Another great day at ISTE 2012. Yong Zhao started the day with an inspiring Keynote. We have to stop using testing to measure how we're doing! The things that matter like, Confidence, and Creativity, WE ARE THE BEST OR NEAR THE TOP! The "successful" countries don't view themselves as successful. They want to be more like us! Why won't anyone listen?
I really loved the session on "In School we tweet", what a great plan to connect students to the dynamic professionals on Twitter. Global Connections through twitter are VASTLY more important than the unreasonable fears of social media.
I have been visiting many sessions on the Flipped Classroom. I'm still not convinced it is the BEST platform for teaching kids. I have not heard any "drop dead" explanations why I HAVE to do do this. It really is the BUZZ word right now, but it doesn't seem to change instruction the way I am thinking we need to. All it does is change the timing, not the content. I will keep looking and have a couple more sessions to visit to explore this new way of educating our students.
Besides the fantastic keynote, I am getting more out of informal discussions with my colleagues and other attendees at the conference. i am really getting some great resources. Today I was opened to the world of publishing my own online NEWSPAPER with paper.li This resource has some great potential. I also have been exploring videos on SOPHIA. KAHN gets all the press but these FREE videos are as good if not better.
I also got started on MY BIG CAMPUS tonight and am learning about it and Google APPs. I think both of these have soem great potential for the upcoming school year.
LAST DAY TOMORROW. I am looking forward to getting home and I am looking forward to implementing some of the new ideas!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
ISTE Day #2
Day #2 didn't disappoint.
I started out the day with a great presentation about FLIPPED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. That set the tone for the entire day. This wonderful presentation really got the wheels turning about my new Tech Coaching position. Up til now, I haven't had any REAL plan to attack this new position. Now a plan is coming together, at least in my mind. I've been thinking about a Flipped Classroom for my students, but when Kristin Daniels and Wayne Feller presented the concept in terms of PD, a light went off in my head. What's good for our students should be good for our staff! They presented 4 strands for professional development: Collaboration, Communication, Creative Media, and Presentation.
Check out their website at www.flippedpd.org , Wayne also gave us a great resource, FREE. (I'm all about free stuff) He has a book about flipped learning. It's available on IBooks. (Bit.ly/itunesflippedbook) "The Stillwater experience."
I also made some great connections with Global Scholar about Pinnacle Gradebook. Dr. Marzano recommends this software for TRULY powerful standards based PERSONALIZED assessments. It really looks like this software is what I am looking for.
I had the great opportunity to get to see our new Hitachi Interactive Whiteboard technology. WOW! I can't wait to start "Playing" with them. GKB is very fortunate to have these as a part of our new High School! I met Pam Johnson from Hitachi. She will be our IWB trainer in August. OUr staff will be truly amazed at this wonderful resource.
Google Apps, Web 2.0 tools for Math Classes, networking with other Tech Coaches, and a great dinner with my GKB Colleagues rounded out a great day!
Can we keep it rolling with a great Day #3?
I started out the day with a great presentation about FLIPPED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. That set the tone for the entire day. This wonderful presentation really got the wheels turning about my new Tech Coaching position. Up til now, I haven't had any REAL plan to attack this new position. Now a plan is coming together, at least in my mind. I've been thinking about a Flipped Classroom for my students, but when Kristin Daniels and Wayne Feller presented the concept in terms of PD, a light went off in my head. What's good for our students should be good for our staff! They presented 4 strands for professional development: Collaboration, Communication, Creative Media, and Presentation.
Check out their website at www.flippedpd.org , Wayne also gave us a great resource, FREE. (I'm all about free stuff) He has a book about flipped learning. It's available on IBooks. (Bit.ly/itunesflippedbook) "The Stillwater experience."
I also made some great connections with Global Scholar about Pinnacle Gradebook. Dr. Marzano recommends this software for TRULY powerful standards based PERSONALIZED assessments. It really looks like this software is what I am looking for.
I had the great opportunity to get to see our new Hitachi Interactive Whiteboard technology. WOW! I can't wait to start "Playing" with them. GKB is very fortunate to have these as a part of our new High School! I met Pam Johnson from Hitachi. She will be our IWB trainer in August. OUr staff will be truly amazed at this wonderful resource.
Google Apps, Web 2.0 tools for Math Classes, networking with other Tech Coaches, and a great dinner with my GKB Colleagues rounded out a great day!
Can we keep it rolling with a great Day #3?
Monday, June 25, 2012
ISTE2012 -- Day 1
The first day is over and with a little bit of rest I'll be fired up for DAY #2. The highlight of the day was the Tweet Up. I felt like a little kid meeting some of the people I have followed on Twitter. I feel like those people have been a big part of my PD and I owe them for their guidance and advice. After the Tweetup, I spent most of the evening adding to those i am following. Twitter has been the best professional development tool of my 18 year education career. I have taken 36 hours of FORMAL Professional Development courses and Twitter beats that hands down. Being able to build a PLN that includes educators from Iraq, Australia, Norway and right here in the USA is a testament to the resources available to educators.
I am really getting excited about the possibility of an "Innovation Day" at GKB Schools. I talked about it today at breakfast with a group of fellow GKB staff members and was amazed to see Josh Stumpenhorst at the opening keynote speaking on that very topic. IF we can just do this ONE thing next year, I will feel successful. I believe if we just give kids a chance they will prove how responsible they can be leading their own learning. I also believe that teachers will begin to look at them differently if they see just what a student can do when given the freedom and tools to REALLY learn.
Thank You Sir Ken Robinson for your wit and wisdom tonight. Thank You ISTE for the NETS*C. This really helps define my role as Tech Coach at GHS. Thank You my fellow GKB educators for the great conversations over the last two days. We have an amazing staff focused on providing the best education for our kids.
Goal for tomorrow: continue to gather ideas and network with great educators focused on leading students to a better life, a life filled with learning!
I am really getting excited about the possibility of an "Innovation Day" at GKB Schools. I talked about it today at breakfast with a group of fellow GKB staff members and was amazed to see Josh Stumpenhorst at the opening keynote speaking on that very topic. IF we can just do this ONE thing next year, I will feel successful. I believe if we just give kids a chance they will prove how responsible they can be leading their own learning. I also believe that teachers will begin to look at them differently if they see just what a student can do when given the freedom and tools to REALLY learn.
Thank You Sir Ken Robinson for your wit and wisdom tonight. Thank You ISTE for the NETS*C. This really helps define my role as Tech Coach at GHS. Thank You my fellow GKB educators for the great conversations over the last two days. We have an amazing staff focused on providing the best education for our kids.
Goal for tomorrow: continue to gather ideas and network with great educators focused on leading students to a better life, a life filled with learning!
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