In the moments and days after speaking at ISTE, I had many great conversations with teachers of color that I encountered. We chatted about everything from where we were from to job responsibilities and session topics if we were speaking. As the conversation steered to the Ignite speech…as if that were different than an actual session…the response was 98% of the time…"I could not have done that!" My response… Why not? To be fair, I was also asked how I was able to do that and if I had to submit a proposal. We all did and that is where being connected comes into play. As ISTE arrives, you follow the tweets…click the link and submit an idea. To be really helpful, ISTE even sends an email which leads to the exact same place. The Boundaries That We Place in Our Way My parents raised me to so see no boundaries even when they were there. To be clear, I’m no dummy when it comes to the visible constraints of color in edtech but I choose to believe in my own gifts and passions over those walls. I also choose to believe that the word "no" doesn’t exist unless I allow it so if there is a door in my way, I’ll knock that sucker down before allowing it to keep me from my goals. In the case of speaking at events, that door can be as simple as an application or a proposal and to not apply is not an option. As a matter of fact, I submitted a very sub-par proposal to present a session on rethinking PD at ISTE which was denied (as it should’ve been). Applying for the Ignite was always on my list of things to do and not just because I am a woman of color but because I am a person with very specific goals and I knew that Braeden’s story was one that needed to be shared in the way that it was. With that said, I fully understood the magnitude of speaking as I encountered more teachers like me who never saw doing so as an option. I lost count of the number of times that people of color told me that they now felt that they could do it because they saw me there and were empowered. (#eduwin) I am deeply honored by that because I know what that feeling is like. I also understand what moving beyond that feeling is like because regardless of race or gender, when I see someone doing something that I KNOW that I am capable of…I always feel that I can do the same and then I begin the steps of getting there. I’m not going to say that boundaries do not exist because they do. Anytime an "acceptance committee" has an unwritten rule of "are they known", that is almost certainly exclusive because the "known" are too often NOT "us". While we cannot control that part, we can control what and how we propose to be heard. We can push the boundaries anyway because what we have is of value and must be a part of the conversation. If leading/speaking is something that you want to do, you make it happen by making your case so great that it is undeniable. Choose a platform that you are passionate about because THAT is what separates a subpar discussion from an amazing one. When that door opens, kill it so well that it will NEVER be closed again. When it’s open, make sure that you share the process and leave it open for the next person to walk through. That is how real change happens. See no limits or boundaries on your capabilities. Truthfully…there are none. Everyone has to start somewhere. It almost always starts with a proposal… Why not you?

While at ISTE, I found myself drawn to watching two different Ron Clark Academy Classrooms in action. I’ve seen the videos but this face to face interaction was different. As a matter of fact, I found myself so removed from the fact that I was at a technology conference that I nearly forgot that I had a plane to catch and needed to leave that space. I became a fan of Dr. Camille Jones when I saw postings of her taking her class to experience geometry by playing pool…just like the animated scene in Donald Duck in Mathmagic Land. This was a part of their Atlanta Real World Class where the city of Atlanta became their classroom. (Such a great idea!!) I didn’t expect to see her and to be able to share my admiration of her work was something that I am honored to have done. She’s THAT great. To be fair, she and Mr. Clark where there to model the use of a vendor product, but it was the connections beyond the product that drew me in. I watched as children, that mirrored my own child, were excited about presenting how they learn. I saw teachers and staff connecting with kids so fluidly that any observer could feel that the most important aspect of their teaching…of any teaching…is in the relationships built. For an hour, while watching the "vendor demo" that was much more than a demo, I felt myself feeling the pangs of wanting to be back in my classroom with my students…not to replicate RCA but to help my own kids see themselves for who they were/are…Beautifully Brilliant. My gosh, I miss my students! To the vendor that laid out the RCA red carpet, thank you because in that moment, while on that vendor floor…smothered by the push and pull of chords and devices…I needed that hour of inspiration. I needed to tell Dr. Jones how seeing her for the brief moments that I did meant the world. She has no idea how much she inspired my own teaching. On a personal note, Ron Clark is my son’s favorite teacher. He even read the book. Of all the things that I could’ve brought back from Atlanta…that snapshot meant more than anything that money could buy. For him, Mr. Clark is the teacher that he always wanted…but never had. It’s definitely not the technology that forges connections but the relationships that we build and how we inspire growth from deep within. You can’t put a price on that as it is an invaluable skill and feeling. In that one hour…I experienced engagement in ways that I haven’t done in years. It’s a feeling that I can barely explain in words. Maybe I just did…    

When I was a high school dance team member, my mother used to do something every Friday night during our football games. She would wait until the perfect moment of silence that occurred right before the band started our song and yell so loud so that the entire stadium could hear… "Smile baby! Act like you own the place!" I remember waiting for that moment and until two days ago, right before I started my RSCON5 keynote, I completely forgot what that moment felt like. There was a moment of quiet right before I began and I just happened to look in the comment box before we started recording. My mother, just as she did before our HS dance team routines started, typed… "Smile baby! Act like you…" She didn’t have to complete the rest of that sentence. I knew. In that moment, I was taken back to our Friday Night Lights. I was that girl on the field…nervously waiting to perform and thinking my way through my steps. It was my mother’s voice that calmed me down and reminded me that I would be ok. In that moment, right before speaking in an online conference…my mother, in the way that she has always done, found a way to let me know that she was there and that no matter how I "performed", I was walking in the shadows of my own self which meant that no matter what…I would do just fine. You Are Supported Professionally, I have attended book openings, sessions and keynotes given by friends…not just to learn but also to show them that they were not alone. We all need to feel supported. My mother taught me that. There is something that is calming when you look into the audience across the room and see your friends or family there waiting to support you. I experienced this before I spoke at ISTE. While I could not necessarily see my friends in the audience, they tweeted me messages and images with each one providing a much needed sense of calm. As a matter of fact, that morning, I spoke to Dennis Grice (one of a gazillion Discovery Education Friends). I told him that smiles made me happy and calmed my nerves. He literally took out a huge smiley face and gave it to me. I snapped the image below right before the doors of the auditorium were opened. Moments before the Ignite session began, I looked down at my phone and saw this tweet. Sending the happy to all the Ignite presenters today. #ISTE2014 pic.twitter.com/oSVC1L4wsn — Dennis Grice (@dgrice) June 28, 2014 That moment was everything and even as I write this, it’s amazing how my mother’s words were even present within this act from friends. We all need feel supported and as we navigate our way through the requirements of life, we must ask ourselves… How are you supporting your own family? How are you supporting your students? How are you supporting your friends? Sometimes "being there" can be the difference.  

