PETE&C Summits

PETE&C is taking the Summits to Kalahari!

An attendee favorite and can't-miss part of the PETE&C experience, the Summits are topic-driven, half-day events running Sunday through Tuesday. The Summit Keynotes and Sessions will be located in the back hallway of the African Rooms. Designed for deep dives into the most timely and applicable topics in educational technology, the Summits offer a unique and exclusive opportunity to engage with thought leaders, collaborate with peers, and walk away with actionable strategies for immediate implementation. Be sure to add one (or more!) to your conference schedule, and don't miss the Summit Posters in the African Atrium. They were new last year and brought a lot engagement and great conversation to the space!

2027 Summit Schedule
CTO Summit
PM Sunday, Feb 7
In an increasingly connected world, protecting data, systems, and digital identities is essential for the future of education. The CTO Summit is designed for forward-thinking school district IT leaders and administrators who want to build awareness, strengthen practices, and foster a proactive digital culture across K–12 environments.
The summit goes beyond technical fixes, focusing heavily on collaborative leadership and bridging the gap between IT departments, superintendents, and instructional leaders to drive district-wide success.

Game-Based Learning Summit
AM Monday, Feb 8
Move beyond points and prizes to explore the deeper power of game-based learning as a vehicle for problem-solving, creativity, and student agency. This summit emphasizes the use of design thinking and game design principles to create immersive learning experiences where students actively construct knowledge through challenge, iteration, and storytelling. Sessions should highlight how educators can design or facilitate meaningful game-based environments that promote critical thinking, collaboration, and authentic engagement across content areas.

Online Learning Summit
PM Monday, Feb 8
As online and hybrid learning continue to evolve, this summit focuses on high-quality, student-centered virtual instruction that drives engagement, accessibility, and achievement. Building on the success of previous years, sessions will explore best practices in course design, instructional strategies, learner support, and the effective use of digital tools and platforms. Sessions will share scalable models, innovative approaches, and practical strategies that enhance teaching and learning in fully online and blended environments.

Student-Centered Learning Summit
AM Tuesday, Feb 9
Empower learners by shifting from compliance-driven instruction to student-driven experiences rooted in voice, choice, and agency. This summit highlights frameworks, tools, and real-world examples aligned to student-centered learning, including personalized learning, competency-based education, and authentic assessment. Sessions will support educators and leaders in designing systems and classroom practices that elevate student ownership, deepen engagement, and align with PL frameworks and/or Pennsylvania’s Student-Centered Learning (PASCL) Blueprint.

Learning Lab Summit
PM Tuesday, Feb 9
Step into a hands-on, immersive environment where learning is active, applied, and built through doing. The Learning Lab Summit focuses on STEM, STEELS standards, and maker-centered education that integrates design, engineering, and inquiry-based learning. Sessions will provide interactive experiences that model how educators can create dynamic learning environments—whether through makerspaces, project-based learning, or real-world problem-solving—that foster creativity, innovation, and career-connected skills.

Summit Details:

• All Summits will take place in the back hallway of the African Rooms.
• There will be a keynote and 2 timeslots with 4 sessions during each.
• Register at the main Attendee Registration Desk in front of the Kilimanjaro Ballroom (Exhibit Hall). Once you're checked in, you will have access to the Summits.
• Each Summit will kick-off with its own half hour Keynote in the African Rooms.
• During each Summit, there will be no competing sessions of the same topic overlapping throughout the rest of the Program.
• Summit sessions will NOT be recorded, so make sure you attend the Summit(s) that apply to you!