EdTech Academy @ Southeast

a view toward Dempster's doors looking through a tunnel of cherry blossom trees

EdTech Academy: A Next Generation Teaching and Learning Conference

June 23, 2026

Creating Meaningful Learning Experiences in Our Schools and Classrooms!

Learn • Connect • Grow • Lead • Innovate

Calling all educators! Join us for EdTech Academy on June 23, 2026! This is a next-generation teaching and learning conference for PK-20 educators. Explore strategies for implementing effective teaching and learning practices in a rapidly evolving educational landscape. Gain fresh and innovative ideas, strategies, tools, and resources that engage and empower students, enhance curriculum, improve instruction, and deepen learning. Learn ways to effectively leverage the power of technology to create meaningful, authentic, and relevant learning experiences in our schools and classrooms – experiences that provide students with opportunities for critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity. Attend sessions facilitated by passionate educators related to effective and innovative teaching and learning practices, meaningful technology integration, active student-centered learning, and other relevant educational topics. Network and learn ways to transform teaching and learning in your classroom from other educators, and discover how we can lead next-gen learning. You don’t want to miss this distinct learning opportunity with inspiring and dynamic educational leaders! This year's national keynote speaker, Dr. Tyler Tarver, is a leader in innovative teaching, learning, and leading! He is passionate about helping everyone around him get better!

Get Registered

Call for Proposals

Interested in presenting at EdTech Academy? The Call for Proposals is open through March 16, 2026.

Submit Your Proposal

Keynote and Special Events

We are so excited to welcome Dr. Tyler Tarver as the Keynote Speaker at EdTech Academy 2026!

Keynote Speaker Information

a professional portrait of Tyler Tarver smiling for the camera

Schedule at a Glance

(tentative/subject to change)

Time	Event
7:45 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.	Registration, Dempster Atrium
8:30 a.m. - 8:40 a.m.	Welcome in Glenn Auditorium, Dempster Hall
8:40 a.m. - 9:55 a.m.	Opening Keynote by Dr. Tyler Tarver in Glenn Auditorium, Dempster Hall
10:10 a.m. - 11 a.m.	Breakout Sessions, Dempster Hall
11:10 a.m. - Noon	Breakout Sessions, Dempster Hall
Noon - 1 p.m.	Lunch, Dempster Atrium
1 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.	Breakout Sessions, Dempster Hall
2 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.	Breakout Sessions, Dempster Hall
2:50 p.m. - 3 p.m.	Snack / Door Prize Entry
3 p.m.	Closing by Dr. Brad Hodson, President of Southeast Missouri State University, and Door Prizes in Glenn Auditorium, Dempster Hall

Breakout Sessions

Check back for updates!

