An Example Conference - #MGSD15

I have been to...well lets just say a lot of conferences. To name drop a couple, the great and glamorous ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), NSTA (National Science Teachers Association), AAPT (American Association of Physics Teachers), #EdcampKC and various others. All of these conference held many things in common: lots of sessions, learning, cookies, technology and miles of walking. While I definitely rose to the top on my school's health initiatives, I continue to experience the same types of presentations, sit and get.

All that has changed. I am currently visiting Mooresville Grade School District Summer Connection Conference. It is truly amazing. From the entrance to the school, with employees in their Blue polos welcoming and greeting, to the breakout sessions that are actually modeling what they are promoting, I have felt the culture and spirit of learning. This is what we should be teaching and learning when we attend conferences.

Mooresville Grade School District has 6000 students, 3 elementary, 2 intermediate, 1 middle school and 1 high school. It is a nationally recognized school for its excellence(MGSD School About Page). It prides itself of being a leader with inundating schools and student with technology, but promotes the enhancement of learning thanks to these powerful tools.

I have a problem when attending many sessions on teaching for schools. I feel like they all seem to say and tell about a tool and how great it is and show it off and use video clips, but rarely do you get to see a true modeling of the effective 21st century teaching and learning skills. I believe here at #MGSD15 they not only talk the talk, but they walk the walk. I can say that from my first hand experience.

Some of these experiences included a high energy welcome session with student presentations. They seem to be very conscience about the terminology about everything. From understanding "personalized learning" to calling their vendors "partners" because that is what they are to them. Students gave their actual presentations from projects from this previous year. The student were confident and knowledgable. I loved what this 12grade student said about his experience from his animation project; he said that he had a "sense of professionalism." This is what we want all our seniors going forth to life to experience before graduating. Dr. Mark Edwards shared his sentiment that “with all the technology we have, the most powerful force we have, a sense of love and caring" and that we need to “look beyond children and see them as they can be.” Such powerful and simple words of truth.

Our first breakout we worked with our team from the Belton School District 124, assistant superintendent, instructional coach, technology integration specialist, technology director, librarian, to evaluate and reflect on our learning practice at our own school. We discussed Personalized Learning and its meaning. After created our image of an effective and ineffective classroom we did a great SAMR sort using some differentiated cards.

My tech coach break-out included a nice modeled lesson that was built around the idea of tech coaches as super heroes and how we have powerful skills to share and even some kryptonite that we need to be sensitive to.  We also did an iron chef with mix and match cards about learning tools, types of learners and standards. It was fun and flexible. We were up out of our seats, we collaborated, we laughed. All the things of a great lesson. The agenda was accessible via a Google Site and Google Docs. We used them to collaborate. I appreciate that MGSD used the tools effectively and appropriately. I want to model more like they are doing. Its not fancy, its simple. Just do it.

I truly had an amazing and enlightening day attending #MGSD15 and I encourage all to attend, learn and then bring the same climate and culture to uplift and spark the flame of learning in your own home district, community, and with students and parents. Because that's what its about, helping our students.