Conference Strand: LLL

M1-05-Ex Concord 9:00 am - 9:50 am	Bringing AI to the Classroom: Practical Lessons Erin Mawn, Library Media Specialist, Northwood School
*  Level: Beginner	Explore real-life lesson plans and project ideas that librarian Erin Mawn has utilized in her middle-school AI Exploration elective class. Two years ago, she designed this elective course to make Artificial Intelligence accessible and engaging for students. Erin provides a look at the discussion topics, lessons, activities and projects she uses to engage and guide students as they learn about Artifical Intelligence. Attendees learn how to integrate AI concepts into existing curricula using age-appropriate tools and resources, and create engaging lessons such as AI and the Music Industry, or AI vs The Simpsons. By providing lessons that are fun and relevant students can exercise their critical thinking skills and see how AI is becoming integrated in our daily lives. By carefully selecting and vetting resources, students can explore AI applications and sites in a safe, supportive environment. Participants leave with ready-to-use materials and strategies to inspire the next generation of tech-savvy thinkers.
M2-05-Ex Concord 10:20 am - 11:10 am	Digital Books in the Library: What does the Research Say? Etienne Vallee, Chief Technology Officer, Moultonborough School District
Level: Intermediate  Extensions	Digital books have been used in schools for decades and preceded the arrival of the electronic reading tablet, such as the iPad and similar devices. Digital books are now a part of many school library collections. While librarians are regarded as experts in building students' reading engagement and literacy learning, research on the role of print and digital books in this process remains inconclusive, and the roles of digital books in a school library are challenged. Some teachers and administrators contend that listening to an audiobook is not reading, and that reading a digital book hampers reading comprehension. Extensive research has been done in this area, but decisive differences separating reader comprehension and engagement between digital books and print books have not been identified. Differences in reader engagement, reading speed, and immersions have proved inconclusive. This leaves school librarians without reliable guidance, highlighting the need to present a concise summary of current research and measures. This presentation explores the conflicting findings elicited by recent scholarly research and presents recommendations for school librarians on how to better integrate digital books into their collections and their teaching practices.
M3-05-Ex Concord 11:40 am - 12:30 pm	Steal Like a Librarian: Finding Free & Low-Budget Ideas for EdTech Krystal Searah, Library Media Specialist, Merrimack Valley Middle School
*  Level: Beginner	Discover how to "steal like a librarian" by curating, remixing, and sharing the best free and low-cost educational technology resources. This interactive session equips educators with practical strategies for sourcing, adapting, and collaborating on classroom-ready ideas without breaking the bank. Participants explore open educational resources, teacher sharing platforms, and social networks, learn the art of remixing content for their unique contexts, and experience real-time collaborative curation. Attendees leave with a toolkit of resources, inspiration to remix ideas for their own classrooms, and actionable ways to build a culture of sharing and innovation in their schools.