Author

Dr. Bruce Ellis

Bruce specializes in leadership development and working with districts to tailor onsite professional development workshops. Bruce earned his Ed.D. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Supervision in Secondary and Higher Education and his M.S. in Learning Technology/Information Systems at Texas A&M University-Commerce. He earned his B.S. in Elementary Education at Dallas Baptist University.

Learn to Work Smarter, Not Harder

by Dr. Bruce Ellis March 16, 2017

written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

Do you find that it is hard to get everything done on your to-do list? That you don’t delegate some tasks because you want them done a certain way and you don’t have time to train someone? That anticipating a day off causes more stress because you know that it means there is less time for you to accomplish the same amount of work? Join the crowd. According to research, being stressed out at work may be more common than you think. Join us at the Productivity Tools for Leaders and learn how to make better use of your technology, time, and people so that you are more effective in your work.

TCEA is offering a full-day workshop that will help you with these very issues. The workshop is designed specifically for administrators at both the campus level and central office. Join us on June 15, 2017 at the TCEA headquarters in Austin for a day packed full of helpful information that you can implement the next day at work. You’ll be able to choose from a variety of concurrent sessions to tailor your learning to best meet your needs. You’ll be inspired and motivated throughout the day, enjoy a good lunch, and leave with handouts from all the presentations (not just the ones you attended). Our learning experience strands include:

Doing More with Technology – Sessions focus on features and tricks to help you make better use of technology that you commonly use.
Time Management – Sessions focus on best strategies and tools that you can choose from to help you better construct your day and accomplish the tasks on your to-do list more effectively.
Empowering Staff – Sessions focus on strategies and tools to deal with different personality types, improving customer service, and even how to work with “difficult people.”

This event is only $125 for current TCEA members and $174 for non-TCEA members. Fun and relevant learning, lunch, and continuing education credits are all included. Bring your favorite device and let our experts help you master the tricks you learn.

Register at this website today as space is limited. If you have questions or would like more information, contact me at bellis@tcea.org or by phone at 512-450-5396. We look forward to seeing you here and hearing the successes you experience as you start implementing what you learned!

March 16, 2017 0 comments

Good Teaching Leadership

Five Campus Administrator Myths

by Dr. Bruce Ellis March 14, 2017

written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

Being a campus administrator today is quite different than it was just ten years ago. New tools, newer research on pedagogy and technology, and a different generation of students make being a principal and assistant principal more challenging. If we aren’t careful, it’s easy to neglect some things because they aren’t the way we used to do them; we may fall into patterns developed long ago without realizing it. Here are five myths that we need to avoid in order to build capacity in our staff with regards to integrating technology effectively.

Myth 1: I don’t have time to model effective technology use.

Yes, different parts of the year get busier than others and it seems like life somehow runs only on the chaos cycle. When that happens, it is easy to take some shortcuts. Be on the lookout though; this myth is likely to pop up while you are planning your next faculty meeting. Modeling effective technology use is important for teachers to see. How you use it, even in a faculty meeting, can give teachers a better understanding of how to use technology in their classroom, as well as grow their confidence in using technology. You may even use technology differently than they’ve thought of before, which broadens their understanding of the different ways that technology can be used to facilitate inquiry, discussion, research, consensus-building, voting, and follow-up.

Myth 2: My staff is skilled. I can just tell them.

Each staff member does bring a level of skills and talent to the table as they teach that you should be able to speak to. But, just like other professions, simply telling somebody something may not help them connect the dots on how to use the technology as effectively as if you took the time to share a video with them, demonstrated how to integrate a new resource, or pointed out another teacher’s proficient use of technology in her classroom. Just think what would happen if medical school interns were only told about medical procedures or read about them – no videos, no investigative studies, no cadavers. I think we would agree that we would not want a doctor that was just told about medicine. Don’t make the mistake of lessening the teaching profession.

Myth 3: I have to look like I have no problems when using technology.

As the instructional leader of the school, you do have a lot of people that are watching you. Instead of striving to be perfect, strive to be human. If you are using technology in a faculty meeting and something goes wrong, make it a part of the conversation, think out loud as to what you should do, and be willing to ask for help. Otherwise, when teachers go to their classroom and close their doors, they are likely fall into the same trap which prevents their students from seeing their teachers grow…and being a part of that growth. How freeing it would be if we were all able to admit that we each need help at times and unafraid to ask for it and give it.

