Kids at Play Summit 2015
2015-01-07
This year’s theme for the Kids@Play Summit is “What You Don’t Know About Digital Kids Could Cost You (And Them).” This annual event takes place during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas and offers a lineup featuring up and coming trends in digital media for kids, including a session on robotics, experts on the growing role of tech in modern family life, and the KAPi Awards.

Learn more at the Kids @ Play website.

Launch Kids at Digital Book World 2015
2015-01-13 | New York, NY, New York, NY, United States
Now in its fourth year, Launch Kids will take place at the 2015 Digital Book World Conference and Summit. Launch Kids presents a wide array of experts who share their insights into the trends and technology that children’s publishers should consider when they’re developing their content and looking for new partners and paths to market.

Learn more at the Digital Book Worlds website.

FETC 2015
2015-01-20 - 2015-01-23 | Venue Orlando, FL, Orlando, FL
FETC is the content-rich conference that brings education leaders and technology experts together to exchange techniques and strategies for teaching and learning success. Known worldwide for its outstanding program, FETC provides educators and administrators the opportunity to explore the integration of technology across the curriculum—from kindergarten to college—through hands-on exposure to the latest hardware, software and successful strategies. FETC offers a wealth of information for all education professions—teachers, principals and deans, district administrators, curriculum designers, media specialists, technology directors and others.

Learn more about FETC 2015 at fetc.org

ThinkFWD - Incubating Opportunity: The Promise of Early Childhood Education
2015-02-05 | New York, NY, New York, NY, United States
FWD.us aims to mobilize the tech community to support policies that keep the American Dream achievable in the 21st century. ThinkFWD is a quarterly speaker series focusing on important issues at the intersection of tech and politics.

On Thursday, February 5, 2015, join the Joan Ganz Cooney Center’s Michael H. Levine at Incubating Opportunity: The Promise of Early Childhood Education. Can early childhood education expand opportunity for New York’s kids? How can the city ensure that its new pre-k initiative benefits children from all backgrounds? He will moderate a panel with Steven Barnett, Director, National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER); Carmel Martin, Executive Vice President for Policy, Center for American Progress; Hirokazu Yoshikawa, Courtney Sale Ross University Professor of Globalization and Education, Steinhardt, NYU; and Azadeh Jamalian, Co-Founder and Chief Learning Officer, Tiggly.

Learn more and RSVP: www.fwd.us/field_020515_nycthinkfwd

Learning and the Brain 2015
2015-02-12 - 2015-02-14 | San Francisco, CA
Making Lasting Memories: Using Brain Science to Boost Memory, Thinking and Learning

Neuroscientists are discovering strategies that make learning easier, more effective, and that can boost long-term memory, thinking and academic performance. By using mnemonics, movement, active learning, discussions, gestures and varied practices, teachers can improve their students’ ability to learn, reflect and remember. Discover how the “Science of Learning” can help boost student retention, recall and retrieval of information.

Learn more

Toy Fair 2015
2015-02-14 - 2015-02-17 | New York, NY, New York, NY, United States
The 112th annual American International Toy Fair®, the largest toy and youth product marketplace in the Western Hemisphere, is expected to bring together nearly 1,200 exhibiting manufacturers, distributors, importers and sales agents to showcase 150,000+ products to nearly 10,000 buyers representing 7,000+ unique retail outlets in 100 countries.

http://www.toyfairny.com/

Kidscreen Summit 2015
2015-02-23 - 2015-02-26 | Miami, FL
Kidscreen Summit is renowned as the kids entertainment industry’s most important annual event. In 2014, the conference welcomed nearly 1,700 attendees from 47 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.

http://summit.kidscreen.com/2015/

SXSWedu
2015-03-09 - 2015-03-12 | Venue Austin, TX, Austin, TX, United States
The SXSWedu® Conference & Festival fosters innovation in learning by hosting a diverse and energetic community of stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds in education. The four-day event affords registrants open access to engaging sessions, interactive workshops, hands on learning experiences, cinematic portrayals, early stage startups and a host of networking opportunities. By providing a platform for collaboration, SXSWedu works to promote creativity and social change.

