Joan Ganz Cooney Center

Media Literacy in Early Childhood Pre-Conference Symposium
2017-06-26 | Chicago, IL
The Technology in Early Childhood (TEC) Center at Erikson Institute, in partnership with The National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE), is hosting a one-day pre-conference symposium, Media Literacy in Early Childhood: A Critical Conversation on June 26, 2017, prior to NAMLE’s 2017 conference. The day will focus on why media literacy is a critical habit of mind and the set of skills for young children growing in the digital age.

Michael Levine will serve as a Working Group Leader for two sessions during the pre-conference:

10:45-11:45am
5 Essential Skills for Media Literacy

2:30-3:15pm
Teaching 5 Essential Skills to Media Mentors
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International Society for Technology in Education 2017 Conference
2017-06-25 - 2017-06-28 | San Antonio, TX, Select a Country:
Extraordinary educators deserve extraordinary professional development. At ISTE 2017 in San Diego, learn teaching strategies that work from the brightest minds in ed tech. Connect and learn from other innovative educators, thought leaders and education companies at the world’s most comprehensive ed tech meeting of the minds. Learn More

American Library Association 2017 Conference
2017-06-22 - 2017-06-27 | Chicago, IL
The ALA is the oldest and largest library association in the world and holds its Annual Conference & Exhibition each summer. As the world’s biggest library event, it brings together up to 25,000 librarians and library staff, educators, authors, publishers, Friends of Libraries, trustees, special guests and exhibitors to engage and participate in the ongoing transformation of libraries and to network. With around 2,500 scheduled events of which more than 500 are programs, sessions and in-depth facilitated and information conversations, attendees engage in a wide range of library- and professional development-related topics. The ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition brings together bestselling authors, experts, political luminaries, thought leaders and influencers in the library field and all over the world. Learn More

NAEYC 2017 Professional Learning Institute
2017-06-11 - 2017-06-14 | San Francisco, CA
This year’s NAEYC Professional Learning Institute takes place in San Francisco, CA. This conference is designed for all early childhood professionals, including leaders who prepare, mentor, and support early childhood professionals, as well as program administrators, teacher educators, trainers, teachers, and researchers. Participants explore the expanding early childhood knowledge base, developing skills that improve professional preparation and practice, and discuss effective, active learning approaches for adults. Learn More

Jean Piaget Society Annual Meeting 2017
2017-06-08 - 2017-06-10 | San Francisco, CA
The 47th Annual Meeting of the Jean Piaget Society takes place in San Francisco, CA from June 8-10, 2017. This year’s theme is Technologies and Human Development, wth a lens on child, youth, and adult learning and development with games, social media, digital archives as cultural tools.

Reesearcher Tamara Spiewak Toub will present “Navigating the world of digital apps: How parents choose apps for young children” at the “Taming Technology: Making Evidence-Based Decisions Regarding Digital Media” session at 3pm on June 8.

View the Jean Piaget Society website for more information.

Dust or Magic App Camp
2017-06-02 - 2017-06-04 | Venue Monterey, CA, Monterey, CA
A gathering of top children’s interactive designers, editors and reviewers who review the year and critique the field. The reviewers share what they’ve seen and explain what they like. The publishers demonstrate their latest apps.

What do you do at App Camp?
Give demos and get feedback from an expert audience.
Meet old friends, and make new ones.
Help critique the latest apps by way of demonstrations.
Get the latest news on hardware and app store policies.
Get a crash course of the “magic” of interactive engagement.
Leave inspired to make smarter, better products.
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67th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association
2017-05-25 - 2017-05-29 | San Diego, CA
The theme of the 67th annual International Communications Association conference is Interventions: Communication Research and Practice. The conference takes place in San Diego from May 25-29.

Cooney Center Senior Fellow Sarah Vaala will present “Parents’ reactions to Descriptions of Children’s Apps: Results from a Parent Survey Experiment” in a panel chaired by Matthew A. Lapierre and Erica Scharrer at 3:30pm on Monday, May 29.

On Thursday, May 25, the Center for research on Children, Adolescents, and the Media at the University of Amsterdam, the Center on Media & Human Development at Northwestern University, and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center present Invention & Intervention: Blending Research with Practice to Develop Effective Media for Youth, a preconference by the by the Children, Adolescents, and the Media division of the ICA. View the program here.
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Invention & Intervention: Blending Research with Practice to Develop Effective Media for Youth
2017-05-25 | San Diego, CA
By bringing together media producers, industry researchers, and children’s media scholars from around the world, the intent of this preconference is to:

provide guidance and information to academic researchers on the types of research currently conducted within the children’s media industry;
identify how academic researchers might be influential in conducting research that will drive more impactful media productions;
and brainstorm ways to facilitate improved communication between researchers and (media) practitioners.

