Technology in Education…Now What?

FETC, Day 1- 1/23/2008

January 24, 2008

Wednesday began early with Discovery Education. I attended their FETC pre-conference event to learn and share with other DEN Star Members.

Our first event was Speed DENing (like speed dating, without the love connection). Before any ice-breaker begins, I don’t want to participate. BUT, this was fun tolerable good! The Rule: We had to talk to people we didn’t know. So I met a few people that I knew virtually but not personally. It’s funny how you can create an online world where you think you know people and then you attend conferences and get to meet them. Some of my “friends” were even on Twitter while in the meeting.

Hall Davidson did a quick version of his Thursday FETC session, The Man Behind the Curtain. He showed us how to “take control” of what our students see on iPods. By pasting some simple code, we can manage the main screen and content that is loaded on the iPods for our students to use in the classroom. He also gave out tips for blogs, Google Earth, and PowerPoint but the iPod tip was the best thing I took from that.

One of the guys I met in Speed DENing, Chris Bugaj, presented technology tips with Assistive Technology. He and his colleague, Sally Norton Dar, worked with their department and students to create a AT (Assistive Technology) -A-Day calendar. What a great concept! Their team created technology tips for each school day and made it into a tear off calendar. MaryAnn and I have already discussed doing this project in our district.

There were several other DEN folks and DEN Stars that presented and they all gave great information…but on to lunch!

Discovery Education took us to the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney! I was hoping to see Mickey while in Orlando, but the shopping center would have to do. We had a good lunch, took silly pics in the Disney Store, and headed back for our keynote speaker, Jeff Corwin! While we were in Downtown Disney, I did go to The Pin Traders Store. Apparently a new craze for Disney patrons is to buy a lanyard and pins. Then you trade the pins with other people. My nieces and nephew collect and trade these so I did pick up a few for them. Yes, Aunt JuJu did get a treat for you!

Another perk to being a DEN Star Member–Second Row Seating at Jeff Corwin’s Keynote! Although he did not talk about technology, he did address education and his inspirations to become who he is today.

Our day concluded with dinner with Discovery Education at Bahama Breeze. This was a social dinner but I always enjoy getting to talk to to the folks that work with the DEN.

Whew! What a day. Only Day 1, and I am exhausted already. I’m hoping to visit the Spa at our hotel before we leave…

Technorati Tags: Discovery Education DEN Twitter Hall Davidson FETC2008 FETC Chris Bugaj Disney Jeff Corwin Julia Davis

Entry Filed under: Professional Development, conference. .