ISTE 2018

Wahoo! Heather Marrs & I have arrived at ISTE 2018!

Thanks to generous grants from Montana MCCE and the Education Foundation for BPS, I had the amazing opportunity to attend the 2018 ISTE Conference in Chicago this past summer. Attending ISTE was such an incredible time to connect with edtech teacher leaders from across our country, and learn from the best of the best. 

I especially enjoyed being a part of the first ever Seesaw Connect event, where I was able to learn about gamified classrooms from Heather Marrs, explore innovative PD options with Andy Lesier, and delve deeper into #BookSnaps with Tara Martin. It was amazing to meet so many teachers I had connected with via Twitter, and be able to share and learn one with one another in person. The Seesaw Connect Amazing Race was super fun, and I loved leading a job alike session with other tech integration specialists and coaches who use Seesaw. This event and helping out in the Seesaw booth at the ISTE Expo Hall were two definite highlights of my time in Chicago! I love that you can access the website to view resources from this amazing event, even if you couldn't attend in person! Such great stuff can be found at web.seesaw.me/connect/. Check it out!

 Michelle Flicek, Sara Malchow, Kristen Brooks, Eric Robinson & me

 Our Seesaw Amazing Race crew

Me & my buddy Sara Malchow

Me with the amazing Sara Malchow & Bobbi Hopkins

I also really loved the educational playgrounds offered at ISTE. The playgrounds provided a chance to explore digital tools in a hands-on way, with teacher experts available to share ideas and answer questions. I explored at the digital storytelling playground, early learning network playground and Apple ADE playground. Some highlights were learning more (and meeting the creators of!) DoInk and Book Creator apps, as well as exploring amazing creativity tools with Apple Distinguished Educators. 

 My ADE squad!

Dan Kemp, me & Heather Marrs

Some presentations I really enjoyed were Goog-Smacked, with tons of ideas for using Google tools in your classrooms, and Who Wants to be an EduInnovator. This session was conducted in a fun game-show like format that was super engaging! Tony Vincent's emojis in education session was full (I ran late because ... pizza), but you can click here to see his awesome ideas!

Yum!!

Tony Vincent, me & Shaundel Krumheuer

It's also so amazing to have the chance to meet with edu-innovators that have created the awesome tools we use and love in our classrooms! Spending time chatting with Seesaw creators and staff over pizza at Giordano's was amazing. We loved attending events hosted by Nearpod, Adobe, Quizlet, and EdPuzzle - all some of our favorite tools! It's inspiring to hear their stories, and how they made their dreams into a product now used by thousands of teachers & students to make learning better! I also loved meeting some friends in real life that I have been sharing ideas and learning from on Twitter and Instagram. So fun to meet you in person!

 Anita Goodwin, Julie Smith & me

 Me, Sarah Rainey & Ann Brucker

Me at the EdPuzzle event with CHAMPION Sarah Rainey, Shaundel Krumheuer & Shelly Stanton

If you have an opportunity to attend a conference like ISTE, I encourage you to take it! And if the opportunities aren't falling into your lap, seek them out! Ask your administrator, look for grants like the ones I received through MCCE and the Education Foundation, or post a request on sites like Donors Choose! Connecting with other educators to share ideas and learn from one another is so powerful and rejuvenating! I am excited and ready for the 2018-19 school year to begin! (Now, please enjoy these pictures of the Best Doughnuts I Have Ever Eaten.)

Best Freaking Jelly Doughnut on the Face of the Planet

Peanut Butter Cup Doughnut

Biscoff pocket a.k.a. COOKIE BUTTER DOUGHNUT!