DTALcon 26 will be held at Green Run High School on Thursday, August 6, 2026. You can login to SCHED using your work Google Account ([email protected]). Once logged in, you can then select the sessions that you would like to attend. Registering for a session will hold your seat for that session. Waitlists are enabled, and you will be able to register for that session if a spot opens up.
To access the DTALcon 26 Google Site, click here - DTALcon 26.
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Move beyond surface-level questioning by integrating AVID’s "Marking the Text" with Costa’s Levels of Inquiry and Gemini AI. In this hands-on session, participants will learn to guide students through three stages of inquiry: gathering information, processing data, and applying knowledge "beyond the book." We will demonstrate how students can transform "Inquiry Sparks" into sophisticated prompts for Gemini, using AI to refine their thinking and generate content-specific questions. Attendees will leave with a practical toolkit of opening moves and reflection strategies to elevate critical thinking in any secondary classroom.
Is AI a shortcut or a scaffold? The difference lies in the intentional design of Level 1 AI-Assisted Assignments. This 40-minute, example-based session is designed for educators looking for a safe and effective entry point into AI-enhanced instruction. Participants will explore how to introduce AI in a way that prioritizes independent thinking, the Human-First workflow, while using AI as a strategic partner. After a comparison of AI platforms, we will deconstruct successful classroom examples for Level 1 integration, where participants will tackle the essential logistics of AI integration so that these models can be used within their own content areas. Resources for prompt engineering, scaffolding AI use, critical evaluation, and standardizing disclosure will be provided as well as considerations for classroom obstacles.
Instructional Technology Specialist, Virginia Beach City Public Schools
I am an Instructional Technology Specialist at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach. I have a B.A. in English from William and Mary, and I taught English and Journalism at Kemspville High School for nine years. I have my M. S. in Secondary Education with a focus in Instructional... Read More →
How can we make computer science feel like a natural extension of core content rather than an "extra" task? This interactive session introduces educators to the Micro:Bit, a pocket-sized, programmable computer designed to make coding tangible and accessible. Participants will move beyond isolated coding by engaging in a content connected activity. You will build and transfer block-based programs mastering fundamental CS concepts like algorithms, inputs and outputs. Educators will leave with a solution-oriented framework to collaborate with instructional technology specialists, utilize your school’s class set of Micro:Bits, and bring curriculum standards to life through student-centered exploration.
Instructional Technology Specialist, Virginia Beach City Public Schools
I am an Instructional Technology Specialist in Virginia Beach, VA and a former math educator. I am passionate about engaging students in learning through student-created products.
Thursday August 6, 2026 12:45pm - 2:15pm EDT Room 212
This session equips general education teachers and classroom staff across grade levels with practical strategies for embedding core vocabulary boards into daily instruction to support communication, engagement, and access for all learners. Participants will learn how to model core vocabulary across routines and academic activities (including literacy and classroom discourse), helping students who use AAC actively participate alongside peers. Aligned with goals for inclusive, future-ready learners, this session emphasizes simple, sustainable practices that build communication, independence, and meaningful classroom interaction without requiring specialized expertise.
