Audio Boom

Hello!

I've fallen behind.  And I know myself and I know that unless I have a purpose and keep this short and simple, if I put too big of an expectation on myself for this blog, I will continue to fall behind. That is not something that I want...obviously.

So I decided today that I would talk briefly about +audioBoom.  I used this website to host some audio clips and I'm so excited that I rediscovered it and decided to use it.  So happy in fact that my post for today is pretty much hosted there.



Essentially, if you would like to use/explore Audio Boom, I highly recommend it.  If you're on Twitter, you can create an account through them.
Super Easy!
Then you can either record on their website, which I admit, I have not mastered or you can upload audio files AND they have an app.  I found that I prefer using my Voice Memos and uploading right from my phone.

Here's the question...as teachers how can we use this for our students?  I shared an idea in my broadcast here.  But also...what can our students create with it?!  I know this is going to be a tool I take back when the break is over and try to see what we can do with it!  There are some middle schoolers that I think may have a great time with it.

Thanks!

Anne Frank

I teach at a K-8 Catholic school.

This post is about the 8th graders specifically.  They have been reading the Diary of Anne Frank.  I read that book when I was a child.  I picked it up when I was bored one day, not realizing the weight that book carried.

Unfortunately, there were so many visual descriptions that were critical to the story that I just couldn't image.  I couldn't see them in my mind.  I feel like it took away from the gravity of what I was reading.  I couldn't possibly image how a door was hidden!  I couldn't see how small the living quarters really were.  I read the words but the images were from my life, with a few tweaks.

Back to the 8th graders.  Maybe they have a better imagination than I did as a 4th/5th grader.  Or maybe because we have never been in that kind of situation (for which I am so thankful), it's not something we can fathom, imagination or not.

This week they are going to the local Catholic high school to see the play Anne Frank.  That will give them a better visual representation.  I want to support that in my class.  I want to show them something that will really make them see how hard it was and the struggles that these families faced. I want them to understand how brave Anne Frank was...this girl who is their age.  I want there to be an impact.

So this week and next week, we will be taking the time to explore the Anne Frank museum online. Specifically, we will be looking at some of the photos and pieces of history from her life.  And I think most importantly, we will be able to go on a virtual tour of Anne Frank's Secret Annex.

I hope it gives the 8th graders a really good concrete visual of what they are reading.

It's just...Padlet

I'm trying to write up a quick blog post this morning and while I know my topic...I don't have a fun, attention getting title.  Soooo...it's just about Padlet.

I've been a big fan of Padlet since it was Wall Wisher (or something like that)...it was a few years ago.  You seriously can't expect me to remember all the different names of various websites.  ;) So I was introduced to it as a part of my RPDP class with +Jerrad Barczyszyn.

*side note: I blame him for my love of ed tech...he showed me how interesting and exciting class could be with tech integration.  Thanks Jerrad.*

Right so...the point of this post:

Yesterday was day 1 of the second week of school...the first week was all half days...this week full days.  *I'm so tired!*

I teach technology to K-8 students.  Since last week was half days and I'm teaching a "special" I had no time to start with my typical Capturing Kids' Hearts Social Contract.  So that was the plan for this week.  However, I had to figure out how, exactly, to integrate technology into that.

Now, I realize and recognize and appreciate that technology doesn't always and shouldn't always be used...especially just for the sake of technology.  So if I was a homeroom teacher, I probably wouldn't have done this...but I'm the technology teacher.  I kind of think...I'm supposed to do it this way.

Typically, students will work in a small group, brainstorming words or phrases to the 4 questions that guide our social contract.  Instead of having us work in small groups, I had them work independently on Padlet.  The way I explained it was - instead of giving them all Post It Notes to stick on the wall with their words/phrases, they needed to post them on the Padlet.  Re: CKH...I explained that even if a word came up that they were going to use, they needed to write it too because I wanted them to be heard.  I wanted everyone to have a voice.

All in all, I'd say that it went pretty darn well!  6 classes...5 were scheduled to create the social contract...and only 1, due to poor choices, had to use the paper and pencil technique!  They seemed to enjoy it.

