The 2009 ACTE Convention is over and life is returning to semi-normalcy. Many thanks to everyone who participated in the conference or followed from afar using ACTE's online resources. Special thanks to our official bloggers Chris Droessler, Tracey Newman and Barry Brantley.

This blog will be on hiatus until the spring, when we'll start running announcements on the 2010 Convention in Las Vegas, December 2-4! Until then, check out ACTE online tools such as:

• CTE Policy Watch Blog
• ACTE on Twitter
• ACTE on Facebook
• ACTE's LinkedIn group
• ACTE discussion forums
• Career Tech Talk podcast

By Chris Droessler

This introvert is totally exhausted after four long days of social networking at the ACTE Convention, but it's a good kind of tired. I've met new colleagues and renewed acquaintances with those that I see only at these conventions.

I've learned a lot from others and had an opportunity to share a little of what I know. This is truly a great professional association whose members are committed to helping each other become better educators.

In order to stay connected between conventions, come join me and your colleagues at the ACTE discussion forums. I frequent the School-to-Work, Tech Prep, Career Guidance, and other discussion forums. It's a great place to share with colleagues between conventions.

I hope to see you all in Las Vegas in 2010.

 
From Chris Droessler

Stedman Graham gave the same talk that he gave recently at the NCPN Conference. His talk was a seemingly disconnected collection of stories. What was the overall point he was trying to make? What was he hoping that we would take away from his presentation?

This was the second time that I have seen this same presentation, and I'm still trying to figure out the essential message that he was trying to convey. If you found the message, please add it here.

 By Chris Droessler

I've been noticing throughout the conference that I'm usually the only one in a session who is typing my notes on a laptop computer. But here in this session on social media, all four of the people sitting at my table are typing away. Two have little HP computers and two of us are on Macs.

Blogs, twitters, FaceBook, discussion forums, photo galleries; which is the best for you to communicate your message? Which formats is your audience already using?

by Tracey

Well, I guess I can't call them all the best session ever, but I really did hit the session jackpot this year--all I attended were full of excellent resources I can use in my classroom. The most recent was a presentation from the guidance division by Steve Beutler who demonstrated the My Life Junior online simulation he created to help students understand the relationship between lifestyle and spending choices and the career needed to support such a lifestyle. Anyone who teaches careers or personal finance has probably been searching for this type of resource--I know I was. Here's the website if you would like to check it out:
http://pages.minot.k12.nd.us/votech/File/mylifejunior.htm

On Saturday, November 21 from 2:15-3:15pm in Governors Chamber C, Evan Sveum from the University of Wisconsin-Stout will present “Determining and Comparing the Computing and Internet Skills and Learning Experiences of Freshmen and Senior Education Majors at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.”

You can view a preview of this presentation, or read about this session’s learning objectives:

Session Learning Objectives
1.    Challenge the notion, through performance data, that students from the 'digital generation' possess a basic computing and Internet literacy.  Destroy assumptions of students possessing basic computing and Internet skills.
2.    Understand that preparation for students to use computing and Internet technologies in the public school system is marginal at best; inconsistent at worst. Students do not have enough quality formal and informal learning experiences connected with developing computing and Internet technology skills.
3.    Based on the results of this study, speak to the need of providing future educators with planned, appropriate formal learning experiences and to encourage every student to develop their own 'self-directed' informal learning system.

Learn more about this presentation.

 From Chris Droessler

Thanks to the folks who participated in my lunchtime keynote address about preparing our kids for the future.  Second Life and all of the other realities that I presented are a lot to digest for educators who spend most of their time in the classroom.

We've got a tough road ahead getting these kids ready for a world that is hard to define, but working together, we can turn this next generation into passionate employees who look forward to Monday morning in what ever they choose as their profession.

Have your say about ACTE face to face, 3:30-5pm in Governor's A/E.

Also, "Energize Your Classroom: Which Modules Work in Teaching Alternative and Renewable Energy" at 3:45 has been cancelled.

 by Tracey

I wanted to start this post by saying I just left the best session I've been to in a long time, except the ones I attended yesterday were great, too. Ellen Thompson & Natasha Mortensen just shared a ton of activities that any teacher in any subject can use to get their students engaged and having fun while learning! I'm really excited to get some hands on things that I know my students will love. You know its a great session when you don't check your watch once to see what time it is. Great job, ladies, thanks for sharing! This afternoon: on to learn more about the art of digital storytelling--something I've been trying to use in my classes but need to know more about in order to really use it well.