When I decided that I wanted to attend the Discovery Ed Summer Institute again, my goal was to do something that I did not do that well last year…PARTICIPATE. I made sure to hang out more, talk more and play more. I’ve done that and I’m pretty proud. Yesterday was the DENmazing Race and while I’m on a path of "participation", I was honestly not that convinced to do something that could very well result in my death. (Yes, I said "death" because I’m totally being a 2 year old) The DENmazing race is an activity that sends teams on a journey of activities where games are structured and played kind of like an obstacle course. These activities are spread across the entire campus and people are crazy competitive to win. To say that this particular activity is intense…is putting it mildly. There is running…lots and lots of running…and falling…and sometimes even yelling! (Sorry Joli!) As insane as it sounds, I am all about "Getting uncomfortable" so when the opportunity presented itself to join a team…I did. I would not have done it had it not been for Joli Barker or Kate Nagle as both promised me that they would not let me die. (Again, 2 year old) The activities themselves were not that bad. They were fun actually. There was singing, acting, shooting, balloon tossing and even dancing. OK, I was NOT a fan of the silly dancing. Everyone has their "thing" that gives them great fear. This was mine!  Plus, I was so…so…so…tired! (So much running…really???) Oh, and I did NOT have my inhaler which I needed…bad! With that said, I allowed myself to participate and be uncomfortable and along the way, I accomplished a few things that I’m pretty proud of because for me…they were not easy. 1. I jump roped and not the "prissy" kind but the kind that I used to do as a kid. 2. I drank after someone. I am a germi-phobe and it was either drink or die. That was a HUGE accomplishment. (To be clear, I will not be doing this again) 3. I kind of danced to a really silly song and survived looking stupid. (I need to do this more) There are many things in life that make me pretty uncomfortable and that’s not a bad thing. Yesterday was important because it was my first time tackling something that is really and truly my worst nightmare come true. I needed to do that because by doing it, I can now add a 4th item to my list of accomplishments! 4. I survived my first DEN-mazing race!!!  

I’ve spent many moments this week at Discovery Education Summer Institute (DENSI2014) waiting to learn something new. I’ve even gone as far as questioning my being here this week and taking a spot from someone who "needed" to learn new information. I’ve had a blast connecting with friends, hanging out, participating in events and meeting new people but I allowed myself to get to a place of wondering…"Why?" Why me? Why am I here? We are all here with varying levels of ability and the one thing that I love is that each of us has something amazing to share. I’m sitting here now learning new ideas for using the Aurasma App from DEN Star, Peter Panico. He’s augmented his family photo album with pictures taken of his daughter throughout the year. He sent each of his family members their own photo album and through the app, they are able to experience the moments that they missed through augmented video. What’s cool about watching Peter passionately share this is that last year, Peter had zero technology. As a matter of fact, he showed up to DENsi2013 with a spiral notebook and a pen. He not only found value for the technology but purpose and he’s teaching everyone about it! How cool is that? A few moments ago, I finished a session on blogging with a group who had never blogged before. It was so cool sitting in that circle and not only sharing my journey into reflectiive blogging but also helping this fabulous group of teachers, fellow DEN Stars, get started. As a matter of fact, they all posted their very first blog postings today! They were all so excited to hit publish for the first time and I’ve never felt so at home as I did in that moment. One of those teachers, Kathleen Kelly, wrote her first post about fear. It was her "post publish" reaction that led me to the moment where I am now…where I "get" it. She wrote this and I encourage you all to visit her blog and comment: Fear of technology has held me back. I fight this fear every time I need to learn something new in technology. The Den has helped me chip away at this. I may be going slower, but I am and will get there. FIGHT THE FEAR.  THIS IS MY FIRST BLOG. Kathleen published and then found her way over to "appearance" after writing which enabled her to choose a theme. She chose the theme with birds because she liked them and the moment that she clicked to view her blog is the moment that this week came full circle for me. I can’t describe it in any other way but…Joy. It was the kind of joy that had a group of women sitting around a table in tears. I will never forget this moment. I no longer question why I am here. I am here for this. Joy  

In the beginning, before "twitter all-star" became a "thing" that isn’t a "thing", I was an educator sitting on the other end of the social space learning from folks, following them and getting super…super excited if/when they followed me back. It was as if the "follow" gave me a magic direct path into their thoughts because I knew that it meant that my words would appear on their timeline. Those moments brought me smiles and joy because in my mind, this "small act" was a small step in meeting these amazing people one day. I had no idea that this would actually become my reality and meeting them, my personal edu-heroes, brought me moments of great joy. Gosh, even thinking about it makes me smile. Yet… When other educators come up to me, offering words of admiration…I cringe. As a matter of fact, several teachers that I met at DENsi2014 expressed joy in our meeting and my following them back. Again, I cringed because in my mind, the thought was very much in the realm of… "Oh nooo…don’t be excited that I followed you back! It’s not that serious. Seriously? I’m sorry that I wasn’t following you earlier!! Me??? Really???" It’s odd that I can be perfectly fine with admiring others and uncomfortable with others admiring me. It’s as if I’ve unintentionally given myself permission to be negative about myself. The heck? The Road of Inspiration The road of inspiration should never be just a straight line from one person to the next. If we do it right, it’s almost circular with infinite amounts of intersections. I’m proud that I can inspire someone but what makes what we do even more amazing is that we are also constantly being inspired by others. I don’t want to live in a world where I am not excited about meeting another educator that I came to know via connecting. In saying that, I have to also be okay that others just might feel that way for me as well. This thought no longer makes me cringe. It brings me great joy. …the kind of joy where a "simple follow" is no longer "just" a follow but a connection to someone that inspires me. A wise friend, Vicki Davis, even passed on the perfect "Angela Lansbury" response to incoming admiration…. "Thank you. I do hope that I can continue to live up to your expectations" Let’s continue to admire each other. Let’s continue to be excited. Let’s continue to understand that in our field, inspiration is warranted. As a matter of fact, you never really understand the impact that you might have on someone else. We have to be able to share these emotional connections with each other. The beauty of these connections is that we all have been there and get to be on both sides of this circular road of inspiring. Now, excuse me while I go jump up and down because Yoda just followed me! PS… A few moments ago, one of the puppet builders that my nephew (@braedenart) admires and learns from, Jordan the Voices Guy (@jordanthevoicesguy) commented his work on instagram and followed on twitter. I imagine that when my nephew sees it, he’ll be beaming from ear to ear with excitement. I made a point to tweet Jordan and tell him what that small act, his words, meant to this little kid. I can also imagine Jordan’s smiles at hearing those encouraging words. Admiration is great as it encourages us all to continue to do great work. We should remember this. @RafranzDavis thank you! this really does mean a lot to me! — JordanTheVoicesGuy (@JordanVoicesGuy) July 20, 2014

