Fun, friends and FABULOUS resources at #TCEAtots!

This was my third year to attend and also to present at TCEA's Tots and Technology in Galveston, Texas.  I think this year was my favorite year as an attendee (and a presenter - YAY for Internet!).  :)  I was able to go to several AMAZING sessions and pick up some really great resources.  I definitely encourage you to go check out #TCEAtots and see what everyone was saying.  Here were some of my favorite moments/resources/ideas...

• Here is an awesome site PACKED with ideas and resources from TCEA's own Monica Martinez.
• A site I've forgotten about - so glad to be reminded of it! Excellent videos with "Wonder Words" vocab and "Test Your Knowledge" quiz!  http://wonderopolis.org/
• Pecha Kucha http://www.pechakucha.org (create 20 image-only slides set to advance every 20 sec.)
• UH-MAZING Pinterest page from Pearland ISD!!! Definitely follow them! http://pinterest.com/feedthepenguins/
• Adventure to Fitness - students excercise while learining a topic! Free for teachers! http://www.adventuretofitness.com
• Hover Zoom - awesome Chrome extension shared by my buddy Kristy Vincent (@bigpurplehat)!
• Best quote of the conference - also by @bigpurplehat - "HEY! Tech Director...you have every right to live in a cave and keep using IE, but don't take the kids with you!" {GO #CHROME!}
• These are downright TERRIBLE...but oh, so funny! DEmotivational posters ... http://www.despair.com/demotivators.html
• GEO GREETINGS!  These are SO COOL!  The surface of the earth holds a message for you...
• Amazing list of random, awesome sites from TxTechnoGeeksRUs! Love the Wolfram Alpha ideas at the end! 

Ok, that's really just the tip of the iceberg, but at least it might tempt you to go check out the #TCEAtots hashtag.  :)  I have also added my 3 presentations to the {Presentations} tab at the top of my blog.  :)  Hope to see you guys at ISTE!!

The TX vs NY Twitter Movement! Are YOU up for the CHALLENGE!?

A few weeks ago I connected on Twitter with an educator in New York, Lee Araoz, or @nytechprepper as you might know him. Lee and I had a conversation about the importance of Twitter as on-demand, FREE, round-the-clock professional development. We are both amazed at how many educators are not utilizing this amazing network!

Behold the birth of the TX vs NY Twitter Movement...

Lee and I have decided to put the power of Twitter to the test. We are starting a TX vs NY TWITTER MOVEMENT and we challenge you to join in the Twitter party. Here’s how this is going to work...

• The challenge will begin on June 1 and end on December 31.
• Any new Twitter accounts created as a result of this challenge will be recorded on this form: http://goo.gl/Nfbv0
• At the end of the year, we will determine via the Google Form Summary of Responses who the winner is: TX or NY!
• Please understand that this is ONLY for Twitter accounts that are created between June 1 and December 31. If you’re already on Twitter, we’d love to network with you, but can’t use your data in our form.

Do you know of someone who is missing out on current, engaging conversations because they’re not on Twitter?! PLEASE share the power of this tool and get them on-board! Here’s a step-by-step document you can use to help: http://goo.gl/C86gv.

And don’t forget to get them to fill out our form at http://goo.gl/Nfbv0. Come on, y’all! Let’s show New York how BIG we do things in Texas!

Livin' the DREAM...give me your two cents!

A few weeks ago I was wheeling a cart full of old eMacs (yes, that's right...eMacs) down the hallway, covered in dust, sweating profusely after having spent roughly an hour untangling and loading them.  One of my favorite teachers (this is for you Koehler!) stepped out of her room and casually said, "Livin the dream, huh, Johnston?"  I cracked up thinking about all of the little not-so-glamorous, unsophisticated things I do in my job that few people probably even know about.  Like standing on a folding 6' table with a tripod to get a good vantage point for shooting a Harlem Shake video with middle schoolers...  (a few times I thought for sure I was going down!)

I would love to hear how you're "livin' the dream" as an Instructional Technology Specialist.  Aside from all of the wonderful, fulfilling things we get to do with teachers and kids, I know there are those of you out there who are pulling cable, hauling equipment and balancing precariously on furniture.    Leave me a comment and let me know you're favorite moment this year!  :)

Proud Techno Momma! #BISDwired #Chromebooks #GAFE

On Monday I had the pleasure of attending the Brenham ISD School Board meeting to watch firsthand as four of our WOW teachers gave testimonials about how having Chromebooks has affected their teaching.  I could feel tears well up in my eyes as they said things like... "behavior problems have decreased" ... "achievement has increased" ... "best writing I've seen in years" ... "engagement, collaboration, on-demand learning."  These are all things that we have known for a while in the Technology Department, but hearing it come from our teachers TO THE SCHOOL BOARD was amazing.  I felt like a proud techno momma!  As a result of these testimonials and the hard work of my boss, Rod Leer (@rodleer), the BISD School Board approved expenditures which will allow BISD to roll-out 1200 more Chromebooks next year.  But, I'm not sweating it ... have you heard how easy Chromebooks are to support?!  :)  Piece of cake.  :)

