This weekend I had the opportunity to speak with teachers in Frederick Maryland and Manchester Connecticut.  I love doing these talks. It's an incredible rush to know that because of your message a teacher is ready to put him or herself out there and try something new in the classroom. Maybe it's finding an alternative to a worksheet they've used for ten years, or creating a video so that students can access the material at home. The topic of failure is often preached at our events, and there are fantastic examples of people who have taken a risk and it hasn't worked out.  However, that doesn't make it any easier. Anytime I fail I get incredibly nervous and fear what others may think.  So much so that I will begin thinking of ways to frame the mistake so that it lessens the blow.   What I've began doing, however, is start with the cold hard truth. I made a mistake. This didn't work. In other words, I failed. When I was in the classroom, I had times where my test scores were lower than they were supposed to be.  I've forgotten critical deadlines that led to missed opportunities. I've empowered students to publish online, only later discovering that what they posted was very inappropriate and potentially damaging to the school's reputation. I now believe that those failures helped me discover who I am. Every time a mistake happens, we are forced to look in the mirror and realize that we're not as good as we would like to be. Over time, we begin amassing a huge collection of mistakes, or as I call it, a dung ball.  This ball of "*@*@" is who we are, and it motivates us to be better next time; to continue searching for the correct path forward. Don't try to hide your dung ball. Own it. It's who you are. You will be surprised how relieving it is to know that even the worst about us is out in the open. There's something to be said about not giving others the chance to hold something against you. Because you're so up front with pointing out your failures it can no longer sit in the back of your mind and keep you for taking the next big risk. I hope to see you at the next EdTechTeam Summit featuring Google Apps for Education in your area. 

From: Nate UbowskiHeritage High SchoolDenver, ColoradoI used to believe that my birthday was a special event that warranted a full month of festivities and fun. Even though I am not quite as selfish as I used to be, I did give myself the best present I could give myself: a weekend around empowered teachers. I just spent my birthday attending the Colorado GAFE Summit in Boulder. Molly Schroeder made it clear in her keynote that just by being at the conference we are empowered teachers. We may not always feel it. We may feel that we are just getting started. We may have lots of hoops and bureaucratic red-tape to get through. We may not have the devices we want. We may not have the support we want. But what we do have is a community of teachers trying to make education better tomorrow than it was today. It’s not always about getting what you want or getting the newest devices in your students’ hands. It’s about doing what is best for students. So, what is best for students? You know. You’re a teacher. That is why you do what you do. If you still aren’t quite sure what you should do, here are a few suggestions:Fail loudly: one of the things that many of our students never hear is that it is okay to fail. When you try new things as a teacher and they don’t work, let your students know that you tried and failed. Being a teacher doesn’t make you infallible or invincible. It gives you a platform to share your failures (but also share your successes). Live in Beta: This builds off of the first piece suggestion, but by trying new things and taking risks, you are admitting that what you have always done isn’t necessarily the best. With changes in students, we should have changes in instruction. Take a risk, try something new, live a little. Attend a GAFE Summit (or any other conference that would surround yourself with like-minded people): One of the best things that I could have done in my first semester of teaching was to attend my first EdCamp. I had no idea what it was, but I walked away thinking, there is something better out there for our students, and I want to be a part of that. Become that empowered teacherAfter attending the Colorado GAFE Summit, I realized this: no matter where the education spectrum shifts or whatever referendums are passed down,  there are so many educators ready to fail loudly, live in beta mode, and to do what is best for students. I want to be a part that. That weekend was one of the best presents that I could have given myself because I know that I am a part of that. I am an empowered teacher.

