SIT - Students Involved with Technology - An Ed Tech Conference By Kids For Kids

The BigTime Literacy Blogging Challenge has forced me to go back, and look at the posts that I have in DRAFT, and hopefully finish them. Here is one that was definitely worth finishing and worth your time to read.

How did you build this robot?

The SIT Conference was AMAZING!
+Berwyn South District 100 hosted the SIT Conference. The SIT Conference is an ed tech conference by kids for kids. The students are the presenters and the attendees. That's what makes it unique. There are 6 sites across the state of Illinois. We hosted 230 students and 30 adult volunteers. Students submitted presentation proposals in January. We had 41 students brave enough to present on a topic that they were passionate about. These students stood up alone or in groups of up to 3 and presented to their peers. The sessions covered a wide variety of topics from writing a blog, or using a math app called Prodigy, to coding and robotics. There were 6 break out style sessions and some kids even offered to present twice. Kids 8 to 18 had to keep the audience's attention for 25 minutes! 

@Natalier852 presenting on Touchcast app. She is amazing! 

Answering questions from the crowd

It was one of the best days of my 26 year teaching career.

All about coding!

The committee worked hard to make sure every student had a good experience.  My job was to touch base with the Berwyn South students a few days before the conference to make sure that their presentations were ready.  As you can expect there was a wide variety in their comfort level. I had some students texting me, and emailing me the night before with last minute questions. I loved the commitment that they showed to making their presentation the best it could be!

One of our youngest presenters!

We prepped for the conference Thursday night with a meeting of the committee. On Friday night we put up the signs and prepared the rooms. On Saturday morning we got there early to make sure everything was ready to go. 
 

Freedom Middle School students presenting on coding Dash & Dot

Our keynote speakers were Mitchell Brown and Scotty Vrablik, creators of Clean Minecraft Videos, both 8th graders. They explained how they set out to solve the problem of too much inappropriate language in Minecraft videos on the web. They created their own app and their own site. They now curate minecraft videos from all over the web. Their story was inspiring.
This is a perfect example of what we want kids to do all the time - solve problems, think globally, share with the world! 

 

Listening intently to our keynoters

The breakout sessions started and I went to check on all the presenters. It was great to see rooms full of kids all listening intently to their peers present. We put an adult volunteer in each room as a monitor. They were hardly needed. The room monitors dealt with some technical difficulties, and they were the time keepers. The room also had the student's adult sponsor. Each child needs a sponsor to attend. 

8 y/o presenters! So proud of them!

During lunch the students were engaged with each other and their devices. We found 1 student taking pics of his lunch in order to make a stop motion video later! Genius! And as you can see from the picture below, they were all still acting like kids too! 

We set up a green screen room and a maker space for students who had some down time or were interested in creating. They did some amazing things. We had Osmo, Makey Makey, Color Alive (augmented reality), and Sphero in the Maker room. We had Play-Doh, Legos and two green screens in the Green Screen room. There was a Splinker room and a Breakout Edu room too!

Green Screening

Makey, Makey

Sink & float - has to be just right!

Breakout Edu

Finally, thanks to our generous sponsors almost every child walked away with something. We were able to give away 40 Google Cardboards due to the generosity of one of our parents who also happens to work for Google Chicago. 

Google Cardboard

 

So many choices for prizes!

Our big winner received a drone

If you live in Illinois and are interested in bring the SIT conference to your district go to the website for more information. This conference is organized by Illinois State University, Heartland College, and State Farm Insurance. This model could be done anywhere.

 A few more pictures from the day. 

5th grade presenters! 

Me Periscoping and my colleague Michelle Tweeting

iPadpaloozaIN 2016

My summer started out with a trip to Noblesville, Indiana for iPadpaloozaIN 2016 or #iplzain16 (on Twitter). I like this conference because it is a small regional conference that reminds me a lot of iEngage-Berwyn. It gets big name speakers because of its affiliation with the iPadpalooza brand!

