CTE Innovation Summit
All times listed are EST
Tuesday June 1, 2021
10:00 AM – 5:45 PM EST (After-hours Networking 5:45 – 7:00 PM EST)
Making it through and emerging from one of the most challenging experiences of the last century, the ingenuity and creativity of career and technical educators in responding to the teaching conditions imposed by the Pandemic has been inspiring and enlightening. As a new normal arises on the horizon, the question as to what have we learned, and what forces will impact and direct the future of high-quality CTE instruction need to be considered.
The CTE Innovation Summit is a national event to explore the techniques, tools and approaches to instruction CTE in our changing world of teaching, learning and work. As the workplace evolves to incorporate new technologies and changes the way in which people interact with them, so does the need to educate our learners to be successful in this new world of work.
Join us for an exciting look at new tools and approaches to delivering high-quality CTE programs of study and hear from industry leaders about the opportunities ahead.
Draft Agenda
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
Why We Are Here and Where CTE Is Going
In 2016, ACTE’s Board of Directors adopted a 3-year strategic plan focusing on five core activities. Fostering innovation in CTE is not just a priority, but fundamental for CTE to thrive in a world where artificial intelligence, automation, robotics and other new technological advances are changing the workforce, and as a result, the way we teach learners for a new world of work.
Speaker: Nancy Trivette, ACTE Board of Directors Past-President
Setting the Stage – The Looming Revolution in the Workforce
The world of work is rapidly changing and the future state is being addressed now. While this is not new news the data around this topic might be for you. During this session you will hear from a data-driven futurist who will share the skills of the future and the impact it is having on the current workforce.
Speaker: Dr. Joyce Malyn Smith, Director Strategic Initiatives in Workforce and Human Development at Education Development Center
10:50 – 11:30 AM
Preparing for the Digital Work Economy
Charting how the innovative technologies of today will transform not only the way business is done but society itself is the theme of Ninja Future, the latest book from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) President and CEO. The author will share how being prepared to succeed in today’s turbulent environment means adopting the mindset of “ninjas”—adapting to technological change to capitalize on opportunities at lightning speed.
Speaker: Gary Shapiro, President & CEO, Consumer Technology Association
11:30 AM – Noon
Education 2021 and Beyond
New tools, new ways of teaching and a new approach to teaching and learning are realities spawned by innovation and need. An internationally recognized thought-leader shares what he’s observing and provides insight and recommendations on how to be ready to adapt and lead new learning experiences.
Speaker: Anthony Salcito, Vice President, Worldwide Education. Microsoft Corporation
12 Noon – 12:30 PM – BREAK
12:30 – 1:15 PM
Concurrent Sessions – Innovative Practices From the Field
Innovation in Agricultural Education – Dr. Carl Aakre, Ag Power & Technology Coordinator. Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education
As technology progresses in the agriculture, food, and natural resource (AFNR) industries, secondary agricultural education classes need to follow. Sensors, artificial intelligence, and computer learning surround us during our everyday lives and are vital components of technological advancement in agriculture. During this presentation, we will explore how agricultural education programs incorporate these new technologies in their classrooms and prepare students for the technical skills they will need to succeed in the agricultural industry.
What good is technology? What is technology good for? – Amy Kardel, Vice President, Strategic Workforce Relationships. Shalin Jyotishi, Senior Analyst, Education and Labor, New America.
Simply put: Technology is the skills, methods, and processes used to achieve goals. A doubleheader PechaKucha style talk on how the technologies of AI and VR are helping us avoid hazardous work, improve job quality, increase productivity, and gain the skills needed to secure quality jobs. And what are the limits to tech for good?
Innovation in Digital Education – Nicole Goldstein, Head of Business Partnerships. Facebook
This session will focus on launching an innovative learning program that provides participants with hands-on, project-based training designed to be completed within 5 months and gives a direct connection to open roles with an industry-recognized certificate. The program aims at students with no prior industry experience as well as under-represented, diverse groups of job seekers who want to build careers in the digital marketing industry.
Innovation in Advanced Manufacturing –Jon Graft, President. Butler Tech Career Center
We’ve seen major movements in the biomedical space within the last six months. There are real opportunities in onshoring the intellectual property and manufacturing support of medical manufacturing that the biomedical industry needs right now during COVID- 19. Ramping up talent and partnerships has been Butler Tech’s main priority.