SXSWedu is a component of the South by Southwest family of conferences and festivals that includes SXSW Music, Film and Interactive; SXSW Eco and SXSW V2V. Internationally recognized as the convergence gathering for the creative arts, SXSWedu extends SXSW’s support for the art of engagement beyond musicians, filmmakers and new media innovators to include society’s true rock stars: educators!

http://sxswedu.com

SXSW Interactive
2015-03-13 - 2015-03-17 | Venue Austin, TX, Austin, TX, United States
The 22nd annual SXSW Interactive Festival returns to Austin, Texas from Friday, March 13 through Tuesday, March 17, 2015. An incubator of cutting-edge technologies and digital creativity, the 2015 event features five days of compelling presentations and panels from the brightest minds in emerging technology, scores of exciting networking events hosted by industry leaders and an unbeatable lineup of special programs showcasing the best new websites, video games and startup ideas the community has to offer. From hands-on training to big-picture analysis of the future, SXSW Interactive has become the place to preview the technology of tomorrow today.

http://schedule.sxsw.com/?conference=interactive

Be sure to check out the Cooney Center’s own Michelle Miller as she moderates Playing to Learn: Lessons From Game Design Gurus.

Playing to Learn: Lessons From Game Design Gurus
2015-03-16
How can the engaging power of games be used to promote playful learning? Three design experts share lessons learned from applying the latest research to produce games that are both popular and transformative. Whether the aim is to tap into a parent-focused consumer market, enter the formal K-12 space, support informal spaces like museums and libraries or just build a more effective user experience, this session will address the potential for games and learning. Panelists will take us behind the scenes of successful groups like LEGO and Nickelodeon to offer best practices for research gathering, iterative design and user feedback. After sharing examples of their most recent successes and failures, the panel will answer questions from the audience.

The Joan Ganz Cooney Center’s Managing Director, Michelle Miller, will be moderating this panel!

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/events/event_IAP39174

2015 Ideas & Innovations Virtual Conference
2015-03-23 - 2015-03-25
Ideas & Innovations is a professional learning virtual conference, March 23-25, brought to you by Share My Lesson in partnership with content leaders, authors and experienced educators. With 29 sessions to choose from, there’s something for every new or experienced educator, PreK-12, spanning all subject areas from arts education, science and math to integrating technology and games into the classroom.

www.sharemylesson.com/Conference

LITERACY FOR ALL: ACCELERATING OUTCOMES THROUGH COLLECTIVE IMPACT
2015-04-14 | Institute of International Education, 809 United Nations Plaza, 12th Floor, New York, NY, 10017, United States
The International Literacy Association invites you to join a critical discussion among cross-sector leaders on what is required to motivate action and accelerate outcomes for the millions of illiterate people around the world.

How can educators, governments, and private sector and philanthropic leaders collaborate to develop, assess and share approaches that work in advancing literacy?

This discussion marks an important first step in building a coalition dedicated to collectively addressing the solvable problem that is illiteracy today.

Tuesday, April 14, 3:00PM to 5:00PM

Click here for more information and to register.

American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
2015-04-16 - 2015-04-20 | Venue Chicago, IL, Chicago, IL
The AERA Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of scholars in the field of education research. It is a showcase for ground-breaking, innovative studies in a diverse array of areas — from early education through higher education, from digital learning to second language literacy. It is where to encounter ideas and data that will shape tomorrow’s education practices and policies, and where to connect with leading thinkers from the U.S. and around the world. The 2015 Annual Meeting, with an expected attendance of more than 14,000, will feature over 2,600 sessions.

