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Stay updated with the latest TCEA announcements. Find news, event updates, and important information for educators and tech enthusiasts.

Announcements/Important Dates

Survival Tips for TCEA 2017

by Joe Vasquez
written by Joe Vasquez

In just a few short weeks, thousands of our nation’s brightest educational minds will arrive in Austin to kick off TCEA 2017. As you begin to make your own plans to attend the convention, consider the following survival tips to help you maximize your time and learning.

 

survival tips - TCEA 2017

You can download these survival tips here. And check out this blog for additional convention 2017 must-know’s.

What survival tips do you have for other attendees? Leave your ideas below.

 

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Announcements/Important Dates

Planning Your TCEA 2017 Experience

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

If you are one of the lucky ones who’ll be attending the TCEA 2017 Convention & Exposition, it’s time to start planning your learning. With more than 1,000 sessions and workshops, waiting until the last minute to decide what to attend can be a big mistake. The good news is that there is a tool that can help you.

First, decide what your emphasis will be during the convention. While it can be fun to go and hear about a million different topics and resources, that can also result in haphazard learning and a feeling of being overwhelmed. Instead, determine where you most need to grow or what new technology implementation is coming to your campus and focus your learning on that. For example, if your campus is about to add Chromebooks to the classroom, then concentrating on that is an excellent way to tackle the convention. If you need to know more about Problem-Based Learning, then that’s what you should focus on.

TCEA 2017Once you have your focus planned, then it’s time to do some research. The TCEA convention offers in-depth learning opportunities on almost any topic in the edtech world that you might be interested in. But you have to know how to search out exactly what you need. To do that, you’ll need your computer and this TCEA website or the TCEA app.

There is a search feature on both the website and the app. Go there and type in the topic that you are interested in. I used “Chromebook” for my example. On the website, you’ll see all of the workshops, session, and poster presentations on that particular topic, followed by the exhibitors who match that keyword as well. On the app, the order is reversed with the exhibitors showing first, followed by the sessions. Clicking on any of the session titles will give you the description, date and time, presenter, and whether it is open to Premium or Basic registrants. In addition, if you log in, you can click to add the session to your schedule (this does not guarantee you a spot in the room; it simply puts it on your calendar) or share it with all of the other attendees or via Instagram or Twitter.

TCEA 2017

If there is a particular speaker that you desperately want to hear while at convention, you can also use the Presenters button on both the website and app and find out all of the times he/she is presenting.

Planning your time at TCEA 2017 will ensure that you make the most of all of the learning opportunities that are important to you, whether they are formal presentations, networking with new and old colleagues, talking with poster presenters, or visiting with exhibitors. So get busy making your schedule now for the best convention experience ever!

 

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inauguration
Announcements/Important Dates

Streaming the Presidential Inauguration

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

If you have teachers who would like to stream the presidential inauguration live on Friday, January 20, here are some websites that can help. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that everyone has enough bandwidth for this!

  • CBS News (CNET’s parent company) will broadcast a live stream on its page. Live coverage begins at 7 a.m. ET (4 a.m. PT).
  • ABC News will broadcast the inauguration on its live stream page. Live coverage begins at 9 a.m. ET (6 a.m. PT).
  • CNN will broadcast a live stream on its home page. Live coverage begins at 6 a.m. ET (3 a.m. PT).
  • Fox News will broadcast a live stream of the inauguration on its live stream page. Live coverage begins at 11 a.m. ET (8 a.m. PT).
  • NBC News will broadcast a live stream on its home page. Live coverage begins at 10 a.m. ET(7 a.m. PT).
  • The New York Times will also live stream. Get the details on its Inauguration Guide.
  • The Washington Post will broadcast a live stream of the inauguration on its live video page. Live coverage begins at 9 a.m. ET (6 a.m. PT).
  • Politico will broadcast on its live stream page.
  • Twitter has partnered with PBS News Hour to live stream the inauguration here. Live coverage begins at 11 a.m. ET(8 a.m. PT).
  • Many news outlets will broadcast on their YouTube channels, including Bloomberg Politics, C-SPAN, Telemundo, and USA Today.
  • The White House will broadcast with a livestream from its website.

This information was provided by Tomball ISD Technology Director and TCEA Convention Chair Elect Tom Brawley. 

