This past weekend marked my 5th year attending the New York State Computer & Technology in Education Association’s (NYSCATE) Annual Conference. Here’s a recap of my experiences:
Moodle for Professional Learning:
Because it just wouldn’t be right not to share! Mrs. Molly Marren and I co-presented on how our school district uses Moodle for Professional Learning. We provided participants with guest logins so they could explore & utilize some of the tools available in Moodle. In addition to touring the GI Moodle and highlighting Connected & Empowered, the Huth Road Elementary experience, we shared how Moodle can facilitate multiple aspects of successful professional development including increasing Ease of Access, being Timely and Sustained, fostering Collaboration, & enabling Asynchronous learning.
Please contact me if you are interested in the guest login information, they will be active until after the New Year. I’ve also attached our electronic handout – Sage Advice for Using Moodle.
New Tools I Learned (& can’t wait to try with students):
- StoryJumper – free creative tool to promote literacy and writing. The only cost is if you decide to purchase your completed story (Courtesy of @rgriffithjr)
- Animaps – allows you to create animated maps for free (Courtesy of @teach42)
- Solar System Simulator – an interactive tool to show students how solar bodies move (Courtesy of @kevinhoneycutt)
- Gaggle.net – free email for students – you just have to contact them to get free access! (Courtesy of @mrshoward118)
Powerful Presentations– One of the most ground-shaking moments I had was in a presentation called “Moving towards Responsible Use”. It was the journey of a school district near West Point that has been revising their policies to focus on the internal (responsible) approach as opposed to the external (acceptable) use of technology. But that wasn’t the part that moved me (I’ve felt passionately about this for a while). What got me was that in the room was the Superintendent, the Director of Technology, a principal and like 7 teachers! They were ALL there TOGETHER sharing their beliefs, practices and experiences. I was blown away; you could feel the collegiality in the air. Full-scale transformation is the result when the vision is shared. Kudos to the Highland Falls Central School District!
Engaging & Inspiring Speakers – I was only able to attend two of the conference’s keynotes (having grown up in Rochester; I use the annual conference as an opportunity to catch up with friends and family too) but WOW! Steve Dembo & Kevin Honeycutt were attention-grabbing and enthusiastic. They left me contemplating the past and the future but a little scared of the present. Kevin Honeycutt’s heart-wrenching personal story was shared with clever humor that didn’t mask the reality of so many children’s lives. While the stark contrast of Steve Dembo’s son’s digital presence brings me hope and excitement for what’s to come. You have to check out their bodies of work! Inspirational!
Best (paraphrased) quote of the conference for me:
Quarterbacks see the future; they throw the ball where the player is going to be. Teachers need to be quarterbacks, throwing an education into the future a student will be in. – Kevin Honeycutt
Excuse me; I have to go work on my throwing arm….Happy Thanksgiving!
