It's that time of year everyone. It's time for the CUE 2016 National Conference. Whether you're new to the edtech world, or this isn't your first rodeo I've got a few tips to hopefully make your conference experience more enjoyable.
Make sure you bring a reliable computer with a charger. You can bring a tablet but most sessions work best if you have a computer.
Make sure you're comfortable with the device. You don't want to try and learn how to use a Chromebook and a learn about Project Based Learning at the same time.
Don't be afraid to ask “Is this session Chromebook (Mac, PC) friendly?” before the presenter starts. You don't want to get stuck in a session you can't use.
Speaking of sessions, don't be afraid to get up and leave during a session. Presenters and other attendees won't be offended. Everyone understands you're there to get what you need and no one wants to keep you from that.
There are multiple venues this year, so keep the location of sessions in mind when you're creating your schedule.
Don't forget connect with people at the conference, have your Twitter handle or other social media accounts ready to share.
Be aware, you may need to sit on the floor for a session. So if you like kilts, skirts and dresses make sure you plan ahead. Also, no one will judge you for wearing tennis shoes. You will walk a lot, wear the most comfortable shoes you own!
Feeling overwhelmed? Don't forget to take a break for food, water, and a little relaxation.
Speaking of food and water, bring some with you! The lines can get a little crazy sometimes.
Traveling with friends? Divide and conquer sessions and share notes via Google Docs. It's like being everywhere at once.
Speaking of that, take good notes and always include the speaker's contact information. CUE presenters love to keep in touch.
Take lots of photos. It's easier to snap photos of presenter slides then to copy it all down.
Make sure you take the time to reflect on your learning. A great way to do this is via a collaborative Google Slide deck, and if you need some inspiration take a look at a deck +Cynthia Nixon and I made together.
Take a stroll through the exhibit hall, but don't fall in love with every product. You never know what your IT director will and won't buy.
When it comes to parking, it can be a bit crazy. There are some free spaces and some paid parking lots. I used Uber for the first time at the conference and it was a breeze. If you're interested you can use the promo code, aobqt to get $15 off your first Uber ride. Click here to learn more.
Don't forget your badge while at the conference, but it's ok to stow it when you're enjoying the city of Palm Springs.
I know it's cliche, but seriously have fun. CUE is a great place to learn, connect and grow, so enjoy the ride. Also, if you feel like you're drinking from a firehose, that's ok. Remember, everyone is at the event to ultimately help students and are willing to help you too.
Bonus Tip! Go to your local CUE affiliate meeting! Don't know which affiliate you're in, check the map. The best way to keep the learning going after the conference is to connect with your local affiliate!
This year, my affiliate IACUE is hosting the Call to Adventure, because we want to help you on your educational technology hero's journey. Plus we'll have food and fabulous prizes!
In January of 2014, I went to my first EdTechTeam Summit featuring Google Apps for Education. Molly Schroder presented a keynote about Living in Beta, and she showed a video about Google’s project X.
I was hooked. I wanted to run back to my district and spread the word of iteration and moonshot thinking, and in some ways I did. Yet, like any post-conference experience, there were the moments of extreme exhilaration and loneliness. Lucky for me, I had found my tribe of like-minded people and they were and are only ever 140 characters away.
Since 2014 I’ve integrated technology into classrooms, and coached other teachers to do the same, but I wanted more. I wanted to reach beyond the boundaries of my school district and social media friends to learn from and help others. To accomplish this, I started going to more summits but this time, I was presenting not just participating.
Then a window of opportunity opened, the application for the Google Certified Innovator Program opened. But like all good things, nothing happens overnight. For weeks I contemplated, read and reread the application, yet each time I didn’t start typing. I felt like I was not good enough, or smart enough, or googly enough. Lucky for me, I have an amazing husband and PLN that convinced me to apply. I furiously designed a t-shirt, learning space, created a video, and wrote about my potential innovation project to help more teachers access coaches to help them with anything education related. When I hit submit I believed in my work and vision, but did not think I would be chosen. Then weeks later, while sitting in a meeting, the congratulations email arrived. I lost every sense of decorum and yelped. Despite my imposter syndrome I made it, just like my tribe thought I would.
