--- title: "Conference Circuit: Hands-on Experiences With Professional Development" id: "26389" type: "post" slug: "conference-circuit-hands-on-experiences-with-professional-development" published_at: "2014-12-04T22:30:59+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T18:22:09+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/12/04/conference-circuit-hands-on-experiences-with-professional-development/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/12/04/conference-circuit-hands-on-experiences-with-professional-development.md" excerpt: "A conference centered around learning features a variety of tech-focused programming for furthering professional development. Plus: A risk analysis association aims to tackle major environmental, public health issues." taxonomy_category: - "Learning" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "collaborative learning" - "Meetings" - "Professional Development" - "Technology" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Conference Circuit: Hands-on Experiences With Professional Development Attendees will be challenged to expand their understanding of professional development education at the [annual conference of Learning Forward (opens in a new tab)](http://learningforward.org/) , December 6-10 in Nashville. The event will offer a mix of new, creative programming that emphasizes collaboration and technological innovation in professional development. In the spirit of cooperative learning, the [Redesign Challenge (opens in a new tab)](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/119356P2_33HvFCqpcvp2goJTsoW_WIOg5PvzNaCyynI/viewform?c=0&w=1) will bring teachers, instructional coaches, and district leaders together for a new crowdsourcing initiative. Attendees will learn more about a new online community that will launch a series of collaborative challenges over the next year. The project’s most popular ideas will then be tested in select schools. Another special session, the [PD Redesign Toolkit (opens in a new tab)](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15V1OHk77_HL9FWJs7MDB_91Hre7SOw6PAmH9Fxg-S0M/viewform?c=0&w=1) , supported by the [Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (opens in a new tab)](http://www.gatesfoundation.org/) , will help attendees evaluate the best tools and protocols for improving professional development. Attendees will also get to see the latest in professional development tech up close. Education technology company [edSurge (opens in a new tab)](https://www.edsurge.com/) will host a [Cocktail Hour Conversation (opens in a new tab)](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1xbCgRJ1ZzYmSqCpBqAPjhaf0rMxaoq_Ns7SNMQ92bzc/viewform) to help attendees find the right products and choose the appropriate technology to support professional development in their school districts. Keeping with the interactive approach, those attending the [Learning Hangout (opens in a new tab)](http://www.learningforwardconference.org/annual/searchResults.cfm?type=sessiontype&typeid=10) are invited to “bring an open mind and your mobile device” to a series of short hands-on sessions to experience new digital tools, such as [mobile apps for kindergarteners (opens in a new tab)](http://www.learningforwardconference.org/annual/viewSessionDetails.cfm?PID=4797) and a [K-12 social learning network (opens in a new tab)](http://www.learningforwardconference.org/annual/viewSessionDetails.cfm?PID=4792) . ### The Week Ahead **December 6-10:** The [60th Annual Convention & Trade Show (opens in a new tab)](http://www.aaep.org/info/annual-convention-318) of the [American Association of Equine Practitioners (opens in a new tab)](http://www.aaep.org/index.php) will feature information about virtually every aspect of equine care and management at this Salt Lake City event. The convention aims to balance sessions in horse health and wellness with the business side of the equine industry. **December 7-10:** The [Society for Risk Analysis (opens in a new tab)](http://www.sra.org/) will open the floor to a wide array of opinions at its annual meeting, with the theme [The Common Denominator (opens in a new tab)](http://www.sra.org/events/sra-2014-annual-meeting) . The Denver event will provide an open forum on risks posed to human health, the environment, human activities, and more. ### Down the Line **December 14-16:** [The Association for Jewish Studies (opens in a new tab)](http://www.ajsnet.org/index.htm) ’ 46th [annual conference (opens in a new tab)](http://convention2.allacademic.com/one/ajs/ajs14/index.php?cmd=Online+Program+Load+Focus&program_focus=program_calendar&PHPSESSID=0i899nhhkibda4tj9grsoudj00) in Baltimore will look back through centuries of Jewish history while exploring issues currently facing the Jewish community. Discussions will range from [Power and Knowledge in the Seventeenth-Century Portuguese Rabbinate (opens in a new tab)](http://convention2.allacademic.com/one/ajs/ajs14/index.php?cmd=Online+Program+View+Event&selected_box_id=176758&PHPSESSID=0i899nhhkibda4tj9grsoudj00) to [Contemporary Artists Exploring Women in Tanach and Talmud (opens in a new tab)](http://convention2.allacademic.com/one/ajs/ajs14/index.php?cmd=Online+Program+View+Event&selected_box_id=176149&PHPSESSID=0i899nhhkibda4tj9grsoudj00) . (Fuse/ThinkStock) [Julia Haskins](https://associationsnow.com/author/julia-haskins/) Julia Haskins is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/julia-haskins/) Tags: [#collaborative learning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/collaborative-learning/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) [#Professional Development](https://associationsnow.com/tag/professional-development/) [#Technology](https://associationsnow.com/tag/technology/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoLakisha Woods, CAE Shares Her Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/lakisha-woods-cae-shares-her-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [VideoAmerican College of Emergency Physicians: ACEP Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation ProgramSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/american-college-of-emergency-physicians-acep-geriatric-emergency-department-accreditation-program/) - [VideoDJ Johnson Shares His Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/dj-johnson-shares-his-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2014%2F12%2F04%2Fconference-circuit-hands-on-experiences-with-professional-development%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !