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convention

For All the Ways You Learn: TCEA 2019

by Lori Gracey August 28, 2018

written by Lori Gracey

Attending an educational convention can be a mind-altering event. Listening to amazing keynotes, learning from innovative speakers, and viewing new products in the exhibit hall can all help to motivate and inspire us to become better. That’s why we go.

But sometimes “big box conventions” can also make it more difficult for attendees to conquer new ideas in the way that they learn best. The size and sheer scope of the conference can make you feel small and unimportant. Luckily, that’s not how TCEA does a convention.

What Makes a TCEA Convention Different

At the 2019 Convention & Exposition in San Antonio, TCEA will provide a wide variety of avenues for learning for its more than 8,000 attendees. Whether you love to learn in a crowd or want one-on-one attention, enjoy working in groups or by yourself, or want to lounge in a comfy chair or in a large ballroom, you will find that we have what you need for professional growth. So think about your particular learning preference and see how we can meet that need.

Learning Through the TCEA 2019 Sessions

A wide variety of session types will be available at the 2019 TCEA Convention, all designed to help you maximize your learning time and model what learning should look like in the classroom. Whether you are a superintendent, a campus administrator, an elementary or secondary teacher, a CTO or technology director, or another professional working in the education field, you will have the opportunity to experience several different learning events. And this year, your convention registration includes access to all of these opportunities!

If you want to experience a topic fully, consider a comprehensive workshop. Immersive and in-depth, these 90-minute, three-hour, and six-hour workshops provide practical, evidence-based strategies and useful tools that allow participants to leave with a ready-to-implement plan in place. They go beyond what is presented in a regular session and feature a smaller presenter-to-attendee ratio so that you can receive more individual attention and help.
If you want to gain more individual practice, take part in a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) workshop. In BYOD workshops, the emphasis is on hands-on learning. Offered in 90-minute, three-hour, and six-hour segments, they are designed to be interactive and detailed. Bring your own device and learn exactly what you need to take back with you.
If you want to hear from a variety of experts with different viewpoints on a particular topic, attend a panel discussion. Panel presentations provide an opportunity to hear about specific topics presented by several knowledgeable facilitators and will help you further understand and evaluate the topics being discussed. Panels are 50 minutes or 90 minutes in length.
If you want to pick up as many ideas and new tools as you possibly can in the time available, attend presentation sessions. Presentation sessions are 50 minutes or 90 minutes in length and are led by experts in technology and/or pedagogy or a group of educators sharing tools and best practices as they have implemented them. Presenters will share proven strategies for successful curriculum integration from personal experience and research projects related to technology-based instruction.
If you have a specific problem for which you need to find a good solution, take part in a solution circle. Build and expand your learning networks with peers taking on similar initiatives. In these intimate, 50-minute, facilitated, round-table conversations, you will discuss common problems, explore solutions, and share resources. Expand your network and continue working together long after you depart the convention.
If you want to be inspired and recharged for the rest of the year, attend a keynote. Fun activities with your peers will set the mood for motivational learning and excitement.
If you want to talk one-on-one with another educator on a topic of interest, stop by the poster sessions. This kind of learning environment encourages meaningful conversations regarding your ideas, implementation, tools, and projects that you can immediately incorporate in your classroom, campus, or district. Sessions are grouped each time period around a common theme such as STEM, leadership, or coding.
If you want to “play” with new technologies or experience new ways to learn with current tech, then visit the playgrounds. Here you’ll find experts to help you experience discovery learning as you interact with the latest resources and tools.
If you need specific information on a particular product, take part in the exhibitor showcases. These 50-minute sessions are presented by exhibiting companies to further explore the products and services available on the show floor in an in-depth, informative, and non-sales atmosphere.
If none of these learning opportunities meet your needs, you can always schedule an informal meet-up with your colleagues in a lounge area and talk about your own topics.

The Rooms Themselves Also Foster Learning

Research shows that the environment can either add to or distract from the learning. TCEA knows this and so offers a variety of room setups for learning as well. Some of the rooms will be arranged with innovative and flexible seating to foster collaboration and group work. Some will include tables set up in rounds for discussion. Others will be set classroom style with tables to hold devices and thus offer hands-on learning. Some of the larger rooms will be set with just chairs so that popular topics can be offered there and accommodate the most attendees. And there will also be more intimate “chat” areas available throughout the convention center where you can sit and learn with a peer or two.