We will see how today goes!!  Have you used it?  What did you think?

 

Google "Keep"ing It Together

So life has been crazy to say the least this summer.

1) Wedding
2) House hunting
3) Cross country move
4) New job - new school
and all the unpacking and cleaning that comes with 3 and 4!!

So today I decided to stop for a minute and do a quick vlog on Google Keep.  It has literally helped me keep my brain from exploding.

Enjoy!

What can you use Google Keep for?

ISTE Resources - Social Media in EDU

I recently reposted a blog post that had access to the Haiku Deck I created for the ISTE 2016 poster session that a group of us presented at.

After a comment left by Alice, who was kind enough to visit our poster, she reminded me that we had some really awesome student created resources that I hadn't shared!

When we were planning for our poster session, we had a few brainstorming meetings and then started to divide up the jobs to complete the various tasks.  Keep in mind, that while our whole team was from Ohio, we were not from the same place.  So completing our tasks was a relatively independent project.

I created the presentation on +Haiku Deck that scrolled through on a screen that talked about ways you could use Social Media in education.  Then Marisa, who is an engineering teacher at Bio Med Science Academy, worked with her students to create the physical posters.  The students created the design, researched the statistics, and worked on the posters within Google.  I was thoroughly amazed at their work!

Please check out the posters from the students here:
Facebook
Flipboard
Instagram
Pinterest
Twitter
You Tube

Over all I think the poster went wonderfully and I can't say enough good things about the teachers that I was lucky enough to work with.  So to +Ben Clutter, +Salvatore Maiorana, +Marisa Manocchio, and +Brock Wysong...thanks for working so hard on this poster session.  You are amazing teachers and I am so lucky to have been able to work with you for +College Ready Ohio and for #ISTE2016!

Not Goodbye...

but rather, I'll see you later.

This week I am wrapping up my last week at Ohio State University.  It has been an incredible journey.  I was living in Las Vegas 2 years ago and I decided to pick up and make the move out to Ohio.  There were some personal reasons behind it, but professionally, to say that I worked at THE Ohio State...just WOW!  So when I was offered my job, I took it...no hesitation.

And WOW was right.  I met some AMAZING teachers that I will never forget.  I was fortunate enough to work with some of the TOP educational technology leaders.  Not to mention the inspirational and HILARIOUS College Ready Ohio team.

This week has been an emotional roller coaster.  I have laughed, cried, felt like nothing was changing and been blown away...literally in the matter of minutes.  IT'S ONLY TUESDAY!!  I'm going to be an emotional zombie by Saturday when I start the drive with my husband and father in law to head back to Las Vegas.

I wouldn't change it for the world.

Now, however, let me take a minute and look at this from a student perspective.  Our kids are not all stationary.  How many of us have kids that have left your class, you, their friends, and sometimes their family?  As an adult, if it's a struggle to make this kind of a change, when it was MY/YOUR/OUR own choice...imagine how hard it must be to have to deal with all of it and feel like you have NO choice.  

During my wrap up meeting with Ben, we talked about how it wasn't the LAST time we'd see each other...it would just be a very LONG time.  In order to keep from tears, I made a flip comment about us being Facebook friends.  Which, while it may seem insincere or vapid...it really does make me feel better.  I makes me feel as if the relationships that I have spent the last 2 years working on and building aren't gone forever.  I can reach out to anyone and see what's going on in their daily life.  As a military brat growing up, I was not able to do that and I lost many friends because we couldn't stay in communication about "nothing".  

Now I'm not necessarily suggesting that you become FB friends with your students.  I, personally, would recommend against that in fact.  However, what I am suggesting is use the social media platforms that are available to you to give your students a chance to stay in communication with you and their friends about the "nothings" that are happening.  Do you have a class FB page?  Do you have a class Instagram page?  What about a class Twitter account?  Even a class Snapchat might be worth looking into.  

The students will move and they will love their new teacher and they will make new friends.  But in this day and age of globally connected technology...goodbye doesn't have to be anything but I'll see you later.  

Pokemon Ideas

I have been playing Pokemon Go for the past 4-5 days.

