The Greatest Stories Never Told: Showcasing Our Gifted Classroom Through Social Media and Web Tools

On Friday, February 20, 2015, I had the honor and privilege of co-Keynoting with Elvira Deyamport, Ed.S. at the T.G.I.F., hosted by the Mississippi University for Women. We talked about how teachers should own their stories, and share what they are doing in the classroom with the world. 

You can watch the video of our Keynote below:

The Dr. Will Show - If You Personalize It, Learners Will Come with Barbara Bray and Kathleen McClaskey

Barbara is co-founder of Personalize Learning, LLC and is a Creative Learning Strategist who believes that anyone at any age can learn. She has worked with schools, districts, individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations around the world to facilitate change and design new learning environments. Barbara is a teacher, writer, educational technologist, change agent, risk-taker, instructional designer, connector, and visionary. She coined and trademarked the phrase “Making Learning Personal” in 2000 because she always believed that learning needs to start with the learner and that every learner matters. She was introduced to Kathleen McClaskey over four years ago. This led them to start Personalize Learning to share research, models and the voices of thought leaders. 

Barbara has assisted large and small organizations to build online communities for teachers to connect and share teaching practice through action research and lesson study. She builds coaching programs where teachers are facilitators, advisors, and "guides on the side." Barbara is asked to facilitate visioning sessions, write strategic plans, recommend resources and makes it her job to determine what is authentic, valid, cost-effective, safe, user-friendly, and relevant for her clients. She is relentlessly researching how to personalize learning so all learners follow their passion so they discover their purpose.

- See more at: http://www.personalizelearning.com/p/about.html#sthash.rwjHmSvP.dpuf

Kathleen is a recognized UDL Expert and Digital Learning Consultant with over 28 years experience in using technology in the classroom. Kathleen is a frequent international, national and regional workshop presenter on topics that include Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Technology for Diverse Learners, and Math and Technology: Bringing Research to Practice. In 2007, she was awarded a three-year NH Math and Science Partnership grant for the “Science4All” project, applying UDL principles in the science classroom.  In 2009, Kathleen designed and directed the Tools for Learning Math Intervention Project where tools were applied to UDL researched-based instruction in math.  In late 2009, she became the professional development director of three ARRA technology funded projects in NH to create 21^st Century Classrooms.  In all of these projects, Kathleen developed Professional Learning Communities (PLC) and a UDL lesson design structure for project teachers to support the learning of all students. 

- See more at: http://www.personalizelearning.com/p/about.html#sthash.rwjHmSvP.dpuf

GEG Mississippi Live GHO Event: Schoology vs. Google Classroom

This Hangout is a "showdown" between Schoology and Google Classroom. I talk with  Robert Schuetz (Schoology) and Michael Fricano II (Google Classroom) to hash out a winner. Check it out and see which learning platform comes out on top.

Michael is a Technology Integration Specialist, authorized Google Education Trainer, and has been teaching and providing Google Apps and Apple training for students and teachers for more than 5 years. Michael enjoys interacting and connecting with like-minded individual through social media and co-hosts the Google+ Live Hangout,  EdTech Mixed Plate. He is also a board member of the Hawaii Society for Technology in Education and a co-founder of EdCamp Honolulu and #EdChatHI.

Although schools have been his primary experience for fifty years, Robert Schuetz has been a professional educator for the past quarter century.  A National Board Certified Teacher, Bob has spent the past thirteen years as Technology Coordinator for Palatine High School.  Bob’s wife Natalie teaches second graders.  They have four school-age children, and two dogs.  His passions include personal wellness, sports, music, and travel.  He is a proponent of self-directed learning supported through social networks.  When Bob isn’t tending to the responsibilities of family or work, he enjoys contributing to learning through social media, including his blog, “Nocking the Arrow”.