With TCEA, the Learning Doesn’t Stop

However you want to learn, the TCEA 2019 Convention & Exposition will empower you to achieve the goals you’ve set and maximize your time away from your students and staff. And, because your paid convention registration includes a complimentary year of TCEA membership, we ensure that the learning won’t stop after the event is over. You’ll have access to free webinars 24/7 to take your skills to the next level and will be able to ask questions and share resources anytime you want with your peers and friends in the TCEA Community.

Just like you, TCEA is all about the learning. Join us in San Antonio February 4-8, 2019 and experience innovative learning with us! Registration opens September 13, 2018.

August 28, 2018 0 comment

Member Spotlight on Lee Sleeper

by Susan Meyer April 24, 2018

written by Susan Meyer

At TCEA, we can’t help but be excited about our incredible members and all the ways they are advancing teaching and learning with technology. Each month, we like to shine the spotlight on one member to share what drives and inspires him or her. We hope our readers can find value in their stories. You might just discover an idea or two to use in your own education journey.

Lee Sleeper

Today’s member spotlight focuses on an esteemed tech director and longtime friend and supporter of TCEA: Lee Sleeper. In addition to being the current Director of Operations and Technology for Bullard ISD—a 4A district with 2,600 students to support—Lee is also the head of the tech crew every year at the TCEA Convention & Exposition. This means he’s volunteered hundreds of hours to making sure our annual event runs smoothly for the thousands of educators who attend. And he is a past president of TCEA!

A Long Career for a Digital Pioneer

Lee describes his career path as “serendipitous.” First, he spent a 30-year career as a journalist—including public relations, publicity, photography, advertising, and teaching. Twenty-two of those years were spent at Sul Ross State University where Lee and his departments were early adopters of technology. “We saw the potential of how technology could benefit us. We were one of the first universities to move traditional typesetting to a desktop publishing system, and we were early experimenters with computerizing all athletic stats. We also were ‘pioneers’ in digital layout and design, moving the university catalog to the computer in the late 1980s.”

When he started at Bullard ISD in 2002, the district only had about 350 computers, many of which were over five years old. Lee describes what it was like when he started: “For those in the networking world, the flat network was connected via hubs. A normal day meant traveling to each campus to reboot the network after broadcast storms brought it to a halt.” Today, things in Bullard are just a little bit different. The district has approximately 2,200 computers and a switched network with 10Gbps connections to the network operations center. “We have gone from two servers in 2002 to 12 physical servers and 36 virtual servers.”

No Rest for the Busy!

In his position at Bullard ISD, Lee has administrative oversight of transportation, maintenance, custodial, food service, and technology—all of which keeps his day full. He describes: “An average day begins about 5 a.m. with a drive through district facilities to make sure we do not have any major problems. I try to walk each of our six campuses at least once a week. My first staff meeting with my operations’ coordinator is at 6:30 a.m. to look at ‘opportunities’ facing us for the day. I meet with my technology coordinator about 7:45 a.m. to go over the day. The day usually comes to an end about 4:30 p.m. by monitoring the two-way radio to ensure our afternoon bus routes finish without complications. Board meeting nights and committee meeting nights can take the day to 9 p.m.” Luckily, Lee enjoys what he does and particularly the variety each day brings. He describes it as his dream job because he knows he will never be bored or lack for things to do!

Looking Out for What’s Next

Lee isn’t looking to stop innovating any time soon. There are a number of initiatives he is working on at Bullard. “On the tech side, we have qualified for E-Rate discounts on equipment the past three years, allowing us to replace our wireless system. This year, we will upgrade all backbone switches. We are implementing a STEM approach at all levels, and I am fortunate to be involved in that implementation.”

To keep up with what’s new and valuable in ed tech, Lee’s favorite resource is the collective knowledge of his fellow tech directors, with a little help from the TCEA PD team. “When I was on the TCEA board, my colleagues on the board were my greatest resource. Since then, the availability of TEC-SIG has been a great benefit. We began implementing a districtwide STEM program last summer, and TCEA’s PD instructors and workshops have been invaluable.”

Lee’s Tips for Tech Directors

When asked what his best tip for new tech directors is, Lee had not one, but three pieces of advice to follow:

Know your network
Know your teachers
Know what they need

It’s a great philosophy to lead by and one that shows exactly why Lee Sleeper has been such an asset to Bullard ISD (not to mention to the TCEA Tech Crew!) for so long.

