Combined Hospitality & Tourism Summer Conference for BFM and FCS Teachers: Full Schedule

9:05am MDT

Design Thinking in Canvas: Make It Beautiful, Make It Usable

Thursday June 12, 2025 9:05am - 10:00am MDT

Design thinking is an iterative, human-centered design process emphasizing the user's role in shaping a product’s ultimate design. In this session, participants will learn the fundamental principles of design thinking before learning how to create visually engaging content in Canvas via LTIs, embedded content, and buttons to make their Canvas content more navigable and interactive. Throughout the session, participants will have the opportunity to discuss best practices regarding design and accessibility.

Speakers

Braxton Thorley

Senior Technology Trainer, UEN - Utah Education Network

Braxton specializes in using technology to personalize learning and utilizing artificial intelligence to promote student success. Before joining UEN’s professional development team, Braxton worked as a high school language arts teacher and digital learning coach in Jordan School... Read More →

Thursday June 12, 2025 9:05am - 10:00am MDT
H809

General Session

10:15am MDT

Differentiating Instruction with Nearpod

Thursday June 12, 2025 10:15am - 11:10am MDT

H809

This session is meant for seasoned Nearpod users aiming to build differentiated, self-paced, and/or choice-based lessons. Teachers will learn how to leverage Nearpod’s features with other technology tools (Canvas LMS, Google Workspace, etc.) to create lessons built around the learner. When selecting this session, please provide an additional comment in the space below stating whether most teachers in the session use Canvas or Google Classroom.

Speakers

Braxton Thorley

Senior Technology Trainer, UEN - Utah Education Network

Thursday June 12, 2025 10:15am - 11:10am MDT
H809

General Session

12:05pm MDT

Teacher- and Student-Facing AI in the Classroom

Thursday June 12, 2025 12:05pm - 1:00pm MDT

H809

This session is designed to provide educators with a high-level overview of current teacher- and student-facing artificial intelligence (AI) tools. During the session, we’ll begin by discussing AI’s potential benefits and limitations and reviewing key terms. After a brief overview of the current AI landscape, we’ll provide a number of examples of how teachers are using AI to create instructional resources, differentiate instruction, and facilitate engaging and meaningful activities with their students. Finally, we’ll end with a discussion of when AI is and isn’t the right tool to use with students, and we’ll discuss guiding principles for using AI in the classroom.

Speakers

Braxton Thorley

Senior Technology Trainer, UEN - Utah Education Network

Thursday June 12, 2025 12:05pm - 1:00pm MDT
H809

General Session

1:00pm MDT

PCBL + Tech

Thursday June 12, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm MDT

H809

Personalized, Competency-Based Learning (PCBL) is a lift for many educators. That lift can be mitigated by using technology available in many Utah classrooms. Come learn how common tools like Google, Microsoft, Canvas, Nearpod, Adobe, and a variety of UEN tools can be employed to achieve PCBL goals within your classroom

Speakers

Katie Blunt

EdTech Instructor, UEN - Utah Education Network

Dr. Katie Blunt is the UEN product manager over eMedia and hosts UEN's PDTV series. Previously, Katie worked as an Educational Technology Specialist for the Canyons School District and taught sixth grade in the Jordan School District. She served as the Utah Coalition for Educational... Read More →

Thursday June 12, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm MDT
H809

General Session

2:05pm MDT

Welcome to the Simulation: Are We Accidentally Teaching Students to be NPCs?

Thursday June 12, 2025 2:05pm - 3:00pm MDT

H809

Are we training students to be NPCs (non-playable characters) in their own education? In many classrooms, students passively complete tasks, follow rigid instructions, and avoid risk-taking—just like background characters in a video game. What if learning experiences encouraged students to be player characters instead?
This interactive session explores how game design, RPG mechanics, and choice-driven learning can transform the classroom. Educators will discover practical strategies for making learning more engaging, including “quest” assignments, the concept of "leveling up", and choice-based exploration. We’ll examine case studies, brainstorm lesson redesigns, and leave with ready-to-use ideas that promote curiosity, problem-solving, and agency.