It’s true, as that they, that you never really know how much you loved something until it’s gone. You also never realize how much you needed something until you no longer have it. I had to take a moment of pause this week as I was trying to explain what the DEN summer institute was. Yes, it’s sponsored by Discovery Education, an "edtech conglomerate" of sorts but to even classify this under "edtech" is almost insulting. It’s so much more than that…much like DE is much more than video. DENsi is really the week that we all needed at the moment that it happens. Year after year, many of use come to this realization during the moments of "unclosing" while generally bypassing these thoughts while we live it…such an odd thought. Earlier in the week, before the full event occurred, an admin "pre-attendee" commented that we were very much like a cult. I laughed at that statement because she really had no idea what this community was about because when you don’t know…that’s what you think. Imagine being in a place, surrounded by people who are just as weird as you in their passions for what they do. Imagine being in a place where in the face of so much negativity, there are smiles…hugs…laughter…tears. Imagine being in a place, where for a week, you get to leave all the problems of the world behind. You get to "not think" about the burdens of life that get you down. You get to lift up others. You get to build even stronger bonds of support. You get to share. You get to learn. This is what being at DENsi is like. It is the single most inspiring week of your entire life…if you are lucky enough to be there. Personally, this week was tough. So many things are occurring behind the scenes of my life and as much as I tried to live in the moments, there were times that I could not. I tried. I really did. As I settle upon my last few hours in Nashville, the digital story of the last week is playing steadily in my head and heart. It brings me great joy thinking about it. It brings me greater joy feeling it. Thank you to the entire Discovery Education team for bringing us all together. Thank you for being more that "suits in a company" but true ambassadors of learning. Thank you for loving and honoring teachers the way that you do day after day. And Dear Porter Palmer, I watched as you greeted each and every person by name. It didn’t matter if each person was newbie or a vet. You KNEW every face and I admire you even more for those moments as they meant the world to the person on the other side of your hugs. This is why you are THE DEN Princess. Gosh, I needed this week. PS… If you are reading this and you have a Discovery Education account and have NOT joined the DEN community, please do go fix that NOW. You’re missing out on connecting with thousands of passionate, innovative teachers. You’re also missing out on some of the greatest learning moments of your life that may just occur at the moment when you need it most. Until Next Time!  

I am not what one would call an the "average" teacher and if you are reading this, chances are…neither are you. It’s easy for me to rethink what the classroom should be and adjust accordingly. It’s a simple task for me to think outside of the box…far from the intended instructions and repurpose how we interact with tools for learning. I don’t see things as most people. Rules are meant to be broken. There is no such thing as "no" and permission is not something that I’m good at waiting for. Learning is my normal. This is not the norm… A few moments ago, I found myself arguing with myself against the use of a certain tool. For me, it wasn’t new…innovative or even necessary because I know how to use multiple tools to accomplish the task that this ONE tool accomplishes. I could not see beyond my own abilities. And then it hit me… I am NOT the norm. For teachers who are still struggling to be where I am, this tool may just be the "thing" needed for them to get there. Maybe this tool will help them to rethink their classrooms and in doing so accomplish much more than their norm. The point of this reflection is not in giving a single tool any credit for what great pedagogy is but in understanding my own thoughts…and limitations. As a "tech expert", it’s important that we see beyond what "we already do" and consider the implications on learning for teachers who are not us. I have to also be mindful of our weakest links for change…the teacher who is scared to death of change. That does not mean that I make decisions based on the weakest but that I consider that just because something is obvious to me does not mean that it is obvious to them. I am not the norm and now I’ll continue by looking through the lens of those that have yet to adopt the idea that different is good and must be worked towards. Doing this will enable me to think outside of my own box and into the spaces of others. To be clear, it’s not about the tool but about the thinking. In order to help teachers to rethink their beliefs, I have to start with rethinking my own. It’s time to walk around in their shoes.

The other day, in the lobby of our hotel, I stood beside a teacher from another country as he was requesting a folder from the hotel desk. I started a conversation with him and he told me that he wanted a folder for his certificate that he earned that day so that he could show his family. This certificate, the same one that is still currently crumbled in my backpack, meant the world to him. It was as if he had never earned one before. It occurred to me that maybe this was the case. He’ll now have a nice folio for his certificate and I shall un-crumble mine. Hours later, I sat in a room surrounded by teachers from all over the world as we engaged in a conversation while having our #smartee chat online. Together with Boris, from The Netherlands, we wrote 5 questions and with 10 minutes left…I was out of questions. So, I improvised and made question 6 this… If you could make one request for your classroom, what would it be? I asked teachers to think big! What would be the greatest wish for your classroom? I expected the answers to range from ipads to chromebooks and even smartboards since we were here for a SMART conference. As I checked the timeline of tweets, one teacher from South Africa said…Wifi. (I take this access for granted often) The biggest wish that she had for her students was for wifi. I repeated it out loud and pressed her further for response. She went on to say that each teacher there had to purchase their own "internet box" which gave teachers some form of internet connection. It was spotty at best but students had zero access. While she was speaking through tears, Warren Barkley, the CTO of SMART, leaned down and told her that SMART would make sure that her school had wifi. The entire room erupted in cheers because we all understood the difference that this gift would make for her students. The next morning, she stopped me to tell me that she sent messages to the students to tell them this amazing news. One student responded, "will this wifi only be for teachers?" We have many schools in the US without wifi but be also have a movement to provide access to our schools over the next several years. There is no movement such as this where this teacher teaches. This moment…this chat…THAT question… was critical for her and her students. I still get chills thinking about it. Last night, as I was moping around in despair over so many things, I sat to speak to another teacher from The Middle East. He reminded me of how significant it was to be there in that moment. He spoke about his duty to be a present leader for his family and how they depended on his success. It reminded me of my own and their pride in me. Today, I will smile because I am surrounded by people who connect me to what is important. Through the simplest of moments…the simplest of things…I am witnessing lives change and people connect. I am witnessing growth. Luckily, this includes my own growth too.  

