Have you ever taken your iPad to a workshop or conference and felt left out because "things on iOS don’t work the same way?" Much of the edtech professional development for educators has been focused on laptops and using web-based applications like Google Apps for Education. Over the years, those of us who work with iPads have often had to learn in isolation and cobble together workflows to make iPads fit with established systems in schools. I get your frustration! This is why we’re excited to announce that the EdTechTeam will now be offering world class iOS professional development experiences for educators.The iOS Summits are engaging events, rich with hands-on learning. Over one or two days, they focus on using iOS devices for Education and maintain the same high-energy, fast-paced, and fun style of other EdTechTeam events. Each summit features inspiring keynotes, highlights world-class featured speakers, and incorporates engaging breakout sessions focused on authentic integration of the tools with pedagogy. Sessions cover all levels of iOS adoption ranging from small classroom sets to 1:1 rollouts in both elementary and secondary classrooms. The iOS Summit also includes a hands-on technical strand for those supporting iPad initiatives, as well as sessions covering leadership and school administrative components.iPads are all-in-one creation tools and we look forward to giving educators an outstanding experience focused on using the iPad to leverage learning in the classroom. Check out the EdTechTeam Summits featuring iOS for more dates and open registrations as we roll out these events globally. www.iossummits.comIf you are an Apple Distinguished Educator or iPad Teacher and would like to be involved, please reach out and introduce yourself.  ben@edtechteam.com

Guest Blogger Andrew MoriatesCalifornia Desert Sands SummitI quickly removed my sunglasses and put on my best look of remorse in hopes of building empathy in my prosecutor. I roll down my window to the sounds of black boots methodically working their way through gravel."Where ya headed today, Sir?"For a quick moment, I think about faking a life-threatening emergency, but I buckle under my reflection peering back at me from off of his aviator sunglasses, and I tell him the truth. I am hoping for the truth to tug on his heart strings of mercy and  for him to find leniency due to my honest grace under pressure. "I’m going to Shadow Hills High School for an EdTechTeam Summit."Blank stare. An eyebrow raise."I’m a teacher, and I am tired of feeling like my students are disengaged because of my outdated methods. I’m sick of feeling like I’m doing the same thing over and over again. I need something to change so that I can escape my current professional rut.  I’m going for a unique opportunity where educators have autonomy over their professional development while learning with other like-minded, brilliant, and passionate educators from around the world."Another blank stare. I had divulged too much, but I see him begin to soften."Y’er a teacher, huh?""Yessir." Hope."Shadow Hills is a beautiful facility.""Yessir." My word, is this going to work? "Unfortunately, I clocked you at 90 MPH."Oh boy."You seem like you’re in quite the rush to get to ‘work’ on a Saturday.""Well, Sir, if I don’t get there on time, I will miss Michael Wacker’s dance party.""Excuse me? Dance party? I’m sorry, didn’t you say this was ‘professional development?’""Sure, officer, but you must understand that this is not a traditional professional development that treats teachers like corpses.  They respect the teacher as a valued professional.  They know the importance of engaging their audience, and we have a good time. We learn, we dance to Pharrell, we build our professional learning network, and we party.""I love that ‘Happy’ song!""Of course you do, Sir."A smirk.He grabs my license and registration and asks me to hold on for a minute.  I may have done it. I may have beaten the system.  I hope he doesn’t take forever to let me get back on my way.  I have amazing sessions to attend: Rushton Hurley’s brilliance on project’s my students will never forget, Molly Schroeder teaching me how to become a Google Ninja with amazing Scripts and Add-ons, Alice Barr disclosing the secrets of properly searching in Google, Kyle Pace’s clear and imaginative uses for YouTube in the classroom.  I have to get there soon.  I have to take my picture in the photo booth and cover myself in stickers!  "OK, Sir. You have a clear record." I do?  Did he overlook something? "Yes, I most certainly do, officer." Proudly."I went ahead and wrote you a ticket for going 79 MPH, so that should help you a bit."False smile turns to truthful scowl. "Enjoy your training.  I like that you are trying to become a more effective teacher. Drive safe and be careful merging back into traffic."Blank, death stare. Sunglasses quickly back on. "Yep."I am not pleased by this setback, but it is worth a small inconvenience and fee to be a part of the Ed TechTeam Desert Sands Summit.  The individuals who run the event are excited educators who enjoy reigniting a passion for learning in educators from around the globe.  They know how to run a fluid event, and they inspire innovation by modeling outside the box thinking in, what is usually, very bland and ineffective professional development.My weekend in Indio at the EdTechTeam Summit was memorable because I learned so much, became excited about trying the new skills and ideas presented to me, and because I met so many new friends to share information with.  My weekend in the desert was unforgettable. I loved my time in Indio so much that I am going back there on August 8th…for court. You can relive Andrew's experience (hopefully sans ticket!) at some of our upcoming California events, including the OC on Aug. 2nd and 3rd, San Diego Oct. 4th and 5th, and Los Angeles April 9th and 10th, 2015. Drive safe, folks! :) 

Recently, at the EdTech Team Wyoming Summit featuring Google for Education, we had the privilege of meeting a number of fantastic Educators. One of which happened to be Fletcher Turcato, the Carbon County School District 1 Superintendent. Upon first meeting Fletcher, I immediately could see his strength, passion, and intensity for his work. In short, he embodied everything I would identify as a Visionary Educator. He shared with the me his background, which included, serving time in the military as well as growing up at the "I-80 Corridor." Both of these key items, are the basis for his style of leadership in his District. Amongst the many things we talked about, the most fascinating was his leadership style which includes: 1. Doing whatever it takes to provide the kids with the best and most relevant Education possible. 2. Always staying connecting with the folks working on the "front lines." 3. Having both compassion and passion for what "we" do so that everybody is properly supported.  4. Showing such an outward level of enthusiasm that it is highly contagious.One of the things that really stood out to me was his strong desire to serve his community. Fletcher clearly has strong beliefs in this given his military service and in returning to his community to work as a Principal, and then Superintendent. If you ever have the opportunity to meet him you will notice right away his strong sense of purpose and his enthusiasm for his work. He truly is a community hero and we are very lucky to have spent some time with him at the Summit, as well as have him amongst the ranks of visionary educators.I look forward to meeting and posting about many other Visionary Educators we meet at our upcoming Summits.

