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2006 Conference OVERVIEW submitted by Thomas Frawley on
01/13/2006
Summary of the 43rd Annual NYSTEA Conference
"At a Glance" (updated 1/14/06)
By Tom Frawley << tfrawley44@aol.com >>
Sample of the roughly 70 presentations:
Become a Leader!
Learn what it takes to become a leader within our profession.
Tremendous opportunities exist at local, state and national levels!
STEM Education and YOU
The complexion of Technology education is changing in myriad ways.
Learn what's happening in Washington and in states across the nation!
NYSTEA Unwrapped
Learn how your membership dollars work in support of our profession.
This forum will offer opportunity for members to air their views and voice suggestions!
ITEA - Ready to Deliver!
Learn how the International Technology Education Association is working in support of the curricular area of Technology education. ITEA gained 1000 NEW members in 2005!
Developing and Expanding Learning Communities
This session is packed with more ideas than the time available. This is Technology education from the bottom up - from "step one" to strengthening existing programs.
Nano-technology
This tiniest of new technology is poised to change the way that all human beings live.
This session will bring you up to speed on the latest happenings in this exciting field.
Other presentations:
Several of our vendors have requested presentation slots and that list will be added here subsequently. RJT is currently working with the Technology Department at West Genesee High School in Syracuse. Together they will offer a presentation as well as a tour of the modern new facilities at West Genny.
CONFERENCE OVERVIEW
Wednesday March 29, 2006 will offer a dozen breakout sessions, starting after lunchtime - at 1:00pm - and running until 5:00pm. The Registration desk will open at noon on Wednesday. The goal in starting on Wednesday is to allow for those who need travel time as well as to draw teachers from the greater Syracuse area.
Full conference registration includes lunch on Thursday and Friday as well as all refreshment breaks everyday, which will presented in the vendor area.
This year, breakfast and dinner will be on your own. The Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau will have a representative available at the conference.
Vendors will be setting up on the evening of Wednesday March 29th.
Thursday - March 30, 2006 will highlight our Vendors, 30 breakout sessions, a buffet lunch on your own (no program), the EPT induction and a LATE Exec Board meeting (8:00 - 9:00pm). We will also offer a tour of one of the "colleges" at Syracuse University such as the College of Engineering and Computer Science or the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Some presentations will begin at
8:00am and some sessions will be offered during the "window" when lunch will be available (roughly 11:30am - 1:30pm.) Vendors will be available throughout the day. A reception will be held in the vendors area following the conclusion of the EPT induction ceremony. The Registration desk will open at 7:30am on Thursday.
"NEW" THIS YEAR!!! (OPTION 1)
Thursday evening's “Armory Square Experience”
At roughly 5:45pm a bus will take us from the hotel to the Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), located in Historic Armory Square. Here’s how it would work. It’s an ITEA style affair that would have people paying a small fee ($25.00) and that would include Museum admission, an IMAX movie at the MOST, a beverage ticket for a short reception at the MOST as well the bus ride down and back. Participants will be on their own for dinner and free to come and go as they please. The bus will keep rotating between the University Sheraton and Historic Armory Square so that people can get their dinner/beverages in one of the MANY fine pubs and restaurants there.
Friday - March 31, 2006 will feature a “General Session” from 9:00 - 10:00am where that will be the only thing running. Awards will be done at this time. Vendors will run from 10:00am until 4:00pm. There will be 30 + breakout sessions. The Rep Assembly will begin after lunch. We will also offer a tour of one of the "colleges" at Syracuse University such as the College of Engineering and Computer Science or the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. The NYSTEA Advisory Board will meet on Friday. Some presentations will begin at 8:00am and some sessions will be offered during the "window" when lunch will be available (roughly 11:30am - 1:30pm.) The Registration desk will open at 7:30am on Friday.
"NEW" THIS YEAR!!! (OPTION 2)
We will be offering the “First Annual NYSTEA Scholarship Banquet” which will include a guest speaker hopefully sponsored by a major industry. The banquet fee is $40.00 with any profits from the dinner tickets going to the NYSTEA Scholarship Fund.
NYSTEA currently offers two $500.00 awards annually to students interested in becoming Technology education teachers.
There are several reasons behind having the banquet. It will be an independent function that will be open to members of the greater technical community in Syracuse, where NYSTEA is very well respected. Thus, it builds networks and draws specific support for NYSTEA through collaboration. It raises money for our Scholarship Fund which currently stands at roughly $1100.00. Once again, it allows non-NYSTEA members to help us. Also, it will not matter if we get 30 people or 300 - it will be a success either way. Finally, it may interest some of our members who will already be staying overnight at the University Sheraton.
Saturday - April 1, 2006 is on the schedule for several reasons again. The dozen breakout sessions will be a solid offering for those who want to spend a more relaxing time Saturday. We will repeat sessions that were offered at other times, for example. We’re thinking that some folks will want a relaxing breakfast and a few breakout sessions before heading out to the Casino, on their way home. We’re also looking for a way to involve teachers from the Syracuse school system. I believe that Ed Zak and Rick Stacey will be offering a longer training session that morning and others have expressed interest in offering a longer session. The Registration desk will open at 7:30am on Saturday.
We have a nice corner suite that will be used for the Exec Board meeting, the Advisory Board meeting and for the Action Committee meeting.
Your registration fee will include lunch on Thursday and Friday at the Sheraton Grand Buffet. (ALWAYS a good meal!) People will have a window of time when they can eat (one floor below the conference) and we’ll be running presentations and vendors right through lunch, in a staggered format.
CONFERENCE ... FINAL THOUGHTS
Several of the things we’re trying this year are based on what we’ve learned from the tremendous success of ITEA. I spent some time with their new conference planner last year (in Kansas City) and was “enlightened” by the experience. She stated that organizations need to provide an "experience" these days as we’re competing with the outside world. Thus we have a philosophical shift this year - away from the idea of controlling every second of a conference attendee’s day to creating opportunities and then inviting people who are interested to participate. The conference can be equally divided by a Wednesday/Thursday or Friday/Saturday and an attendee will receive comparable value, if they can only attend two days. We’re encouraging attending multiple days as the best value, in terms of a professional development experience.
We figure that we need to draw 180 teachers to the conference but 200 would be better. ALL of us need to sell the conference to others. Just talk it up, make your own plans to attend and also sign up to present if you have something good to offer!!! Thoughtful participation is what we need.
Please stay at the University Sheraton and be sure to state that you are with the NYSTEA conference. A hotel does not give away its space or services. By staying at conference headquarters you are supporting NYSTEA!!!
Conference information was distributed in all of the registration packets at the SUNY Oswego Fall Technology conference. In December, a conference flier was mailed to nearly every Technology education teacher in New York State. Also in December, the conference flier was mailed to all ITEA members living in the great State of New York.
A final mailing at the end of January will target former NYSTEA members, reminding them to first renew their membership and secondly to sign up for the 43rd Annual NYSTEA Conference. It promises to be a great learning experience as well as an occasion for all important fellowship!
CONFERENCE WEBSITE - Run by Fred Nash << FNASH@BARKERCSD.NET >>
<< http://www.buffalostate.edu/depts/technology/nystea2006/ >>
Also be sure to check out << www.NYSTEA.com >> for news and updates!
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Tom Frawley
NYSTEA President
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