Myth 4: It’s not that important.

Just like children mimic their role models, you will find that your faculty will mimic you. They’ll start reflecting the same values that you have for many things: children, testing, technology integration, etc. If you believe the myth that technology integration is not that important, you have removed an expectation of your faculty that will negatively impact your students’ potential to compete in a digital world where knowing how to use technology as professional tools of learning can be a game changer.

Myth 5: Modeling effective technology integration is the job of my campus tech specialist, librarian, or computer lab teacher…not mine.

We do have staff members who are expected to possibly assume more technology integration and use than others. Abdicating your responsibilities to them, though, can be a strategy that can lead on a downward spiral to incompetence. Would it be okay if your teachers decided that teaching digital citizenship was the job of just the librarian or computer lab teacher? What if teachers decided to just teach review content instead of on-grade-level content? Soon, every teacher would be complaining about the teachers below them – “If they would just do their job, my job would be much easier!” Embrace your role as instructional leader and consider it a privilege that you get to learn and model effective technology integration along with your staff.

be awesome image Take time to reflect on what myths you have bought into and the impact that you can make by changing your mind and believing what is actually true…not necessarily easy but true nonetheless. If I left you with one saying to challenge you, it would be with what Steven W. Anderson (@web20classroom) daily exhorts his Twitter followers to do: Be awesome! However you need to do it, work on removing those crippling lies and myths so that you can be awesome today. You do have the power to change lives and impact people beyond what you see.

March 14, 2017 0 comments

Android Good Teaching iOS Tips and Tricks

Celebrating World Poetry Day

by Dr. Bruce Ellis March 13, 2017

written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

While I don’t consider myself a true poet, when I see that World Poetry Day is March 21, I feel the nostalgia of favorite poems from my past; to recite them, read them slowly and feel the emotions evoked, to enjoy the words on my tongue as a tasty morsel. Though my favorites are not ones that you study if you are an English major in college, they touched emotions in me. And isn’t that what we want to happen with our students in whatever content we teach – that they have an emotional connection to it? Poems on my list include Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe, Caged Bird by Maya Angelou, Sara Cynthia Sylvia Stout by Shel Silverstein, and The Rose Still Grows Beyond the Wall by L. Frink.

This year for World Poetry Day, regardless of what you teach, here are a few tools that you and your students can use to articulate your content in ways that tickle the ear and spark the imagination. You even have a choice of at least 55 styles of poems that you can write! And even if you don’t have a chance to have your students read or write poems on March 21, still consider how they can use poetry to communicate truths in mathematics, science, social studies, and English language arts.

iOS and Android Apps

Diamante Poem – This type of poem is in the shape of a diamond. Each line uses specific types of words (adjectives, -ing words, etc.). What makes it especially nice is that it doesn’t have to rhyme. This app has some examples to illustrate how to write a diamante poem, and it leads you through creating your poem step by step. When you’re finished, you can save the poem as an image to your photo gallery. iOS and Android

Acrostic Poem – Think of a word and then write a word or phrase for each letter in the word. This app will lead you through creating an acrostic poem and even helps you brainstorm words. Acrostic poems are often used when students write their name vertically and then write out adjectives going across that describe them, but the uses are endless. iOS and Android

haiku app icon Haiku Poem – This app makes writing this Japanese-style poetry super simple. Walking you through the steps of brainstorming words and phrases and making note of the syllables, you’ll find that constructing one is easy and can be very profound. iOS and Android

Poems By Heart from Penguin Classics – This well-crafted app introduces students to a wide variety of poetry. Even without the premium downloads, the free ones supplied each come with audio that highlights the lines as the poem is read with inflection. Students can record themselves reading the poem and even earn poetry points by memorizing them. iOS

poems icon POETRY from The Poetry Foundation – Let students encounter a wide variety of poetry in this app. They can discover titles by spinning the category wheels (emotions and events) or by searching for a specific author in the index. Poems that have audio are indicated with a small speaker icon, great for extra support for struggling readers/writers as well as students who may benefit from hearing it read aloud. iOS

Poetry Websites

28 Must-Share Poems for Elementary School – A nice list of poems that elementary students can relate to and enjoy.

24 Must-Share Poems for Middle School and High School – Use these poems to start deep, reflective discussions in your classroom.