The First EdTechTeam Summit in Chile and its Domino EffectMonica Isabel Martinez, M.Ed.Director of Professional Development for Latin America and Southern US, EdTechTeammonica@edtechteam.com www.twitter.com/mimg1225It’s always exhilarating to witness and partake in the gathering of educators at conferences. This is where collaborative ideas and enthusiasm most often collide in one space and with great intensity. This past May, I was in the midst of precisely that synergy at the first EdTechTeam Summit in Chile Featuring Google in Education. I am delighted to report that, months later, the momentum is still growing. Nestled in the heart of Chile’s political and economic capital, this two-day event was held in the beautiful campus of Santiago College. From inspiring keynotes like Dr. Chris Craft’s "Four Chairs" to insightful presentations, EdTechTeam provided a bilingual format that allowed both English and Spanish speakers the opportunity to enrich their professional development. cDrawing participants from private, local, and international schools, every session was brimming with excitement and eagerness to learn. The diversity of the participants provided a platform for engaging conversations around technology integration and student success. Furthermore, attendees learned from expert presenters that shared resources, best practices, and classroom implementation strategies.The goal of these conferences is not only to share ideas and resources, but to inspire. The upcoming endeavors launching throughout the country are a testament to the commitment made by these educators to innovate their practices. Next month (Aug. 29 - 30), EdTechTeam will host the first Google Apps for Education Trainer Bootcamp, designed to prepare educators for becoming "Authorized Google Education Trainers". Once certified, these facilitators will work with teachers on effectively implementing the use of technology into their classrooms via Google tools. In October, I will be presenting at the annual ExpoEnlaces 2014 further spearheading these efforts with our partners at the Ministry of Education of Chile (MINEDUC). Future events will include EdTechTeam’s iOS Summit, and the second EdTechTeam Summit in Chile Featuring Google in Education. My goal is to help build capacity for training all teachers in Chile on how to elevate their teaching practice so that it is focused on student empowerment, engagement, self-discovery, and for creating future-ready learning spaces. During these visits, I will be collaborating with schools and their partners with the goal of further expanding these efforts. These events would not be possible without the support from our partners and hosts in Chile. A special thank you to Jessica Allen from Santiago College and all of her staff that helped us in the process of setting up the conference. Likewise, I would like to thank all of the presenters for taking the time to prepare and share their ideas and resources. We would also like to thank Naomi Arnold from Google who provided sponsorships to many educators in order to attend the conference, and who continues to push forth these efforts in Latin America. It has been a pleasure to work with this group of educators, and I’m looking forward to a continued collaboration to not only advance education in Chile, but to impact the world. Hasta Pronto!

Over the last few months, space-themed badges have been appearing on laptops, tablets, mugs, water bottles and phones all over the world. Are you curious? The EdTechTeam Summits featuring Google in Education incorporate gamified components to their events - allowing attendees to unlock badges, both stickers and digital, when completing challenges.For example, participants of a #gettinggoing YouTube session might be challenged to share a playlist of videos with the presenter. If they are successful they will unlock the #gettinggoing badge and be given a sticker from the presenter. Each participant can unlock the three badges that are aligned with the following strands:#gettinggoing - You are are on the launchpad and ready for the ride. These are sessions for people that are just getting going. They have a narrow focus and may move at a slower pace. Remember, mission control is there to guide you…just ask. #gearingup - You made it to space and are testing out all the tools and systems. These are intermediate sessions for people with digital experience. The view is spectacular…you can see where you came from but also more clearly see where you want to go. #gettinggeeky - What is your Moonshot? These are sessions for people seeking to transform education with a complement of digital skills, pedagogy and risk taking. You may not know how to get there… but you are on your way. We also offer a variety of digital badges that can be claimed throughout events at your leisure. Some of the favorites are the #selfie badge and the Chrome Powered badge - check out the badging page for the California Summit to learn more. Our space theme is a nod to the Moonshot project of Google’s Solve for X. The Moonshot is a "...combination of a huge problem, a radical solution, and the breakthrough technology that might just make that solution possible…" Google in Education tools are transformative and we hope you dream big and use the community to help you achieve your "moonshot". While these challenges contribute to the culture of fun that our events are known for, more importantly, they make your learning visible to the the community around you. We are excited about this new and developing element of our EdTechTeam events and hope it’s contagious. We hope our attendees earn all the badges they can, and better yet, take what they learn from it to motivate students in their classrooms using similar methods.

Cross-Posted from Slome School BlogGuest Blogger Tal SlomePresenter from 2nd Annual South Africa SummitLast week I had the privilege of attending the South Africa Summit ft. Google for Education.  It was a magical and inspiring, yet frustrating two days.My biggest frustration stems from a stark realisation that most South African children are being left behind, without access to the many wonders that edtech continues to develop and highlight.  However, that is a whole other post, one which I will hopefully do justice to in the future.My other main frustration stemmed from the often incompatible nature of different ecosystems, namely Google and Apple, within an education context.As many of you will know, I work as an iPad facilitator, and truly believe that Apple’s hardware line is exceptional for teaching and learning.  On the other hand, I also love numerous Google Apps, including Gmail, Calendar, Forms…As I was planning my presentation titled ‘Google Apps on the iPad’, I struggled to come up with opportunities that were both creative and educational.  However, when I decided to integrate my favourite Google and iPad apps, the magic started happening.Below is my presentation, excluding sound and film clips.  If you would like access to the full keynote, please email me at talslome@gmail.com! Google Apps for Education on iPad from Tal Slome

Guest Blogger Anna Fick, Techforearlyed.blogspot.com3rd Annual California SummitAs my district moves from a readiness model to an equity model of technology professional development, I am faced with a rather large challenge as the new Instructional Facilitator of Technology. Approximately 50% of our staff have completed basic training on the resources and tools that are provided through the district and roughly 40% (of those that have completed basic training) have completed additional training in technology integration. I would also classify us as segmented partial adopters of GAFE. The range of needs is certainly great, but my potential to meet their needs has been dramatically enhanced by my experiences at the EdTechTeam California Summit 2014.After being inspired by the concept of 10x (moonshot) thinking during the opening keynote, my very first session by Peter Henrie of Amplified IT addressed some of the key steps I can take to help my district move towards a unified, purposeful, and meaningful adoption of GAFE. I left ready to share and inspire the district administrators I work with through the joint creation of a technology plan specifically for the GAFE goals we have for our schools. I'll also be sharing with them the power of allowing their students to help tell the district's story through Twitter and blogging as shared by Jason Markey (tremendous potential for student voice and ownership!).The following session by Scott McLeod presented a non-judgmental tool, TRUDACOT, that delves in specifics to assist teachers in creating a lesson enhanced by technology to address a specific goal like differentiation, collaboration, choice, authenticity, etc. I feel confident in the ways this guiding tool can assist me in sharing with teachers how to create attainable goals that do not overwhelm them technologically and keep all things focused on student learning! This will allow me to easily scaffold professional development opportunities to provide educators with individualized learning as they prepare to do the same for their students.Considering the keynote by Dan Russell on day two which showcased the power of mastering learning tools to become proficient in meta-literacy so that we are able to change and adapt to the ever-evolving environment around us, I was thrilled to learn about tools like Doctopus, Goobric, EdPuzzle (and Flipped Learning), and the Google Geo tools. These sessions captured my attention as they shared amazing strategies and methods to engage students and push them extend their understanding beyond the walls of the classroom. For example, using Google Maps to embed math problems or create a tour of various primary sources who immigrated to America. You might find a great Youtube video and customize it for your students needs using EdPuzzle to add voice comments and a variety of question types. Quoting Lisa Highfill I feel emboldened to "get kids to want to learn without doing it for the points!" I am leaving the California Summit equipped to:- work collaboratively with administrators- inspire educators through individualized professional development- prepare educators to know their tools - engage and extend student learningI find it rather remarkable that I was able to attend one conference that met the needs of so many individuals within the education field so fully! Not to mention, it all involves one of my favorite things - Google! I cannot wait to dive in and serve all of the amazing administrators, educators, and students in my district, not to mention continuing connecting with the innovative individuals I met while at the conference! Thanks Anna! Find another summit coming to California and beyond at www.gafesummit.com. Upcoming California events include San Diego, Marin, Los Angeles and Orange County!

