Diary of a Techie Chick: presentations

Showing posts with label presentations. Show all posts

Reflection of FETC 2016 ....

The Future of Education Technology Conference a.k.a. FETC is a great place to connect, learn, and share with other educators from around the world. This year was my second time at FETC in person. In the past I lived vicariously through others via social media. I presented an Augmented Reality in Education workshop "Seeing a Different Kind of Reality" and a STEM workshop "iMade IT". The staff and volunteers for the conferences are amazing. They go out of their way to make sure your workshop/presentation goes smoothly. I truly appreciate that. Thank you!

I really liked the variety of sessions offered as well as the variety of vendors in the exhibit hall. I find it hard to just pick one session to go to at a time. I really liked that a lot of the presenters shared out their resources via social media, because there was no way you can attended every session you wanted to. Since I missed out on the FETC Photowalk I went on a walk by myself taking a few pictures here and there. I was also very happy to connect with my PLN face to face at the EdTech Karaoke. It was great seeing them and talk with them. If you can you really should met up with your PLN via a Tweet-up or at a EdTech Karaoke.

Over all my experience at FETC was amazing. I loved connecting with other educators and being able to share Augmented Reality and STEM projects. I also love hearing what others are doing in their classrooms and how they use tech to enhance the learning experience.

My Presentations:

Augmented Reality in Education Workshop

STEM Projects Workshop

iGeek ... Augmented Presentations ....

When I first learned about augmented reality about 4 years or so ago, my mind went crazy thinking of ways I could use this mind blowing tool. One of the 1st projects I did with my students I call iGeek. It is a way my students can show off their passion and what makes them who they are. I've been doing this project for four years and it was actually the 1st project I added augmented reality to. At the time I used Layar as the augmented platform. I had to pick between Aurasma and Layar. I went with Layar because I could load more than 1 trigger image into a campaign. With Aurasma I had to use the same iPad that I used to create to see the augmented content and that wasn't going to work for me. I hung the trigger pictures like a photo boarder in my classroom. With Layar you can only keep projects alive for only a certain period of time. When I 1st started it was a year and it changed to like 60 days. Our 1st augmented iGeek projects have since closed down but the trigger images remain on my wall. This project has become a legacy project. Which I wouldn't have even dreamed it could be so special to kids. Kids come in and always look for their older brother, sister, cousin, or family friend and comment that they can't wait to be apart of the project.

Trigger Image - Code 16631

Last year I tried this project with Daqri but it just didn't quite work. When you have 40+ students that participate in the project and you are only allowed 25 trigger objects alive at one time just didn't fly. This year we are using the BlippBuilder to create our augmented experience and we added an element to the augmented content. I recorded the students as they presented and we added the recording to the augmented content. When the trigger image is scanned their interactive presentation pops into their hands and a button to watch their video also appears. The bonus is these trigger images will stay alive as long as I need them to. The double bonus now future kids can hear for themselves why a certain kid geeks what he or she geeks. I do have next to the photo boarder the instructions on how to use the app and the code they need in order to see the augmented content.

My goals is to help fuel their passion and to continue to follow their dreams. You never know where your dreams will take you or who you touch along the way.

Augmented Image

Sign I put next to the photo boarder.

You can click here to see one of our 1st augmented iGeek projects.

Lesson:

iGeek Lesson

When you use educational augmented content with your students please fill out this form. I would like to track how many kids are being reached with educational augmented content.

Podstock STEAMpunk Edition ........

What is Podstock? Podstock is a small edtech conference located in the heart of Kansas. A bunch of educators get together in the middle of July to connect, learn, and share.

This is one of my favorite conferences to attend and present at. Everyone is so energized, excited, helpful, and caring. Every year I walk away with my head spinning with all of the tools, tricks, tips, and ideas. This year the tradition continues. There are so many sessions I want to sit and can thanks to some amazing friends sharing via social media using the hashtag #podstock15.

Some Tools So Far:

Book Creator
iBooks
Touch Pianist
Type Drummer
Koohot
Padlet
NearPod

Lets change how we view hands-on, problem-base, project-base, STEAM, STEM, and lets learn by creating! Dream, Design, Build...Repeat!

#NotAtISTE15 Reflection ....

I wasn't able to attend ISTE this year, which was a little disappointing. I did get over it quickly after I joined the #NotAtISTE15 group. I was able to follow lots of the conversations that were going on at ISTE from home. I was even able to participate in not one #NotAtISTE15 Ignite session but three of them. I really enjoy sharing so I was ecstatic when I was able to share. I even was able to have my own badge that I just had to augment. My edtech friends did let me know that they would be very disappointed in me if I had not put an augmented twist to my #NotAtISTE15 badge. If you scan it with the Daqri app you will receive the augmented experience.

