Today's programs require a firm grasp of results-oriented action plans, useful technology, purposeful communications, and measurable data - and all those solutions are under one roof in Austin February 6 - 8.

This conference is a great value packed into just two and a half days. Here's a few top reasons why you should attend:

• Two renown keynote speakers: Colleen Barrett, President Emeritus of Southwest Airlines and Darrell Andrews, educational consultant, life coach and author
• CTE Training Institute: Professional development training designed to provide new and experienced CTE directors and counselors with tools to lead a quality CTE program.
• Tour of Manor New Tech High: Experience the New Tech Learning System through a tour of PBL, NTLS, Project Presentations, Project Launches and an integrated learning environment in action. The afternoon will also feature a student panel and a one-on-one discussion with MNTH Principal and staff.
• Tech 2.0: Learn how to incorporate social media, photo and video sharing sites, cloud based tools and more in the classroom.
• 50+ educational sessions on an array of topics to meet solutions for CTE challenges
• Face-time with leading exhibitors to discover the latest products and tools.
• Networking opportunities with CTE professionals across the state.
• And more!

We encourage you and your peers to attend Education Open Source in it's fourth year and leave with ideas and resources you can put to use immediately.

Keynote speakers include President Emeritus of Southwest Airline, Colleen Barrett, who will join us to talk about the company's emphasis on a culture of customer service, a key factor that has stewarded operations of the high frequency, low fare, point to point airline. Coach Darrell Andrews "Coach D" will provide insight into building bridges and breaking barriers to let students connecting dreams to education.

Choose from 50 concurrent breakout sessions on the latest CTE topics and find solutions to your biggest challenges. Gain firsthand knowledge on critical regulatory and policy changes that directly impact CTE programs. Back by popular demand, Tech 2.0 will showcase the latest technological trends and how they can be used in the classroom to enhance student learning.

CTAT is excited about the launch of the CTE Training Institute (CTE-TI), a rigorous training program designed to elevate professional standards, enhance individual performance and designate CTE professionals who demonstrate the knowledge essential to the practice of managing CTE programs across the state of Texas. Completing the CTE-TI is the hallmark of a committed CTE professional.

Join us at EOS 2012 to:

• Make your work more rewarding, fulfilling and impactful.
• Leverage the power of networking to forge new connections.
• Learn the latest best practices to maximize your impact in education.
• Meet some of the very best educators in CTE today.
• Make your voice heard by joining with hundreds of your fellow CTE professionals statewide.

Browse the site to learn more about this event and make plans to attend!

Richard Froeschle's session was a hit with his presentation on the changing face of the Texas Labor Market. He shared key statistics about the current and future state of the Texas economy.

Michele Collins led the first workshop on CTE and ELLs. Participants learned how to engage students in classroom discussion while building their confidence and preparing them for the future.

Also new this year was Ethics Training for Counselors where participants learned the legal boundaries and professional expectations of educators with advances in technology. They encountered real-case scenarios and how to react appropriately while lowering risk and defining responsibility.

Education Open Source 2012 follows the 82nd Texas legislative session and will deliver the latest policy updates along with forward-thinking content for quality CTE programs. Mark your calendar for February 6-8 in Austin!

The best way to learn about green education is to experience it with your hands. You'll get that chance at the Pitsco Education breakout session on "Integrating Green Projects," immediately following the opening general session on Tuesday, February 8.

Build your own magnetic levitation (maglev) car and test it on our maglev track. You will also have the opportunity to experience one of our green learning units, Green Machines. Pitsco's blended GreenSTEM Academy curriculum combines hands-on, whole-class activities such as maglev vehicles with the exploratory, team-based learning units such as Green Machines and Eco-Architecture. The Academy explores numerous Green careers and meets many TEKS standards for math and science.

If you can't attend this session led by Dallas ISD Teacher, Natalie Mathew, be sure to stop by the Pitsco Education booth and chat with Gail or Dan. They'll give you the latest on not only GreenSTEM Academy, but also Pitsco's Engineering Academy and STEM Academy as well as our math and science solutions.

See you at Education Open Source!