Guest Blogger Anthony EgbersHost of 2nd Annual South Africa Summit at Dainfern CollegeCross-Posted from Techno School Journey BlogWOW!What a busy 2 days of learning and networking (Both physically and in a 'internet' sense). It was brilliant to see what was happening all over the school at Dainfern College in Johannesburg, South Africa!Thank you to all the delegates who attended and a special thanks to all the presenters, both featured and local!So, in keeping with my '10 things' vibe, here is what I will take from the Summit 2014:1) YouTube is huge and getting bigger!Starting with youtube.com/edu which collates education videos on the regular youtube.com, to the personal youtube channels and then the video editor Youtube continues to redefine itself as an educational smorgasbord!2) IFTTTOne presentation and a demo slam confirmed that the time of IFTTT has arrived. If you haven't explored it now is the time!This brilliant tool allows a user to create 'receipes' (or just use the ones other people have shared) to manage and maintain the internet of things.3) Chrome ExtensionsLittle tools that make life simpler, look around to find the ones you like and make chrome work for you!My favourites are CheckerPlus for Google Calendar, Docs Quickly, TabCloud (My personal best extension!) and OneTab which come a close second.Just remember that with the pace of internet development these do change often.For more extensions for education check out this doc: 50+ Chrome Extensions for Educatorswith permission from Jake Duncan4) Google+Dee Lanier did a workshop on Google+, and this platform is growing fast. Time to get involved:Check out Dee's resources on his doc or get involved in the new Google Educators Group South Africa5) It not about the app!Many sessions talked to the idea that we need to concentrate on ensuring that our teaching is solid and not based on teaching the app but rather the Child (Adult?). There seems to be a move towards ensuring that the pedagogy is correct before we concentrate on the technology. This will ensure that lessons are designed to stimulate and grow the knowledge and enthusiasm of both teachers and students!6) PaperlessNot only is the conference paperless (although some felt uncomfortable with this) but Glenn Jones of Western Province Prep School presented a session on using scripts to enhance the paperless classroom. This is definitely a growing trend and it will be interesting to see how teachers adapt to a paperless classroom.7) PersonalisationThe growing trend for people to choose different devices for different uses makes it vital that the 'internet' works for the individual and for each student and teacher. The trend is to customise the experience for each individual and allow them to decide how to make things work for them.8) GamificationWith badges, both electronic and stickers, handed out throughout the conference, the trend towards gaming the classroom has grown over the past year. Helen Robertson, the Content Coordinator at Mindset Network, did a great presentation on planning and preparation for the gamified classroom.9) Custom SearchingOne tip I picked up was on how to create a custom search engine for use on a blog or in class. Sean Hampton-Cole, who is Edtech Integrator / Senior Teacher at Crawford College Lonehill, shared awhole bunch of resources for his talk and among them are the instructions to set up a custom search engine10) The peopleOnce again, the greatest buzz from #gafesummit was the time I spent talking to and networking with teachers from all over South Africa and the world. Thank you all for coming to Dainfern College and see you next year!For the lowdown check out https://storify.com/ajegbers/gfesummit-za!

Guest Blogger James Petersen, @jpetersen023rd Annual California Summit Attendee and PresenterI had an opportunity to present at the third annual EdTechTeam California Summit ft Google for Education, and it was an amazing experience. I did have a few butterflies about presenting, since I was in the presence of some serious ed tech cerebral muscle. To be counted among some amazing luminaries was an incredible opportunity in and of itself, so I tried to bring the best of what I know.In my experience, the final session on Sunday is one of those sessions where the energy is low. Most people's brains are full, and that usually includes my own. I was lucky to have one of my lighter sessions (about Google drawings) scheduled in this time slot, and I enjoyed it. We covered topics that the attendees said they wanted to learn, and I had fun.This week, one of my attendees posted a link on Twitter, and thanked me in it. The link took me to a tutorial on creating a custom wallpaper for your smart phone using Google Drawings. I'd never considered this before, and I was amazed at how the learning continued after the session. It's touching to see someone take what you've shown them and extend the learning into new areas, and to share it back to the community.For me, this was one of the best aspects of the CA #gafesummit, and it didn't even happen during the summit itself. It served to highlight the amazing network of brilliant educators that attend these events. I consider myself lucky to be plugged into this community of energetic, enthusiastic and creative individuals.So, in summary, I need to say a big thank you. Thanks to EdTechTeam for putting on this event and inviting me to be a part of it. Thanks to the presenters from whom I've learned. Thanks to the creative thinkers who encourage me to think critically about my teaching practice. And finally, and most importantly, thanks to everyone who came to my sessions. You always remind me after these events just how powerful an idea can be.

Guest Blogger Nathan Manderfield3rd Annual California Summit PresenterThe EdTechTeam California Summit in Palo Alto, CA was my second Google educational Summit. I attended my first summit just months earlier when EdTechTeam hosted a summit near my home in Indio, CA. My experience at the summit in Indio was incredible. The energy, the variety of speakers, the ability to collaborate with like minded people, and the demo slam at the end of the first day all stuck with me. I left that experience with not only a ton of ideas, but also a desire to attend a summit as a presenter. I applied to present at the California Summit and was thrilled when I was accepted.I spent the first part of my summer preparing two sessions to present: The Magic of Project Based Learning and Ten Tips Tricks and Take Aways. I also prepared something extra special for the demonstration slam at the end of day one. I have to admit going into the California Summit I had mixed feelings of anxiety and excitement. I was excited to be around so many talented educators and ideas. At the same time I was nervous about presenting at such a big conference. It turns out I had nothing to be nervous about. Both of my sessions were amazing. I began each session with a little magic (my summer hobby) and the audience loved it. Each session was interactive and I received fabulous feedback. At the demo slam I presented Kahoot. Kahoot is an on-line platform that allows you to build your own custom quizzes and then turns any internet connected device into a buzzer to play the game. Part of each demo slam is presenting your idea or application in a fun way. I decided to take my slam back to the 1980’s. I dressed as Miami Vice’s Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) and presented Kahoot with a 1980’s trivia quiz. I came out to my own theme music and even used a little magic to do a quick change towards the end. Finally, it is tradition at the end of the slam to say, "Slam". I decided to let Onyx, a 1990’s rap group, do it for me, so I left the stage to their song "Slam". I had a blast. When I wasn’t presenting I went to other sessions ranging from design thinking to online portfolios. Each session inspired me to take my teaching to a whole new level. The energy and "moonshot" thinking at the conference reinforced the bright future we have in education.My two days at the California Summit were amazing. I learned so much and made connections that will last a lifetime. I am excited to share what I learned with my students this fall. I plan to stay connected to the EdtechTeam and present at future conferences. Whether you have the opportunity to go to a Summit as a presenter or a participant the experience is truly out of this world!Catch one of our upcoming California Summits to have a time like Nathan! Marin, San Diego, Napa, Los Angeles coming up this year!

