WEMTA 2025 - Ignite and Inspire: Impacting Learning Together: Full Schedule

12:30pm CDT

Sparking Curiosity: Using Passive Programming to Engage Students in the Library Makerspace

Sunday March 9, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT

In this session, learn how to use the power of passive programming to engage students in your library's makerspace, even when you’re not actively leading a lesson. We’ll explore a variety of low-maintenance, self-directed activities that encourage students to explore, create, and innovate on their own. From hands-on activities to collaborative projects, these strategies allow students to engage at their own pace while fostering a dynamic, creative environment. Whether you’re working with limited resources or looking for ways to make your makerspace more accessible, this session will provide you with practical ideas and easy-to-implement activities to engage students in your library every day.

Speakers

Michele Green

Library Media Technology Specialist, School District of Greenwood

Sunday March 9, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT
BCC Collaborate C

Beginner, Middle School, High School

Company Library Space, Makerspace, Students as Creators

1:45pm CDT

Grow a Garden of Resources: Differentiating with AI

Sunday March 9, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT

BCC Collaborate C

Are you a teacher who needs to help students at different reading levels or those learning a new language? This session is for you! Come and learn how generative AI can help make learning materials easier for all your students. Just like how a gardener makes sure every plant gets the care it needs, you will discover tools that can change lessons, activities, and information into different forms, making sure each student gets what they need to learn and grow.

Speakers

Sarah Wendorf

Sunday March 9, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT
BCC Collaborate C

Beginner, Elementary, Middle School

Company Differentiation with AI

3:00pm CDT

Leadership Lessons I Wish I'd Learned in the Library

Sunday March 9, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

BCC Collaborate C

The school librarian should take a leadership role in their school, but many of the required leadership skills have to be learned the hard way through trial, error, and time. The presenter will share the interpersonal and intrapersonal lessons learned as a district leader--and why they are useful in a school library position. Don't wait until you've moved into a leadership role before grabbing these adaptive skills and perspectives! Join us to share your own helpful lessons learned with other attendees as well.

Speakers

Maegan Heindel

Library Services Coordinator, Madison Metropolitan School District

Maegan Heindel is a school librarian, teacher, author, and Library Services Coordinator in Madison Metropolitan School District in Madison, WI. In her 19 years as an educator, she has been an ALA Emerging Leader, Wisconsin Learning4Life Coordinator, AASL Affiliate Assembly member... Read More →

Sunday March 9, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
BCC Collaborate C

Beginner, Early childhood, Elementary, Middle School, High School, Higher Education

Company Collaborative Leadership

8:45am CDT

How to Mine Library Data and Influence People

Monday March 10, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am CDT

BCC Collaborate C

Decision-makers need data. Librarians, School and district administrators, and school board members all have opinions on what should be happening in the library and how library funding should be used. Opinions and feelings are not how you build a library program. We'll explore ways that I've collected and analyzed data to tell a data story that has helped decision-makers make positive change in my libraries and district.

Speakers

Josh Rageth

Bilingual Library Media Specialist, School District of Waukesha

This is my 13th year in education and my second year as a library media specialist. The old school ladies in cardigans might only say NOW that I can call myself a library media specialist as DPI just sent me my license. This is my first WEMTA conference, and I'm passionate about... Read More →

Monday March 10, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am CDT
BCC Collaborate C

Beginner, Early childhood, Elementary, Middle School, High School

Company Collaborative Leadership, Data & Privacy

1:00pm CDT

Brave Libraries

Monday March 10, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

BCC Collaborate C

Many of us believe our libraries are “safe” or perhaps “brave” spaces. But how do we make these spaces safe? Who feels safest? Are ground rules at odds with free speech? What happens when someone causes harm with their words or actions? Do safe spaces even exist?

Sarah Beth shares her research on brave spaces along with lessons learned from open mic shows and storytelling workshops. We will plan strategies for creating and holding brave library spaces such as: including participants in creating rules of engagement, setting participant expectations around being brave, articulating consequences of transgression, and following through on consequences. There isn’t one “right” way to create a brave space so workshop participants will use this time to consider which brave space practices will work best with their libraries.

Speakers

Sarah Beth Nelson

Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Sarah Beth Nelson is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Information Studies. Before becoming a professor, Sarah Beth worked in public and school libraries. In addition to researching oral information, she studies the American reality (true, personal... Read More →

Monday March 10, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
BCC Collaborate C

Beginner, Elementary, Middle School, High School, Higher Education

Company Collaborative Spaces, Culturally Responsive Instruction, Library Space

3:00pm CDT

The ABCs of Being an Elementary Librarian

Monday March 10, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

BCC Collaborate C

Are you an elementary librarian on a fixed schedule? Are you wondering how to understand the layers of your position? We have got you covered! Join us for the ABCs of being an elementary librarian. We will discuss all the things from A to Z, like budget, lesson plans, STEM, engaging readers, ordering, inventory, displays, collaboration ideas, book processing, utilizing volunteers, and so much more. You will be given an A to Z organizer to customize during the presentation for useful ideas you can take back to your own library!

Speakers

Tiffany Coopman

Jodie Kujawa

Monday March 10, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
BCC Collaborate C

Beginner, Early childhood, Elementary

Company Budget & Resources, Library Space, Literacy

9:30am CDT

Design Thinking in the 6-12 classroom

Tuesday March 11, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am CDT

BCC Collaborate C

Design Thinking is a model which can be embraced in person and online and allows for student choice and voice and depth of knowledge. Design thinking allows students to engage in effective research, and allows for differentiation in both product and assessment. This workshop is based on the IDEO model (empathize, define, ideate, create, test, and share), and will provide templates, examples, ideas, and best practices for how to use design thinking in your classroom in any subject area.

Speakers

Jennifer Casa-Todd

Tuesday March 11, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am CDT
BCC Collaborate C

10:45am CDT

Challenge Ready: PD, Policy, and Legal Preparation

Tuesday March 11, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am CDT

BCC Collaborate C

With censorship attempts cresting at record levels, library teams maintain cohesion and communication through careful navigation and in depth understanding of relevant policy and law. In this session, participants will learn about strategies for preparing themselves and their school communities to address challenges. From updating and communicating policies to using case studies to discuss the legal aspects of parent requests and School Board involvement in collection development, attendees will have the opportunity to think deeply about the necessary steps to tailor a team-centered challenge preparedness action plan to meet the needs of their library and community.

Speakers

Maegan Heindel

Library Services Coordinator, Madison Metropolitan School District

Val Edwards

Dr. Tomas Lipinski

Dean and Professor, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee

I have worn many hats: lawyer, librarian, library school educator, now Dean of an iSchool where I still teach and write on legal issue affecting libraries and technology across society including copyright, licensing, Free Speech and privacy. Forthcoming e-books from ALA Editions... Read More →

Tuesday March 11, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
BCC Collaborate C

Intermediate, Early childhood, Elementary, Middle School, High School, Higher Education

Company Advocacy, Collaborative Leadership, Intellectual Freedom