Dan Petersen, Pitsco Education

During the past year, San Jacinto College has been working with aerospace companies in Houston that support NASA and space travel on a paid student internship program.

The program consists of two components:

• Placing students as interns to work onsite with aerospace company sponsors, and
• Delivering formal instruction for the students in a classroom and online setting focused on
  workplace readiness and soft skill training.

When pitching the idea about becoming a sponsor of student interns to companies and organizations,
remember to design a program which adds value. For example, will your internship program attract the most talented students in the area for placement? Can you help by preparing the students with the soft skills such as effective communication, interpersonal skills and e-mail and business etiquette so they are prepared to work in a professional environment?

Students with an internship experience have the complete package upon graduation - education,
experience and demonstrated skill sets as they begin their career and the corporate sponsors get a
pipeline of future full-time employees.

Linda Drobnich
San Jacinto College

Attend Enhance their Degree: Developing Student Workforce Skills through an Internship Experience on Tuesday, February 8 where participants learn about the Top 10 Tips for developing a successful paid internship program and building relationships with their area employers.

When students discuss, argue and question, we know more about what they
understand. And we are preparing them for a future that includes successful job
interviews and the confidence to explain, discuss and defend ideas and opinions at
school and outside the classroom.

I've been in secondary classrooms for more than ten years as an instructional coach.
When I see teachers and students actively talking and discussing concepts, I pay
attention to what the teacher is doing to make this happen. The strategies that I see
working in classrooms are the ones I share in workshops. And I learn new strategies
from participants in almost every workshop.

Michele Collins

Attend Classroom Talk: ELLs and CTE on Tuesday, February 8 where participants actively explore the role of structured classroom conversations as essential for English Language Learners and all students. The development of group and partner collaboration is essential to language development and learning. This session highlights how structured classroom talk can be integrated into instruction without hours and hours of preparation.

TED Talks about Education

Food for Thought - Each less than 18 minutes in length, TED Talks provide viewers with insightful and thought-provoking commentary and ideas. The contents of many TED Talks can be directly or indirectly applied to classroom practices. We are pleased to share these recommendations from Richard Byrne with freetech4teachers.com. Visit freetech4teachers.com to find more cutting edge resources.

Sir Ken Robinson Says Schools Kill Creativity
Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity. Creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson challenges the way we're educating our children.

John Wooden on Winning and Success
Coach Wooden's talk emphasizes teaching and developing character over winning. One of his three most important rules, "no criticizing of teammates, I'm paid to do that," is a great rule that translates well to the classroom and the workplace. With profound simplicity, Coach John Wooden redefines success and urges us all to pursue the best in ourselves.

Clifford Stoll Teaches Physics to Eighth Graders
Clifford Stoll has done many cool things in his life including catching a KGB spy, but the coolest thing he's done is teaching college level physics to 8th graders. What we like about Clifford Stoll is that instead of just talking about ways to teach and improve education he is actually getting on the front line and trying his ideas.

Don't Eat the Marshmallow
Joachim De Posada talks about the behavior of children when they are given a marshmallow and told not to eat it for fifteen minutes. In the talk, Posada reveals that the response of children to this challenge can be indicative of future success in life. The information shared in the talk confirms what most of us know about the impulse control of small children. None-the-less, it's nice to have a reminder that can inform our planning of day's lessons.

Bill Gates Talks About Mosquitoes, Malaria, and Education
Bill Gates discusses mosquitoes, malaria, and education. The education part of his talk (the last eight minutes) presents some interesting fodder for conversation. While you may not agree with everything that Gates proposes in this talk, it will definitely make you think about what does and doesn't work in education.

Three Ways the Brain Creates Meaning
Tom Wujec explains how the brain interprets words, images, feelings, and connections. Knowing how the brain processes information should influence how we present information to our audience(s).

Jimmy Wales - The Birth of Wikipedia
Do a Google search for just about any academic term and more times than not Wikipedia is at the top of the results. So how did Wikipedia get started? How does it continue to run? Watch this talk by the founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, to find out.