Guest Blogger Ashley FulmerAttendee of EdTechTeam Orange County Summit ft. Google for EducationCross-Posted from: Mrs. Fulmer's Science BlogThis weekend, I attended the EdTechTeam GAFE (Google Apps for Education) Summit in Orange County.  I just had my 2nd baby, Nolan, and have been out since May 12th.  I have not been officially working for almost 3 full months.  Yes, I have been on Twitter, I read a book about PBL, and did a small amount of planning, but nothing like I have done the past couple of summers.  This summit was two days of intense training and amazing keynotes.  Talk about getting back into the game!  In my last session, the presenter stated that she believed every teacher should blog and she challenged us to start blogging.  Challenge accepted!This morning's keynote speaker, Jennifer Magiera, shared her story and the way she's been so innovative in her classroom, which was truly inspiring.  She had her students creating videos, screencasts, music videos, interacting in Google hangouts, writing grants, and so much more.  Talk about authentic engagement and active learning!  At one point, she talked about how excited she was about technology and she would want to share both her enthusiasm and the new technology, but some teachers would literally run away.  I think  that I am a lot like her in this aspect.  I get so excited about technology, but I have to remember that not everyone is as excited as I am.  For example, when I flipped my classroom, I read about an entire high school that flipped and saw some major changes in the percentage of students passing classes. I was sold and suggested we flip our entire middle school.  If a high school in Detroit, MI could do it, why couldn't a middle school in Riverside, CA? My very wise administrators said no and told me to take baby steps.  Start with one colleague, then go from there.  I am realizing that teaching your colleagues is no different than teaching your class.  The keynote shared this as well.  I really want my colleagues to embrace technology like I have, but I have to remember that they are individuals and need to be invested in order to fully embrace and learn, just like our students! She ended the presentation by stating that these innovations did not just magically happen over night.  They took time and there were lots of failures.  She also stated that we should get out there and present.  So, as I drove the Ortega Highway home, I made a goal for myself to present at a conference within a year.  I don't know what I will present or how, which makes me nervous and anxious, but that's my goal.  Hopefully, my name will be in the program of ISTE or CUE or some other conference and I, Ashley Fulmer, will be a presenter!

Guest Blogger Michael WackerDirector of Professional Development, EdTechTeamThough recently my direct role within schools and districts has changed, one thing remains the same: I am UNBELIEVABLY excited at this time of year. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE working and strategizing with teachers, coaches, admin, and leadership. This drives so much of my work, my passions for learning, and my support and belief in children and teachers.  Photo by Ken SheltonMy excitement and inquiry of why I felt so excited this month came down to a simple question with a follow up:"Why is New Year’s Day a Holiday and What if New School’s Year was also a Holiday?"What makes the New Year so beautiful can be summed up by folks way smarter than, me."This unique tick of the clock has always prompted us both to celebrate, and to step outside the day-to-day living we're always so busy with, and reflect; to look back, take stock, to assess how we did, and resolve to do better going forward."So, I immediately thought to myself, YES! My friends, this is the time to slow down and absorb the awesomeness that is back to school week! The energy is truly palpable in our social echo chambers but also our externally internal community, which is to say, everyone is affected and influenced by "back to school." You can feel it in your child’s school. You can feel it in your social media spaces. For me, I sense it in my bones and I feel the energy and excitement from mamawack (a former AP with a different set of experiences and of course the littlies!Photo by Ken Shelton It’s important to note that I understand completely that my excitement does "look and feel" different than it did when I was teaching in a classroom. It is true, I don’t get the direct enjoyment of my favorite back to school teacher roles of: prepping my classroom, working with my team, hanging out at the "meet and greet" ice cream social meeting parents and siblings, building community connections (I miss that the most.) But today, while my peers and amazing educators prepare and brainstorm next iterations of lessons, objectives, and assessments, I find myself super excited about the new year! I'm fresh off a micro math session with my kiddos and about to head to Redondo Beach Unified in California to help kick off their new teacher induction and development. Redondo has done amazing work the past year preparing their schools, children, and teachers for the next iteration of teaching and learning; or as we on the team like to think of it as, being "future ready." Jennie Magiera shows off Future Ready Schools support. Photo by Ken Shelton. We have spent time working with and cultivating "Courageous Leadership" from central office to the classroom, focusing on change. The work we’ve done with principals and leadership has been huge in gaining support. Primary to all of the professional learning has been about making sure we are "Empowering Teachers" cultivating and supporting (for far too many the first time) professional development and learning opportunities for the "rock stars" the teachers evangelizing and inspiring their peers through their innovation and passions. There has been a focus on "Student Agency" by having professional development and learning opportunities for the children. Walking through the nouns of devices and platforms was a start, but beginning to brainstorm the possible was an awesome experience, especially asking children out loud, "What are you going to ask with access to all of the information ever?" It was a fun couple of days and I believe this type of student agency and support even external of the school is a must for every systemic change in education spaces, no matter the size. One key for the community and teachers, particularly here, was the timeline and ability to do a slow, transparent, and well-designed rollout.We also have spent time allowing and building the growth mindset spaces for the early adoption by teachers and leadership. This inspired and created incubators of sorts for innovation in the district micro-pockets of teachers and schools excited about what was possible, next. They have built the bandwidth to support three devices per child. What is really exciting for me is the next iteration or 2.0 focus on their "new" teachers in a newly designed platform. Induction is rarely differentiated. Inspired through the spaces and learning opportunities and who knows, maybe we have even more pockets of excellence to learn and share from. And this gets to the heart of change. How do you support and sustain an iteration of an age-old model? In working with their leadership team the past year, one thing is certain, they value their teachers' input a lot.To create this change systemically: we must inspire, ignite, and bring folks on board with us. This looks different in varying locations, schools, and districts, but empowering your new teachers is a great place to start. And for what it’s worth a great place to stop as well. So, As I prepare to plan and design a fun day with my future friends in Redondo, I find myself authentically excited and pumped up about the upcoming school year. I am excited! I am so lucky to work in education and be able to feed off of the energy and excitement from the teacher leaders in Redondo and everything they have been working towards, become energized by the buzz of walking the halls of my kids’ school at back to school night this week, and of course have a bunch of fun exploring and discovering some ways to empower and inspire the children of Redondo with the "new" teachers of Redondo tomorrow, Eileen Czesk, Stu Woodward, Shawn Lemmer, Amanda Steinacher-- and the vision from Annette Alpern and Derek Kinsey. 1. "Why We Celebrate New Year's Day: Survival | Psychology ..." 2013. 18 Aug. 2014