I really like the Personalize Your Chromebook Experience with Extensions, Tips and Tricks by Molly Schroeder. The Voices from ISTE 2015 with Rory Newcomb on Gamification and Avatars was also very useful. Avatars can be a very powerful tool in the classroom in building self-esteem. Even if you can't be at ISTE you can always count on Jeff Bradbury to broadcast live from ISTE Blogger's Cafe.

If you are on social media you can review the hashtags #ISTE2015 and #NotAtISTE15 to find tons of resources. Including the 3 #NotAtISTE15 Ignite sessions I recorded.

Resource posted by Kasey Bell - @ShakeUpLearning

Not only do you find amazing resources from following the hastags but you will meet some amazing, passionate educators who love to share. Such as Matt Mill @DitchThatTxtbk, Craig Yen ‏@craigyen, Joy Kirr ‏@JoyKirr, and Todd Beard @TeacherBeard. If you can't attend a conference find out what the hashtag is and follow along online. You will receive mounds of resources, information, and meet some amazing people along the way. Until the next conference, un-conference, or workshop let's Connect, Learn, and Share!

My Ignite Sessions:

iPadpalooza 2015 Reflection .....

I was ecstatic to return to iPadpalooza this year to share augmented reality and green-screen projects as well as learn from other amazing educators. iPadpalooza is an educational tech conference held in Austin TX. This was their 4th year hosting this event, and for me it just gets better and better. I've met some really outstanding educators and I am honored to call them friends. I am always blown away to hear what others are doing in their classrooms and schools. To see their passion for learning and for kids is contagious. You can't help but to get excited too.

I really enjoyed learning from Reshan Richards as he shared Explain Everything. You can tell that Explain Everything is definitely his baby. He is so passionate about learning you can't help but join in. Explain Everything is a great tool. It is one of my go to tools to use in the classroom. I love how you can create almost anything with it. Create animations, capture your screen, record, and share are just a few amazing things this app can do.

Richard Wells is another great person to have in your PLN. His webiste iPad 4 Schools has lots of great resources. I also loved how just went with it when his mini Keynote slides didn't go just right, and he has a great accent. I also really liked that Adam Jones created podcast to capture his time at iPadpalooza. What a great way to remember what you learned and to share it as well. I also loved how Miguel Guhlin shared out is his notes from iPadpalooza. His notes helped me out a lot since I couldn't attend all the sessions I wanted to.

While I was at iPadpalooza I shared Seeing a Different Kind of Reality, where I introduced educators to different augmented reality apps. On the second day I shared Green-Screen projects, which didn't go according to plan since I was in the library and no real wall to use. On the third day I shared augmented reality again but more on ways to create it. It was a little difficult since attendees need accounts for the different platforms and everyone has different needs. Creating Augmented Reality is a passion of mine and I love to share ways others can create too.

If you get a chance to attend iPadpalooza you should. You will learn a lot and you will make some pretty cool friends along the way.

Until next time...Design, Create, Think, Learn, Connect, & Share!

Kid's On Strike - Augmented Jigsaw Puzzle

A 6th grade Language Arts teacher friend of mine is teaching a literacy unit on the book "Kids' On Strike", by Susan Campbell Bartoletti. She is using the lesson plan from Building America and asked me if there was any way I could incorporate augmented reality (a.k.a. AR) into the lesson. My answer was of course I can do that. I studied the lesson plan, read the book, and then dove right into how could I incorporate augmented reality into this topic.

Knowing my teacher friend was wanting to do a Jigsaw approach to this unit I decided that was the approach I needed to use to incorporate AR into the unit. The book has 8 chapters that talk about the different types of strikes that had happened in the late 1800's and early 1900's. I found an image to represent each chapter. Each image was then divided into 4th's. The idea is for each member of the small group that is learning about a certain chapter would get a piece of the image. When each piece is scanned an augmented element would appear. When all the pieces are put together a 5th augmented element would appear. Giving the experience a jigsaw feel.

The goal of the project is for each small group to be responsible for learning the content of the chapter assigned to them and to share what they have learned with their base group, learning the pieces to make the whole approach. Within the small group each person is responsible to become the expert of the content that is embedded in their piece of their photo. Above is one of the images that was used for this project. If you print and cut the image into 4th's you will experience the augmented elements I have embedded into the image, or you just scan parts of the image. One of the augmented elements is to take you to a Padlet board I created for this project. Each image has it's own Padlet board. This board will be where the students hold their discussions and to share what they have learned about that certain chapter.