Title	Description
Building Better Classrooms Through High-Leverage Behavior Practices	Explore practical, high-leverage behavior practices that strengthen classroom culture and boost student engagement. Learn proactive strategies, effective responses to challenges, and simple shifts that lead to lasting impact. Walk away with actionable tools to create structured, positive, and supportive learning environments for all students.
AI/ChatGPT Practical Prompts	Stop just asking ChatGPT to do things and start prompting it like a pro! In this session, we'll dive deep into practical, real-world prompts teachers can use immediately to save time, create better lessons, and engage students more effectively. We'll cover everything from lesson planning to assessment creation with concrete examples you can steal!
Unlocking Engagement: Bringing Learning to Life	This session gives teachers easy, practical ways to increase student engagement right away. Learn how to get students actively involved, use a mix of strategies, and keep attention from start to finish. Walk away with ready-to-use ideas that make lessons more interactive, memorable, and enjoyable for both you and your students.
NotebookLM: A Custom AI Powered by Your Instructional Materials	NotebookLM is a powerful Google tool that helps educators build a custom AI assistant using their own lesson plans, units, assessments, and instructional materials. In this session, teachers will learn how to create their first notebook and explore practical, classroom-ready applications. Led by a high school teacher actively implementing this emerging tool, the session includes real-world examples, practical tips, and step-by-step how-tos.
Instructional Design Made Simple with Canva	You may already use Canva for graphics, flyers, or even AI‑generated images—but there’s a whole new world waiting beyond the basics. In this session, we’ll explore powerful AI tools built right into Canva that are especially helpful for teachers. Discover how to design engaging learning activities using Canva Learning Sessions, Canva Docs with Magic Write, and AI‑generated Magic Activities. With so many features added in recent months, now is the perfect time to see how Canva can help you create high‑quality activities for your classes. Explore how these updated tools can help you design smarter, teach more efficiently, and save valuable time.
AI Without the Overwhelm: Practical Classroom Wins with Brisk	Never heard of Brisk AI? Perfect—this session is for you. Brisk AI is a free, teacher-friendly AI tool that works right inside Google Docs—no prompts to write, no new platforms to learn, and no tech headaches. If you can click, you can use Brisk. In this interactive session, teachers will see how Brisk can quickly help them create rubrics, generate classroom resources, give better feedback, and design interactive student activities—all with just a few clicks. Brisk doesn’t replace teacher expertise; it simply takes care of the time-consuming parts so teachers can focus on instruction.
Resource Roundup	Tired of searching for the best teacher templates? Let's do a resource roundup! I'll share my absolute favorite, must-use tools/templates that are actually helping teachers right now. We'll cover everything from classroom management to differentiation, and I'll show you exactly how I use them to make my life easier. Come ready to add to the list!
Creating Gems: Making Gemini Work for Your Classroom	Come learn how to make a custom Google Gemini "Gem". "Gems" are personalized AI assistants that can help you do anything that you need them to... anything from creating lesson plans, to helping organize, to writing essential questions and quality formative assessments, a properly trained "Gem" can help you through just about any task that you require.
iPad for Teaching and Learning	Come explore what the iPad can do for teaching and learning in the classroom. Discover creative opportunities and capabilities you may not have been aware of that the iPad could bring to the learning table. This session will focus on creativity in learning - showcasing how students could show what they know and make learning visible through creative apps. A limited number of iPads will be available for hands-on use during the session.
Fact-Checking the Bot: Information Literacy and Critical Thinking	Artificial Intelligence has taken an already enormous flood of information and opened the gates even wider. Determining what is real and fake, evaluating sources, and using AI tools to generate and evaluate information are all generational skills now. This session will explore two critical components of being literate in an AI world. First, we will look at some fun tools to teach information and media literacy. Then we will look at some real-world strategies for creating AI prompts that generate more accurate and reliable results.
Overview of Youth Mental Health First Aid and Collaboration	Curious about Youth Mental Health First Aid? Join this session to learn how this free training can support you as an educator. Although we can't conduct the full training during this breakout session, you can gather information and ask questions. Youth Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training that teaches parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, and health and human services workers, and any other citizen how to identify, understand, and respond to an adolescent (ages 12-18) who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. In addition, we will engage in collaborative activities to explore ways to support students' mental well-being.
Prompting the Past: Teaching Voice with AI	Discover how AI can help students explore voice, perspective, and style in literature and history. In this session, educators will learn how to guide students in rewriting current events in the style of famous authors and creating first-person narratives from historical perspectives. Participants will leave with practical strategies that foster creativity, critical thinking, and deeper engagement while helping students analyze voice and evaluate AI-generated content.