Guest Blogger Liam ArbuckleBIS 6th Grade TeacherSouth Korea Summit AttendeeIt's hard to admit to yourself when you feel like what you believe in is very far away from what you are actually doing. Now I know that I am just at the beginning of my teacher journey but one of the vital things I learned about in the amazing year that was my Bachelor of Education was to reflect on my own teaching. I had this feeling of frustration gnawing at me for quite awhile. I was really enjoying my first few years of teaching but I felt that it was so much about my own survival rather than the amazing ideas I wanted to try out during my Education program.The fall rolled around and I found the most curious piece of paper in my staff mailbox. It said that I had been registered for a Google Apps For Education conference put on by the EdTechTeam and  hosted at an international school in the heart of Seoul. I live just outside of Seoul. Myself and a fellow teacher, Joe Hart, had been selected to attend this conference. We were very excited as we both try to utilize technology in our classroom. I have always loved technology but I had been struggling to use it in an effective way in my classroom. Being a self described "Mac guy" my reflexive response was skeptical but I was still very interested. I like billions of others rely heavily on Google search. Little did I realize that this was an invitation to a fantastic party that I was woefully unaware of.Joe and I planned what sessions we wanted to attend and tried to cover as much as we possibly could. We decorated our name tags with many things (yes including glitter) and off to the keynote we went. We shuffled off to an amazing keynote presented by Jim Sill. It was a great mix of humour and inspiration. Jim showed us some of the potential for youtube in the classroom. The next session I attended was presented by Michael Wacker and I thoroughly enjoyed his presentation which really showed off the power of collaboration. I then went to an informative session led by the very talented Holly Clark. It was a session on iPads in the elementary school classroom. Holly had this indescribable energy about her and you could tell how passionate she was about her teaching. I regularly send teachers to her website or twitter account. I was meeting people at a dizzying rate. I thought I was using tech in my classroom but compared to many of these teachers I might as well have been using an abacus. We ended the first day with what they called an Eduslam. This was a presentation under 5 minutes of something cool the presenters were doing in their classrooms. Again I felt like a total novice. The thing is I had never connected to so many teachers before. Especially, so many that shared my love of technology and the recognition that it could revolutionize education. The EdTechTeam really impressed me that day and helped me begin my personal teaching revolution.Our second day was kicked off by a rather interesting taxi driver that was loving the fact he could test out his English. Joe, myself and the cabbie shared such a great laugh and it was a fitting and wonderful way to have our second day of the conference start off. Laughing can erase the tiredness and my goodness it makes you feel lighter in your shoes. The conference began with an absolutely fantastic keynote by Jenny Magiera. I could have listened to her speak for hours. I definitely became a big fan and often reference her best practices. After that we went to a session led by Jay Atwood who to this day is one of my favorite Google guru's. Even though I felt in over my head talking about Google scripts it led me down the road to a better classroom. Jay made it seem so easy when in fact what he was doing was pretty darn impressive.Then I had a lunch that I don't think I'll ever forget. I have had a Twitter account for a few years but really didn't see the benefit of it. I used it to follow some sports writers and reporters that I enjoyed. Including some that write about my beloved but constantly frustrating Toronto Maple Leafs. During lunch on the second day I had my mind blown. I was having lunch with teachers that were really into using twitter as a means of connecting with other teachers. This lunch may have been one of those monumental crossroads of my life. I was eating lasagna if you were wondering. I realized that for all my love of tech I had done nothing to really connect myself or my students to the outside world. In one short lunch and thanks to the lovely Sonya from New Zealand and the positive ray of sunshine Amalia from the USA I had kicked my classroom walls down. There was an audible and distinct thud. It felt like freedom. It felt like the sun on your face after a very dark night. I will forever be thankful to my principal Larry Simpson for choosing me to go to this conference and to the EdTechTeam that put on the GAFE summit. Everything changed for me over those two days. I am sure that even my friends are tired of hearing about these two eventful days. I had found that I could now better bridge the gap of how I was teaching to the way I wanted to be teaching. I still have a long way to go.  I had learned how to connect and from there my teaching life would never be the same. I came back to my school a new teacher. I then proceeded to preach to my fellow teachers the need to connect; the need to kick those four walls down; the need to be where our students already live. I now feel like I can actually see other teachers. I have decided I like this no walls thing. Come hang out with Liam and other awesome educators at the 2nd Annual South Korea Summit on Sep. 27th and 28th at Seoul Foreign School!

Do you know a superintendent ready to take the #FutureReady District Pledge? If so, please pass this on: http://tech.ed.gov/futurereadypledge/Be sure your favorite "Future Ready" superintendent fills out the pledge... and then complete this official nomination form, if you haven't already:http://tech.ed.gov/superintendentsummit/submission/#moresoon

This week millions of students went back to school with Chromebooks.  As teachers and students are embracing these new digital tools the way we've always done things is changing.Out goes the student paper planner, Meet Google Tasks and Google Calendar!Now that students are 1:1, they should start keeping their to do’s, schedules, and reminders all in the cloud. Google Calendar and Tasks are the perfect solution!Google Calendar and Tasks as an Online PlannerHere are a few tips on transitioning into Google Tasks and Calendar.Keep all your test dates, due dates and sports/hobbies in Google Calendar.   Google Calendar gives you a variety of views to see your events at a glance.Keep all your nightly homework to-do’s in Google Tasks.  These are things that you can check off.THINK - do you want to set your Google Task on the date that you are going to do the homework or on the date that the homework is due.  Tasks will show in your Google Calendar - on the Due Date you set in the advanced settings.  Make sure to be consistent with how you add your homework so you know when to complete it.Set your new tab page to your task list by using the Chrome extension New Tab to Tasks.  This way you are always just a control + T away from writing down your to-do’s or crossing off homework!It’s time to bring your homework and to-do’s into the digital age!Now get back to crossing off those tasks!Published by Molly Schroeder - EdTechTeam Director of Summits@followmollyJoin us at an EdTechTeam Summit featuring Google for EducationInterested in learning more about Google Apps, Chromebooks or Digital Learning? Don't miss one of the EdTechTeam Summits coming to a region near you! www.gafesummit.comOctober California EventsEdTechTeam San Diego Summit - October 4-5th at Coronado High School - Register HerePre-Summit October 3rd - Learn more!EdTechTeam Marin Summit - October 19-20th at Tamalpais High School - Register HerePre-Summit October 18th - Learn more!Additional Events can be found at www.gafesummit.com

Guest Blogger Holly ClarkAwesome Presenter at EdTechTeam SummitsRethinking Google Drive on the iPadThe iPad is well-known as an amazing creation tool, but with Google Drive’s "Open-In" feature on the iOS platform - the iPad has quickly become a collaboration device extraordinaire.Google Drive is best known for apps like Docs and Slides, and these are great platforms for students to work collaboratively on documents and presentations. However, Google Drive has one under-used feature that offers a secret collaborative power . This hidden power of Google Drive sits in the layers of the "i" button.Inside the layers of the  "i" button lives the "Open-In" feature -  and this is where the collaborative magic happens. Almost any product you make on the iPad can be uploaded to Google Drive and housed in the cloud - but its what you do from there that is the magical part. I find most educators are not taking advantage of this "Open-In" feature of Google Drive - and if you have not used it...stop what you are doing and check this out! Here is how it works.Two Amazing Collaboration Scenarios using the Open-In Feature:iMovie:Here is how students can collaboratively create an iMovie - using the Open-In feature. First, students work together to plan a movie project. Next, they go out and gather footage and edit it  - and then save it to the camera roll. Before now, this individually produced footage would stay housed on just one device and combining it was a bit laborious. That was 2012 - it’s 2014 and the power of Google on an iPad has changed! Now students can go to Google Drive, choose the upload button and then upload that iMovie from the camera roll into their Drive accounts - but wait it gets better. They can either add their iMovie to a shared folder or share it directly with a partner who can then use the "Open-In " feature and open that shared movie on their own device. This effectively allows for the combining of footage and the production of a collaborative iMovie. Voila - collaboration in iMovie - not just the regular Google Apps.Book Creator:First, students create their own chapter of a book in Book Creator. Next, they choose the option to export it as an ePub and then choose the "Open in" selection. That is when a student would choose to upload their chapter to a shared folder on Google Drive. Next, the teacher or Book Creator App Captain (a student assigned to all tasks and assistance involving Book Creator) would select the "i" button on each chapter submitted. This would give way to  the  "Open-In" feature.  The next step would be to select Book Creator and start combining each of the uploaded chapters into one big class collaborative ebook. With the recent Book Creator updates - that class book can be uploaded as a movie and shared using YouTube or Blogger - making sharing out to parents even easier than before.A similar scenario can be accomplished with almost any app on an iPad - so go ahead have fun use the "Open-in" button and redefine your classroom in ways that will turn students into collaboration gurus.              To learn more great tips like this, come to an iOS Summit near you - the first one hits Austin, Texas in October!

