We recently attended the Don't Mess with Google Classroom Conference in Richardson, Texas. Our keynote speakers - Alice Keeler (@alicekeeler) and Kasey Bell (@shakeuplearning), along with several outstanding presenters, provided us with great resources, ideas, and classroom strategies. The teachers that attended had some takeaways we wanted to share with you.
"Don’t Mess with Google Classroom provided a lot of valuable tips and ideas for the classroom. We learned how to create our own stickers for students to use in their learning. I actually used this in my classroom today! One presenter gave ideas for using SnapChat in the classroom as well! If you get a chance, check out Alicekeeler.com she has a ton of tips and tricks to help you navigate Google Classroom! " Britany Hernandez, Biology Teacher at Lake View High School
“Don’t Mess with Google Classroom was very exciting and encouraging to shake things up a bit in learning! It was eye opening getting to see and experience how many schools and districts are really supporting and implementing technology in the classroom. One video we watched really opened my eyes to the abilities of our students with technology. A 12 year old student, Alexander Knoll, invented an app to help people with disabilities find true handicapped accessible facilities! Often times we think that children should learn using pencil and paper just like we did growing up, but why not use new tools? Let's get our students excited about learning. One new tool I would recommend is QUIA. I'm excited to try quizzes on this site instead of forms to see how well it works with my students!" Elizabeth Lewis, Algebra I and Geometry Teacher at Central High School
"This weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Don’t Mess With Google Classroom conference with Alice Keeler and Kasey Bell and the experience was phenomenal. These are two women are truly gifted in bringing technology into the classroom in an authentic and engaging way. While at the conference, I attended trainings on HyperDocs, EduSnaps, and Digital Differentiation. Each session offered new ways to reach parts of the SAMR model, but I will have to say it is HyperDocs that stole my heart. A HyperDoc is a digital, interactive lesson that students navigate through to explore concepts and content and then display understanding through application and creation of products. These lessons can be created in several platforms such as Google Docs, Google Slides, and MyMaps. I dove in to HyperDocs with my students today and can see it as a format that will take hold in my classroom. It is definitely something to look for at Engage 2018!" Michele Beers, 5th Grade Teacher at Alta Loma Elementary
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