Rhode Island educators will have an opportunity to learn about best practices in technology integration at a day-long conference on May 19, sponsored by the Higlander Institute in Providence. The theme, organizers say, will be "blended learning," the term of art in educational tech for the ideal mix of online and face-to-face instruction.

“Integrating technology with tried-and-true classroom instruction is not always intuitive or easy, but when it is done well it helps the teacher understand a student’s abilities at a whole new level," Shawn Rubin, director of technology integration at the Highlander Institute, said in a release.

On Wednesday, RIDE sent an e-mail to participants in February's Tech Innovation conference, calling the event an "opportunity to further explore and understand blended learning."

The conference web site offers a look at the sessions, which will include include Jennie Dougherty from edUPGRADE, a nonprofit that brings beta technology to teachers in exchange for feedback; Melissa Pickering, recent manager of Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach, and founder of iCreate to Educate; and Mohit Midha, cofounder and COO of Mangahigh, a test prep math teaching resource.

There will also be a hands-on area where teachers can “tinker, test and explore” applications and software on iPads, SMARTboards, and Android tablets, and sponsor displays from Broadband RI, Educreations, Engrade, K12, Learn Zillion, Lesson Writer, and Metryx.

Teachers can register for the event through the web site, and there is a $40 early-bird rate through May 7 (after that, rates go up to $60).

The conference was organized by the Highlander Institute, a nonprofit which designs and provides research-based, high quality educational services and professional development opportunities to educators.

Said Rubin, “At Highlander, we understand the integration of technology for some educators and schools will be a gradual process. But the trend is moving quickly. This conference offers a comfortable environment to learn about these tools, and jumpstart the process.”

Editorial note: Written substantially from a press release.