I've seen the support from fellow educators and friends and I have seen the disapproval from fellow educators and friends as well.  I don't necessarily announce it to the world, but I'm kind of enjoying it. I'm also not going out walking trying to track them down.  I look when I'm sitting at my desk or walking to a meeting or walking my dog.  Right now, Pokemon hunting isn't my priority, but it is something fun to do for a brain break...along the lines of checking my Facebook or online shopping.*

*the kind where you put it in your shopping cart and then close the window...who's with me??


However, my brain has been endlessly (or at least it feels that way) processing and trying to figure out how to make use of this game that has so many people obsessed!

My non-educator friends will argue there is no educational purpose in the game.  I won't argue because, much like their profession - I don't understand their goals and focus, and they don't understand mine.  I'm not looking for a way to make throwing the pokeball (is that what it's called?) and catching the creator educational.  Yea...at it's base, this is not an educational game.  So, why not make it one?  Why not?

So I have done some reading and I have been (like I said) doing some thinking.  Here's my very rough list of ideas...no details yet.  It's all still very theoretical and not fleshed out.
*behavior management - think Class Dojo meets Pokemon
*mapping skills - plot of a Google map where and what you catch - collaborative
*animal research - research the animal different Pokemon are based on - where does it live, what does it eat, how has it evolved, etc.  Assign points based on different aspects of animal characteristics...similar to Pokemon.  Create a Global Pokemon map showing where different animals can be caught and how many points they can get by catching them.  Go even further and plan out adventures...think Oregon Trail...what supplies will you need based on the environment and distance you'll travel. (I'm thinking this one out as I'm typing and getting kind of excited!!)
*literature/SS Go style game - students create a game similar to Pokemon Go with different characters in a story/throughout history.  As characters are caught, the designer also provides some interesting facts that are meant to entice students to learn more.  They can learn more by following clues and "capturing" more information about story/history.

Again all of these ideas are super surface with nothing carved in stone but I would love to hear from you.  Can you elaborate on anything?  Do you want to collaborate on anything?

shameless promotion OR copyright lesson

You be the judge.

Sooo, I recently decided to take the dive and start uploading to Teachers Pay Teachers.  Initially, I was very against the idea.  The very core of education is legal thievery...or at least that's how it always felt.  But that was when you were in a building and everyone shared within that 1 building. Now, just like with the kids, the audience of teachers is more global.

So why not try to help a fellow Disney lover.  Yup...at this point (and anyone that knows me will NOT be surprised) everything is Disney inspired because well that's me and my style.  I love me some Mickey Mouse.  :)  Anyway, if I'm taking the time to create something that is Disney and copyright appropriate AND someone else can use it, why not put it on TpT?  And if I can make $2 for it...I think my time spent and their time saved is worth that.  Granted, nothing has been bought or downloaded but I've also only been uploading since 5 days ago.  I think I'm ok with that.

Anyway...shameless promotion part - GO! My store is my handle: EBGtech.

Now...to the copyright lesson.  One year ago, Tony Vincent came and presented to the teachers that I work with.  He showed us so many A-MAZ-ING tools.  I was completely overwhelmed and there was no way I would remember everything.  I picked up a few tools to use right away.  Other things have been in my back pocket...just waiting.  Well, about a week ago, one of those tools came out!

The Noun Project!  It's a website with icons that you can either download for free and give attribution to OR you can buy the image royalty free for $1.99.  It's your choice.  And if you decide to give attribution, they download the information on the image for you!  The only thing you have to do is copy the link from the webpage and share that with the image.  WHAT?!  They are doing the work for you.  Cause we all know you can copy and paste at this point.

I haven't opted for the $1.99 yet just because I'm stingy and I don't mind giving credit.  However, I can see how it would be useful.  The name of the icon creator is right there in the middle of my image.  Hmmmm...I don't care enough to pay for it, but you might.

Great tool for you and great tool for your kids!  Talk about an easy way to teach them about digital citizenship.

So now you get to decide...did I shamelessly promote OR did I share a new awesome tool for images with appropriate copyright information?

https://thenounproject.com/search/?q=laptop&i=531255

There's SMORE To Do...