A few years ago, it hit me like a ton of bricks that I would be leaving the classroom. I just knew. Yes, I’ve had many moments that sparked a certain desire to return but I know in my heart that a return isn’t on the horizon. More on this later… I’ve worked collaboratively with a few edtech companies through advocacy programs and in a majority of those cases, when it came to classrooms…edtech didn’t "get it". Marketing people within those organizations seemed to be just as disconnected sometimes as well. When money is on the line, it can easily become more about shoving "the product" down the throats of teachers/schools than it is about understanding how that product impacts learning. I am very fortunate in having spent time with two very different companies, SMART and Discovery Ed, over the past few weeks. I can’t even compare the two as they were both completely different experiences. Discovery Ed focused more on building relationships with pedagogy interwoven. My experience with Discovery was more about teachers supporting other teachers. It was more about the community itself than Discovery Ed’s media which speaks volumes to their understanding about brand advocacy. Build the community because the most valuable tool in the classroom is the teacher.  SMART focused on teaching about their product and with so many changes in terms of product focus, it was necessary. In addition, SMART’s event united educators from all over the globe. In most of those cases, these educators were receiving training for the very first time as they are THE resource for their country. There were focus groups as well as opportunities for educators to express their thoughts on SMART’s products and direction. They wanted honesty and I can definitely say that we did that. I can also say that SMART listened. I appreciated that. When you have 76 educators from multiple countries leave your building feeling heard and valued, you’ve done something right. Now, that is not to say that SMART did not focus on community. However, instead of having multiple structured community building events, teachers found a way to communicate and do that themselves and this model worked as well. Decisions…Decisions… At the start of this post, I mentioned that I knew when I would leave the classroom. Today, I knew that I have some decisions to make regarding my future in k-12. I love teaching, developing, planning, connecting…learning. I’ve made no moves or decisions. I just have a feeling. It’s the same feeling that I felt when I left the classroom except this one is much stronger. I know that what I have to offer is something that is missing in a lot of places. When you know…you know. Thankfully, I don’t have to figure a thing out right now. My goal for the next year is to serve our kids and teachers at the highest capacity. I will take what I have learned, share and do so with the voices of learners constantly in my ears. I will do so with one idea leading the way… Relationships matter over products.

There was a time when I was a worksheet/packet printing teacher who taught from the front of the room while my students sat in their seats…in various room settings copying and regurgitating. I hated that year and I imagine that my students, all adults now, did as well. My students were not engaged but totally complying because of the relationship that we established. Were they successful in my class? Yes. Did they learn math? I think so. Was it fun? Probably not. I knew better. They deserved better and thankfully that period of time was short. My school district invested in SMARTboards in every classroom. That, aside from student computers, was all that we had. Eventually, I would add SMART Response PE, XE and then VE to our learning environment in addition to a Slate. The interesting thing is that my students would still become creators. They created content using SMART Notebook. They were making videos and stories related to math because I demanded that Notebook software be placed on student computers too. I should also add that their videos were not just "instructional" but "informational" and fun. It was important. It’s interesting to me that we tend to discount the power of creating outside of our mobile mediums. My students were creators before creating was a "thing". They did not have ipads, chromebooks or smartphones because at that time, those mediums did not exist. Fast forward 6 more years and now students have the power to be creative at their fingertips. Yet, we are often still not at a place where students are creating or even collaborating. I would love to say that the days of students in rows watching a teacher teach are gone. They are not. Instead, that teacher may be carrying an ipad and even sharing a screen to student devices which means that instead of students staring at a board…they are staring at the small screen on their desk. We still fight daily for creation and innovation yet in most cases, if ipads are in classrooms, they are filled with consumption apps and multiple choice assessment tools. Why is that? Simple…Changing a device isn’t transformation. Changing beliefs is. Removing a board and replacing it with screens does absolutely nothing if pedagogy isn’t addressed. Also, screen writing on pages of pdfs = packets. Sometimes, change isn’t change at all. We will get there once we know the difference.

I spent the last two weeks in two incredible places and I have no complaints as these places, Tennessee and Canada, were amazing experiences. I’ll be honest in saying that even with these experiences there were two places that I desperately wanted to be…the Beyonce concert in Dallas and TMC14 (Twitter Math Camp). Now, I won’t bore you with the details of how I purchased Beyonce tickets before realizing that Canada was "a thing" and how my daughter and niece were able to share this experience which was amazing. But…that’s what happened. Twitter Math Camp, the place that wasn’t, was one that I not only wanted to go…but NEEDED to go. I’m not a part of the Math Teacher Blogosphere (MTBOS) as I do not write from the lens of a reflecting math teacher however, math is and will always be the platform from which I build understanding of the technology that I share. I will never have another math classroom of my own and my "years in math" will forever be stunted at 9. However, my understanding of students, learning and helping them to envision the world as they learn continues. This is because even as a math teacher, I taught "kids" first. This is an important characteristic to note. My personal classroom may be but an empty vessel of ideas but connecting to math teachers through the global math department and reading their blogs #mtbos, keeps my grounded in understanding the importance of what I do as well. I learn from them and it’s even more amazing when through their blogs, I see my own classroom again. I take that back. It’s even more amazing when through their blogs, I see things that I could have done better. This is how I continue to grow. I will always be a math teacher first and even if that means that I technically teach math to an empty room, I’ll take that any day of the week before I relinquish this "super power" that I have at understanding how to help kids connect mathematically and how to support teachers in their understanding of where the technology fits. My life is different now yet it is the same. I teach and support through technology but it is ALWAYS coming from a math perspective. This is where I am different. I like this different. Math is my happy place. As it should be…  

