TEPSA 2016 - Learning and Growing

It has been shared by several passionate leaders that powerful ideas happen through reflection. I’ve heard that the first 48 hours after an event one must take time to reflect and capture thoughts for real change. That means that it must be time for me to reflect on my #TEPSA16 adventure. I believe I began attending the summer TEPSA conferences in 2011 and this summer’s event was one of my favorites by far due to the topics, presenters, and collaboration.

One hundred and twenty-six sessions were offered over a course of three days. I chose ten sessions hoping to push my thinking. I attended several sessions with topics focused on how to ensure we have high-quality educators in every classroom in our buildings. Each of these sessions reminded leaders about the power of positivity, accountability, and transparency.

I actually think of myself as a positive person who believes it’s important to see the silver lining. Hearing presenters such as @christinacole03, @TechNinjaTodd, and @Teach_aLa_Carte talk about how accentuating the positive is actually necessary to build strong school team…well, it just made me smile. I know that positive ideas drown out the negative and try walk that talk daily. It was suggested that we talk about the problems, but must focus on the solutions. Small problems stay small when we focus on quickly addressing and working together to find solutions. When educators make time to put their heads together, amazing things happen for all learners!

Ms. Christina Cole shared that educators can take accountability to the next level by helping their students set their own learning goals. We must find ways to propel student’s learning forward by focusing on what goals they have for themselves! I’ll be serving 3^rd – 5^th graders as a lead learner at Bethke Elementary in the fall. I want to help our educators improve learning for our students by helping our learners build their own learning goals for the 2016-2017 school year. Let’s do this! It was stated that part of accountability is finding ways to involve the community in the process. We want our schools to be known as places where all community members are welcomed on a daily basis. Mr. Todd Nesloney not only invites the business leaders into his school weeks prior to the opening of school with a Business Open House, but he also shared how the educators in their school take the school to students’ homes with a hot dog event! I am determined to chat with the Bethke educators on finding a way to make this happen in our learning community.

Ms. Frances Gonzalez shared ideas on ways schools can invite teachers to be viewed as change agents by encouraging groups to have open and honest talk – Think Tanks. Our educators need to be positioned with other learners to grow in their thoughts. Networking inside and outside of our four walls is not only helpful, but it is crucial to the development of our teams. I will make sure I’m a leader who works side-by-side with all educators in our building and I want to make sure I am a person who is learning from educators outside of Bethke community, too. I believe that all learners need to view their leader as someone who talks about his/her own successes and failures. I want to be an educator who is trying things and growing from those experiences. 

To say that I love collaboration would be an understatement. I truly believe that ideas grow when passionate educators join forces and collaborate about our work. During #TEPSA16, it was a thrill to collaborate with many people in my PLN. Participating in sessions at TEPSA planted topics for evening dinner conversations and hotel room meetings. Connecting with other educators and discussing “what ifs” puts control in our hands, but it also helps push the entire field of education forward. Thank you to many educators who reflected and pushed my thinking this week. There is something special about professional learning communities! Thank you #TEPSA16. 

Turning Dreams into Reality

I admit it, I am a technology junkie. This week I had the opportunity to participate in a Google Educator training. Yes, this week long adventure ended with a Google Educator "badge", but the learning along the way was so powerful on many levels.

First, I was able to collaborate with some outside the lines thinkers in the field of instructional technology. These individuals pushed me to reflect on WHY we are using technology in our schools. If we aren't using technology to promote learner creativity, we are completely missing the boat. Gone are the days of engaging students in an app for the sake of drill/practice on a certain concept. We need to be using technology to engage students in real problem solving tasks or productivity. If we want our students to own their own thinking, we must put the learning in the hands of our students. Doing this means that we must use technology to probe their thinking/creating. These are the types of learners they are...craving instant feedback, mastering new levels, setting a goal - mastering it - and moving to their next goal, and collaborating with learners near and far. If we want increases in achievement, we must place students in stimulating environments where their curiosity is peaked. Technology plays a huge role in making this happen in our schools.

Next, I was invited to participate in five Google exams. I had 90 minutes to complete each exam. These tests were sixty questions each about what tasks are possible in Google applications. To say these tests pushed the boundaries of my thinking would be an understatement. Talk about small details...these tests had all the small details. Participating in these exams had me questioning how we test our students. Is testing an individual activity or should testing be a collaborative task where one can use their resources? I must tell you that on the timed Google exams we used our resources. We even were given the option of testing in a "quiet room" or a "loud room". In the "loud room" one could ask questions and collaborate with others if needed. Is the purpose of the test to show only what you know or know how to use ALL resources around you to solve the questions asked? Many adults participating in these tests began questioning how schools are testing the learners in our classrooms. I would love to know your thoughts on this.

Finally, I am an official Google Educator! This has been something that I have wanted to do for many years and was given the opportunity to make it happen this week. What a week! It was absolutely stressful, but at the same time I loved every minute of the learning and collaboration! I truly believe this is how learning should be for our students on a daily basis. Let's ignite their passion for learning something new and make them think deeply about concepts, collaboration, and possibilities.

Thank you to some very special Authorized Google Education Trainers - Amy Mayer @friedtechnology, Jessica Johnston @edtechchic, Ann DeBolt, and Jessica Powell @iTechJess. You want to follow these innovators on Twitter.