The App you will need to use for this project is Aug That's "Supreme Tutoring Augmented Reality” (STAR). The app is available in both the Apple App store and the Google Play store. Aug That is developing a teacher community called Teach Connect where teachers can share their augmented lessons they have created in a safe secure environment. There is no channel to follow, no password to enter, and no other content will appear on your augmented triggers when using their platform. What teachers like about this community other than we can share content and it is safe, is they don't have to build it. All they have to do is send the trigger image they want to use along with the AR element and the team at Aug That will put it together for you. The team does approve all trigger images and content, so that you know that everything in the community is safe for kids and is educational. This does take some time for the team to go through all the requests, so give them a day or two.

How to Bring the Above Image Alive:

Download the Supreme Tutoring Augmented Reality. Pick the app store you need.
Launch the app. Click "Start Lesson"
Click "Teach Connect"
Scan part of the image. (The corner area.)
Scan another part of the image. (repeat)
Scan the entire image.

Resources:

Reflection of MACE15....

Presenting at the Mid-America Association for Computers in Education a.k.a MACE is like going home for me. MACE was the 1st edtech conference I attended in my career in education. It is currently beginning held on the campus of Kansas State University, which just happens to be my Alma Mater. I presented twice on the topic of augmented reality in education during this conference. My sessions were hands-on sessions where educators could play and explore the variety of augmented tools I brought along with me. Attendees explored augmented coloring pages, augmented triggers where 3D object would appear, 360° environments, and even creating their own augmented experience.

I enjoyed watching educators walk around the room as they were emerged in a 360° environment from AugThat. One educator's 360° environment had a cave and she tried so hard to enter the cave. We talked about ways these mind blowing triggers could be used in education from setting the stage for a lesson to talking about a settings for a creative writing assignment. These triggers can even be used for descriptive writing, comparing ecosystems, and the start of a research project. Augmented reality is a powerful learning tool. You can almost anything into an augmented trigger and you can add almost anything as the augmented reality experience. I shared ways I am creating augmented experiences with my students.

When I wasn't presenting I attended a few of the sessions. I learned about Doctopus and Goobric as well as a few online tools I hadn't tried before. When I first tried Doctopus was a year or so back and it wasn't very user-friendly so I moved on. I am glad I sat in on this session with Ginger Lewman as she shared how to use these tools in your classroom. The developers have made changes and it is so much more user-friendly. I plan on trying this tool again when I teach spreadsheets.

Dr. James Beeghley was the keynote speaker this year. I really liked his message for us not just our students to "Think Differently". We truly need to think differently, how we see the world today will not be how our kids see the world in 10, 15, 20 years from now.

If you missed my session or any session and you want the handouts MACE does archive them and you can download them off their website or you can access them from the app.

Resources:

Reflection of Discover Magnet....

I had the pleasure of presenting to a great group of Wichita educators. I shared with them how I have used an app that helps my students and myself create one of a kind green-screen projects. I enjoyed watching the teachers brainstormed ways they could use this app in their classroom. I loved watching them create their own mini video clip using the white board in front of the room or one of the mini green-screen that I brought along with me.

With the Veescope Live app you do not need a green-screen to use it. I showed the teachers in my session how to use the plain white board as the "green-screen". You can use any solid color background, it is best you do not use a brown background since it is very close to skin color. I also had 4 pizza boxes that I had transformed into mini green-screens. I brought along with me a few characters for the teachers to play with so that they could experience creating mini green-screen project.

For most of the day I was the augmented reality guru on campus. I showed teachers how to use already pre-made augmented triggers. Teachers had a chance to experience how these triggers work. I loved watching them play and discuss how they thought augmented reality worked. We collaborated on ways we could use these pre-made triggers in the classroom and started sharing on a Padlet board. Throughout the day the teachers shared about my augmented reality session. I needed up having several teachers come and
ask for my business card which was augmented and the resources I shared.

Towards the end of the day I shared ways teachers and students could start creating their own augmented reality experiences. It was truly a great day of learning.

Resources:

Edchat Interactive .... Reflection

I had a chance to present an interactive webinar with Edchat Interactive. This was the 1st time I had done a webinar where I could interactive with the participants. In the past when I presented on a webinar I had 30 minutes and I did all the talking and sharing. At the end I would answer some questions that were submitted to the moderator. I really enjoyed being able to interactive with the audience. Even though I am use to talking to myself, being a mom of 3 kids you get use to that. This platform made it more engaging for me as the presenter.