There is a lot of buzz around #gafesummits. People are talking about them from coast to coast even in countries where you might not expect to hear about schools using Google Apps for Education. There is something special about these two-day events and a lot of teachers find them the perfect combination of pedagogy and fun!What is all the talk about? In the simplest terms - it’s about mind-blowing learning that happens over two days at various school-based summits around the world.These two day events are packed with activities strategically set-up to get participants moving, networking and taking ownership of their learning. Participants begin by fueling up with brain-powered snacks at the breakfast spread, and then mozie over to the photobooth where they can get their creative juices flowing by mixing and matching props to take the perfect google-inspired photo.Summits begin with keynotes that center around cutting edge ideas like "Living in Beta" or "Future Ready Schools" strategically chosen to set a motivational tone for a days worth of inspired learning.After the keynote we are all off to four different sessions throughout the day, where participants can learn how to use a tool, delve into the pedagogy behind technology integration or wander into a session that looks into innovative ideas like design thinking or empathy in the classroom or moonshot thinking - an idea inspired by Google. Roni Habib packs two rooms at the Marin Summit as he discussed the idea Mindfulness and Happiness in the Classroom.In addition to the peppering of innovative sessions, there are sessions based on iOS, Android and ideas like Digital Portfolios and Digital Citizenship offered by known experts in those areas. What Sets EdTechTeam Summits Apart From Others?Chris Bell, COO of EdTechTeam, boasts: "We have compiled a group of world class presenters" that make up over 50% of the sessions to ensure the highest quality sessions around. Mix in a great combination of local talent and participants walk away with their minds blown and inspired to make real change in their classrooms. EdTechTeam makes sure that there is a list of experts and innovation specialist to help lead teachers down the pathways of impactful integration.Between sessions there is a break that allows for networking, sharing of ideas, the chance to pick the brain of a favorite presenter, and the creation of relationships that often lead to life-long friendships.With over 50 Summits in the works for next year, including iOS Summits - there is sure to be an event near you! Come for the learning but stay for the fun. Follow the hashtag #gafesummits until you can attend a summit or become a summit groupie like many people I know.See what the Marin News has to say about GAFE Summits!To learn more about an upcoming summit, register for an EdTechTeam Summit featuring Google for Education in your region, or contact EdTechTeam about custom professional development and organizational change coaching. EdTechTeam is a California Benefit Corporation and global network of educational technologists dedicated to improving the world’s education systems using the best technology and learning principles available. EdTechTeam produces Future Ready Schools summits and custom professional development for teachers and school leaders around the globe.

Last week I had the opportunity to work with some awesome teachers in Hudson Valley, New York as well as Suffolk, Virginia. It's awesome to see teachers excited about professional development and leave with an eagerness to get back in the classroom to try something new!As we begin to understand the strengths and limitations of online and video instruction, it is important that teachers are equipped with the skills necessary to create their own high quality educational videos. A transition to digital classroom models should not mean a reduced role for the teacher. By leveraging digital tools, teachers can augment their role and extend their instructional voices beyond the classroom walls.Here are ways you can use interactive YouTube videos:1. Create interactive books: In this video I've taken the traditional read aloud and broken it into four separate videos. When the student arrives at the end of the first segment they are required to make a make a decision. Once they select their answer, the second video in the playlist will load.2. Curate great resources: With iPads and smartphones, the days of a list of blue links are limited. In this video I've linked off to four other videos that help students learn about types of chemical reactions.3. Review critical questions:  In this video I've taken a single exam question and turned it into an interactive experience for the students. Anytime they get the answer incorrect, there will be a video of me explaining why it's incorrect before they try again. The entire experience is four videos.Here is a video tutorial on creating interactive YouTube videos:I hope to see you at the next EdTechTeam summit featuring Google Apps for EDU, iOS, or Future Ready! 

BirdBrain Science is an online personalized science curriculum.  The company is making their product free to all friends of EdTechTeam! One size does not fit all when it comes to teaching science.  More and more, we hear talk about "personalized education" and the need to meet every learner where they are. I think we can agree that’s a great idea, however, as a teacher trying to accommodate the learning needs of 20-100 students on any given day, preparing one high quality lesson is challenging enough.  Thankfully, an awesome new site is here to help science teachers differentiate the content for the different readers in their classroom. With BirdBrain Science, every student is able to access science content at their instructional reading level, ensuring that every student is able to fully participate in the lesson (and increase their reading ability at the same time.) Think adaptive, personalized science texts for each of your students!The company was started by Brendan Finch, a former Los Angeles science teacher. Brendan left the classroom in June in order to reinvent science education. Brendan has graciously agreed to provide free access to any friend of EdTechTeam for the rest of the academic year though this special page.  Be sure to forward this along to the science teachers in your life, it'll make their day! I even hear a rumor that they plan on moving into history next….Hopefully I’ll see you at the next EdTechTeam event! 

I love me some good educational video.  With more than 72 hours of new content being uploaded to YouTube every minute, finding great videos to use in class is a daunting task.  Here are the resources I use for finding great videos. As always, remember to watch every minute of the video you plan on showing in class!  1. Devour is a website where they curate a handful of videos every day. Not all the videos shared here are educational.  I like to drop by the site a few times a week to see if something catches my attention. 2. The Kids Should See This is the creation of a mom and her two kids. The blog site features great videos that you (and your kids!) should see.  The curation skills here are top notch3. ShowYou is the Swiss Army Knife of video aggregator tools, pulling in videos from all over the web. The best feature is that you can add your Twitter and Facebook accounts and quickly see all the videos people in your PLN are sharing.4. Vimeo Staff Picks is a great place to discover high quality, usually artistic videos. The staff frequently feature animated shorts created by students in digital arts schools. These videos are perfect or language arts classes. 5. YouTube Trends is the official YouTube blog where Googlers discuss the latest video trends around the world.  It's a fantastic place to get the story behind a viral video or the latest internet meme. I hope to see you at the next EdTechTeam Summit featuring Google Apps for Education in your area. 

By Holly ClarkAs educators, we hear a lot about apps!Sometimes we spend countless hours going through them to find the best ones. I propose we try something different.Instead, it’s time that we look at apps to find those that help us gain a better look into student thinking and understanding. I have created a list of my favorite apps that purposefully achieve this goal. There are of course more apps than these that create informative artifacts of learning, but I like to keep the list simple and concise so that teachers and students only have to learn a few apps  -and can focus on content not on learning new platforms.The following list will help make student thinking visible not only to the teacher - but hopefully to the world.Each app is linked - have fun exploring them.To learn more about an upcoming summit, register for an EdTechTeam Summit featuring Google for Education in your region, or contact EdTechTeam about custom professional development and organizational change coaching. EdTechTeam is a California Benefit Corporation and global network of educational technologists dedicated to improving the world’s education systems using the best technology and learning principles available. EdTechTeam produces Future Ready Schools summits and custom professional development for teachers and school leaders around the globe.