 

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Austin
Announcements/Important Dates

Fun Things to Do In and Around Austin While at TCEA 2017

by Kristy Breaux
written by Kristy Breaux

Curious to know what adventure awaits you in Austin while attending TCEA 2017? Discover the wide assortment of attractions the Live Music Capital of the World has to offer. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite social media-worthy locations for you to consider. Grab a friend and your cell phone and take a selfie (or ten) of all the fun places you go.

AustinI Love You So Much

The iconic green wall with simple scripting can be found throughout social media for lovebirds and BFF’s alike. The local coffee shop, Jo’s Coffee at 1300 South Congress Avenue, is a favorite stop in Austin’s SoCo District.

Graffiti Park at Castle Hill

This art show has more set changes than a high-end gallery in New York City. Artists come through daily to add, change, and disrupt the multi-level park walls with graphically beautiful works of art. You can find this hot spot at the North Lamar and Baylor intersection.

AustinMount Bonnell

Arguably one of the most beautiful views you’ll ever take in, climbing to the top of Mount Bonnell will give you a panoramic view of the city from downtown Austin to the 360 Bridge.

Entertainment

You’re in the Live Music Capital of the World. What’s your vice? Live music, dancing, karaoke? Austin has it all. One of the busiest places during the convention happens to be a dueling piano bar. Whether you want to sing your heart out or gawk at those that are, there is endless fun pouring out. The best place for letting your hair down is undoubtedly Sixth Street.

Just a block from the convention center, Rainey Street is overflowing with local eateries and bars that transformed historic homes into a must-see destination in Austin for brunch, dinner, and nightlife.

Live shows happen every night in Austin. Some of the most iconic spots to catch a show include Antone’s, Continental Club, Stubbs, and Broken Spoke. You can explore a list of live events at http://do512.com/, http://www.austin360.com/, or http://www.austintexas.org/visit/things-to-do/nightlife/.

Take in the History

If you haven’t visited the Texas State Capitol yet, you’re probably not an elementary teacher or not from Texas. From the grounds covered in statues and historic information to the interior Texas granite, it’s a sight to behold. Just east of the capitol, you can find the Texas State Cemetery. Our own Stephen F. Austin and other famous Texans can be found there. Or check out one of the many exhibits at the LBJ Presidential Library, Bob Bullock, and many other Austin museums.

The FoodAustin

Austin isn’t just Tex-Mex and barbeque (though we have some of the best). You’ll experience many diverse eateries from trailers to five-star dining. Many of the best food trailers in Austin are walkable in the downtown area. From Voodoo Donuts (a must visit!) to Emoji Grilled Cheese – there’s something for every food connoisseur.

There’s still so much more to see and do in Austin! The best resource for exploring all your possibilities is the Visit Austin team which can be found online, in person at the visitor’s center at 602 E. 4th Street (where you can grab some unique souvenirs), or socially by following @VisitAustinTX. Use the hashtag #TrueAustin for Katie and Christine, two super cool and in-the-know gals from Austin, who are happy to answer your questions.

What is on your must-see or must-do list while in Austin? Leave your Twitter handle with your comments below.

 

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TCEA - Santa Claus
Announcements/Important DatesGood Teaching

Chat Virtually with Santa Claus

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

What’s the biggest present Santa has ever had to carry in his magic bag? If Rudolph’s nose is red, what color are his eyes? How many elves work in the toy factory? What’s the weather like at the North Pole? These are just some of the questions that your students may be wondering about as we near the Christmas holidays. They want answers, and they want to know that those answers come from the source — the big guy himself. How will you respond? Well, now they can ask their questions directly to Santa and hear his replies during a live chat.

For the third year, TCEA is thrilled to be able to bring Santa Claus down from the North Pole to our world headquarters in Austin to chat virtually with students. On December 12 from 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. Central, we invite you to join us via any device with a web browser and talk with Father Christmas. He’ll read one of his favorite Christmas stories, give an update on things happening with Mrs. Claus and the elves, drink some hot chocolate, and then answer holiday questions submitted in advance and live from children (and adults!).

There is no fee to attend this chat and no registration is required. The chat will happen through YouTube, so make sure your district does not have it blocked at the time of the event.

