Education Specialist, Utah State Board of Education
Saige has experience teaching in the fine arts and CTE from 2013-2022, ranging in student ages of 8-18. She has attained a BFA in K-12 Education with a concentration in Graphic Design, a BS in Psychology, an MS in Education Leadership, and holds both administrator and secondary education... Read More →
This is an opportunity to take industry-recognized certification exams through Certiport and Knowledge Pillars, allowing you to demonstrate your own industry standard skills and competencies. By stepping into the role of the learner, participants will gain valuable insight into the expectations, rigor, and real-world applications embedded within these assessments. Engaging directly with certification exams helps build a stronger understanding of how technical skills, design principles, and problem-solving are evaluated, and how those elements connect to course strands and standards. This experience is designed to inform instructional practices, support alignment between curriculum and industry expectations, and increase confidence in preparing students for certification success. Whether you are exploring certifications for the first time or strengthening your current implementation, this session provides a meaningful opportunity to connect your teaching with industry-validated skills and outcomes.
Sara Cox - Specialist, Partnership Management, Certiport
Sara Cox has been a vital member of Certiport’s-Pearson Large Accounts Deployment Team since 2014, bringing deep expertise in customer training and deployment management. With a strong background in tailoring solutions to client needs, she consistently drives successful implementations... Read More →
Knowledge Pillars is a provider of "live in the coding browser" assessments and certification exams for the most popular computer science, coding, and web development tools. Students are tested on their actual ability to code, not just to memorize information. Our Coding and Web Development... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:00am - 4:00pm PDT B113Westlake High School, Saratoga Springs, UT, USA
Be among the first to explore a preview of the new Advertising Design strands and standards in this collaborative session designed for thoughtful discussion and idea-sharing. Participants will get a sneak peek at upcoming course updates while engaging in deeper conversations about the skills, concepts, and industry alignment shaping these changes. This session creates space for like-minded educators to connect, reflect, and collaborate as you unpack what’s new, what’s shifting, and what it means for your classroom. Through guided discussion and peer exchange, you’ll have the opportunity to share perspectives, ask questions, and learn from others navigating similar transitions. Whether you're looking to better understand the direction of the pathway or contribute to meaningful dialogue around implementation, this session offers a valuable blend of insight, conversation, and professional connection.
Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am PDT B121Westlake High School, Saratoga Springs, UT, USA
Be among the first to explore a preview of the new Branding & Logo Design strands and standards in this collaborative session designed for thoughtful discussion and idea-sharing. Participants will get a sneak peek at upcoming course updates while engaging in deeper conversations about the skills, concepts, and industry alignment shaping these changes. This session creates space for like-minded educators to connect, reflect, and collaborate as you unpack what’s new, what’s shifting, and what it means for your classroom. Through guided discussion and peer exchange, you’ll have the opportunity to share perspectives, ask questions, and learn from others navigating similar transitions. Whether you're looking to better understand the direction of the pathway or contribute to meaningful dialogue around implementation, this session offers a valuable blend of insight, conversation, and professional connection.
Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am PDT B121Westlake High School, Saratoga Springs, UT, USA
Be among the first to explore a preview of the revised Design Capstone strands and standards in this collaborative session designed for thoughtful discussion and idea-sharing. Participants will get a sneak peek at upcoming course updates while engaging in deeper conversations about the skills, concepts, and industry alignment shaping these changes. This session creates space for like-minded educators to connect, reflect, and collaborate as you unpack what’s new, what’s shifting, and what it means for your classroom. Through guided discussion and peer exchange, you’ll have the opportunity to share perspectives, ask questions, and learn from others navigating similar transitions. Whether you're looking to better understand the direction of the pathway or contribute to meaningful dialogue around implementation, this session offers a valuable blend of insight, conversation, and professional connection.
Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am PDT B125Westlake High School, Saratoga Springs, UT, USA
Be among the first to explore a preview of the revised Digital Illustration strands and standards in this collaborative session designed for thoughtful discussion and idea-sharing. Participants will get a sneak peek at upcoming course updates while engaging in deeper conversations about the skills, concepts, and industry alignment shaping these changes. This session creates space for like-minded educators to connect, reflect, and collaborate as you unpack what’s new, what’s shifting, and what it means for your classroom. Through guided discussion and peer exchange, you’ll have the opportunity to share perspectives, ask questions, and learn from others navigating similar transitions. Whether you're looking to better understand the direction of the pathway or contribute to meaningful dialogue around implementation, this session offers a valuable blend of insight, conversation, and professional connection.
Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am PDT B121Westlake High School, Saratoga Springs, UT, USA
Be among the first to explore a preview of the new Illustrator & Photoshop strands and standards in this collaborative session designed for thoughtful discussion and idea-sharing. Participants will get a sneak peek at upcoming course updates while engaging in deeper conversations about the skills, concepts, and industry alignment shaping these changes. This session creates space for like-minded educators to connect, reflect, and collaborate as you unpack what’s new, what’s shifting, and what it means for your classroom. Through guided discussion and peer exchange, you’ll have the opportunity to share perspectives, ask questions, and learn from others navigating similar transitions. Whether you're looking to better understand the direction of the pathway or contribute to meaningful dialogue around implementation, this session offers a valuable blend of insight, conversation, and professional connection.
Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am PDT B125Westlake High School, Saratoga Springs, UT, USA
Be among the first to explore a preview of the new Packaging & Product Design strands and standards in this collaborative session designed for thoughtful discussion and idea-sharing. Participants will get a sneak peek at upcoming course updates while engaging in deeper conversations about the skills, concepts, and industry alignment shaping these changes. This session creates space for like-minded educators to connect, reflect, and collaborate as you unpack what’s new, what’s shifting, and what it means for your classroom. Through guided discussion and peer exchange, you’ll have the opportunity to share perspectives, ask questions, and learn from others navigating similar transitions. Whether you're looking to better understand the direction of the pathway or contribute to meaningful dialogue around implementation, this session offers a valuable blend of insight, conversation, and professional connection.
Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am PDT B125Westlake High School, Saratoga Springs, UT, USA
What’s working in the classroom right now—and what’s changing in the animation industry faster than a frame-by-frame walk cycle? Join this lively session packed with practical teaching tips, creative exercises, classroom hacks, and real-world insights for educators teaching 2D animation today.
Explore how to structure a successful Game Development Fundamentals course by reviewing a complete scope and sequence while also diving into Flowlab Game Creator. Flowlab is a browser-based game engine that is easier to learn than Unity or Unreal, yet more powerful than Scratch. It uses a visual logic builder instead of traditional code, making it accessible for students of all experience levels.
During this session, you’ll see how Flowlab fits into a full course pathway and get hands-on experience building your own game elements.
Please bring your own device so you can actively explore the game engine during the session.
In a world where AI can generate realistic but false text, images, and video, how do we equip students with the skills to be critical digital citizens? This essential workshop moves beyond content creation to focus on critical evaluation. We will provide a framework for teaching students how to identify the hallmarks of AI-generated content, verify sources with greater scrutiny, and understand the societal implications of deepfakes and misinformation. We'll explore how to design assignments that challenge students to evaluate digital content and build their discernment skills critically. You will leave with practical lesson plans and strategies for embedding the crucial 21st-century skill of combating misinformation directly into your existing curriculum.
Rick is an instructional Technology Coach/Director at the Governor Mifflin School District in Shillington, PA. he has been instrumental in the planning and implementation in their 1:World roll-out in 2017, as well as Wilson School District 1:1 implementation in 2014. In addition... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am PDT B108Westlake High School, Saratoga Springs, UT, USA
This is a continuation of previous strands and standards sessions during this conference.
Be among the first to explore a preview of the new strands and standards in this collaborative session designed for thoughtful discussion and idea-sharing. Participants will get a sneak peek at upcoming course updates while engaging in deeper conversations about the skills, concepts, and industry alignment shaping these changes.
