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Professional Learning

Where Will You Go? Get Global with your Students

May 28, 2019

Teacher mapping out professional learning.

School is out or almost out for most of you. The long, hot days have arrived, and summer vacation is finally here. Now that teachers have put an end to their school year, it’s time to kick back and think — where will I go this summer? The great news is that through many different collaboration opportunities combined with the power of technology, you can literally go anywhere! Both you and your students can develop a better understanding of different perspectives and cultures, improve communication skills, and find ways to have a global impact. Flattening your classroom allows you to engage with your global community all from the comfort of your lounge chair using a variety of powerful technology tools.

So how do you get your feet wet if you’re not at the beach? For starters, you need to consider:

What is your passion and purpose?

When developing a plan for a global collaboration project, it’s important to consider why you are doing this in the first place. Teachers don’t need “one more thing,” they need a learning opportunity that integrates several skills, a variety of entry points, and something that is of interest to students. Are you studying George Washington? Why not take a virtual field trip to Mount Vernon! Are you wanting to connect with readers from around the world to understand different perspectives? You can join the Global Read Aloud. Ultimately, the more passionate you and your students are about a topic, the more naturally this global collaboration will fit into your day.

What is your instructional purpose?

Once you’ve found your purpose, it’s time to narrow down your focus. While many global collaboration projects teach a variety of skills and concepts, it’s best to narrow down your project to one content area with a definitive timeline. Some projects like Exploring by the Seat of your Pants are specifically targeted to a content area, like science. However others like PenPal Schools provide connections and lessons for a variety of topics from Chinese to money management. Just like your summer vacation plans, you should narrow your itinerary before heading off.

What technology should you consider?

While technology is often what allows your classroom walls to come down, it can also be a barrier for many teachers. To plan ahead, you should consider what type of access students will have as this may have an impact on your overall timeline. Things like time zones, access to internet, and access to devices can be a great conversation with students that will help include them with your own planning. In addition, you should plan to prepare your students for online communication with a variety of audiences. This may mean focusing on certain elements of digital citizenship like relationships & communication as well as digital footprints.

How will your lesson stay student-centered?

Up until now, it may feel like you, the teacher, are doing a lot of behind the scenes work to make these global learning opportunities happen. To get true buy-in from your students, consider how they will have choice in the project. Some projects like Out of Eden Learn are focused on having students choose different ways to share their stories and perspectives while others have the sole purpose of encouraging student creativity like International Dot Day. Creating elements of students voice, choice, and self-assessment are key elements of global collaboration.

How do I need to prepare?

Last but not least, trying a new project like this can be exciting but overwhelming all at once. Luckily, there are literally hundreds if not thousands of teachers throughout the world that can help support your project. Other great resources from organizations like the Global Education Conference, the Asia Society’s Center for Global Education, and ISTE’s Global Collaboration Network are also available as you begin planning your journey.

Reaching out across the globe and traveling to collaborate with other students and teachers throughout the world has never been any easier. With thoughtful integration and preparation, your learning journey is just getting started. Get ready to pack your bags, there’s no place your classroom won’t go!

Formerly an elementary teacher in the Denver, Colorado area, Ming Scheid has since served as an Educational Technology Specialist, an instructor at the community college level, and a Coordinator of Curriculum and Standards. She uses knowledge from her Master’s Degree in Learning and Technology as a professional learning developer with expertise in instructional design, Digital Citizenship, and Student Data Privacy. In addition to coaching schools as they roll out 1:1 initiatives, Ming is a Google Certified Trainer, an Apple Certified Teacher, a Common Sense Educator, and has completed the EdTechTeam’s Teacher Leadership Certifications.

EdTechTeam Summer of Learning educator professional development.

Start your professional learning journey with EdTechTeam’s Summer of Learning opportunities!

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5 Ways Teachers can Learn from One Another

May 7, 2019

Teachers are amazing. Period. Here at EdTechTeam our daily work is to inspire and empower educators so that they can continue to do the good work of inspiring and empowering students. In this shout out to our educator community, we’d love to highlight ways teachers can inspire and appreciate one another.

Learn from one another

      Don’t wait for someone to come into your room to give you feedback or to see the inspiring work you are doing with students. Invite colleagues to join your classroom for feedback for yourself and ideas that you can share with others. Personalized professional development models like Pineapple PD and #ObserveMe empower teachers to put learning in their own hands. Take a moment to thank a teacher that you learned from.

Get inspired

     Find ways to get inspired and learn from other educators by attending regional and national conferences like an EdTechTeam Summit or ISTE. Not only do you come away with a plethora of strategies you can use in your classroom on Monday, you also walk away with a Professional Learning Family for life. On a budget? Look for a free, unconference style EdCamp in your area or start micro-burst professional development series in your school led by your teachers. Or follow Oprah’s lead and start a book club in your school or find one online. Inspiration is just around the corner!