Me chatting with Drew & Brad before their keynote

 

 

 

The day started with a keynote from my favorite keynote team - +Drew Minock and +Brad Waid. They made us laugh, they made us cry and they gave stuff away. What more could you ask for in a keynote?! Their theme was - relationships matter.  This really resonated with me this year since I did my entire end of the year reflection with my team about how relationships should be at the base of all the things we do in education. This picture is funny, because I was up on stage last year with +Carl Hooker during his keynote. I have to find a way to get up on stage again next year. 

 During the keynote I sat with +Kristin Ziemke and +Don Goble.  I met Kristin a few months ago at a Bright Bytes event, and Don is a friend of hers. They are both Apple Distinguished Educators and good friends. I could tell from sitting between them. 

I presented during the 1st break out session. I did one of my favorite presentations. It is called Tech Coach Therapy. I talk about the Berwyn South model of coaching, and then encourage all of the participants to discuss 4 questions and connect with each other. Being a coach can be a lonely or isolating job. Many times coaches do not have anyone to bounce ideas off of, and colleagues think that coaches are administrators, when in fact the majority are still in the teacher's contract. I really enjoy helping coaches from across different districts connect. There is real power in telling your story when you are a coach. We can all learn so much from just listening to each other. I ask the coaches to put their contact information into a Google form and then I share the response spreadsheet with everyone, so that they can follow each other and keep the conversations going.

One of two groups of teachers telling their story. 

One thing that made me feel really good was that Kristin told me that she heard a group of teachers talking about how beneficial my session was for them.  My second session was a new one for me. I did a session on using +TouchCast for getting students to demonstrate their thinking and understanding. I was glad to practice on a smaller audience. The session started with about 15 people in it, but by the end there were only 4. I think the main reason for this was because my session was a 2 hour workshop but there were 1 hour workshops that started 1/2 way through my session. Quite a few of the attendees excused themselves to go to another session. I left a lot of work time, so I think a few people played a little and then tried to make it to at least one more session. I was a little disappointed that everyone did not stay for the entire session, but I understand that everyone needs to go where they grow.  There is an art to maximizing your time at any ed tech conference that has breakout sessions. 

Touchcast is a great iOS app for all classrooms and all types of educators. If you have never tried this free app - download it HERE. Refer to this blog post on 1 way to use Touchcast in the classroom.

I had to get home to my family, so I was not able to stay for day 2 to be a learner. I was bummed because I missed all three of Kristin Ziemke's sessions.


Hats off to the IpadpaloozaIN crew. They did another amazing job organizing this conference. I can't wait for next year. If you are free in June and looking for a great setting for an ed tech conference this is the place for you.

BigTime Blogging Challenge 2016 Day 1 - Farley's Currently

I'm so excited to be participating in the BigTime Blogging Challenge for 2016. Thanks to +MIchelle Brezek for the inspiration to write every day. I hope that I can do it for all 31 days. I have never been much of a writer, but it is import for teacher to practice their craft if they are going to encourage students to do it and in my case other teachers. Reflection is so important, as well. Ok, here we go! 

We are doing Farley's Currently format for our first post. An ode to one of Michelle's favorite bloggers. I am going to share what I am currently listening, loving, thinking, wanting, needing, and hoping.

Listening to the rain delay for the Chicago Cubs v New York Mets game. That's why I decided to blog now instead of later after the game. I am a huge Cubs fan. I am so excited about how they are playing this year. I really enjoy sitting down and watching the games this year. They are so fun to watch. I think they will go deep into the play-offs. No one is saying anything more than that because we don't want to jinx it.

Loving being home! I have been on the road presenting at ed tech conference 12 out of the last 19 days in days in June. Home is where the heart is and where my kids are. Even though they are older I missed them a lot. It takes a lot of restraint not to buy them countless souvenirs when I am traveling. My garden is my sanctuary. I have spent the last 4 years putting it together and it is finally the way I want it! I like to sit out there to read and listen to music and relax. I often fall asleep while reading on my patio. 

