I'm Technically Speaking

The journey to ISTE Certified Teacher took me to St. Louis this last week. My adventured started online a week before and now in-person at METC (one of four training locations in the US). A total of 29 educators from multiple states gathered together in the METC's training facility for two days. This group was selected as one of the 1st cohort groups. Excited about my travels, I awoke at 2:00am (an hour ahead of my alarm). Giving up gaining any additional sleep, around 3:00am I showered and prepared for my 4:15 pick up and delivery to the airport. Boarding the plane at 5:50am and getting on our way by 6:20am, put me in St. Louis around 7:30am.  Once in St. Louis, I road in my first UBER ride! It was a very nice experience and I would recommend it. My driver was a very good and kept a nice conversation going. I found a seat in our training room just a couple hours ahead of the start time of 10am. The room slowly began to fill with strangers from all over -- ev...

My newest adventure....becoming an ISTE Certified Teacher . "ISTE Certification for Educators is a new competency-based, vendor- and device-neutral teacher certification based on the ISTE Standards for Educators. This digital credential recognizes educators who understand how to use edtech for learning in meaningful and transformative ways." Certification Process (as shown on METC site ) Through the ISTE Certification process, educators will participate in an eight week blended learning cohort based on the ISTE Standards and transformative pedagogy. After completing the blended learning course, participants will have six months to apply their learning and compile artifacts and reflections into a competency-based portfolio to earn ISTE Certification. Content will be taught in the following four modules: Designing For Diversity; Personalized Learning & Alternative Assessments; Digital Learning Environments: Design Thinking & Computational Thinking; and The New ...

Back in 2013, I wrote a post about a launch . Now almost 5 years later, I was able to participate in a review or I'll call it a "relaunch". Ginger and Kevin created a new online version, " Taking Your Excellence Global ".  They opened the course for launch grads to review and receive feedback. This was a great opportunity for reflection--in 5 years things are quite a bit different.... Then (2013)  -under 200 followers -looking for a full time tech position Now -over 900 Twitter followers now -Full Time Education Technology Specialist -Now Google Certified for Education Certified Trainer -Pursuing becoming an ISTE Certified Teacher in one of the first cohorts Reflection: Sometimes we see where we are not....we see others making bigger strides, doing "bigger" things, and seemingly making it big. I am guilty of it. I compare myself and chide myself. However, looking back I am seeing a lot of growth! I've presented over 40 webinars w...

With the exit of 2017, it is time to consider a new word goal for 2018. Before sharing this new year's goal word, here is a quick look back at the last few years. 2014  -- Stretch 2015  --  Step Back 2016  --  Release 2017  -- Risk 2018 will make for the 5th year of #OneWord goals! This year's word -- OPEN Open to...      Opportunities      People      Events Needs around me. This goal is bound to test me and my "introvertedness". In some ways it will combine all the last few years of goals... It will cause me to take some Risks. I will have to Release close-mindedness, fear, etc. I might have to take a quick Step-back and process how to be open before moving forward. And being more open will certainly Stretch me. Happy New Year!

Last week I attended the Nebraska Educational Technology Association Fall Conference in Kearney, NE. Located in the Younes Conference Center, literally steps away from the hotel - Younes was a beautiful center for this conference. Key noting and providing multiple breakout sessions for the fall conference, was Jimmy Casas . Jimmy alone made this trip worth the 3.5 hours of driving. Here is the rundown of the sessions that I attended: Welcome & Keynote - Start. Right. Now. - Moving Beyond the Status Quo Cultivating a Culture of Excellence What Connected Educators do Differently Teaching and Leading for Excellence: From Beliefs to Behaviors Beyond the Fine Print: Legal Issues for School Tech Officials 'If You Build It, They will Come...but Only if They can Help Build It Too.' Twitter…Is It Really a Game Changer? If you would like to see all of the conference handouts - you can access those here . Here were my big takeaways: It starts with a mindset Every...

--Last post I mentioned both EdCamp and my introverted personality. I'd like to talk a little more about the combination of those (EdCamp & introvert).-- Last Thursday was EdCampKS day. I have really grown to love EdCamp. I love the price (free), choice, converstations, prizes, connections, and more. With it being local, there is also the opportunity to connect with educator friends and make some new as well (but for someone who has travel alone for several years to conferences, having familiar faces and traveling with friends is a big plus). The challenge for me at EdCamp has been participation. Remember...I'm the quiet one in the back. But to fully embrace, enjoy, and experience EdCamp - I needed to participate in the conversations AND (personally, I needed to) push myself further to lead. Lead? But EdCamp is about converstations....I'm more about presentations. I like to know my facts, have my ducks in a row (points of presentation)...basically know all that ...

If you know me....really know me, you will know that I am an introvert. Side story - I recently shared this with a former college student and they were shocked :) I love that it was a shock for them honestly. It means that I can do what I need to do -- lead when in that position. I recently read a post "The Power of Introverts in Leadership" the article started by asking: "Do you tend to listen more than talk? Would you rather place yourself on the outer edges of a group rather than the middle? Do you feel most effective one-on-one and small groups versus a large group?" Um...yes, yes, and yes. "In a world of attention mongering, introverts can feel drown out by their seemingly charismatic, attention-loving, charming, fun, and cool extroverted cohorts.  I mean,   don’t people just prefer charismatic, charmers? Aren’t they just more fun, cool, and friendly?  That’s the belief I held for a long time – people who were quiet were seen as none-of-the-above....