Propellus Tech Summit 2025 Preview

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Welcome to a special edition of the Deep Dive.
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Next week is shaping up to be pretty huge for education innovation here in Kansas.
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Yeah, the Propelis Tech Summit 2025 is almost here May 28th and 29th.
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Right at Wichita State University's Rattigan Student Center.
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So we've kind of gone through all the info to get you ready, help you figure out how to make the most of it.
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Exactly.
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Think of this as your game plan for next week.
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Because it really looks designed to well propel your teaching forward.
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Right, that's the idea.
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Absolutely.
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We've been looking at what Propelis is offering and it's really clear this isn't your typical sit and get conference.
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No passive listening here.
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Not much.
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No, the whole vibe seems to be about getting involved, trying new things, actually leaving with skills you can use like the next day in class.
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OK, perfect.
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So let's help everyone hit the ground running.
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Let's do it.
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Let's jump straight into the opportunities then.
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What first grabbed my attention was this focus on like dynamic personalized learning.
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It sounds like they've really thought about how different educators actually learn best.
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I think that's key here the variety.
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You know the different interactive session formats.
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They've clearly moved away from that sort of one size fits all model.
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So, whether you like quick ideas or deeper workshops, exactly, there's something designed for you.
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But the main thing, the common thread, is that you're meant to gain real practical skills, stuff you take back.
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Makes sense, and the formats themselves?
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They seem quite different.
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Let's start with the poster sessions.
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What are those like?
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Okay, so these sound pretty cool.
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They're sponsored by Seesaw, first off, and they mention snacks, which is always a plus.
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Ah, always good Right.
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But the idea is lively, face-to-face connections.
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You get to talk directly with educators who are sharing tips, showing off resources that are ready to use.
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So like a buzzing marketplace of ideas.
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That's a great way to put it A place to just walk around, get inspired, make some new connections quickly.
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Perfect for that little jolt of energy or a fresh idea.
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Okay, then you have the breakout sessions, an hour long and they sound more hands-on.
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Yeah, that's really the core focus for these practical skill building.
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Looking at the agenda, there are some really great examples Like what?
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Well, things like visual storytelling with Panva, making your workflow smoother with Microsoft Copilot, boosting classroom engagement through gamification.
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Gamification, so like using game elements.
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Exactly, and also universal design for learning, you know, making learning accessible for everyone.
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Plus, they're really diving into AI.
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Ah, ai, how so.
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Using it for lesson planning, differentiating for different student needs, even amplifying student voice.
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It's pretty practical stuff.
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So definitely bring your laptop or tablet for those.
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Oh, absolutely, bring your devices, bring your curiosity.
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They want you involved.
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Okay, and for people who want to go even deeper, there are these two-hour deep dive sessions.
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Right.
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And if the summit's theme is doing these deep dives seem like where the real heavy lifting happens.
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Meaning.
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Meaning they're designed as really immersive hands-on experiences.
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You'll actually be brainstorming, maybe prototyping an idea, problem solving with others.
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So you actually create something.
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Yeah, creating classroom-ready resources or plans, things like designing whole units, building out tech workflows, really rethinking how you teach using AI.
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It's about that deeper thinking and leaving with something tangible.
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Gotcha Now.
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Something else listed is the Innovation Campus Tour.
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That sounds a bit different.
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It does.
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It sounds like a really unique sort of behind-the-scenes.
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Look at what WSU is doing.
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In terms of tech and research.
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Exactly For folks who've already signed up for it.
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It's an exclusive peek at their research hubs, showcasing the latest innovations in well, industry and education right there in South Central Kansas.
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A chance to see the future in action, maybe.
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Kind of yeah, See where things are heading.
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Okay, so beyond the sessions you choose, there are also the keynotes and partner sessions.
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Sounds like a chance to hear from the big names.
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Definitely They've pulled together trainers and experts from, well, a lot of the top ed tech platforms Like who, let's see, apple Seesaw, edpuzzle, canva, the design one, canvas, instructure, adobe, diffit, school, ai, common Sense Media too.
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Wow, quite a list.
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Yeah, and they'll be sharing.
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You know new features, best practices, actual resources you can grab and use.
