Google Domination at #METC15

I look forward to the Midwest Educational Technology Community Conference (METC) for approximately 362 days each year; give me a day to recover from it and I'm counting down to the next one.



My time at METC this year ended up overwhelmingly Google-influenced. Yes, I chose to attend a few sessions that had Google in the title. But even if the session wasn't declared to be all about Google, there was some kind of Google influence. Maybe the fact that Jaime Casap (@jcasap), Global Education Evangelist at Google, Inc., was a keynote speaker had something to do with it, I don't know. Check out his address here - well worth a watch! He was full of insights, an engaging speaker, and really delved into the nitty gritty of the past and future of education and technology. Some favorite nuggets:

This generation of students doesn’t think who can I work for? They think who can I work with to have an impact. @jcasap #metc15
— Steven W. Anderson (@web20classroom) February 11, 2015

We used to have to call the Internet. And the Internet was busy. #METC15

— Stacey Kenney (@stacey_kenney) February 11, 2015

"Education isn't broken... The world it was set up for just doesn't exist anymore" @jcasap #metc15

— Michelle Fank (@mfankopedia) February 11, 2015

#Technology is not the silver bullet. #Education is the silver bullet for lasting change - @jcasap #METC15 pic.twitter.com/Rv0qJPkfGS

— Drew McAllister (@drewmca) February 11, 2015

The devices kids are using today are the worst devices they will ever use in their lives. #metc15 pic.twitter.com/X9nXdQbGJ1

— Dr. Justin Tarte (@justintarte) February 11, 2015

I'll be devoting a few future blog posts to more detailed explorations of favorite tools, tricks, and concepts from the various presentations. And any resources from sessions are available on the METC website for anyone to view, so take a look! But in the meantime, a rundown of JUST the Google topics/tools I loved would be...

• Using "replace with" codes for adding quick comments (so simple!)
• Lab-scheduler add-on for Sheets
• g(Math) add-on for forms
• Using Drawings within Docs to format a template
• Changing the word "edit" to "copy" at the end of your sharing URL to force students to make a copy of a shared file
• Adding attachments (collaborative docs?) to events in calendar
• Research tool
• Using Google forms for a plethora of formative assessment: exit slips, 3-2-1, performance rubrics, quick writes, etc.
• Google Drive Template Gallery for school-wide document templates
• Doctopus and Goobric (mind blown!)
• Saving Forms to a tablet or smartphone home screen for quick, on-the-go access to save classroom observations, to-do lists, etc.

I'll add some links above as I find them. And I'm excited to share more details about the above tools and tricks. 

For now, I'll just leave you with this...

Social Media: What Teens Can Teach Us

The first thing I did when I opened by computer today was read "tweets" from sophomores in the Honors World Literature class here at CJ. They were tasked with summarizing sections of Oedipus Rex in 140 characters or less and to share them in a forum on their Moodle page. I had helped the teacher design the assignment earlier in the week, suggesting a discussion forum on Moodle as a venue for students to share/turn in their Tweets. 

Though the students mostly ended up paraphrasing instead of summarizing, the result of the assignment was a "feed" of "tweets" that both captured the essence of the play's drama (they were working with the end of the play - secrets revealed, eyes gouged out, etc.) and displayed a witty use of that simple symbol that has taken over social media - the hashtag. I had to share a few of them here:

The teacher who gave this assignment was pleased with the results and is considering make it a regular task in the class - good practice with an essential skill and a little bit of fun make for a good assignment in my eyes. That the students embraced this assignment and got creative with these hashtags signifies a victory - and I'm pretty sure the teacher (not on Twitter or Facebook... or any social media, if I recall correctly) learned something about Twitter and hashtags via this simple assignment.

************

A bit later, another colleague stopped by my desk to share a blog post with me... and it was very enlightening. I'm sure it has made its way around social media already, since it is all about social media, but I'd still like to share it here. And wow, did it make me feel old and out of it...

The author, Andrew Watts (@thatswattsup), gives an overview of what he has observed about social media from the perspective of teens - and between his initial article and a follow-up post, he covers all the big ones.

I hadn't heard of many of the apps and platforms he explains, and many of them just don't seem relevant to me at this stage in my life. But as an educator working with teens and technology, it's good information to have.

Time to go exploring...

Thanks, Kathy Schrock! I want to use PowToon now!

The ALS ice bucket challenge has been blowing up my personal Facebook newsfeed. I've seen quite a few fun videos, including ones from coworkers. I've escaped being called out... so far.

Scrolling through my Twitter feed (@mfankopedia) tonight, I came across the following tweet:

My "virtual" ice bucket challenge response! http://t.co/g5CWiRRvkR #icebucketchallenge
— Kathy Schrock (@kathyschrock) August 21, 2014

Watch her video. It's awesome. I love the hand sliding things in and out of the frame.

I had never seen PowToon before. Excited to show it to teachers and make my own PowToons. Just logged in using my Google+ account, which makes it easy (you can also use LinkedIn or Facebook, or create a separate log on). Once in, I can choose from ready-made PowToons or start from scratch; dynamic presentations (slides?) are coming soon. Excited for the beginning of the school year chaos to calm down so I can explore.

For now I await what I assume to be the inevitable ALS ice bucket challenge...