The topic I presented on was Seeing a Different Kind of Reality. Augmented reality is one of my passions. I really love sharing how I am using AR in my classroom. I also love to learn how others are using AR in theirs. Augmented reality is a great tool to engage students. We are just at the start of how augmented reality is being used in education. The possibilities are literally endless.

If you missed the Edchat Interactive webinar no worries it was recorded. The only problem watching a recording of an interactive edchat is you lose out in participating. If you get a chance check out what topics are coming up next and join in on a interactive edchat. I am sure you will see me again on future Edchat Interactive sessions.

App / Tool of the Week ..... NextLesson

I teach skills such as researching, creating spreadsheets, presentations, and etc.... I sometimes find myself using the same lessons or projects to teach these skills, which get boring for me. Like most teachers I just don't have the time to create rocking lessons for every topic I teach. I was introduced to NextLesson during the EdmodoCon 2014. I surfed their content and found lessons I could do with my students in a matter of seconds. I love how the lessons/projects are broken down into stepping stones. I also love how interactive they can be. There are already created lessons some of them are free others do cost. You can browse by Common Core standards, grade level, and even subject. You can even create your own lesson or project. If you need help learning about NextLesson there is a built in tour that will walk you through the different features.

One of the lessons I used with my technology classes was called My Dream Vacation. It is a free lesson and I was able to take it and customize it to fit my students' needs. My students really like the topic of planning their own dream vacation. I liked it because I could incorporate all of the skills we had learned and have my students apply them in a real world situation. I used the Rank and Reasoning with my students to help brainstorm places to go on vacation. The discussion piece really helped my students share their findings and ask questions such as; What can you do there? What can you see? How much is that going to cost?

The stepping stones really helped keep the my students moving forward. Once they completed a task then they could move a head. With each task you can have student notes, teacher notes, and attachments such as a web link, images, or video clips. The teacher resources are also very helpful especially the rubrics.

One of the things I changed about the NextLesson My Dream Vacation was I wanted my students to use any tool to create a presentation. I gave them a list of suggested tools, most of them stuck to creating a Keynote presentation others did venture out and tried something new. Below are just a few examples of their finished product.

NextLesson Projects/Lessons:
Just a few I found interesting and fun to try.

My Dream Vacation - NextLesson

Vimeo - My Dream Vacation

Going Beyond a Simple Textbook....

Last year I created an interactive ebook for my technology classes. I filled it with a variety of of video clips, screenshots, presentations, and resources for them to refer to. This year I wanted to create another interactive ebook but I wanted to be able to be used cross-platform and on all devices. I guess like always I am ahead of my time. If I wanted to make my interactive ebook available for all devices I would have to pay a company to convert it for me and there was no promise that all of my interactive components would work. So I went back to iBook Author and created my interactive book which can only be accessed via iBooks.

I haven't decided if I wanted to submit this book to the iTunes Store or not. The iPads that my students use block the iTunes and App Store so it isn't possible for them to download the book from there. I did find a alternative way around that issue. I saved the iBook file to my classroom website and my students can download it from there. It does take a while for the book to download and if I make any changes the kids will have to download the book again.

Now I can say I am a published author and I now have 2 editions to my Computer Apps e-Textbook.

eBook:

Mrs. Wilson's Computer Apps - Bringing Learning to Life
Use Safari on your iPad to download this file. You can also download this file if you have Maverick on your Mac. It will take a while to download.

Creating AR with the Daqri 4D Studio....

Augmented reality isn't anything new, it has been around for a while now. Creating your own augmented reality on the other hand has only been available in the recent few years. This spring Daqri released their 4D studio to the education community. Out of all of the augmented reality creators I have used this one is by far the friendliest one to use. When I talk to others about creating augmented reality I hear; "That is too techie for me.", or "I just can't wrap my head around how it works.", or "There is no way I will be able to create something like that." Let me ask you a few questions then.

Can you drag and drop?
Can you copy and paste?
Can you click on a button that says upload?
Can you click on a Plus Sign to start a new project?
Can you click on a button that says Save?
Can you click on a button that says Publish?

If you answered yes to these questions then you can create an augmented reality trigger.

For Podstock I created a mini tutorial on how to create a augmented reality trigger. Daqri did change a few things in their studio but it will not effect how you create a trigger. You will just notice my screenshots just look a hair different. I had put my tutorial in a NearPod presentation so I could monitor who accessed the presentation and evaluate their knowledge about the topic. I will post the link to that as well. Feel free to use the Google Presentation or the NearPod one.

Just keep in mind this is a very basic tutorial. I plan on creating more in depth ones soon.

