Fall 2021 Conference Wrap Up
In 2021, members of the ID3 team attended several virtual and in-person conferences, and returned with many new ideas and tools that you can implement into your teaching. Click on each conference link below for additional information about a specific conference, or contact ID3 if you would like to know more about the conferences listed.
- OASCD Fall Conference – The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) “empowers educators to achieve excellence in learning, teaching, and leading so that every child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.” OASCD is the Oklahoma branch of this organization.
- OKSTE 2021 Conference – Formerly known as Encyclomedia, this is the largest Educational Technology conference in Oklahoma, presented by the Oklahoma Society for Technology in Education, included attendees from schools, career technology centers, and colleges across the state.
- POD Network Conference – The Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network in Higher Education is a national organization devoted to improving teaching and learning in higher education.
- TCEA Conference – The Texas Computer Education Association is a global organization that supports the use of technology in education.
From these conferences, our key takeaways fell into 3 main categories: Tools and Resources, Teaching Techniques, and Ideas or Quotes. Click on each heading below to expand and view a list of takeaways in that category.
One great benefit of attending conferences is learning about new tech tools and resources! Here were some of our favorites:
- Alice Keeler (https://alicekeeler.com) – An expert in effective use of instructional technology, Alice Keeler is a Google Certified Innovator and has a wealth of information on using Google Apps in the classroom. Visit her site or follow her social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram) to find endless resources and ideas. Great for: tech updates and new ideas, especially with Google tools. [Simon; OKSTE Conference]
- Form Ranger – This Google Forms add-on (click here) allows you to pre-populate multiple choice, list, checkbox, or grid options from columns in a Google Sheet. Great for leveling up your Google Forms. [Whitley; TCEA Conference]
- Jamboard (Rainbow “Scratch-Off” Drawing Templates) – Jamboard is an online digital whiteboard tool in the Google ecosystem. This “Rainbow Scratch-Off Drawing Template” (https://www.controlaltachieve.com/2021/02/rainbow-jam.html) is a fun and creative activity (and the entire Control Alt Achieve website is full of other great resources, especially for Google). Great for a fun break or incorporating into other activities. [Simon; OKSTE Conference]
- “Native Land Digital” – One of the themes of the POD Conference this year was anti-racism work, and during the conference kickoff session, they shared this website. (https://native-land.ca/) Users input their address, and the site shows you which tribes of indigenous people originally inhabited your location. Great for: ice breakers with online students (especially if they don’t live locally), or as a way to cultivate cultural awareness in your classroom. [Amanda; POD Conference]
- SLIDO (https://www.sli.do/) – This tool was presented as an easier-to-use alternative to Poll Everywhere. Great for getting real-time feedback, assessments, and voting from paticipants during a class session. [Amanda; POD Conference]
When attending conferences, you can get great new ideas for teaching strategies, both those shared specifically by presenters and those used by presenters during their sessions.
- Hyper-Personalize! Design one or two learning experiences that can be personalized for individual attendees, create “pinnacle moments” throughout the learning, and leave a positive lasting impression for all the audience. [Whitley; TCEA Conference]
- Improve your teaching by recording and watching a class session. Recording a class session is a great way to get a clear picture of your reality. Once a session is recorded, watch the video and use a standard rubric (click here for a copy) to evaluate yourself and improve your teaching. [Whitley; TCEA Conference]
- Technology Integration Matrix – Want to improve technology integration in your teaching? The Technology Integration Matrix provides a framework for describing and targeting your use of technology to enhance student learning. Find the matrix here: https://fcit.usf.edu/matrix/matrix/ [Simon; OKSTE Conference]
- Use Shared Google Docs for real-time collaboration. “Two of my favorite examples of participant engagement during sessions happened with Shared Google Docs. In one example, participants shared a ton of anti-racism resources and links during the plenary session. In another, the session leaders created a shared document with a table for participation while we were in breakout rooms. The table had 2 columns; in the left-hand column were a series of numbered case studies. Each breakout room was assigned a case study, and we were directed to share strategies in the right hand column for how we would address our case study. At the end of the session, we had a huge list of strategies and resources from all the groups in a single document.” [Amanda; POD Conference]
Food for thought and learning suggestions based on conference presentations.
- Adult Learning Theory: Keep in mind Knowles’ 4 Principles of Andragogy when working with Adult Learners…
1) Involved Adult Learners: Adults need to be involved in the planning and evaluation of their instruction.
2) Adult Learners’ Experience: Experience (including mistakes) provides the basis for the learning activities.
3) Relevance & Impact to Learners’ Lives: Adults are most interested in learning subject that have immediate relevance and impact to their job or personal life.
4) Problem-Centered: Adult learning is problem-centered rather than content-oriented
(Kearsley, 2010 – Click here for more information) [Whitley; TCEA Conference] - Book Recommendation: Small Teaching Online, By Flower Darby. (Click here for more info.) [Amanda; POD Conference]
- On Academic Interventions: “The best intervention is prevention. If it’s predictable, it’s preventable.” — Mike Mattos [Whitley; OASCD Conference]
- On Technology: “Teachers need to integrate technology seamlessly into the curriculum instead of viewing it as an add-on, an afterthought, or an event.” – Heidi Hayes-Jacobs [Whitley; TCEA Conference]
Got questions about any of these conferences or topics? Let us know in the comments below or by contacting your ID3 Specialist.