Before I get started I'd like to say my friends +Ms.Kiersten Baschnagel and +LaRenda Norman are the ladies turned me onto Smore.  They use it regularly and inspired me to give it a whirl!

And now....

One of the (arguably) most repeated questions in a classroom is "What do I do now?".  This is a question you become well versed with as a 1st year teacher.  I learned early the beauty of the default answer, "Read a book".  However, as I have gone through the years, I learned also, that isn't always the best response.  I figured this out when I would see kids open a book and stare with no turning pages.

Yup...they were getting a lot out of that particular activity.

I've discovered the beauty of choices for students.  Will there always be the opportunity to read a book?  YES!  Cause I was that kid.  I want to read...especially if I'm in the middle of a really good book...say for example, Harry just found out that Sirius Black, the man who is after him, helped Voldemort kill his parents?!  WHAT?!?!  I want any excuse to pick that book up again.

(Yes, I'm re-reading the Harry Potter series and even as an adult...at work...what I wouldn't give for a chance to be done so I can catch up on my book.)

HOWEVER...there will be other options.  Especially since this year I am taking the role of a computer teacher, so to speak.  In the computer lab, with so much technology at my finger tips???  I couldn't possibly ask students to exclusively read a book when they finish something.  No...they need more options.  This is where the Smore came in.

Smore is a essentially a place to design newsletters.  However, their graphic rich designs make it visually appealing.  You can add whatever content you decide is needed.  You can share online or print hard copies.  And as an educator you can get a discounted account.  The free account only allows you to create 5 smores total.  So even if you create 5 and then delete 4...nope you're done.

I know...I just tried.

So in my Smore you can see that I have crafted a variety of choices for students to do if they are done or even if they are stuck...kids get writer's block too.  I have ideas focused on their projects as well as ways to create their own projects.  And I want their feedback, their ideas, and their questions.  I want them to feel heard.

Would you use Smore?  What for?  (hahahaha - I so want to keep going)
Please I would appreciate any extra ideas or feedback on my Smore.
Leave them in the comments.

https://www.smore.com/bryq4

The ISTE Aftermath

*LONG POST*

ISTE 2016 ended last week and my team flew back on Thursday.  With the weekend being the 4th of July AND a long weekend, it's been a bit of a whirlwind.  I haven't had a ton of time to sit back and reflect.  So that's what I'm going to do here.

1) Geek Out Control: I met a couple of ed techs that I follow on Twitter.  Rather than freaking out (memories of Backstreet Boys and N*SYNC come to mind), I thought it was important to articulate why I have and why I will continue to reach out to them.  Who doesn't appreciate a little bit of recognition?  Someone coming up to you and explaining that your content is helpful and appreciated? Well, so that's what I did.  I met Alice Keeler and Matt Miller and just explained that I was changing my position and would be reaching out for their expertise.  I appreciated their willingness to chat and their willingness to connect.  However, and this is a fantastic thing about social media and educators, they are willing to do that for everyone.  I'm not special...but I am a fellow educator.  They'd do it for anyone.  Find someone you can learn from and follow them.

*side note: I wasn't able to get a picture with Matt Miller so I settled for a stalker version lol*

2) New Friends: I tend to stay with my group of friends/people/coworkers.  I get a little uncomfortable meeting new people on my own...really even when I'm with people I know.  However, at ISTE it's part of the experience to meet new people!
Disclaimer: You don't have to meet new people, but it sure feels good to talk and connect with someone in my opinion.
I attended one (sadly - only) #CoffeeEdu chat at a coffee shop at 6am.  It was put on by Alice Keeler and Amazon.  It was really interesting!  There was one lady from Louisiana who was very upbeat and outgoing.  She got the conversation started - I so admire that personality type.  Then we had a couple of participants that weren't educators but more on the Central Office/Sales side of things.  They were asking so many questions about teachers' opinions, buy in, what's important, etc.  It was nice to hear what other educators - teachers or administrators - had to say AND be able to voice ("voice" since I had lost my voice) my own thoughts.