By Benjamin Friesen, EdTechTeamWhen the iPad came out it was a relatively cost effective way  to get devices in the hands of students and it sold well in education. In the early days, teachers were forced to cobble together workflows, manage carts, deploy apps and deal with purchasing. While the management systems are improving and the app integration is becoming more seamless, teachers still need to navigate a complex digital landscape. The payoff is huge because iPads have the ability to really empower students, especially when it comes to creation. .  Most schools and teachers do not live in a single digital ecosystem.  A majority live in a mixed environment and have to navigate between Google Apps, iPads, different apps and computers. Our team is committed to creating the best high energy, hands-on professional development  to help you navigate the digital landscape while focusing on effective pedagogy.  For years, the EdTechTeam has been the force behind a series of  Global Summits featuring Google for Education. This year, we have had 58 events (and counting) world wide, and one thing that is clear is that there are a lot teachers with iPads looking for professional development dedicated to them.  Google has dramatically improved the the functionality of its core suite on iOS and the addition of Google Classroom can put  Google Apps at the center of any successful iPad program. While we will increase our focus on the intersection of Google Apps and iPads at our Google events, we’ll also offer other independent sessions that expand to the unique potential of iPads for learning.      You will start to see not only iPad strands at our Google for Education events, but also events dedicated solely to iPads and related applications… our new iOS Summits.  We are excited to watch these grow and have events planned in Texas, Minnesota, New Zealand, Wisconsin and California… with more in the works.If you carry a Chromebook, MacBook or PC you’ve always had sessions tailored to your use with the web as the platform. We are now excited to offer the iPad toting crowd the same access to empowering and inspiring hands-on professional development.  Follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on upcoming events,  additional iOS resources, and related announcements.

 I love living in Colorado! From the first time I saw the Rockies, I knew this was where I wanted and needed to be for the rest of my life. All of it. Like for reals, immediately. And from now on. The scenery is amazing and the weather is unbeatable; nevermind what you see on the news about the blizzards all winter; that’s not hitting us on the front range. No, we bask in over 300 days of sunshine per year. Couple that with a warm summer breeze and the cool Colorado rain that inspires the best musicians and it becomes clear why I love my home. I say and share this because we are one month away from the Third Annual EdTechTeam Colorado Summit. I am excited to share the beauty that is mid-October in Colorado with educators from around the Rocky Mountain Region. This event has been a beacon of awesome the past three years. Collaboration, connections, innovative ideas and sharing, and each year the feedback is amazing. Third annual event is a bit of a big deal in my eyes. There are so many great educators and leaders that have left inspired with a mission to change their classroom, their school, and their district after these events, which is awesome. Yes, this is a big part of why I love working with teachers and schools, those moments of inspiration and excitement. Each year at the event, the schedule is stocked full of lessons, ideas, and examples of children and adults leveraging collaboration, research, inquiry, and publishing within a single walled garden environment. It is an amazing experience.This year, I will be leading four new sessions. A two session make and take deep dive in Google Sites for anyone looking to create or kick up their portfolio, student spaces, web sites, and more. We will look at ways to customize by building a banner, creating a front page slider, embedding image maps with multiple links, creating a favicon, insert dynamic objects or media, and customizing the layout to maximize access and communication. I will also be leading a session on facilitating small group instruction utilizing Google Apps and Chromebooks guided by the question..."How can we leverage the synchronous and asynchronous collaboration and research tools available to us and tighten feedback loops and learning transparency in your classroom." Lastly, I will lead a super fun 30+ Buckets of Googlicious Awesomeness which is a fast-paced, high energy, highlight reel showcase, and fun tour of some of the lesser known or underused hidden gems available with your account. Over and over again, the feedback tells the simple and powerful story; if you come to an EdTechTeam Global Summit, you will leave inspired with ideas and excitement for your classroom and schools. It is absolutely true. I get to observe and experience it in schools all over the globe. I can’t say how much it means to me to know that my kids teachers may be in the audience next month. These tools open up communication and collaboration with low risk and a relatively easy entry point for everyone and that type of access, changes EVERYTHING!The best part about this this year is that we are bringing in a rock star team with experience and background at all levels in education. Really fortunate and excited to announce this group as the foundation of the team that will bring the fun and learning next month. Ken SheltonMolly SchroederHolly ClarkChris BellBen Friesen Also, just as I am building a better hands on Google sites workshop; the team is busy building their own new workshops, sessions, inspiring keynotes, and this year for Colorado we will be featuring a spotlight on Future Ready Schools. Join us as we share the vision and work to make the concept become a reality for 1,000 plus school districts around the country. Finally, I want to take a moment to strongly encourage the beginners, the rock stars, the leaders, and the curious to come and join us for a weekend of fun, learning, and sharing in Boulder next month and give this beginning of the year the rocket fuel you need to have the best year ever!Chris Clementi | Leslie Davison | Katie Christie | Stephanie Schroeder | Candy McGregor | Ben Wilkoff | Christine Archer-Davison | Jen Jonson | Dana Levesque | Chris Moore | Jacki Sloan | Nate Ubowski | Zoe Midler | Peter Jones | Kevin Croghan | Shauna Polson | Mindy Williford |Beth Mossholder | Kelly Sain & Kim McMonagle | Julie Stewart | Bobby Lehman | Nannette McMurtry | Jason Oliver | Jeff Sanders | Lisa Norton | Nate Paul | Laura Mitchell | Jessica Raleigh | Cate BeckRelated articlesTechnology summit aims to revolutionize valley classrooms25 Google+ Accounts Educators Should FollowOur Gone Google Story: At Edina Public Schools Google Apps helps students learn without boundaries5 Amazing Ways To Collaborate With Another Class | EdudemicHow To Redefine Your Classroom By Connecting Students - Edudemic - EdudemicGoogle trains East Coast teachers at EdTechTeam PA Summit

From: Mike NiehoffSystems/Leadership CoachFresno County Office of EducationRe-blogged from Changing is Learning      My educational pedagogy has always been based on the constant attempt to look at every educational experience through a student’s perspective.  It could stem from my early background as journalism/media professional or from my lifetime interest in advocacy. Naturally, I think far too often educators have not looked at things in terms of student impact or perspective when implementing lessons, activities, programs or even pedagogy.And now, at a time when the world of work and education are changing so dramatically, I am forced once again to ask what are we doing in our educational system designs that are considering student perspective, student interest, student voice, student choice, student impact and more?Essentially, are things as crucial as educational technology, web access, use of social media, real college and career opportunities, mentoring, job shadowing, individual students interests things that can be considered optional or left to the whims of particular school boards, administrators, teachers or other educational entities?I will respond with a profound "NO."  I think that all students should have access to real world tools and resources, web access for their education, choice and voice in their academic program, opportunities to provide constructive feedback to their educational leaders and mentors, etc.  In other words, these are now non-negotiable.  And if they are truly non-negotiable, I think they have become inalienable student rights.That is right.  These are now student rights issues.  If we believe that all students have the right to a free K-12 public education, what does that mean and look like?  Again, school boards, administrators, leaders, teachers and others should not be able to opt out of things that can easily be identified as educational rights.No one would argue that all students should have access to things like transportation, seats, co-curricular programs and more. Then, why is at acceptable for a student at one school to be using 21st century tools while another student down the road (literally in most cases) is using outdated resources from a 20th century model?  It’s not acceptable.  It’s an equity and equal rights issue and therefore non-negotiable.Part of the challenge is having all stakeholders agree what is essential, what are inherent educational rights, what is pedagogy vs. what is mandatory, etc. But could we not look at the world of work and agree that certain tools, resources and technologies are not optional there? Do we see companies and/or government agencies option out of technology, social media, the Internet and more? One would be hard pressed to find that somewhere.  So, we can look outside schools and see what are the essentials necessary to be a working, functional and literate member of our society.If we look at the Internet, technology and social media as literacy foundations - which I think we can easily demonstrate that they are - do they again not become essential and rights for all?I was very fortunate to help create a 21st century high school that opened up with, among other things, a Student Bill of Rights. And in addition to one-to-one student laptops and more, we added foundational elements such as student surveys from teachers quarterly about how to improve their educational experiences.It seems that if we truly want to transform education for all students that we will have to approach the challenge from a student educational rights platform. I would love to think that all school boards, administrators, teachers, educators, politicians, and community leaders would get on the same bus and do what’s right for kids.Interested in learning more about Google Apps, Chromebooks, or Digital Learning?  Don't miss one of the EdTechTeam Summits coming to a region near you!  www.gafesummit.com