A Poem A Day: 30 Poems for Secondary Students During National Poetry Month – This list has a wide variety of authors, styles, and themes to enjoy.

Five Favorite Poems to Teach in Middle School – Mary Beth shares five poems, each including a connection to a story to read or additional resources to support analysis and writing.

12 Best Poetry Websites for Kids – Interactives and Collections – Check out this great list of resources and pass on to your peers.

Teaching Slam Poetry – If you don’t feel like you are a poet or even a poet-wannabe, then take a look at this lesson plan. You’ll appreciate the pre-instruction resources and other scaffolded help that Scholastic provides.

What Will You Do?

Will you take advantage of March 21 and offer a change of routine by teaching your content coupled with poetry? If that’s a little too soon, or you would like more than just a day, then spread it out and enjoy the whole month of April; you can even request a free poster to help advertise National Poetry Month!

We’d love to hear from you! Share with us your favorite poem and the connection. Or write a short poem in the comments section…limerick, haiku, whatever! Just drop it in the comments below.

closing poem

March 13, 2017 0 comments

Content Areas Educational Trends ESL/ELL

Alexa: Your New Teacher Assistant (Updated)

by Dr. Bruce Ellis February 15, 2017

written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

One of the newest trends that is getting a lot of attention lately involves controlling devices with our voices. Amazon is just one of many that are working to make their VUI (voice user interface) more intelligent and user-friendly. One way Amazon is doing this is by providing a host of skills to their personal intelligent assistant Alexa. Alexa runs on Amazon’s Echo, Dot, and Tap devices. You may know someone who has received an Echo, Dot, or Tap as a gift recently and wondered what all the commotion is about. I didn’t pay too much attention myself until I received a Dot as a gift. Then I started discovering the many ways Alexa could be used in the classroom…and possibly as your new teaching assistant.

Out of the Box

Once I unboxed my Dot and connected it to the internet via my wireless network, I was able to get Alexa to provide basic information and perform simple tasks:

Alexa, what is the weather for tomorrow?
Alexa, what is the capital of Alaska?
Alexa, what is 37 times 414?
Alexa, tell me a riddle.
Alexa, set a ten-minute timer.
Alexa, sing me a song.

Classroom Uses

There are many ways that Alexa can help you in the classroom even in addition to adding skills (which we’ll highlight in the next section).

Get rid of all of your dice, cards, coins, and other probability tools as Alexa can take care of that for you. Just ask her to flip a coin, pick a card, roll a dice, or pick a random number between 1 and whatever top number you want.
Use Alexa in your classroom to support literacy by having students ask her how to spell a specific word, suggest a synonym, or provide a definition.
Social studies students can skip an internet search by asking Alexa simple geography and civics questions.
Math students can use Alexa to check their work when they’ve finished an assignment, and science students will find Alexa is great at converting units of measurements.
If it’s been a stressful day, you can ask Alexa to play a track like “Nature Sounds for Relaxation” and give your students the opportunity to unwind.
To help your students keep up with current events, set up daily news briefings from the app.
Splurge for an Audible account (free 30-day trial; $14.95/month after that) and have Alexa read an audiobook to the class. Or have her read Wikipedia articles to students in need of reading support. The device can even read any Kindle book that you own (both free and paid), if you don’t mind the robot voice.
Encourage students to become more knowledgeable about a wide variety of subjects with an “Alexa Fact of the Day.” Each day (or class period), a different student gets to ask Alexa a question about any (appropriate) subject the student is interested in. Have students keep track of these facts in a journal and then quiz each other about them at the end of the month. They can even use these facts to stump their parents.
This device can also be a great way for kids to practice speaking as they must enunciate pretty well in order to be understood. You can also have them practice their questioning skills by thinking of the question they want to ask before asking it.

