In order to create a culture of activity, Advanced Game Art & Design students developed a video game that can be used by teachers to encourage their students to get up and move. The student-created game encourages students to do calisthenics in a way that is gamified. The class has a profile that they can customize and by doing simple calisthenics exercises can defeat enemies on screen. Designed for easy teacher adoption, the game can be quickly utilized in short play sessions. The game was piloted in computer science classrooms, and updates are planned to make it more friendly for use in Health Science, with plans for custom workouts and lesson plans in the works.
Teacher, Watauga High School, Appalachian State University
Joe Gragg is a Computer Science teacher at Watauga High School and an adjunct educator for Appalachian State University, where he teaches high schoolers and future teachers ways to make Computer Science fun. His chief focus is in video game design and developing ways to incorporate... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT Elm Room 202 A
AI is transforming every sector but the organizations winning the future are the ones keeping humans at the center. This session shows leaders how to shift from seeing AI as a set of tools to mastering it as a true teammate, one that expands the intelligence, creativity, and strategic capacity of every person and team. Grounded in human-centered design, we’ll explore how to build systems where AI enhances empathy, sharpens judgment, and strengthens relationships rather than replacing them. Participants will see live demonstrations of how AI can elevate the “superpowers” already inside their organizations via pattern recognition, rapid communication, decision-making, coaching, prototyping, scenario planning, and problem-solving. Through real-world use cases and hands-on modeling, leaders will learn how AI can help teams work smarter: clarifying priorities, reducing noise, simplifying workflows, and turning raw data into insight within seconds. Just as importantly, they’ll explore the cultural side of how to create environments where AI increases trust, belonging, and equity while giving employees more time for meaningful, human work. Attendees will walk away with practical prompts, AI frameworks, and a teammate-ready tools that empowers their organization to become more adaptive, innovative, and human than ever.
Results-driven executive edupreneur transforming K-12, higher ed, non-profits and businesses through innovation, AI strategy and change leadership. A former teacher, principal and Chief Quality Officer of the Baldrige-winning Iredell-Statesville district, Bryan pioneered digital learning... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:10am - 11:10am EDT Elm Room 202 A
BREAKOUT SESSION: READY, SET, LIFE! How to prepare your students for life beyond high school. This session will act as a transition service for those students transitioning from high school to college or from college to adulthood. We want to provide some of the tools we believe are necessary for those work base experiences and transitional steps. These are tools that students may need in order to be successful with non-academic goals as well as skills necessary to becoming more independent and resilient within their lives.
By providing guidelines and tools for students they will learn how to become successful young adults transitioning from others solving their problems to being able to solve their own. Whether it be learning how to do laundry for the first time to learning how to prepare meals to setting their own alarm to get to class on time. We want to equip students with tools for the journey and how to take steps necessary for success. This session will give some practical information and time for discussion on how to best give students and opportunity to thrive as independent young adults and how you as an educator, counselor or natural support are able to share your expertise through your own story or support their efforts of learning how to ready, set, LIFE!
Hi everyone! My name is Hope Gambill. I am from Sparta, NC.I earned my bachelor’s degree at UNC Chapel Hill and double majored in Political Science and Philosophy. I am currently working on completing my master’s in Higher Education focusing on University and Community College... Read More →
College and Career Access Coodinator, Student Services: GEAR UP/On Ramp Program
As the College & Career Access Coordinator for Southwestern Community College, I work very closely with the GEAR UP and On Ramp Grants within three school districts. For over 15 years, I’ve taught independent living skills and pre-transitional employment strategies to students... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 1:35pm - 2:35pm EDT Elm Room 202 A