This daylong preconference (lunch included) will include three panel sessions with research scholars and industry leaders as well as a keynote luncheon speaker. Speakers will include:

(1) World-renowned children and media scholars with experience bridging research with practice;
(2) Scholars (PhDs) who currently work in the children’s media field that can speak to the influence of their formal training in their industry research;
(3) Industry leaders and developers who are successfully incorporating research into their design process (with an emphasis on media exemplars designed to improve the health and/or well-being of youth today).

Speakers have experience across various media, with an emphasis on interactive media (i.e., online content, videogames, app development) and transmedia applications.
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Fred Forward Symposium 2017
2017-05-14 - 2017-05-16
Founded to bridge and build the fields of early learning and children’s media, the Fred Forward Conference brings together researchers, technologists, media creators, educators, and advocates, to explore current and emerging issues impacting the healthy development of children birth to age 8.

The goals of the Fred Forward Symposium are to provide a forum to empower parents and engage families as positive media mentors, share in developing and disseminating messages to improve outcomes for children and families, encourage participants to take action within their respective organizations, and explore the potential for new partnerships.

See the agenda here: http://www.fredrogerscenter.org/news-events/fred-forward-conference/fred-forward-symposium-agenda/

Scratch Day
2017-05-01 - 2017-05-31
Scratch Day is a global network of events where people gather to celebrate Scratch, the free coding platform and online community for kids. Scratch Day events bring together young people from the Scratch community to share projects, learn from each other, and welcome newcomers.

This year’s celebration is during the month of May. Look for a Scratch Day in your community, or organize your own!
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WQED Session: Digital Innovation as a New Approach in Family Engagement
2017-04-25 | Pittsburgh, PA
This event is open to the public.

Cyberlearning 2017: What’s Next? Making Connections to Shape the Future
2017-04-18 - 2017-04-19 | Arlington, VA
Cyberlearning 2017 will facilitate connections among Cyberlearning researchers across disciplines and with practitioners and stakeholders. Together, attendees will envision a strong path forward for cyberlearning research, taking into account their aspirations and today’s uncertainties. The program will provide opportunities to share insights on cyberlearning designs, genres, and research methods.
Learn more and register for the webcast Featured PanelBroader Impacts: Connecting to Opportunities | April 18
Jamie Bell, Project Director, CAISELori Takeuchi, Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame WorkshopJoseph South, Former Director, Office of Educational Technology at U.S. Department of Education

STEM researchers and those charged with developing broader impacts plans, activities and proposals are increasingly looking for innovative strategies and generative collaborations. Broadening participation of underrepresented groups in these activities is a particular challenge that designers and researchers of cyberlearning experiences are building knowledge about. After a brief review of how investments in infrastructure have changed the landscape of informal STEM education expertise and resources, this will be a facilitated discussion of what cyberlearning projects bring to the table.

Webinar: What’s Next for STEM Education? Boosting Teachers and Teaching
2017-03-16 | Webinar, Select a Country:
Thursday, March 16 | 1pm-2:30pm ET
This online event is open to the public.

There is a national consensus that today’s students need more opportunities to build skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) across the PreK-12 grade span. Teachers are a critical piece for providing those opportunities, but barriers abound. How are teachers recruited? How are they trained? Should education schools approach preparation differently? And what about educators in the early grades, kindergarten, and pre-K? What stands in the way of enabling high-quality STEM teaching and learning experiences for young children?

100Kin10’s efforts to name and map the grand challenges in STEM teaching are providing insights and recommendations for tackling these questions. So are two new reports: STEM Starts Early: Grounding Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education in Early Childhood, published by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and New America with support from the National Science Foundation, and Can UTeach? Assessing the Relative Effectiveness of STEM Teachers, published by the National Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research (CALDER), a program of the American Institutes for Research (AIR).

Join New America, the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, AIR, and 100Kin10 for a wide-ranging discussion of the ideas emerging from these reports and initiatives—and what they mean for policy making at the local, state, and federal levels.
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Webinar: How and Why to Integrate STEM into Early Childhood Education
2017-03-15 | Webinar, Select a Country:
Wednesday, March 15 | 6pm ET
This online event is open to the public.

Researchers and educators agree: Children demonstrate a clear readiness to engage in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning early in life. And, just as with language and literacy, STEM education should start early in order to maximize its benefits and effectiveness. So why is STEM not woven more seamlessly into early childhood education? What can we do — in the classroom, in homes, in museums, in research labs, and in the halls of legislating bodies – to ensure that all young children have access to high-quality STEM learning early in life?

This panel consists of authors of and contributors to two major early STEM reports released this year from the Early Childhood STEM Working Group, and from the Joan Ganz Cooney Center and New America. The latest research findings on the importance and impact of early STEM, as well as practical recommendations, will be discussed. The recommendations identify specific steps involving research, policy, and teaching practice that will promote dramatic improvement in early STEM education for all young children.

