An internationally recognized authority in creativity and innovation in education and business, Sir Ken Robinson is also one of the world’s leading speakers. Videos of his famous talks to the prestigious TED Conference are the most viewed in the history of the organization and have been seen by an estimated 300 million people in over 150 countries.

Sir Ken works with governments in Europe, Asia and the US, international agencies, Fortune 500 companies and leading cultural organizations. He led a national commission on creativity, education and the economy for the UK Government, was the central figure in developing a strategy for creative and economic development as part of the Peace Process in Northern Ireland, and was one of four international advisors to the Singapore Government for a strategy to become the creative hub of SE Asia.

Called “one of the world’s elite thinkers on creativity and innovation” by Fast Company magazine, Sir Ken has received numerous awards and recognitions for his groundbreaking contributions. He was included in Thinkers50 list of the world’s leading business thinkers and has been named one of TIME/Fortune/CNN’s Principal Voices. In 2003, he received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for services to the arts. His 2009 book, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything, is a New York Times best seller and has been translated into 21 languages. A 10th anniversary edition of his classic work on creativity and innovation, Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative, was published in 2011. Finding Your Element: How to Discover Your Talents and Passions and Transform Your Life, was published by Viking in May 2013 and is also a New York Times best seller. His latest book, Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That’s Transforming Education (Viking, 2015), written with Robinson’s trademark wit and engaging style, includes groundbreaking research and tackles the critical issue of how to transform the nation’s troubled educational system.

You know Sir Ken Robinson as an expert on creativity and innovation. In this exclusive presentation, he’ll talk about the vital role art teachers play. Developing 21st Century Skills like curiosity, creativity, and imagination is what makes art teachers second-to-none.

Sir Ken will talk about how to find your passion and how to work to change your school for the better. He’ll also speak about how art teachers positively impact each and every student they see. You will not want to miss this inspiring presentation!

Lisa Phillips is an author, blog journalist, marketer, mentor and business owner. She currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada and has over 16 years experience as an arts and leadership educator. Her passion for helping young people achieve success in all aspects of their lives inspired Lisa to publish her first book, The Artistic Edge: 7 Skills Children Need to Succeed in an Increasingly Right Brain World. The book explores the impact arts participation has on the success of the current generation.

As an art teacher, you’ve been given the incredible responsibility of helping your students develop their creative potential. You know creativity is vital to student success, but where do you start?

There are so many difficult questions. For example, what IS creativity? How can you talk to students about it? What are some of the barriers to creative thinking and how do you overcome them? If you’ve wrestled with any or all of these questions, you’ll love learning from Lisa. She’ll walk you through 7 key points that will give you practical tips and techniques that you can apply in your classroom right away.

Ian Sands and Melissa Purtee are the authors of the highly anticipated book The Open Art Room, which will be released by Davis Publications in late August. Both Ian and Melissa teach high school in North Carolina, where they develop innovative, student-centered instruction.

In the era of big data and standardized testing, there is a push to make sure class time is dedicated to serious learning. This has created schools full of bored, disengaged kids, even in the art room. Too often, our schools remove the joy and exploration from learning.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Join Melissa and Ian to hear about the benefits of making your classes more like recess, even at the middle and high school levels. If you are looking for ways to help your students stay engaged and inspired, this presentation is for you!

For over 15 years, Artsonia has been committed to helping teachers get more technology into their classrooms. With just one iPad, an entire class of students can create digital portfolios on Artsonia. In addition to showcasing artwork, the digital portfolio platform aids teacher in curriculum and project management.  Mapping standards, assessing growth and parent advocacy are just a few of the built-in tools.

Jennifer will share some great ideas for having students take charge of their work on Artsonia. She will show you how to use those digital portfolios to showcase artwork, manage your projects and curriculum, map standards, assess growth, and advocate for your program. You’ll leave with the confidence to help your own students create digital portfolios in your art room.

STABILO has established itself as the “in-brand” of pen amongst young people all over Europe. The reason: STABILO products stand for design, trends and lifestyle. Whereas in the past the main focus was on the pens’ technological features, such as the amount of ink and the line thickness, the needs and wants of those who write, highlight or draw with a STABILO are now central to product development from the very beginning. This results in innovative and high-quality products perfectly suited to modern lifestyles, especially to those of young people.

If you have not used STABILO pens before, you are in for a treat! Open your swag box, grab your pens, and join AOE Senior Instructor Shannon Bell for a walkthrough of creative, expressive ideas you can use in your classroom! From simple patterns and designs to complex observational drawings, she will show you how to use these pens to add color and expression to any of your favorite drawing lessons.

Nora Graham teaches middle school and high school art at the United Nations International School in Hanoi, Vietnam. She values the role of arts and creative problem solving in the lives of students, during their school years and beyond. Previous adventures of teaching internationally include teaching visual arts in Tanzania, Bangladesh and Hawaii.

In this fun presentation, learn how to create artwork using traditional black and white photo materials…without a camera! Join Nora as she teaches you how to create a chemigram by painting on photo-sensitive paper with different materials. Learn how to safely combine common darkroom chemicals with unusual substances like nail polish and honey to create amazing results. Share the technique with your students to build their understanding of darkroom processes in an innovative way.