CHI Conference
2015-04-18 - 2015-04-23 | Seoul, Korea, Seoul, Korea, Republic Of
For over 30 years, the CHI conference (pronounced ‘kai’) has attracted the world’s leading researchers and practitioners in the field of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) from businesses and universities to share ground-breaking research and innovations related to how humans interact with digital technologies. The Association for Computing Machinery’s (ACM) CHI conference is the world’s premiere conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, presenting a highly selective showcase of the very best advances across the disciplines of computer science, cognitive psychology, design, social science, human factors, artificial intelligence, graphics, visualization, multi-media design and other disciplines.

http://chi2015.acm.org

Conversations with Authors Webinar Series: Pioneering Literacy in the Digital Age
2015-04-20 | Webinar, Select a Country:
In a world where young children are surrounded by media choices, can digital tools be better deployed to enhance early literacy skills?

Lisa Guernsey (Director, Early Education Initiative and Director, Learning Technologies Project New America) and Michael Levine (Executive Director, The Joan Ganz Cooney Center) will address this question and share findings from their forthcoming book, Tap, Click, Read, which analyzes the current digital media and literacy marketplace.

These experts in early childhood program and policy development will also share findings from The Seeding Reading Project, a multi-year initiative that examines if and how digital media can be used in early childhood programs to support literacy development. The initiative is led by New America and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and supported by the Pritzker Children’s Initiative.

You’ll leave this webinar with practical strategies and best practices for the use of digital tools by early childhood professionals and parents.

This webinar takes place on April 20, 2015, from 3:00- 4:30pm Eastern Time.

Click here to register.

Games for Change Festival
2015-04-21 - 2015-04-25 | New York, NY, New York, NY, United States
The Games for Change Festival is the leading international event uniting game creators with those who believe in the positive power of digital games. The 2015 G4C Festival will again join the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City from April 21-23 & 25.

See videos, photos, and articles from 2014.

http://www.gamesforchange.org

Transformational Experiences Summit
2015-04-30 | Unnamed Venue, Pittsburgh, PA
The inaugural Transformational Experiences Summit will focus on the art, science and design of making media that matters. The summmit will explore experiences that span learning, health, training, social impact, civics, entertainment and more; made through media that range from games, animation, location-based installations, augmented reality, mobile devices, robotics, interactive performances, transmedia storytelling, etc.

The Cooney Center’s Michael Levine will speak at 3:45 on “Early Learning and Tech: Pathways to ‘Readialand.'”

Learn more and register for the conference at http://tes.etc.cmu.edu/

International Communication Association's 65th Annual Conference
2015-05-21 - 2015-05-25 | San Juan Caribe Hilton Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Communication Across the Life Span
The 2015 conference theme “Communication Across the Life Span” encourages academics to explore the various ways in which our discipline provides a lens for interpreting the evolving meanings, relationships, experiences, and critical crossroads of the life course. Technological evolution, economic changes, medical advancements, environmental turbulence, political movements, and other evolving circumstances not only influence our experiences across the life span, but also the development of social policies and ethical frameworks that shape societies. Across domains, life-span dynamics are inseparable from the communication processes surrounding them.

This year’s conference theme seeks to explore the multiple ways communication affects, reflects and directs life’s trajectory. As we grow up and grow old, embrace new experiences, try on new roles, and adopt new media technologies, our sense of time, space, connection, and identity are fundamentally explored through communication. The questions of why, how, with whom, and to what end humans communicate reflect and shape their ever-changing life-span position. And, while the “life span” can be conceived as a continuum, it is also one hinged by critical junctures and bound by cultural definitions that can be better understood through communication.

Early registration ends May 1, 2015.

Click here for more information.