Thinking about my Aunt Lu and the impact that she had on the lives of the people around her. She passed away earlier this month. Today was the memorial service. It was a reminder of how we all touch peoples lives in countless ways that we do not even realize. When I was in Brighton, England on an exchange program through Illinois State University during my junior year of college she sent me a card once a week with $5 in it. I knew that no matter what, I could count on a little extra spending money each week while I was there. She was an amazing woman who raised 6 kids on her own after my uncle passed away suddenly in 1977. 

Wanting to get more organized this summer. I made a huge dent earlier this month by taking a whole car load of things to Goodwill. I need to make one more pass through the house and then get my self on Pinterest and to The Container Store. 

Needing to get more exercise on a regular basis. I feel so good when I do. I just need to get in the habit again. The Sworkit app has helped to get me started, especially when I don't want to go to the gym. If you haven't tried it, you should. 

Hoping people will get engaged in the political process and tell their state and federal representatives to work for stricter gun laws and better mental health care. It is not about the Second Amendment people! It is about money! Anybody that thinks differently is delusional. Praying after a tragedy isn't working to prevent the next one. Be proactive - engage with your lawmakers! Also there is no way that Thomas Jefferson and company could have foreseen assault rifles that are designed to fire dozens of rounds in seconds. Watch this video. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/06/12/the-gun-used-in-the-orlando-shooting-is-becoming-mass-shooters-weapon-of-choice 

I have lots of reflecting to do about all of the presentations that I did, people I met and things that I learned over the last 3 weeks. Stay tuned for more!

How to Make Whiteboard or Dry Erase Tables for Your Classroom

Supplies
* Painter’s Tape (approx $6.50)
* Paint Pan - not pictured (approx $4.00)
* 9" Paint Roller (approx $4.00)
* 1or 2 Foam Paint Roller Covers - no nap (fuzzy) (approx $3.00 each)
* Kilz Primer - optional (water based primer - approx $21.00)
* Rust-Oleum Dry Erase Paint (approx $20.00) I believe it says that it covers 49 sq ft of space.


1. Wash tables thoroughly. Remove all dirt and debris. Dry tables.

2. Optional - Tape edges of the table. If you do make sure you push down hard on the tape so the paint doesn't bleed onto the sides under the tape. I did three tables, two I taped and one I did not. I think I liked the un-taped table better.

3. Paint the tables with the primer. This is optional because the dry erase paint will dry clear.  You can leave the tables brown or whatever color it is, if you would like. I painted the tables with primer because I thought it gave the classroom a cleaner, brighter look. I used two coats even on a white faux marble table. Use the foam roller. Make sure you follow the directions on the paint can for drying. It is important that each coat of paint dries thoroughly. 

4. Clean paint tray with warm water if you painted with the primer.

5. When you open the box of paint, you will find two cans inside. Mix part A (activator) and part B (base) separately, then pour A into B, mix it well. Poured the paint into the paint tray and begin rolling it on the tables. It will look textured, but once it dries it is smooth. You will need at least two coats of this paint as well. The video says 10 - 15 minutes of drying time between coats, but the back of the box says 20 - 30 minutes.  I think longer is better. Humidity in the air may be a factor in drying time.  The directions on the box of Rust-Oleum Dry Erase Paint also states that an open can should be used within an hour, or it will no longer work correctly, so keep an eye on the clock.

The paint takes three days to cure until you can write on the table.  Do not use pink or neon markers to write on the table. For whatever reason that pigment can't be removed. We also decided not to use red markers either. A soft cloth or white board dry erase liquid cleaner can be used to clean the table. I was able to paint 2 - 5 ft tables and 2 round tables (like the one pictured above)

If you follow the directions you should get some, much needed, additional work space for your kiddos.