Cassie Stephens has been teaching art to kindergarten through fourth grade students in the Nashville, Tennessee area for the past 16 years. Four years ago, Cassie started a blog to hold herself personally accountable. Since then, she’s managed to find the secret to her personal art teacherin’ happiness by connecting the passions in her life: teaching, creating and dressing like a crazy person. She blogs about her art lessons, her DIY’s and what she wore in the art room at cassiestephens.blogspot.com.

In this session, Cassie will share her favorite alternatives to kiln-fired clays. From air-dry to oven-baked to DIY recipes, there are so many options available. Your students can still experience the wonder of clay even if you don’t have a kiln! Follow along with Cassie as she walks you through her favorite clay products for your limited art room budget. Every child deserves the chance to sink their hands into clay and create a memory and a masterpiece!

For thirty-five years, George Szekely has been a pioneer in developing creative changes and methodologies for art teaching. His work has been formulated in books, journals, unique performance-style keynote presentations, and teaching demonstrations through his nationally initiated Adopt-a-School projects. He was among the first art educators to emphasize the importance of children’s play in art making and to advocate the study of children’s home art as the foundation for school art practice.

In this presentation, George will explain how you can become a better art teacher by simply listening to your students. Through play, your students can develop incredible ideas about art, and those creative ideas can guide your classroom. When you set aside your own lessons, and allow your students’ creativity to guide your teaching, you provide a rich, unique experience for your kids every time they step into the art room.

Ruth is an elementary art teacher in Roseville, Michigan where her thematic lessons always incorporate an element of play to engage her students in the learning process. While she is not teaching, she creates paintings and sews whimsically inspired art works in her Sedona, AZ art studio.

It takes a special kind of art teacher to travel between multiple schools. From teaching on a cart to dealing with record keeping, and from supplies to seating charts, keeping things organized and under control can be difficult. But in this presentation, Ruthie will give you the tips and tricks you need to succeed. Join her on a whirlwind tour through each of her seven(!) schools, where she will share a new idea in each building. If you are a traveling art teacher, you will not want to miss this presentation!

Abby is a middle school art teacher in Omaha, NE as well as a writer for the Art of Education. She focuses on creating meaningful experiences for her students through technology integration, innovation, and creativity.

Balancing the amount of technology in the art room can be tricky. Sometimes introducing tech to your students comes at the expense of teaching more traditional art making processes. In this presentation, Abby will share how to use technology to enhance what you already do, not replace it! You’ll be introduced to specific programs and devices that you can easily implement to pique your students’ interests!

Wynita Harmon is an elementary art facilitator in Plano, TX and has been teaching in Title I schools for 11 years. She is currently working on her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and is dedicated to being a life-long learner to promote a growth mindset. She provides meaningful experiences for her students using the TAB/Choice-Based philosophy that promotes innovation, creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking skills and collaboration in the art studio.

In a world that is constantly changing, art educators are vital to student success. In the art room, students are challenged to think critically and creatively, learning countless skills that transfer to other disciplines. As art educators, we are on the leading edge of transforming education with our innovative practices, and we have information to share! Join Wynita to learn why art teachers should become leaders in their schools. Walk away with concrete ways to create a positive school culture and promote change.

Nic Hahn has worked as an instructor for AOE and authors the popular blog “Mini Matisse.” She enjoys sharing creative ideas and positive musings about teaching. Nic has worked with learners from preschoolers through adults and has discovered she loves teaching at all levels.

Note taking in the art room can be a challenge. The traditional method just doesn’t seem to fit the creative environment. Enter sketchnotes. This type of purposeful doodling can not only help students retain important concepts, but can also be a way for students to practice drawing, typography, and the elements and principles of art. Join Nic as she teaches you about sketchnotes and challenges you to use them for the Art Ed Now Conference! Walk away with the ability to add this powerful tool to your classroom!

Matt and Craig have been teaching together for over 15 years. As co-workers and best friends, they have worked hard to make sure that their art program is a successful family that is at the cutting edge of creating lifelong learners in
the arts. They have taken the time to develop a curriculum that not only allows for student success at all levels, but provides a clear rigorous path to future career art makers.

Do you ever feel like you’re caught between teaching for creativity and teaching core art skills? It seems that if you skew one way the other suffers! But it doesn’t have to be this way!

Matt and Craig will show you how to create a curriculum that builds both skills and creative thinking. Learn how to utilize big ideas and personal connections to help your students create dynamic finished pieces. Walk away with the ability to help your students create work that is both personally satisfying and technically sound!

Don Masse teaches at Zamorano Fine Arts Academy, a public elementary school with a visual arts focus. He writes about his art room experiences on his blog, www.shinebritezamorano.com. He is a contributing editor for Arts & Activities magazine, where he shares ways to incorporate living artists into the elementary art curriculum.

We all know that students often connect more with contemporary artists than artists from the past. But coming up with dynamic lessons that feature such artists can be tricky. It’s a delicate balance to find work that is both appropriate and captivating.

