The International Literacy Association 2015 Conference will offer new experiences as we launch our first conference as ILA, one of which will be a gathering space where educators can sit in on informal talks between sessions in St. Louis.
The Age of Literacy Exhibit will inspire interaction through multimedia components and encourage discussion through sessions led by specialists. It is our hope that these “unplugged” conversations, although informal in set up, will spark the sharing of knowledge and experiences through spotlighting hot topics in the field.
The space, found in the Exhibit Hall, will feature five 40-minute sessions covering a wide range of topics. On Saturday, July 18, Vicki Risko, Professor Emerita at Vanderbilt University and past ILA Board President, and Lori DiGisi, an administrator for Framingham Public Schools and a member of the ILA Board of Directors, will kick off the exhibit with their session on Teacher Prep. Also on Saturday, there will be a session dedicated to Global Literacy led by Pam Allyn, founding director of LitWorld and LitLife, and Margaret Muthiga, teacher and librarian at Kilimo Primary School in Kenya.
Talks will continue on Sunday, July 19, when MaryEllen Vogt, Professor Emerita at California State University and past ILA Board President, teams up with Sharon Walpole, University of Delaware School of Education professor, to discuss Literacy Coaching. The second Sunday session will focus on advocacy in the field and will be headed by Jill Lewis-Spector, ILA Board President, and Julie Ramsay, a teacher at Rock Quarry Middle School and president of the Alabama National Board Certified Teacher Network.
On Monday, Lara Deloza, ILA communications manager, and Jayme Gravell, ILA social media strategist, will wrap up the Age of Literacy Exhibit as they guide session attendees through “Twitter 101: How to Use This Powerful PD Tool.”
During the sessions, speakers will spearhead discussion, introducing the topic and why it’s relevant in today’s classroom. They will share personal experiences and insights and allow ample time for speaker-directed discussion and Q & A.
Also in the exhibit, attendees will be able to check in on Twitter and Instagram on a large screen, take advantage of a “selfie station” to document their ILA 2015 experience (and print #ILA15 Instagram photos instantly), or slip into the ILA video booth to record their thoughts on literacy. The video booth, available on Saturday and Sunday only, provides users with a chance to win prizes, including free registration to ILA 2016.
“The Age of Literacy Exhibit is an open and welcoming space built to inspire interaction through multimedia components such as Twitter, Instagram, and a video booth, as well as provide a comfortable gathering area,” said Stephen Sye, ILA’s associate executive director. “We hope it will encourage dialogue via ‘unplugged’ conversations, which, although informal in format, will feature the sharing of knowledge, experiences, and lively discussion.”
The ILA 2015 Conference will be held July 18–20 in St. Louis, MO, with more than 6,000 educators ready to transform their practice. Key topics affecting literacy featured at the conference include content literacy, children’s literature, classroom engagement, and professional development. In addition to conference favorites, including a revamped Teaching Edge series and the Putting Books to Work panels, more than 120 exhibitors will be on hand with new tools and technologies for all manners of literacy education.
Learn more about the conference programs at ilaconference.org. Register today for the ILA 2015 Conference.
Olivia Duke is communications intern for the International Literacy Association.