Smartucate: March 2015

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

MACUL Hangover: Conference Day 3

For the definition of MACUL Hangover please see Day 1 post

The MACUL MakerSpace was the place to be Friday! I will let you read Mike Kaechele

explanation of how this space came to be and why spaces like this are important for engagement, innovation, creativity, and reflection.

Wednesday at the EdTech Rally I was asked to lead a roundtable discussion on how to start a MakerSpace (a topic I proposed to be discussed because I want to learn more). One of the questions that came about in our discussion was; How do you explain what a MakerSpace is? It’s a great question, how do you explain what a MakerSpace is without it sounding like “just summer camp” as Sylvia Martinez stated in her MACUL session; A Global Revolution Goes to School: The Maker Movement. At that time, I understood that a MakerSpace was a space to give students a place to play, be creative, and experiment with different materials and technologies. Sylvia Martinez explained it as a “Learning Manifesto” (I like her definition better)

But was this a good enough argument for skeptical administrator, board member, or parent?

That afternoon I attended Rushton Hurley presentation Projects Students Will Never Forget. Rushton discussed different types of projects in which students will...

participate actively

creatively discover something new

leave the realm of predictable

show excellence

produce something meaningful

Flash forward to Friday morning at 6:45 AM as I am walking, in the dark, alone, down Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, to get to the COBO center, to help set up the MACUL MakerSpace, WITHOUT having any coffee! Obviously my subconscious was in charge, telling me that something special was going to happen this day.

After the space was set (and I had had my brain juice, a.k.a coffee) I was able to play (participate actively). I made buttons with Erin Mastin, circuits with Lauren Villaluz, tinkered with Tara Maynard and Kerry Guiliano. As people started to leave for their first sessions I found myself over at the huge scrabble board (creatively discovering something new). I thought it would be fun to spell out selfie and take a pick in front of it to submit to the MACUL selfie contest that was taking place. However, I suffer from long torso-short arm syndrome so this is what I got.

This problem however, gave me an idea, “I NEED A SELFIE STICK! But wait, I am in a MakerSpace, I can make one! (leave the realm of predictable) I automatically found myself on this charge to make a selfie stick. As I rushed around looking for materials I heard someone mention cardboard. Great idea! I found the pile of cardboard and actually found a box that at one time held some sort of electronic device. Perfect! I now needed a handle for my stick. More cardboard and tape, duct tape, of course. So as I wrapped the Kentucky Chrome around and around I realized I needed more stability in the handle. RULERS! Earlier we had found this bag of rulers that nobody could quite figure out what we needed them for, so I grabbed a few for my handle. As I put the finishing touches on my hand made selfie stick I realized that I was in a zone. I would equate this MakerZone to the same zone I get when running in a race. I block out what is around me and focus on what I need to keep the pace and finish (water and chocolate usually help). Then I thought about what this same feeling would mean for one of my own children like when my daughter (7) is her zone, writing a book that “WILL go in the school library”. Or my son (5) is in his LEGO zone to build the ultimate “bad guy catcher vehicle”. That zone where you want to show excellence in a finished product. THIS is what a MakerSpace can do for our students! Give them a zone to: participate actively, creatively discover something new, leave the realm of predictable, show excellence, and produce something meaningful.

Yes, I made a cardboard selfie stick that lasted about an hour before the Kentucky Chrome could no longer hold my mess together. But for a few minutes that “stick” allowed me to capture pictures with people that inspire me on a daily basis (produce something meaningful), like Rachelle Wynkoop who took a man through the space to help him get into his MakerZone and create an activity he could take back to his school and implement only a few days later, to Kit Hard who I am not sure ate anything all day because he spent his time engaging visitors in activities or jumping in to release others, or Jeff Bush who spent his time capturing the event with photo and video to entice conference attendees to the space.

Kudos to Mike, Kit, Jeff, and Ben for pulling this off. Kudos to all the wonderful volunteers! I now have an answer to what a MakerSpace and MakerZone truly is.

MACUL MakerSpace 2015!