Be Where Your Feet Are!	How do I share with you what you need to know to prevent burnout without increasing your level of stress? What we need here is a holistic approach. Which may muddy the waters for the time being, however, you have a whole lifetime to get it straight. Breathe deep, grasshopper.
Creating Thinkers: Using Screenless Coding to Teach Problem Solving	This is a hands-on session on the use of Pre K- 3 robots to teach creative thinking, problem solving, and algorithmic thinking. The tools we will look at include Blue Bots, Kai's Clan, and Indis. These tools start screenless but can progress to programming basics and grow with your students. They can be blended into existing lessons or used standalone to increase understanding and engagement in the classroom!
AI Tools for Teachers	Harness the power of AI with these top AI tools and strategies! Leave today’s session with increased confidence in using AI tools to enhance student learning!
Beyond Icebreakers: Sparking Real Conversations on Inclusion	How do we move from surface-level activities to meaningful conversations that shape school culture? This session will equip educators with practical strategies—from engaging icebreakers that open the door to authentic discussions, to powerful activities that challenge perceptions and inspire empathy. Rooted in the Unified Champion Schools framework, participants will discover tools that promote acceptance, empower student voice, and create classrooms where inclusion isn’t just talked about—it’s lived.
Prompting Curiosity: AI in the Science Classroom	Discover how AI can be used to spark curiosity and deepen student thinking in science. In this session, educators will explore strategies for using AI to generate content that students can critique, revise, and learn from. These approaches keep students at the center of learning while promoting inquiry, engagement, and strong conceptual understanding.
Breaking the Stress Cycle: A Practical Tool for Real‑World Pressure	A neuroscientific look at the causes and cures of dealing with acute and chronic stress. Education fits one of the classic stress profiles plaguing the social services professions. That profile is explained as a profession with "high expectations and limited control". Preventing burnout and the negative physical, psychological, and relational damage caused by unchecked stress will be the focus of this session. Leaning on the landmark research of Dr. Herbert Benson, founder of the Mind/Body Medical Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and professor of mind/body medicine at Harvard Medical School, this session aims to arm attendees with a technique proven to combat the harmful effects of stress.
What's New in Apple Education	Great teachers and powerful technology are a powerful combination. Apple is proud to make products that unleash the potential in every student. Learn about the newest Apple products like MacBook Neo, other tools, and programs for education that will accelerate student success and spark creativity in every learner.
Bringing AI to the Littles: Exploring AI in K-4	By the age of eight, 90% of children have already used a device to access the internet, and 94% have interacted with Artificial Intelligence through learning tools, entertainment, or play. AI is rapidly transforming education by offering personalized learning experiences, boosting student engagement, and streamlining classroom tasks for both teachers and students. In this engaging session, Mrs. Grady will introduce educators to the world of AI in the elementary classroom. Participants will explore key topics, including the types of artificial intelligence, how AI is currently used in education, popular Apps, and practical strategies for integrating AI into K-4 instruction. Through a variety of engaging resources, such as videos, music, children’s literature, and sample lesson plans, Mrs. Grady will showcase age-appropriate ways to introduce young learners to AI concepts and tools. Whether you’re just curious or ready to dive in, this session will provide meaningful, classroom-ready ideas to bring AI to life for our youngest students.
Ready for Takeoff: Incorporating Drones into Your Curriculum	Discover the benefits of including drones in your STEM courses and how drones cover a multitude of topics, including electronics, coding, physics, remote sensing, and more. The discussion will include the certifications required to operate drones and helpful resources for instructors who have little to no drone/robotics knowledge.
Weaving Strands of Balance: Rethinking Technology in the Modern Classroom	After a decade or more of many schools and classrooms moving to a heavily increased usage of edtech in the classroom, some are beginning to reevaluate edtech's role in the everyday classroom. In a world where technology is ever-changing and becoming more prevalent, it is important that we do review and reevaluate how we are using edtech in the classroom. Join us as we take a fresh look at the SAMR model and discuss what and how much edtech is appropriate for the modern classroom.
FIRST in Missouri (K-12 robotics)	Come learn about FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) programs for grades K-12. We are a part of a global robotics community and have been in Missouri since 2001. We host 100+ events a year for hundreds of teams and thousands of students. It's flexible - in the classroom as a curriculum, a gifted program, or a STEM special rotation. Great for after-school programs or summer camps. We'll give an overview, hands-on time, and free resources.
Belonging in Action: Building Inclusive Schools with Unified Champions	What if inclusion was more than a program—it was the heartbeat of your school culture? Unified Champion Schools, under the umbrella of Special Olympics, empowers schools to bring students with and without intellectual disabilities together through Unified Sports®, Inclusive Youth Leadership, and Whole-School Engagement. This session will explore how these components shift school climate, reduce stigma, and develop student leaders who champion acceptance. Participants will leave with practical strategies and free resources to foster environments where every student feels valued and engaged.
and more!