Resources from GaETC

Quite a few people were asking four our resources after our presentation at GaETC last week.  I've decided to make them available here for you as well as on the GaETC website.

Gadgets We Love

QR Codes

Evaluating Apps

Presentation

Our Favorite Apps

Please let me know if you have any trouble opening the links, I'd be more than happy to email them to you. 

My Challenge and Inspiration

As I said in an earlier post, a friend and I were selected to present at the Georgia Educational Technology Conference this week, and to say I was nervous would be an understatement.  Presenting to 300 educators was so far outside my comfort zone! However, I've always been one to step up to a challenge.  I like having something to look back on and say "Wow, if I did THAT then THIS won't be a problem at all!" I truly believe that the following reasons are why we were successful this week:

1) We were presenting on a topic we knew a lot about and believed was important. 
2) We have sat through many boring PL meetings and veered our presentation away from what we DIDN'T like about those meetings. 
3) We were prepared! I think we rehearsed that presentation more than 10 times together.

Since we were the last session on the last day of the conference we really didn't expect many people to come.  So, when we saw a crowd waiting to get into our session we were pleasantly surprised.  Then to hear from so many teachers after that were inspired by our presentation and excited about taking our ideas back to their classrooms was icing on the cake.  That's why we were really there.  To think that my ideas are inspiring students I have never met is amazing to me. 

By the way, I'm already thinking about what I will present next year :-)

Educational Technology Rock Star!

I am ashamed to admit that before this week I had never heard of Tony Vincent or his website learninginhand.com.  It's amazing how my approach to using technology in my classroom has changed since meeting and talking to Tony. 

Tony hosted 6 sessions at the Georgia Educational Technology Conference this past week with topics ranging from project based learning to productivity.  All 6 of his presentations can be found here: http://learninginhand.com/gaetc13 but there is something special about seeing him in person.  If your district is looking for ideas for professional development I would suggest contacting Tony Vincent. 

Georgia Educational Technology Conference

I'm excited to announce that Michele Liggins and I have been chosen to present at GAETC next week.  We are both so excited we have totally geeked out and gone out of our way to make sure our presentation is engaging and informative.

We are presenting a session called "iPads and iPods in the Primary Classroom" on Friday, November 8th at 11am.  This is right up our alley since we both use these devices on a daily basis with our students.  Michele has been doing some amazing things with her first graders and the iPods.  She's such an inspiration to me!  She was able to get 3 iPod carts for our school through grant writing and has led the Technology Committee for the past few years.   There's nobody I would rather share this experience with than Michele.  I know we are going to rock our presentation and have a great time!

When you come to our session you will walk away with the following capabilities: 

• An understanding of how you can use iPads to meet the digital requirements of Common Core State Standards.
• A tool to help you evaluate apps before you download them and use them in the classroom.
• Suggestions on how to manage use in the classroom.
• How to create, use, and implement QR codes in the classroom.
• A list of our favorite apps for reading, math, creativity, and management.
• Knowledge of grants that you can apply for to fund implementation in your classroom

All of our resources will also be available on the GAETC website if you can't make the session but are interested in reading more about our session.