Welcome to URSA 2026 at Southern Utah University! All sessions will be in buildings on the upper campus (east end). Here’s the Campus Map (PDF) if needed.
WiFi: eduroam or SUU-Conference, password "summertimefun"
PLAN AHEAD - Tentative Future Conference Dates July 7-9, 2027 - Price, UT July 17-19, 2028 - Richfield, UT
The Dignity Index is an eight-point scale that can be used for both students and staff to learn how to disagree without being disagreeable. Classrooms are where students discuss ideas. And the discussions of ideas can and should lead to disagreement to create new ideas. For this process to work students must learn the skills of civil discussion, especially as the ideas in social studies or English classrooms become more complex and never have a single right answer. We will discuss the Dignity Index and how it meets both state and national standards while discussing the ideas of your content. During the discussion, we will both practice using the Index in the high school classroom as well as reflecting on its positive impacts for students and teachers outside your classroom.
Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Not Applicable
Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Any web enabled device
Teacher and Community Engagement Lead, Teacher Fellows, Providence Hall High School
Mr. Seabury believes a civically engaged teacher creates civically engaged students. His students learn not only the content of how our government works but are given opportunities in and outside of the classroom to meet with policy makers and practice the skills of civic engagem... Read More →
In the Snow College Integrating Technology into Education courses students study the concept of Gamification, the bringing of gaming principles into Education. As part of this lesson students have to prepare a lesson with a game and then teach it to the rest of the class. A common feedback from these students was to express just how much they needed the experience of playing a game to make them feel better in the middle of a busy semester. It is often discussed how Gamification can help students learn but it is also important to realize how the relief from playing a game can also have a positive impact.
In this presentation, we will talk about Gamification and how it can help students. We will then divide into groups and go through the process of teaching each other to play a board game, actually play it, then study a lesson plan that has been prepared for it. We will then reflect on how we might be able to use a game like that in our classes and how taking a moment to play a game made us feel. Through this experience, we hope to be able to use Gamification in a more purposeful manner.
Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Not Applicable
Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Not Applicable
Dr. David Rodríguez Sanfiorenzo has been an educator at different levels for 20 years. Currently, he serves as an Associate Professor of Education at Snow College where he enjoys the calm and beauty of rural Utah. He teaches Introduction to Education, Integrating Technology into... Read More →
In rural communities, educators often serve as the first line of support for students navigating relationships, emotional challenges, and mental health needs. Yet many of these challenges emerge long before adults feel students are “ready” to discuss them. This highly engaging, one-hour session explores how educators can proactively help students with relationship-centered examples and simple, practical emotional regulation strategies.
Guided by a Psychology Professor and a Junior in high school, the session introduces accessible, “on-the-go” emotional regulation tools that can be integrated seamlessly into everyday classroom moments. Grounded in basic neurobiology, educators, counselors, and administrators will gain insight into some of the reasons why students experience emotional disruptions and how to respond effectively in real time; how to teach about relationships, foster leadership, and promote positive social skills. Participants will explore how small, consistent interactions rather than large, formal lessons can have powerful impacts on student well-being.
Additionally, participants will learn about local resources, including emerging opportunities through Snow College and outreach efforts such as student assemblies focused on relationships, communication, and self-worth.
Educators will leave with simple, research-informed strategies they can implement immediately to strengthen student relationships, improve emotional resilience, and create more connected classroom environments.
Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Not Applicable
Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Mac Laptop, Windows Laptop
