#iPadU 2016

Wow.  I can't think of a more fitting word to describe the last few days of learning at iPadU hosted by the Digital Learning Team at Grant Wood AEA.   iPadU is a three day event focused on integration and effective use of the iPad in classrooms.  A number of passionate educators shared their tips and tricks for iPad implementation.  I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from so many experts in this area.  

Clay Reisler (@RecessDuty) kicked us off on Wednesday morning with an engaging, energetic presentation focused on how to use the iPad to help students and teachers increase conversation, critical thinking, collaboration, creation, and contributions.  I appreciated his upbeat, comedic approach to presenting.  His passion about using technology in education in today's classroom is contagious.  

I got to try BreakoutEDU while at iPadU with Beth Swantz (@betswan).  This was my first time in a BreakoutEDU session.  They always fill up so quickly at other conferences, so I was so glad they offered it at iPadU multiple times.  I see so many classroom applications for BreakoutEDU.  I really like how the session we broke out of went through a culmination of activities that the fourth grade class it was designed for experienced throughout the year.  I also see this being a great staff building activity at any point throughout the year.  There are so, so many ideas shared on the BreakoutEDU Facebook page.  Always excited to see educators share, share, share!

There are a few themes I took away from the three days of learning.

Connecting:

There is so much power in educators connecting.  We've been hearing it for years, but I still get giddy when I meet people I've seen in Twitterverse in person.  I also get super excited when I am able to connect with other educators and learn something new and exciting from them.  I was able to connect with a variety of educators over the last three days.   Some of them are just starting out their journey and some of been part of the education world for many years.  I learned something from every single one of them.   

Sharing:

Often times, educators connect because they have something to share.  I'm convinced that education is the profession that shares the most.  In education we depend on colleagues to share and share alike.  Sometimes we need help making connections with other educators so we are able to share.   iPadU was a great opportunity for so many to connect and SHARE.  Mid-summer was a great time for educators to come together around this topic of tech integration and share.  We could take it all in without having to worry about tomorrow's lesson plans or creating that assessment before the end of the week.  

Learning:

All of the connecting and sharing inspired a new level of learning for everyone in attendance.  It is amazing what we are able to learn from each other.  Everyone knows something I don't.  I was inspired by all of the educators who really embodied characteristics of lifelong learners at iPadU.  As educators, this is the most powerful gift we can give our students.  Every single educator in every single session was learning something throughout the three days.  That is a LOT of learning in a short amount of time.  By connecting and sharing, we will be able to continue to learn.  

Thankful is how I feel about the opportunity to share at iPadU this year.  I am thankful to have talented colleagues, Kim Fisher (@Mrs_KFisher) and Andrea Townsley (@townsleyaj), to share with at different conferences around the state.  I am thankful that parents were willing to share their child with us so we could give educators an authentic maker experience with students.   I am thankful that the Digital Learning Team at Grant Wood AEA hosted this event.  I am thankful for their dedication to serve districts, teachers, and students in eastern Iowa.  I am thankful that the team is passionate, kind, and willing to share.  I am also thankful that they can laugh with each other and make the rest of us laugh along with them.  

Below are some of the things I'm excited to try and bring back to my colleagues at Benton Community.  I am thankful for those who were willing to sharing with me. 

Flipboard - @j_allen
SeeSaw/Libraries of Life - @TeamCairney
Opinion/Podcasting - @jonathanwylie
BreakoutEDU - @betswan
Canva - @abridgesmith
Aurasma - @jmasrsh77
Splice - @grogers1010
Expeditions - @sbehmer

Find resources for the presentations I was part of HERE.  Please contact me if you are interested in collaborating or if I can serve you in the future. 

Check out the pictures below of some of our Bobcats sharing their maker tools with teachers at iPadU.