This session creates space for like-minded educators to connect, reflect, and collaborate as you unpack what’s new, what’s shifting, and what it means for your classroom. Through guided discussion and peer exchange, you’ll have the opportunity to share perspectives, ask questions, and learn from others navigating similar transitions. Whether you're looking to better understand the direction of the pathway or contribute to meaningful dialogue around implementation, this session offers a valuable blend of insight, conversation, and professional connection.
Wednesday June 10, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT B121Westlake High School, Saratoga Springs, UT, USA
AI is reshaping not just curriculum, but the entire product development cycle—and educators are uniquely positioned to lead that shift. In this session, you’ll explore how AI tools are already transforming the way educational technology is built, where classroom tech is heading, and how one Utah educator is actively developing real AI-powered tools for teachers today.
At the same time, we’ll break down the technical foundations that make AI work. Most educators use AI like a search engine—and wonder why it underperforms. This session unpacks key concepts every CS and business teacher should understand, including tokens, context windows, knowledge cutoffs, temperature settings, and hallucinations. You don’t need to be a developer—you just need to understand how the engine works. Walk away with practical insights into both how AI systems function and how they are built, so you can use AI more effectively, teach it with confidence, and start thinking like an AI Maker in your own classroom.
Tired of writing the same long, detailed prompts every time you need Gemini to help with a specific task? This workshop introduces Gemini Gems, a powerful feature that lets you build custom, reusable Google AI assistants. We'll show you how to create and save personalized instructions, turning the general-purpose Gemini into a specialist for your unique needs. Learn how to build a "Syllabus Helper" Gem that knows your course format, a "Grading Feedback Assistant" pre-loaded with your rubric's criteria, or even a custom research partner trained on your specific field's terminology. We will also explore how you can share Gems with students to scaffold complex assignments, providing them with a tailored tool for tasks like refining a thesis statement or analyzing data. You will leave with the ability to create a personalized toolkit of Gemini Gems, ready to streamline your workflow and enhance your teaching.
Rick is an instructional Technology Coach/Director at the Governor Mifflin School District in Shillington, PA. he has been instrumental in the planning and implementation in their 1:World roll-out in 2017, as well as Wilson School District 1:1 implementation in 2014. In addition... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT B108Westlake High School, Saratoga Springs, UT, USA
In this session, Laurence Boswell shares the dual blueprint for standing out in a crowded market. You will explore how high-impact commercial photography serves as the foundation for a brand’s visual identity and how to leverage that imagery across critical digital touchpoints.
Laurence breaks down three essential growth strategies: optimizing your online presence through Google Business and strategic web design, humanizing your marketing via newsletters and blogging, and the power of finding a profitable niche. Whether you are building a personal brand or a commercial venture, you’ll learn how to combine technical excellence with personal storytelling to establish a dominant online footprint.
Laurence Boswell is a professional commercial photographer and studio owner based in Draper, Utah. With a career marked by four consecutive "Best of SLC" nominations, Laurence specializes in high-end product imagery and brand overhauls, helping local businesses and e-commerce brands... Read More →
This self-guided work session provides dedicated time and space for educators to explore the newly developed strands and standards at their own pace. Rather than a structured presentation, participants will independently navigate resources, review course content, and focus on the areas most relevant to their programs and students. Educators can use this time to dig into specific courses, reflect on key shifts in skills and expectations, and begin mapping out how these updates might take shape in their own classrooms. Optional guiding prompts and support will be available, but the session is designed to give you the flexibility to prioritize your needs—whether that’s unpacking standards, aligning curriculum, or sketching out next steps for pathway changes. This is a chance to think, plan, and create in a low-pressure environment, while still having access to colleagues for idea-sharing and informal collaboration. Come ready to work at your own pace and leave with a clearer, personalized starting point for implementation.
Wednesday June 10, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm PDT B121Westlake High School, Saratoga Springs, UT, USA
Are you looking for practical ways to make your courses accessible to all learners without adding hours to your workload? This workshop explores how Gemini can help you implement the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) efficiently. We'll demonstrate how to use Google AI for practical accessibility tasks, such as generating accurate transcripts for video content, creating descriptive alt-text for images, and summarizing dense readings for varied comprehension levels. Discover how to quickly differentiate instruction by creating tiered assignments and providing multiple means of representation for complex topics. You will leave with a toolkit of AI-powered techniques for creating accessible materials, saving you valuable time while fostering a more inclusive and equitable learning environment for every student.