Edcamp Excitement

Just a quick post about my experience today at my first unconference, ConnectED Leaders sponsored by ConnectED Learning. It was a short, half-day conference, which was actually the perfect length for me today (middle of the summer). Three sessions at 45 minutes each were enough to get into some interesting conversations, share some of my own insights and projects, pick up some ideas, and leave energized for my summer projects and next school year.

The unconference layout had me a little nervous. I felt like I should put something up on the board, but two things held me back. One, my brain just wasn't working - I couldn't come up with anything to discuss. Sad, I know. Two, there were already great session topics up and I didn't want to miss any of them, especially when I saw the names of some of the facilitators, who I had seen present at METC and/or followed on Twitter.

One of the few rules of an unconference is the rule of two feet - if you don't like a session you are in, get up and leave. Well, I followed that rule today. Twice. It wasn't that I didn't like the sessions; they just weren't as relevant to me as I had hoped... and having my TweetDeck open showed me that a more beneficial conversation for me might be going on down the hall. It felt awkward, getting up and walking out of a discussion that only had a dozen or so people in it, but in both instances, I'm glad I did. Grateful that they put that rule out there from the get-go. I knew the facilitators wouldn't be offended.

And the networking! I left there with a bunch of new Twitter followers (@mfankopedia), even more names to look up and follow, and an anticipation of the next time I get to interact with these people in person again. I joined an entire new professional learning network that can last long past 11:30 this morning. One of my new Twitter friends got me excited for EdCampSEMO this fall - it's only an hour away, so I might actually swing it. Missouri Summit on Google Education is also on my calendar for the fall, and EdCampSTL and METC are definite for me next February. Until then, there's Twitter and #moedchat, #connectedleader, and various other hashtags to follow, along with the new Twitter handles I'm following.

Speaking of people I follow, remember Richard Byrne (@rmbyrne), my technology blogging guru at Free Tech for Teachers? Tonight he started following me on Twitter. The tech-nerd in me feels like I just made friends with a big celebrity. That notification in my inbox (and seeing "follows you" on his profile) was kind of like an "I made it" moment for me in ed tech.

And that's it, maybe. Today helped me dive into my new professional learning network/community. Much needed, since I'm the only person in my position at CJ. Thrilled to have this community and ready to get more active in it.

Webinars Keep Coming...

Nothing makes my Monday morning like opening my email to find a listing for two awesome sounding webinars coming up in the next few weeks.  Had to share them here, both so anyone reading can register (and join live or view in the archive), but also so I remember to go back to them and watch them.  Since both are on Tuesdays at 4pm, chances are I won't be able to join live at home without combating the Frozen soundtrack and my one year old trying to tackle my screen...

Both webinars are presented by edWeb.net, a professional learning community open to anyone.

What is SAMR? Rethink the way you plan with ed tech...

WHAT: Creating Lessons through the SAMR Model

WHEN:  Tuesday, April 15, 2014 - 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM (Eastern Time) 

ABOUT: 
Presented by Joe Dale, independent languages consultant from the UK

In our community’s first webinar, independent languages consultant Joe Dale will look at the SAMR model developed by Dr. Rubin Puentedura, which provides a useful framework for helping teachers rethink how they design activities that involve the use of technology. Joe will draw on practical examples to explore the Substitution, Augmentation, Modification and finally Redefinition stages of the model, suggesting how previously inconceivable tasks can be achieved which transform learning and allow educators to ‘teach above the line.’  Planning lessons which are relevant and challenge 21st century learners as well as engage and stretch them is essential, and the SAMR model is a helpful guide to aid this process. Joe will also touch upon the importance of having a growth mindset when approaching the use of technology in the classroom as well as nurturing a personal learning network to facilitate global collaboration. If you like the idea of turning an original idea on its head and coming up with something which is far more engaging, relevant and important to young people, join Joe on April 15th to learn about creating lessons through the SAMR model.

Sponsored by ClassFlow

Get online and expand your PLC...

WHAT: Being a Connected Educator

WHEN:  Tuesday, April 29, 2014 - 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM (Eastern Time) 

ABOUT: 

Presented by Tom Whitby, retired secondary teacher and adjunct professor; with Steven Anderson, Content and Relationship Evangelist for Promethean

“I have learned more being on Twitter in six months than in two years of graduate school.”

“The connections I’ve made because I am online are crucial to my success in the classroom.” 

“I don’t know what I did before I was connected!”

These are statements we hear every day. Educators from around the world, marveling at the fact that they are connected and those connections carry a great deal of value to them professionally and personally. 

Historically, collaboration took place when two or more individuals occupied the same space at the same time and exchanged and revised ideas. It has often been said, "In a room full of smart people, the smartest person is the room"! With the technology at hand today, there are no boundaries of time or space with collaboration. The ability we have to connect and work collaboratively, anytime from anywhere, has moved collaboration from a limited mode of learning to a more prominent position. The technology we use for connecting people digitally and virtually through various applications for connections has given collaboration through technology the label of “connected learning”.

Join us for our community’s first webinar, when Tom Whitby and Steven Anderson - two of the most prolific users of social media - will discuss what it means to be a connected educator and how being connected empowers educators to do more and learn more.

Sponsored by ClassFlow

Decide to register for either of these? Comment below to let me know, then revisit this post to comment with your thoughts on the experience!