What really touched me was despite the fact that we all had different roles and different experiences that overall we all were able to affirm each other's ideas or add suggestions without being defensive. It was a true learning experience.

I also went to a session about making EdTech Stick.  I sat with a teacher who, like myself, was making a transition into a new role.  She was also a little nervous.  I don't know how it all happened but we ended up chatting and giving each other a bit of advice.  I gave her some advice on how to approach her new role with tech integration and she gave me some overall life advice with my nerves on changing my job and going back into the classroom.  I don't know about her, but it made me feel REALLY valuable and knowledgable and plain ol' good that I could help someone that I had never met before.  I hope she knows that I will remember her and how she was so kind and helpful to me.

3) Old Friends: I came to Denver with my team from OSU and some of the high school teachers that I have worked with over the last 2 years.  I see my team everyday.  We go out and do trivia.  They were invited to my wedding.  We are friends.  The teachers I work with...well...it's a little different.  I don't see them on a daily basis.  We don't socialize outside of work.  It's always been a pretty professional relationship.  ISTE and all the outside activities really helped change that.  I learned a lot about those teachers!  I now feel like I know things about them other than the fact that they are stellar teachers!  I know that one of them loves Biggie to the point where there is one of his songs in the teacher's wedding.  I know that another had a date with royalty from another country...but talked about skiing with the body guard all night. Another one is REALLY picky about her spaghetti - she either has to do it herself or it's probably a pizza night. Another one has the same taste in music that I do...remember the N*SYNC reference...despite the 10 year age difference.  I'm fully envious of the travel that another teacher has planned for this summer. And there is so much more!!  We talked and laughed and had SO MUCH FUN!  I feel like I have so many new friends...but they were always right there.
It was also really good to see some of the presenters that came to OSU.  I was able to catch up with Tony Vincent and chatted with him on his Periscope channel.  Granted, I was still voice less so it was a little embarrassing, but it was good to see him and chat!  Another rock star that I will continue to follow and go to for advice.  I also saw Alan November but he was so deep in conversation that he didn't focus on who was waving to him.  LOL It was kind of funny.

4) Don't Forget: I think this one is pretty self explanatory.  When you're at ISTE it can be overwhelming.  But don't forget that excitement.  Don't forget some of the ideas that you loved and why you loved them.  Don't forget to reach out and ask for ideas or help.  Don't forget the reason you came to ISTE and that it's all about the kids.

Post ISTE Poster Session

Time to decompress.  

This is my 2nd time at ISTE and despite the cold and loss of my voice...I am loving it!  Some of our team just finished up our poster session.  Then I volunteered to trek the posters and our Instagram costume back to the hotel.  So I decided to take this time to reflect and blog about our poster session.  

Our poster was on whether or not social media in education was a good idea.  

Actually our poster was really why social media in education was a good idea.  If I'm being perfectly honest...*pause*...and I am. 

+Marisa Manocchio had students create literal posters of Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Flipboard, Instagram, and YouTube with statistics on use and benefits for teachers.  It was pretty amazing!  Then she created an Instagram costume that we used to take pictures of our attendees who stopped by.  It was PERFECT!!  Marisa set up a Tweet Deck to showcase all the photos we took at #CROISTE2016 and #ISTE2016.  

Then +Ben Clutter +Salvatore Maiorana +Brock Wysong +Marisa Manocchio and I were able to chat with everyone.  There were great questions about the various platforms, student safety, administrator buy-in, and much much more!  We were also able to talk a little bit about College Ready Ohio.  

Overall I'm really pleased with how things went.  Now I'm ready to get back and check out some posters, the vendors, and presenters!  I will admit I'm a little star struck and I can't wait to learn from so many of the experts I've been following!

big changes...bigger freak outs

You know how we always say that kids need stability and structure.  They like it, they just don't always know it.

Well as an adult (most of the time), I can say that I LOVE IT!  I love stability, I love structure, I love routine.  I love knowing what is happening and how it's happening.  I'm especially fond of situations where I can be in control of all of the happenings.  *Self proclaimed control freak*

However, I also know that change is inevitable.  What is it "they" say, "The only thing that never changes is change."  Well, change my old friend, welcome back.