While I waited for the academy to begin I began to connect with my fellow future innovators via Google Hangouts, Voxer, Google+ and Twitter. I was so happy to see that not only did I get in, but so did my coworker along with eight of my friends. Our first team building exercise happened before we even arrived thanks to the hard work of the BreakoutEDU team. We solved their puzzles and then we started to create our own game with a partner from the cohort.
Then the travel day finally arrived. My fellow Innovators and I arrived in Mountain View California for the academy. Some of us arrived early and explored San Francisco but we all met up at the hotel to get ready for the journey ahead. We all rode together on a bus from the hotel and it was immediately a party. There were hugs, cheers, and a great atmosphere. When we arrived at the Google campus we were all smiles. For some, it was the first time meeting in real life and for others it was the first time they had seen someone in months, it was a family reunion of sorts.
During the first night, we got to know each other by playing our created BreakoutEDU games. After we broke out of our creations, we played a Google-themed game that will be made available to the community soon. Then we found our team for the rest of the academy and had some awesome Google food. In our team, we were tasked with creating a team name, cheer and to pick a team song. We were also introduced to the tenets of the Innovator Program, Transform, Advocate, and Grow. Everything we did in some way, shape, or form connected to one or more of these tenets.
Day 2 was our first full day at the Google Partner Plex and our introduction to Sparks and Sprints. Sparks are motivational, inspirational talks, or prompts for personal inquiry from Google Innovators and Googlers. Sprints were accelerated work times to begin working on our Innovator Project. What I found really helpful during the academy was we were allowed to abandon the idea from our original application. While I liked my idea, I was extremely worried about district red tape. In addition, we were told we could team up with other people to expand or combine an idea. There were plenty of opportunities for reflection, communication and of course fun. In addition, we were able to participate in a HyperCamp. If a demo slam and an EdCamp had a baby this would be it. Innovators were able to present something they are excited about and then they had a station in the room where others could come visit and learn.
I think one of my favorite Sparks on day one was from Mark Wagner because he took the idea of Moonshot thinking and made explicit connections to education. An idea that once seemed like a far-off vision because something tangible I could take home and use to effect change. When a meaningful problem, an innovative solution, and the appropriate technology come together a Moonshot for education is born. Over the two-day academy we all explored our Innovation idea and with our Coach, we looked at ways we could take our idea to the Moonshot level.
Day 3 involved more Sparks and Sprints but what I found most useful was the extended time to work and expand on our innovator projects. There were prompts we could use to guide our process as we worked. The end of the day included a gallery walk so we would provide constructive criticism to our peers. It was great to see what people accomplished during the two days and see what people had to say about what we completed.
The academy culminated with a Google Hangout On Air live Innovator Academy Graduation. Other Google Innovators from around the world were able to log on and celebrate with us. When our names were called, they played our team theme song and we had our graduation photo taken. After, we took our official class photo and celebrate with a glass or two of champagne.
It was an amazing three days. There are so many stories, inside jokes, selfies, and new friends. Usually after such an amazing event like this, I would be sad because it was over but really the adventure has only just begun. We have projects to work on so the conversations and positive energy is going to stay strong. Now that the academy is over, I hope I can bring the experience from the Innovator Academy back to my school district and that our Innovator projects can not only help my teachers but those around the world. While at the academy, I learned our struggles in the classroom are not our own, they are universal. It will take new ideas and bravery to move forward, ultimately doing what is going to be best for our students. 💡
About three and a half years ago I got out of a weird relationship, nothing bad but it made me realize I wanted something more serious. I had a problem, I was a second-year teacher so the opportunities to meet people were few and far between. I certainly did not want to meet someone at work; you don’t get your honey where you get our money right @EdCoachSarah? Meeting someone at the gym wasn’t an option because I didn’t want to lose the gym in the breakup proceedings. I could have tried going out to bars, but I like being in bed by 9pm at night, so that wouldn’t work. I ended up going to match.com.
After some messages, Tim and I met for the first time at The Huntington Library and has the most amazing first date. We walked around the gardens and galleries and had a great time talking with each other. A year later, in front of one of our favorite paintings, Tim purposed and in 2015 we got married in Las Vegas. This weekend we celebrated our first wedding anniversary and had a great time at the San Diego Safari Park. It’s been a crazy whirlwind of three years but amazing nonetheless.