Flexible Learning Environments - The Starbucks Classroom and more

Our district has achieved Apple Distinguish Program status (2012 - 2017). One of the categories for Apple Distinguish Program is flexible learning environments. As our one-to-one program has changed and grown, so have our flexible learning spaces. We knew that when we went 1:1 we would have to change our learning spaces (and lots of other things too). We got rid of desks and brought in tables. Many teachers got rid of their teacher’s desks too. Some even brought in alternative chairs like exercise balls, or stools. Many teachers also began to send students to hallways and landings for recording. These recordings were for students to demonstrate their thinking and understanding of the concepts that were being taught. Each school bought at least one green screen kit. Teachers also began buying them on their own or making them out of the materials that they had available. They're actually quite easy to make on your own. I've seen green screens made for as little as $10. 

We’ve even used Double Robot (as seen on Modern Family and Big Bang Theory) to help home bound students. The home bound student is able to drive the robot around their classroom. They are able to participate in small group, whole group and individual activities as if they were there. Our Superintendent Dr. Stan Fields has been talking about having our libraries look more like Starbucks for about three years now. He has been an advocate for alternate learning spaces. It's great when you have supportive administrators. We have admins who understand, you can't just keep doing the same things, and expect to get different results.

Before -South Side of the Room

Before - West Side of the Room

Before - North Side of the Room

Before - Southeast Corner of the Room

In November I observed +Virginia Burdett's classroom. As I observed in her room I realized that she is doing amazing things in her instruction, but that her students were hardly ever in their seats, at their tables, or even in the classroom. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. With the way that Ginny teaches and the way her students learn they don't need to be in their seats all the time. They needed an even more flexible learning space. 

Students reading in the Principal's Office

I met with Ginny and she agreed. We began planning and negotiating what the room might look like. We started with a Google Doc. We made different categories, like what to keep, what to get rid of, what to buy, what to make, and what to get donated. We scoured the web for pictures of flexible learning spaces, and made notes about what we liked, and didn't like about the spaces. We kicked that around for about two weeks. We thought it was important to keep some traditional seating in the classroom. We also agreed there should be some alternative seating. The biggest thing we agreed on was that 4-BU had way too much furniture for the number of students and square footage of the room. She had to 2 - 6 foot tables and 4 - 5 foot tables for 23 students (see pics above). One of the things that we had to make sure we remembered was that in the end there would be enough seating or a space for every child in the room, plus a few extra. We got some of our inspiration from this article by Kayla Delzer, Why the 21st Century Classroom May Remind You of Starbucks. Thanks Kayla for including pics and FAQs!

All the furniture we removed

Over winter break we worked to empty out the classroom and get it organized. There were 24 student chairs in the room we got rid of 16 and kept eight. The eight chairs are now at the two traditional tables.  There are four chairs at each table. We kept three of the 5 foot tables. We got rid of both of the 6 foot tables and one of the 5 foot tables. Eventually we hope to get rid of one more 5 foot table and add more alternative seating. We also brought in 1 circle table. We got rid of the teacher’s desk. Ginny was only using the teacher's desk for some storage and a place to put her teacher laptop while using the Apple TV, so she knew she wouldn’t miss it. In the front of the room where the teacher's desk was we replaced that with the circle table. I painted the circle table and two of the 5 foot tables with whiteboard paint. It is a very inexpensive alternative to purchasing regular white board tables. It cost about $50 to paint the three tables. I got the idea from this blog post and read more about the process on the Rustoleum website. 

Supplies for Creating Whiteboard Tables

Our fabulous custodian took part of the legs off of two of the 5 foot tables, so that they are about 18 inches off the ground. Ginny bought 10 pillows from Target. They were $10 each. She brought in an old futon and a small side table that she had at home. I found a floor lamp for free on a swap site on Facebook. She had two bungee chairs in her room already, and some small circle size carpets. She also had a black cube, that is an ottoman and also opens up for storage. We got rid of the students' seat pockets that were on the backs of the chairs. Ginny bought 3 -10 drawer carts from Sam's Club for students to store their belongings. They have a few folders, their iPads, a pencil case and headphones. We are still in need of curtains, three large carpets (for under the tables), clipboards, and a new seating arrangement that I don't want to say too much about. We want it to be a surprise. The curtains are being made and we will write a Donor's Choose proposal for the rest. 