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And the main keynotes.
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I saw Jason Wilmot from Canva.
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Right, he's talking about empowering student voice with design and creativity tools, and Dr Gary Gillespie from Microsoft Bless her folk.
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She's exploring how AI can drive equity and efficiency and really empower educators.
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It sounds powerful.
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And there's also a local panel, the Wichita Workforce Industry Panel.
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Yes, and this, I think, is a real standout.
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You get to hear directly from local CEOs and CIOs.
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About what skills students actually need.
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Exactly what digital skills, what critical thinking skills they're looking for when students enter the workforce.
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That kind of real world insight is just invaluable for us as educators.
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Absolutely Okay.
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So lots of learning, but it's not all work, is it?
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There's some lunchtime fun planned too.
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Yeah, which is great Optional stuff to kind of recharge and connect.
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On Wednesday they've got this mystery box challenge.
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Intriguing.
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What is it?
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It sounds like a surprise design challenge.
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They give you materials, you create something.
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Promises creative chaos and fun.
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Sounds like a blast.
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Definitely different.
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And Thursday Thursday is the Teacher Trivia Showdown, a chance to test your knowledge, compete a bit, have some fun.
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I like the sound of teacher trivia A good way to connect.
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For sure, maybe win some bragging rights.
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Okay, and for people interested in maybe getting something more formal out of this, there's graduate credit available.
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Yes, that's right, an opportunity to earn one graduate credit hour from Wichita State University.
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There's a small fee and a short reflection activity involved.
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And how do people find out more?
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fee and a short reflection activity involved, and how do people find out more?
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They said there'll be details on site and specifically a Q&A session about it on Wednesday morning at the summit.
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Good to know, all right.
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Shifting to practicalities for attendees heading to Wichita next week.
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What should they absolutely bring?
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OK, essentials, definitely a fully charged device, laptop, tablet, whatever you use, and its charger Crucial for the hands-on sessions.
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Makes sense.
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Comfortable shoes.
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You'll probably be doing a fair bit of walking between sessions.
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Good call.
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A refillable water bottle, stay hydrated and, maybe most importantly, the right mindset.
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Meaning.
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Curiosity, creative energy and just being open to collaborating and connecting with other educators.
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It does sound like they're fostering a really welcoming vibe.
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They even mentioned a Preservist educator.
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Hype crew.
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Yeah, isn't that great.
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Wsu Preservist teachers will actually be there helping attendees, bringing energy.
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That's a nice touch, really emphasizes community.
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It does, and it all points back to that partnership with WSU's College of Applied Studies.
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Right, the collaboration that makes it possible.
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Yeah, it shows this isn't just a one-off event but part of like a bigger movement trying to push education forward.
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Okay, final practical tip the schedule.
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People need to use Shed right.
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Oh, absolutely essential.
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That's the interactive platform where you can see everything, build your own personalized schedule and, probably, pick backups.
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Interactive platform where you can see everything build your own personalized schedule and probably pick backups.
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Yes, definitely have a plan B and maybe even C for sessions, just in case your first choice fills up.
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It happens.
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Good advice.
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Ok, so we've covered the what.
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Let's talk a bit about the why.
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What really makes Pertellis, you know, different?
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What sets it apart?
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Well, I think one major thing is the actual inspiration from the keynotes.
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It's not just listening.
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You mean Wilmot on design thinking and AI for student communication and Gillespie on AI for teacher impact and equity.
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Exactly the focus seems to be on sparking ideas you can actually implement, taking action.
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And that industry panel feels unique too.
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Definitely Getting that direct line to Wichita business leaders talking about the skills they need AI literacy, critical thinking, digital fluency that's gold.
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It's bridging that gap between school and the workforce.
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Precisely.
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It's a chance to hear firsthand what businesses are looking for and how schools, can you know, meet that need.
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The whole experience also sounds deliberately different from just sitting in rows.
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Right.
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It's a clear shift away from passive lectures, more towards rolling up your sleeves.
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Exploring tech creative challenges.
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Yeah, collaboration, even playfulness, making it dynamic and, importantly, directly relevant to your classroom reality.
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And they mentioned moments of surprise and delight.