I’m not one to get super gushy on social media but I wanted to take the opportunity today to publicly say how much I love my husband but even more so how much I appreciate him. I work like I’m running out of time, but Tim encourages my drive and helps me remember to relax and enjoy the fruits of our hard work. It’s cheesy but he is the jelly to my peanut butter or the yin to my yang. As fiercely independent as I am, I can’t imagine my life without Tim and I pray I never have to know.
Something I learned when I first became a TOSA is to not let people turn you into a secretary. Often in meetings I would be asked to make the Google Doc because “You can do it faster” or “You just know what to do.” While at first I didn’t mind, because I was apart of the meeting and the work needed to be done, it came to a point where my expertise wasn’t appreciated, but expected. Instead of being apart of the collaboration group, I was on the outside making docs and forms while others talked about content or pedagogy. I was trying to show people why the position was valuable; I was funded via LCAP at the time. However, what I now realize is by doing things for other people I may have been seen as valuable, but it wasn’t for the right reasons. Whatever our TOSA position is center around we can’t be the ‘doers.’ It’s an old adage but a good one, we need to teach people to fish.
So what do we do if people are asking us to organize inboxes, run data protocol on spreadsheet or install printers? That is a difficult question, one I don’t have the final answer to but here are some ideas to get you started.
Close read your job description. While we all have the ‘other duties as assigned’ nonsense that’s one line out of let’s estimate 100 of actual duties. If we look at this from a math standpoint 1/100 versus 99/100, what will matter more your evaluation and boss?
Speaking of your boss show him your annotated job description and have a conversation about your findings. There may be a district strategic plan that influences what aspects you need to focus on the most out of that 99/100 and your supervisor is the right person to help you figure that out.
When asked to do something like the aforementioned, don’t actually do it for the requestor.
If you’re in a face to face situation tell them the steps but make them do the pointing and clicking. This has been difficult for me personally, but whenever possible don’t point to the button on the screen and don’t move the mouse for the person. Give the person the opportunity to create their ‘tech muscle memory.’
If you in a remote location send the requestor a screencast, Captivate or screenshot tutorial. It’s more than likely this request will come up again, so save your future self sometime and create a library of solutions. It’s also nice for people to have resources to look back to.
Collaboration is key to combating ‘this is just another thing.’
In my last district the Secondary TOSAs had the task of hosting professional learning events for their content but there weren’t enough days for us all to have separate events. What seemed like a problem became an opportunity for awesome. By working together we create a professional learning event centered on the new CA ELA/ELD standards that included implications for all subjects and was hosted using EdTech tools. In the process of creating this event we were able to learn from each other. I now know more about the ELA/ELD framework and they know more about how to use EdTech, it’s a win win.
Get out of the office as much as possible. If people can’t find you, you can’t be a techretary.
I miss students, so whenever I can get out of the office to interact I do. Also by being out of the office and seeing what is happening in the classroom it informs TOSA practice.
If while at a site someone asks me to install a printer, as much as the teacher may not like it, I have to enforce the work order system of IT. I phrase it to teachers as ‘the work order is like a classroom management process you wouldn’t want someone disrupting yours, so I can’t do that to IT.’
Being in classrooms is also a great way to show teachers what is possible. Recently we had some Chromebooks that weren’t enrolled in our domain. Instead of calling for reinforcements, we asked the teacher if we could borrow the class to enroll the devices. She didn’t think the students could do it, but we reassured her so she let us guest teach for about ten minutes. At the end of it all the devices were enrolled perfectly by the third graders, they felt empowered and the teacher saw a new capacity in her students.
I still remember my first #GAFESummit at New Technology High School in January 2014. At the time, I was just about half way through my Educational Technology Masters program at Boise State University, a relatively new teacher, and a lone wolf techie at my school site. I was fortunate to see Jamie Casap & Molly Schroeder speak at the event, and on the plane ride home I remember thinking to myself “I want to help others like they do.”
I’ve now been to 7 GAFE Summits and that internal desire hasn’t changed. I am often asked “You know so much about technology, why do you still go to these things?” First, I thank the asker for thinking I know ‘so much,’ but then I reply with “regardless of what I think I know, it’s technology. It’s always changing; there’s always something new to learn.” GAFE Summits make continually learning fun and exciting; no matter your ability level, an EdTechTeam summit is a great place to learn because you get to practice, meet amazing people, collaborate with them, and try new things.
