The Coffee with a Geek Show was created because I am inspired by educators who use technology to enhance student learning and improve their practice. Also, I find that so many parents and community members rarely get a glimpse at the powerful tools and techniques that are being employed by these amazing teachers. Well at NYSCATE, the New York State Ed Tech Conference, I have the opportunity to meet and catch up with these amazing educators. For those who are presenting and participating, come and talk to me. I will be stationed with the awesome people that are part of the Social Media Kiosk, namely Jen Laubscher (@JenLaubscher) and Stephen Ransom (@ransomtech). For those of you that can't make the conference, hopefully you can get a glimpse at the amazing people you can connect with and learn from. Check out the videos as I get them uploaded to Youtube!
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I had the wonderful opportunity to work with some Music teachers recently at Panama Central School. Panama is a charming little town in New York. It's always a drive I look forward to because I pass through Amish Farmland (almost always seeing a horse drawn buggy), the smooth calm of Chautauqua Lake, and gentle rolling hills. So I was in a peaceful frame of mind as I entered the school, ready to work with these teachers. Here I will tell you a secret, I was both intimidated and eager to work with these teachers. While I appreciate music and have a basic understanding of music theory, I really can't talk the talk when it comes to deeper understanding of music. And yet, I was eager to work with them, because I feel very strongly that music education is so vital to a school and a thriving public education culture. The lessons I learned from my music teachers, was so valuable in its structure and rigor, because the true test of your learning is the beauty of the performance. Also, in this dark age of heavy handed educational reform; inspiration, art, beauty, are so needed. They are sunshine after a long rain. So you may be wondering. Why would I, as someone with limited music ability, be leading a workshop on Music and the iPads? Well, because I was inspired by the notion that my role would certainly not be the part of teaching music theory to them, but perhaps helping them see that the iPads and technology as a whole can help take the beauty that gets created through performance to a larger audience using technology. Examples that I gave the music teachers were the famous PS 22 Chorus, that won fame and admiration from simply posting their practice sessions on a blog. http://ps22chorus.blogspot.com/. And with that, I started my day, not quite sure of the outcome, but hoping that by showing the power of the iPad as a creation device, that they would lead me to the objectives of the workshop. And so it happened. Being the creative and talented artists that they were, by the end of the day they were using the Garageband App to create a Jam Session that they all could contribute to. My gratitude and thanks to Musicians/Teachers, Anne Dolce, Steven Swanson, Dan Klinczar, Daland Perry. I started my day with a gentle ride through the country and ended my day with an inspirational performance. So what exactly IS a Start Up Weekend? Well, it is a dynamic and powerful way to bring your ideas to life with a group of energetic people all working as a team. And it all starts with a great idea.... The great thing about and Education StartUp is that teachers can throw out their ideas and see if they can get others to help. Education is ripe for new and innovative ideas. Why not give it a try? Teachers, entrepreneurs, techies.... Come one, come all, but come ready to be energized. While there are some winners of the event. There are definitely no losers. You will learn amazing skills and resourcefulness you may have never thought you had. Want to know more? Check out the people behind the scenes at this year's SWEDU!. Education Leader: Andrea Tejador, Start Up Winner and innovator, Todd Bernhard, and Start Up winner Oscar Pedroso, and NYSCATE 14 Keynote and Director of Education Entrepreneurs. Want to get involved? Need to learn more? Watch the videos below to learn from Start Up participants. Or check out this Link. Hope to see you there! |
the Geek
My name is Andrew Wheelock- I am a technology integrator who's fascinated with my fellow educators and their powerful uses of tech for learning. Archives
May 2016
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