Julian Treasure - Four Ways Sound Affects Us
In this talk Julian Treasure tells us that people working in open plan offices are 66% less productive than those in quiet rooms. Treasure follows that up by saying if you are in a noisy open plan room, wear headphones and listen to soothing sounds and your productivity goes back up. Perhaps instead of trying to keep them as quiet as possible, we should allow kids to use their mp3 players when they're working on independent assignments.

How Cell Phones, Twitter, and Facebook Can Make History
In this talk Clay Shirky examines how text messaging and social networks empower citizens to report the news without state-run media censorship. This TED Talk could be good for getting students to think about the positive things that they can accomplish using the technologies that they often think of as just fun tools.

The Surprising Science of Motivation
Career analyst Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don't: Traditional rewards aren't always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories - and maybe, a way forward.

Several key points are planned talking points, but it is open to any additional issues such as: PBMAS, Shared Services and Survival. This is a networking interactive session and not a lecture form, so come with your questions and be prepared to share how you are handling issues.

How did you deal with getting your PBMAS "dark side" scores back to the "good side"? How can a district look at partnering with other school districts for shared services? School districts are looking at saving money, and cutting the graduation electives requirement will negatively impact CTE. Join this session to find solutions to these key issues.

What other issues would you like to discuss? Post them in the comments below.

My belief is that anyone working in CTE must have a BBS degree (Beg, Borrow, Steal) So come and work on your new degree!

Marty Thompson

AHS implemented their redesign with strong support for CTE from administration and established effective collaboration among academic and CTE teachers to increase student participation and achievement. Ninety percent of Akins' 2,750 students complete at least one CTE course with many continuing on in a CTE program of study.

AHS has six academies, allowing students to select a major or program of study based on their academic and career interests. The academies offered include:

• Agriculture, Computer and Environmental Science
• Arts and Humanities
• Academy of Business, Leadership and Legal Enterprises
• Social Services
• STEM
• New Tech High*

Students explore career options prior to beginning college studies and discover what career or college major is of interest to them. AHS promotes project-based learning and cross-curricular activities in real-life scenarios providing students the 21st century skills needed to succeed beyond high school. Students are encouraged to complete their course sequence and obtain college credit and/or licensure and certification.

Join this tour for the behind-the-scenes details of the redesign project, instructional practices and enrollment growth with exciting course content and teacher involvement.

*NTH is an independent learning environment focusing on project-based learning while working in groups and using technology as a tool. Like all other academies, students select NTH and are accepted as long as space is available.

John Shellene, president at Sherpa Management Partners, Inc., will be presenting at Education Open Source about FIRST programs and how to secure funding through the TWC grant. If you are interested in building the robotics program in your district, this is a session you don't want to miss!

There are two high school level robotics programs offered through FIRST-the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). FTC teams average 10 students per team and FRC teams average 25 students, which also runs on a larger scale model than FTC.

Visit www.usfirst.org to further understand the differences between these two programs to determine which is the best program for your group interested in starting a team.

The FTC and FRC programs provide participants in grades 9-12 with a new challenge each season and the opportunity to solve the challenge working alongside professional mentors including engineers, technologists, and scientists. Additionally, participants learn advanced programming and technology concepts as well as crucial life skills such as self confidence and teamwork.

At competitions, various awards recognize teams at all levels and various scholarships totaling
more than $14 million are available to help students further their education. Both programs have proven to motivate participants to pursue higher education, especially in the areas of engineering and
technology.

Interested new FRC and FTC teams are encouraged to apply for Texas Workforce Commission
funding by submitting a from available at www.firstintexas.org.

CTE Program Management Training is designed to provide new and next-to-new CTE directors, administrators and counselors the training and resources needed to lead quality CTE programs. Led by veteran CTE educators, trainers offer experience, insight and ideas for increasing student participation and success.

CTE Boot Camp for Colleges focuses on teaching college administrators how to improve student transitions from high school to college. This is one of the only professional development opportunities of its kind uniquely designed to connect career and technical education from secondary to postsecondary.

Ethics Training for Counselors is an exciting new addition this year and will help guidance professionals define legal boundaries, lower risks and maintain ethical standards.

Attend one of these sessions to enhance your programs and elevate your career success.