Presentations/Resources:

If you do not have an account for Daqir's 4D Studio you will need to click HERE to request one.

Can You See Me Now?

I've been traveling for the past few weeks so I really hadn't had a chance to collect my thoughts and to reflect my experience at ISTE. Since my school wasn't going to send me to ISTE and I didn't have a sponsor so to say to help pay I had to justify the trip. For a small town teacher in the middle of Kansas traveling all the way to Atlanta, Georgia to a 4 day costly conference is a little pricey. In order to justify the cost I turned it into a family vacation. I needed up dividing my time between sessions at ISTE and with my family. I was excited to be one of the 20,000 people who traveled to Atlanta for this amazing chance to learn and connect with other educators from around the world. In December I had learned that my proposed workshop for ISTE was accepted. Before ISTE got under way I was notified that my session had been canceled due to lack of people signing up for the workshop. I was a little disappointed but still stoked that I was going to be in Atlanta for the conference. I had not been to an ISTE conference before so I was very excited to see where this avenue was going to take me.

During my time at ISTE I noticed myself becoming very frustrated and a little disappointed. I wasn't sure what to expect but I hadn't expected myself to be frustrated. I knew ahead of time not to try to do everything and to mark the sessions I would like to attended, which was my plan. What had frustrated me was the 1st few sessions I attended where focused on the technology and teaching kids and or parents how to use it. I found myself questioning why do we need to teach them how to use the device, the technology isn't anything we haven't seen in the past decade. I also found myself remembering the keynote from iPadpoolza and the "Hole in the Wall" experiment. Give the kids the device let them explore it and focus on the learning. What is the objective? What do you want the kids to learn? What are they going to take away from this experience?

A couple of other session I attended gave me lists of apps. Which was OK but I wanted more, not more
apps but more like why these apps. Why should I use these apps other than they are fun and entertaining? What is their purpose, what will I learn or my students from using these apps? I guess I would rather go a inch wide and a mile deep rather than a mile wide and inch deep. I think I would like to have a handful of very useful meaningful apps that make me think at a higher level than 50 million apps that are just fun.

When I wasn't at a session I found quiet places to sit and think. While I sat and thought I noticed people having trouble connecting to the network, using an app, or just normal tech issues so I would lend a hand. A teacher from New Jersey had been watching me. She had asked for help with her iPad even though she didn't really need it to break the ice and talk with me. She had noticed I was a little frustrated and wanted to help. I explained to her my frustration. She looked at me and asked if I ever noticed the signs that are all around me. I was very confused and asked her to explain what she meant. She explained while she watched me helping others that she had Google me (since she saw my name on my badge) and found both my blog and my resume site. She had scanned them both and noticed all the presentations in this year alone I had done.

She was a very straight forward person and just came out and told me what she saw. To her I seemed like a quiet person with a lot of knowledge and experience when it comes to technology and education, I could probable fix or solve a issue with my eyes closed. I just need someone to brake the ice, which is why she asked for help. She went on to explain that people see great things in me which is why my proposals keep getting excepted. I just need to find the one thing that helps me stand out. We hear you, now we need to see you; those words struck home. She went on to explain that I need to make connections that will take me to where I want to go. Then she ask the questions that has been asked to me several times these past two months, "Where do you want to go?". In my heart I scream I want to go everywhere, but I know that is not possible. Where can this small town Kansas girl go? There is no industry of any kind in my town, and differently no tech education companies. I also have 2 kids in high school and 1 starting kindergarten, it would be hard to transplant my teenagers to another school. If we were to relocate where would my husband work? I could say is I am not sure. I am growing personally and professionally I just not sure where it is heading. Her advice to me was to make connections, soon the right door and window will open.

Before she got up to head for session she looked at me with a smile and told me great things will come my way. I thanked her for the talk, I think I really needed to hear it. Keep your eyes open as I find away for you to start to see me know.

Don't worry I will be sharing my notes from ISTE 2014 very soon.

Creating a Global Project....

In just one click you can travel to Rome, Hong Kong, and see the pyramids in Egypt. Twenty years ago in
order for you to get a glimpse of these amazing places you had to visit your local library and pray that they had some resources on them. Today all you have to do is hop on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone and you can travel the world without leaving your couch or classroom.

In August of 2013 I started working on creating my global project - the "Global Digital Scrapbook". I have gone to several conference sharing how I created my global project. I was suppose to be holding a workshop at ISTE this year helping other educators start creating their own global projects. Due to lack of people signing up for the workshop my session was cancelled. I would still like to share with you some resources on the topic.

