Educational Technology Specialist
EdCamp - Entire Staff PD
I organized an EdCamp Tech PD day for our entire staff. I collaborated with a classroom teacher through this Google DOC.
We designed sessions based on input from staff, via Google Forms, and recruited colleagues to serve as “Facilitators” (not “Presenters”).
Each session was carefully formatted to include a collaborative discussion, personal “play time”, and a whole-group debrief at the end. Staff flooded me with appreciation & compliments in the following weeks.
Ongoing Staff Development
I helped facilitate our early release PD days & always collaborated with colleagues and administrators both digitally and face-to-face. This year I taught most of our staff how to effectively use Google Doc “Comments”
I project a positive, encouraging, and approachable attitude. This inviting style inspires staff to ask me for individualized help, on a daily basis.
Personalized PD
I spent over $1,200 of own personal money to buy a 3D printer and filament for student use. More than 15 students helped build the printer and then throughout the year over 50 students printed something using TinkerCad. I created a special “3D Printing” Google Classroom as a way to integrate self-directed learning. The excitement from 3D printing spread throughout the school.
3D Printing
eLearning
I designed these training tutorials (and more) to help students and staff take ownership in their learning.
“3D Prosthetics” Project
I collaborated with our gifted & talented teacher on this awesome project. Students followed Stanford’s Design Thinking process & created 3D-Printed prosthetics for a turtle, duck, and dolphin. They designed a prototype using TinkerCad, and then we 3D-printed their first iteration.
From design to real-life
One student designed a special “Rolling Turtle Dolly” that required assembly.
Introducing TinkerCad
Professional Development Junkie
“Harvesting Diversity”
2-Day Workshop
NCTE
2-Day Conference
MOREnet
2-Day Conference
METC
2-Day Conference
I read blogs & articles every morning & evening at home.
I read & discuss at least 3 PD books each year
I attended these events (and many more):
I subscribe to over 30 Techie YouTubers.
I read every issue of these 2 magazines.
Cognitive Coaching
For the 2nd time in my career, I received ongoing training throughout the year on Cognitive Coaching.
METC Presentations
I was encouraged to give a presentation at the METC tech conference so I gave these TWO!
“Digital Hooks” Reading Program w/ 12 Home Visits
I won a grant to support our school & district-wide goal of closing the achievement gap. I created a reading program called “Digital Hooks” and helped students improve their reading interests & skills through “Reading Machines” (Smartphones). I completed Home Visits with 12 students & their families, and met weekly with the students.
Equity Training
I participated in many different equity trainings throughout the year. I performed “Equity Walkthroughs” and was part of a small team who shared the data with renowned equity consultant, Jamie Almanzán.
8 Committees
I was actively involved in these 8 committees throughout the year:
- Technology - Super Sub Group
- STEM - District Equity
- School Literacy - Educators for Equity
- District Literacy - One School - One Book
I led the Technology committee and co-lead STEM.
I connected w/ the owners of EyeSeeMe, an African American bookstore in UCity. The books I bought from them were used for an eBook culture project I did with a class.
Community Partnerships
Online Safety
I partnered with our school counselor and taught each classroom about different aspects of online safety. I also sent home various safety articles and information to parents.
Equipment Maintenance & Support
20+ Makerspace Kits
212 Chromebooks, iPads, Macs, & Carts
16 Audio Systems
w/ 32 Microphones
32 LCD Projectors
30 Smart Boards
40+ old iPads
100+ Computer Speakers
43 Doc Cameras
27 Printers & Toner
112 Old Desktops
I helped manage, support, and implement over $300,000 worth of technology equipment. I
diagnosed system hardware, software, and operator problems & also facilitated repairs.
52 Staff Computers
Tech Cart “Rollout” Using SAMR
This year our staff transitioned from a single “Computer Lab” to 6 shared-carts consisting of 180 Chromebooks, iPads, & Mac Airs. I played a vital role in helping staff integrate these new devices into their lessons.
I attended a 2-Day workshop with Ruben Puentedura, the founder of the SAMR model for integrating technology.
After the training I interviewed him for my blog, shared it with my staff, and
implemented the SAMR model
throughout the year.
Parent Support
I gave this author presentation for a PTO Barnes & Noble book fair and shared how I made The Vanishing Coin, an interactive eBook for kids
I attended monthly PTO meetings and kept parents up to date with the technology skills their children have been developing.
We discussed this flyer at a monthly meeting with our principal.
Author Connections
I love building relationships and serving a positive role model.
Positive Role Model
I love sharing my life’s reading journey - from struggling reader to published author. When my close friend & author came to visit, I brought him around to classes and let students ask him questions. A handful or writers were born that day.
My close friend & famous author, Patrick Allen
Boy Writers Club
Per the request of a few colleagues, I volunteered a few times each month to support & inspire a group of boys who were trying to improve their writing skills.
One School - One Book
I served on the One School - One Book committee and helped organize the school-wide campaign. I guided us to plan through different Google Docs and made this website. I created the opening & closing school assembly videos, as well as daily videos of students reading with their families.
136 Morning Videos
On a daily basis, I integrated digital storytelling by recording and editing the morning video news for the entire school.
Each month I wrote a news article for parents. The article below focused on the “Digital Skills Gap” and concern for equipping our students for future, technology-rich jobs.
Newsletters
Book Study & Author Interview
Inspired by our district theme of innovation, I organized a book study with about 10 teachers and recorded this interview with the author, John Spencer.
Google Certified Level 2
Although I have been teaching and using Google daily since 2008, this year I passed the exam to become a Level 2 Google Certified Educator.
Multimedia Journaling w/ SeeSaw
After our EdCamp PD, Kindergarten teachers were inspired to introduce SeeSaw to their students. I used my Cognitive Coaching skills and helped co-facilitate a few introductory lessons.
Classroom
Many teachers added me to their Google Class, which was a great way to learn the different ways they are using it (both successes and struggles).
eBook Culture Project
I collaborated and co-taught this fun eBook PBL project with a 2nd grade class. Students were introduced to SeeSaw for collaborative video-brainstorming and learned how to design their own eBook pages using Google Slides.
We simulated the publishing process and made this final version for parents.
I helped the teachers learn how to collaborate & communicate digitally through this Doc.
PE “Fitness Folios”
I helped our PE teachers implement a district-wide program to teach students how to use Google Spreadsheets to log their personal exercise data. Teachers learned how to setup and use Google Classroom, reserve & manage Chromebook carts, and guide students to logging different types of fitness information.
Coding
Our whole school participated in the official Hour of Code event and then continued to practice & learn throughout the year. I worked closely with Kindergarten & 1st grade, guiding them to be self-directed learners.
Dedication
Research
I spent dozens of hours researching & testing different software and hardware - for my staff and for our district..
In addition to my normal 8-hour day, I regularly worked for 2 hours before school, 2 hours after school, and 3-4 hours on the weekend. I only took one sick day and one personal day and was never late to any meetings (and I attended hundreds). I also communicated a LOT through email.
4,592 “conversations” in 8 months
Technology in Education
Reading and technology are two of my biggest passions. Years before eBooks and mobile devices exploded, I had been hosting numerous staff training sessions that relate to eReading and implementing technology into 21st century learning.
Google DOCs Since 2008
I implemented Google DOCs in my school way back in 2008 before it exploded everywhere. I set up and delivered staff training to 120 different teachers and then we taught our students how to use it throughout the year. My actions and loud voice for innovation helped influence our school district of 85,000 students and within a few years it was adopted district wide.