Join a diverse network of educators, industry leaders, economic and workforce development partners, and policy leaders to share ideas and learn new approaches for education and training. Attendees have the advantage of receiving firsthand information on issues, trends and news related to CTE.

Ethics Training for Counselors is a new feature this year providing in depth training on how ethics are impacted by an increasingly tech-savvy environment.

With high level issues surrounding the economy, workforce development and student achievement, this conference comes at a time when CTE is in the spotlight and its success critical to the future of students and the global economy.

Education Open Source provides a unique opportunity to network with peers, face the challenges and find solutions that will keep CTE in the forefront. You will leave with tools and resources to improve programs and increase student success.

Are you ready?

In a voice of support, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Susan Combs challenged participants to expand CTE programs from high school to college to the workplace and place a higher value on working with your head and your hands. Combs explained the $20 million Every Chance Every Texan campaign she successfully established with support from the 81st legislature.

Roy Williams, Wizard Academy Chancellor, challenged educators to consider pendulum swings in society for program promotion to students. He discussed a concept in which leading voices in music and literature signal shifts with a clear pattern of predictability and how an accurate read of value changes can inform promotional strategies.

Tech 2.0 Mashups and the Screening Room were filled to capacity and featured high impact content for all levels of expertise. Videos from the Screening Room will be available for viewing in a few weeks.

Education Open Source 2011 takes place during next legislative session and will deliver focused content for those working to expand and improve CTE programs and prepare students for a globally competitive workforce. Mark your calendars for February 7 - 9, 2011!

• Green Modules can help change the world and this summer Pitsco Education releases ten new module titles that present eco-friendly concepts in a way that engages and inspires middle level students. Topics like Carbon Footprint, Changing Oceans, Eco-Architecture, Garbology, and Green Machines are examples of a few of the new titles.

• What is designed to work with the LEGO(r) MINDSTORMS(r) robotics system, expands student understanding of robotics engineering, and is the newest member to join the LEGO Education robotics continuum? TETRIX(tm) by Pitsco! Designed to advance the robotics experience, TETRIX, a revolutionary new metal building system, offers unlimited design and real-world application possibilities to students. TETRIX allows students to design and build competition robots for FLL and FTC. Attend the LEGO presentation Tuesday, February 9th at 10 a.m. to learn more about LEGO robotics and TETRIX.

• Pitsco Engineering Academy: Engaging students in the field of engineering is vital to the future of our modern world. To do its part, Pitsco developed the Engineering Academy, a high school curriculum focused on engineering and problem solving. The Pitsco Engineering Academy challenges students to apply the math and science learned in their regular classes to solve engineering problems. To create the Academy, teacher guides and scope-and-sequence programs were developed to frame Pitsco's proven STEM activities. Complete with tools, equipment, materials, and supplemental texts, each course is a nine- or 18-week curriculum.

• The Pitsco STEM Academy for middle school releases this summer. It is a vehicle for making connections between the STEM subjects. It offers activities that incorporate all three learning domains: cognitive, affective, and psychomotor. It gives students experiences in many career areas and gives them a taste of what might await them when they grow up. Each STEM Academy unit is three weeks, flexible, teacher led, contextual, and project based.

Visit our booth for information about these exciting and engaging new programs.

The Texas National Guard is here to assist your students through our dynamic and interactive, free classroom presentations.

Our programs include:

• Partners in Education, which provides the steps needed to prepare for life after high school. It answers the questions "what am I doing after high school?" and "how do I get ready for life after high school?".
• The YOU CAN School Programs are over 30 award winning public service presentations that introduce students to necessary like skills in order for them to prepare for successful futures. Topics include: leadership, drugs and alcohol, study techniques and patriotism
• Through the ASVAB Career Exploration Program, students can access future-oriented and empowering career exploration and planning materials.
• The National Guard has a hands-on opportunity for mechanical experience through the Humvee School Program.
• The Guard Fit Program is a new way to get high school students or faculty excited about fitness.
• Students can participate in an interactive program that tells the story of the nation's dedication to promoting independence and freedom by delving into the cultures, ideas, and practices of America's military history during four wars through the Heritage Outreach Program

Visit our booth or come to our presentation at the conference to learn more about how you can use our programs to help your students.

