UPLAND – Close to 600 teachers and paraeducators from across Upland Unified School District convened at Upland High School on Jan. 27 for the District’s first-ever technology summit, a professional development event designed to strengthen instructional practices through innovative and effective classroom technology.

Themed “Taco ’Bout Technology,” the summit invited educators to “come for the tacos, leave with food for thought,” while engaging in new classroom technology exploration, collaborative problem-solving scenarios, and discussions focused on the evolving role of technology in education. Sessions explored where educational technology is headed and how it can be leveraged to transform student learning in creative and innovative ways.

The summit featured a student panel in which current high school students shared candid feedback about their experience growing up in a fully digital world where technology is constant, helpful, and sometimes overwhelming. They also shared how they use AI and emerging tools, what excites and concerns them, and what they want adults to understand about their experiences.

“Now, when using AI to cheat is so prevalent, it is imperative that educators emphasize the importance of education,” Upland High School freshman Amiyah Clay said.

The student panel made clear that students are thinking critically about how technology impacts their learning and are eager for guidance that helps them use digital tools responsibly.

“Our students are digital natives and are the ones most impacted by the technology we use in our classrooms, so their perspectives are essential to this conversation,” Casey Steinert, Educational Technology Teacher on Special Assignment, said. “Their feedback helps guide our decisions so we are investing in tools that truly enhance teaching and learning.”

The summit also featured hands-on practice with BenQ Boards, interactive electronic display boards that function as whiteboards, computers, and multimedia centers in a single device. The boards are designed to promote student engagement and collaboration through interactive lessons and shared digital workspaces.

The technology was piloted this year in approximately 75 classrooms across District schools and will be expanded to all classrooms over the next two years as part of the District’s broader instructional technology plan.

In addition, educators heard a keynote address from Katherine Goyette, Computer Science Coordinator for the California Department of Education, who spoke about the importance of preparing students with digital literacy and computational thinking skills needed for future careers.

“The summit represents Upland Unified’s continued commitment to providing meaningful professional learning opportunities that empower educators while keeping student voices at the center of decision-making,” Dr. Karen Goss, Director of Data, Assessment, and Educational Technology, said.

As Upland Unified continues to expand access to instructional technology and professional development, events such as “Taco ’Bout Technology” support the District’s ongoing efforts to strengthen classroom practices and technology integration. The event provided opportunities for collaboration, student input, and the use of instructional tools aimed at supporting teaching and learning across the District.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

UUSD_TechSummit1: Upland Unified’s first-ever technology summit for educators in the District featured a panel of high school students who shared their perspectives on classroom technology.

UUSD_TechSummit2: During Upland Unified’s “Taco Bout Technology” summit, teachers and paraeducators had the opportunity to engage in exploration of new interactive, multimedia display boards that will be implemented in all District classrooms over the next two years.