We hope you enjoyed this peek into the life’s work of one of our members. To learn about other innovative educators transforming education, you can read some of our previous member spotlight posts here, here, and here. Do you know a TCEA member who deserves a little spotlighting? Email me your suggestions at smeyer@tcea.org.

April 24, 2018 0 comment

Announcements/Important Dates Professional Learning

You Don’t Want to Miss This Convention Deal!!!!

by Kristy Breaux April 19, 2018

written by Kristy Breaux

As the person in charge of putting on TCEA’s biggest event every year, I have to tell you that I’m struggling to contain my excitement for the 2019 TCEA Annual Convention & Exposition. With the big move to San Antonio next year, we have so many more opportunities to expand and grow the best conference for impacting education. Here are a few of the things I’m most excited about:

You Get an Upgrade! You Get an Upgrade! Everyone Gets an Upgrade!

New this year, in a larger and more flexible convention center, we are increasing the amount of presentations and hands-on workshops and opening them up for all of our tech-loving, future-transforming attendees. That’s right – no more Basic and Premium registration. All attendees are receiving Premium status to attend an unlimited number of presentations, hands-on workshops, panels, and interactive learning sessions.

A Bigger, More Robust Exhibit Hall

TCEA’s exhibit hall is THE destination for CTO’s, superintendents, and campus leaders to explore everything from furnishings for innovative learning spaces to software for managing day-to-day tasks to transformational tools for improving campus and district student success. Because of this, thousands of innovative educators register for an “expo only” pass and spend hours in the hall. This year, we’re inviting those of you who can’t make it to the whole event to dip your toe into the full convention experience by including up all Friday sessions for you to attend as well with your Exhibits Only pass.

ESSA

Yep, that’s right, I’m excited about the increased funding for professional development available from the Every Student Succeeds Act. The money allocated for ESSA can be used this year to attend a conference with a focus on successful technology integration (like ours). You can read Jennifer’s post on ESSA here and follow her all year long for updates on legislative activities. With increased funding, you can bring all of those educators to the conference and ensure that transformational learning takes place on your campus.

Technology Funding Increased in ESSA Budget

In 2019, We’re on a Mission, 24/7, to Engaged Learning.

No, really, we’re on a mission. Did you know that San Antonio is home to four other missions besides the Alamo? The TCEA 2019 Convention & Exposition historic features of the city, combined with the architectural beauty, really do make this one of my favorite destinations. If I had to encourage you to make one stop outside the convention center, it would be to The Saga at the San Fernando Cathedral in the historic Main Plaza. The 24-minute laser light show projected against the cathedral uses every inch and curve of the building to produce a memorable experience. It happens every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 9:00, 9:30, and 10:00 p.m. Oh, and it’s free.

Former San Antonio Spur Tim Duncan Is Our Opening Keynote.

Okay, this is not true. It’s my wishful thinking for my dream conference. And, clearly, the Admiral himself would be the closing keynote. A Spurs fan can dream!

Exclusive Promotion

For the first time in TCEA’s long history, we are opening registration in advance for a very limited time with a super early discount rate for those of you who, like me, who can’t wait to start planning for the 2019 TCEA Convention & Exposition. May 1-31 you will be able to register at the super early rate of $269 (and that’s for all the workshops, presentations, exhibit hall, interactive features, and panels). No discount code is needed, but the reduced registration price ends May 31. Registration will reopen on September 13 at the price of $289.

You can subscribe to this blog for future updates (see the big red box to the right), follow @TCEA on Twitter, or like us on Facebook.

Save the Dates

May 1-31: Exclusive Early Registration Promotion
May 31: Call for Presenters Closes. Join the league of ed tech educators sharing leading trends in pedagogy, educationalleadership, and technology best practices.
September 13: Registration and Hotel Reservations Open
Feb. 4-8, 2019: TCEA Convention & Exposition in San Antonio

TCEA payment policy requires payment to be received within 30 days or your registration may be canceled. If paying by purchase order, a copy of the purchase order must be received within in 30 days and we ask that check payments on purchase orders be received within 90 days.