Webinar: Betting on Elmo, Martha, and Lena: The Promise of Technology to Reach & Support Parents in Creating Literacy and Language Rich Environments
2015-05-27
Parents are too often an untapped asset in building young children’s pathways to literacy and overall success. They, more than anyone else, can have the greatest impact on children reading proficiently by the end of third grade when they create literacy- and language-rich environments, a key indicator of school readiness. Technology can be a powerful tool to reach the numbers of parents we need to reach. But how might we better use technology in ways that promote science-based learning and development that will promote both deeper human relationships and stronger 21st century skills? What are the best technology tools and how do we get these into the hands of low-income families? What models can we learn from? And how do we measure and track our efforts? In this webinar, we will view and discuss several 3-5 minute videos that spotlight how pioneering early childhood professionals are using technology to reach families.

Join Lisa Guernsey, Director: Learning Technologies & Director: Early Education Initiative, and Michael Levine, Executive Director, Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop in this interactive webinar hosted by the Campaign for Grade Level Reading to learn about what research tells us about the promise and challenges of today’s ubiquitous media and technology environment. Based on the findings in their forthcoming book, Tap, Click Read: Growing Readers in a World of Screens, they will recommend effective, modern ways to support parents, educators and other community leaders in creating literacy- and language-rich environments.

Register for the webinar here

Dust or Magic AppCamp 2015
2015-05-31 - 2015-06-02 | Asilomar Conference Center, Monterey, CA, United States
The idea for AppCamp came pre-iPad after several Dust or Magic Institute attendees from the West Coast wanted a Dust or Magic event on the west coast.

We knew that a flood of apps was on the way, and that these products would need to be properly critiqued, debated and understood.

As with all CTR-related work — AppCamp is independent; there are no sponsors or associations with Google, Apple or hidden commercial interests. The event is supported by registration fees; it is not exclusive to any organization or media outlet.

Watch the video below for an overview. Click here for more information.

Developing Apps For Kids Conference 2015
2015-06-07 | San Francisco, CA
This conference is for anyone working in the children’s app space. It is the go-to event for app developers, designers, illustrators, marketers, and other professionals who are working in the kid app and kid tech space.

The conference will bring together industry leaders, top reviewers, and visionaries to discuss trends and innovations, best practices, and common challenges facing kid app developers. Experts will offer advice on creating apps, marketing and discovery, monetizing, consolidation of the industry, working with brands, and more.

This event will host a series of panel discussions with audience questions and comments encouraged at the end of each panel; and it will end with a networking session. During the free lunch, participants can sign up to demo their app for the attendees and speakers. Attendees are encouraged to bring business cards and other materials to place on a “Sharing Table” (plan for 100).

Sunday, June 7, 2015 from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (PDT)

Digital Media and Learning Conference
2015-06-11 - 2015-06-13 | Venue Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles, CA
The Digital Media and Learning Conference is an annual event supported by the MacArthur Foundation and organized by the Digital Media and Learning 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 dialogue and linking theory, empirical study, policy, and practice. The sixth annual conference – DML2015 – is organized around the theme “Equity by Design.” This year’s conference calls on us all to promote equity in digital learning practices, and engage in thinking of solutions for addressing educational opportunity gaps in today’s technological world.

The DML2015 Conference will held between June 11-13, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.

E3 Expo
2015-06-16 - 2015-06-18 | Venue Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles Convention Center
E3 is the world’s premier trade show for computer, video and mobile games and related products. At E3, the video game industry’s top talent pack the Los Angeles Convention Center, connecting tens of thousands of the best, brightest, and most innovative professionals in the interactive entertainment industry. For three exciting days, leading-edge companies, groundbreaking new technologies and never-before-seen products will be showcased. E3 connects you with both new and existing partners and provides unprecedented exposure to emerging markets.

– See more at: https://www.e3expo.com

Interaction Design and Children
2015-06-21 - 2015-06-24 | Venue Boston, MA, Boston, MA
The 14th international conference on Interaction Design & Children will be held on June 21-24, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. The IDC conference’s mission is to bring together researchers, designers and educators to explore new forms of technology, design and engaged learning among children. The conference incorporates papers, presentations, speakers, workshops, participatory design experiences and discussions on how to create better interactive experiences for children.

