Reflections on ISTE 2014

It is time that I finally start reflecting on my professional learning and teaching. What better way to start than to write about the most phenomenal professional learning opportunity I have had in the last couple years? ISTE 2014.

While I have been to ISTE a couple times before, this is the first time I was able to participate in the online aspects of the conference. I was able to meet some of the national edtech leaders that I follow on Twitter, which is like meeting rockstars for me. I could also collect ideas more quickly too, by taking photos and screenshots of QR codes to look at later for the interesting ideas I saw in action.

I have yet to start digging in to those QR codes and handouts, but I do have some takeaways from the conference to share.

1. Makerspaces- I saw a lot of robotics and makerspaces programs and products. While I don't think my school needs to purchase all those cool items, the idea of a makerspace is one I have been working towards with my library centers. I think it's time to take that to the next level and develop a Maker or Tech Club as an after school club. I just have to figure out what grades it will be available to, and the purpose of the club. It has to be manageable in order for it to work, so opening it to all 1000 kids in 9 grades will not work in the beginning. I will be overrun with excited kids without the capacity to give them all a focus.

2. Digital Citizenship- This must be a focus this year, especially at the middle school level. Now that all students will have access to devices at least 2 hours of the day, they will finally be creating content and hopefully sharing it with the world. The students need to systematically be taught about how to be a good digital citizen, start to build their digital footprint, and how to use the Creative Commons in their work. One of the poster sessions I attended talked about a technology bootcamp at the beginning of the year where kids went to stations to get logged in to their Google Accounts, learned about digital citizenship and Creative Commons. Here is the presenters Thinglink with live links to information on each topic. Thank you to Aimee Bartis, for allowing me to repost her excellent Thinglink in this post. To see more or Aimee's ideas, click here:

I look forward to delving into this image and adapting it to our middle school students along with my awesome teachers this fall :)

3. Professional Development
I went to a lot of sessions about being a connected Educator. I love having a PLN and would really like to bring this to the teachers and librarians at my district. Many tell me how they wish they were on Twitter, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I think it would be a culture-changer to get them to DIY PD and I can't wait to get more teachers started on Twitter.  I work with an awesome group of tech integrators and getting more of my staff to be connected educators this year is going to be a goal of mine. I can't wait to start brainstorming!

My last goal is to keep blogging ideas, successful lessons and more this year. I have a tendency to take the pictures or make the video/graphic, but then never get around to sharing it out to everyone. There are so many ideas that I've gotten by reading other's blogs, so now it's my turn to give back a little bit.