I will soon be leaving my current position as an Educational Technologist at Ohio State for a position at a Catholic school as a computer teacher.  In that sentence alone there are at least 2 BIG changes; higher ed to K-8 AND outside the classroom to inside the classroom.  HELP!

I've been a K-5 classroom teacher before but not a computer teacher.  I will be pouring over pinterest and reaching out on Twitter for help.  I will be asking for advice and suggestions and ideas.  Help, help, help.  Thanks.

Now, couple those things with the fact that Ohio State is in Ohio and my Catholic school is in Nevada -- Las Vegas -- more specifically, and WOW!!  Thankfully, I am from Vegas.  My family is there.  I made the trip from Vegas to Ohio 2 years ago for this job at OSU.  BEST DECISION!  hard move. So while I know Vegas...I'm going home...it's not an easy move.  It's a big change.

So...I think...if I'm freaking out and stressing and panicking about all of these things that are my choice and under my control, how do those kids feel?  The kids who have no choice when they move from home to home?  When they have no control about the people that are in and out of their homes? When they do not have a choice of what school or classroom they are placed in?

What can we do to help them...while we are with them?

Saying "I Do"

I recently (4 days ago) got married.

*I know way to ease into big news!*

And anyone that has planned a wedding or been involved in planning a wedding, knows that there are A LOT of things to figure out.  Big details, tiny details, details you forgot about, and surprises - and lots of other things in between.  Depending on your wedding and venue, you have varying levels of help and people doing things for you as well.  You also have a wedding party and lots of family who can help and support you through the entire process.

While we were planning the wedding, and even on the day of the wedding, I couldn't help but notice some parallels to being a teacher.  Yea, yea, yea...don't roll your eyes yet.  Just read for a second.

Think about all the details you plan for the year, for the month, for the week, and for the day.  Think of how those details rarely go EXACTLY according to plan.  Think of who you lean on for support - your family, your grade level, your administration, your friends, etc.  Despite the stress and anxiety and hours upon hours upon hours...*pause for dramatic effect*...UPON HOURS of work you put into everything for the kids, nothing is ever perfect.  Just like a wedding.

I realized the DAY. BEFORE. THE. WEDDING that I could not keep up with or control each of the tiny details I had been carefully devising over the last few months.  I finally reached out to my friends and said this is what I want, but you know what, do what you think is best because I will not know the difference tomorrow.  I also said that to the caterers and the DJ.  And you know what?  Looking back, I have no idea if what they did was exactly what I would have done.  I was too busy soaking up my new husband, my new family, seeing all of my friends, celebrating, and loving the day.

Now I am going to say this to you, as teachers.  You cannot control every little detail of your classroom/school/students.  Ask for help from your grade level, your administration, your family, and your friends - even your students...especially your students.  Give up the control and trust that at the end of the day, week, month, year...you and your students will have soaked up all the important things.  You will have inspired and instructed.  You will have guided and given hugs.

You will have made a difference.

What is Voxer?

Ok I'm going to say that I only have a slight idea what it is.  It seems like it's a messenger app.  I can send messages.  I can send voice messages.  So what's the big deal?

Well I have an iPhone and my other half has an android.  No comment.

The point is...that I can't send him a VM in iMessage.  With Voxer I can.  That's nice.  But what else?

And then that leads me to the classroom and PD in schools.  How can I use it?

I'm writing this as I'm reading +Matt Miller post on Voxer too.  I see there are a variety of chats on Voxer.  So I'm thinking like Twitter but in a "messenger" format instead.  I laughed when he said he decided to try 3, cause I want to observe 1 first. I'm not about jumping in and getting overwhelmed. LOL but that's because I won't be able to take anything away like he does.  I'd just freak out and delete the app.  Trust me.  I did it with Twitter.  At least 3 times.  :)

So in Matt's post there's a link to some Voxer chats.  I think I'm going to go try to join one and I'll report back at a later date.  I'd like to see how it compares to what I'm imagining...which is Twitter. After I stopped deleting it.  ;)