Consider adapting your rule of “Ask three before me” to “Ask Alexa and three before me.” You’ll find more ideas of how to use the basics of the tech by visiting Erintigration’s site.

An Alexa Just for Kids

Amazon Alexa On April 25, Amazon announced a new Alexa designed just for children. The Echo Dot Kids Edition, which costs $79.99 and is geared toward ages 5-12, is available for pre-order and starts shipping on May 9.

There are a lot of nice features in this new Dot, including Parental Controls, a case, and a year of FreeTime Unlimited, which includes great resources like kids’ Audible books, ad-free music stations, and fun, kid-friendly alarms. The device can decipher “kid speak” and rewards those who are polite in asking for something. It is also cautious in answering delicate questions such as “Is there a Santa Claus?” or “Where do babies come from?” The device comes set to not allow any Amazon ordering by the children and does not collect any personal data, which may set your mind a little more at ease.

If your student or child loves LEGO Duplo blocks, you can even add an Alexa story skill that guides younger children (aged 2 to 5) through playtime with the blocks. The customizable stories are themed around animals or vehicles. Alexa can encourage them to build creatively or recognize colors.

ClassAlexa

An enterprising set of teachers from 31 different states has now created ClassAlexa. Defined as “an extra pair of hands for busy K-to-8 teachers,” the add-on has hundreds of activities. The teacher can ask Alexa for an activity, like a ten-minute countdown or a word problem. Within a few seconds, Alexa “speaks back” the activity to the class, providing prompts as needed. Activities include brain breaks, math and ELA review questions, transitions, discussion prompts, countdowns and timers, social/emotional support, random student pickers, voice note taker, and class fun and games (coming soon).

The Starter version is free and includes five of the most popular activities with limited variations and a customizable random student picker. The Full Member version is just $20 before August 1 ($40 a year after that) and includes everything.

This blog was updated with additional content on July 5, 2018.

February 15, 2017 4 comments

Android Coding/Computer Science Google Tips and Tricks Professional Learning

Getting Serious with Android (Part 3)

by Dr. Bruce Ellis February 12, 2017

written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

In the final post of this three-part series on Android development, we’ll share resourceful podcasts and active Google+ communities to help you in your development journey. If you missed the previous installments, you can check out Part 1 to find great blogs and newsletters for developers and Part 2 for helpful forums and YouTube playlists.

Podcasts

All About Android

Produced by TWiT (This Week in Tech), this broadcast is chock-full of information about all things Android. Whether you subscribe to the video or audio broadcast, you’ll find the time well spent. You may also find This Week in Google a great resource of information as well. With either one, you are sure to enjoy Leo Laporte’s information-rich shows.

CodeNewbie

A different spin from the usual, CodeNewbie is a platform for people to share their coding journey to help you on yours. Each Monday, a new episode is posted. You’ll hear interesting (and inspirational) stories from folks who were previously truck drivers, accountants, comedians, and more.

Fragmented

This podcast is definitely for the more experienced developer. Whether they are interviewing an expert from the industry or discussing a specific technique among themselves, you’ll find the topics of value. And you’ll find Kaushik’s voice easy to listen to if you are binge-listening to podcasts.

Android Developers Backstage

Hosts Chet and Tor share a wide variety of information helpful to developers. Again, not for the faint-hearted, this podcast team isn’t so much for the newbie as it is for the experienced.

Google+ Communities

Developer Tools

This is the official community for the developer tools of the SDK: Android Studio and the ADT Eclipse plugin, as well as the emulator and command line tools.

Android Developers

With almost 40,000 members, this is definitely a group you’ll want to join as they share resources, tips, and tricks.

Android Authority

This community frequently posts and is trusted for relevant news, phone and tablet reviews, how-to’s, and other news related to Android.

Android Programming

With a little more than 2,300 members, this community shares topics related to programming, Java, C, and basics.

What would you add?

If you have any other excellent podcasts or Google+ communities that you’d recommend, please share them in the comments section below. And if you have any other resources for budding developers, we’d be happy to have you share those as well.

