Innovation continued from page 7


• Attend general sessions offered all day Thursday and Friday


• Explore ideas in our first ever Innovation Lab that are specifically identified as being innovative


• Visit with vendors in the extensive exhibit hall to learn about their innovative products and services


• Come relax and unwind with colleagues at our Night at the Museum Thursday Night Event and share with friends and colleagues about the exciting innovative ideas you are personally going to explore


• Attend a pre-conference on March 7 to explore the innovative topics our Special Interest Groups are sponsoring


• Gain insight to innovation at our keynotes, featured speakers, general sessions, hands on labs, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) sessions, Palooza, Drop in Workshops, and Classroom Gadget Showdown


FAQ continued from page 7


strives to hold the conference at about the same time every year so that members can plan in advance. The MACUL conference dates are set years in advance and years before the MME testing window was set for March 6 – 8. It is hoped that high school staff who are impacted by these overlapping dates will still be able to attend the conference at the discounted one day rate on Friday, March 9.


5. How far in advance does MACUL reserve the conference sites?


MACUL reserves conference facilities eight years in advance and commits to contracts a minimum of five years in advance.


6. Last year I could not get into a session because it was standing room only. At the same time there was a session in a room for 500 that only had a few people in attendance. What is the room assignment process?


MACUL makes the best room assignment estimates we can and usually chooses the right size room for each presentation. However, sometimes attendance exceeds or under exceeds expectations. The speaker selection committee determines the room size for each presentation based on the topic and presenter experience and also the presenter’s estimate.


7. I was disappointed that XYZ Company was not in the exhibit hall. Why didn’t they exhibit this year?


Exhibitors have an open invitation to participate at the MACUL conference. Past exhibitors, as well as those exhibiting at national conferences such as NECC are invited to attend and exhibit.


8. I have an idea for a way to improve the conference. How do I submit my idea?


Suggestions for the MACUL conference can be expressed on the online conference evaluation form. The link to the evaluation is sent to all attendees after the conference. Suggestions can also be submitted to the MACUL office at macul@macul.org.


9. Why can’t more breakout sessions be repeated?


Sessions are not repeated at the MACUL conference in an effort to provide the greatest number of different sessions on the program. Because of the high number of proposals submitted and the limited number of presentations on the agenda, MACUL does not repeat sessions.


10. The session I attended did not match the description in the program. How does that happen?


While speakers are advised to present sessions that match the proposals they submit, it doesn’t always happen.


30 | Conference 2012 |


Speakers submit their proposals nearly eight months before the conference. Sometimes, due to the nature of technology, presentation information may change from the time proposals are submitted and the time of the conference presentation.


11. Why can’t we have more time between sessions? Why can’t we have less time between sessions?


In an effort to provide attendees adequate time, the thirty-minute break between sessions allows the greatest number of people to get to their next session before it starts. In a large facility like Cobo Hall or DeVos Place, thirty minutes is needed. While eliminating the time between sessions would allow for more presentations, most attendees appreciate having a break.


12. There are too many good sessions offered at the same time making it difficult to decide which one to attend. Can you do anything about that?


MACUL frequently hears the concern that there are too many good sessions from which to choose. From MACUL’s viewpoint, it’s a good problem and indicates the quality of the sessions at the conference.


Is your question not on this FaQ? Contact me at rwiltse@macul.org. See you at the


2012 macul conference! MACULJOURNAL


• And most importantly, network with other educators!!


Remember the excitement and anticipation when you tried something innovative for the first time? Experience that again at 2012 MACUL Conference by learning about and identifying just one innovative idea for you to explore. If everyone that attended the conference did that, there would be a couple thousand innovative ideas going into Michigan schools!


Take a risk and empower innovation by empowering you! See you at the 2012 MACUL Conference!


Mike Oswalt is the Assistant Superintendent for Regional Technology Services at Calhoun ISD and is the 2011/12 MACUL Board President.


Teaching Information continued from page 28


Voice Thread. To download a complete list, go to Digital Media Applications & Tools at www.digitalrogers.pbworks.com. The main goal in developing this class was to have students become competent, effective and creative users of information and technology tools, measurable in the products they created, the processes they used to create them, and the learning that they shared with others. Through feedback and information from conferences, co-workers, and students themselves, this class will continue to evolve and improve, affecting information literacy and 21st century skills with students.


Joni L. Rogers teaches digital media, health and physical education at Yale Junior High in Yale, Michigan. Previous to this teaching assignment, she was the district media director and taught media skills at various grade levels. She is always looking for new digital media applications and tools to use with her students. If you have any to share, please pass them along to digitalrogers@gmail.com.


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