Friday, October 20, 2023
Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
These professional development workshops are designed to provide opportunities to discuss and examine relevant topics and important issues in greater depth. Annual conference sessions will follow on Saturday, October 21, 2023.
Clock Hours are available for both the pre-conference workshops and the Saturday conference.
Pre-Conference Registration
Through October 9th:
- $30 for members (through October 9th)
- $35 for non-members (through October 9th)
October 10th to October 20th:
- $40 for members (October 10 – 20)
- $45 for non-members (October 10 – 20)
Click here to become a WAESOL member if you have not yet joined WAESOL.
View descriptions of Pre-Conference Workshop options below. You will need to indicate your session choice when you register.
1: Navigating the Intersection of English as a Second Language Education and Special Education
Friday, October 20th, 1:00-4:00
Gillian Ober is an English as a Second Language Educator in New Jersey, as well as an adjunct professor in the Department of Education at Georgian Court and Monmouth Universities. Gillian holds a Masters of Teaching from Monmouth University as well as a Masters of Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors University. Specializing in working with Newcomer and Multilingual Learners, she is passionate about advocacy work for this unique community of learners.
Description:
As over and underrepresentation in Special Education Programming remains an issue for the Multilingual Learner community, it can be intimidating and overwhelming for English as a Second Language educators to navigate the identification process and understand the intersection of SPED and ESL. Multilingual Learners are an asset in our classrooms, with their rich cultural and linguistic histories and experiences, but the systems of RTI and the Special Education identification process were not necessarily designed with these diverse learners and their unique needs in mind. For English as a Second Language educators, who may not necessarily be certified or trained in Special Education, how can we work to ensure that our Multilingual Learners are not being over or under recommended for Special Services?
This workshop aims to provide tools and recommendations as to how to best support our Multilingual Learners who are experiencing learning difficulties and ensure that they are receiving the services they are entitled to. Participants will develop strategies and tools to help differentiate between language development difficulties versus potential signs of learning disabilities in Multilingual Learners, as well as analyze what makes an RTI program effective and collaborate to determine what constitutes effective RTI strategies and RTI goals for Multilingual Learners. Finally, the workshop will focus on means to advocate for our Multilingual Learners and their families in Child Study Team meetings and official IEP meetings. This workshop is ideal for English as a Second Language Educators who are struggling to navigate the intersection of SPED and ESL, as it will be run by a current teacher who was in that very same situation!
Workshop Objectives:
- Participants will develop strategies and tools to help differentiate between language development difficulties versus potential signs of learning disabilities in Multilingual Learners
- Participants will analyze what makes an RTI program effective and collaborate to determine what constitutes effective RTI strategies and RTI goals for Multilingual Learners
- Participants will delineate effective ways we can advocate for our Multilingual Learners and their families in Child Study Team meetings and official IEP meetings
2 : Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Education
Qualifies for up to 3 STEM clock hours
Friday, October 20th, 1:00-4:00
Dr. David A. Wicks is a Professor of Curriculum and Instruction and Chair of the Digital Education Leadership program in the School of Education at Seattle Pacific University. He has served within the educational technology community in numerous positions throughout his career including high school technology teacher, university computer science lecturer, school district technology facilitator, multimedia author and project manager for an educational technology company, and director of instructional technology for SPU. His research interests include global education, electronic portfolios, online and blended learning, learning spaces, and active learning. He is particularly interested in exploring how students and instructors perceive their experiences in digital learning environments. Dr. Wicks participates in the Northwest eLearning Community (NWeLearn), the Northwest Academic Computing Consortium (NWACC), the Online Learning Consortium (OLC), and the International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE). He serves as the Higher Education Representative on the Board of Directors for the Northwest Council on Computers in Education (NCCE), on the editorial board for the Teaching Online Pedagogical Repository (TOPR), and as the editor-in-chief for the International Dialogues on Education (IDE) Journal.
Description:
Join us for an immersive three-hour workshop designed to empower educators in the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This session is structured around the European Commission’s three-step approach:
1. Teach for AI: Dive into the relevance of AI in our daily lives, understanding its omnipresence and learning how to engage with AI systems safely and critically.
2. Teach about AI: Unravel the technical fundamentals of AI, from the basics of prompting and algorithms to the intricacies of machine learning.
3. Teach with AI: Explore the transformative potential of AI tools in enhancing teaching, learning, assessment, and administration. Engage in hands-on activities, discussions, and gain insights from leading resources on AI in education.
Whether you’re an AI novice or enthusiast, this workshop promises a comprehensive understanding of AI’s role in modern education, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to harness its potential in the classroom.
Workshop Objectives:
- Comprehend AI’s Role in Daily Life: Understand the omnipresence of AI in our daily lives and its significance in modern education.
- Master AI Fundamentals: Grasp the basics of prompting, algorithms, and machine learning, and engage in hands-on activities to see AI algorithms in action.
- Utilize AI in the Classroom: Explore how AI tools can enhance teaching, learning, assessment, and administration, while addressing ethical, privacy, and security considerations.
- Collaborative Exploration of AI Tools: Engage in collaborative activities to identify AI applications in real-life scenarios and discuss their potential classroom applications.
- Engage in Open Discussions: Participate in discussions to deepen understanding, raise questions, and seek clarifications on the application of AI in education.