April 19, 2018 0 comment

Professional Learning

Make Professional Development Less Like the Walking Dead

by Guest Blogger February 14, 2018

written by Guest Blogger

I have attended the TCEA conference in Austin the past five years. I have heard many speakers and teachers and presented a couple sessions myself. I have picked up many pens, stress balls, stickers, keychains, notepads, bags, and doo-dads from the exhibit hall. I take all of my digital notes, random pieces of paper and handouts, and hope to apply something when I am jolted back to reality on Monday. It’s as if we need a vacation to absorb and reflect on all of the experiences, conversations, and information we have been exposed to at TCEA.

My suggestion: take one new thing that you learned and apply it. Just one. Once you have that one thing down, try another thing that you have learned.

For me, I want to make professional development sessions that I lead more interactive and meaningful. I had the pleasure of attending Steve Dembo’s session about professional development called “Fear of the Sitting Dead.” It was at 5 p.m. on Wednesday and the large room was over half full. It makes you aware that this is a problem plaguing learning institutions and we were collectively at this session to figure out how to solve this problem. You mean, I’m not the only one that has experienced some less than stellar professional development sessions?

In that session, he said,“PD should not be done to you, it should have an actionable purpose.” From that session, I made a short list of a few interactive ideas I would like to attempt to add to my PD sessions in the future.

Take a Walk

Steve mentioned how walking increases the activity of your brain. He had us all stand-up, leave the room, and take two laps around the upstairs area on the third floor of the convention center. He asked us to talk to people we didn’t already know. He gave us a topic: “Children are smarter because of the Internet.” Everyone discussed this while walking. Once we were all back in the room, Steve asked people to share with the group about their conversations. (On another note, we ask students to discuss things with their neighbor all the time. What if we had them walk around the room and discuss the topic with their neighbor?)

Snowball Fight

Everyone has a piece of paper. They write something on there relating to a topic you have provided. They roll the paper into a ball and they throw it at others in the room. Then, someone opens up your paper and they add something or they respond. They can ball up the paper again and you can repeat the process however many times you want. We did not demonstrate this suggestion. (We’re at a tech conference – no one had any paper.)

One Final Thing

Steve suggested Tech-Mex Tuesdays, an informal professional development session after school. Two rules: You must stay for 15 minutes and there MUST be chips and salsa. Participants can stay longer if they want to learn more.

For more of Steve’s ideas, click here.

Haley Wallace is a former K-12 technology teacher in Texas and Oklahoma. She currently teaches adult learning classes at Tulsa Technology Center. Haley enjoys using Twitter to learn and connect with other educators.

February 14, 2018 0 comment

Good Teaching Leadership Professional Learning

The Voices of TCEA

by Guest Blogger February 9, 2018

written by Guest Blogger

I have attended TCEA for the past few years, and it’s always a time of learning, reflection, and growth. How exciting it is when educators converge on the great city of Austin to learn from each other, network, collaborate across districts, and get to eat lunch at a restaurant. We’re educators…this little thing is a huge perk.

When TCEA asked me to guest blog, I decided I would let the day determine what my message would be. It quickly became clear that the voices of TCEA impact me the most at this conference each year. From the kind lady at registration to the jolly security guard, from the fourth grade teacher I met walking from the parking garage, to the people I connected with on Twitter during my session…it is these voices that speak loud and strong. They speak words of kindness, hope, excitement, and reflection…all things I crave in my role as an instructional coach and in my life as a human. Allow me to share some of these voices with you.

Josh Strickland

I had the honor of meeting Josh Strickland on the way to registration. Josh is a fourth grade teacher from Anna ISD and is interested in blogging and coding. We got to visit briefly and later swapped URLs during separate sessions. I love when I can magnify my learning at conferences by looking through the presentation materials and tweets of the other educators around me. It definitely provides a broader learning experience and allows me to gain more than I would without a personal learning network. Connect with Josh on Twitter and let’s help get him motivated to blog!

Angel Bradford

The next voice I got to hear was that of Angel Bradford. Angel presented on Writing Workshop/Technology Mashup. As the co-director of the Central Texas Writing Project, I am always looking for ways to connect writing teachers with relevant, engaging resources, and this session had both! One of the fun things she talked about was peer editing. In my work with teachers, I have found that peer revising and editing always seem to be daunting to teachers since there are so many factors involved. This peer editing video was a fun way to introduce some non-examples of strong peer editors.