This is the first time I've been an trespasser at the ACTE conference. All I mean by that is I usually only check out the sessions from my division. As I browsed through the program, though, I found some great sessions addressing topics I know are relevant for my students--service learning, using wikis and blogs, total student engagement, digital storytelling are all things I'll be able to take back home. I would strongly encourage all attendees to mix it up and don't be afraid to check out the sessions that other divisions are offering, there's just too much you might miss out on if you don't!

 By Chris Droessler

What a shock it was to hear Brenda Dann-Messier, the new Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education, talk about many of the topics that I am going to talk about in my “Changing World” presentation later in the day. In reality, it confirms that I'm right on track and know that there are more people looking the same direction that I have been for many years. I'd like to think that maybe she attended one of my past presentations to get the information that she presented this morning.

The bottom line is that the world is changing faster than ever, and it will not be an easy task to get this next generation prepared for careers that we truly know little about. Together we can do it.

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Please consider attending my Friday session for what will appear to be a continuation of Ms. Dann-Messier's talk. If you do attend, please let me know that you saw me here on the blog. The session is at lunchtime, so feel free to bring your lunch and eat while I talk.

A Changing World: Helping Students Prepare for Life in a Scary World that We Know Little About
Friday, Nov 20, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, Lincoln D (upstairs from the Presidential Ballroom)

On Saturday, November 21, from 8-9am in Canal E, Debbie Peabody will present “Job Search 101: Putting Your Students a Step Ahead.” Here’s the 411 on this presentation:

All students need to leave high school with basic job search strategies. To ensure your students have these survival skills a Mock Job Interview Fair could just be the answer.

Union Grove High School, in McDonough, Georgia, has hosted such an event for every Career, Technical, Agriscience and ROTC student for the past nine years. More than 10,000 interviews have been given to Union Grove students by hundreds of advisory committee members as well as business and community leaders.

Learn the steps to manage a successful Mock Job Interview Fair for your students. Organizational strategies, timelines, sample assignments and rubrics will be shared.

With the job market as it is, plan to attend the “Job Search 101: Putting Your Students a Step Ahead” session so you can help your students reach the top of their job search potential.

To stay current with Convention news and attendee blogger feedback, check this blog frequently, or subscribe by e-mail or by RSS (click the orange icon next to "Blog RSS" above the photos in the right column).

unConference sessions

Friday, November 20
10:00 a.m. Professional Development and CTE, Al Silberstein, professional development section of the New and Related Services Division
10:30 a.m. Employability Transcripts, Elaine Metcalf, Lee's Summit R-7 School District
11:00 a.m. Ed Tech Idea Swap, Catherine Imperatore, ACTE
1:00 p.m. Science in CTE, Donna Pearson, NRCCTE
2:30 p.m. ACTE Policy and Advocacy Resources, ACTE Public Policy staff
3:00 p.m. March2Success as an Effective Assessment Tool, Al Silberstein, United States Army

Cancelled sessions

"National Honor Society of Sports Medicine for Secondary School Students," 10:45-11:45am
"The Best High School Career Fair Ever," 1:15-2:15pm
"Is Online Teaching for You?" 2:30-3:30pm
"From Pencil and Paper to the Push of a Button: Automation Takes Guesswork out of Career Clusters and Student Coding," 3:45-4:45pm
"Classroom Tech for Diverse Learners," 3:45-4:45

Repeated sessions

"GE2: Girls Exploring Engineering," 3:45 in Canal C

By Barry

Can you believe the line for book signing? I don't remember a line that long in the past 11 years I've participated in the convention. Chef Jeff was genuine and inspiring. I love the fact he is from Culinary Arts too as I teach in the Culinary Arts & Hospitality program in New Orleans.

By Barry

Wednesday was the longest day of the convention so far with committee orientation begining at 7:30 am. The Nominating Committee met to interview two candidates and we are excited to have them meet our attendees at the regional meetings later this week. The rest of my day included the Region IV Policy meeting and Marketing Division Policy meeting. Region IV is hosting our Southern Hospitality in Jack Daniels's Saloon 6:30 - 9:30 pm on Friday night. Sure to have lots of country dancing!

By Barry

I started my week with the NEDA meeting on Tuesday afternoon. Pam Ferguson from Arizona did a great job in covering a very full agenda. I love sharing ideas from other states. The ACTE Board joined us for dinner Tuesday evening and we had a great discussion among the state executive directors and board on engaging members with value and relevant products.

by Tracey

Chef Jeff brought us a great message this morning, the exhibitors had excellent materials to share, and sessions I attended this afternoon gave me some great ideas about incorporating wikis and blogs into my classroom as well as service learning and new strategies for helping the mathematically challenged students working with measurements and fractions in my nutrition classes. Long day, good day, can't wait for tomorrow.