"We are our students' wildest dreams."
--George Barcenas
This was the most powerful statement that Jessica and I heard at the EdTechTeam Southern Summit. Our students achieve what WE believe they can. If we don't set high standards and believe in them, there's a great possibility that no one will. We have to push our students, be their cheerleaders, and guide them through the struggle.
Follow George Barcenas on Twitter @mvsgbarcenas.
Cool Sessions we Attended at EdTechTeam Southern Summit in Fayetteville, GA
- Brace Yourselves to Breakout-Lacey Gooch presented ways to create Breakouts or Escape Rooms for free. Many of our teachers have bought breakouts from TeacherPayTeacher or other educational sites. There is a free option: Google Slides is your breakout friend. If you are interested in templates, let Jessica or me know. Check out this Breakout. See if you can crack the code. The Skeptical Senator
- Projects with Purpose! Ignite Student Interest with Google's Applied Digital Skills Curriculum (I went here, Jessica went to another)-Cutia Blunt introduced us to Google's Applied Digital Skills Curriculum. WOW!! The curriculum is designed to teach Google G Suite skills while completing projects on the subject you are teaching. For example, we worked through creating an If/Then Adventure that took place in the Amazon. We pulled in social studies skills by using our knowledge of the Amazon to create our if/then scenarios and of course ELA skills were used. The lessons have been developed for upper elementary, middle and high school classes. Each lesson is around 3-4 hours in length and is student-paced. Check out the Google Applied Digital Skills Curriculum website at https://applieddigitalskills.withgoogle.com/s/en/home
- 100% Student Engagement with Pear Deck-Carrie Hamilton gave an interactive demonstration of Pear Deck Premium Edition. Pear Deck allows you to provide opportunities for formative assessments with students in real time. The Google extension allows you to take Google Slides and insert interactive slides. For example, you could include a multiple choice, true/false, and/or drawing questions to check for understanding. A trial version will be available to us shortly.
- An Elevator to the Moon-Kim Pollishuke presented a keynote based on her son's desires to build an elevator to the moon. It is our job as educators to make the impossible possible. We learned 3 things from Kim. 1. Don't be a flea (don't change your behaviors to avoid the struggle), 2. Get out of your own way (stop telling yourself you can't do it), 3. Find the value in struggle (embrace the struggle and use it to push yourself).
- From Zero to Artist using Google Drawings-George Barcenas taught the class that everyone can be an artist using Google Drawings. During class everyone created their own digital Minnie Mouse.
My first attempt at Minnie Mouse. (This is created with the track pad).
