Mark your calendars for the WEMTA Winter Virtual Conference - Saturday, February 28th, from 9:00 am (CST) to 4:00 pm.  What is a virtual conference?  Well, this one is a one day conference delivered virtually LIVE to your computer – wherever you are.  All you need is a computer that has internet access (a microphone is optional, but it does allow you to participate live with your questions or comments.)  You can attend all day, part of the day, or just the session(s) you are interested in.

 Schedule of Events

9:00 – Copyright or Copywrong:  Copyright and fair use in the classroom  Not sure what is allowed or is not allowed under copyright laws?  Need a refresher on what to be telling students when they produce their multi-media presentations?  Need practical suggestions on how to bring your staff up-to-date with fair use and copyright?  Then attend this webinar and get “up to speed.”  Presenter:  Keith Schroeder  Web address:  http://keithschroeder.net

10:00 – LEARN 360 

Learn360 is a diverse collection of thousands of online streaming videos and video clips created by organizations such as PBS, National Geographic, and Sunburst Visual Media, as well as educationally relevant audio files, newsreels, speeches, and images. Many videos can be downloaded in QuickTime, Windows Media, and Flash and imbedded in classroom presentations.  Even if you’ve seen LEARN 360 before, you haven’t seen anything yet!  They have greatly expanded the available resources and tools.  Presenter:  Tom Bukowski  Web address:  http://www.learn360.com/

11:00  iSafe – Internet Safety Curriculum 

Recent legislation appears to require schools to provide Internet Safety education.  This wording was added to the Communications Act: ‘‘(iii) as part of its Internet safety policy is educating minors about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms and cyber bullying awareness and response.’’  One of the resources available for your use is the www.iSafe.org approach to educate and empower youth in internet safety concepts. IT is a free curriculum, though you need to be complete some training in order to access the materials. iSafe covers five basic internet safety concepts.  Presenter:  Chris Rogers  Web address:  http://www.cesa7.k12.wi.us/content/ils/index.asp

12:00  The Importance of a Personal Learning Community (PLC) and How to Develop One   

A PLC is a personal learning community.  These are the people who are your resources.  This is where you can bounce ideas, get new ideas, brainstorm, etc.  You are not alone any longer when connections are so easy to develop with the new tools available on the internet.  We’ll take a look at what all of the buzz is about and I’ll show you some of the great tools available for you to start developing your PLC!  Presenter:  Keith Schroeder  Web address:  http://keithschroeder.net

1:00 RSS – Your New Research Assistant! 

Need Your Own Research Assistant?  Do you wish you had more time to explore the internet and find cool sites to integrate into your curriculum?  Are you looking to bridge the gap between yourself and your students in the digital world they live in?  Create a RSS feed page.  Time is always an issue, there is never enough.  A RSS feed page will allow you to find keep track of newly added information to blogs, websites and wikis that pertain to your subject area or other areas of interest.  In a few simple steps you can set up a page and you will instantly be on top of the most current news.  Presenter:  Dena Budrecki  Web address:  http://msdenabudrecki.pbwiki.com/

2:00 (Double Session)  Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens: Helping Young People Learn to Use the Internet Safely and Responsibly – FERPA and How It Impacts Schools. 

We must expect that young people will post personal information online and will interact wih a wide range of people ~ including “online strangers.”  There are risks associated with these activities.  There are also risks associated wth crossing a busy street.  We don’t tell children never to cross streets.  We hold their hand when they are young ~ then we teach them how to do so safely and responsibly!  As our young people are becoming involved in the global interactive Internet community, it is important for educatros to ensure they have the knowledge, skills and values to do so safely and responsibly. This presentation will focus on materials available for students, professional development and resources for parent education.  The presentation will  give you practical suggestions that will incoporate insight from research on youth risk online and effective risk prevention.  Presenter:  Nancy Willard, the executive director of the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use, is a nationally recognized authority on issues related to the safe and responsible use of the Internet.Web address:  http://www.cyberbully.org/ 

To register please follow this link:  https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/621167197