2021 Montana Traffic Education Conference
Building the Thinking Driver
April 25-27, 2021
Heritage Inn, Great Falls, Montana
Heritage Inn, Great Falls, Montana
Photo credit: Heritage Inn, Great Falls. Click on photo to visit website.
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The annual spring Montana Traffic Education Conference--jointly sponsored by the Montana Traffic Education Association (MTEA) and the Office of Public Instruction--is open to traffic education teachers, traffic safety professionals, and anyone interested in traffic education and teen driver safety. Please pre-register by April 15, 2021! Walk-ins will not be allowed this year due to Cascade County Health Department regulations. |
Keynote Speakers Coming to the 2021 Spring Conference
Will M. Dunn is a math teacher at Tonganoxie High School in Lawrence, Kansas. He is in an avid reader of modern mathematical education research and seeks to be an early-adopter of progressive techniques. Current methods being studied through implementation include: standards-based grading, the “Thinking Classroom” instructional framework, and various inquiry-based lesson designs. He will give a presentation on Creating a Thinking Classroom.
Dr. Griff Jones returns to Montana to share some new active learning resources related to the Science of Car Crashes, including a new educational website for grades 5-12 called IIHS in the Classroom. Dr. Jones was engaging and entertaining at the 2013 Spring Conference in Great Falls. He is looking forward to introducing some new lessons and research to Montana's traffic educators!
Dr. Griff Jones is an emeritus clinical associate professor of science education in the College of Education at the University of Florida. While a professor at the University of Florida, Dr. Jones held joint appointments as a Faculty Fellow with UF’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and as an Affiliate Faculty member for the College of Engineering’s Transportation Institute.
He specializes in designing effective inquiry-based, interdisciplinary K-12 science programs. He has authored several highly successful and nationally-disseminated inquiry-based science textbooks, curriculum guides, and online-course materials.
His most well-known collaboration has been with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (an independent, nonprofit, scientific and educational organization). As part of his work with this organization, Dr. Jones developed multiple award-winning educational films and an innovative website focusing on the practical, and potentially life-saving, application of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in car crashes.
Dr. Griff Jones is an emeritus clinical associate professor of science education in the College of Education at the University of Florida. While a professor at the University of Florida, Dr. Jones held joint appointments as a Faculty Fellow with UF’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and as an Affiliate Faculty member for the College of Engineering’s Transportation Institute.
He specializes in designing effective inquiry-based, interdisciplinary K-12 science programs. He has authored several highly successful and nationally-disseminated inquiry-based science textbooks, curriculum guides, and online-course materials.
His most well-known collaboration has been with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (an independent, nonprofit, scientific and educational organization). As part of his work with this organization, Dr. Jones developed multiple award-winning educational films and an innovative website focusing on the practical, and potentially life-saving, application of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in car crashes.
Plan Ahead for the Spring Conference
Teaching teens how to drive is a big part of what we do, but we also want to cultivate good judgment and get teens thinking about their decisions behind the wheel. The 2021 conference will focus on the “thinking classroom” and active learning, and much more.
Many of you know that our conference is a collaborative effort, made successful because of our many generous member volunteers. Here are some ways you can be involved and help support the 2020 spring conference:
Many of you know that our conference is a collaborative effort, made successful because of our many generous member volunteers. Here are some ways you can be involved and help support the 2020 spring conference:
- Plan to attend! The costs of attending the conference are considered to be an allowable traffic education program expense for professional development under OPI guidelines. The fee is $205 and includes a one-year MTEA membership.
- We need items for door prizes and the Silent Auction! Start gathering or soliciting donations for door prizes and silent auction items now, so you’re ready to bring them to the conference in April.
- Have you retired or have plans to retire from teaching soon? Have you been an active MTEA member? If so, we want to honor you at the next spring conference! Download the Service Recognition/Retirement Award form and mail to Jim Carroll before March 1, 2021.
- Nominate a colleague (or yourself) to be the 2021 Outstanding Traffic Educator of the Year! We are also seeking nominations for our 2020 Contributor of the Year.
- Nominate a local business, organization or individual to be MTEA's Contributor of the Year! This would be a person or company that has made a significant contribution to your traffic education program. Nomination forms are available for download and due by March 1, 2021.
Conference Logistics
- PRE-REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE STARTING IN MARCH 2021: All attendees must pre-register with MTEA. The registration fee is $205 and includes three meals. Walk-in registrations will not be allowed. Cancellation policy: Upon written notice of cancellation, $135 of the $205 registration is refundable. The registration form will be available in March.
- LODGING AT THE HERITAGE INN: The Heritage Inn is located at 1700 Fox Farm Road, Great Falls, MT. https://www.gfheritageinn.com/ In March, we will post details about the group rate and how to book your room.
- COLLEGE CREDIT OR RENEWAL UNITS: Register for one semester credit through MSU-N at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 25. The cost is $150. OPI will make available, at no additional cost, up to 15 renewal units which can only be used with your Montana educator license renewal. You may register for college credit OR renewal units, but NOT BOTH.
- SCHEDULE/AGENDA: Registration packets will be available beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 25. The first general session will begin at noon. The conference ends at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday April 27.
What attendees like about the Montana Traffic Education Conference:
- Love sharing ideas and the Lesson Slam.
- Really connected with other teachers.
- Excellent group of people.
- Always organized, informative and fun!
- I learned more about tires in five minutes than I’ve known in my lifetime.
- Certainly the best conference I've been to in 40 years of teaching.
- I always take a lot away from the conference and feel that it is a good value for my time.
- Teacher networking and presentations by colleagues.
- Nicely organized.
- Informative, interesting and useful.
- Ideas for hands-on activities.
- Keeping it simple and scheduling workshops so we didn't miss out on anything.
STAY INFORMED ABOUT THE MONTANA TRAFFIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE AND MTEA!
- Read about past conferences in the MTEA Newsletter
- Download past conference presentations and handouts.
- Like MTEA's Facebook page to be notified of conference registration and upcoming events.