A Customized Portfolio System (CPS) will help your students reach farther. From your districts Student Information System (SIS), completed course AND current course enrollment data is auto loaded into your middle and high school students' lifelong portfolio. The course catalog is also added into the portfolios.

A suite of validated assessments in GuidanceCentral will help students find their top career clusters, top interests and aptitude. Your district's unique cluster and pathway coherent sequence of courses, prerequisites and graduation requirements provide custom tools to create a comprehensive four year plan based on the student's career aspirations.

GuidanceCentral will report the student's who have completed four year plans, students on track to meet graduation requirements, a planned course report for insight into future scheduling and a CTE PEIMS indicator report for TEA submissions.

Come visit our booth at Education Open Source to learn more!

Questions? Contact Lesley Franklin. lfranklin@xap.com or 1-800-281-1168.

Bring your questions and your expertise to this informal question and answer session. CTE directors and counselors from small, medium and large districts address broad and specific questions related to implementation of the new TEKS and courses. Attendees will be able to ask questions of panelists and seek information from peers around the state.

Tuesday, February 9
4:15pm - 5:15pm
Ballroom A

The panel of experts for this session include:
Dennis Alexander, CTE Director, Northside ISD
Franklin Higgins, CTE Director, Aldine ISD
Ian Roark, CTE Director, Ector County ISD
Marty Thompson, CTE Director, Denton ISD

For those planning to attend, please comment with your specific question to help target the session to address your needs.

The deadline to pre-register is Friday, January 8. All pre-conference sessions and tours must be registered by this date.

After January 8, registration must be done onsite upon arrival and must include payment or signed purchase order.

Also, please take note of two new features offered at EOS 2010.

Tech 2.0 Mashups
The web is full of free, robust social and online apps easily applied to the workplace and education. A brief 15 minutes in length, Tech 2.0 Mashups are geared toward novice and intermediate users alike. There are no stupid questions - bring yours. Located next to the registration area, drop in for these brief introductory seminars on the following topics:

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Blogs
• Wikis
• YouTube, SchoolTube and Flickr
• Weebly and Ning
• iTunes and Podcasts
• Google Docs, Calendar and Wave

Screening Room
Take your seat on a lounge sofa in the Screening Room and see more presentations in a shorter amount of time. A special feature of the conference this year is a darkened Screening Room where a select number of conference presentations will be delivered in a compact 18 minutes and professionally filmed for distribution to a wider audience.

These sessions are focused, impactful, inspiring and get to the heart of the matter in as few words as possible.

• Recruit and Retain New Generation Faculty
• Thinking Outside the Edges of Undefined Shapes
• Students Reach the Edge of Space with Rocketry Program
• Technical Associates Degrees are not the End of the Road
• AchieveTexas College and Career Initiative Local Implementation Best Practices
• Designing High School Academies for College Preparation
• Alamo Area Academies: A Model for School to College to Work
• How to Approach College and Career Planning with Students
• Academies Adjust to New CTE Courses

Please visit the online agenda for details.

Don't wait! Register TODAY!

Join us for one of the pre-conference tours!

Pre-registration is required for both of the pre-conference tours. Registration with form of payment must be received by January 8 in order to be eligible to participate.

Tour of Outstanding CTE Programs

February 8
1:00pm - 4:00pm

Tour the Round Rock ISD Engineering Academy and Health Science Academy located at McNeil High School.

Stephanie Brierty, K-12 Program Manager for National Instruments, will speak about the importance of the relationship between secondary schools and industry and how these partnerships offer students opportunities to excel in their career pathway and effectively bridge the gap between high school, college and the workplace.

The Engineering Academy is a four-year pre-engineering program consisting of a comprehensive series of courses designed for high school students with an interest in the field of engineering, and features pre-engineering curriculum from Project Lead the Way and the Infinity Project.

The Health Science Technology Academy provides a comprehensive array of courses designed to prepare students for a career in the health care field. This includes the four-year coherent sequence of Health Science courses, as well as a selection of classes that provide for exploration and certifications in specific areas of interest to students of all levels.