February 12, 2017 0 comments

Android Coding/Computer Science Google Tips and Tricks

Getting Serious with Android (Part 2)

by Dr. Bruce Ellis February 5, 2017

written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

As an Android developer, you may find that having a place to ask questions and getting ideas from other developers is a tremendous time-saver. To that extent, we’ll focus on forums and YouTube playlists for Android developers in this post. If you haven’t already, you may want to check out Part 1 of this series for great blogs and newsletters to help you enhance your Android development skills.

Forums

Android Developers Google Group

This public forum is great for anyone troubleshooting apps, seeking advice on implementation, and improving your app for speed or user experience. Search through almost 90,000 topics to find answers to your question if someone has already asked it or join the group and post to have other developers share with you.

AdndroidDev

With over 60,000 readers subscribed to this Reddit group, you are sure to find helpful information on all things Android. If you are just getting started, begin with their wiki which includes a helpful Q&A, resources, and app ideas (for developers and non-developers). Use the different tabs for the forum (hot, new, rising, top, etc.) to help in your searching.

AndroidForums

AndroidForums has done an excellent job of segregating their subforums to help you ask/find the information you need. They include featured forums, Android discussions, Android phones, Android tablets, wearable devices, other devices, and more!

AndroidPIT

AndroidPIT has a robust forum, tutorials, and code snippets to help you. And if you are developing to a particular phone, check out the forum for that specific device.

XDADevelopers

If you are part of the xda development community, head over to this forum. Threads are nicely segmented to help you quickly find the help you need. The site is very user-friendly and addresses all aspects of the development process.

YouTube Playlists

Android App Development for Beginners

Consisting of 77 videos, you’ll find this playlist a great find if you are just getting started. These videos are well-done screencasts designed for people who have not developed Android apps before. You’ll build from the ground up and develop confidence as you follow along. Bucky leads you on a Windows machine. You’ll begin by downloading JDK (Java Developer Kit) and Android Studio.

Android Development for Absolute Beginners

You’ll feel like someone is holding your hand as you go through these well-articulated videos that start with downloading the software you’ll need and building from there. Travis demos via screencast on his Mac using Eclipse ADT and Android SDK.

Android Developers

There are many playlists to choose from here at the Android Developers YouTube site. Besides finding playlists to help with programming, let me recommend the Tips for Success on Google Play playlist for easy-to-understand tips and ideas.

What would you add?

Have you come across an other forums or YouTube playlists that you have found valuable regarding Android development? If so, share what they are below in the comments.

Watch for Part 3 in this series where we will focus on sharing podcasts and Google Communities to add to your toolbox as you grow as an Android developer.

February 5, 2017 0 comments

balance scales with curriculum and technology

Content Areas Leadership Professional Learning

Which Comes First, Curriculum or Technology?

by Dr. Bruce Ellis January 30, 2017

written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

As I work with leaders (technology directors, curriculum directors, and administrators) around the state, I find it interesting to hear their answer to the question, “Which comes first, the curriculum or the technology?” Sometimes the answer I get is a reflection of the role they play. Sometimes I’m likely to get someone trying to straddle the fence and give a non-committal answer. More interesting than the actual answer (“curriculum” or “technology”) are the reasons that are shared to justify the positions. So, which do you think comes first: the curriculum or the technology?…and why?

When the Technology Comes First

There is no argument that a robust infrastructure is a necessity for today’s work. With everything and everyone needing to do something online as part of their job duties, bandwidth is always a growing need. But, for our argument, let’s consider that infrastructure is a given. What happens when all the other technology comes before curriculum?

Technology plans are made, many times in isolation of the curriculum department, so that quotas are met, refresh cycles can continue, and a better student-to-computer (or student-to-device) ratio can be touted. In and of themselves, these are not bad. But, in light of relevant student use, administrators may be frustrated to find that these processes lead to distributing dust collectors – expensive dust collectors – that are proudly put out of sight by meaningful educators who have either not been trained in their use or see no value in the learning curve that may need to be invested to make use of the technology.

I can count too many districts that have made aggressive efforts to increase their technology without considering curriculum goals and outcomes; many times making use of bond funds specifically designated for technology. “Designated for technology” shouldn’t mean “divorced from the curriculum.” Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that technology isn’t important. But it should be identified after the curriculum goals and outcomes have been clarified.