Awesome Post from Michael Wacker Director of Professional Development for EdTechTeamI love Google Plus for sharing and connecting with colleagues, following trends and topics, and keeping in touch with family. Recently there have been rumblings that the photo sharing, editing, and organizing, element built natively in G+ will soon be a stand alone application. Similar to Blogger in many ways, you will still have access to the account, be able to post to Google Plus, and use the same circles for sharing your images. I love this idea, but here’s where it’s a bummer for me. I actually have found that Google Plus is a really great place to follow and connect with some pretty prolific photographers out there. Simply following 500px opened up a myriad of photogs with amazing images, scenes, and beauty being shared as a steady stream on my page or mobile. However, this post isn’t about the rumor or possible separation of photos from G+ or about how I wish Picasa Web Albums would stay relevant in this convoluted toolbox of apps and features. This post is about the (Auto)awesome-ness that is the photography tool built into the app and ecosystem and what I think are the raddest five elements and features of the Google Plus Photos tool belt available to everyone right now!If you are using Google Plus, you must begin leveraging the auto backup feature from your phone, tablet or mobile. It works on both iOS and Android, and it works in the background. Before you back everything up the first time it is important to go into the settings and customize your G+ Photos. There are a lot of options and features that you may want to turn on for yourself. The ability to customize when you auto backup your larger videos and photos and decide if you want it only on wifi (to keep your data use lower) is especially important if you have concerns over data use on your mobile. As far as storage goes; in Education, we get 30 GB of storage in our EDU accounts. That is a lot of storage. Did you know that you can also buy additional storage for individuals within a domain? But the best part of this customization, is that you can choose what size you want to backup the images at. If you choose a smaller size 2048 x 2048 for example, it WILL NOT COUNT against your storage capacity. You can upload an unlimited amount of standard size photos, but full size photos will count against your Google Drive storage quota. Go into the settings and customize your G+ PhotosCustomize when, how, and what sizeTip:  If you approach your quota, photos will auto adjust to the standard size.Auto AwesomeEffectWhat it doesExampleWhen you might get this effectSnowAdds falling snowTake a photo that has snow in itEraserRemoves moving objectsTake 4+ successive photos of something with movement in the background (like passersby)ActionOne photo showing full range of movementTake 4+ photos of the same scene (with something moving)MotionShort animationTake 5+ successive photos of something moving (while holding the camera still)SmileMerges photos of a group of people to show everyone at their bestTake 2+ successive photos of a group of people smilingPanoCombines partly overlapping photos into one wide viewMove the camera right or left to capture 3+ photos of partly overlapping areasMixPhotobooth style gridTake 3+ successive photos of someone with the same background (works best with faces)Tip: Get effects manually (Android only) You can choose any of your photos and make a Motion or Mix from them. Open the Photos app > touch the Photos icon at the top left to open the menu > Auto Awesome. Touch the create icon at the top right to make a Movie, Motion, or Mix.Auto MoviesStoriesParty ModeAs a teacher or administrator, I could see using the "Party Mode" feature for date and time contained projects, class trips, class photo albums, etc. When invited to an event, if you enable party mode, all of your pictures during the duration of the event can be automatically backed up to the album by anyone on the invite list. The ability to share an auto backup album this way, makes sharing with classrooms, families, and communities easier. To turn on Party mode just open the Google+ app. Select the event and then check or uncheck the box next to Party Mode. If you see the upload icon in your notifications tray, it is on and it'll automatically turn off as soon as the event ends.+1 More... AutoAwesome Photobombs In this blogpost the "latest feature" is highlighted Auto BackupThe auto backup gets really good after you upload from your computer, phone, tablet; almost immediately you will receive a notification. In your settings you will notice an auto enhance and an auto awesome setting and feature. Auto Awesome lives up to its title, by automatically enhancing, cleaning up, and organizing your photos. When your photos match certain criteria, autoawesome creates copies of those images and turns them into, short animations or wide-screen panoramas. Automatically combining multiple images to capture the best shot, or creating a Don't worry, your original photos aren't deleted. Auto Awesome just makes a copy of them & your original photos are still in your Google+ photos. Awhile back Google released Auto Movies, which is an enhancement built on combining your images and videos and putting them to sound. Your phone and autobackup is busy plugging away at telling the tale of your adventure while you are refueling, on to the next adventure, or asleep for the night. Next time you look down at your phone, voila G+ just created the first draft of your movie scrapbooks from your photos and videos captured during your last escapade. This is great because you can go in and make your own movies from pictures possibly missed by the autoenhancements backup the first time. Truly it is amazing to me that built into the android G+ app is a robust mobile movie editor. Basic Edits your children of all ages can make can make are: Add title, Change music, Change the style, Add a scene, Remove or re-order scenes, and Swipe a scene away to remove it."If you've heard this story before, don't stop me, because I'd like to hear it again" - Groucho MarxWe love to share our travel stories, don’t we? What a way to prompt storytelling through multiple means! Most recently the G+ Photos team has released another autoenhancement called, Stories. Stories are built on the autoawesome features and are location based."weave your photos, videos and the places you visited into a beautiful travelogue," -Anil Sabharwal -Google's director of product managementStories are created automagically when you autobackup photos and videos to Google+. It will also work if location history and geo tagging of photos is enabled when you upload at a later date.California Desert SummitNow with Auto Awesome Photobombs, you too can get a celebrity photobomb—no red carpet required. We’re starting with surprise appearances by +David Hasselhoff, everyone’s favorite crime-fighting rockstar lifeguard.Of course the following day is April Fool's, right?  #autohoffedRelated articlesPicasa update brings Google+ Auto Backup to the desktopGoogle+ adds two holiday autoawesome features: Twinkle and SnowGoogle+ Makes Your Kissing Pictures AutoAwesome for Valentine's Day

Post from Ken Shelton Among the many things that EdTechTeam does for Education, one we are particularly proud of is our commitment to giving to the Educational Community. We are able to accomplish this core organizational value through our current grant program. The program has been in place since 2012, and each year we select a set of winners among our grant applications for either a class set of Nexus tablets or Chromebooks. So far we have given out 3 class sets of Nexus tablets, and another 4 class sets of Chromebooks. This has no doubt had a transformative affect for the teachers that were awarded the grants and the students in each of their classes. An additional goal of our program is to support the shift in those classes to a 1:1 program where each student in the class has their own device to use. A significant percentage of the funding for our program is supported by the Google for Education Summits we produce around the world.  More information about our upcoming Summits can be found here.Grant Winner Sarah DemersDuring one of our recent Summits, in Calgary, Alberta we had an opportunity to not only speak with one of our grant winners, but also conduct a brief interview. The interview can be seen in the video below. We look forward to reviewing and awarding many more grants and hope that if you attend one of our Summits you will consider applying as well. Additional information about our grant program can be found here.