Join Santa

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TCEA 2017 - network
Announcements/Important DatesProfessional Learning

Seven Networking Opportunities at TCEA 2017

by Alexis Cline
written by Alexis Cline

Whether it’s meeting new people, reconnecting with old colleagues, or rubbing elbows with edtech innovators, the TCEA Annual Convention & Exposition is the perfect conference to strengthen existing relationships with peers and forge new connections with educators from around the country. You’ll want to make time to network with other educators, thought leaders, presenters, and exhibitors at one of the many events designed to get you sharing ideas and making connections. Here are just a few to consider.

Poster Sessions

New this year, the come-and-go poster session format allows for up-close access to edtech movers and shakers. Learn from those who are innovating teaching and learning as you talk with them one-on-one. There’s no better way to expand your network. Posters will be offered on the following days and topics:

  • Tuesday, February 7: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. STEM
  • Tuesday, February 7: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Makerspaces
  • Wednesday, February 8: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. 3D Printing and Virtual Reality
  • Wednesday, February 8: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Elementary-focused
  • Wednesday, February 8: 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. Leadership
  • Thursday, February 9: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. K-12 Coding and Computer Science
  • Thursday, February 9: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Amazing Resources
  • Thursday, February 9: 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. Redesigning Learning

Exhibit Hall Opening Reception

Tuesday, February 7
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

TCEA 2017 - Exhibit HallEnjoy the excitement and energy of the exhibit hall in a whole new way this year. Tuesday’s Opening Reception is the ideal way to kick off your convention experience. Dedicate some time for exploration and inquiry, discover the latest and greatest in edtech solutions, and pick up great schwag from over 450 education and technology vendors.

TCEA 2017 First Timers’ Session

Tuesday, February 7
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 8
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Want to make sure you get the very most out of your convention experience? This session, led by convention veterans who also serve as TCEA board members, offers tips for scheduling your day, choosing the best sessions and events for you to attend, and enhancing your experience in playgrounds and poster sessions. Whether it’s your first TCEA convention or not, you will learn (and laugh) in this fun and helpful session.

TCEA17 YOUniverse

Tuesday, February 7 – Thursday, February 9
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

TCEA 2017 - YOUniverseExplore the Power of You in this interactive learning area. Spend lots of hands-on time exploring makerspaces, breakout rooms, and programming. Discover activities and approaches that enhance learning by sharing in this peer-to-peer, network-rich presentation area.

Special Activities Taking Place in TCEA17 YOUniverse:

Makerspace Showcase
Tuesday, February 7
9:00 a.m. – noon

Come for a half-day of makerspace learning, growing, and building, and experience a variety of hands-on activities.

BreakoutEDU Immersion
Tuesday, February 7
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Adam Bellow, co-founder of BreakoutEDU, will introduce and explore the concept behind the craze. Attendees will be invited to participate in a BreakoutEDU challenge and learn how to implement the activity themselves for multiple grades and content areas.

Pokemon GO in Action
Wednesday, February 8
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Join in the fun of Pokemon GO and meet new friends. Designed for pro and novice players, we will explore local Poke-Stops and battle it out for gyms, points, and prizes.

TCEA17 YOUnited

Tuesday, February 7 – Thursday, February 9
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

TCEA 2017 - YOUnitedMeet other edtech enthusiasts in the social media and connection Hub of TCEA 2017. Featured presenters and edtech experts are scheduled throughout the week to share their favorites tools, techniques, tips, and tricks. Whether you’re new to social media or have more followers than Justin Bieber, this is the spot for integrating social media into your repertoire.

Educational Technology Day at the Capitol

Tuesday, February 7
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Edtech advocates will receive a briefing on educational technology issues and learn tips and tricks for effectively communicating with legislators and their staff members. TCEA will set up meetings with the offices of each participant’s senators and representatives and provide transportation to the Texas Capitol for meetings with your legislators. Advance registration is required in addition to a fee of $15 that covers transportation and lunch at the Capitol.

Convention Social “Get Powered Up”

Thursday, Feb. 9
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

TCEA 2017 - SocialThe Thursday social is the must-attend event at the convention, and this year we’ve moved it to a new, more convenient time. Let your hair down and power up with live music, great fun, and fabulous door prizes. There will be games, contests, and energetic tunes, all from the Live Music Capital of the World – Austin, Texas.

These are just a few of the networking opportunities available to you at TCEA 2017. When more than 9,000 educators come together for a week of learning and sharing, there’s bound to be a great new idea or inspiring story around every corner. Don’t miss your chance to plug the Power of You into the energetic mix that is this education conference. Register today.