Get virtual

     One of the amazing components of technology is the ability to connect with anyone, anytime and any place. Become a part of the educator community online via Twitter, Facebook, Voxer and Instagram to name a few. Get ideas and connect with your peers virtually for in-depth discussions and take new learning back to your classroom. Follow hashtags like #EdTechTeam, #EduGladiators and #TOSAchat to get started. Want to learn at your own pace? Look for online professional development opportunities and learn with a cohort of other educators in the comfort of your jammies.

Get specialized

     There are many programs out there where you can continue your professional development, add a badge to your tool kit and feel the love from other educators like yourself. Programs such as the Google Innovator Program, Apple Distinguished Educator and many more provide an instant community and innovative learning you can implement in your classroom and share with your colleagues right away.

Ask and you shall receive

      Take a moment to ask your students what they appreciate about you. Students are what we are all here for. Adding their voice to your classroom supports the idea that they are in control of their learning and can empower them. You never know what they might share and what you can do with their feedback.

Bottom line: we appreciate you. Educators are the last ones to appreciate themselves. Continue to work tirelessly for advocating for students and making a difference in their young lives. But, while you are being a superhero, take some time for yourselves and appreciate and learn from one another along the way.

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Survival Guide for Not Being at ISTE

June 19, 2018

It’s been a year since I was Not at ISTE. And two years since I was at ISTE in real life. A lot has changed since then, but one thing remains the same. I have serious FOMO. To aid in my affliction and to turn lemons into lemonade, I have actively been seeking ways to participate at ISTE while not at ISTE. Besides staying in your PJs and the occasional Fortnite break, here are my top tips for participating in ISTE while Not at ISTE.

Top Tips for NOT AT ISTE

 

Have an EdTechTeam Party

EdTechTeam is going to be at ISTE! Get virtual by checking out EdTechTeam’s Teaching Theater Schedule and register for the live broadcast. Mark your calendar, invite NotAtISTE friends and get your Chicago-themed To-Go order planned out.

Grab the Popcorn and Experience Live!

In addition to the EdTechTeam Live Teaching Theater, watch live on Periscope and follow #PassTheScopeEDU. Or if you fancy putting your listening skills to the test, tune in to the On Education Podcast. Other great places to peruse and people watch is Instagram & Voxer.

NotAtISTE Google Plus Community

Join this group of NotAtISTE educators who happily pronounce they are not at ISTE while sharing a plethora of resources. Stay in your pajamas, join here and start your virtual learning journey today!

Enlist your PLN

Start a movement! While there is a multitude of reasons why educators like us could not attend this year’s ISTE conference, we are not going to let that get us down. Reach out fervently to your Professional Learning Family to lend and get the support you need. Have colleagues or virtual besties attending ISTE? Reach out and get the conversation going! Sharing is caring…(while in your pajamas)

Download the ISTE 18 App

What’s better than browsing the ISTE app at ISTE? Browsing the app while in your pajamas! Download the app for iOs and Google Play and check out the Program Guide to take your NotAtISTE party to another level.

Be a Professional Learning Stalker

Follow, follow, follow! Fortunately, professional learning excuses obsessive online following that otherwise in real-life, would be deemed, well, creepy. Some great hashtags to follow are #ISTE18, #PresentersOfISTE and #NotatISTE. Following presenters as well will give you a glimpse of the action and resources you can use in your own context. (and review in your pajamas) Be sure to give shout-outs, credit, and inspiration as you share with the world what you are learning while NotAtISTE.

Be in the Know with the Standards

Take this time to get ahead. While others are learning amazing things at ISTE, dive into the ISTE standards and begin to plan your own innovative roadmap of how to integrate the standards meaningfully into your work with students and educators. (again, in your pajamas)

Look to the Future

I plan on gearing up now for #MakingItToISTE. Join me on my quest for scouting the location and updates for #ISTE19. Create a Google Keep to-do list complete with Airbnb checks and calendar reminders. Together, we can do it!

Jokes aside, I am super excited and grateful for all the opportunities that ISTE and other educator communities online provide the NotatISTE group to feel like they belong and are part of something bigger. It is a clear reminder of the power of social media and online learning. The inspiration, sharing, resources, and learning that goes on at this year’s ISTE conference exponentially reaches educators across the globe virtually and in real life- all for the unquantifiable positive effect on students. Together we are totally better.

See you NotatISTE soon!

 

 

Gail Moore
Instructional Technology Facilitator
Google Certified Trainer & Innovator
Washington State
@gailkmoore

 

 

 

 

 

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ISTE, ISTE Standards, Professional Learning Leave a Comment

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