Rick is an instructional Technology Coach/Director at the Governor Mifflin School District in Shillington, PA. he has been instrumental in the planning and implementation in their 1:World roll-out in 2017, as well as Wilson School District 1:1 implementation in 2014. In addition... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT B108Westlake High School, Saratoga Springs, UT, USA
👀 Come get a FIRST LOOK at what’s next for Digital Technology in Utah!
This isn’t just an update—it’s a glimpse into a potential reimagining of a NEW PATHWAY, come help us build this with your feedback, your needs, and your classroom realities in mind. 💡
We’re talking about the possibilities you’ve been asking for—new directions, updated experiences, and exciting opportunities that better align with today’s students, emerging technology, and real-world careers.
In this high-energy session, you’ll: ✨ Preview the possible new pathway vision ✨ Explore and discuss ideas that reflect teacher input and industry trends ✨ See how future courses could better connect to AI, game development, and emerging tech ✨ Share your voice and help shape where we go next
Whether you’re curious, excited, or thinking “finally!!”—you don’t want to miss this conversation. 🙌
🚀 Come see what could be coming—and help us build it together.
Join a panel of industry professionals working across the digital arts landscape—including graphic design, illustration, animation, photography, and emerging media—as they share what it takes to turn creative skills into real-world opportunities. Panelists will offer insights into current industry trends, in-demand technical and professional skills, and how digital tools and workflows are shaping creative careers.This interactive session will explore pathways from high school to postsecondary education and into the workforce, highlighting how students can build strong portfolios, gain experience, and stay adaptable in a rapidly evolving field. Attendees will also hear firsthand advice on collaboration, client communication, and navigating freelance and full-time opportunities.Whether you're an educator looking to better prepare students or an industry partner interested in shaping the next generation of talent, this conversation will provide practical takeaways and meaningful connections between education and industry.
Laurence Boswell is a professional commercial photographer and studio owner based in Draper, Utah. With a career marked by four consecutive "Best of SLC" nominations, Laurence specializes in high-end product imagery and brand overhauls, helping local businesses and e-commerce brands... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT Auditorium
Discover how to both build and teach with today’s most accessible and powerful tools. This session explores how AI can be used to create practical, customized tools for your classroom—helping support student learning, streamline instruction, and reduce repetitive tasks. You’ll see real examples of AI-assisted resources designed specifically for classroom use and walk away with ideas you can immediately apply.
In addition, this session introduces visual scripting in Godot using the Logic Bricks add-on as an approachable way to teach core programming and game development concepts. Learn how students can build real, interactive projects while developing transferable problem-solving skills—even without traditional coding experience. Together, these approaches empower you to create smarter classroom tools while equipping students with engaging, hands-on ways to learn computational thinking and game design.
Get ready for a deep dive into the future of AI education in Utah! 🤖✨ In this interactive session, we’ll unpack the pilot strands & standards for the second AI course—what they are, why they matter, and how they’re intentionally designed to move students from AI users to AI creators. But we’re not stopping at theory… 👀
As AI continues to become an integral part of the world, our role is to equip students to use it responsibly and critically. This session is designed to prepare educators to guide their students toward achieving the Gemini Certified Student credential. During this session, we will unpack the certification process and explore how to seamlessly integrate these foundational AI skills into your existing curriculum. You will learn practical strategies to help students move beyond basic, conversational prompting, teaching them instead to partner with tools like Gemini and NotebookLM for high-level research, structured writing, and personalized study planning. Leave this session with a clear roadmap for facilitating the certification process with your students and prepare them for an AI-powered future.
Rick is an instructional Technology Coach/Director at the Governor Mifflin School District in Shillington, PA. he has been instrumental in the planning and implementation in their 1:World roll-out in 2017, as well as Wilson School District 1:1 implementation in 2014. In addition... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT B108Westlake High School, Saratoga Springs, UT, USA