Jessica Torres

Mandy Taylor

For lunch, I had the opportunity to hear the voice of Jessica Torres. Jessica is an assistant principal in Waco ISD and she co-presented on a panel with me last year on personalized professional development. Jessica and I have only met in person twice, last year at TCEA and for lunch today right before our session. We visited about building teacher capacity, struggles and triumphs in our current positions, and how the connections we have forged through social media have impacted the work we do and our respective careers. She is a force to be reckoned with and I am glad she is in my corner.

Caleb Hudgens

Following lunch, we headed to Hilton Salon G (because that sounds very glamorous) for our #PersonalizedPD Game of Stories session with Caleb Hudgens. I worked with Caleb for several years before he left to be the Instructional Technology Coordinator at Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD. Caleb remains a great friend and my go-to for ideas on student publication, student voice, and all things Adobe Spark!

During this session, we facilitated a brief discussion of the power of #PersonalizedPD for educators. This idea is built on the concept that teachers are the best PD for each other, and providing opportunities for choice and voice in the professional development process always yields the greatest results with the most opportunity for ongoing growth. We then put the card game, Game of Stories, in the hands of the session participants where it really belongs. Tables quickly began using their deck of cards to share stories and swap ideas from their own experiences and their own classrooms. Learning was shared on a collaborative Google Doc and each participant left with the link that houses new Twitter connections, a treasure trove of extensions and tech tools, as well as ideas that I can’t wait to explore later!

I am thrilled I get to spend a few more days in Austin connecting and learning with a bright group of brave educators who are here to learn more about truly transforming the future through innovative learning opportunities. We need more educators willing to listen to their own voice and stand up for kids! I would love to connect with you if you’re here for the week or on Twitter if I don’t get the opportunity to meet you face to face.

Mandy Taylor is an instructional coach at Hays CISD and regularly blogs here. You can also reach her on Twitter.

February 9, 2018 0 comment

Good Teaching

Productive Downtime: It’s Not a Paradox!

by Susan Meyer February 8, 2018

written by Susan Meyer

When the word “downtime” is said, most people think about activities such as watching TV, eating a snack, or sleeping, which gives it a negative, lackadaisical connotation. In actuality, downtime can be quite productive, especially when a lot of information is given to you at once. During TCEA’s convention, for example, many attendees go to session after session because they don’t want to miss any valuable information. While this is all great, attendees are actually missing out on the other valuable side of utilizing their downtime. Whether you’re at a TCEA convention or going through your daily routine, here are some tips on how to get the most out of your downtime.

Process Your Information

Though it seems great on the surface, receiving nonstop information can be counterproductive. For instance, if your students received nonstop information from nonstop classes without having a chance to reflect on it, research shows that their retention rate will decrease and they will not retain their class material. This also happens when educators attend sessions back-to-back at our TCEA conventions. There’s no doubt that the information is helpful, but it will do no good if you aren’t taking the time to let it marinate. Instead of planning your day with information overload, plan out pockets of time to reflect on what you have learned.

Reflection allows you to think deeply about not only what you’ve learned, but how you learned it. It is a powerful way to examine your own learning processes and how effective (or ineffective they are). Mulling over what and how you’ve learned something new during downtime also helps your neurons to build connections to prior knowledge, which enhances how long that new learning will be retained.

Build Your PLN (Personal Learning Network)

Some of the best tips and tricks you can receive are from those who have already gone through what you are learning. However, if you don’t take the time to talk to others and hear about their experiences, then you are at risk of missing the best way to apply what you are learning. For instance, though our TCEA Convention offers over 1,100 sessions and 470 exhibits, these details are only half of the experience. The other half is the networking opportunities with educators from all different walks of life. All of them have amazing stories to tell and enriching resources to offer. You just have to take advantage of it.

Chances are you have a passion for learning if your field is in education. Downtime is the perfect opportunity to learn new ed tech tricks and teaching methods from your colleagues. Some educators, however, may be a bit more introverted and prefer not to talk to other people if they don’t have to. If you’re more reserved, build your online PLN by using your downtime to catch up on blogs or community forums or follow new educators on Twitter. As long as you have some kind of learning community, it doesn’t matter if it’s online or face to face.

Plan Your Next Step

Once you’ve had a chance to process your thoughts in your downtime, you can take advantage of this time to transition into your next step. Though you’re not expected to have every detail, it’s always helpful to have some sort of plan in mind, whether it’s your daily routine or attending a convention. If you’re constantly moving, you’re at risk for missing time to build a strategy of really making the most of your day.