I have created a group in Edmodo on Creating Global Projects. I encourage you to join the group if you are interested in creating a global project or if you would like to connect with others and participate in their global project. Once you click the link to join the group I will have to accept you. In the group you will be able to post your questions, ideas, or ask for help. I have also created folders with resources and tools I have used in creating my global project.

If you need need or have questions please feel free to connect with me.

Resources:

Reaching for the Stars....

In May of 2013 I decided to set personal and professional goals. One of my personal goals was to attempt
to participate in a 5K fun run. Since I made that goal I have participated in 4 separate 5K fun runs. Now keep in mind for most of my adult life I wasn't physically able to walk very far without having to stop and catch my breath, so for me to attempt to met this goal I had to work on it.

Another goal I had set for myself was professional and personal all at the same time. I am that quiet person that sits and listens to people. I've been that way my entire life. When I started my career in education I have been nudged to share my knowledge and experience with tech ed. The very 1st presentation I did that wasn't for my school district was in 2004 for the Summer MACE conference in Kansas City. Ever since then I have presented on and off, mainly for the school district I worked for. In Spring of 2013 I decided that it was time that I reach for the stars and inspire more than just my friends and colleagues, so I started submitting presentation and or workshop proposals for variety of conferences.

I stepped outside my comfort zone and reached as far as I could. I figured even if I missed the star I was aiming for that I would land among some amazing ones. I submitted a proposal for a workshop for ISTE. I thought to myself even if my proposal didn't get accepted at least I tried. I remember the moment I received the email in December from ISTE. I was so nervous, excited and a wreck all at the same time. I took a deep breath and opened the email. I ran through my house yelling, jumping up and down all at the same time. My husband had literally thought I had lost it. My proposal had been accepted, and I was on cloud nine.

My workshop for ISTE 2014 on Creating a Global Digital Scrapbook has been canceled, it was supposed to have taken place on July 1st. I have mixed emotions about it. I understand that they need a certain amount of people to attend the session to make it worth everyone's while and to pay for the room. I am still excited and humble that my session had been picked. It isn't every day one can say that their session was approved by ISTE.

ISTE was just one of a handful of proposals that I sent in that had been accepted. For the 2013-14 school year I have been honored to present at Podstock 2013 & 2014, FETC, iPadpalooza, MACE, and webinars for SimpleK12 and K12OnlineConference. I even attended and presented/lead sessions at edcampKC and edcampKS. My family along with friends have encouraged me to continue to reach out and inspire other educators.

If you plan being in the Atlanta area for ISTE and you would like to connect face to face give me a shout. I have been told that I need to hang out at the Bloggers Cafe, so you may find me there. I will be the quiet person wearing Google Glass taking in all that ISTE has to offer. My goal is to connect and share as much as possible while I am in the area.

Recap of iPadpalooza ....

Teachers learning about Global Projects.

I had the privilege to present and attend iPadpalooza in Austin Texas at the Westlake High School. The crew, volunteers, presenters, and attendees were all so great. I really enjoyed attending this conference. I met some wonderful people, attended some inspiring session, had amazing food, and listened to some great tunes. The conference was not just for the local Texan educators, there were several from Canada, Australia, Washington DC, and even little old me from Kansas just to name a few. This was the 3rd year for iPadpalooza and I foresee that there will be many more to come.

One of the items that was added to iPadpalooza was a student film festival. This really got my attention and would like to try something similar with my students since we are one-to-one with iPads with our 7th and 8th grade students and our 5th and 6th grade students have access via iPad carts.. Hosting a student film festival has great potential to connect students with the community, for students to create something amazing and is seen by more than just the teacher.

My goal for this conference was to make connections and to learn how others go about teaching Coding/Programming in their classroom. I attended several session on this topic along with a few on how to create an app. Below you will find my notes and resources from the conference.

One of my favorite things to learn about didn't happen in a session but out in the parking lot. Coming from a small town in Kansas I've only seen and heard about food trucks from television. I got the biggest kick out of the food trucks, and the food was AWESOME!

Coming soon .... Photo slide from my trip to iPadpalooza.

Resources:

Thank You iPadpalooza crew for a wonderful time, cookie, food, and a great conference!

Reflection of MACE '14 ....

MACE or the Mid-America Association for Computers in Education is always the little shot of inspiration I need this time of year. Even though a lot of the topics are things I already do and teach others about. I love to listen and learn how others use the tools as well or just get their perspective on the tool or topic. This year was even more inspiring for me as I presented How to Create a Global Project. If you would like the resources I shared during my session you will need to 1st create a Edmodo account if you do not already have one. Then you will need to join my MACE - Global Project group, I will have to approve your request. In side the group you will have access to all the resources I shared plus you will be able to connect and post questions within the group.