From: Tanya AvrithTwitter: @TanyaAvrithTanya lives and works in South FloridaDuring my last seven years as a teacher and consultant, I have borne witness to the technological digital shift in education. When I began my education career in 2005 at the tender age of 23, I had little idea what I was about to face. I was given an unheard of mixture of classes and was thrown to the sharks wearing my new heels and best "teacher" clothes. NaÏve and idealistic, nothing had prepared me for the challenges and incredible joys I would face in the classroom. Nor did I realize that a revolution in education and social media was under way.Looking back to when I began teaching, I can now appreciate what was developing. It was at the very the beginning of what we’ve come to call the "Web 2.0″ student generation. My students that year were not yet posting constant status updates on Facebook, nor were they tweeting, sharing videos on YouTube or bringing smartphones to class. Boy, were things about to change…By my second year of teaching I had become the media teacher (along with a long list of other subjects) and was introduced (by a student of course) to Facebook, founded only a few years before. I still remember the first time I logged on. I was ignorant to the etiquette of status writing and posting pictures as well as privacy issues and how they could affect me later in my life. Like most of today’s first time users, I made many mistakes when using social media because I didn’t know any better.As an educator or parent it is easy to forget how quickly things changed in those few years. From one day to the next, the way our students/children socialized and communicated was turned upside down. Teachers and administrators are still trying to figure out what their roles are when it comes to dealing with the use of social media, both in and out of the classroom. We are at a crossroads in education where we need to figure out how we should be dealing with the issues that arise from this new "digital" generation of students.Where do we go from here? Do we ban?Block, filter, take away, confiscate. All adjectives used to describe the current policies in many schools. Early on, like many of my colleagues, I feared technology, and my knee-jerk reaction was to agree with this type of policy. Isn’t it human nature to try to repress the things we don’t understand?The problem with this approach is that it does not work. It turns teachers and administrators into the "cell phone and Internet police." We scour our classes and manage confiscated devices. We block everything on the Internet that we don’t want to deal with. We investigate, punish, give detentions, and spend many hours dealing with the issues that arise when things go wrong.What are we really accomplishing with this approach? We are missing many opportunities that these complex devices could bring to the classroom. For example, many of our students have access to 3G networks on their smart phones where they are always connected. These students have the potential to have a computer, video/digital camera, access to the Internet, and online books at their fingertips… And what are we telling them to do? Put them away! The irony is that we find school boards discussing the need to find resources to put technology into those very same hands.Do we educate?What we do need is a coherent plan to teach digital citizenship in schools. Digital citizenship addresses the appropriate use of technology. It is not about the technology itself but rather about the effects that arise from its usage. It’s an interesting approach that focuses on teaching about the ethical usage of technology.Many teachers admit that they feel intimidated with the use of technology in the classroom because they worry their students know more than they do. What is important to understand is that students may use the technology more, however, they are primarily using it to socialize and/or play games and do not always have the metacognitive skills to use it as a learning tool. Furthermore, they are not equipped with the understanding how to use the technology safely and appropriately. The teacher offers the wisdom of how to learn and the ethical direction needed to manage technology creatively and productively. We need to make the most of this symbiotic relationship between the teacher and student. Imagine the possibilities of partnering with our students to learn from each other.We are not asking that teachers change what they are doing but rather adapt their teaching to include elements that are relevant to how our students are learning today. With digital citizenship education there are many educational opportunities that would not be possible if we continue to ban the technology in our schools.What does digital citizenship education look like?Teaching about digital citizenship should not be viewed as an "add-on" but rather complement what is already being taught in the classroom. For example, a teacher who is introducing a research topic in class would discuss how to evaluate websites, and teach the students appropriate searching strategies. The teacher would also discuss copyright and how to properly share information. The Lester B. Pearson School Board DCP offers a curriculum for Digital Citizenship with many examples of what digital citizenship looks like in the classroom. A few great resources that address digital citizenship include:The Lester B. Pearson School Board DCP (Digital Citizenship Program)provides teachers with teachable topics that are age appropriate. It provides easily organized subject and grade level resources as well as resources for parents.Commonsense Media: An incredible resource for both educators and parents that has many resources that focus on digital citizenship.Digizen: Another great resource that provides interactive activities for students to learn more about digital citizenship.The door that is not locked: A bilingual Canadian resource great for parents, educators and students.To learn more about an upcoming summit, register for an EdTechTeam Summit featuring Google for Education in your region, or contact EdTechTeam about custom professional development and organizational change coaching.EdTechTeam is a California Benefit Corporation and global network of educational technologists dedicated to improving the world’s education systems using the best technology and learning principles available. EdTechTeam produces Future Ready Schools summits and custom professional development for teachers and school leaders around the globe.

I often get questions from teachers about how to manage the all the photos from iPhones or iPads and move them efficiently from place to place. Ideally, you need to get pictures of students in action and student work from your mobile and have them accessible up on your computer without taking more than a few seconds. Since I don't live entirely in the "Apple Universe" and my iCloud storage is always full I have found a better approach that is a slam dunk for anyone with a Google Account.In the Google Plus App you have the ability to turn on Auto Backup in the settings. Every picture taken from your iPhone or iPad will automagically be uploaded to Google Plus and set to private. Once they are there you can share them with your circles or access them from Drive, Sites, Blogger and the rest of the Google Apps suite.To get started, follow these simple steps. For help or more specific questions, click here.(Steps 1-6 on iPhone, iPad or Android) 1. In the Google+ App, tap on hamburger menu. 2. Make sure you are on your preferred account. Click on the gear. 3. Tap on Camera and Photos. 4. Turn Auto Backup on. I suggest also turning on Auto Enhance and Auto Awesome. 5. I turn on Full Size Backups and also choose to do them over Wi-Fi only.6. If you have never backed up your photos you should back everything up (I suggest Wi-Fi for this). (Steps 7-8 on computer)7. From your computer, go to Google+ and hover over Home and select Photos. 8. Click on All Photos to see you recent editions. TroubleshootIf you notice that your photos aren't backing up to Google+, try opening the Google+ app and going to the Photos section. If you have Auto Backup turned on, your photos and videos should start backing up.From: Ben FriesenTwitter: @benjaminfriesenBen is the Director of Professional Development - iOS for EdTechTeamTo learn more about an upcoming summit, register for an EdTechTeam Summit featuring Google for Education in your region, or contact EdTechTeam about custom professional development and organizational change coaching.EdTechTeam is a California Benefit Corporation and global network of educational technologists dedicated to improving the world’s education systems using the best technology and learning principles available. EdTechTeam produces Future Ready Schools summits and custom professional development for teachers and school leaders around the globe.