***Update***

I now use Voxer regularly!  And I LOVE it!  I'm in a Catholic Ed chat.  It's a great support network that I go to often with lots of questions.  It's so amazingly helpful when it comes to the unique perspective of working in a Catholic school.  I also recently joined a group that is for support for blogging.  I really enjoy blogging.  It helps take what's in my head and think through and organize it. We are very new but everyone is so very active.  It's thrilling and inspirational.  I also use Voxer for my school's Sunshine Committee.  Or at least I'm working on it.  The idea is that everyone is so busy, I'd love to be able to propose ideas and/or ask questions to get feedback in real time but around everyone's busy schedule.  I want the team to know we don't HAVE to meet after school...5 seconds at any point in the day to answer is PERFECT!

I also use it with a friend of mine.  It makes it possible and dare I say "EASY" to chat while making dinner...juggling kids...working on grading...etc.

I can't wait to explore more.  I know there is a Voxer group for #edumatch and there's a Voxer Edcamp.  Please if you're in a Voxer group that you'd like to share...pop it in the comments and I'll either join or tweet it out there.  Thanks!

Re-envisioning SAMR

*warning: slight ranting*

I know there are SAMR fans out there and those that aren't super supportive of SAMR. That's fine. We all have our opinions right?  In all reality, it's about what works for you, your teachers, your students, your team.

Now, to say, that I am a fan of SAMR. At least what it represents. I like that it gives a framework for understanding how to gauge how technology is being used in the classroom. SAMR isn't dictating how to use technology, SAMR isn't replacing pedagogy, SAMR isn't taking the creativity out of teaching.  It's a set of guidelines as teachers (myself included) make their way through the sometimes murky waters of integrating technology in the classroom. It is a frame of reference.

However, I admit that I often feel frustrated and sometimes even defeated with how SAMR is viewed and approached. Keeping in mind that SAMR is a frame of reference...many people look to "achieve" R. Ok, that's fine, that's dandy. But before you "achieve" anything...are YOU ready for R? Are your STUDENTS ready for R? Do you have a clear understanding of what R represents in the classroom?

I would like to numerically, clearly point out how to approach SAMR in my opinion.  I do them numerically, so I won't get sassy in my post. Although I did make sure to wear my sassy pants today just so you know.

1. Understand what each level of SAMR represents.  Without a clear understanding, you may not be meeting the level that you have planned for.

2. Look at your objective, your lesson, and your students. What step of SAMR will best support their learning outcomes? If S is what is best, then please just substitute. If M is what is best, then feel free to modify.

3. Once you feel comfortable with integrating technology in a certain step, then start experimenting/collaborating/researching how to integrate another step.  You can always go back and forth.

4. Don't get stuck. If you're happy substituting, still focus on growing and trying new things.

Don't focus on "achieving" each "step" and getting to the "top".  (sorry for the gross over use of air quotes...and yes I made them in the air before I typed them).
Ultimately, remember that understanding and reflection are the keys to effectively utilizing SAMR.

*rant over*  I feel better now...thanks.  :)

image created by Aaron Davis mash up from @JustLego101 & Amy Burvall 

Challenges of Balances

This blog, while professional in nature, is done as part of my own personal love of writing and #edtech.

I haven't kept up with it recently because of "life".  There have been a lot of tasks to handle at work, another job creeps into the picture, planning large family events (weddings, parties, etc), maintaining a home, etc. all seem to take precedence.  I feel run down and tired.  I don't maintain some of the things that I do for me, for my own enjoyment.

I know that I am not the only person that this has ever happened to.  In fact, I know that teachers on a regular basis struggle with this specific dilemma.  I know this because at another point in time, I was that teacher struggling to find balance.  It has never been an easy thing for me to achieve, especially when I have so much on my plate.

So, I put this out there to the world.  How do you find your balance?  How do you juggle everything in your life, while still taking time to focus on yourself?  What do you do to focus on yourself?

Life Moment Fail

So this morning I had a life moment fail.

I was walking out to my car and took 2 steps in the parking lot and, very much like a cartoon, my legs went forward, my bags went into the air, and my butt when down.  It hurt.  I fell.  On ice.  On asphalt. On. My. Butt.

