Professional Learning & Growth during Conferences - Part I

AETC “Download"

Do you ever get the feeling after attending a conference you have just downloaded this huge file and then you need to process, or extract, all the information? Maybe it’s just me, but after talking to other educators, I feel like it might not just be me. The information overload can be overwhelming and dizziness almost, but the hope is when your PLN is also buzzing with ideas and bytes of processed information. That’s why the backchannel of a conference is so important. I suggest you always follow the backchannel, or if there isn’t a backchannel CREATE IT! Be the driving force to process, reflect, and lead sharing the information in byte-sized chunks.

Conferences are usually a way I energize myself through connecting with members of my PLN, collaborating, communicating, and learning from other talented and passionate educators. AETC, the Alabama Educational Technology Conference, is one that has been a favorite of mine since 2011. I have met some of my most inspiring PLN besties through AETC, and I continue to be amazed at the ideas shared among the talented Alabama educators passionate about educational technology. I wanted to “download” all the ideas I presented and learned from attending AETC:

Sessions I presented: (Links to presentation information included)
Digital Citizenship

• Goals:
  • Keep the discussion of digital citizenship at the forefront for educators.
  • Provide ways to embed digital citizenship into instruction in intentional and meaningful ways.
• Session Resources

Increase Student Engagement with Flipgrid, Nearpod & Edpuzzle

• Goals:
  • Identify instructional goals, learning targets, outcomes, and/or standards then identify 3 simple tech tools that can boost student engagement.
  • Use these 3 tech tools to engage students and gather formative assessment data to drive instruction and provide feedback.
• Session Resources

Facilitating the 4 C’s

• Goals
  • Discuss ways teachers can facilitate instruction to promote student creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.
  • Provide tech tools that promote the 4 C’s for meaningful integration of technology.
• Session Resources

Impromptu Session Presented:
*When you think you won’t be challenged or stretched during a conference, the opportunity presents itself to collaboratively present a 1.5 hour BYOD session on Chromebooks with about 5 minutes to prep for a presenter who didn’t show up!*

Workshop: 315ThA 1 1/2 Hour chromebooks: incorporating Google Docs, forms, Slides, classroom, and Drive Within A classroom Setting 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.  BYOD

What I learned the most: Collaboration is AWESOME. You can lean on each other and learn from each other in the midst of a session you are collaboratively presenting. Working with someone who I had just met the night before with a quick introduction and then remeeting in the hall when asked to present in the place of the MIA presenter. Building that relationship through collaboration was almost the most helpful thing I did all 3 days of the conference!

What I learned from AETC:

• Jaime Casap, Google for Education Evangelist
  • “Instead of asking our students what they want to be when they grow up, ask them what problem they want to solve.” Your instruction should equip them with the critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration skills to find ways to solve that problem. The more relevant, relational, and important the problem is to them, the more motivated they will be to find ways to problem solve.
  • We have an impact on our students that will go on for generations and on kids we will never meet!
  • How are we preparing students for the 5K+ vacant computer science jobs open in Alabama?
  • Don’t assume our students know how to use the technology just because they are digital natives and have lived a life inundated with technology.
  • Get comfortable with being uncomfortable! Let students see you take risks and learn from the growth in the uncomfortable areas.
• Keith George, AMSTI Technology Specialist [@BigTechCoach on Twitter]
  • Alabama’s *NEW* Digital Literacy & Computer Science Standards are AWESOME!! [Check them out on ALEX]
  • DCLS committee’s Companion Website for resources, tools, and strategies

I learned so much from so many more educators this conference, but I wanted to make this post as concise as possible!

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