 

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election
Announcements/Important Dates

Election Time, TCEA Style

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

I know that the very last thing that you want to hear about right now is another election. But this election is different. There isn’t anyone calling the other candidate names, no one accusing someone else of doing something horrible, no bad commercials, no biased news stories, no screaming or tantrum throwing. There’s just a slate of educators who want to help lead TCEA and make it even better for its members. And they need your vote.

The election for open TCEA board of directors positions will be held from November 7 through November 18, ending at midnight CDT. Running for office this year are the following:

  • Vice President: Dr. Roland Rios, Fort Sam Houston ISD
  • Convention Chair Elect: David Jacobson, Lamar CISD
  • Finance and Records Chair: Brian Grenier, El Paso ISD
  • Area 1: Dr. Pat Abrego, Texas A&M International University
  • Area 3: David Luna, Goliad ISD
  • Area 7: Michelle Cooper, White Oak ISD and Paulette Roundtree, Malakoff ISD
  • Area 9: Don Sewell, Graham ISD
  • Area 11: Dr. Brian Brown, UT Arlington College of Education and Elaine Plybon, Keller ISD
  • Area 17: Bill Landis, Lubbock ISD

Members will vote via email. The email link provided will be for your use only, cannot be shared with others, and is only valid for one submission. You may select one of the candidates or choose to not select anyone. Detailed information about each candidate in the election is included with your ballot.

If you are interrupted during your voting and do not have time to finish, you may continue where you left off at any point during the time that the election is open as long as you do not click the final “Submit” button. However, we do encourage you to complete your vote as quickly as possible. Those elected will be announced on the TCEA website and in a future blog post.

When you receive your email ballot, take a moment to clear your mind of all of the ugliness of the national presidential election and remember that our election is done TCEA style: simply, nicely, kindly, and with the best interests of students and educators in mind. Then cast your vote and take part in a electoral process that really works for everyone. Thank you for your vote.

 

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TCEA 2017
Announcements/Important DatesEducational Trends

Seven Speakers You Must Hear

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

Whether you’ve been attending the TCEA Convention & Exposition for 30 years or this will be your first time, the sheer number of sessions and presenters there is overwhelming. With more than 1,000 presentations in a variety of formats and over 600 presenters crammed into five days, it can be daunting to find the perfect people to learn with.

But never fear! I’ve gone through all of the presenters and their sessions and come up with my recommendations, based on current hot topics. Here are the seven speakers that you simply MUST hear while you’re in Austin.

If you’re into Google, make sure to attend Alice Keeler’s sessions. This is Alice’s first time to present at TCEA, and we are very excited to have her with us. Her Teacher Tech website has some of the most useful blogs that I’ve ever seen, and I read her regularly. She has published several books on Google and is, to me, a true Google goddess. You can see what she’ll be offering here and follow her on Twitter @TheAliceKeeler.

Leslie Fisher (@LeslieFisher) has been at many TCEA conventions and is an attendee favorite. She’s an expert on all things Adobe, and her gadgets session is always filled with new, fun tech. There is usually a standing-room-only crowd for her presentations. So if you want to learn from her, get there early!

For those of you who work in the library or who are interested in makerspaces,  make sure to hear Michelle Cooper. Michelle is a librarian in White Oak ISD and is known for her innovative approaches to library design and use. You can find out more about the “Library Lady” here and follow her on Twitter @_MichelleCooper.

Joining us from Canada is the well-known Discovery Education team member Dean Shareski. Dean is able to bring a fresh and clear perspective to all things ed tech. He has a wonderful sense of humor, and his presentations make me think differently about what I know and what I thought I knew. Share some Texas barbecue with him, and he’ll be your friend for life! You can follow him @Shareski.

Presenting about augmented reality, robotics, 3D printing, game making, and more is Jaime Donally. Jaime is the instructional technology coordinator in Gladewater ISD and a long-time TCEA presenter. Her active learning approach will make you feel both excited and empowered. You can find her on Twitter @JaimeDonally.

If you simply aren’t able to select just one topic to focus on at convention, go to sessions presented by Debra Reymundo-Atchison. A retired educator, Debra (@DebAtchison) is the rare instance of a jack of all trades and master of many. She’ll be speaking on Chromebooks, virtual reality, iPads, green screen, and more.

