J1 Reporter Becca Williams

Commentary on NETA experience

Slacks: 0/10, do not recommend. They are much too mature and loose.

NETA conference: 10/10, great experience.

NETA inspires young people, teachers, the entire world. The NETA, Nebraska Education and Technology Association, conference took place at the CenturyLink Center in downtown Omaha, Nebraska on April 21-22. This annual conference hopes to bring new technology and innovations to classrooms and their students.  

The two keynote speakers Dr. Robert Dillon and Jennie Magiera focused on two ideas: beauty and adventure. There is beauty prevalent every day. The beauty in discovery, kindness, imagination. It is crucial to slow down and take time to notice this. Additionally, within each and every day there is an adventure waiting to be discovered. Along with this there is fear and disbelief but also success and change. Technology is the root of both beauty and adventure.

In this day and age, it is the leading force of human lives. It plays a role in every single aspect of the day. Waking up, transporting, learning, communicating, and so much more. Technology is taking off, and it’s waiting for no one. NETA is making sure no teacher or student is left behind.

At NETA, there was a multitude of ideas displayed and shared. The new tools included a projector to that sits directly above any flat surface, instead of how the SmartBoards are now (in front of it, hanging from the ceiling), so multiple students can use it at one time and there would no longer be a shadow on the board.

There was also different types of 3D printers all around, each person having his or her own interesting story to tell about how he or she has heard of kids using 3D printers to change lives around them.

Thirdly, there was a device on a necklace that a teacher would wear while teaching. This is connected to a swivel that the iPad is set up on. The swivel follows the device, thus follows the teachers as they walk around so it can record the teacher in case a student needed to revisit the lecture or catch up on notes when absent.

Lastly, there was the zSpace, a completely new type of computer, and its contents looked completely real when one wore the corresponding glasses. One could use the laser pointer to pick things up and move them around to inspect them, bringing a completely new twist to dissections or geographical explorations or anything one can imagine.

All of this technology and more could be seen and tested at the NETA conference. The world of technology is expanding every second and it is exciting to think about what humans will be capable of accomplishing in just a few short years. Because of NETA and its efforts, people might be inspired to completely renovate Marian itself with these new inventions, making its curriculum as technologically advanced as possible.  

Six Marian teachers were able to attend at least part of the conference. English teachers Ms. Susie Sisson and Mrs. Alee Cotton, world language teachers Mrs. Molly Raabe and Mrs. Janet Tuttle, social studies teacher Mrs. Amy McLeay, and science teacher Mrs. Sharon Genoways were among the more than 3,000 attendees.  Administrators and support staff members who were able to attend included Principal Susie Sullivan, student success coordinator Mrs. Jen Christen, and technology personnel Mr. Billy Diebler and Mrs. Jane Campbell.

“Conferences like NETA allow us to share our successes and discover new ideas so everyone benefits,” Campbell said. With these changes, more students would be exposed to the beauty and adventure the world offers.

To see a complete list of sessions and see presenter handouts and videos, visit: https://2016springnetaconference.sched.org

The next gathering of like-minded technology folks will be the Nebraska Fall Ed Tech Conference on Oct. 6-7 in Kearney.