Increasing My Reach and Collaborating with Others

Alright now that i know how to receive information about edtech and "follow" people I think it is time to be a creator or producer instead of just consuming. If I can't be a creator how can I get my kids to be creators and collaborators?

I joined a group to collaborate on studying for the Google Certified Coach. I volunteered to be on the planning committee which is outside of my comfort zone but I want to be a creator not just consumer. I created a Wakelet as a place to collaborate and collect for our journey. 

I was watching Flipgrid Live last night and it was infectious I want to keep that same energy when I work with my students. So many new features all to strengthen #studentvoice giving all students access to having their voices heard. 

What's important to me now is finding my voice getting back to what brought me into education. 

Creations 

1. This blog
2. A website that is on the school webpage but I haven't shared as a creator https://sites.google.com/is131.org/6th-grade-ela/home
3. Adobe Spark

Looking at the Google Certified Coach Curriculum

Just finished the curriculum for the Google Certified Coach. It's the same thing with a new name. Anyone who has done coaching and/or mentoring should be able to get through this pretty easy it's giving different names to what we already do. 

Now the program. I am inspired that a company decided to take on this role/task. This is authentic real modeling coaching for the new digital age. The resources included in the curriculum were incredible it's like they put what I've been doing on this very short edtech journey into one place. 

How to build your network? Why build a network? 

 Excellent coaching tools to manage your time and work with others to make coaching impact visible. If I was a new coach I would definitely want to take this year long journey with them and with others who are starting groups to work together on this journey.

My question is do I have to wait a year if I already have artifacts that support this 5 step model of coaching. I have asked and no one seems to know if I have to wait a year so be it I'll still be coaching but why do I have to wait a year?

Another Day on the Journey

"Where will I end up I don't know but I am having a good time getting there."

Today I started my LOGO. Yeah me!!!! BxTechELA on Adobe which I learned yesterday. There is so much to learn everyday is something else. Yesterday I finished my MIEE (Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert) application. 

I still didn't take me time. The last day of school was Friday and I don't think I've stopped since then. 

Today surprise, surprise I get a DM from Buncee they want to talk to me about being an Ambassador. YEAH!!!! Then I get a phone call from a teacher who I had spoke to earlier about the Microsoft Trainer Academy so we got started today. I wanted the practice doing a live training for a significant period. I have done 1 hour sessions but this one covered a lot of "stuff" he went good and I felt comfortable. 

I don't know but I am soooo excited for edtech I can't stop myself. I feel like I was in a drought and someone has water and I can't get enough. 

It makes me upset that not only were the students in a digital divide but so were the teachers. We didn't know others have been doing this stuff for so long and we are just coming on board. I don't want to stay stuck in the problem I want to be part of the solution so I will take ownership of my learning and move forward to give my students the education that they deserve. 

#studentvoiceambassador and proud.

From ELA to TechEla in the Pandemic

Rude Awakening

Wow!! A few months ago I was a total edtech newbie. But then .... the pandemic, remote learning!!!! I was forced to shift on a moments notice. We left school on March 17th saying have a good weekend and then Sunday night we were notified that schools would be closed for an indefinite period an we would move 1.1 million students to remote learning.  Teachers were told to report to work Tues - Fri to set up for remote learning. 👀👀

"What was that...? What would it look like? How will I teach? How will I get to my resources at school? What happens now in education?" ⁇⁇ These were all the questions swirling in my head. 

On Tuesday we were told that we would be using Google Classroom and to set it up!!! Huh!!

The Journey Begins

I immediately went online to get information on Google Classroom. This began my Google journey. I found https://edu.google.com/teacher-center/programs and started taking courses. This led me to the Google Certified Educator program. I went through the course module and said I got this and signed up for the test and got this notified after taking the test FAIL!!!! How could this be I have never failed a test in my life??? That set up my resolve and determination to not let this stop me. I knew that I could not be an effective remote teacher if I didn't have the skills. I practiced and actually created forms, slides, blogs, etc. to experience using these tools. A very long two weeks later I passed and decided why not Level 2. This began my journey into edtech. 

Where Am I Now....