interested in the integration of CS into rural classrooms around Maine.
Thursday October 9, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am EDT Cumberland
Teach core concepts, not just tech. Students explore AI's inner workings (input, process, output), understand bias, and learn to educate others. Empower critical thinking & digital citizenship. Make AI accessible!
Need help creating a Study Guide, Briefing Doc, FAQ page or Timeline of events? Have no fear, Notebook LM is here! Come see how Google Notebook LM can turn your resources into easy to manage documents for presentations, reviews and briefings. Need more for PR? Turn your prompts into a full blown AI generated podcast that you can even interact with the co-hosts and discuss your data from the uploaded resources. You will be leaving this session wishing you had NotebookLM when you were in school!
Director of Technology & Innovation, York School Department
Eric Lawson has been in education for over 20 years. He has been an elementary teacher, a technology integrator, an Admin Curriculum/Technology Integrator, and is currently the Director of Technology & Libraries for the York School Department in York, Maine. He has been published... Read More →
Thursday October 9, 2025 9:40am - 10:40am EDT Augusta
Get hands-on with innovative LEGO-based learning stations! Join us to explore creative classroom applications using LEGO BricQ kits and LEGO robotics for engineering and design challenges. Rotate through building stations with ready-to-implement lesson plans. Walk away with engaging, student-tested activities that promote critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity.
In this session we will show how to leverage Kami and Digital Workbooks to increase student buy-in, engagement, and consistency in writer's notebooks. Examples will focus on writer's notebooks, but can be expanded to a variety of uses. We will be demonstrating on iPads, familiarity with the app Kami will make this session more valuable, but isn't necessary.
Real talk - tech toys are expensive, especially when everyone wants their own! In our district, with a middle school, high school, and 6 elementary schools, we were looking for a deployable solution option that could empower any classroom to be creators and innovators. In this session, we will discuss the tools we evaluated and selected, our goals for the program, coaching support, and managing our resources and how the first half year of the Mobile Maker Lab has gone for Bonny Eagle.
Susie Simmons is a an instructional technology coach for Bonny Eagle Middle School & High School in Buxton/Standish, Maine. Her ed tech passions include 3D printing, virtual & augmented reality, spreadsheets, coding, and workload automating. She has a B.S. in Technology Education... Read More →
What happens when computer science and AI team up? Schools and students thrive! Join us for an engaging session that explores the seamless integration of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence with computer science education, all while promoting responsible digital citizenship. We’ll present the work of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI), which unites CS, AI, and digital citizenship to develop innovative, future-ready curriculums that ensure equitable access to computing knowledge for all students. In this interactive session, you’ll learn best practices, explore hands-on strategies, and find inspiration to implement similar frameworks in your own schools. Whether from Maine or beyond, this session is intended for anyone eager to enhance student learning in a tech-driven world. Let’s take the friendship between computer science and AI to a national level!
MLTI Ambassador Program Coordinator, Maine DOE - Learning Through Technology Team
Jonathan has worked in education for over thirty years as a teacher, technology integrator, education attorney, and professional development coordinator. His mission is to support educators to better understand how tech can transform teaching and learning. He is very proud to be a... Read More →
AI & Emerging Technology Specialist, Maine Department of Education
Nicole is the Emerging Technology Digital Specialist for the Maine Department of Education, where she has supported the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into classrooms across the state of Maine for the past two and a half years. With over 20 years of experience as a math... Read More →
Thursday October 9, 2025 9:40am - 10:40am EDT Pine Tree
Join us for a workshop designed for educators to start a digital wellness class in their schools. Explore the importance of digital wellness, integrate mindfulness practices, and engage in hands-on projects focused on responsible technology use. Learn effective classroom management strategies to promote healthy tech habits and create a supportive environment. Empower students with the skills to navigate the digital landscape mindfully and foster a healthier relationship with technology!
Learn how Minecraft can be harnessed on the cheap to serve as a multipurpose tool for students of all ages and content areas (ex. high school Geography to elementary science/engineering). We will discuss how this medium allows for students to create a shared baseline experience to build curriculum on as well as a tool with which students can demonstrate their learning. Move over, Google Slides, Minecraft will certainly captivate students in ways your boring slideshow never thought of!
Now in my 17th year of education, I have always embraced teaching with technology, even in schools without a technology budget. I've learned to seek out and rely on free sites/apps that work with nearly any devices. As a long-time ACTEM conference attender with a Masters in Technology... Read More →
Accessibility Enthusiast, Constant Learner, Apple Distinguished Educator
Jordyn Zimmerman is a graduate student of education at Boston College studying Curriculum and Instruction. Before graduate school, she interned at the National Disability Rights Network and completed her bachelor’s degree in Education Policy at Ohio University, where she founded... Read More →
Thursday October 9, 2025 10:50am - 12:00pm EDT Stage
Join this session to learn how blending Universal Design for Learning principles & Alternative Augmentative Communication can remove structural obstacles for students through creative funding solutions, focused professional development, embedded coaching, & sustainable systems. The story of the journey offers a blueprint for revolutionizing AAC implementation, providing a replicable framework that empowers teachers & fosters inclusive environments where all students have a voice.
Educators have the hefty task of preparing students for an evolving, tech-driven future. In this session, we’ll explore how customized, flexible professional learning can help, and invite you to take part in a collaborative think tank. Together, we’ll forecast what students might need next and co-design how professional learning can rise to meet that challenge. Your insights will help shape our next steps in staying relevant and responsive in the age of AI and quantum computing.
