UNF Future Educators of America (FEA) Northeast Regional Conference

2025 FEA Breakout Sessions

• Disability and Accessibility in Learning Spaces

  Discover the tools and strategies that unleash every student’s potential

  Session Description

  Join us for a session on considering disability and accessibility in learning spaces - in PK12 classrooms, higher education environments, and the workplace.  This interactive session will provide you with essential knowledge and practical strategies to support students with disabilities in your communities and contexts. 

  In this session, you will:

  • Learn about the principles of Universal Design and the importance of accessibility in classrooms and workplaces.
  • Discover effective strategies and tools for creating environments that allow all individuals to engage in learning.
  • Participate in interactive activities that simulate the challenges and solutions in accessible education. 
  • Name multiple ways you can advocate for and support all learners. 

  Goals

  • Gain an understanding of disability and accessibility 
  • Implement practical strategies for fostering an accessible classroom environment
  • Gain knowledge of reasonable accommodations
  • Participate in interactive and hands-on activities to enhance learning

  
  Location: Bldg. 57, Room 1250
• Sidekicks to Superheroes: The Teacher Candidate Journey

  From college classrooms to leading classrooms—hear how the transformation begins

  Session Description

  Aspiring to become a teacher? Curious about what it's like to major in teacher education? Join us for an engaging roundtable session where current teacher education students share their journeys, experiences, and insights. This interactive panel will give you a first-hand look into the world of teacher preparation programs, offering valuable advice and answering your burning questions.

  During this session, you'll hear about:

  • The realities of college life as a teacher education major
  • The challenges and rewards of student teaching
  • How to balance coursework with practical experience
  • Tips for succeeding in your teacher education program
  • Insights into different pathways within the field of education

  Whether you're passionate about teaching elementary, middle, or high school students, this session will provide you with a clearer picture of what to expect and how to prepare for your future career as an educator. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from those who are already on the path you aspire to follow!

  Goals

  • Listen to real-world experiences from current teacher education students
  • Receive practical advice for navigating teacher education programs
  • Gain insights into the daily life of a future teacher
  • Network with peers and future educators

   

  Location: Bldg. 57, Room 1100A

• League of Leaders: Building your Super Team

  Harness collaboration, strategy, and confidence to lead like a hero

  Session Description

  Enhancing leadership skills involves developing and refining essential qualities necessary for effective leadership. Fostering team collaboration is key, as it promotes teamwork and effective communication among employees. Encouraging strategic thinking helps cultivate problem-solving and decision-making abilities. Building confidence empowers employees to lead with assurance and initiative, ultimately driving organizational success. TLI will take students through scenario activities and leadership development training. 

  Goals

  • Equip future educators with practical leadership skills.
  • Strengthen team dynamics and collaborative efforts.
  • Enhance students’ ability to think strategically and make informed decisions.
  • Foster a culture of confident and proactive leadership within the student organization.

   

  Location: Bld. 57, Room 1100B

• Solve, Tinker, Explore, Play (STEP) Lab: The Innovator’s Gauntlet

  Accept the challenge, design with courage, and pilot your way to victory

  Session Description

  In the STEP Lab (Solve, Tinker, Explore & Play), visiting students, as well as their instructional leaders, are asked to reimagine what high-quality, rigorous and student-centered STEM learning activities can look and sound like while collaborating to design, build, refine and deploy creative solutions to critical thinking challenges. At its core, STEM teaching and learning in the STEP Lab is about authentic expressions of playful learning through the engineering and design cycle which challenges conventional thinking and approaches to teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in classrooms. Working in small teams, participants engage in hands-on, inquiry-oriented, project-based STEM challenges that ’get brains sweating’ as they learn to laugh and embrace the experimental aspects of the nature of science across a wide-range of domains. 

  The Drone Platform Challenge Activity is a fast-paced coop-etition (cooperative competition). Working in small teams, participants are asked to collaborate to design and build a freestanding platform tower, using a limited variety of materials, that is capable of supporting mini-drone landing maneuvers. After a short demonstration on effective and safe piloting of drone in indoor spaces, teams are invited to maneuver their drones through a series of obstacles as they strive to approach and land their drone on the platform. In the spirit of cooperative learning, the activity concludes with each team explaining their unique engineering design approach and what they might do to refine their platforms after having had the opportunity to test their creations in a safe, supportive and playful learning space.

  Goals

  • Foster an appreciation and understanding of the educative principles that are foundational to virtually all forms of play.
  • Promote active participation, the development of a shared vision and the importance of mutual respect and clear communication when engaging in inquiry-oriented, critical thinking tasks with others.
  • Deeper understanding of the iterative and experimental nature of the engineering design process as well as the acceptance that failing mindfully is a critical part of learning across all STEM domains.
  • Exposure and experience co-piloting a drone with a partner through a series of challenging obstacles that require patience and critical thinking to best.
  • Authentic self-reflection and communication of strategic sense-making processes to an audience of peers.

   

  Location: Bld. 57, 1420

• Voice of a Hero: Mastering Classroom Conversations

  Discover the power of words to inspire, engage, and connect

  Session Description

  Effective communication is at the heart of great teaching. Join us for an interactive session focused on developing conversational skills that will help you engage and inspire your future students. This dynamic workshop will explore practical techniques for starting discussions, fostering classroom dialogue, and using fun activities like charades to build a vibrant learning environment.

  In this session, you will:

  • Learn essential conversational skills for creating an open and inclusive classroom atmosphere.
  • Discover a variety of discussion starters that encourage student participation and critical thinking.
  • Participate in charades and other interactive activities designed to make learning fun and engaging.
  • Gain tips on how to manage classroom conversations and ensure all voices are heard.
  • Practice real-life scenarios to build your confidence and communication abilities.

  Whether you aim to teach elementary, middle, or high school students, this session will equip you with the tools to create lively and meaningful classroom interactions.

  Goals

  • Enhance one’s conversational skills for effective teaching
  • Gain a toolkit of discussion starters to promote student engagement
  • Experience interactive activities like charades to foster a fun learning environment
  • Learn about strategies for managing and facilitating classroom conversations
  • Increase confidence in your ability to communicate and connect with students

   

  Location: Bld. 57, Room 1260

• Sparking Innovation with AI: Level Up the Future Classroom with Generative Tech!

  Where imagination meets technology to transform the classroom

  Session Description

  Are you passionate about teaching and eager to explore innovative ways to engage students? Join us for an exciting session on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Innovation, where we'll explore ways to leverage AI as a tool for creative problem-solving and future-forward thinking in education. Ignite your imagination with everything from AI escape rooms to AI tinkering.

  In this session, you'll discover how AI concepts and tools can be integrated into lesson plans to motivate and inspire students. We’ll explore real-world examples of AI in action, discuss the benefits and challenges of incorporating AI into the curriculum, and provide practical tips for introducing these strategies into your future classroom.

  Whether you're interested in teaching elementary, middle, or high school students, this session will equip you with creative tools to make learning about AI engaging and effective. Get ready to level up your teaching skills and inspire the next generation of innovators!

  Goals

  • Understanding the fundamentals of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI)
  • Practical strategies for integrating AI concepts into the classroom
  • Insights into the ethical considerations and societal impact of AI
  • Networking opportunities with fellow aspiring innovative educators

   

  Location: Bld. 57, Room 1270