Available for one-hour of PD credit.Learn More

SxSW Edu
2017-03-06 - 2017-03-09 | Venue Austin, TX, Austin, TX, United States
This event is open to the public.

Through powerful presentations from prominent and emerging leaders, SXSWedu explores a diverse range of topics that impact the future of how we teach, learn and grow.

Keynotes kick off each day of programming, while featured sessions headline each hour of the conference day and the closing program completes the event with a single stage lineup of dynamic voices. Learn more about the speakers already confirmed for March by clicking on their photo or browse by session titles in the online schedule.
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AASA National Conference on Education
2017-03-02 - 2017-03-04 | New Orleans, LA
This event is open to the public.The 2017 conference will focus on 7 major themes:
Common Core Standards and Assessments
Superintendent/School Board Relationships
Personalizing Education
Leadership
Instructional Leadership
Innovative Technology
Healthy School Environments
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Beyond School Hours National Education Conference
2017-02-22 - 2017-02-25 | Atlanta, GA
This event is open to the public.

BSH provides vital professional development opportunities for educators and leaders working with students of all ages, across the learning day, all across America. Get big ideas for immediate results. Take home skills, tools, and a renewed passion for improving learning outcomes for young people across the entire day, through:

Hands-on workshops and pre-conferences led by national experts
Motivating keynote presentations and panel discussions
Powerful networking opportunities and celebrations
Fascinating educational excursions
Premium exhibits unveiling the latest products and solutions
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Kidscreen Summit
2017-02-13 - 2017-02-16 | InterContinental Miami, 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami, FL, 33131, United States
This event is open to the public.

Kidscreen Summit is renowned as the kids entertainment industry’s most important annual event. In 2016, the conference welcomed nearly 1,800 attendees from more than 50 countries. Top executives attend Kidscreen Summit to take advantage of the year’s best business networking, and to engage in critical dialogue on issues that affect the industry.
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Sandbox Sports
2017-02-07 - 2017-02-08 | Washington, DC, Washington, DC, Select a Country:
This event is open to the public.

Join an unparalleled group of sports, health, fitness, media, entertainment, education, technology and non-profit leaders to explore Innovation and Impact in Kids & Family Sports, Fitness and Health. Our candid discussions will cover the latest global trends, opportunities and best practices for designing, developing and monetizing cross-platform products, programs and experiences for kids, families and educators. In true Sandbox style, our mix of dynamic presentations, panels, workshops and networking events promise to deliver the insights, strategies and connections that will guarantee a true return on your participation!
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Future of Education Technology Conference
2017-01-24 - 2017-01-27 | Orlando, FL
This event is open to the public.
FETC is the largest national, independent education technology conference, delivering strategies and best practices for student success and school-wide advancement. Learn More

Educational Media and Technology: A Conversation with Michael Levine, Ph.D.
2017-01-24 | New York, NY, New York, NY, United States
This event is open to the public. Join us for a conversation about education media between Michael Levine and Bill Baker. January 24, 5:30-8:30 pm Fordham University
12th-Floor Lounge | E. Gerald Corrigan Conference Center
Lowenstein Center | Lincoln Center Campus
5:30 p.m. – Doors Open
5:40 p.m. – Welcome and Introductions
5:50-7:10 p.m. – Lecture and Q&A
7:10-8:30 p.m. – Reception
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Kids@Play Summit
2017-01-05 - 2017-01-08 | Venue Las Vegas, Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada
This event is open to the public.

At this year’s Kids@Play Summit you’ll hear from the smartest kids on the block: educators, researchers, thought leaders and yes, even real live kids about how the new world of seamless, screen-less tech is coming and how you can seize the opportunity.
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Webinar: The Evolution of Literacy in the Digital Age
2016-12-01 | Webinar, Select a Country:
This event is free and open to the public.

Young children’s developing brains are learning to follow the sequence of a narrative as well as develop the complex literacies that are demanded by our digital and global age. In this webinar, Tap, Click, Read authors Michael Levine and Lisa Guernsey will discuss how content creators and publishers can help foster new pathways to learning by creating “transmedia” offerings that allow “blended learning” experiences beginning in preschool. Young children will increasingly need to learn how to navigate between print and digital images that are in their immediate surroundings. We will also discuss how educators and parents can help children grow into strong, passionate readers using media of all kinds—print, digital, and everything in between.
Register Now

2016 National STEM Video Game Challenge Awards Ceremony & Reception
2016-11-14 | Washington, D.C.
Inspired by President Obama’s Educate to Innovate Campaign to promote a renewed focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education, the National STEM Video Game Challenge taps into middle and high school students’ passion for playing video games and motivates them to work as individuals or in teams to design and make original, playable games or written game design documents about any subject.