By definition, "making" means constructing, building or putting things together. This isn’t new. Yet, we approach the idea of "making" as an entirely new thing. We even have a "space" for it now which seems to be our own way of creating an "anti-testing" space that somehow correlates nicely with "making" being the anti-testing movement. I am all for creating, as I have a nephew addicted to the idea at home. However, we will no longer try to fit him into the mold of being a "maker". What is that anyway??? Aren’t we all this? My nephew, a puppet creating artistic minecraft builder, doesn’t fit into the current establishment of "making". He could care less about the makey makey. He was bored with it, honestly. He has no desire, right now, to sit in front of a screen to perform angry bird coding. At some point, he may actually want to make robotic eyes for his puppets and for that, he just might buy in to the hummingbird. The 3d printer looks cool but again, he’s not that into it. Trust me..we’ve tried. What he loves to do…sewing, molding and designing fur creatures…is rarely considered in the "edu version" of a makerspace. So, by his lead, we’ve determined that what suits him best is to be absent of definition. Like his classroom, the world…he "creator" space is everywhere. All he needs is access to learn what he wants…when he wants. He’ll make whatever his hands can mold wherever he is. This is his normal anyway. His MakerSpace…Undefined By the way, that mascot suit that he is wearing in the image…THAT HE HAND MADE…was made void of a single space. He prefers it that way.

Back in the day, I used to have kids complete a survey sharing fun facts about themselves. This is how I used to get to know my students. Thankfully, technology offers us different ways of sharing and learning about each other. When I train teachers, I love to challenge them to share stories about themselves when learning how to use new storytelling tools in the classroom. This is especially effective when working with teachers who are still a bit reluctant or afraid to go out on a limb and allow kids to express themselves. For this activity, I am using TACKK which is an amazing social sharing tool like SMORE. The difference is that students can create unlimited posters at no cost. Other Features of TACKK Edmodo sign on as well as instant edmodo sharing Google single sign on Connects to social sharing services like instagram and flickr Utilize internal image search from 500px Embed videos, slides or banners to other websites Users can add comments and links, which extends learning TACKK posters embed anywhere! Are you up for the challenge? Create your TACKK, use the hashtag #tackkchallenge and share via social media!

When I taught middle school, I remember the moment that one of my students angrily walked back to my classroom after a meeting with his counselor. He was upset because she asked him, as an 8th grader, what he wanted to be when he graduated high school. He responded that he wanted to be a doctor. It was his dream. That dream ended with that conversation because her response was that it would be impossible because his science grades were too low. He needed to think of something else. To be clear, she was referring to his middle school science grades. After all that we had been through to build up his belief in himself, her one statement sent us right back to square one. You can call it an "inference" but let’s be real. It was an assumption. This was a kid who struggled to find his way in classrooms that were un-accepting and un-inviting. In one moment, all that we worked toward was in essence undone. It would take three more years before this kid was back to seeing his own potential. A potential dream became less real… In all the years that I have trained teachers, nothing infuriates me more than hearing… "My kids can’t do that."  I mean, did you even try? Do you have a magic elevator connected to their brains that tells you that they cannot? Let’s add to this the SPED teacher that says, "My kids can’t do that. They are special ed kids." Really??? To be clear, these were high performing kids with autism and all that we were learning was how to create a video. Dear teacher, before assuming what your kids cannot do, let’s take a moment and think of all the things that they CAN do. Think of the things that they do that freak you out because you don’t know how to do them yourself. Now…pause, breathe, step away from the "halt" button and learn from the same kids whose barrier YOU have built. Don’t let your fears keep students locked in the cave that you insist on living in. Don’t let your assumptions become their barrier to greatness. While the adults that plan the learning are debating on whether or not kids are capable, the ones with opportunity are creating their own learning outside of the restrictive classroom that many of them have because kids with access know that the world is theirs for the taking. What they want to pursue, they can and a teacher isn’t necessarily needed to get them there…especially one who bases learning decisions on assumptions. When we stop committing these acts of "assumicide", these same beliefs can be felt by the kids who are too often marginalized. This kids with zero opportunity because we give them zero access to it… That is the problem with assumptions.

Dear Edtech Conference Planner, A few months ago, you unveiled your featured speakers and keynotes. I admire quite a few of them but I have to say that looking over that list left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. You see, you nailed the part about including more women but it still seems that you have greatly missed the mark on understanding the need to include innovative people of color. Of all of the edtechs representing various ethnicities, with large social reach, you couldn’t find ONE in which to feature? I can think of at least 20 tech educator speakers/presenters of color right now who are not only known for their great ideas but who have the reach and voice to move crowds too. You would know that too if you simply checked. (Hint…Hint…As long as you employ your featured speakers through speaker firms with limited or no people of color, this will be an issue) I find it quite odd that many of us can be approached behind closed doors through private messages requesting our presence at events, with many being offered at least partial funding to the conference because…wait for it…you NEED our voice. Yet, when you planned who your speakers were, you didn’t even consider the very people who you were begging to attend. From the perspective of a teacher/speaker of color, let me share a personal account of what it means when we are heard and allowed to share our ideas…our brilliance with others. I came from a school where there were no technology leaders of color and when I taught sessions, I was able to bring a certain cultural connection to the materials that others could not. I could speak to teachers from the perspective of someone who not only understood how to reach our kids but one who was just like them and that mattered a great deal. I felt the pride of a community as I encountered teachers of color after the ISTE ignites. Should we still have such pride at being "present"…at seeing ourselves represented? In a community that is mostly white male dominated, that pride is very much still there because our "being there" is still not the norm. W I cannot even express the excitement that I felt at seeing people like Rachelle Wooten, Sarah Thomas, Rodney Turney, Rod Smith, Dr. Will Deyamport, III and Timonious Downing, who was just named one of NSBA’s 20 to watch…speaking on the national stage. Teachers all over the world have learned from LeTia Cooper, a creator and technology specialist who presents webinars for Simple K12. Walter Duncan, an English teacher turned App developer, created Quick Key, an app that many of you are sharing with your teachers back home. What about Nicole Tucker-Smith and her husband Khalid Smith, creators of LessonCast, a platform that is helping current University professors better prepare and assess their pre-service students? Prior to meeting Nicole and Khalid, I had no idea that black edtech developers existed. These are only a small portion of the people who are making it happen in classroom technology…inspiring those that they collaborate with. When will the day come that I can click the link of featured speakers and see them? We need more Ken Sheltons!!! To be clear, I am not saying that conferences should bring in featured speakers just because of their ethnicity but because of what they can and will bring to the table in terms of innovation and perspective. We don’t get up and speak about being of color(unless we must), we speak about how we are changing the face of education and impacting learning. Yes, we can all submit and present concurrent sessions…which we do. However, I have to wonder how many awards must we win, rooms we must fill, collaborative movements we must start, apps we must create and books we must write in order to be seen as viable experts like our chosen peers. I don’t expect you to make any changes this year but I encourage you to reflect on your selection process in the future as you are alienating an audience waiting on the chance to be heard. Sincerely, A Frustrated Conference Presenter/Attendee  

