EdTechTeacher Innovation Summit

For years, EdTechTeacher has been working with schools and districts in all stages of iPad integration. One fundamental truism has emerged: The real challenge for educators is not learning the iPad. It’s working to develop a pedagogical vision of what’s possible and implementing a strategic plan to make it happen. From concepts to practice, this session will focus on progressing the iPad classroom and iPad program from "1.0 to 3.0.” It begins with a vision of what we want students to do and a plan for how we get there. It includes positioning the iPad as a portable media creation device to support all learners in diverse student performances of understanding. It involves constructing activities that encourage ingenuity and nurture innovative, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial minds. It integrates specific classroom strategies, such as “challenge-based” instruction, “Evergreen App” convergence, and "App-Smashing" creations. Whether beginning an iPad classroom or assessing an iPad program, this session will help you develop and nurture an iPad "culture of innovation”— an environment that encourages students to be active, immersed, and creative thinkers.

Presentation Slides 

The due date should not be the end of student work. What are we doing with the powerful work that our students create. How can teachers and leaders maximize the power of student work, converting indivdual learning into meaningful growth for your entire school and community.   

When learning with technology, our tools tend to drive our objectives, rather than the other way around. Too often, our students set out to create iMovies, Explain Everythings, and Digital Books - instead of setting out to learn through the use of apps and technological tools. “Doing an iPad project” is not the essence of what we are trying to accomplish. Rather, as educators who integrate technology, we need to guide students in understanding how and why they use the iPad to enter new dimensions of learning previously unachievable without technology. As we move towards truly invisible technology, students will understand the value and purpose of the tools at their fingertips, and how to utilize their power to create and curate meaningful experiences in learning - and in life.  

Capturing the process of student thinking is a challenging prospect, yet by combining the thinking routines assiciated with Visible Thinking, with the creative potential of AppSmashing, students have the capacity to capture, share and create a meaningful artifact of their thinking, learning and creative process. This session will explore the crossroads of iPads, Visible Thinking and AppSmashing to unlock both the creative potential of iPads while grounding the process in meaninful thinking routines.

Presentation Slides 

Project Zero Visible Thinking  

Project Zero Visible Thinking Routines 

One of the most difficult tasks teachers have when shifting to a digital environment involves the struggle of organizing all the digital documents. Where do they go? How can you possibly keep track? What will you do without that massive bag of papers to haul home and grade every night? Your answer is Google Classroom! Google Classroom was released by Google at the start of the 2014 school year. Since then it has grown tremendously and provided teachers and students a learning space to organize and effectively manage digital course work. This presentation will combine explanation and exploration of Google Classroom as a means of streamlining workflow while engaging students in authentic learning experiences. If participants have access to Google Classroom, they will be given the opportunity to build a class in conjunction with the presentation. If they do not have access, a class will be created in Google Classroom during the presentation demonstrating all of the powerful capabilities. Google Classroom will revolutionize your class’s digital experience!

Use this link for the Google Slides Presentation: http://bit.ly/classroomworkflow

 

Learn the goals and strategies successful Ed Tech coaches use to assist teachers, even reluctant ones, to use technology to accelerate standards-based, deep learning activities. Teachers, technology integration specialists and Ed Tech coaches will rethink their goals for integrating technology. Instead of using technology to deliver content for student consumption, participants will explore ways students can use technology as a means to do things in the real world. Participants will also explore how to use the strategies adopted by successful coaches, like using pedagogy to drive the use of technology to accelerate student learning with technology in their classrooms. And learn a bit about the value Ed Tech Coaches could add in your school.

Presenter's Materials 

If you are currently a Google Classroom user, this session will go beyond the basics to show you how to get the MOST out of Google Classroom. You will learn to use Chrome extensions to enhance your use of Google Classroom and dive into using Add Ons and Scripts to hack what you can do with Google Classroom. This practical, hands on, and fun session is a MUST for anyone who wants to take Google Classroom to the next level. Please note: The best device to have for this session is a laptop. Add ons and chrome extensions do not work on a tablet. Tablet users will learn great tips and tricks but many will need to be practiced later on a computer.

TWO GUYS AND SOME IPADS, Drew Minock and Brad Waid lead this session together:

Why will kids sit for hours immersed in a Minecraft world, but have trouble staying engaged during class? We will showcase how using an iPad and augmented reality, (AR) empowers you and your students the power to create meaningful learning experiences that combine the digital and physical worlds. This session will call attention to the best augmented reality applications available in the App Store so you can implement this game changing technology into your classroom now. We address how we can take existing curriculums, and enhance them to appeal to the Minecraft Generation.

Just as we want our students to be part of classrooms that inspire, teachers should participate in professional development that is offered in an exciting and efficient manner.  We can't ask our teachers to redesign their classrooms with technology in innovative ways without modeling professional development that is personalized, current, and relevant to their practice.

In this session, learn about new bite-sized professional development resources that guide teachers step by step to build fundamental skills and to develop new ideas and understandings of EdTech. We will demonstrate how to move beyond being "app-centric," and connect product to practice, by modeling a formative assessment hands-on activity designed for teachers. Plus, we'll introduce you to ways to inspire your own teachers to create tech-rich lesson plans and connect with peers to get at the heart of what EdTech innovation is about: continuous learning. 

The presentation will be delivered using the Nearpod platform:  http://tinyurl.com/zl5b4z8