Educators to hone technology skills at LITE Conference

Coding for kindergarteners, harnessing AI and supporting the digital well-being of students are among presentations available to educators at the LITE Conference, a two-day event in Riverside set for July 10-11.

Technology-skilled presentations and interactive workshops for educators set for will take place 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Riverside County Office of Education Conference Center, 4280 Brockton Ave.

Educators from 22 school districts representing public and charter schools in the counties of Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego, according to the RCOE, which hosts the conference in partnership with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and Inland Area Computer Using Educators, or IACUE.

In addition to teachers, the LITE Conference also includes technology coaches, curriculum coaches, administrators and any educators who want to more effectively use technology in their work, RCOE officials said.

The conference’s keynote speaker is Ed Campos, STEAM Consultant at the Kings County Office of Education and director of Camp Creativo, a startup nonprofit. Campos was a software consultant, math teacher and computer science teacher before moving to consulting, presenting and speaking throughout California and the nation.

Additional topics at the 2024 LITE Conference include:

• Google Suite
• Coding
• Computer science
• Esports
• Equity in technology
• Digital literacy
• Digital well-being
• Robotics
• Classroom preparation
• Student interactive lessons
• Utilizing technology to teach reading and math

“From computer science and artificial intelligence to robotics and esports, technology is constantly evolving in our schools, and our students expect their educators to be continually upgrading their digital teaching and learning skills,” Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez said in a statement. “The LITE Conference is an ideal summer learning experience to connect with a community of learners who are committed to improving their digital toolkit because preparing students for 21st-century careers requires 21st-century-minded educators.”

Mike Leffin, RCOE educational technology administrator, said in a statement, “We want all educators to come to the LITE Conference to share their knowledge and experience with one another how the latest trends and tools in technology can benefit all students and the entire educational community.”

Conference sponsors include SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union and Horace Mann Corporation, officials said.

Scheduled breakout sessions include:

3D Quilt Codes details how enslaved African Americans used quilts to send messages near the Underground Railroad, and session participants can tell their own stories by creating digital quilts.

Coding with Kindergarteners — “Bring your own device to learn easy but interactive codes that any grade can understand,” the RCOE statement said.

CertAIn to Impress…AI Tools that are Next Level gives session takers new insights on the new age of technology by exploring AI and its various apps such as ChatGPT, Claude 3, Alayna, Snorkl and others.

Digital Well-Being: Strategies to Support Student Mental Health – Educators in this session learn how to support students’ digital well-being through hands-on experiences with technology.

Elementary Esports with Minecraft Education – “Learn efficient strategies that promote communication, critical thinking skills, and teamwork through esports,” officials said.

The Best Teaching Strategies Based on Neuroscience and Behavioral Psychology provides practical strategies that focus the brain on student success.

Registration for the event costs $150 and includes a light breakfast and lunch, according to the RCOE. Discounted group reservations for school districts are available, but the limit is 280 attendees. The registration deadline is July 5.

More information on the event and online registration is at events.bizzabo.com/LITE24.