NETA 2026: Full Schedule

The NETA Board is excited to welcome you to a dynamic learning experience on April 30-May 1,2026, at the Younes Conference Center North in Kearney, Nebraska.

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11:15am CDT

uBEATS 3.0: Reimagining STEM for the TikTok Generation

Thursday April 30, 2026 11:15am - 12:00pm CDT

Silver 11

Discover uBEATS—"UNO & UNMC Building Excellence in Academics Through STEM"—a free, online resource created by education and STEM experts at the University of Nebraska Omaha and UNMC. With multimedia-rich, bite-sized modules for grades 6–12, uBEATS supplements science curricula and supports tech-savvy, student-centered learning.

Check out our website!
unmc.edu/ubeats

Speakers

Tim Krayer

E-Learning Multimedia Technologist, UNMC Office of E-Learning

I’m an E‑Learning Multimedia Technologist and former classroom teacher who designs interactive, student‑friendly digital learning experiences at UNMC. My work focuses on developing uBEATS (unmc.edu/ubeats) science modules for students in grades 6–12, using animation, multimedia... Read More →

Sarah Shaffer

uBEATS NETA 26 pptx

Thursday April 30, 2026 11:15am - 12:00pm CDT
Silver 11

Concurrent Session

Company Teaching & Learning, Tech Integration Specialist
Audience Middle Grades (6th-8th), Multimedia, Secondary (9th-12th), STEM / STEAM
Subject Secondary
Area Novice

1:00pm CDT

Animating Learning: Stop Motion Projects in Canva

Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Silver 11

Bring creativity to life—frame by frame! In this interactive session, explore how students can use Canva to demonstrate their learning through stop motion projects. We’ll look at real student projects, unpack how to launch your own, and explore free tutorials that simplify the tech skills. You’ll leave this session not only inspired but also having created your own stop motion masterpiece—ready to bring motion to your classroom!

Session Slideshow and Resources

Speakers

Erica Walsh

Technology Integration Specialist, Gretna Public Schools

Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Silver 11

Concurrent Session

Company Teaching & Learning
Audience Assessment, Canva, Creation/Design Tools
Subject Elementary, Middle, Secondary
Area Novice

2:45pm CDT

Building Secure, Reliable AI-Ready Networks for Lean IT Teams

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:45pm - 3:30pm CDT

Silver 11

Today’s K-12 networks must support AI-driven learning and Zero Trust security without demanding an army of engineers. Join Arista Networks to see how Nebraska districts leverage industry-low CVEs and "hitless" upgrades to eliminate downtime and weekend maintenance. We’ll dive into how cloud-native NAC (AGNI) simplifies student onboarding and why a single-OS approach allows a small IT team to manage a district of 20,000+ students. The future of K-12 is invisible networking.

Sponsors

Kathy Higgins, Arista Networks

Bronze Level Sponsorship, Arista Networks

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:45pm - 3:30pm CDT
Silver 11

Exhibitor Session

Company Arista
Audience Information Technology (IT)
Area Intermediate, All

3:45pm CDT

Standards + Creative Tasks = Future-Ready

Thursday April 30, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm CDT

Silver 11

Project work doesn't have to require excessive time investments and extensive training. A simple shift in framing a task helps students go beyond a rote response to standards and learning goals to deep thinking and digital age communication.

Come explore and play with creative tasks like story adaptations, associative letter projects, wanted posters, fictitious interviews and more.
https://www.thecreativeeducator.com/2025/articles/creative-thinking-tasks

Speakers

Melinda Kolk

Editor, Creative Educator magazine

Melinda is the Editor of Creative Educator magazine. For the past 25 years, Melinda has led workshops at schools around the world and presentations at education conferences, such as CUE, ASCD and ISTE, on the topics of creativity, project-based learning, and open-ended technologies... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm CDT
Silver 11

Concurrent Session

Company Elementary, Tech Integration Specialist
Audience Creation/Design Tools, Intermediate Elementary (3rd-5th), Multimedia, Primary Elementary (Pre K-2nd)
Subject All Levels
Area Intermediate

NETA 2026

11:15am CDT

Tim Krayer

Sarah Shaffer

1:00pm CDT

Erica Walsh

2:45pm CDT

Kathy Higgins, Arista Networks

3:45pm CDT

Melinda Kolk

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