When Curriculum Comes First

Curriculum directors and administrators need to have discussions to determine what the outcomes of the curriculum should be. I’m not talking about stats for the district improvement plan or the latest stakeholder newsletter. I’m talking about what it should, or could, look like for students to demonstrate mastery. When we take the time to identify those possibilities and think about how students may have to demonstrate mastery (communicate, produce, collaborate, etc.) as working adults, it becomes very easy to identify which technologies should follow these outcomes.

Identifying the curriculum outcomes also provides a framework as to what professional development should look like. We are quick to demand more than just “seat work” from students, but don’t carry those same expectations to teachers. This dichotomy hinders our teachers’ growth and reinforces the notion to other teachers that technology is “just a fad” or is unimportant.

A Close Second

When I say that curriculum should come first, I should probably follow that up by saying that relevant technology should be a very close second. When district leaders, specifically technology and curriculum directors, work together, a more robust curriculum and relevant technology integration is likely to occur. This can be easily seen in districts where the technology director and curriculum director are having continuous robust discussions and planning how to best utilize their budgets, including IMA funds.

So where do you stand? Which do you think should come first, the curriculum or the technology? And, more importantly, are you able to justify your position in a way that promotes student learning and prepares them for their future?

If you would like to know more about how we structure authentic training that emphasizes curriculum over the technology or details on having TCEA provide professional development in your district or at your campus, contact me at bellis@tcea.org. I’d love to talk with you and discuss how we can create amazement with your teachers and/or staff.

January 30, 2017 0 comments

Android Coding/Computer Science Google Tips and Tricks

Getting Serious with Android (Part 1)

by Dr. Bruce Ellis January 29, 2017

written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

I find a lot of great apps in the Google Play store to meet most of my needs. But there are some apps that I would like to find that don’t seem to exist…yet. If that also sounds like you, then why not consider getting more serious about your Android skills and begin developing your own apps? Sure, you could pay someone to create it. But what fun is there in that? Here are some resources that I found to be helpful as I am becoming more serious about Android and considering developing my own apps. Part 1 of this three-part series will focus on blogs and newsletters.

Blogs

Codementor

Learn to code by following one of the many coding tutorials spanning 24 different programming languages. If you are already a coder, you can sign up to be a mentor to new coders that come to the site. And, if you are ever in a bind and need one-on-one help, you can schedule to meet with an expert for a nominal fee. If you want a more in-depth approach, check out the Android Developer Nanodegree by Google in Udacity.

Android Niceties

An unusual blog, this site focuses on the aesthetics of design. Scroll through the screenshots from every kind of app imaginable. Even if you don’t find a similar app, you are sure to find some great designs that may help you tweak how you want your app to look.

Android Developer Blogs

As I’m writing today’s post, I’m also reading one of the Android Developer Blogs’ posts by Francesca Di Felice. Francesca is sharing a case study from a particular app regarding their process for growing their app. While I’m not at this point yet, the posts are very informative and give me a good sense of how to think as a developer.

Google Developers Blog

Posts share technical insights from Google engineers, as well as relevant cross-posts from other development blogs. Since the posts have such a wide array of topics that they address, I suggest clicking on the labels tab (top right on the page) and narrowing down to a more relevant label.

Newsletters

Android Weekly

Stay cutting edge with your Android development by subscribing to this newsletter. Shared resources include libraries and code, news, articles, and tutorials, as well as upcoming events of interest to Android developers. Check out the current issue which is #240.

Android Authority

Plenty of information for developers is shared in the Android Authority newsletters. You’ll find a variety of developer topics addressed, as well as frequent Android deals and occasional giveaways and reviews.

Hackernewsletter

This weekly, hand-picked list of resources comes directly to your inbox making it easy to access when you have some spare time. Besides interesting sections such as asking and answering questions, this newsletter has other sections that you are sure to find informative (code, data, design, learn, books, watching, working, fun, etc.). This week’s current issue is #334.

What would you add?

This only scratches the surface of resources to get you started. Drop a comment below if you have other blogs and/or newsletters that would be great for someone developing Android apps. We’d love to hear from you.

Watch for part 2 in this three-part series which we will focus on relevant forums and YouTube playlists for app developers.

