feature stories
Annual ‘Worlds Fair of Education’
Jan 31, 2008 3:20 PM
It’s time again for the Thirteen/WNET and WLIW21 Teaching and Learning Celebration described by many of the thousands who have attended over the past two years as the “Worlds Fair of Education.”
UFT President Randi Weingarten answers questions from the audience at the 2007 Teaching and Learning Celebration.
The UFT is again a sponsor of this year’s two-day professional development conference to be held at the Hilton New York, Avenue of the Americas at 53rd Street, Manhattan, on March 7 and 8. The focus of the conference will be on science, math and global awareness, emphasizing the best practices for using technology in teaching and learning.
UFT Teacher Center staffers Irene Rabinowitz (right) and Maureen Ciano provide information at last year’s event for Cindy Ledesma of PS 150, Queens, and Marisa Cimini, a mentor instructional specialist.
As in the past, there is an interesting roster of speakers including noted primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall; Jean-Michel Cousteau, host of Ocean Adventures on PBS; NBC news anchor and correspondent Ann Curry; Milton Chen, president of the George Lucas Educational Foundation; polar explorer Will Steger; and Sudanese supermodel Alek Wek.
Participants are again invited to stop by for an informal chat with UFT President Randi Weingarten during a Saturday morning “Coffee with Randi.”
A panel on “Response to Intervention,” one of the hottest topics in schools today, will explore individual student needs, especially through the diagnosis of learning disabilities.
The celebration will also include a series of panels to discuss key educational issues. Among them, a panel on “Equity” will look at what the word equity means in preparing students to compete in the 21st century, and a “Global Awareness” panel will focus on what it means to bring global awareness into the classroom.
Kim Yarnell (left) of Information and Technology HS, Margaret Negrelli of Island Academy at Rikers and adult education teacher Andrew Bell take a look around.
The conference, designed for kindergarten through high school levels, will include 90 hands-on workshops. One of the conference’s most popular attractions is the exhibit area where more than 100 vendors will distribute information and samples. In addition to colleges and universities, Molloy College and Fordham University, School of Education among them, and providers of P-credit courses, such as Knowledge Delivery Systems, you will be able to see what goes on under the skin of our human bodies at the fascinating Bodies Exhibit.
At last year’s event, UFT President Randi Weingarten chats with Sheila Kaplan of PS 23, Queens.
Classroom-oriented exhibits like Delta Education and Wilson feature materials designed for students and teachers. Wilson focuses on resources to develop independent readers and Delta provides kit-based options especially designed for city teachers in math and science. At “One More Story,” you’ll discover “Hear and See” books and learn about their online library in English, Spanish and Chinese.
Thinking about a classroom Web site? TeacherWeb.com is ready to tell you about the advantages of having one and to help you create one. And Seat Sack offers products to help you solve classroom storage and organizational problems.
above: NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi, a panelist at last year’s celebration, answers a question ... below: ... and has the attention of the audience.
At the Mercy Corps exhibit, the focus turns outward to human rights issues of hunger and education for the world’s less fortunate and how to help.
Iannuzzi at the NYSUT Education and Learning Trust booth with Commack HS teachers Sharon Solomon (left) and Kelly Lund.
Educators can get more information and register for the 2008 Celebration. Registration fees are $250 per person, per day, or $450 for a two-day package (same person only).
