ITEC Fall Conference 2026: Full Schedule

8:30am CDT

Puppet or puppeteer? And Other Uncomfortable Questions for the AI Era

Monday October 12, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT

Warning: You may leave this session with more questions than answers. This short, provocative session is a fast‑paced show‑and‑tell designed to poke the bear, ruffle a few feathers, and spark curiosity. The presenter does not claim to have answers, she simply enjoys exploring rabbit holes and inviting others to peek inside them. Through examples and thought‑provoking moments, the session raises big questions about creativity, control, and power in an AI‑shaped world. Are we directing these technologies, being shaped by them, or both at the same time? This session is not a debate or a deep discussion, it’s a brain teaser meant to intrigue, unsettle, and excite. Come ready to think, wonder, and possibly follow a rabbit hole of your own.

Speakers

Magdalena Galloway

Associate Professor of Instruction, University of Northern Iowa

Magdalena (Magda) Galloway is an Associate Professor of Instruction at the University of Northern Iowa’s College of Education. Driven by a passion for preparing future teachers, her work focuses heavily on instructional design, digital citizenship, media literacy, and Universal... Read More →

Monday October 12, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
304

General Session

Strand Artificial Intelligence
Audience Classroom Implementation (Middle School), Classroom Implementation (High School), Classroom Implementation (Post-Secondary), Teacher Library, Instructional Coaches, Administrators

9:30am CDT

AI and UDL: Friend or Foe?

Monday October 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT

304

This session explores leveraging AI to enhance the UDL framework, focusing on practical applications for personalized learning and diverse assessments. It critically examines AI's challenges in education, including biases and equity concerns, emphasizing human oversight. Participants will gain a nuanced understanding of AI's potential and pitfalls in achieving UDL goals.

Speakers

Patrick Donovan

Instructional Coach, Ames Community School District

Patrick Donovan is an educator who started out as a high school science teacher but has spent time as an instructional coach, technology integration specialist, and Director of Technology. He has presented on the use of educational technology at various state, regional, and national... Read More →

Monday October 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
304

General Session

11:00am CDT

Beyond Chatbots: Agentic AI for District Leaders

Monday October 12, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

304

Education has changed fundamentally since ChatGPT's release in 2022, and the next phase of AI is agentic. This session explores what sets agentic AI apart from standard LLMs and how school districts can harness it to pull data across systems, automate processes, and drive real change in the classroom. Attendees will leave with a clear picture of this next phase of AI, practical ideas for using it in their own districts, and a sense of how it can reduce reliance on costly third-party SaaS tools.

Speakers

Cory Houghton

Technology Director, Earlham CSD

I have been in eduction for 23 years. I currently am the Technology Director at Earlham Schools. I have spent 10 plus years in the classroom and over 17 as an IT Director and sometimes I'm doing both. Lately my efforts have been focused on harnessing the power of AI to create... Read More →

Monday October 12, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
304

General Session

Strand Artificial Intelligence
Audience Administrators, IT Personnel, Instructional Coaches

1:30pm CDT

From Data Drab to Data Fab: Architecting Decisions with Gemini

Monday October 12, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT

304

Stop wrestling with messy spreadsheets and complex formulas! Transform raw data into clear, actionable decisions by using Gemini as your technical architect and "Thinking Partner." Learn to clean inconsistent datasets, build advanced Google Sheets logic, and craft compelling visual narratives.

Speakers

Andrew Fenstermaker

Instructional Technology Coordinator, Iowa City Community School District

Andrew Fenstermaker is an influential leader in instructional technology, AI integration, and educational transformation. As an Instructional Technology Coordinator, he collaborates with administrators, curriculum coordinators, teachers, and students to operationalize best practices... Read More →

Monday October 12, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
304

General Session

Strand Artificial Intelligence
Audience Classroom Implementation (Elementary), Administrators, Classroom Implementation (Middle School), Classroom Implementation (High School), Instructional Coaches, Communications, Administrative Assistant

2:30pm CDT

Building a K–5 Computer Science Program from the Ground Up

Monday October 12, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm CDT

304

Starting a program can feel super overwhelming, but it is also the ultimate chance to build something amazing for your students. In this session, we will share how we built a K-5 Computer Science from scratch, including what worked, what flopped, and how we handled everything from schedules to standards.

Speakers

Macie Harringa

K-5 Computer Science Teacher, Atlantic Community School District

I am currently in my 13th year of teaching in Atlantic, with the last two focused exclusively on K-5 Computer Science.