Speakers

Taylor Van Sickle

BFM Educator, Alpine School District

Taylor Van Sickle is a 7th grade Digital Literacy and 9th grade Digital Business Applications teacher at Lakeridge Junior High School. With a background in digital marketing & advertising, digital media, and gamification strategies, Taylor enjoys in designing engaging, real-world... Read More →

Thursday June 12, 2025 2:05pm - 3:00pm MDT
H809

BFM Session

9:05am MDT

Myths and Facts of the SMART Snack program

Friday June 13, 2025 9:05am - 10:00am MDT

H809

Come learn about the many myths and the facts of the SMART Snack program for school stores and selling food during the school day.

Speakers

Kathleen Maag

Program Manager, School Support, Utah State Board of Education

Kathleen Maag is a Child Nutrition Programs Sr. Specialist at the Utah State Board of Education. She has been at the agency for six years and has enjoyed every part of it. She is the current lead on Smart Snacks in Schools program requirement and oversees the CTE Fundraiser Exemption... Read More →

Friday June 13, 2025 9:05am - 10:00am MDT
H809

General Session

10:15am MDT

Unlocking Personalized Competency-Based Learning with Nearpod

Friday June 13, 2025 10:15am - 11:10am MDT

H809

Is your school buzzing with the term PCBL? Join us in this dynamic session as we explore the exciting world of personalized competency-based learning. Discover what PCBL truly means, how it transforms traditional education, and why it’s the future of student-centered learning. Peek behind the curtain and see PCBL in action! Explore real-world examples and success stories that will ignite your curiosity. Learn how Nearpod seamlessly integrates with PCBL. From interactive lessons to formative assessments, Nearpod empowers educators to create engaging, personalized learning experiences. Ready to take the leap? We’ll guide you through practical strategies for implementing PCBL using Nearpod in your classroom. Don’t miss out—let’s embark on this transformative journey together!

Speakers

Kayla Towner

Product Manager and Senior Technical Specialist, UEN - Utah Education Network

Kayla Towner, a tech enthusiast, is the Product Manager & Technology Specialist at the Utah Education Network (UEN). She loves spending time with her family - playing soccer ⚽️, listening to audiobooks 📚, hiking 🥾, & adventuring around Utah 🏔️. She’s passionate about... Read More →

Friday June 13, 2025 10:15am - 11:10am MDT
H809

General Session

1:00pm MDT

Secondary Insights: Discovering Hidden Gems in Utah’s Online School Library

Friday June 13, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm MDT

H809

Get ready to dig deep into Utah’s Online School Library and uncover the hidden gems that will elevate your students’ research skills! In this presentation, you’ll learn how to navigate the library’s extensive resources and discover the best-kept secrets that will help your students excel. Explore the Gale Reference Collection for academic and vetted information on topics like opposing viewpoints, business insights, health & wellness, and science. World Book Online offers detailed articles, videos, interactive maps, and engaging activities. SIRS Issues Researcher allows your students to dive into leading issues in business & economics, civil rights & liberties, communication & technology, and more. Lastly, explore Teaching Books and SORA to further enhance your students’ learning experience. Get your compass and shovels ready to find these hidden gems that will make your students’ research come alive.

Speakers

Kayla Towner

Product Manager and Senior Technical Specialist, UEN - Utah Education Network

Friday June 13, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm MDT
H809

General Session

2:05pm MDT

Unlocking Students' Potential: Personalized Learning in Canvas

Friday June 13, 2025 2:05pm - 3:00pm MDT

H809

Speakers

Kayla Towner

Product Manager and Senior Technical Specialist, UEN - Utah Education Network

Friday June 13, 2025 2:05pm - 3:00pm MDT
H809

General Session