In May of 2015 at the San Bernardino summit, I was able to present alongside people I’ve looked up to and followed on Twitter for years. During my first presentation at the summit, someone asked a question and I didn’t know the answer. Internally I froze, but I quickly channeled my inner googleyness and said ‘I don’t know, but let’s try it together and find out.”
Presenting at a GAFE Summit is invigorating. Not only do I get to practice my craft but I get to learn with the people that attend my sessions. Now instead of being afraid of questions I crave them. I want to app smash and test things live in front of other educators. I want to model not knowing and being willing to try. I know it is scary at first, I’ve been there, but I hope I can help others and show them it doesn’t have to be that way forever.
I’ve presented at 5 of the 7 summits I’ve attended. Each presentation, each summit has its own personality and potential for awesome. People think I’m crazy, but I can’t be away from the type of energy for long. A successful summit is when I’ve learned with the participants and being able to bring that knowledge and energy back to the teachers I work with as a Staff Development Specialist is an amazing gift the GAFE Summit provides.
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By they way, if you’re free the weekend of November 21st Temecula is hosting their first GAFE Summit and I’ll be there! Come hang out and enjoy the learning.
The EdTechTeam recently hosted a contest that inspired teachers to Tweet about#OneNewThingthey tired in their classroom. It’s been great fun watching the hashtag as people share the successes as they try new things. Although I didn’t post it on Twitter specifically, my Monday night was a giant #OneNewThing. I’ve been a#TOSAChat a participant in many chats but recently the@TosaChat team asked me to help out and be a guest moderator. I instantly accepted and then thought ‘what have I gotten myself into.’ Lucky for me TOSAChat is an organized group that I was able to jump in easily. Together we decided to talk about blended learning in the classroom. On Monday night at about 7pm I was sitting in my living room with a Frappuccino, because how can you talk about blended learning without a blended beverage, and boy was I nervous. Everyone had reassured me that things were going to go great, but I was taking on the role of moderator, something I never thought I’d be asked to do. Maybe I’m too self-critical, the result of being an only child perhaps, but I didn’t want to let anyone down. I’ve come to respect so many people I tweet with, them putting their trust in me was a big honor. Lucky for me, as soon as 8pm hit and the chat got started, I didn’t have time to worry or doubt myself. As the people started tweeting I got caught up in the flurry of laughs, good ideas and probing questions. It’s truly amazing the things that can be discussed in 140 characters. Here’s an example of some of the tweets from Monday night.
I've tried and failed at hosting a blog at least three times now. My first blog was a travel journal during my study abroad trip to England. I wrote recaps of my day for my family. While there, I didn’t have a phone so I opted to blog instead of email. I thought it would be fun, but it wasn’t. This attempt failed because I wasn't writing what I wanted.
My next blog was an ad hoc class website back in the days before Google Classroom. This failed because I tried to do too much too soon. I wanted everything to be perfect, especially since students were looking at it. The desire for perfection was my own downfall and something I've been trying to let go of, although I still cringe every time I post a tweet and something is spelled wrong.
The last and most successful blog was a Tumblr blog that is best described as a stream of consciousness. For about six months, I enjoyed writing it and there are a couple of posts I’m really proud of but as my life got more complicated, my inspiration to write fizzled out. Sometimes I want to pick this blog back up and start again, but then I freeze because I don’t know what to write.
So here we are again, writing blog post number one. I’ve tossed the idea around of starting an EdTech blog for some time now and to be honest if it wasn’t for #CE15 I probably wouldn’t be doing this. There are so many people out there blogging about EdTech I’m not sure if I have anything new to add to the conversation, but we’ll see. Lucky for me, I have an amazing Twitter PLN to support me in this revisited venture. The #TOSAChat network is a great group of Instructional Coaches/ Teachers on Special Assignment that are kind and encouraging. Special thanks to +Geri Coats my TOSA Chat #CE15 blogging partner, for helping me with this post.
Speaking of #TOSAChat, tonight I’ll be their first guest moderator at 8pm PST, as we discuss #BlendedLearning.