January 29, 2017 0 comments

Leadership

A Fresh Start for Leaders

by Dr. Bruce Ellis December 26, 2016

written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

Many of us enjoy the new year: the idea of a new beginning, a fresh start, a time to make some changes that we’ve thought about making, but just haven’t gotten around to. You may be like that as well, looking for a time when you can hit the reset button and start with fresh motivation to do the things you know you want to do and become the leader that you’ve wanted to be. Here are some tips that I have come across that have encouraged me to make the time for change. I hope you’ll find them encouraging as well.

Talk to Strangers

It’s very easy to not venture outside our normal realm of daily acquaintances. And, for most of our work, we do have a limited number of folks that we typically talk with for input, ideas, and suggestions. Stephanie Vozza encourages us to be a little more extroverted and connect with others. I was recently at a social event where I only knew two people. I didn’t want to follow them around the whole evening, so I made a point to meet several new folks and find out a little about them. Though I’d prefer to stay in the background, I was able to make several new acquaintances that might just turn into great business friends, which wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t talked to strangers. Who on your campus or district can you get to know better in this new year?

Don’t Be Afraid to Fail

All leaders have areas in which they are less talented and where failure may sometimes happen. When it does, it can cause us to fear failure. We mistakenly think that avoiding failure is another definition of success. This new year, let’s rework our thinking and be a little less fearful of failure. Thomas Edison said, “I’ve failed my way to success.” What a role model! The Leadership Freak shares ten strategies that will help you rethink failure and start using forward-facing language as you talk to yourself. And be sure to apply to same philosophy to your staff and students.

Act Like a Leader

Josh Linkner encourages leaders to act like leaders. That is, don’t be so distracted by your work that you forget about those who work for you. Yes, they may not understand all that you are going through or the decisions you have to make. But that’s not their job. If you’ve been distracted, take a moment to step back and ask yourself what is something you can do to encourage them. It’s not that you are doing their work for them, but that you are stepping into their world and being in the moment with them to recognize the time and effort they put in to doing a great job – and letting them know you appreciate them.

Everything Is Negotiable (Almost)

Bruce Tulgan, in his book It’s Okay to be the Boss, encourages leaders to consider what requests/duties are negotiable. First begin by identifying what the non-negotiables are; those are essential to the job and can’t be compromised. Everything else is negotiable if it leads to getting the job done as expected (or better). Checking off a list can make you feel like you’ve accomplished something. But if it doesn’t add to the core mission, then you might want to examine your thinking and start considering what is actually negotiable.

Play to Their Strengths

It’s easy to get into the habit of expecting everyone to produce the same outcome at the same quality level. Rarely do we have a staff in which everyone produces the same stellar work. Buckingham and Coffman detailed in First, Break all the Rules how leaders can start to focus on the strengths of their staff for better productivity. Instead of getting frustrated with your staff, start playing to their strengths. Reconsider what each person brings to the table. How can you tweak what they do so they are able to spend more energy using their strengths than in hiding their weaknesses?

What Will You Do?

The new year is here. We all have things we’d like to change and improve. What actions will you take to start making a difference in leading? You can choose to do nothing different. But then don’t expect anything other than what you are currently getting. Or you can consider this as a time for fresh starts and begin freeing yourself to be the leader you really want to be.

December 26, 2016 0 comments

Technical Support

Gadgets for the IT Person in Your Life

by Dr. Bruce Ellis December 5, 2016

written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

We all have an IT person in our life that makes things run smoothly or fixes things quickly when they don’t. Many times, though, they go unnoticed and can be taken for granted. We may not even know the name of the person that is working faithfully in the background. Regardless, we can definitely give them a gift that they will like, a gadget that maybe only they can appreciate. My recommendations below don’t have to be limited to the holiday season; these can also make great birthday, retirement, or “thanks for being there” gifts. (Of course, you can also grab some of these just for yourself!)

Gadgets Under $25

Star Wars R2-D2 Bluetooth Speakerphone ($20) – Show off your Star Wars enthusiasm while listening to music and podcasts. It pairs with Bluetooth®-enabled devices (2.1) and it plays movie sound clips when the device is switched on, when pairing is completed, and when turned off.