Click Here to join the MACE 2014 - Global Project Group.

One of the session I went to really inspired me to help my students learn to code, create, problem solve, & experiment. I couldn't get these words out of my head after attending this session Computational Thinking & 21st Century Skills with Scratch, SNAP & Finch Robots. Listed below are the resources shared from that session.

Computational Thinking is Problem Solving

Tools:

Let’s Teach Kids to Code - TED Talk - http://www.ted.com/talks/mitch_resnick_let_s_teach_kids_to_code
Scratch - Web Based - http://scratch.mit.edu
Scratch - Download - http://scratch.mit.edu/scratch_1.4
Can now use a camera to make an interactive game such like Kinect
Code.org
Hour of Code
MIT App Inventor- http://appinventor.mit.edu
SNAP - http://snap.berkeley.edu - Will run on iPads
Scriptastic - http://scriptastic.greenbush.us
KinderCoder - http://blog.greenbushlabs.com/?p=1638
The Finch - http://www.finchrobot.com
Hummingbird Robotics - http://www.hummingbirdkit.com
Khan Academy Computer Programing - https://www.khanacademy.org/cs
Code Academy - http://www.codecademy.com

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1r6nFkfR63v71-jIrySjIx5MYDedurrnPmDY2U5afx80/edit#slide=id.p

Below is my take away from the session on 21st Century Learning Environment Connecting School, Home and Community Through Educational Integration and Tools of Engagement.

Every time you are using your IWB - Record IT
Record the Lesson you are doing. Make it available.
Share you resources
Use Meta Tags for Standards
Manage Your Digital Rights
Same Access at HOME and School
Manage Bandwidth
Look for Timestamps
Make your resources available to parents
Best File converter for video - YouTube
Use Free Educational Resources & Digital

IMS Global Learning Consortium - http://www.imsglobal.org

Tools of Engagement:

Wolframalpha - https://www.wolframalpha.com
November Learning - http://novemberlearning.com
Diigo for Education - https://www.diigo.com/education
Advance Search for Google
Google Maps

What also inspired me was Open Source Badges. I use badges in Edmodo for my students and I am collecting badges for myself on a professional level. What gets me is why didn't I think of using Open Source Badges with my students, so that they could post them in a digital portfolio.

Resources for Open Badges:

Mozilla Open Badges - http://openbadges.org
Credly - https://credly.com

BadgeOS - To creat badges
Open Badge Designer to Create Graphics
Credly Login for Wordpress - allows users to login with Credly account
BadgesOS Badge Stack Add on

Achievement

Tie back to CCSS - 21st Century Skills
Set up tasks

Presentations Beyond PPT

Google Drive & Google Apps
Biteslide - http://www.biteslide.com
Google Presentation - https://drive.google.com/templates?type=presentations#
SlideGo - http://www.slidego.com
Draw.io - https://www.draw.io
Mural.ly - https://mural.ly
Thinglink - https://www.thinglink.com
Glogster Edu - http://edu.glogster.com
Wondersay - http://www.wondersay.com
WorditOut - http://worditout.com
PicLits - http://www.piclits.com/compose_dragdrop.asp
Smore - https://www.smore.com
GoAnimate - http://goanimate.com
Animoto - http://animoto.com
Prezi - http://prezi.com
Haiku Deck - http://www.haikudeck.com
Popplet - http://popplet.com
Poetics App - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/poetics/id543995959?mt=8

Apps that Bring Learning to Life

ColAR - http://colarapp.com
AR Flashcards - http://arflashcards.com
AR Flashcards - Space - http://arflashcards.com/ar-flashcards-space
Aurasma - http://www.aurasma.com
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/aurasma/id432526396?mt=8
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aurasma.aurasma
Studio Aruasma - https://studio.aurasma.com
Layar - https://www.layar.com
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/layar-augmented-reality/id334404207?mt=8
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.layar
FaketicketGenerator - http://www.faketicketgenerator.com
Polleverywhere - http://www.polleverywhere.com
Google Translate- http://translate.google.com
4D Elements - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/elements-4d-by-daqri/id782713582?mt=8
HumanAnatomy

Full Circle ....

