Squeakfest USA

For the 6th Annual Squeakfest, we're coming home to Los Angeles, the birthplace of Squeak Etoys. Created by Viewpoint Research Institute in nearby Glendale, Etoys is now used throughout the world.

The theme for this year's conference will be "Etoys in the classroom." We'll show how teachers are using Etoys to teach their full curriculum. Whether language arts, math, science, or social studies, Etoys helps teachers demonstrate abstract ideas easily.

Etoys is a media-rich authoring environment that encourages deep learning through experimentation.

Children use Etoys to make their own models, stories, and games, which keeps them engaged because it's a lot of fun. But Etoys isn't just child's play. Etoys makes abstractions more palpable, allowing children to visualize and explore new ideas.

Our first session on August 10th will be a hands-on workshop for teachers new to Etoys. Teachers will receive their own "Etoys To Go" USB drive, along with printed Etoys training materials.

To showcase classroom use, we'll then start a three-day workshop with local children. Teachers will be able to sit and work with the students, learning both Etoys and how to teach with it.

As in past Squeakfests, we've invited people from around the world to give presentations, allowing attendees to sample the breadth of Etoys use.

We're also very pleased to have Alan Kay as our keynote speaker. If you've seen Alan speak, you already know what a treat this will be.

Aside from the workshops and presentations, the real magic of Etoys happens face to face. Whether talking at dinner or brainstorming in a group, it's the Etoys community that shines brightest. Nowhere is the more apparent than each year at Squeakfest.