IDC 2015 will offer a wide-ranging program, supporting and facilitating the exchange of ideas within and between all of these communities. The theme for this year is Empowering Children to Create. The focus will be on technology support for creativity, coding, and maker types of endeavors, with two related themes: Developmentally Appropriate Design and Innovative Interfaces.

National Association for Media Literacy Education
2015-06-26 - 2015-06-27 | Venue Philadelphia, PA, Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, is ready to welcome the 2015 NAMLE conference. The dates are Thursday, June 25 for pre-conference sessions and an evening kick-off, and Friday and Saturday, June 26-27 for the full conference.

Plans are growing to make this the best NAMLE conference yet, with inspiring keynotes, interactive sessions, new research, innovative exhibitors and a great time for all.

The conference will be held at the beautiful Philadelphia Westin hotel, right in the heart of the city.

A conference planning committee is currently working on the details.

International Society for Technology in Education Conference
2015-06-28 - 2015-07-01 | Venue Philadelphia, PA, Philadelphia, PA
Big things happen at the ISTE Conference & Expo. Groundbreaking ideas are shared, new learning technologies are unveiled and seeds are planted that will impact education for years to come. Take your place among the trailblazers who are revolutionizing learning at ISTE 2015.

ISTE 2015 will feature an amazing array of professional learning and collaborative networking opportunities. Attendees can choose from more than 1,000 sessions in a variety of formats.

See the program guide for tips on how to navigate the program and session formats. Use the program search to find sessions that interest you and add them to your Favorites.

The Children's Media Conference
2015-07-01 - 2015-07-03
The Children’s Media Conference is the only gathering in the UK for everyone involved in developing, producing and distributing content to kids – on all platforms.

We welcome delegates from TV, interactive media, games, licensing, toys, radio, book and magazine publishing and the arts and culture sector – with speakers from all those areas and beyond.

It’s the only time when delegates from across our whole industry get together and, in the UK, it’s the best and most cost-effective way of meeting people relevant to your business.

Register here for CMC 2015 which runs from Wed 1 – Fri 3 July.

Serious Play Conference
2015-07-21 - 2015-07-23 | Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
The Serious Play Conference, now in our 5th year, is a leadership conference for professionals who embrace the idea that games can revolutionize learning. Speakers, who come from all parts of the globe, share their experience creating or using games in the corporation, classroom, healthcare institution, government and military and offer tips on how to move game-based education programs ahead.

At Serious Play, attendees listen, share and participate actively in informal sessions dedicated to the discussion of the future of serious games.

EdmodoCon
2015-08-04 | Online
EdmodoCon helps teachers navigate the digital learning environment, and introduces them to new ideas and tools to improve student learning. Last year, more than 44,000 educators from 172 countries registered to virtually attend. This year, Edmodo welcomes Michael Horn, co-founder and executive director of education at the Clayton Christensen Institute, as the closing keynote, during which he’ll discuss how educators can design blended learning environments and harness its benefits—personalization, access, and equity at scale—to unleash student achievement. In addition, the event will feature a keynote address from Edmodo CEO Vibhu Mittal, eight teacher-led sessions on innovative ways to integrate technology in the classroom, and the unveiling of this year’s Edmodie Award winners.

Reserve your spot. EdmodoCon is Tuesday, August 4th.

Games in Education Symposium
2015-08-06 - 2015-08-07
Games in Education started as a multi-day symposium which focuses on the topic of using video games to supplement and inspire in-classroom education. Participants span early childhood through post secondary educators in New York’s Capital District and surrounding regions who are interested in finding ways to use video games and related technology to enrich and inspire interest by students in core curriculum topics. The symposium has run annually since 2007 and is free for educators to attend. In 2014, Games in Education added a free Teen Game Workshop to provide an opportunity for high school students to engage in game development. In 2015, Games in Education officially incorporated as a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization.

Click for more details.