I am a math teacher to my core and will always be so it’s only fitting that if there is a session about math and technology…I am a part of it. Only, I’m probably not the best person for this job and here is why… Most people requesting math/tech sessions want to hear about math specific apps. They want practice apps by standard and that’s not how I roll. As a matter of fact, if you scour my devices, you’ll find exactly three math specific apps…Desmos, Geogebra and the TI Nspire app. Here is why… My own beliefs about math and technology are centered on my beliefs about learning. The application of learning through creativity, collaboration and communication gives kids a chance for real and relevant critical thinking that a "math bot app" won’t give. That’s not to say that I don’t entertain occasional topic specific practice apps such as Sushi Monster, Factor Samurai, Dreambox learning, manga high, Buzzmath and others. I just don’t see them as the end all be all. So, yes…I am going to ask questions like… 1. How are your kids creating in math? 2. How are your kids thinking mathematically about real problems? 3. Have you ever watched a recording of your kids talking aloud through a problem? 4. Are you uploading content online? 5. Are your kids uploading content online? 6. Are you and your students blogging? 7. How are you utilizing technology to help kids with the real experience of math that they sometimes lack? Please forgive me in advance if you are looking for a math content specific list and I start talking pedagogy because the problem with math is not a lack of apps but a lack of understanding the art of connection. In my experience anyway…

Today, I sat down to have a conversation with my 15-year-old son about Mike Brown, the 18 year old that died at the hands of a police officer in St. Louis, Mo. I’ve learned to prepare myself for what my son has to say as I am often left reflecting on my own thoughts. Today was no different. He said… "All the stuff that we talked about when Trayvon Martin died and then again when Jordan Davis died didn’t really matter here. Of course the police are saying one story. Even if Mike had an "altercation" with the policeman, he still put his hands up, begged for his life and tried to surrender. That man shot him anyway and he didn’t just shoot him to restrain him. He shot him to kill him. You can’t do anything but die when someone really wants to kill you. I know that Mike Brown was black but would we be talking about this if he were white? What about the policeman? Was the policeman white or black? Does it matter? The fact is that the boy was gunned down in broad daylight like he was nothing. In death, he’s not black or white. He’s just dead. Is this really about race as much as it is about abuse of power? I would like to think that if Mike Brown were any other race, we would have the same response. I don’t know if that is the case though because we don’t hear about any others. It’s always someone that is young and black. I don’t like that the picture they keep tweeting on twitter is the one that looks like he’s throwing a sign because that’s like trying to say that his death was somehow okay. I mean… how he was posing in a picture is irrelevant at this point. It didn’t matter if he was an honor student, a high school graduate, going to college or a thug, as they painted him to be. He was an unarmed HUMAN BEING killed by the people who were supposed to protect him. They can’t justify that." My son then reminded me that although the police where we live are not the police where Mike Brown lived, it didn’t matter. "All it takes is one bad decision making idiot with a gun to take a life. It could happen anywhere and there is nothing that any of us can do about it." My son ended our discussion with this… "When we have serious conversations, can it not always be when another young black male is killed because at this rate, we’ll be talking everyday. I mean, it is pretty normal now, isn’t it?" We’ll be discussing his points over the next few days, I’m sure.

My young black boys Last night, while watching the situation in Ferguson unfold, I thought of my son, my nephews, my students…my Michael Browns…my young black boys. Today, I challenge you to think of your schools and the brow beating racism that often exist in our hallways. What kinds of opportunities are you providing the black boys in your school so that they feel valued, validated and not just accepted…but accelerated? What will be your discussion on campus in the aftermath of Ferguson? Believe me…Even when you think that you don’t need to have one…YOU DO.     Below is a snippet from my journal…an 8 month study on student motivation A few years ago, a young black boy walked into a classroom of a teacher who didn’t want him. She acted like she did for a while but the whole school knew better. She was one who used to teach upper level courses but in an effort to force her retirement, was placed in his freshman english class.  On most days, she spent her time talking down to him and embarrassing him in front of his peers which made his future of "In School Suspension" during her class period more relief than punishment. At least there, he didn’t have to deal with her calling him "colored". (Yes…this happened) The next class on his schedule was math and although he loved math, he hated this class. This teacher was one that thought he was actually teaching him a lesson by refusing to teach him. As a matter of fact, this kid was so lost in class that each day was a step closer to giving up. He found solace in sleeping because… "Why stay awake when you’re not learning anyway?" Every time he went to this class, he slept which infuriated his teacher so much that he threw him out again and again. One day, as the young man headed out of the room to the office, his teacher yelled…  "One of these days a cop will beat you on the side of the road and I’ll watch with a smile on my face." Moments later, as he stood in the embrace of another teacher…one that he trusted…He whispered, "He’s lucky that I’m trying to graduate…because…man, I would whoop his ass!" Thankfully, he was transferred from that class before it came to that because I have no doubt… Fast forward a few weeks… It’s lunch time…a time when kids get a little freedom. He can use his cell phone and even listen to music. He finds his friends…gets comfortable, jokes around and shares videos from youtube. Standing near them was the campus policeman. He always stood near them…staring…like he was waiting. This happened so much that the boys expected the cop and saved a few of their jokes to secretly laugh at him. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see that his lunch table was the only one with boys…eating while black. In advisory, the topic of discussion was about  being involved with school activities. Available to him was athletics, agriculture, auto mechanics, band, choir, foreign language club and not much else. He had things that he liked to do…making beats, writing poetry and graphic design…which he learned through a volunteer at the boys and girls club. He turned in his selections to his advisory teacher with nothing more than his name on the paper. She asked, "Are you sure?" His reply…"I’m good" After school, he spent his time at the boys and girls club teaching what he knew about photoshop and graphic design to kids. With his parents working until 7, being at the "BGC" was better for him than home plus he loved teaching because the kids got so excited. They thought that he was smart. He felt validated by their praise. When his mom picked him up, he walked in the house…ate dinner, played a few PS3 games with friends and prepared to do it all over again the next day.  

As a mother, I have many fears when it comes to my son. I wonder how he’s coping with the absence of his father and I wonder how he is dealing with some of the other struggles of our family. I wonder how he is figuring out his place in the world. We talk but I’m not naive enough to think that he tells me everything. I know that he doesn’t. As someone who has spent a great deal of time working with other people’s kids, I know how certain emotions are often undetectable. Boys, especially boys of color, often carry scars buried deep within and as much as we would love our kids to see us as their confidantes…they often don’t. Sometimes those emotions eventually find themselves as the catalyst for mistakes. It’s not that we don’t do whatever is necessary for our children. In many cases…MY case…we do. It’s that our children, like every other human being, have choices. My son isn’t perfect and at the tender age of 15, he has definitely made some errors in judgement. He’ll make plenty more over the next few years and each day, his choices become more and more critical to determining the man that he will become. Every day, my son has to choose to do what is right. He has to choose not to drink at 15. He has to choose not to smoke weed or take other types of drugs. He has to choose not to hang around in places where those activities are the norm because he has to choose to be where he is supposed to be and not deviate from it. It’s his choice…always his choice. I do not take responsibility for my son’s mistakes because I know that even as a single mother, I am doing all that I can possibly do to steer him in the right direction. That doesn’t mean that I do not worry. That doesn’t mean that I do not have fears. My son has choices and his choosing of the wrong one is my greatest fear. I teach my son that as he makes choices, I won’t always know. He’ll hide quite a few…much like I did from my own parents. Eventually, what is done in the dark comes to the light and I’ll find out…I always do. I did…today. My son is lucky that we live in a community that is the opposite of Ferguson and others like it. Our law enforcement agency goes above and beyond the call of duty to try to help…when they can. It’s not always that easy to do because choices often get in the way. We are lucky that tomorrow brings a new set of challenges…a new set of choices. He is lucky…so very lucky. As much as I fear the finality of my son’s choices, my greatest hope is that he learns something from them. For his sake…I hope that today, he did. One more thing…football coaches deserve special wings in heaven because the work that they do for and with so many of our boys is often buried in conversations surrounding differences in pay or pedagogical practices. Many of our boys would not make it through day to day choices without the additional support and accountability that coaches provide. My son is lucky.  

Every night, my son watches the same Kanye West collection of interviews which typically means that it’s blasted all over the house at the most annoying of decibals. My son is 15 so of course I took this gesture as a means of annoying every person in the house. This was not a TED talk, afterall, which we tend to associate with "motivation". This was basically a collection of some of Kanye’s craziest interviews that some youtuber put to music, added visuals and uploaded. If you are familiar with the legend that is Kanye West at all, you probably guessed that my son has been entranced by the "non-Kanye created", Kanye’s New Testament. You can read more about it here and here because apparently this was quite the big deal. Last night, our "Kanye rant" ritual, took a different turn. My son asked me to listen to it. He said… "Somewhere between the moments that seem crazy are some really deep thoughts. If you actually take the time to listen, you’ll understand why I like listening to this before I try to do something that may seem hard. Kanye is really a motivating human being. He’s super creative and just wants to create in other ways, outside of music sometimes,  but people don’t want to see him do that. He’s frustrated about it. I like that he decides what he wants to do and he goes for it. He lives on his terms and doesn’t let people’s opinions hold him back. That’s what I hear anyway because I don’t focus on the other stuff. I don’t know what you hear but that’s what I hear." Last night, in typical "tech-mom" fashion, I opened my Video Notes Chrome app and tried to get into the mindset of my son. What I found was that beneath all of the "crazy" that seemed to overtake pretty much every Kanye West interview, were quite a few deep motivational thoughts. So, again, keeping with my "tech-mom" theme, I made a Haiku Deck which interestingly enough, had a nice collection of images fitting each Kanye West motivational thought. In case you’re wondering…NO I have not lost my mind. This was my way of connecting with my son. Maybe he’s on to something.   Kanye West Motivational Thoughts For Creatives - Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires 10 Motivational Thoughts for Creatives 1. "I always feel like I can do anything." - This was my son’s favorite statement. He said that this motivates him to continue to push even when he wants to quit sometimes, For the record, I’ve always told him this but I guess it sounds different coming from Kanye. 2. "The main thing that people are controlled by is their perception of themselves." - We all have within us the potential to be great but often times, we hold ourselves back because of our own fears and self doubt. Why do we do this? 3. "Create and make mistakes in front of people." - When you create, nothing is perfect because everything should be a new risk. This is ok. Mistakes are human. We should make these much more and out loud! 4. "Don’t allow yourself to be boxed in to someone else’s idea of who you are." - Be you no matter what…not who others think you should be. 5. "The time is now to be okay to be great. The time is now to be the greatest you." - Greatness is within us all. What are we waiting for? 6. "We’re not always in the position we want to be at. We’re constantly growing, making mistakes and actualizing our dreams." - Growth is about exactly this. We’ll never be exactly where we want to be as long as we are always focused on growing and being better. 7. "I know exactly what I want to do. I know what I’m up against." - Fight for your dreams regardless of what the world has to say 8. "If you ain’t trying to help me then you’re hurting me." - For many young males, this idea haunts me. 9. "The time is now to express & for people to believe in themselves." - Seriously, what are you waiting for? Believe in yourself now and quit waiting on the world to believe in you. 10. "I’m a creative genius and there really is no way to word that. For me to say that I wasn’t a genius…I’d be lying to myself." - No explanation needed