1:15 – 1:45 PM
CTE During Covid-19: Challenges and Innovations
Hear from ACTE’s public policy and research team about their latest publications with lessons from the Pandemic and how new infusion funding has the potential to sustain innovations born out of necessity but which have shown enhancements to traditional instructional approaches.
Speaker: Dr. Alisha Hyslop, Senior Director Public Policy. ACTE
1:45-2:30 PM
Innovative Teaching in Career and Technical Education
A focus on where automation, artificial intelligence and other innovations will impact the skill needs of business and industry and what changes in CTE may need to be adapted to support career readiness for the workplace of the future. Hear from this panel of industry representatives about new technologies that will impact the way CTE programs are taught.
Moderator: Patrick O’Donnell, Journalist and Citizen & Scholar Institute Media Fellow![]() |
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2:30 – 2:45 PM BREAK
2:45 – 3:30
New Tools – New Techniques
The way in which we teach will be enhanced as new tech tools emerge that better simulate and replicate a variety of workplace environments. Hear from leading developers of such tools, Pointful Education, TransfrVR and zSpace to get an early glimpse of the innovative solutions they are developing today for the classroom and workplace of tomorrow.
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3:30 – 4:15 PM
Concurrent Sessions: Innovative Practices from the Field
Rural CTE Innovation – Frank Reed, Rural Iowa Photonics Education. NSF Grantee
Learn about an innovative National Science Foundation program designed to present the methods to create & conduct a hybrid (live and online {before COVID}), dual credit high school lasers & optics course and why. This session will include informative materials and hands-on lab equipment.
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![]() ![]() Without Limits: A Shared Vision for the Future of Career Technical Education (CTE Without Limits) puts forth a bold vision for a cohesive, flexible, and responsive career preparation ecosystem that will close equity gaps in educational outcomes and workforce readiness, and leverage CTE as a catalyst for ensuring each learner can reach success in the career of their choice. Developed with input from nearly 200 national, state and local education and workforce development leaders and supported by 40 national organizations, CTE Without Limits lays out five inter-connected and equally critical principles. This session will highlight these principles and share innovative state and local examples of steps being taken to achieve the vision. |
![]() With a growing demand for career and technical education skills in the workplace, Google has numerous initiatives exploring what skills are in demand for workers and why addressing equity gaps in computer science and technical skills education is important to creating a successful workforce long term. Join us to hear directly from Google teams who are addressing these challenges with turnkey Google resources. |
4:15-5:00 PM
How Can Your CTE Programs Be Prepared – Panel Discussion
Hear from thought leaders on what they suggest needs to happen in CTE programs to be prepared to meet the challenges and new approaches to teaching brought about by the changing workplace.
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5:00-5:45 PM
Wrap-up and Closing Session
As we close out the CTE Summit we will review the day’s activities and highlights of the discussion and the questions and comments that have been shared on the digital comment board.
Our nationally recognized closing speaker will discuss what is and what will be happen(ing) with workers and the labor market, with a focus on how work-based learning experiences in the innovative new workplace can offer opportunity for all learners.
Speaker: Martha Ross, Senior Fellow. Brookings Institution
5:45 PM – 7:00 PM
After Hours Reflections & Conversation
Join us for a wind-down session where rooms will be designated for an open reflection on the issues raised throughout the day and an informal conversation with other Summit participants on their thoughts and questions about the content presented.
Schedule at a Glance (all times ET)
10:00 AM | Opening Session: Setting the Stage |
10:50 AM | Preparing for the Digital Work Economy |
11:30 AM | Education 2021 and Beyond |
Noon | BREAK |
12:30 PM | Concurrent Sessions #1 – Innovative Practices from the Field |
1:15 PM | CTE During Covid-19: Challenges and Innovations |
1:45 PM | Innovative Teaching in Career and Technical Education |
2:30 PM | BREAK |
2:45 PM | New Tools – New Techniques |
3:30 PM | Concurrent Sessions #2 – Innovative Practices from the Field |
4:15 PM | How Can Your CTE Programs Be Prepared – Panel Discussion |
5:00 PM | Wrap-up and Closing Session |
5:45 PM | After Hours: Reflections & Conversations |