After - Southeast Corner of the Room

After - Looking South Across the Room

After - West Side of the Room

Floorplanner.com 2D & 3D image for planning.

In the end I would say that we have three different types of seating. We have two traditional tables one circle, and one rectangle. They hold four children each or 8 children total. The circle table is a whiteboard table. We have two semi-traditional seating spaces. These are the 5 foot rectangle white board tables which are 18 inches from the floor. The students sit on pillows at these tables. There are five pillows at each table, for a total of 10 students. At this time we have two non-traditional seating arrangements. One of these spaces is the futon. The maximum capacity at the futon is three students. We also have the bungee chairs and cube. Up to three students may sit in this area, for a total of six more spots. This makes a total of 24 spots. We made signs for each seating area. The signs named the area and gave the maximum seating capacity. They will stay at the tables, as a reminder, till they get lost or torn up.

Collaborative Learning Spaces: Classrooms That Connect to the World written by my friends Jennifer Williams and Fran Siracusa suggests that students should be involved in the process. We didn't do this. Instead we chose to surprise Ginny’s students when they returned from winter break. Boy were they surprised! Ginny used this chart to work with them and introduce the new learning space. She did a fabulous job of setting the tone. Students spent the next three days rotating through the three different learning spaces (thanks Kayla). They had to stay in the same seat the entire day. Each day they were asked to reflect about their experience in a Schoology discussion. At the end of the three day trial students were allowed to sit anywhere.

This is a very good group of students and they have been very respectful and responsible about their choices of where to sit. Ginny has done a good job of teaching them respect and responsibility this year. The thoughtful way in which she rolled out the new seating also helped.


On the first day of open seating I had one boy who was sitting on the futon all by himself. He put the futon down into a bed. After a transition two girls joined him on the futon while it was still in the bed position. All three lay there and read their books. As I walked over he began to stand up, he told me that he now wanted it back in the couch position, but the girls did not want to have it that way. I politely told him that he had two choices he could continue using the futon in the bed position, or he could choose somewhere else to sit. I talked to another student for a minute or two and when I looked around I saw that he had chosen a new place to sit. This all happened without incident. If you give the students choice and responsibility they will rise to the occasion. They appreciate you treating them like adults.

When the administrators in the building came to see what we had done and how the students had reacted, they both said to me that they would love it if other teachers would do the same. I said to them that this does not fit every teacher's style.

This was a fun experience. It is still a work in progress. We have blasted out on Twitter pictures of what we have done. Watch for more on Twitter from @rmbtowner_tech and @MissBurdettHIA as we continue to add things and make changes.

I had another teacher in our district approach me already. She would like me to help her with her room redesign next school year. Her big request is a space for green screen recording. That is going to be a challenge that I can't wait take on. 

Thank you to Ginny for giving me an opportunity to do a project that expanded my horizons and pushed my limits. I have to give Ginny a lot of props for changing her room and her routine during the middle of the school year. This is not easy for any teacher, but Ginny embraced it and made it hers. She certainly has courage and determination! She did it because she knew it was what is best for her students!

One additional note, there were no 4-BU students working in the hall or in the Principal's office this week. Problem solved!

Stay tuned. I will write about the finishing touches for this project and give final out of pocket cost.

Thanks to Dr. Fields, Director Jordan Garrett, Principal Karen Marino, Assistant Principal Jodi Meyer, Kayla Delzer, Jennifer Williams, Fran Siracusa and Andi McNair for the inspiration and support. #bsd100, #LaunchMe15, #EdCampTB