I had the privilege of attending the FETC (Florida Educational Technology Conference) in Orlando, Florida this past January. To describe the conference in one word...remarkable! I was a first timer at this conference, but I hope it will not be my last visit. Having not accessed article 60 funding for conferences for over ten years, I had forgotten how valuable an experience attending conferences such as this can impact my teaching.
I chose to register for workshops as these were described as an opportunity to delve deeply into topics, learn new skills and strategies, and create new materials. The workshop I attended on Monday was titled, iPad A to Z and was facilitated by Leslie Fisher. What an intense 3 hours! She really knew her stuff and shared apps and online websites that blew my mind. Now I just need a day to sit down and try out all of the stuff she shared with us. I am going to share my favorites from what she shared with us.
The
workshop, titled iPad A-Z, was well worth the trip in and of itself.
Her workshop was filled with technology that I could access not just
with my iPad, but with many other devices. Many of the applications
and programs could be accessed for free! What everyone in the
teaching profession wants to hear. Leslie stated that we are heading
to a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) world, which I have come to realize
is quickly approaching. This already occurs at the post-secondary
level and is trickling down through our high schools, junior highs,
and will eventually reach our elementary schools.
Some of the great “Group Hug”
applications that Leslie shared with us during her workshop that had
“WOW” factor for me included: Screenleap.com, Primarypad.com,
Todaysmeet.com, Classdojo.com, and many more too numerous to mention.
I suggest checking out www.lesliefisher.com
On Tuesday, I attended a workshop
facilitated by Nancye Blair. While this workshop was not as hands on
as Leslie's was, she spoke well about the difference between teaching
WITH technology versus teaching THROUGH technology. She made mention
that as teachers we already have educational best practices, now we
are going to infuse technology into these best practices.
On Wednesday, I was able to spend some
time at the exhibit hall, which was a bit overwhelming. There were
so many new products and software that I was unaware of that it was
difficult to take it all in at once. I could have easily spent a
week just attending all the exhibits and presenters in the exhibit
hall.
The FETC is a conference well worth
attending. With the way that technology is constantly evolving and
changing, a person could attend this conference every year and learn
a multitude of new things. I appreciate having access to Article 60
funding to attend this conference, because without it, I would not
have been able to.
There were a few sessions that were designed for "special ed" programs and teachers, but no sessions designed for any one particular disability. I was not able to attend these sessions, as they were held on days that I was not in attendance. As educators I think the thing we do need to realize is that the majority of sessions were directly linked to iPad use, and as we all know, the iPad offers many options to make it accessible to many people with disabilities.
Some of the sessions offered included:
There were a few sessions that were designed for "special ed" programs and teachers, but no sessions designed for any one particular disability. I was not able to attend these sessions, as they were held on days that I was not in attendance. As educators I think the thing we do need to realize is that the majority of sessions were directly linked to iPad use, and as we all know, the iPad offers many options to make it accessible to many people with disabilities.
Some of the sessions offered included:
- Apps and the School: Based Speech Pathologist and Special Educator
- Look I'm learning: Personalized Learning and Bring Your Own Device Programs
- Acting Normal: Social Skills on Camera
- Special ED Technology Classroom of the Future: Innovation in Practice
- Personalization of Learning: What are Some Models and How Does a District Get Started?
- Creating Dynamic Distance Learning For Home and Hospital-Bound Students
- Implementing UDL in the Special Needs Classroom with the iPad
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