From: Mike NiehoffSystems/Leadership CoachFresno County Office of EducationRe-blogged from Changing is LearningThe profession of education is going through unprecedented change. Many aspects of teaching and school will eventually never be the same again. And nor should they. Although wholesale and fundamental change is slow, there are some things that educators will have to accept and embrace (if they plan on being successful and staying in the profession).These five are:1. Education is more PUBLIC than ever I’m tired of the word transparency. And that is really just the beginning of being "public" as an educator in our changing paradigm. We need to showcase our professional work as educators, as well as the work of our students, with larger communities. Venues such as YouTube, Twitter and all Social Media outlets will be a foundational way for us to continue the idea of being public. Whether it’s for parents, administration, district officials, government agencies or others, educators need to fully accept that close doors and private work are gone (as well they should be). Every classroom, school, district and beyond will be daily showcases to the world of what one is doing. Educators will have to be comfortable and excited about showcasing and sharing, or they will have to find a new career.2. Educators have to COLLABORATEThe word collaboration is almost becoming a cliché. However, as overused as it is, it is an imperative. Educators need to collaborate with other educators (across their campuses and across the globe) on everything from best practices to project ideas. And if educators are doing this only because it’s an expectation, rather than an opportunity, they will undoubtedly miss the true benefits of collaboration. All industries and professions today embrace the concept of real world collaboration - with their immediate colleagues, as well as with those around the world that have new ideas, concepts and challenges to share. Like so many other things, educators need to lead collaboration opportunities or find one of those rare professions today where isolation is still the norm (good luck on that one too).3.  Educators have to CREATE curriculum The days of depending on a textbook or one packaged curriculum are on their final march. Because of new standards, technology and our ever-changing world, educators will be required to and expected to be curriculum creators. They will need to be curators of varied resources and work together with their students, colleagues and schools to create and customize unique learning experiences. There have always been educators from the beginning of time who did this for a variety of reasons. But we have also embraced a programmed system for years that where curriculum was lead by chapters and tests from textbooks and/or fancy binders. The times are a changin’ - many will be excited and say it’s about time, while some may shed tears as their teachers’ editions and packaged resources eventually disappear. For those that enjoy the idea of finding the best resources, ideas, projects - and continually mixing them like an educational DJ or Chef - they will get the big idea (s) and reap the benefits.4. Educators will have to be serious users of TECHNOLOGYWhether educators embrace the use of technology wholeheartedly or not, they will have to continually figure out a way to maximize their work, as well as the work of their students, using on-line resources and applications. One does not need to be an expert at all technology, but rather maintain an open mind on how to maximize their students’ success using technology. All other professions seem to realize that they need to figure out ways to embrace and incorporate the latest tools for maximum efficiency, productivity and innovation. Educators cannot be the exception to the rule. As professionals, we have to see how our lessons, activities and projects will connect our students to present and future opportunities. Technology is obviously part of the fabric of that overall design and we have to see it that way. It’s not our job to pick and choose what we like in the world and make that our educational foundation. Rather our job to take the best of the best in available resources and tools in order to optimize the opportunities and success for all students whom we work with in any capacity.5. Educators need to facilitate COMMUNITY In an era where students have multiple options on how their education is delivered, including 100% on-line while at home, educators will need to continually develop and enhance their learning communities. Students have and will ask why should they come to school or why should they come to a particular school. Educators will need to answer that question. And because students could just stay home, what are some answers? The relationships, culture and opportunities educators create and foster will make the difference. Will one’s classroom be friendly, supportive, individualized, customized, equipped, exciting, engaging and more? It better be. Educators will have to move away from the past where students just showed up to an environment where students will be choosing to show up - and they will be choosing or not choosing based on the successful presence of the aforementioned qualities of the educator’s classroom and learning environment.To learn more about an upcoming summit, register for an EdTechTeam Summit featuring Google for Education in your region, or contact EdTechTeam about custom professional development and organizational change coaching. EdTechTeam is a California Benefit Corporation and global network of educational technologists dedicated to improving the world’s education systems using the best technology and learning principles available. EdTechTeam produces Future Ready Schools summits and custom professional development for teachers and school leaders around the globe.