I’m going to cheat a little with my last recommendation and group five people into one. I would be remiss (and probably in a lot of trouble) if I did not mention the great TCEA staff presenters who will be sharing their knowledge at convention. Dr. Bruce Ellis, Diana Benner, Peggy Reimers, Jennifer Bergland, and Miguel Guhlin will all be speaking, and you don’t want to miss them.

Whoever you decide to learn from at TCEA 2017, you won’t be disappointed. We handpick each presenter, choosing experts in both content and presentation style who are leaders in their field. Add these amazing people to The Power of You, and you have an education conference that will equip you with the energy, enthusiasm, knowledge, and support you’ll need to transform teaching and learning on your campus.

 

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leadership
Announcements/Important DatesLeadership

Step Up Your Leadership

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

As a district leader, you already wield considerable influence, making decisions each day that affect every student and staff member. But I would like to ask you to ramp up your leadership and become one of the TCEA leaders on the board of directors.

TCEA and its 17,000 members are led by a dedicated group of 27 educators like yourself who make decisions on the direction of the organization. Their work during their terms of office impacts students and teachers and librarians and administrators across the entire state of Texas and beyond. They set policy and legislative agendas, working to ensure that learning with educational technology becomes stronger and more prevalent each year. They make a difference.

Nominations for some of the positions on the board are now open, and I would ask that you consider running for an office position. The positions available for this election are as follows:

  • Vice President (three-year term)
  • Convention Chair Elect (two-year term)
  • Finance and Records Chair (two-year term)
  • Area Director in areas 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 17 (three-year term)

Service on the board of directors is not arduous, but it does require a commitment to excellence. The board meets in four regular board meetings during the year (May, July, October, and January) and may also have special called meetings, which are held virtually. All board members are required to work the entire week of the TCEA Convention & Exposition in February. In addition, each area director is responsible for providing services to the members in his area, including a robotics contest and a second event, which could be a small conference, a workshop put on by TCEA staff, a webinar, or anything else needed by the members. Every board member has the full support of the TCEA staff and the organization’s resources, making it easier to serve.

In addition, board members receive advance information about new technologies and have the opportunity to network with and learn from the best minds in educational technology today. Professional development opportunities are provided as well.

Nominations will close at midnight on October 31. The election will be held November 7-18. Those elected will assume their duties on April 1, 2017. Won’t you nominate yourself and step up to a higher level of leadership service for the benefit of the students and educators across Texas?

 

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award
Announcements/Important Dates

Do You Know Someone Who Deserves $1,000?

by Carrie McFarland
written by Carrie McFarland

One of the most heart-warming encounters I can recall happened at convention last year. An attendee walked up to TCEA’s own Peggy Reimers, asked if she had been a fourth grade teacher, and went on to explain that she had been a student in Ms. Reimers’ class years ago. This attendee went on to say she had been inspired to become a teacher because of Ms. Reimers. This former student glowed with appreciation and admiration, almost as though she were meeting a hero, as she was reunited with her former teacher.

Even though we know that most teachers do not expect to be recognized for doing their job, I hope that every educator will have a moment such as this: a moment when they know their hard work is truly appreciated. When educators are recognized, it not only reinforces their value and accomplishments, but can also serve as a catalyst for inspiring and motivating others.

What Is This About $1,000?

This brings me to the $1,000. Each year, TCEA gives out more than $16,000 in prizes and scholarships to deserving educators who are using educational technology to transform student learning. We hand out prizes in eight different award categories and three different scholarship categories with the award recipients receiving $1,000 and the two runner-ups each receiving $500. I’ll bet you know someone (a teacher, librarian, educator, administrator, or college student) who is eligible for one of the categories and deserves to be honored.

How Do I Nominate Someone (Or Myself)?

The process is super easy. Just check out the Awards and Scholarships categories. Anytime between September 12 and October 14, complete the application for a colleague, peer, or even yourself using the quick online form. That’s it. We’ll follow up with each nominee and take it from there.

What Happens Next?

In February, we host a formal Awards and Scholarships Reception at the Annual TCEA Convention & Exposition. It’s a wonderful evening, overflowing with energy, anticipation, and applause. The winners and runner-ups are announced, presented with their awards and prizes, and all go home a little bit richer and feeling more appreciated.

How Can I Help?

We need your nominations, and we only have a few short weeks to gather them. Please take a moment to consider those in your school and district who are doing amazing things with educational technology. Your nomination will mean so much to them, not only as a recognition of the work they are doing, but a chance to walk away with a cash prize.

 

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