Super Awesome iOS Summit

I am committed to my 2016 One-Word… ALIGNMENT. So, here is my second blog entry of the day and of the year talking about my professional learning so far in 2016. I went to my first iOS Summit in Vancouver. I conceptually understand “the good” of technology in classrooms and how it can harness student learning in ways that we could not accomplish via chalkboard or note-taking. I wanted to learn more about this as an educator… what could I do in my classroom (if I had one) and use technology to enhance or leverage my pedagogy and engage students in new ways and at a new level learning. So, I signed up. This was a little bit scary for me because I am such a techno-knob. I really know nothing about technology… ask @MsVictoriaOlson and @DAliceMarsh from the #bcedchat co-mod team. I needed help. Yes, I tweet a lot, but I have no idea about using iPads in the classroom, what apps to use, and how this would fit into my pedagogy. Well, some of my questions were answered.

The keynote from @mistersill was super amazing. I was watching closely as an educator and learner. He is a filmmaker, turned teacher, and now #edtechteam public speaker and travels the world!!! Wow. That caught my attention. He uses his expertise and understanding of film to capture students (and myself) to appreciate, question, and learn more about what they see and know about film. I loved that he showed some history of film and its significance to crazy film segments from GoPro4. Jim Sill also showed us some green screen footage and asked the audience “is this real?” He led us through an amazing journey with his PowerPoint presentation and I thought of the new BC curriculum and how film or technology would fit so nicely as a teaching tool. I caught myself thinking and engaged. This is a good thing.

Off to 4 workshops… not really knowing what to expect and what would learn… so, I went to 4 different speakers. One workshop looked at some apps that teachers could use in the classroom with students facilitated by @benjaminfriesen. We had time to PLAY with these apps on our devices to see it’s potential and possibilities. The second workshop was with BC’s own @KLirenman and she presented on apps she used in K-3 math. Hello? Was I engaged. What an incredible morning!!! All of the apps I seen so far could easily be used in a Math 8-12 classroom. I got so excited. I wanted to learn more. In the afternoon, my third session was back with @mistersill and I made my first movie!!! I never thought I could. I got so excited. Thank you for an awesome partner as well… that was super fun!!! Then, I ended the day with a BIG PICTURE conversation with @braddo about iOS in education and the future of technology.

4 completely different workshops which helped me to understand more about iPads in classrooms but also what kind of learning I was looking for. I am super excited to learn that there will be a GAFE Summit in April to follow up on this learning. I want to know more about iPAD apps teachers use and how students use them to assist, document, and also publish their learning. Best of all, I got to meet new people. That morning I met a couple of elementary school teachers who use iPADs in their classrooms to assess students and they both collaborate on their professional learning. A new connection means new opportunities. Yay!!! They had just invited me into their classrooms next week to check it out… see this all in action with students. I just love it… and I’m going. Thank you #iOSsummit. I would encourage others to checkout technology and how it could be used in your classroom.