Another Awesome Post from Michael Wacker Director of Professional Development for EdTechTeamMy curiosity was piqued earlier today when I saw this new advanced image options in slides and drawings via a post from +Jay Atwood I was able to spend a few minutes with the new feature and it's tight.There are some elements of design that I like to use when I am creating slides, designing, banners, headers, sliders, logos, templates etc. I need to be able to overlay images and shapes, as well as create almost transparent objects floating or lightly traced onto the canvas. A simple but useful application, it is now easy to create a watermark for branding on legal documents or presentations. This simple addition of overlays and transparency, when done well, elevates the professional look of a design. This concept can also be used for personalizing, advertising, messaging, copyright, etc.Even though you can't use this new image editing feature in Google Docs -  there is a great feature built into all of the Core Apps.  Chances are you may not be using it, and it's seriously awesome. It is called Web Clipboard, it is easy to use, and it can generate a history of your object and text "copy pastes" in Google Apps.The steps are simple:Open a Slide or DrawingInsert ImageClick on Image OptionsOnce you have modified your image, go to edit, web clipboard and copy to web clipboardOpen DocumentGo to edit, web clipboard and choose the Top Shape in the list (note: may take a second to load)You now can copy individual objects from the drawing and directly into your doc, including #autoawesome and masked image objects. Note: if you choose "copy entire drawing" you will not be able to select individual objects once in the doc.Below is an example I quickly made for a Welcome slide, packet, or brochure.This great new feature will make it easy to bring a more professional look to the items you create in Google Apps. 

Guest Blog: San Diego Google for Education Summit Participant: Stephanie Macceca has been in education for 20 years as a classroom high school teacher and college professor. She’s written more than 20 books for classroom use and currently is a Teacher Librarian and a Google Ninja for the Grossmont Union High School District in San Diego, CA. Twitter: @ReadingPusher Re-blogged from: http://readingpusher.blogspot.comLast weekend, when I attended the Google Apps for Educators Summit in San Diego, and I learned the workshops were gamified, I got more than excited. I mean, they were giving away stickers for completing challenges based on what we learned in the workshop. And, these stickers were cool looking. They were space-themed with rockets and moons and spacemen, and they represented three different levels: #gettinggoing #gearing up and #gettinggeeky. Deep down I wanted those #gettinggeeky badges--I knew they were going to be harder to get. I thought to myself, these guys thought this badge business through. These badges are even alliterative.In the second session I attended, my friend April showed me that in addition to earning real badges, the summit was also awarding online badges, and she set in motion a chain of events that still has me reeling. The online badges were even more beautiful, and the challenges were fun. Take a selfie at the photo booth with the Summit sign and upload it. Tweet with the hashtag #gafesummit. Talk to a sponsor and get a code. It seemed as though a switch turned on for me, and my rabid desire to achieve took over. I was going to get all those badges, I was going to get more badges than anyone else, and it was going to be amazing.I felt incredible.And I finished those challenges within 60 minutes.When I checked my Credly account to see the glory of all those badges, my page indicated I had only earned two badges, when in reality I had completed nine. I mean, nine challenges is a lot of challenges, and I wanted that tab to say NINE. Really, I wanted it to say eleven. And why did April’s Credly account say she finished seven? Clearly, there was something motivating and discouraging about immediate gratification. This is when I realized that I had been manipulated in the best way possible. These masterminds behind Google Apps for Education somehow got me to listen to two sponsor pitches, they got me to tweet and retweet, to comment on Google Plus, to join their Google Plus community, to give them a selfie, and to add a bunch of Chrome apps. I was hooked. This is the power of gamification.Kids and adults love to take challenges even when the only reward is a sticker. The badge challenges were something I could try without penalty. I could take risks and no one would know if I failed. This wasn’t high-stakes learning: this was try-it until-you-get-it learning. I felt like my learning was in my own hands rather than in the hands of my instructor.And I was liberated.At the end of the summit, I still wanted those online badges. This glitch with Credly that makes it seem that I didn’t earn the badges makes me crazy, but my learning is in my own hands. With a few drags and clicks, I sent an order for custom stickers exactly like the ones I earned online. I will have those badges for real. I need them.I also need to get kids motivated to read, and gamification the solution for my library. Today I set out to design a series of reading challenges. The challenges will include reading all the books in a series, reading a classic, reading a graphic novel, reading a book over 1,000 pages, reading from every genre, reading an award winner, writing a review on Tumblr, and more. I’m designing the badges now. The kids are going to go bonkers!

Blog Post by Holly Clark Winner of the famous #gafesummit Chromebook! It was quite an adventure in travel. After landing in Toronto, we had to hurry through customs, wait in line at another security checkpoint  and sprint to the gate to board a two hour flight to Thunder Bay. From there, it would be another two hour drive in the pitch dark along Lake Superior passing signs warning us of "Moose on the Loose." While keeping a close lookout for Moose, we made our way to Schreiber, Ontario, Canada to a small town of about 1,000 people.Despite the long travel, this was one summit I had been excited about for months. This one was a completely new concept!  It was for students and students only. As a team, we would be helping students learn all about the exciting features of Google - on the iPad and other devices - and they would be empowered to go back to their schools and teach their teachers.  This was thinking outside the box in the most impactful way. You could see the excitement on the faces of the students as they entered the school, picking up their name tags and a few snacks to fuel them for the day. They had their heads held high, sat eager to learn and their enthusiasm energized the room as we opened with a  student- focused keynote about doing good online and becoming a school leader.Students signed up for three different strands of learning focused around Google Drive, Search, Presentations, Drawing and Chrome Apps and Extensions. In one of my sessions, I overheard a student exclaim "This is the most exciting thing I have ever done! Our school really believes in us!" I watched lightbulbs go off in his eyes as he learned about Google Drive on the iPad and he made sure to stop by and tell me he loved the session before leaving to attend his next challenge based learning experience.The comment that had the most impact on me, came from a parent who was also the local reporter. As a local resident, her eight year old daughter did not go to this school board, but after watching the events of the day she was now rethinking that decision. She remarked that THIS school board obviously was doing the best they could for  students and cared about them becoming digitally  literate. This was very important to her as a parent because of their rural location.We  ended the day with a Demo Slam - a staple of any #gafesummit. What made this special was that the students themselves did the Demo Slams - short presentations showcasing tips and tricks using Google. They proudly and energetically showed off to the audience what they had learned that day, and audience roared with enthusiasm. I am not sure what made Katie Maenpaa of the Superior North Catholic District School Board come up with this idea, but in one "thinking outside the box" decision she changed the lives of a 100 students yesterday. She turned students into lead learners and empowered them to become school leaders. If more school leaders could have experienced the power of this day, everyone would have a Student Summit at their school. I hope to see these pop up in school boards and districts across North America.Special thanks to Kim Figliomeni the Principal of the Holy Angels School in Schreiber, Ontario for her hospitality.