Career and Technical, Technology Education, PLTW and Foundations in Engineering Educators

May 14, 2008

ANNUAL SUMMER CONFERENCE July 21-23, 2008 Bridgeport Conference Center, Bridgeport, WV

Last year, 120 teachers attended the Career and Technical, Technology Education, and Foundations in Engineering Conference and gave rave reviews! MANY of the teachers commented how nice it was to have a conference targeted to their specific programs. The overwhelming comment on the evaluation sheets was “Do it again!”

Get ready for the second annual conference to be held at Bridgeport Conference Center, July 21-23, 2008. This conference is designed to meet the specific needs of Career and Technical, Technology Education, PLTW and Foundations in Engineering educators in West Virginia. The conference’s focus revolves around the 21st Century Skills that students will need to be successful in school and the workplace of the future.

Access is a major asset for the Bridgeport Conference Center. The center is located in Charles Pointe, conveniently situated along I-79 at Exit 124, minutes from the Harrison-Marion Regional Airport. The center's North Central West Virginia location makes it easily accessible from all parts of the Mountain State, as well as from major Mid-Atlantic cities. Northbound: Exit 124 off I-79. Turn right at end of off-ramp. Drive uphill (east on 279) and take the first left into Charles Pointe. After entering, take your first left onto Conference Center Way. Follow and the road will lead directly to the Bridgeport Conference Center.

Southbound: Exit 124 off I-79. Turn left at end of off-ramp onto 279, eastbound. Drive up the hill. Take a left into Charles Pointe at the top of the hill. After entering, take your first left onto Conference Center Way. The road will lead directly to the Bridgeport Conference Center.

The Bridgeport Conference Center features two newly constructed hotels nearby. The 116-room Wingate Inn adjoins the conference center, while the 86-room Microtel Inn and Suites is immediately adjacent to us. Free on-site parking is available for all guests.

A continental breakfast and buffet lunch will be enjoyed each day of the conference. The Bridgeport area offers a wide variety of eating establishments to make you dinner a pleasurable dining experience. The conference will give teachers an opportunity to review newly established Content Standards and Objectives and to offer input/suggestions on the creation of course instructional guides. Content Standards and Objectives will be downloaded onto a flash drive; therefore, please bring your laptop to the conference. Teachers will also have the occasion to tour the Robert C. Bryd Institute as well as Pratt Whitney Manufacturing. Instructors can select from a variety of break-out sessions to create an agenda designed for personal professional growth. Examples include:

 Website Development  OSHA Regulations  National Board Certification Procedures/Benefits  NASA IV&V Facility Educator Resource Center Overview  Inventor Overview  Pro E Overview  West Point Bridge Design Competition  Project Based Learning  Automotive NATEF Certification/Crosswalk  Trade Union Presentations/Apprenticeship  Welding Technology Updates  Changes in CISCO  Technology Student Association – WV TSA  Student Association - SKILLS USA  NCCER Trades Curriculum/Soft Skills Curriculum  Tooling University Online Training Classes for Manufacturers and Vocational Schools

Career and Technical instructors may receive professional development hours through West Virginia Tech. T&I instructors will need to contact their regional educators for additional information. Foundation in Engineering teachers will be able to use these hours for certification renewal. For your convenience, a block of rooms has been reserved at the Bridgeport Conference Center Hotel, the Wingate. The Wingate rate is $88 per night plus 6% state tax and 6% occupancy tax, totaling $98.56. When making reservations, indicate you are attending a conference with the WV Department of Education and request the conference rate.

Hotel reservations at the Bridgeport Conference Center should be made before June 20th, 2008 by calling (304) 808-1000. For more details, visit http://www.conferencebridgeport.com/main/lodging.html. All hotel sleeping rooms will be released after June 30th, 2008.

The conference registration fee is $25 which includes a daily continental breakfast and buffet lunch. Please make checks for the conference payable to WVDE. Purchase orders will be accepted. Complete the enclosed registration form today!

Kathy Gillman Keith James Robert Wilson Technology Education/ Industrial and Industrial and Education Pre-Engineering Technical Education Technical Education

Attachment 2008 Career and Technical Teachers' Summer Conference July 21-23, 2008 Bridgeport Conference Center 300 Conference Way Bridgeport, WV 26330

Career and Technical Technology Education Foundations in Engineering

Name County

School School Phone

School Address

City, State, Zip

Home Address

Home City, State, Zip

Home Phone Email

Lodging Meals Lunch and Breakfast provided each day. You are responsible for you own lodging. For your convenience, a block of rooms has been reserved at the Bridgeport Conference Center Hotel, the Wingate. The Wingate rate is $88 per night plus 6% state tax and 6% occupancy tax, totaling $98.56. When making reservations, indicate you are attending a conference with the WV Department of Education and request the conference rate. Registration Fee: $25.00 Registration Deadline: June 30, 2008 Please mail check or purchase order with registration form to: Carol Bass, WV Department of Education 190 Kanawha Boulevard East Building 6, Room 243 Charleston, WV 25305 For state staff use only P 304.558.6314 Fax 304.558.1055 [email protected]

Payment Received – Check No. ______

Needs invoiced – PO No. ______

Invoice mailed ______Invoice number ______