The past two weeks have been full of “firsts” for me.
It all started with two colleagues and myself presenting a session for student technology camps at our state’s technology conference, NCTies 17. The room was packed and I was nervous. The forty-five minutes passed by quickly in the flurry of activity. Our presentation was short giving participants time to play in our makeshift camps. So many questions mixed with so much excitement. The end of our session coincided with a wave a relief that is was over. We did it. Our presentation was a success. Our impact wasn’t fully realized until later that day when I ran into one of the participants. He expressed how glad he was to have chosen our session and that we inspired him to go back to his school and begin planning a camp for his students. What a feeling and this was only the first day of the conference!!
On the second day, I attended several sessions. While I enjoyed hearing about how other educators integrate technology into the classroom, the session that had the most impact was Digital Footprint with George Couros, @gcouros. Not only did he change my perspective on the kind of conversations we should be having with students, he made me analyze why my digital footprint is important as well. As an educator who started a career before digital footprint was even a concept, it is hard for me to see how my digital presence is important. I mean, I already have a job right? Wrong! There are so many reasons and ways I can enhance what is already out there. As a result, I returned from the conference and immediately redesigned my website to include a blog page and this is my first blog post! Thanks George!
During graduate school, we were encouraged to create a Twitter account to begin developing our Professional Learning Network (PLN). Well, it was an assignment and I completed it. However, I never really took full advantage of it until now that is. In addition to the digital footprint session, I attended a session on Twitter chats. While I know what a Twitter chat is, I’ve never participated in one. This session, along with my desire to increase my digital presence, was all it took for me to return from conference and participate in not just one chat this week but two! Many of my answers received multiple likes and a few were even retweeted!
What a week! Conference presenter, Twitter chats, Blog post….I wonder what next week will bring? Stay tuned!
It all started with two colleagues and myself presenting a session for student technology camps at our state’s technology conference, NCTies 17. The room was packed and I was nervous. The forty-five minutes passed by quickly in the flurry of activity. Our presentation was short giving participants time to play in our makeshift camps. So many questions mixed with so much excitement. The end of our session coincided with a wave a relief that is was over. We did it. Our presentation was a success. Our impact wasn’t fully realized until later that day when I ran into one of the participants. He expressed how glad he was to have chosen our session and that we inspired him to go back to his school and begin planning a camp for his students. What a feeling and this was only the first day of the conference!!
On the second day, I attended several sessions. While I enjoyed hearing about how other educators integrate technology into the classroom, the session that had the most impact was Digital Footprint with George Couros, @gcouros. Not only did he change my perspective on the kind of conversations we should be having with students, he made me analyze why my digital footprint is important as well. As an educator who started a career before digital footprint was even a concept, it is hard for me to see how my digital presence is important. I mean, I already have a job right? Wrong! There are so many reasons and ways I can enhance what is already out there. As a result, I returned from the conference and immediately redesigned my website to include a blog page and this is my first blog post! Thanks George!
During graduate school, we were encouraged to create a Twitter account to begin developing our Professional Learning Network (PLN). Well, it was an assignment and I completed it. However, I never really took full advantage of it until now that is. In addition to the digital footprint session, I attended a session on Twitter chats. While I know what a Twitter chat is, I’ve never participated in one. This session, along with my desire to increase my digital presence, was all it took for me to return from conference and participate in not just one chat this week but two! Many of my answers received multiple likes and a few were even retweeted!
What a week! Conference presenter, Twitter chats, Blog post….I wonder what next week will bring? Stay tuned!