On November 14, 2016 at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C., winners of this year’s cycle will be announced, with a reception to follow.

Learn more about the National STEM Video Game Challenge.

Student-Led Game Making and Learning Webinar
2016-11-09
Wednesday, November 9, 2016 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm EST

Explore how teachers can use student-led game-making to enrich learning. The panelists review the protocols of game-making, types of student-made games that are well suited for schools, what makes games engaging, and how various cross-curricular content areas come alive in games. Jordan Shapiro, renowned expert in game-making as a teaching and learning strategy, provides the rationale of “why to” and inspiration for “how to” use games in classrooms. Kristen Walter shares insights on using the Design Thinking process with students as they create a variety of games and teach others how to play—deeply embedding what they learn about their state and economy.

Cheri Sterman moderates the panel and provides child development insights on how students’ collaboration in the design, prototyping, testing, and teaching others how to play their games fits what we know as good pedagogy.

This event is open to the public! Learn more and register here.

Webinar presented by Cheri Sterman, Crayola Education Director; Jordan Shapiro, Ph.D., Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, Senior Fellow & Temple University Intellectual Heritage Program Professor; Kristen Walter, Crayola Innovative Teaching and Learning Specialist.

2016 NAEYC Annual Conference
2016-11-02 - 2016-11-05 | Venue Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles Convention Center
The 2016 NAEYC Annual Conference November 2-5 will bring educators from across the country and around the world to Los Angeles, CA to participate in hundreds of well-planned workshops, seminars, and presentations on the latest research and information on early childhood development.

Join Michael Levine and Lisa Guernsey, authors of Tap, Click, Read: Growing Readers in a World of Screens for their featured panel on Thursday, November 3 from 3:00 to 4:30pm in Room 515A. Drawing from the contributions of leaders in early learning, child development, journalism, and public policy, this session will stimulate a lively discussion of the four critical dimensions that must be considered in the use of new technologies in early learning programs. The session leaders will also detail the research and policy implications that are essential in ensuring that America’s early literacy crisis—over two-thirds of all fourth-graders cannot read well—is addressed in the coming decade.

Learn more and register.

Technology and Media in Children's Development Conference
2016-10-27 - 2016-10-30 | Irvine, California
The use of digital devices and social media is ubiquitous in the environment of 21st century children. From the moment of birth (and even in utero), children are surrounded by media and technology. This meeting will provide a forum for intellectual and interdisciplinary exchange on media and technology in development and is designed to appeal to a range of researchers from the seasoned media researcher to technology developers to developmentalists who need to understand more about the role of technology and media in children’s lives.

Feature panel:Media and Technology as Learning Tools Among Diverse Families
Sun, October 30, 10:15 to 11:45am, UCI Student Center, Emerald Bay D & E

Registration for this event is now closed. Learn more about the conference schedule here.

Families Learning Summit 2016
2016-10-17 - 2016-10-19 | Detroit, Michigan
This year’s Families Learning Summit will bring two-generation family engagement to life for hundreds of attendees on October 17-19, 2016, in Detroit, Mich. The National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) has hand-picked sessions and speakers covering everything from early literacy to adult education, and digital learning to community coalitions and family engagement research.

On Tuesday, October 18, the Cooney Center’s Dr. Michael H. Levine will lead a panel on Integrating Technology in Early Learning and Family-Strengthening Initiatives based on research conducted for Levine and New America’s Lisa Guernsey’s book, Tap, Click, Read. Panelists include Margaret Caspe, senior research analyst at Harvard FINE; Jason Quiara, program officer for the Joyce Foundation; and Emily Roden, co-Founder and executive director of ReadyRosie.

Learn more about the Families Learning Summit here.

Intentional Play Summit
2016-10-07 | Mountain View, CA
The Intentional Play Summit is an opportunity to convene and ask, how can we develop more meaningful gameplay? How can we better leverage that gameplay to teach and motivate? It will be a day full of learning, networking, and inspiration. The Intentional Play Summit is a full day event with keynote speakers, breakout sessions, round table discussions over lunch, and a closing happy hour. Selected developers will be displaying their games in our arcade area.

Intentional Play Summit

Digital Media and Learning Conference 2016
2016-10-05 - 2016-10-07 | Irvine, CA
The Digital Media and Learning Conference is an annual event supported by the MacArthur Foundation and organized by the Digital Media and Learning Research Hub located at the UC Humanities Research Institute, University of California, Irvine.

The conference is meant to be an inclusive, international and annual gathering of scholars and practitioners in the field, focused on fostering interdisciplinary and participatory dialog and linking theory, empirical study, policy, and practice.

http://dml2016.dmlhub.net/