On Wednesday I had another proud techno momma moment as I watched 4th graders present "Geometry in the Real World" to a live audience.  The students presented in front of a panel which consisted of myself, the campus Principal and Assistant Principal, the campus Instructional Coach and Counselor, our BISD Director of Technology (my boss!), the BISD Director of Instruction and Accountability AND the Superintendent! The students' goal was to prove that geometry is all around us and that we need it in our every day lives and for every profession.  The classes chose which presentations should go before the panel.  The 4th grade math teachers talked about the positive impact that using technology, like Google Apps for Education, has had on their classrooms.  The first group that presented thanked their teacher for letting them do this project.  We were all crying!

If you or your district have any hesitation AT ALL about "going Google" or choosing Chromebooks for use with students, please contact me.  I would be happy to share our success stories with you and help you take the GOOGLE PLUNGE!

Texas Google Summit & Techs4Tex {#TxGoo}

Saturday was an amazing experience - the first ever Texas Google Summit!  I am honored and blessed to have been a part of this amazing event and I am thrilled that the demand is so great that we're planning another event in the fall.  In case you weren't there, here are some pics to give you a feel for how much fun we had...

 

The Texas Google Summit was a day of tremendous fun and learning with around 350 of our closest Googley friends.  :)  We had an awesome, interactive keynote session which featured three distinguished speakers (Amy Mayer, Carl Hooker and one of our favorite 'Google guys' Kevin Hodges) answering questions posed by the audience in a Google Moderator series.

This was followed by breakout sessions with some of the most respected and energetic educators in our area and beyond (thank you Martin McCay for making the trek all the way from Ireland!).  If you missed any or all of the sessions, no worries!  Click here to get links to the presentations.  :)

The Texas Google Summit was planned and produced by Techs4Tex, a non-profit organization created BY educators FOR educators.  Our goal is to work together to increase technology integration in every classroom and promote innovative teaching practices - like using Google Apps for Education!  :)  We hope to continue to organize quality events, offer one-on-one professional development opportunities for school districts and also provide grants to educators seeking technology tools for their classrooms.  Together we are better!

If you made it to our first Texas Google Summit, I want to personally thank you for your attendance and I hope you thoroughly enjoyed your day.  If you were not able to make it, please check back often for possible fall event dates and definitely mark your calendar for next year's event on May 17 in Brenham, Texas!

A Rose and A Thorn: My Week in Review

I have a very rewarding job.  I also have a very challenging job.  Because of this, I am borrowing a tradition from a dear friend of mine, Mary Lou (@mlz123).  She had her boys share a "rose" and a "thorn" about the day each night at the dinner table.  I love this idea and want to apply it to my week...

Rose
A teacher called me into her room and asked about a web 2.0 tool that wouldn't work on the Chromebooks.  When I gave her an alternative, she said, "I knew you'd know what to do."  That's pretty nice that they can count on me for advice, help, suggestions...  :)

Thorn
Another teacher told me about some students who were 'never going to have what it takes' to pass the STAAR test.  Wow.  I was nearly moved to tears thinking, "What if that was Jake or Cooper (my boys) she was talking about?"  As educators, I think we need to always remember who our customers are - KIDS...ALL of them!

What was YOUR rose and thorn from this week?

This one is for @terrie_rambo - technolicious at ANY age!

Today, on Mother's Day, I want to reflect on one of the coolest, hardest working, most dedicated educators and moms I know.  My own mom, Terrie Rambo.  I am a fourth generation educator.  I come from a long line of people who made public education their life's work.  My mom is no exception and I know it's because of her (and my dad, who is also an educator!) that my sister (@MadameGourault) and I chose this field and have also dedicated our lives to serving students.

Last week my mom shared with me her grant proposal for a set of Chromebooks for her classroom.  She has is back in the classroom as a physics teacher in Tyler, Texas and is constantly looking for ways to use technology with her students.  She uses tools like Todays Meet, YouTube and also wants to start using Google Apps for Education to help engage her students and stay current with innovative teaching practices.  She's even attending the Texas Google Summit next weekend!  GO MOM!

I want to thank all of you veteran teachers out there who continue to learn, grow and find ways to keep up in this crazy digital world of education.  I am proud of each of you for taking a risk, doing something out of your comfort zone and proving that you can be TECHNOLICIOUS at any age and stage of your career!

I love you, Mom, and I thank you for being the absolute BEST mentor in education, in motherhood and in life.  You are amazing.