MLTI Ambassador Program Coordinator, Maine DOE - Learning Through Technology Team
Jonathan has worked in education for over thirty years as a teacher, technology integrator, education attorney, and professional development coordinator. His mission is to support educators to better understand how tech can transform teaching and learning. He is very proud to be a... Read More →
Ready to make AI fun, creative, and accessible for all ages? In AI Story Studio, students in grades 3–12 use AI tools to dream up sequels to favorite stories and bring them to life in 3D virtual worlds. Along the way, they learn how AI works, how to use it responsibly, and even how to start programming with AI—no experience needed. Come see how storytelling becomes a launchpad for AI literacy, student voice, and some wildly creative world building.
Hannah Walden, Director of Curriculum at Hello World CS, has over two decades of experience working in education. Prior to her current role, Hannah oversaw the curriculum team at CodePath, managing the rollout of five industry-aligned pathways. At Code.org, Hannah led the 6-12 curriculum... Read More →
Thursday October 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT Capitol
Come and learn about the different opportunities for students of all ages to get involved in competitive robotics in Maine. Presenters will discuss an overview of programs, address questions, provide demos and show you how you can get started in your school.
Come learn how Glenburn School uses Wixie to empower students to express their ideas, collaborate effectively, and engage in meaningful learning experiences. Explore examples of projects that amplify creativity and learning in students, building literacy, numeracy, and technology skills. By merging traditional teaching methods with digital tools, attendees will gain insights into how to cultivate critical thinking, problem-solving, and artistic expression in students.
Following up on "Building and Managing a Mobile Maker Lab," this hands-on session lets you directly experience the power of a mobile maker lab! Get practical experience using our laser engraver, 3D printers, and smart cutting machine. Learn essential operation and software skills, gaining the confidence to integrate these tools into your classroom and empower student creativity.
Susie Simmons is a an instructional technology coach for Bonny Eagle Middle School & High School in Buxton/Standish, Maine. Her ed tech passions include 3D printing, virtual & augmented reality, spreadsheets, coding, and workload automating. She has a B.S. in Technology Education... Read More →
How might we apply the underpinnings of tabletop and video game design to the demonstration of deeper content knowledge, social-emotional growth, and future-ready skill development? Arrive in this workshop intrigued; leave with designs for applying game-based thinking to your impact area.
Choose your own adventure in learning how to create a Choose Your Own Adventure for Your Students. The choices that you make will lead you to tools and ideas that can help you create an interactive experience for your students. Better yet, have your students create their own adventures for their class. Let students create adventures to demonstrate their knowledge. This session requires a device (best with a laptop: Mac, Linux, or Windows)
Director, Educational Technology, Cape Elizabeth Schools
I'm the Director of Educational Technology for Cape Elizabeth School Department. I'm passionate about student centered learning. I love middle school. I'm an open-source advocate. I've leveraged Moodle for Professional Development and student learning. I've been podcasting (Middle... Read More →
Thursday October 9, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT Washington
This session will demonstrate some ideas for professional development to introduce students in the middle school levels of artificial intelligence tools. Emphasis will also be placed on allowing students to question the pros and cons of these tools. Participants will be shown a few structured professional development models used with success as well as have the ability to experiment with tools that were demonstrated to students in stations.
Director of Technology & Innovation, York School Department
Eric Lawson has been in education for over 20 years. He has been an elementary teacher, a technology integrator, an Admin Curriculum/Technology Integrator, and is currently the Director of Technology & Libraries for the York School Department in York, Maine. He has been published... Read More →
Thursday October 9, 2025 2:10pm - 3:10pm EDT Augusta
This playful, hands-on workshop blends STEM, storytelling, and environmental science to build core competencies and creativity. Research an endangered animal, design its habitat, build an eco-bot, and set it free in your nature preserve! Educators leave with their own bot, plus the knowledge, resources, and inspiration to bring this engaging project to their classrooms right away.
3DuxDesign's cardboard-based STEM kits and associated online project-based learning resources are ideal for your k-12 students. Our materials focus on using the design thinking process and hands-on prototyping to solve real-world challenges for a deeper, more authentic learning experience... Read More →
Thursday October 9, 2025 2:10pm - 3:10pm EDT Capitol
Take home a unit plan from this workshop. Learn how students at Pemetic Elementary School created their own French chocolate molds from 3D printed models that they designed. In this inter-disciplinary project, students then poured chocolates from their molds, created tags or wrappers, and then create a French Chocolaté Market for a local senior center.
In year one we taught the unit to 6th and 7th grade students. In year two we taught the unit to 5th and 6th grade students.
Mike Brzezowski is a technology integrator/coordinator for Pemetic Elementary School, a small public PreK-8 school on Mount Desert Island in Maine. He has a B.S. degree in Biology from Penn State University and an M.Ed. in Secondary Science Education from the University of Maine... Read More →
Far too often, kids use tech in ways that distract them. But are we any less guilty? And are they to blame? In this session, we’ll look at how big tech manipulates our students (and us!) and how we can help empower one another to redefine our relationships with our devices. We will discuss ways to refocus our attention on what matters: our amazing students and excellent teachers. And, we will conclude by sharing and crowdsourcing strategies to help build a culture of healthy, mindful tech use in classrooms where our devices work for us -- not the other way around!
MLTI Ambassador Program Coordinator, Maine DOE - Learning Through Technology Team
Jonathan has worked in education for over thirty years as a teacher, technology integrator, education attorney, and professional development coordinator. His mission is to support educators to better understand how tech can transform teaching and learning. He is very proud to be a... Read More →
