It’s been a long time since I’ve actually attended a conference. There, I said it. I’ve been to many and presented at many recently. However, I read so much in my own time that I find it hard to be surprised at a conference. And, recently, I have been presenting so I’ve been too fatigued to actually attend.
This year, though, I attended.
I wonder how many others who present actually attend. Most, like me, gain their information from their own personal learning. However, it’s beneficial to not always be the one leading – to be the one following. I’m so used to leading that I find it difficult to follow and I find it difficult to sympathize – at times – with followers. But, following is necessary at times. To be a leader, you have to be a follower.
So before I sum up my highlights and learning challenges, I challenge all those stuck in the presenter circuit to attend. To take a break from leading to be a follower. I plan to do it more this year. It was refreshing even though the content was not unique. It’s the act of following that is important.
To kick off TCEA 2016, I went to the opening session of the STEM Academy. Keynotes and opening sessions are usually a lot of talk and no action. In fact, many sessions are. And, attendance in my own sessions is up when it is a lot of talk and little action. We, like our students, are trained to be receptacles of information. This needs to change.
Cindy Morris led the keynote with a fast-paced, high energy talk. She gave us about 20 seconds to turn to a partner to talk. Though, in a large room, this is a reluctant task. Again, we are trained receptacles. I argue that more sessions need to be structured in a maker format – more around creation.
That said, I left with a confirmation. It was not necessarily anything new, but it was confirmation of my beliefs.
My favorite take-aways included:
STEM Academy Opening Session: Using technology to engage students in problem solving
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STEM is a culture, not a class
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It’s for ALL kids
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70% of hs graduates wouldn’t qualify with lowest level of military b/c lack problem solving skills – says it’s a matter of national security
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Every 18 seconds, some student drops out of hs
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Banks hire 90% math majors & would hire 3 times as many if they could find them
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Stemconnector.org – sign up for Stem Daily
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768,000 new stem jobs in Texas by 2018 – must get kids ready for this
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Change the equation – sign up for this email in organization
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75% of all jobs will be 75% stem in a few years
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Many stem jobs you can get with little to no college jobs
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We need to be honest with kids about the job market
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Kids aren’t afraid of STEM – teachers are, but we need to help them not be
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Be a STEMINIST! – Girls should have opportunity to go into STEM
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Project STEM – by Duke university
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STEM is one of few industries where women make as much as men
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DOUBLE # of girls in STEM!!!!
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Students make decision to go in math & science by 6th grade
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You can’t be what you can’t see – why Google Cardboard is so great – show kids jobs they aren’t seeing
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STEM jobs are changing – 71% of jobs that need to be filled are in STEM, million jobs open in US because we can’t fill those jobs
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Behind music services is a whole bunch of statisticians – making at least 80,000/year
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We need 80 hours of high quality, ongoing PD over two years – most fields have this
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4Cs – we need to teach these!!
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We need these under a transdiscplinary theme – we don’t say we’re doing 2 hours of literacy, 2 hours of math, etc.
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FAIL – first attempt in learning
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Reading like a scientist
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Give kids problems to solve & make them figure it out
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STEMtastic Staturday – play being a Stem person
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discoveryeducation.com/STEM – a whole lot of free resources – STEM Camp
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The more diverse the people solving the problem, the more robust the solution
The Making of a Makerspace
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Maker movement started around 20016 – with idea that we are all makers
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The 4Cs are what we want- these are the qualities we want in all professions
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Tortillas/Cookies under laser printer to engrave thigns
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Montessori schools – hands on –
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New UT building has 10,000 sq. ft. of maker spaces available
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Agencybydesign.org – design thinking principal – broke it down into four steps – maybe use this for maker class
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SX Create – Mar. 11-13 – Maker aspect of SXSWedu – don’t need SXSW wrist band & it’s free!!! At Palmer Events Center
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Go beyond banana piano
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Use Arduino to code teddy bears
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Drimmel tools – more child-safe, Skill also has tools for lighter materials with guards
Leading Innovative Change
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George Couros – @gcouros
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Innovation – invention or iteration – something totally new or a reiteration of something existing
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We expect innovation in everything outside of what we work in
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What innovation is and isn’t
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Competitive collaboration
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5 elements of leadership
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Strength-based leadership
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Powerful learning first, technology second
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Creating meaningful learning
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Teachers should be responsible for their own learning now
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To innovate, disrupt your routine
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How do yo move people from their point a to their point b
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How do you disrupt the routine of other
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Stop giving meanings with handouts – if they say they have to use paper, show them how to print
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Less is more – paradox of choice – TED talk to walk – a lot of people can’t make choices
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Move to meaningful creation
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Embrace an open culture
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When kids leave school, they should be well-Googled – you need to develop your Google footprint
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We live in a world where everyone can have a voice – but how are we using it
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We are data-driven – but need to think about – what are we really good at and why
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I think, I question, I design, I create, I struggle, I collaborate, I try, I solve, I invent, I reflect, I LEARN
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You can’t ignore change-makers – they push human race forward. The crazy ones…
Final Recommendations:
- Registration is a challenge. You can purchase premium, basic, or exhibit only. Basic entitles you to sessions labeled as basic. You cannot get into any of the full-day academies. You also function on a first-come, first-serve basis, so you may be spending a lot of your time sitting on the floor, waiting in line. If you purchase premium, you can get into a lot of sessions. However, you are put into a pool and it’s also first come, first serve. This year, I went online immediately at the time that sessions opened up for registration, but due to technical difficulties on the conference’s website, I was unable to get into 80% of the sessions I wanted to attend.
- Badges – way too expensive. This year, I presented a total of 6 times. I am happy presenting. However, it also means that I spend a lot of time rushing, and not a lot of time getting to attend sessions. Since presenters cannot attend as many sessions, there needs to be a discounted or free fare. In my hurry of presenting 5 times in one day, I lost my badge. I discovered that it would be $10 to replace it. Unfortunately, you have to have it in order to get into sessions. My suggestion – make it electronic. Send the badge code to phones so they can be scanned. This will save paper, hassle, and increase conference satisfaction.
- I love having so many presenters, but it can also be overwhelming and not all are created equal. I would love to have sessions more easily divided into tracts.
- Less overlapping of academies. I presented in the Google Academy, but it was at the same time as the STEM academy so I could not attend many sessions. Perhaps one academy a day would help eliminate this.
- Keep on, keeping on. I love seeing the excitement in educators’ eyes the first time they attend TCEA. They are blown away with ideas. But, support for those ideas is critical. Perhaps a follow-through on workshops would help – plus, it would boost the conference’s image.
Next up, I head to SXSWedu. Though, I discovered SXSW Create which I am more excited about. This year, no presenting – just attending. This is my time to listen to and follow others.
When will you be listening again?
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