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Ah yes, things like the trivia, maybe other unexpected wow moments.
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It keeps things engaging, memorable, makes it fun.
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And just to recap those session formats quickly for everyone Spark.
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Those are the quick poster sessions.
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Blu's Bloor.
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The 60-minute hands-on breakouts.
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Transform.
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The two-hour deep dives.
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And the tour.
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And the Innovation Campus tour.
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Yeah, A good framework to plan your time.
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One last big point Accessibility.
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It's free for a lot of people, isn't it?
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It is Free for Wichita public schools, teachers and staff, preservers, teachers, presenters, WSU faculty and students.
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That's huge.
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Really opens it up.
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Absolutely shows a real commitment to getting this PD out there.
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For others there's just a nominal fee.
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Okay, so to give people an even clearer taste, maybe we should highlight a few specific sessions from the schedule, just to show the range.
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Great idea.
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Yeah, let's paint a picture.
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Obviously, jason Wilmot's keynote AI in Classrooms, unlocking Creativity that's a big one.
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And keep an eye out for those exciting details coming soon.
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Breakouts always intriguing.
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And for Canvas users, again the LMS, not the design tool.
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Canvas and AI the future of integrated learning and AI in Canvas tools to support teaching and learning Really important sessions there Definitely to make that Canvas-Canva distinction clear.
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Then there's a deep dive AI-aware learning, rethink, remix, respond Sounds very hands-on about using AI responsibly.
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Anything for literacy folks.
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Yep Sessions with watermark books, looking at new titles for secondary and elementary.
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Always good to see new books.
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And for personalized learning.
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The Next Frontier, integrating school AI for enhanced learning in K-12.
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And, of course, the Innovation Campus Tour for those signed up.
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Don't forget the teacher trivia during lunch.
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Never.
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And the poster sessions, round one and round two, for those quick sparks, plus that community workforce panel on the future of AI.
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What about creative tools Plus?
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that community workforce panel on the future of AI?
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What?
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about creative tools Beyond boundaries.
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Teaching reimagined with Adobe Express AI looks great.
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And for accessibility empowering all learners hands-on learning with accessibility on iPad.
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Lots more AI too, like from zero to chatbot hero and I love this title, bot it Like it's hot hole.
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Yeah, sounds fun.
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And for the Canva design tool enthusiasts, spark inspiration and save time with Canva code and.
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MagicWrite and ignite your imagination with Canva in the classroom.
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MagicWrite, those AI features within Canva, exactly.
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And for media literacy, a deep dive called Broken Telephone of the Internet, a hands-on simulation for media and AI literacy.
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That sounds fascinating.
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Wow, also seeing unit planning, reimagined design-driven instruction using Canada's AI and specific tool sessions too right, seesaw EdPuzzle.
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DiffIt Padlet.
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Yeah, lots of practical tool-focused sessions, plus the Want College Credit info session, the Mystery Box Challenge at lunch.
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And even a happy hour Yep Box Challenge at lunch and even a happy hour Yep Happy hour at Social Tap sponsored by School AI.
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Good networking opportunity and, rounding it out, things like tech-savvy strategies for reading success and music, language, math, science, history, reading it really shows the breath.
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It absolutely does.
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There really feels like there's something for well for every educator looking to innovate.
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It definitely sounds like more than just a conference.
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Yeah, the organizers are framing it as a chance to be part of the next wave.
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You know, join the movement.
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If you haven't registered, might be worth checking for last minute spots.
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For sure, the energy definitely seems to be building for next week.
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It promises to be a fantastic couple of days, A real chance to learn, connect and get recharged.
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So, as we wrap up this deep dive on Propelis 2025, it's clear there's just a wealth of opportunity waiting for attendees next week.
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Yeah, the focus on hands-on, future-focused skills and just making connections, it really stands out.
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It's designed to be dynamic, practical, inspiring, something you can really use.
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Exactly tangible takeaways.
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Okay, so here's a final thought for you listening as you get ready for Propelis, maybe start thinking now what's the one new idea or maybe the one connection you hope to make that could really transform your teaching practice this coming year?
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Ooh, good question, something to mull over.
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Yeah, think about that going in.
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It'll be really interesting to see what resonates.
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And