Upcoming Presentations
www.kmsdiscovery.com/oetc.html3D Design, Print, Inspire:
Boosting Spatial Reasoning and Creativity in the Classroom Feb 10, 2026, 8:00 – 10:00 AM What if closing STEM gaps and sparking creativity didn’t require more drills, but reimagining learning with design thinking and 3D design? This interactive workshop is for K–8 teachers, tech coaches, media specialists, and anyone seeking practical, inclusive ways to build spatial reasoning and creative confidence across the curriculum. Discover how tools like Makers Empire make 3D design accessible on Chromebooks, laptops, or tablets, with or without a 3D printer. A 3D printer will be onsite, allowing participants to walk through the full design-to-print process—from digital modeling to slicing, setting up the printer, and actually printing a model. Hands-on mini-challenges will guide you through design thinking, digital prototyping, and troubleshooting, all using workflows you can replicate with your own students. You’ll experience every step: “design → check → slice → print or share → reflect,” and practice using print-check rubrics, UDL-friendly strategies, and peer feedback that support all students—including multilingual learners and those with special needs. The session also highlights classroom routines, time-saving management tips, and project ideas for low-resource settings, along with strategies for integrating 3D design into math, science, ELA, and SEL. Evidence from current research and real classrooms will be shared, showing how 3D design builds spatial reasoning, creativity, and student motivation. Maker Spaces WOW! (without walls) -- Equitable STEAM on Any Device
Feb 11, 2026, 2:00 – 4:00 PM How do we reimagine makerspaces when space, budgets, and devices are limited? Maker SpacesWOW (Without Walls) invites educators to break down barriers and discover how purposeful technology use can bring STEAM learning to life on any device. This interactive session models how teachers can reboot hands-on learning by transforming everyday classrooms into virtual makerspaces that fuel creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. Participants will engage in a rapid design sprint using empathy, iteration, and feedback, experiencing low-floor/high-ceiling STEAM challenges that work seamlessly on Chromebooks, laptops, or tablets. Key platforms—Makers Empire, Qweebi, Microsoft MakeCode, and Tinkercad (Codeblocks, Sim Lab, Circuits)—will be used to show how students can design, build, and share ideas, even without printers or dedicated labs. You’ll shift from the learner lens to the teacher lens, exploring strategies for adapting makerspace projects to different grade levels, class periods, and subject areas—including integrations with math, science, ELA, and SEL. The workshop highlights Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and equity-centered practices for multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and under-resourced schools. Audience: K–8 teachers, media/library specialists, instructional coaches, administrators, tech directors. 
MakerSpaces Without Walls : Launching STEAM Access for Every Learner
March 19th 2026 10:00 -- 11:00 AM Location: Amway Room Atrium This session is hands-on and application-driven. Teachers explore and practice with a suite of accessible, high-impact virtual makerspace and coding platforms: Tinkercad Circuits and Codeblocks, MakeCode, SimLab, Qweebi, and Makers Empire. I focus on launching mini-challenges and design prompts that use these apps—no special hardware required—making it possible for every student to participate, even on Chromebooks or iPads. We focus on equity-minded strategies: quick documentation (journals, photos), easy UDL supports, and practical scaffolds for multilingual and special needs learners. Takeaways: Ready-to-run challenge prompts for each featured platform, a documentation toolkit, and clear classroom scaffolds for full participation. I’m excited to help teachers leave with ideas and tools they can use right away! Design Thinking Meets AI: Empowering Creativity and Student Voice Through Custom Chatbots & AI Agents
March 19, 2026 4:00 - 5:00pm Location: DeVos Room River Overlook B This session is platform-agnostic and uses a prompt framework that works with any district-approved AI tool. For example, we can use SchoolAI, Flint, MagicSchool, Gemini, or ChatGPT—whatever your district supports. I show teachers how to create a “Design Buddy” that guides students through the design thinking process (empathy → define → ideate → prototype → test) without providing the answers, so student ownership and reflection stay front and center. We cover launching engaging challenges, documenting process with journals or photos, and adapting for all learners, including multilingual learners and students with disabilities. Takeaways: Editable Design Buddy templates, a launch checklist, a mini-rubric for process and iteration, and prompt samples for any grade. 
Design, Print, Inspire: Using 3D Printing to Spark Innovation in Any Classroom
Makerspaces Without Walls
Makerspaces Without Walls: Reimagining STEAM for All Learners
Format: Poster Duration: 90 minutes Scheduled: Sunday, June 28, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 3D Design, Print, Inspire: Boosting Spatial Reasoning and Creativity in the Classroom.S
Format: Poster Duration: 90 minutes Scheduled: Tuesday, June 30, 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. STEAM Without Limits: Perspectives on Access and Innovation Format: Panel (Streamed & Recorded)
Schedule: Monday, June 29, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Confirmation Summary:
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Kimberly Smith CS & Design Thinking/STEAM teacher, Instructional Innovation Coach, Systems Admin Saint Raphael School Kim Smith has over 25 years of experience as a STEAM, Computer Science, and Design Thinking educator, specializing in integrating technology, CAD tools, 3D printing, and electronics to inspire creativity and problem-solving. As a Makers Empire Ambassador, Qweebi Ambassador, DIYA AI Research Ambassador, Canva Certified Educator, Magic School AI Pioneer, and Flint Innovator Educator, she is dedicated to advancing accessible and inclusive STEAM education. Kim is actively involved in the CSTA National Reflective Teacher Committee and serves on the CSTANJ Steering Committee, where she advocates for computer science and robotics in K–12 education. She is also a member of the Tinkercad Teacher Advisory Board, serves on the K–12 Offshore Wind Energy Project Advisory Panel, and is a KidWind Teacher Trainer. She is the founder of a STREAM Camp, which acts as paid professional development for teachers—offering a relaxed camp atmosphere where educators learn to integrate STEAM lessons through creativity, hands-on learning, and collaboration. Kim frequently presents at national and regional conferences—including ISTE, Vermont Fest, CSTA, and TCEA—leading workshops on STEAM integration, virtual makerspaces, and equitable access to emerging technologies. With extensive experience as a Technology Coordinator, Systems Administrator, and Professional Development Coach, Kim supports fellow educators in creating meaningful, student-centered learning environments that prepare all learners to thrive in an ever-evolving educational landscape. Linked IN | |NewsLetter | FaceBook
Maker's Empire Ambassador |Tinkercad by Autodesk Teacher Advisory Board | Qweebi STEM Teacher Advisor | Magic School Pioneer | DIYA Research Ambassador | CSTANJ Chapter Leader - Secretary | CSTA Reflective Teacher Committee Member of K-12 Offshore Wind Energy Education Project Advisory Panel 
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