• The commitment of North Canton City Schools to meld technology with curriculum has captured the attention of educators as well as those who create the technology.

    It could be said that the first step in the melding process was providing, without charge, Chromebooks to third graders at Orchard Hill and Greentown Elementary Schools in 2013.

    A short year later, the district is hosting and partnering with the regional Chromebook Institute Great Lakes and Google Leadership Symposium Oct. 24-16 in North Canton.

    The Chromebook Institute is a two-day intensive conference that focuses on developing the capacity of school districts to utilize the tools of the Google ecosystem to support student learning.

    “The CBI strategically partners with host schools that are embracing big ideas and utilizing the Google ecosystem to transform the educational experience for students,” said co-founding partner Ryan Bretag.

    The two-day session focuses on individual and organizational growth, providing learning opportunities for all levels from inception to ongoing implementation of the Google ecosystem. The sessions consist of keynotes, smaller breakout groups, interactive workshops and informal networking and learning opportunities. More than 70 different sessions are offered.

    Investopedia defines “business ecosystems as a network involved in the delivery of a specific product or service through both competition and cooperation.”

    Jaime Cresap, a Global Education Evangelist at Google, will lead the workshop. Cresap works worldwide with educational organizations, helping them to continuously improve the quality of education by utilizing technology. He is a member of the Google for Education Team, among many other organizations.

    The CBI experience is built for individuals and teams, including teachers, librarians, administrators, technology directors, school board members and other school staff.

    The standard registration fee is $299 ($259 early bird) and includes breakfast and lunch both days. Group discounts are available. To register, visit http://www.northcantonschools.org/home/news/cbi.

    “The Google Ecosystem is unparalleled in its capacity to support our vision of collaboration and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to host this event,” North Canton School Superintendent Michael Hartenstein said.