NCTIES2025

Come create an FREE app for your classroom or school using Google Slides to keep your students or families updated of the awesome things happening in your school or classroom.

Participants will learn how to introduce students to documentary creation, from brainstorming a topic, to storyboarding, to final editing. We analyze scenes from documentary vignettes to understand the audio/visual aspects of filmmaking. We introduce sources of copyright friendly media as well as materials used to teach citation of these sources. Finally, we will showcase our use of the video editing platform, WeVideo.

With a demonstration of how to light an LED, and escalating to the creation of a timed traffic light, participants will be able to learn the necessary skills and pedagogy needed to implement Tinkercad Coding and Circuitry in their STEM or Computer Science classes.

Please bring your device for full engagement!

Helping students develop information literacy skills in the age of AI is not only necessary, it’s a breeze…with the help of AI, of course! In this session, we will experiment with various AI tools that will cover every step of the research process and learn strategies to help students develop critical thinking skills that will extend far beyond the walls of our classrooms. See how incorporating AI in your research projects will add a new layer of relevance and engagement for your students.

In the spirit of Mardi Gras, this lively and interactive session will immerse participants in a vibrant "Coding Carnival." Attendees will take part in a series of unplugged coding activities using everyday materials such as decks of cards and simple toys—just like the colorful trinkets and playful elements of a Mardi Gras parade! These hands-on activities integrate physical movement with coding patterns, transforming the session into a festive celebration of critical thinking, computational thinking, and problem-solving.
The presenter will demonstrate how each unplugged coding activity can be adapted to various skill levels, allowing participants to adjust the "floats" in their coding parade—whether they're beginners or seasoned tech enthusiasts. Through the Mardi Gras theme, we will also explore the “how and why” of coding, helping participants understand how these unplugged activities lead to stronger digital coding skills.
The session will culminate in a collaborative “Brainstorm Bead Toss,” where participants will exchange and develop new ideas, similar to the way Mardi Gras participants share and celebrate their creativity. This concluding activity will encourage educators to design their own unplugged coding activities that they can bring back to their classrooms, spreading the Mardi Gras coding spirit.