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!

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 

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

An Island of Images

Right?  My title gives you NO indication what my post will be about.  HA!  That's ok.  I'll explain it here and I'll also explain the title.

I'm going to talk about Pixabay.

Title first: In my head a bay = an island.  While geographically incorrect, it's the word association my brain uses to remember the website.  I can call it what I want.  :)  Pix = pics = an image.  Get it?!  Get it?! Huh?! Huh?!

The "a" is inconsequential.

This summer Tony Vincent came and talked to a group of teachers that I work with and one of his suggestions for finding images for presentations was Pixabay.

Why use that when Google images has all of the possible wondrous images that you could ever image?  Well....because of copyright laws.  That's why.

Pixabay images are from users who upload the images and you have free right to use them, change them, reprint them, etc. all without giving credit.  You are totally in the legal free and clear when using Pixabay.

Why does this matter?
It matters because back in the day when the only thing teachers and students did was create a power point and show it within their own classroom or school.  While that was still not legal, nobody really knew and it could easily be "swept under the rug" and ignored.  Now your audience, whether you are a teacher or a student, is on a much more global scale.  Folks are bound to notice if you are using their material illegally.  Or maybe they won't.  But do you really want to 1) risk it? 2) set that example for your students?

Nope.

Give Pixabay a chance.  They have some really amazing pictures.  You may even consider uploading some of your own and know that other educators out there are using them and sighing in relief because they are in the copyright free and clear.

Learning in November

Have you ever seen Alan November present?

Let me tell you...well, to me anyway, it's awe-inspiring.  I was lucky enough to be able to see Alan at ISTE 2014.  Then as an incredible perk to my current job, we brought him in to speak to faculty and staff one day and then to the high school teachers the next day.  I spent 2 full days with him.  

Let me share some take aways.  

1) While he represents "ed-tech", you almost forget that he's ed-tech.  He speaks to such a global shift in education and learning.  It's not a tool, it's a thought process.  Design assignments, create learning environments in a digital world - not a paper world.  *mind blown*

2) Almost everything is beneficial to someone that is not in the world of education.  The "site:" command for Google search for example.  The majority of people are googling just with some random words and retrieving thousands and hundreds of thousands of results.  With a few commands, you could have much more precise and much fewer results.  

3) Talk to him 1:1 if you can.  When you talk to him, he asks questions, he wants to know about you and your experiences.  He is enthusiastic and appreciative of what you share.  When you talk to Alan, you feel like he really wants to know about you and what you are doing in education.  

4) Despite being overwhelmed, you leave feeling like you can see his vision.  You have no idea how you will possibly achieve said vision, but you know it's possible.  Even if it's only with one tiny first step.  

Thanks Alan.  I'm again, renewed, inspired, and refreshed.