Boyertown teachers and students recently came together at Junior High West for a day focusing solely on technology.
On Thursday, March 24, teachers gathered for the 11th annual Tech Fest – a day of hands-on workshops to build up technology integration in the classroom. New this year – attendees could visit the Student Showcase.
Teachers Rabecca Hester and Michelle Hanna held bring this year’s event to fruition.
In different groups, teachers would swap – taking part in the professional development workshops, visiting the student showcase, and checking out the STEM spaces set up throughout the building.
“Teachers can immediately put what they’ve learned into effect in their classrooms,” said Hester. Hester is the K-12 Technology Coach and Lead Teacher for Tech Integration.
This is the first year Tech Fest was held on an In-Service day. In the past it was held on a Saturday and the student showcase was held separately. As a result of the change, Hester says this is the biggest year ever for Tech Fest – attendance-wise. She estimated a total of 1,000 attendees (500 teachers and 160 students, plus parents and other visitors).
“It’s a day that we’re all here,” said Andrew Maoury, assistant principal at Boyertown High School. “We’re seeing how technology is enhancing student learning.”
In addition to the workshops and the showcase, Dr. Lodge McCammon served as the Keynote Speaker for the event. He offered his expertise on creating engaging and collaborative learning environments.
Students from all grade levels took part in the showcase to share the projects they’ve created by using technology.
“When young kids plug into something like this – they’re wowed,” said Hester.
Jackie Laurence, third grade teacher at Gilbertsville Elementary, said “they’re motivated to do good research – they’re motivated by technology.”
As a part of Tech Fest, Laurence is sharing how she uses Google Classroom in her curriculum.
“Tech Fest provides educators with the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues and other experienced users,” stated Dr. Melissa Woodard, Chief Academic Officer, in a release from the district. “Teachers will leave with proven ideas and strategies they can implement into their classrooms immediately to reinvent their lessons.”
For lunch – food trucks from across the region lined up outside Junior High West to appease the masses.