Tour of Stonehouse Vineyard and Iguana Grill Happy Hour

February 8
2:00pm - 8:00pm

A private wine tour through Stone House Vineyard will show the process from grape to glass. Situated on a high bluff overlooking Lake Travis, the tour will include strolling through the private vineyard on a custom wine tour, chatting with winemakers and enjoying a tasting in the beautifully crafted, tasting room. A happy hour at sunset will follow at Iguana Grill on Lake Travis.

Register TODAY!

Pre-registration is required for all of the pre-conference activities and tours. Registration with form of payment must be received by January 8 in order to be eligible to participate.

CTE Program Management Training, Part I

February 8
8:30am - 4:30pm
Administration and Guidance Components

February 9
12:00pm - 4:00pm
Additional Guidance Components

This intensive training session is recommended for new CTE directors, facilitators and counselors to gain the professional knowledge and skills needed to be a CTE leader within their district.

This training, presented by nationally recognized trainers, will provide participants with a strong foundation for understanding and implementing effective CTE programs. Up to twelve hours of CPE credit, meals and resource materials are included.

Topics include:

• Calendar year for CTE
• Understanding the Law, TEC, TAC
• PEIMS, Student Accounting Handbook
• Perkins IV Requirements and Funding
• eGrant, evaluation follow-up
• Guidance programs for large and small districts
• Tech Prep, articulation and dual credit
• Adopting AchieveTexas in your district
• Developing four- to six-year plans
• Transitions P-16
• Mentoring program

CTE Program Management Training Part I and Part II are independent of each other. Completion of Part I is not required for Part II and vice versa.

CTE Boot Camp for Colleges

February 8
12:00pm - 4:00pm

This session will focus on teaching college administrators how to improve student transitions from high school to college.

Experienced educators and agency representatives will communicate how to build effective relationships to increase student outreach and engagement.

Topics include:

• Effectively Working with High Schools
• Dual Credit Best Practices
• Virtual College of Texas
• Texas Virtual Schools Network
• Building the College Readiness Pipeline
• Tech Prep - Awarding Articulated Credit

The FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge immerse students in science and technology through competitions to design, build, and program robots using engineering principles and a sports model of teamwork and competition.

Ensuring that Texas remains a leader in job creation depends on the development of our workforce and is imperative to Texas' future prosperity. Last month, the governor announced a $160 million initiative to expand the number and scope of Texas science, technology, engineering and math (T-STEM) academies, an initiative he established in 2005, as well as fund STEM scholarships.

John Shellene will host a session on FIRST robotics programs on Tuesday, February 9 at Education Open Source. Attend this session and learn how to build a hands-on robotics program in your district with resources including events, volunteers and mentors across Texas.

Education Open Source is a conference that district and campus administrators will not want to miss. With all of the changes in CTE, including new courses and TEKS that will be fully implemented in all Texas school districts in Fall 2010, this conference is a perfect venue to provide strategies and best practices to assure successful CTE programs. With a focus on college and career readiness and development of effective instructional partnerships with business/industry, Education Open Source provides sessions to support quality CTE programs of study. Many districts place a great emphasis on attendance at this conference, for administrators, guidance counselors and teachers.

• December 1 - Early bird registration deadline

• January 8 - Pre-registration deadline

- After January 8, registration must be done on-site upon arrival and must include payment or signed purchase order.

- Registration to the CTE Program Management Training, CTE Program Management Training resource materials, CTE Boot Camp and all tours is closed after this date.

• January 15 - Discounted hotel rate deadline

• January 15 - Cancellation deadline

Register TODAY to reserve your spot!

As we gather together at Education Open Source, let us have rich conversation about how existing programs and emerging ones will advance education in Texas in ways that matter to both the success of students and diversifying our economy.

Click here to see the full report.

Held at the Renaissance Austin Hotel, the event location offers the beautiful scenery of the Texas Hill Country, upscale shopping at The Domain and fine dining at a host of nearby restaurants.

A dynamic array of speakers in more than 60 comprehensive sessions focus on transforming education and increasing student engagement.

Subscribe to this blog as we will be highlighting featured sessions and speakers over the next few months. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EdOpenSource.

Register today to reserve your spot!