For example, at our 2018 TCEA Convention & Exposition, we offer sessions for educators with every level of expertise. Therefore, some classes may not be of value to you because you already know the information or you may not know enough information. Using your downtime to strategize what sessions to attend will maximize your convention experience and even allow for some free time because it won’t be wasted on sessions you don’t need. This idea could be used in the classroom as well.

Take a Breather

Last but not least, downtime can be used to refresh yourself. Sometimes it’s best to completely separate yourself from your work and busy schedule to be reminded of what you’re truly trying to accomplish. Downtime allows for breathing room to make your priorities clear and focused. For instance, if your students are constantly weighed down by nonstop assignments, they will soon begin to feel stretched too thin and overwhelmed. This can lead to work of less detail and quality. For you and your students to be the best versions of yourselves, take a step back and renew your mind. You’ll thank yourself later.

As mentioned, downtime offers various productive opportunities. It allows for you to process information, build your PLN, plan for what’s to come, and become refreshed. These benefits will help you become more productive and proactive, while also setting an example for your students.

February 8, 2018 0 comment

Professional Learning

What One #TCEA Convention Attendee is Looking For

by Guest Blogger February 5, 2018

written by Guest Blogger

I attend TCEA each year, and each year, I try to challenge myself on what to learn and look for throughout the conference. Attending the conference each year can make things seem like ritual and habit, but making a list of “look for this” learning opportunities keeps me mentally on my feet so I get the most out of my conference time. So here is my list:

1) Innovative Space Design

Designing learning spaces is a hot topic and one that I am investing more and more into understanding the implications on learners and teachers. Through our blended learning projects in my school district, we are engaging teachers on a weekly basis in conversations around seating options, classroom layout, student ownership of the classroom, and so much more. I am hoping to see not only how some are designing their spaces, but also how they are leading the charge for spaced design and funding that work.

2) Blended/Innovative Learning

We have been engaged in blended learning for more than three years as a district. We have iterated and refined our learning and application of blended learning models across the K-12 spectrum. My goal for blended is to engage with those that have also been invested in the process of implementing blended learning and then glean from their experiences so we can continue to scale our work effectively as a district.

3) The Unexpected

Each year I am looking for the thing I did not expect as well. I do not know what it will be this year, but I will know it when I see it. Past experiences had me listening to Angela Maiers talk on the #youmatter movement, discovering the passion of Braeden’s Art (h/t to Rafranz), sharing mustaches with Steve Dembo, and karaoke-ing with 500 of my closest EdTech friends. What will this year hold?

4) That One Guy/Gal (or a Few)!

No. Not THAT that one, but that one that will challenge my point of view and give me a target to grow towards. In the past, that has meant befriending great thinkers and leaders like Todd Nesloney, George Couros, Tom Murray, Shannon Miller, Greg Garner, Amy Mayer, and many more. Look around! There are great people at the convention who will impact your life in amazing ways for many years to come!

So, TCEA veterans, what are your learning look-fors? Share with me @jamielocklin using #TCEA (FYI #TCEA18 and #TCEA2018 are popular, but not the official hashtag).

Jamie Locklin is the Director of Digital Learning for Hays CISD.

February 5, 2018 0 comment

Educational Trends Google Tips and Tricks Microsoft Tips and Tricks

Tools to Take the Best Notes at the 2018 TCEA Convention

by Susan Meyer February 4, 2018

written by Susan Meyer

The 2018 TCEA Convention & Exposition is in full swing as educators from all over the nation have come together to learn about the latest trends in educational technology and to build on their professional development. With sessions for every role in education, the convention may take a bit of planning in what sessions to attend and what information to retain. To make the most of your convention experience, taking good notes is essential. After all, what good is taking amazing notes if you can’t find what you need in them in a few weeks or months? The best way to ensure that your convention learning (and any learning, for that matter) remains fresh and easily searched is to use one of the great note taking tools that are available to educators.

The Top Three Note-Taking Tools

Some of the best tools that may help you write the most beneficial notes are Google Keep, OneNote, and Evernote. All of these tools are currently free to use (a big plus!). They have a similar purpose, but also unique features that set each one apart.

