VALDOSTA— While students were away for Winter Break, Lowndes High School hosted the LoCoTechnoExpo, an event for educators across Lowndes County to learn the best ways to use technology in the classroom.

Hosted by Lowndes County Schools Technology, the event featured over 100 teachers who shared their expertise on integrating technology into instruction and leadership. Teachers could attend classes based on their interests, including AI, video production, multimedia production, podcasting, and more.

Kayla Evans, an English Language Arts teacher at Lowndes Middle School, was among the many presenters. Her session, “The Magic of Images,” explored how AI tools like Magic School and Canva can enhance lessons and writing assignments.

“I think a lot of us are kind of scared of AI and how it’s utilized in a classroom, but if we teach our kids how to utilize it properly, it can really have positive effects,” said Evans.

Evans also emphasized the importance of collaboration among educators, adding, “We all work in different schools, we all work with different populations of kids, but there are things that each of us do in our classrooms every day that can benefit all of our students across the county.”

The event was organized in part by Lindsey Martin, director of technology for Lowndes County Schools, who discussed the need for education to evolve alongside technology. Martin highlighted the event’s significance as a valuable resource for teachers, with the ultimate aim of benefiting the students in the system.

“We want students to be innovators. We want students to be not just sitting at a computer but making things, working with their peers in a digital environment, and curating things—curating resources, curating ideas.”