Cocoon Grid It Organizer ($17) – Use this chic but manly carryall to hold all of your cables, flash drives, dongles, and tools.

No Place Like 127.0.0.1 Non-slip Doormats ($17) – You know geeks are welcomed when you arrived to the office or home that has this doormat. While others may look at it and scratch their head, you’ll be able to quickly identify someone’s geekiness when they react to this unique welcome mat.

Circuit Board Ring ($22) – Be fashionable and resourceful by wearing a stylish ring handmade from real computer circuit boards. There are seven colors to choose from, so you are not stuck with the traditional green circuit board.

SnapPower USB Charger – Outlet Coverplate ($22) – Just like you can’t have enough power outlets, you can never have enough USB charging outlets. This gadget can help add more USB convenience to outlets that you are frequently around without sacrificing the outlets themselves. Simply take off your current outlet faceplate and pop this one on to extend the capabilities of the outlet.

Fidget Cube($22) – If your IT person is always clicking a pen obsessively while listening, strumming their fingers on the desk while an update downloads, or making other distracting movements, you might consider the Fidget Cube as the perfect gift. This clever device allows them to satisfy their fidgeting while not being distracting to those around. If it is your office mate that fidgets, this may help save the relationship so you can still be friends.

Gifts Under $100 (Get your campus to chip in on one of these great presents)

TrackR ($30) – With a TrackR device on your keychain and another on your phone (or anything you frequently lose), you’ll always know where it is. Consider purchasing in quantity to get discounts.

Circuit Board Tie ($30) – Nothing shouts geek more than having attire that matches your hardware. Don your circuit board tie and let everyone know that you are the IT guy with all the answers. For just five dollars more, you can get the more gentlemanly bowtie which comes in black or green, each with gold and silver circuitry.

Classic Pro Tech Toolkit ($65) – This toolkit has everything that an IT technician could dream of. It is fitted with tools based on data from thousands of tech repair guides. For just five dollars more, you can get the iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit – Government-Issue Edition used by both FBI and CIA.

16” Drifter II Laptop Backpack ($70) – IT guys/gals are known for having all the right gadgets, dongles, and cables so they are never left in the lurch. They’ll thank you for this great backpack so they can visit campuses and admin offices while easily carrying all their “necessities.” If you are looking for something even more impressive (i.e. expensive), then look no further than the Tumi Alpha Bravo Knox Backpack which will only set you back $365.

Kymera Magic Wand Remote Control ($99) – IT geeks who like control may find this magic wand remote control right up their alley. Compatible with most home electronics, they can teach their wand up to 13 infrared remote control codes. While it won’t make their problems vanish, it might just make their day more enjoyable.

Spire Mindfulness and Activity Tracker ($99) – Sometimes being in IT can be pretty hectic. Whether is it a virus that is running rampant throughout the district or another technical crisis, it is easy get worked up and tense. The Spire tracks your breathing and provides feedback to remind you when you need to just take a deep breath and realize it’s all going to be okay. Works with both iPhone and Android.

Gifts Over $100

Intel Compute Stick (Core m3) ($120) – Enjoy the features of a full computer on a stick. Just plug directly into an HDMI port on a monitor or TV and enjoy doing your work in Windows 10. It even includes three USB 3.0 ports to accommodate your keyboard, mouse, etc.

Estream ($180) – Does your IT person like the great outdoors, but finds they are always tethered to their phone in case anything in the district goes wrong after hours? If so, they could use an extra battery or solar power to recharge their phone, but that is so last year. Water power is the new clean source for recharging devices. The Estream is a portable water-powered generator that fits into your backpack. The Estream is expected to start shipping in March 2017, which is perfect time to plan hiking, camping, and other outdoor adventures.

Segway miniPRO ($600) – What IT guy or gal wouldn’t enjoy zipping around on their own Segway? Be sure they install the mobile app so they can get the fullest experience including remote control operations, customizable lights, and speed control,…oh, and anti-theft alarm.

Other Ideas?

What gadgets and and devices have you found that any ed tech enthusiast would enjoy? We’d love to hear your ideas!

December 5, 2016 0 comments

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