Google Keep

Google Keep has standard note-taking features such as automatic saves, ability to share the finished product, and checkboxes. In addition, it has the ability to send reminders about the notes you take and has a built-in OCR. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) means that the system can not only recognize text, but also graphic images such as drawings or illustrations or sketch notes. With these added features, Google Keep is great for jotting something down quick while also giving you room to organize and build on your notes to make them more detailed. Its design is simple for content to be easy to write or find.

Note Taking with OneNote

OneNote is a little more robust than Google Keep because it provides the ability to create internal links. This can allow you to link to a particular Twitter account or chat or to a PDF handout link from a presenter. It also can hold more characters than Google Keep, making it perfect for keeping notes from multiple events and years. These features allow your notes to be a little more in-depth and organized. One disadvantage of OneNote, however, is its inability to recover deleted items, which may be an issue when you’re bouncing session to session.

Evernote

Following Google Keep and OneNote is Evernote. Like OneNote, Evernote is more robust with a feature that integrates with third-party services through APIs. This lets you connect it to other applications such as Outlook or Google Drive. You can see what else works with OneNote here. However, with a more complex design, it lags in speed and consistency across all devices. The best way use Evernote is in its web version.

There are plenty of ways to take great, useful notes. To recap, Google Keep is simply designed and made for quick notes that you can put into greater depth at a later time while OneNote offers a happy medium of more detailed, organizational features. If you are using the web version, Evernote offers copious possibilities. No matter your note-taking style, one of these tools will is sure to help you take your best 2018 TCEA Convention notes.

February 4, 2018 0 comment

Professional Learning

If You Can’t Be at Convention

by Lori Gracey January 28, 2018

written by Lori Gracey

Ask anyone who’s ever attended a TCEA Convention & Exposition and they will tell you that there’s nothing like it. The crowds of dedicated educators, the amazing presenters, the exhibitors with the latest learning technologies — all of that creates an excitement and an energy that you won’t find anywhere else.

But what if, for whatever reason, you simply can’t attend the convention this year? Is there any way to gain at least a little of that knowledge and recharging without being there? The good news is yes.

Ways to Learn with Us Without Being at Convention

First, follow us on Twitter. The presenters and attendees are fabulous about sharing the amazing things they’ll be learning at convention. The official hashtag is #TCEA. So grab your favorite Twitter tool (mine is TweetDeck) and input the hashtag to join in. You can start following along now as we always have great tools and resources.

During the week of convention, we will be blogging out some of the things we see that really impact us. So check out the blog each day to virtually experience those. (By the way, did you know that you can sign up to get the TCEA blog emailed to you each day? Just go to the blog site and scroll down until you see the red box. Enter your email address and you’ll start getting powerful resources emailed to you daily. And this works for members and non-members.)

After convention is over, we will be blogging out some of the content shared in our Solution Circles this year, peer-to-peer collaborations about some of the big issues in education right now. So be sure to be on the lookout for those resources. (Again, if you sign up to receive the daily blog email, you’ll get them automatically delivered to your inbox.)

Next, register for the webinar “Lunch and Learn: Convention Gems.” It’s free to members and on February 14 from 11:45 to 12:15 p.m. Central. This fast-paced session will highlight some of the best of the best that our PD staff discovered at convention. And there will be time for everyone else to share their favorites as well. If you can’t attend the live session, register anyway and receive a link to the recorded webinar to listen to at any time. If you’re not currently a member, join for just $49 for a year and get access to this webinar, as well as more than 80 others. That’s a lot less than what it would cost to attend the convention!

Finally, keep an eye on our website for when we post all of the handouts from our unbelievable presenters. It usually takes two to three weeks after convention is over before they are all uploaded. But once they are, you will have full access to them. It’s not quite the same as being in the room with them, but it’s a close second.

Next Year in San Antonio

Take advantage of all the learning that you can participate in without being at convention this year. But start making plans for how you can join in for the live excitement in San Antonio February 4-8, 2019. Tell your supervisor about the tremendous learning you’ll experience and ask him to budget for you attending next year. I look forward to seeing you there!

January 28, 2018 0 comment

Announcements/Important Dates

Make TCEA 2018 Your Best Learning Ever

by Lori Gracey January 26, 2018

written by Lori Gracey

I hope that all of you are registered for the TCEA 2018 Convention & Exposition by now and are starting to get excited about the event. This year’s content promises to be the best we’ve ever had, and I can’t wait for you to experience it. But with five full days and more than 1,100 opportunities to stretch your mind, it may be a little overwhelming. Knowing that, here are four tips for a successful event, gleaned from my participation at more than 35 TCEA conventions.