It hurt and I was embarrassed.  I was a little shocked...couldn't get up immediately.  However, I could make sure that my coffee wasn't spilled everywhere immediately.  Priorities people priorities.

As soon as I realized nothing was really hurt I started to gather my things and started to rant in my head. "THAT'S IT! I'M WORKING FROM HOME TODAY! I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE IN THIS! WHAT WAS I THINKING! I SHOULD HAVE JUST STAYED IN BED!"

I started to pull out my phone to make sure I didn't have any meetings on campus and realized that the only thing that really hurt was my pride and the fact that I really don't like snow and ice. However, I made the decision to live where there is snow and ice so I have to deal with it. I decided to shuffle my way to my car...this time walking through the snow instead of sliding on ice again.

*disclaimer: if I fell again, I was staying home!*

I made it to work, granted my butt was wet from sitting on ice, but still I made it.

I had failed.  I had picked myself up.  I had tried again.  I had succeeded.

Why is it OK for me and for kids and for all other adults to have these little life fails in the outside world but not in education?  We learn so much from them.  I learned to walk in the snow for instance. I feel like in education, failing is the end.  Story over.  Why?  Why can't it be a chance to learn and try again?  Isn't the point of education to prepare for life?  We fail in life ALL. THE. TIME.  Why don't we teach that failing is just another chance?

Fail = DO OVER!  Don't we always want a "do over"?  WE HAVE IT!!!

*disclaimer: I'm glad I didn't fail forward this morning otherwise my face would have hurt much more than anything else.

I'm not "SLACK"ing off...

So I have found that working 2 jobs, wedding planning, and just trying to keep up with life in general has caused me to drop the ball on a few things.  I just can't keep up with it all.

That being said, I'm OK with that. *statement retraction*

I'm not OK with that.  Funny thing is that my priorities are (maybe) a little off.  What I'm OK with is not working at home.  What I'm not OK with is that I cannot clean my home.  Laundry piles up, mail collects on my table, and let's not even talk about the bathroom that keeps the liter box for Max (the cat).

Now...personal rant over. Back to what I am OK with.

I am OK with not working at home.  One of the reasons I'm OK with that is because when I do get to work the next day, my email isn't stacked miles high.  There are a few emails and I can organize and handle that.

The reason my inbox isn't so overwhelming is because my team is testing out Slack.  Slack is really awesome because it's basically a chat that can hold documents.  You can have team chats and 1:1 chats.

It took me time time to really start using it but now I feel like it's really part of my daily routine.  If you can imagine (think wavy Scooby Doo lines and sound effects):  You send an email with facts and questions to one or multiple people.  Someone emails back (not reply all) with some answers that lead to more questions.  You have to reply all with questions and answers to some people but not everyone.  Then someone else responds with a reply all, but doesn't answer some of the questions.  So then someone else replies, but you don't see it cause it wasn't a reply all, so you don't know those answers and have to send another email to get some information.  And back and forth and back and forth and etc.  Are you overwhelmed yet?  Is your inbox overflowing yet?  And you can't delete any of them because of the various pieces of information in all the different emails.

Or you can use Slack.  All in one place.  No inbox.  Everyone can see everything.  The end.

ISTE 2016

Recently I found out that #collegereadyOH, the program I work on, had four ISTE presentations accepted!  FOUR!!  I'm blown away!  I'm humbled and honored...AND FREAKING OUT!!!

Don't get me wrong, this is definitely a team effort - and I have a beyond AMAZING team - and I am in no way in this alone.  However, it's still a rather daunting task to try and plan for a presentation at ISTE.  We have three poster sessions and a workshop.  Our team and some of our catalyst teachers will be there representing #collegereadyOH at these sessions.

So I guess this post is more looking for some advice.  

• Have you presented at ISTE?  
• What did you do to prepare?  
• How did you know your session went well?  
• What advice would you give to ISTE newbies? 

OR

• Have you attended ISTE?
• What presentations/poster sessions stood out to you?
• What are you looking for when you pick a session?
• What keeps your attention when you're checking out a poster?

THANK YOU!!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cobannon/2766226320