Leyden at ISTE 2014 = The Recharge I Need

photo credit: thetechbuzz via photopin cc

Every year at this time I need a recharge.  While most are enjoying their summer break, I am submersed in closing out/rolling over about half a dozen of our systems; putting together and uploading files into our state database; setting up and managing systems for summer school; managing big summer projects like getting new Chromebooks for all of our students and setting up a new VOIP phone system; preparing for our 1:1 Summer Symposium; running a multi-day technology orientation for our new teachers; overseeing new laptops being set up for about one fifth of our faculty and summer maintenance for the rest; planning for and executing the upgrade to a few of our curriculum specific computer labs; and trying to find time to write evaluations for my team members.  I often find myself staring at my extensive to-do list, or adding to it, and not knowing where to begin.  I need a recharge!

Enter stage right, the ISTE conference.

I enjoy lots of conferences from the perspective of both presenter and learner, but there is something special about ISTE.  Yes, the keynotes and sessions can be informative and inspiring.  Yes, the workshops provide some great takeaways.  Yes, you can connect with members of your PLN in person to create lasting memories.  Yes, you can even expand your PLN with new contacts.  Yes, you can feel like a kid in a candy store in the exhibit hall.  Yes, you can get a rush from delivering a presentation that others find helpful.  Yes, yes, and yes.  But for me, honestly, ISTE is special because I get to bring teachers from my district with me.  Some of them have never even attended a conference.  Hands down, my biggest thrill comes from seeing the excitement in their eyes, witnessing them connect with others, watching them present, and learning about the fires that get lit under them.  That is exactly the recharge I need!

Here is the Leyden group that will be attending ISTE 2014 and a few of the places you can find them.  I hope some of you that are reading this and attending the conference will get a chance to connect with them.

The Group:

• Mike Fumagalli (@mfumagalliELHS) - Science teacher
• Maura Gavin (@MauraGavin) - Social Studies teacher
• Marisa Kapinos (@KapinosELHS) - Science teacher
• Michelle Marchese (@MsMarchese1)- English teacher
• Justin McCabe - Special Education teacher (hopeful that a Twitter account is in the near future)
• Stephanie Zeppetello (@SZeppetello) - Math teacher
• Todd Veltman (@leydenateam) - Instructional Technology Coach
• Mikkel Storaasli (@LeydenASCI) - Asst. Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
• Jason Markey (@JasonMMarkey) - East Leyden Principal
• Anita Huffman (@MsAHuffman) - New East Leyden Assistant Principal starting July 1
• Me, Bryan Weinert (@LeydenTechy) - Director of Technology

The Presentations:

• Student empowerment, choice and voice: Authentic learning, making and leadership
  Poster session by Anita Huffman
  Sunday, June 20, 8:00-10:00 am
  GWCC Murphy Ballroom Galleria, Table 29
• Principal leadership for digital age schools
  Listen and Learn Panel including Jason Markey
  Monday, June 30, 10:45-11:45 am
  GWCC B303
• Writing in the Cloud: Best Practices for Student Feedback/Virtual Writing Conferences
  Google Playground Presentation by Jason Markey and Michelle Marchese
  Monday, June 30, 2:00-2:30 pm
  GWCC Building A, Level 3 (near Room A313) - Stage B
• Teacher Dashboard: The Missing Piece to Our 1:1 Puzzle
  Booth Presentation by Bryan Weinert and TBD
  Monday, June 30, 2:30-3:00 pm
  Exhibit Hall booth #3014
• Using Google Apps to implement Next GSS in 1:1 environment
  Poster session by Mike Fumagalli
  Monday, June 30, 4:00-6:00 pm
  GWCC Murphy Ballroom Galleria, Table 20

Reflection on ISTE 2013 - I'm Proud

The ISTE conference is one of my favorite events of the year and this year's conference did not disappoint.  As each day progressed I learned, I presented, I connected, I was inspired, I questioned, I challenged, and, above everything else, I was proud.  Be forewarned, I'm about to roll out a bulleted list of some of the things I was proud about:

• I was proud because our district was able to send at least five teachers to the conference for the fifth straight year.
• I was proud because our district was able to send our two instructional technology coaches to the conference for the second straight year and just that we now have instructional tech coaches in our district.
• I was proud because one of our principals, Jason Markey, attended the conference for the third straight year.
• Heck, I was proud just to know Jason Markey (@JasonMMarkey) during the conference and learn first-hand how connected and respected he has become in just a few short years as Assistant Principal and now Principal of East Leyden High School.  He hates when I say this, but I do really want to be him when I grow up.
• I was proud because the more I experienced the more I became convinced that we are doing things right in our district.  We eliminated the obstacle of access by issuing a Chromebook to all 3,500 of our students last year and have truly started moving teaching and learning to the Web.
• I was proud because so many people from across the country now know about Leyden Community High School District 212 and are interested in what we are doing and how we are doing it.
• I was proud because I know that the big topics of promoting creativity and collaboration that emerged out of every session I attended IS happening in our district.
• I was proud because many of the tools that were shared are being used by lots of our teachers.
• I was proud because a few people I met actually jotted down or even tweeted out some of the things I said... like "Don't print.  Publish, post, and share."
• I was proud to be among so many passionate educators that really understand what a modern education should really consist of.
• I was proud that much of what I learned will actually help me be a better father in addition to a better Director of Technology.
• I was proud just to be a member of ISTE.
• Oh yeah, one more, I was proud because my hometown Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup and I was able to be with so many friends, both old and new, when those glorious 17 seconds transpired and victory was ours!  By the way, I'm still looking for someone that has a good picture of those of us that stormed the Alamo and took a group photo there.

I still have some considerable work to do to organize what I learned this year from all my notes so that I can best answer the question "now what?" and share everything with the teachers and administrators at Leyden  (I'm sure I'll be proud of that, too, if it ever gets done).  However, so much of the "goodness" from ISTE is available online that even those that couldn't attend can still benefit greatly from many of the sessions and keynotes that took place.  A perfect place to start is with the ISTE 2013 Conference Playlist on YouTube.

Attending the ISTE conference is an experience I wish for every educator.  If you haven't yet had the chance to go, you need to find a way to get there.  Start planning now for ISTE 2014 in Atlanta from June 28-July 1, 2014!

Computational Thinking Resources from ISTE

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has just released some great new resources related to computational thinking (CT).  You can find the following along with other resources on their website at http://www.iste.org/learn/computational-thinking.aspx.

• CT Teacher Resources
• CT Leadership Toolkit
• CT Student