ACTEM2026: Full Schedule

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8:00am EDT

Smart Greenhouses: A Transdisciplinary Approach to CS

Friday October 16, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

Transdisciplinary Learning integrates two or more disciplines to answer a driving question or solve a problem. MMSA's Smart Greenhouses Project combines plant science and CS to automate desktop greenhouses, building student skills in both areas while revealing real-world CS applications. In this session, hear how educators have used this project to increase students' skills and self-efficacy in computer science.

Speakers

Stefany Burrell

Nonprofit, Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance

I am MMSA's Computer Science Team Lead and the Project Manager for the Smart Greenhouses project, Maine State Science Fair, and Maine Middle School Science & Engineering Fair. I'm a big believer in hands-on and project-based learning, where students are challenged to be curious, creative... Read More →

Rachael Dektor

Friday October 16, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Cumberland

Teaching Strategies

9:10am EDT

3D Printing Showcase with The Perloff Family Foundation

Friday October 16, 2026 9:10am - 10:10am EDT

Cumberland

Join educators from across the state of Maine who have successfully used grant funding from the Perloff Family Foundation to scale impact of 3D printing projects across their schools.

Friday October 16, 2026 9:10am - 10:10am EDT
Cumberland

Makerspace/STEAM/Project Based Learning

1:10pm EDT

Elevate STEM Nights as a PD Opportunity

Friday October 16, 2026 1:10pm - 2:10pm EDT

Cumberland

STEM Nights are highlights of the school year, helping families, businesses, and community members understand how Computer Science (CS) is integrated into school curricula. The STEM Workforce Ready project has explored ways to elevate these engaging community events by inviting educators who are not typically integrating CS, and leveraging the events as professional development. Learn about what they’ve discovered and hear where they are going next in this panel discussion.

Speakers

Becky Tapley

STEM Education Specialist, MMSA

Becky Tapley is a STEM Education Specialist at the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance. She serves as the Project Manager of the STEM WorkForce Ready 2030 project, as well as a math consultant and ACRES (Afterschool Coaching for Reflective Educators in STEM) coach.After growing... Read More →

Friday October 16, 2026 1:10pm - 2:10pm EDT
Cumberland

Other

2:20pm EDT

Build Your Own AI: Creating Custom Apps with Playlab

Friday October 16, 2026 2:20pm - 3:20pm EDT

Cumberland

Stop just using AI and start building it! This hands-on session introduces Playlab, a platform for creating custom, text-based AI apps tailored to your classroom. We’ll blend live demos with workshop time so you can build a functional tool in real-time.

You will learn to:
> Navigate the Playlab interface.
> Design custom prompts for educational tasks.
> Share your apps with colleagues.

Walk away with the skills to turn your best teaching ideas into interactive AI tools.

Speakers

Susie Simmons

Instructional Tech Coach, MSAD 6 - Bonny Eagle

Susie Simmons is a an instructional technology coach for Bonny Eagle Middle School & High School in Buxton/Standish, Maine. Her ed tech passions include 3D printing, virtual & augmented reality, spreadsheets, coding, and workload automating. She has a B.S. in Technology Education... Read More →

Friday October 16, 2026 2:20pm - 3:20pm EDT
Cumberland

ACTEM2026

8:00am EDT

Stefany Burrell

Rachael Dektor

9:10am EDT

1:10pm EDT

Becky Tapley

2:20pm EDT

Susie Simmons

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