Heather Lundquist

Consultant, Green Hills AEA

Green Hills AEA Computer Science Consultant and Workbased Learning Coordinator

Monday October 12, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm CDT
304

Strand Computer Science, CSTA, Designing for Digital Learning, Instructional Practices
Audience Classroom Implementation (Elementary), Classroom Implementation (PK-2), Classroom Implementation (Middle School), Instructional Coaches, Teacher Library
global Y

8:30am CDT

Acing AI Literacy

Tuesday October 13, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT

304

Knowing how to write a prompt isn't AI literacy. Students also need to understand how AI works, question its responses, and make responsible decisions about when and how to use it. See how Council Bluffs Community School District uses the ACE framework (Awareness, Critique, and Exploration) to develop AI literacy across grades 2-12 through engaging, discussion-based lessons. Explore practical strategies, memorable analogies, and classroom-ready activities that help students build critical thinking, recognize AI's limitations, and become thoughtful, responsible users of AI.

Speakers

Tony Vincent

Learning and Technology Consultant, Tony Vincent, Inc.

I started teaching 5th grade in the 1900s. 💾 I’ve always been a geek for tech, so I maxed out my credit card to buy a laptop my first year of teaching. Laptops were very, very expensive back then, and schools did not supply them.

I loved what I could create for my fifth graders with that laptop. But I wanted my students to have that same joy of learning by creating. While we could march down to the computer lab (if there wasn’t already a class scheduled), in 2001 my district purchased Palm Pilots with keyboards... Read More →

Tuesday October 13, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
304

General Session

Strand Artificial Intelligence
Audience Instructional Coaches, Teacher Library, Classroom Implementation (Elementary), Classroom Implementation (Middle School), Classroom Implementation (High School)

9:30am CDT

Trash, Trackers, and Training Data: Authentic Machine Learning for Elementary Students

Tuesday October 13, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT

304

Artificial intelligence isn't just chatbots! In this hands-on session, you'll discover how to teach elementary students what machine learning is and how it works through authentic, real-world examples. Explore classroom-ready tools, like Micro:Bit CreateAI and Teachable Machine, as you train models to sort recycling, recognize movement like a smartwatch, and solve everyday problems. Leave with engaging activities and resources that help students understand AI by creating it themselves.

Speakers

Erica Smothers

K-6 Technology, Winterset Community Schools

I am a K-6 Technology teacher, at Winterset Community Schools, entering my 14th year in education. I am passionate about helping elementary students develop computational thinking, creativity, and digital citizenship through hands-on technology and computer science experiences.

Tuesday October 13, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am CDT
304

General Session

Strand Artificial Intelligence
Audience Classroom Implementation (Elementary)

11:00am CDT

Your Chatbot Is an App Builder

Tuesday October 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

304

What if the AI chatbot you already use, like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude, could help you create custom tools for your classroom or school? Welcome to vibe coding, where you describe an idea and AI generates the code. No programming experience required.

Whether you want a classroom game, a randomizer, a timer, an interactive lesson, or a custom tool for your staff, your chatbot can help build it. Through demonstrations, real classroom examples, and practical prompting strategies, you'll discover how educators are turning simple ideas into useful web apps. You'll leave inspired with ideas you can adapt and the know-how to start creating apps of your own.

Speakers

Tony Vincent

Learning and Technology Consultant, Tony Vincent, Inc.

Tuesday October 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
304

General Session

1:30pm CDT

The AI Task Force Playbook: Vetting Tools, Crafting Expectations, and Empowering Educators

Tuesday October 13, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT

304

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future concept, it is actively shaping our schools today. However, turning high-level school board policies into clear, practical daily guidelines for teachers and students can be a daunting task.
In this session, Mr. Stevens will share the process that was used to form a collaborative AI Task Force across PK–12 grade levels and district leadership. Continue by sharing our process to build a comprehensive AI framework that moves beyond abstract rules to provide daily classroom clarity and expectations for AI use in the district for both teachers and students.

Speakers

Daniel Stevens

STEAM/Tech Integrationist, Hampton-Dumont CSD

I am a passionate educator with 10 years of experience dedicated to helping students develop the skills they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. I currently serve as the K–8 STEAM and Computer Science teacher at Hampton-Dumont Community School District, where I foster creativity... Read More →

Tuesday October 13, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
304

General Session

Strand Artificial Intelligence, Educational Policy and Leadership
Audience Administrators, Instructional Coaches, IT Personnel

2:30pm CDT

Tech Alone? Tech Together! Join the Iowa EdTech Collaborative

Tuesday October 13, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm CDT

304

Feeling like you are on an edtech island in your district? You don't have to navigate device rollouts, AI tools, or tech integration alone. The EdTech Collaborative (ETC) brings together Iowa instructional coaches, tech integrationists, librarians, and tech leaders each month for zero-fluff, highly practical brainstorming and support.

Come learn how our statewide community works, hear real examples of how members share resources to save time, and leave connected to a network of Iowa peers who are working in the trenches with you every day. Whether you lead tech for a small rural district or coach teachers across a large high school, there is a seat at the table for you.

Speakers