Launching our learning into the future

A conference keynote is like a coin flip, they can be compelling or boring and miss the mark. We had an awkward opening to the MOREnet2016 conference, however, like 80's slow claps, it slowly evolved to a remarkable and thought provoking message shared by John Spencer. I love to gather with my fellow educators and tech leaders in Missouri. MOREnet provides a lot of the backbone internet for various MO schools. They, along with COSN, help to host an annual edtech conference. It's their 25th year! 

I had a blast-off experience listening to John Spencer about his use of design thinking and learning applied to the classroom. You have to check out his messages. He runs a simple YouTube channel with great design-thinking messages. These messages apply across all subjects and grades. 

Design thinking helps students apply the learning of school to real projects. Check out more from John Spencer about Creativity: 

Check out his website: http://www.spencerauthor.com/

Here are a few thoughts inspired by John:

• "When you don't share your voice with the world you rob the world of your creativity" - John Spencer
• LAUNCH
• Listen,learn
• Ask questions
• Understand ideas
• P-product ideas
• A-audience
• R-Role develop your own
• T-tasks, todo list and deadlines
• S-Solution
• Creating a prototype
• Highlight and fix; embrace failure
• Ready to launch
• Why do we make stuff if it's just going to get destroyed.

Not at #ISTE2016 but still learning

It's the end of June, the weather is warm, the pools are frequented and... I am still at home, not at ISTE. Normally, I would be learning up a storm while connecting with thousands of other educators at the world's largest International Society for Technology in Education summer conference.

And while I can't attend this year due to the coming of a new baby in our family, which I am totally pumped about, I wanted to share my thoughts about learning that comes with this great conference and community.

ISTE is FUN

ISTE helps CONNECT

ISTE will INSPIRE

ISTE is FUN
The best part of ISTE is that you feel like you are at a huge gathering of super excited and motivated learners who are ready to have fun while learning. Everywhere you go there are conversations being had, ideas being shared and enlightenment happening. From dawn even after dusk, something fun is happening.

Being at home, is not as fun, but through the power of my PLN (Professional Learning Network) and social media tools (Twitter, Facebook), I can join in some of the fun!



ISTE helps CONNECT

with over 14000 educators colliding in one location and super charged with online tech tools, ISTE is the place to connect with other like-minded educators. These passionate people are primed and ready to share their ideas and listen to yours. I've met Aaron Sims and Jon Bergman live wandering through the Poster sessions or new CEO of BreakoutEDU, Adam Bellows. Connecting with your #PLN peeps is always a fun time too.  I have come to realize the power in connecting with others and when there are so many others with a similar passion and philosophy it makes for lasting connections. 

ISTE will INSPIRE

Put on a Virtual Reality headset, test out a new product, be inspired by motivational stories, listen to power speakers, feel the passion from real educators trying to do real projects with their students. These things will inspire you to become a better educator. To try something new for your class. The point is to go home refreshed and ready to raise the level of your teaching and learning in your community. 

I am home...but I am not out of ISTE. There are plenty of ways to stay connected with ISTE so that I can have the FUN, make new CONNECTions and be INSPIRED to learn on! 

#learnforever

I have a Team

It takes a team to brainstorm. You can generate some great thoughts individually; through the brainstorming process together you can evolve your one idea and spawn an even greater collaborative idea.

This was the third and final day of our Summer Connections conference at Mooresville NC.  While there are many tool and neat apps that I would love to share, I am going to restrain now and share a couple thoughts about team work.

Teamwork is a culture. It takes effort to build and it takes time to grow. Just like planting a tree from a tiny seed. Teams need time to ponder, time to chat, time to work, time to laugh, time to play, time to share and time to collaborate. This trip helped to bond my team. We traveled together and ate together. We enjoyed keynotes and presentations, we asked questions and networked, we looked for others success and discussed how we would do it, we bowled and we danced and most importantly we grew. We grew in knowledge, belief, patience and communication.

While this was an experience that took place throughout this Summer Connections conference, I believe this is a similar experience that you can have as a learner.  You can make connections, network, collaborate with others, work on a project, enjoy a lunch with an old friend, or just listen to another, and through that you can grow. So grow where you are and enjoy it. I sure did. I can. You can. We can.

I thank the Belton School District for allowing me an opportunity to attend such a great conference and to support my growth as I try to support our students growth. I believe we can all continue to grow and learn forever.

“with all the technology we have, the most powerful force we have, a sense of love and caring” Dr. Mark Edwards

The Learning Continues

When you attend conferences, one thing you hope to get is connected. You connect socially, educationally and technically. According to the post on Forbes, there are 7 pillars of being able to connect with others. Many of these pillars I have experienced from the host at Mooresville's Summer Connection. 

A couple examples from this conference from the article: 

Be Genuine - I can not tell you how impressed I am with the authentic, genuine love of learning and of sharing their message than I have experienced from Mooresville. It shows in everything they do.  

Providing Massive Help - In addition to the myriad of resources shared, Mooresville staff will engage in pertinent conversation and willing to diverge from their talking points to meet your need. They express help at all times. 

I want to share a couple thoughts from the the conference. The impression from Mooresville is not a hoax or a fake front. It is truly and deeply a part of who they are. At the opening Culture & Climate session, we participated in some trust activities which modeled taking a chance and #FailFoward. We went through the simple blindfold activity. Where a leader is blindfolded and in the "hands" of the other staff. These types of activities are important to continuing to remind leaders of the support and communication needed from staff. Plus its really fun. 


Just being here and seeing the successes they have created is inspiring. I loved this thought we had when talking about our reflecting on our programs and trying to continue with them, a MGSD leader said, "I don’t go to the grocery store with a list of things I don’t want." While you will find what you are looking for, its important to stay positive and willing to grow. And with Mooresville, its not so much important where you grow but that you are growing. You can tell these teams have worked with each other before because they are completing each other's sentences. 

Afterward the educational sessions the learning continues through the development of socializing with food and fun. They hosted a great bowling and buffet tonight. What I found interesting was that they took the time to have their employees attend, and hanging out with all the groups. I realize this took extra effort and time but was so valuable to building an unforgettable relationship with those who attended. They try to make real friends. 

There is always time to make friends and #LearnForever