Tip #1: Plan Your Experience Around “One Thing”

Admittedly, I am something of a control freak. So just winging the entire convention is definitely not something I’m comfortable with. But to be honest, there is literally so much going on that, if you don’t do at least a little planning up front, you will miss out on something amazing. So, decide first what you want to learn this year. You can certainly just pick a basket of mixed content, if you want, and go home with lots of innovative ideas. But I have found that the best learning I experience is when I am focused.

So, what do you want to learn?

Are you trying to solve a particular problem?
Is your campus or district implementing something new?
Do you need resources for a specific subject area?
Are you wanting to grow your leadership skills?
Do you need practice in the latest educational trend?
Are you trying to determine what perfect tech tool to purchase?

Whatever it is, I can promise you that you’ll find it at the convention. But take the time to write down your response to the following to make sure that you get everything you can out of the experience: “I will know that my time at TCEA 2018 was well spent if I walk away with _________.” That’s your “one thing,” what you will concentrate your time and energy at the convention on. That doesn’t mean you won’t learn about other things, just that your primary goal is to accomplish this one task.

Tip #2: Study the TCEA 2018 Offerings in Advance

I am always a little frightened by the attendees who show up onsite at the convention that first morning and then start looking in the printed program to see what they want to attend. Again, there’s just too much going on for that to be effective. Instead, spend some time up front getting familiar with what is being offered.

First, see what big events are going on this year. Even if you’ve attended the convention for a long time, we make slight changes every year and provide new sessions and events.

Who are the keynoters and featured speakers? Will any of them be able to address your “one thing?”
What’s new this year? The convention adds to its topics each year as new technologies come out. So what is being emphasized this year in the interactive learning spaces? Does that fit in with your one thing? If so, how much time will you need to spend there?
The 2018 convention is offering Solution Circles this year, which are 50-minute facilitated, round-table conversations where attendees will discuss common problems, explore solutions, and share resources in small groups. You can see the list of topics and times here. Will one of these help educate you more about your one thing?
Don’t forget about the great learning going on in the poster sessions. These come-and-go opportunities allow you to talk face-to-face personally with knowledgeable peers in a relaxed setting.

Next, spend some time searching for specific sessions about your one thing. You can do this with the filter and search capabilities of the convention website. The general search feature will return sessions, speakers, and exhibitors that match the keyword you searched for. You can also use the more powerful filter function (on the right side) with select tags (such as 1:1, coding, differentiation, or leadership).

For example, in the search below, I am looking for ideas on implementing a makerspace in an elementary campus.

TCEA 2018

Make a rough draft of a possible schedule of sessions to attend, leaving in some free time for impromptu conversations with peers, visiting the massive exhibit hall, and any spur-of-the-moment learning opportunities that may crop up. You don’t have to necessarily follow this schedule completely, but it will give you a place to start when you get onsite at the convention center.

One more thing about your schedule. Make sure you download the free TCEA app before you arrive. This will be the best way to keep current on any possible changes in the sessions being offered.

Tip #3: Try One New Adventure

TCEA 2018 One of the most powerful learning experiences may be one that you’ve never had before. The convention is the perfect place to expand your horizons and try something new. If you’re normally reluctant to meet new people, try introducing yourself to others in a session you attend, at a Solution Circle, or while resting your tired feet in a corner chair. If you don’t normally interact with the exhibitors much, then spend some time with a vendor who offers something related to your one thing and really dive in, getting hands-on practice and all of your questions answered. If you’re not typically a joiner, then stop by and learn about one of the Special Interest Groups (SIGs) in the TCEA membership booth and discover what they have to offer you. Put on your “I’m confident” hat and add a new experience to your convention activities.

Tip #4: Explore What TCEA Has for You After the Convention

I also strongly encourage you to stop by the TCEA Membership Booth during the big event and say “hello.” Introduce yourself to Director of Membership and Marketing Joe Vasquez and Membership Assistant Erin Taylor and let them share with you how TCEA can continue to support you long after the convention has ended. Your convention registration includes a free year of membership, and you won’t believe all the solutions and resources that will provide to help you with your one thing and many others.

January 26, 2018 0 comment

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