As a connected parent educator, it is tough to remain edu-neutral when it comes to who teaches my kids especially when they are in schools where 0% of the teachers are connected. I have to make this distinction between "connected" and "not" because of the difference gained through deep conversations and access to ideas from a broader perspective. Face it, we are different…we just are. I made the choice two years ago to leave my home town where I started my career but I also made the tough choice to leave my son in this school. Actually, with my insane schedule…it wasn’t really much of a choice. I could not move him and with that realization, came an embedded set of positives and negatives that I will have to face on top of the typical, "parenting a teenage boy" issues. On the positive side, my son has to grow up and make the right choices, which he has honestly struggled with. At 15 years old, he needs this room away from me during the school day. On the other side, I have zero trust that his teachers are there to support his growth. I take that back. His football coaches are for sure. Academically, this one hurts more than anything. I have always been a teacher who taught my students as if they were my own children. It’s tough being on the other side of this when other teachers are not the same. In my mind, this should be a minimal requirement. About those trust issues… The other day, I talked to a teacher in my son’s school who needed to vent about the new mandates that the new superintendent has placed on school staff. I sat on the other end of the phone as this person said that he did not have time for "this foolishness". In case you ‘re wondering…here is what this supt is asking… Teachers meet with subject area teachers to discuss instructional goals, students…etc (PLC) Teachers must call a certain number of parents a week (this is an increase over ZERO) Teachers must integrate technology (Last year, my son used zero technology) Teachers must write actual lesson plans and maybe reflect on them Normally, I am against mandates but to me, these seemed pretty minimal. In my mind, what this superintendent is requiring are things that good teachers already do but in this case, it is rare. I am proud that my hometown has a leader who wants to address the issues but I am sad because when you attach the word "mandate" to anything, it automatically becomes negative…even when it is good. You can’t mandate a relationship though. That takes effort. A Few Small Parent/Auntie Wins My son came home and told me that a varsity football player tried to jump him in Geometry. He also told me that his friends handled it by snitching to the coach and he is fine. I was then told to keep it to myself and NOT intervene. He said that all he kept thinking about was his goal to stay out of trouble and he was more afraid of that than anything. (To be clear…this should not be on our children’s radar of worry. For me, the win was that he confided in me.) He didn’t say not to blog about it though…so there’s that. My nephew came home from school excited because he has a project to do with a team of students for science. He didn’t bring home a worksheet. He had a series of questions about paper airplanes to research. YES!!! It’s only day 3.

The first thing that my son said to me yesterday was… "Hey mom, you got called, "THE Rafranz Davis" by one of my teachers." Oh great! The context of this statement came about because my son wasn’t paying attention in his computer class which meant that he missed the directions. So, of course…the natural response from his teacher was… "Your mom is THE Rafranz Davis, you can do this in your sleep." Or something along those lines… Although I am so against comparing parent to child, I know this teacher and I get the humor in the message that she was trying to convey. I didn’t freak out and get all "preachy" about appropriate teacher response either. (I call this edu-parental growth btw) Instead, I asked my son how that made him feel. I wanted to know what he thought when she said it because he has been compared to me for most of his school life and he gets quite annoyed with it…as he should. My son responded… I wasn’t mad at all. I laughed and then I nodded my head…YES! I mean mom…She called you THE Rafranz Davis. The emphasis of that wasn’t even about me. It was about you so maybe she has respect for you because of what you do. I just smiled back and started paying attention because she was right, I shouldn’t have struggled but it had nothing to do with you being my mom. I shouldn’t have struggled because I know how to use a computer. I mean, all we were doing was clicking. It didn’t even take require thinking. That’s why I wasn’t paying attention. Plus it was a PC and not a Mac. But for real…I wanted to come home and tell you that because I was proud that she mentioned you in a computer class. I always get it in math. This was fun though. We then moved on to the next conversation completely driven by him…discussing a girl, naturally. Long sigh… It was only day 3.   PS: My son is his own person and has his own strengths and weaknesses. He is not me and should not be compared to me on any level. One of these days, people will get that. Today though…smiles and head nods.  

I love spending time talking to my son about his day. I will also say that my life as a technologist is fueled by his opinions on how kids should use technology for learning as well as when they should not. While talking, I handed him my laptop to write his thoughts. Below is his reflection I don’t like the first weeks of school because all the work is too easy. You’re always learning stuff that you already learned from sixth grade and up like lab safety. It doesn’t change but teachers act like it does. It’s terrible to be able to sleep through an entire lesson and then wake up to make a 100 on the assignment. I’m taking Geometry this year and right now we are learning about points, lines and planes. It’s funny because we spend the whole class naming points. It’s not hard but there are always multiple students who don’t get basic stuff. It’s planes though!! The question said, "What points are on this plane?" The points are right there and people still ask what it means. Maybe I’m just highly intellectual. I’m probably wrong but it is frustrating. I have a project this week to name shapes using power point. I’m probably not going to do a power point because it sounds basic. I’ll do a video instead and somehow I’ll make it more interesting. In history, I’ve been taking notes all class period. We have to take Cornell notes and we get a grade from them. I’m not even in AVID but I have to do it. I just realized that I’m going to have to study my notes because we’re probably going to have a quiz. A good teacher would do that I think. In English, we’ve been reading and writing essays. We’re reading a book called The Monkey’s Paw. I actually read the whole thing because I love reading and putting my emotions into the story. One more thing, I wanted to be in theater but they put me in sports marketing. Hopefully I can change this because I really do like to act and perform in front of people. It fuels my heart to bring joy to others from the stage.