A year ago I attended MACUL(Michigan Association for Computer Users for Learning) for the first time. I had always been a die hard MRA (Michigan Reading Association) attendee. The second I arrived back in my district I tried to convince our Curriculum Director to create a Technology Coach position for the district and to just give me the job. He humored me with kindness.
Fast forward one year and I have moved from a longtime teacher and Curriculum Specialist to the newly created district Instructional Technology Support Specialist position. In the 8 short months since I started this role in August the learning curve has been beyond steep.
I took to Twitter immediately upon taking this job to stalk (follow) all EdTech gurus I could possibly find and learn from them as I stumbled my way through Tech Land. I was so very starstruck when I arrived at MACUL and saw so many of those Twitter folks in person, and even had a handful attend MY session. Me, a first time state level, total amateur presenter, just sharing my story and they DIDN'T EVEN LEAVE! Perhaps that was out of kindness and courtesy, but I don't care. It still counts!
I am still processing but here are some key points that keep rolling their way into my psyche:
Peace, Smiles & Tech
Fast forward one year and I have moved from a longtime teacher and Curriculum Specialist to the newly created district Instructional Technology Support Specialist position. In the 8 short months since I started this role in August the learning curve has been beyond steep.
I took to Twitter immediately upon taking this job to stalk (follow) all EdTech gurus I could possibly find and learn from them as I stumbled my way through Tech Land. I was so very starstruck when I arrived at MACUL and saw so many of those Twitter folks in person, and even had a handful attend MY session. Me, a first time state level, total amateur presenter, just sharing my story and they DIDN'T EVEN LEAVE! Perhaps that was out of kindness and courtesy, but I don't care. It still counts!
I am still processing but here are some key points that keep rolling their way into my psyche:
- Stuff is not always the answer. It's what you do with the Stuff. I nailed that one in my session and have always posed the questions-How will instruction change? What does that look like? What will we create to demonstrate our understanding? This is the Curriculum side of me rearing it's lovely head.
- Being part of a PLN only makes us better. Hone your craft, learn from others, question practices, demonstrate understanding through processing. Learn to tweet. Seriously.
- 21f. That is all. (Well, there is a lot more, but I have some research to do)
- Blended Learning is BIG. This is good because somehow between being a student in the #remc #blic course last fall and becoming an instructor one week after finishing, I have found a niche that just simply works. Go blended people!
- Balance. There must be a balance between using technology for instruction and implementing higher level thinking skills via the curriculum.
- MACUL14 most definitely "Ignited My Learning." I can't wait to learn more from all of you amazing people!
Peace, Smiles & Tech
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