I graduated from K-State with my BS in Elementary Education in December of 2002 and my MS specializing in Classroom Technology in 2005. Soon after my graduation in 2002 and the beginning of my teaching career I presented at Overland Park in cooperation with the Blue Valley School District on how to create interactive activities/lesson with a Smart Board. The first conference I had ever attended as an under grade was MACE in Salina. In 2004 I attended the 1st MACE at the Alumni Center at K-State. In 2014 I finally became a presenter at the Spring MACE conference. My topic for my presentation was how to Create a Global Project. It took a full ten years, but it finally became Full Circle for me. My career in Education started at K-State and I finally was able to present at at the 1st conference I had ever attended. In the past 11 or so years I have presented at several conference, talked one on one with several teachers/educators, and even created several workshops. I truly felt at home when I presented at MACE this year even though it was a small group. I felt like I connected with the educators in the session I was presenting at. When they left I truly felt like they become new fans of my Edmodo and were willing to start a new Global Project.

My career is expanding by leaps and bounds and can't believe how much I have grown in the past year. My next presentation will be with SimpleK12 and my topic will be Creating Green-Screen projects using a Green Wall, an iPad, and an App. Which will take place on May 6th. After that I will be presenting at ISTE, which has also been another goal for me. My topic for ISTE is Creating a Global Scrapbook. I will be sharing what I have learning from creating my Digital Global Scrapbook Project this year. What I can't believe is that this quiet girl who sat in the back of the classroom is the 1st person to stand up and share what she has learned.

One of the goals I had which I really had not shared was to become a Google Glass Explorer. Thanks to a co-worker and her belief in me I become one this week. I can't wait to share this technology with my students and staff. My family did get to use Glass before me. I was busy presenting "How to Create a Global Project" at MACE when the package was delivered to my house containing the Google Glasses. I received the text that they had arrived while I was presenting. My family took the honor of taking pictures of themselves wearing Glass and sending the pictures to me while I was at the conference. My 5 year old daughter was the 1st Wilson to wear them. I believe she will be like her mom and be an early adopter for technology.

My next goal is to become a Google Certified Teacher/Trainer. I would love to be trained at Mountain View in CA. I would also love to take my oldest son with me. He would love to be a software engineer in his near feature. He has been teaching himself how to code and develop. I truly believe he will do great things in his career in software science/engineer.

I am currently a Edmodo Certified Trainer and just can't wait to see where my feature takes me. Education Technology is my passion and love to learn and share with anyone who is welling to listen.

Preparing to Present @ MACE '14......

This past school year I was inspired to create a Global Project. I decided to start The Global Digital Scrapbook Project. Today I will be presenting on how I managed to launch my project. I plan on sharing the tools I used to create and manage The Global Digital Scrapbook. This project is still live and in the building process. I can't wait to share what I have learned on creating a project at such a large scale.

I will be at the K-State Union in room 227 at 3pm today.

Resources:

What's Your SuperPower?

I mold minds, touch hearts, and inspire others every day. A few people call me mom, while others call me Mrs. Wilson, and still others call me Techie Chick. I don't define myself by my profession, I define myself by my personality and my passion. I love to learn and I love even more to share what I have learned. I have the privilege of teaching others technology skills and how to apply their passion in this digital age.

The theme for Podstock 2014 is Superheros and I just had to create myself as a superhero. You too can create your own superhero with the help of the Marvel Superhero Creator.

As soon as the call for proposals opens for Podstock I will be submitting my proposal or two. Until then I will be using my superpower to help those learn how to create and share in this digital world.

So....What is your SuperPower?

Reflection of FETC 2016 ....

My Presentations:

iGeek ... Augmented Presentations ....

Lesson:

Podstock STEAMpunk Edition ........

Some Tools So Far:

#NotAtISTE15 Reflection ....

My Ignite Sessions:

iPadpalooza 2015 Reflection .....

Kid's On Strike - Augmented Jigsaw Puzzle

How to Bring the Above Image Alive:

Resources:

Reflection of MACE15....

Resources:

Reflection of Discover Magnet....

Resources:

Edchat Interactive .... Reflection

Links:

App / Tool of the Week ..... NextLesson

NextLesson Projects/Lessons: Just a few I found interesting and fun to try.

Going Beyond a Simple Textbook....

eBook:

Creating AR with the Daqri 4D Studio....

Presentations/Resources:

Can You See Me Now?

Creating a Global Project....

Resources:

Reaching for the Stars....

Recap of iPadpalooza ....

Resources:

Reflection of MACE '14 ....

Tools:

Tools of Engagement:

Resources for Open Badges:

Presentations Beyond PPT

Apps that Bring Learning to Life

Full Circle ....

Preparing to Present @ MACE '14......

Resources:

What's Your SuperPower?

NextLesson Projects/Lessons:
Just a few I found interesting and fun to try.