Educators Learn to Engage Students Through Technology at WE-Tech 2013

Educators must use technology to better engage students and improve student learning was the theme for the second annual West Essex Technology Symposium or WETECH 2013 this past Saturday.

More than 145 teachers, administrators and members of the public spent Saturday attending workshops and learning the latest in technology which many educators will then bring back to the classroom and share with their students.

“What is happening in technology today is actually  amazing,” said WE-Tech 13 keynote speaker Scott Rocco, Superintendent of the Spotswood School District, to his audience in the West Essex High School Auditorium.  “Technology innovations in education must improve student learning and make what we do more efficient and effective.”
Following breakfast and the keynote address, WE-Tech participants spent the day attending three different workshops of their choosing as well as a student panel discussion on technology. The panel of seven West Essex High School freshman gave their suggestions on how teachers can improve technology in the classroom and answered questions from the audience.

Andrew Rubinich of Fairfield, who hopes to become an English or business teacher, said he would like to see more teachers “utilize devices  that students can control for themselves.” He said it would benefit students if more teachers used Edmodo which allows students to submit work online. I believe Edmodo is one of the best educational resources since it enables students to share their responses and see their peer’s responses to a prompt by a teacher.”

Evan Snerson of North Caldwell said he would also encourage teachers to set up Facebook groups for their classes where students could ask questions or even play some online review games before a test.

Workshops included a range from “A Year in the Cloud, “to “Mastering the iPad,” to “Animation & Digital Storytelling.”

West Essex High School Chinese Teacher Cynthia Ni  said  all three workshops that she took  “were extremely informative.” “I learned about more iPad functions and how to use Twitter and Pintrest as not only social networking tools but PD as well. I also learned about Vommon Sense Media,” she said.

West Essex Superintendent of Schools Barbara Longo welcomed everyone to WeTech13 and said she hopes that the event brings everyone in attendance to “the forefront of technology in education.” “I hope you take this important knowledge with you, share it with your colleagues and apply the wonderful tools and strategies you have learned in your classrooms.”

The event was also broadcast live on Teachercast.net featuring host Jeffrey Bradbury. The day’s events and interviews from the event including one with Superintendent of Schools Barbara Longo are available for viewing at ….

http://www.twylah.com/TeacherCast/tweets/308324677154123776

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PI9oCJydC8&feature=youtu.be&a

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Pomptonian Food Service, the West Essex Regional School District food service, provided breakfast and lunch for the event. Other Platinum sponsors, $500 and up, were ADP, imac Insurance Agency. Keyotel was a Gold sponsors of  $250 and Silver sponsors, with donations of $100 and up, were ShopRite of West Caldwell, Stop & Shop of West Caldwell, StenoTech Career Institute and Tom Drago Landscaping.