Join Don as he shares a multitude of dynamic lessons that feature contemporary artists that you and your students will love. Learn how to employ strategic constraints to create lessons that stimulate your students’ imaginations and have them thinking like true innovators!

Debi West, Ed.S, NBCT has been teaching in Gwinnett County Georgia since 1993. She teaches students via the visual arts at North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, GA where she is the department chair of the visual art department, fine arts co-chair, NAHS co-sponsor and the owner of the Crystal Collage Children’s Art Studio. She is a huge advocate for art education and has worked extensively with the Georgia Art Education Association and the National Art Education Association.

Debi was just named the National 2017 Southeastern Secondary Art Educator of the Year, and has previously been recognized as the 2009 Georgia Art Educator of the Year and the 2005 national Elementary Art Educator of the Year. She earned her BA in studio art from the University of South Carolina, her teaching degree from the Moore College of Art and Design and her MAEd, Ed.S and her (almost) Ph.D from the University of Georgia. She is also a Nationally Board Certified Art Educator.

In this presentation, Debi will share how to use a creative bookmaking project to assess your students’ authentic learning. Perfect for the end of a grading term, this idea can be tailored to suit the needs of you and your students. Impress your administrators with your ability to keep every student fully engaged in the assessment of their own work!

Michael Bell is a renowned American artist, most famous for his
larger-than-life sized narrative series paintings and for his infamous
portrait clientele, which includes late Mob boss John Gotti, Al Capone’s
great nephew Dominic Capone and numerous actors from “the Sopranos,”
“Goodfellas,” “A Bronx Tale,” and more.

In the field of education, Bell has been a pioneer of the Visual Journaling
and #31nights movements across the nation for over a decade. Bell is a
National Board Certified Teacher, a former Maryland Public Schools Teacher of the Year, and a three-time National Teacher of the Year. His students have earned over $10 million in scholarships the past five years alone. Bell exhibits his paintings in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. In 2017, he will publish his memoirs, entitled “DUAL LIVES: From the Streets to the Studio.”

Getting students to make deep, meaningful artwork is no easy task. Join Michael for an amazing approach to help students tap into their authentic art-making voices. Learn how to guide your students through a series of innovative Visual Journaling prompts that will change the way they engage in the process of creating. Walk away inspired to explore with your students!

Dr. Sarah Ackermann is an international art educator currently living and thriving in Zurich, Switzerland. She has played an integral role in building a Makerspace and creative curriculum where she works at Zurich International School. Ackermann also serves as an adjunct professor for Eastern Illinois University, where she works virtually with art education graduate students. She also serves the University of Missouri-St. Louis learning community, working with education majors at all stages of their development.

Have you been curious about Makerspaces or wondering how to set up a Makerspace in your own school? Join Dr. Ackermann as she walks you through how to get started. Learn from her personal experience as she shares practical suggestions, helpful resources, and a sample timeline. Walk away with the confidence to develop a creative Makerspace and corresponding curriculum for you and your students!

Johanna Russell has been teaching since 2003 and is always seeking to improve her craft through non-traditional avenues of research, thought, and teaching practice. She believes the mental capacity for creativity and divergent thought will be essential for the futures of our students and that the best place for students to learn to think differently is in the art room.

Johanna has taught at every level, and has experience with flipped teaching, choice-based instruction, differentiated instruction, K-12 curriculum writing (including for the new art standards), standards-based grading and assessment.

You’ve heard the hype about choice-based classrooms. Perhaps you’ve even played around with a lesson or two. However, are you still wondering how this all actually works in an art room? Join Johanna as she walks you through her art room and explains how she has successfully implemented a choice-based curriculum. Learn how she’s developed structures and routines to use at various grade levels. Walk away with a clearer idea of how to offer students choice without feeling like you are losing control of your classroom or curriculum.

Lindsey Moss is an elementary art teacher in Yorkville, Illinois, where she has had her dream job for over a decade. She enjoys art history and finding creative and artistic solutions to educational challenges. She thinks that art class is THE place where students can learn to be creative problem solvers in a technology-saturated work world.

One of the biggest challenges in a traditional art room is providing engaging and meaningful activities for students who finish early. It can be especially difficult to continuously provide fresh material without too much planning. In this session, Lindsey will share everything you need to know to create a streamlined system that you can implement immediately!

John is an elementary art teacher in Sterling Heights, Michigan. He has taught art to kids at every level from Kindergarten through 12th grade since 1991. John hopes that by sharing how he uses clay with his students, more art teachers will venture beyond the basic pinch pot. When he is not teaching, John likes to work in his pottery studio in Sedona, Arizona.

One of the most important things you can do to make sure your classroom runs smoothly is to plan lessons that kids are intrinsically interested in doing. There are many ways to go about this, but some are better than others. For example, what if you said “yes” anytime one of your students had a great idea? What if you were a little more vulnerable and let students in on some of your silliest stories? What if you honored your own need to create and brought that passion into the classroom on a daily basis? Join John as he explains why these ideas will help you plan your best lessons ever and resolve your classroom management issues at the same time!