Monday, March 23, 2015

MACUL Hangover: Conference Day 2

(For the definition of MACUL Hangover please see Day 1 post )

Opening keynote George Couros started the conference off right. He made us laugh, he made us cry (well I cried, dang baby videos), and he left us inspired to get out and make a change.
Making a changed seemed to be the theme of my day, I listening to George talk about teachers making innovative change, to Sylvia Martinez literally “making” and thinking about...

I listened to Jeff Gerlach and Dave Goodrich discuss and show us how to change the way you use technology to actively engage students. Ending the day with Mike Perez and I hopefully inspiring others to make sure that good instruction is at the forefront of every lesson infused with technology.

That evening I dragged my non-teaching husband to the first ShiftMich Idea Slam event. As we stood in this room full of eager educators and listened to Brad Wilson and his team explain the inspiration and collaboration behind the ShiftMich idea you could simply feel the excitement. Even though my pitch was not selected (this year) the ShiftMich team was still willing to give myself and the others a shout out to help make connections to others that may be able to help us get our ideas off the ground. Five amazing pitches were given, it was hard to vote for only one! The winners, Kell Cusmano (and Team) and Ben Rimes received $1,000 to get their ideas off the ground. Congrats to you all!

After the pitch, some photo’s were taken, more connections were made, and my husband turned to me and said “That was awesome. Such and inspirational event”. Many nights my husband hears my frustrations of being an educator and has shared the anxiety this time of year when cuts need to be made. He has also seen my tears of anger and frustration when teachers are let go, funding is cut, pays checks are frozen, and bonds don’t pass. He has sat around many kitchen tables and listened to my teacher friends and I discuss the same problems, always feeling a bit left out of the conversations.

That simple statement meant a lot to me. It confirmed that all my crazy thinking, ideas, motivation, and passion is not being wasted. It confirmed that everyone that attended ShiftMich that evening is on the right track to making an innovative change in Michigan.

"What better place than here, what better time than now" -Brad Wilson

Sunday, March 22, 2015

MACUL Hangover: Conference Day 1

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First let me explain what a MACUL Hangover is. A MACUL hangover occurs approximately the minute you leave MACUL. It is brought on by the pure exhaustion of learning. Over the past three days your brain had been filled, your body is tired from all the brisk walking to make sure you get a seat in the session you want to attend, if you were presenting there is the relief that it is over, and you may be sleep deprived because you stayed up way too late each night connecting with friends and colleagues. Yet, you have been SO inspired over the past three days that your brain is spinning with all the great ideas you have to take back to your school, and you want to email every administrator your know to tell them all your great ideas, that they should just let you start on Monday!! I like to call this drinking the MACUL-Aid.
Warning: It gives you a hangover.

One year ago as I sat in snowy Grand Rapids, MI at the EdTech Rally held as a MACUL pre-conference (thanks to Rachel Verschaeve for the invite) I quickly realized that I had found my people. Everyone at this rally was so friendly, helpful, innovative, and inspirational.

Picture by Brad Wilson

As I participated in the roundtable sessions I was able to connect with educators from all over the state, even a few I had not seen since college (Andrew Pratley). We had meaningful, positive, conversations that allowed us to ask questions, problem-solve, and reflect openly with one another. I walked away feeling so pumped!

Picture by Brad Wilson

On that same day, I was introduced to this group called #miched. This group, many of whom I was sitting next to, participated in a Twitter chat held on Wednesday nights at 8pm. It sounded interesting. I had just recently resurrected my Twitter account and made a note of it...

(See post about my first #miched chat)

Thanks Lauren Villaluz

Fast forward to this year, again at the EdTech Rally MACUL pre-conference. A few things made this year different, of course, it was held in Detroit, and I have shorter hair. The passion, innovation, inspiration, and the meaningful, positive conversation was still there. However, all this was enhanced by the connections I had made throughout the year. When I walk into a room and I am greeted with smiles and hugs from people I may have only met in a #miched chat or quickly at one of the other rallies or conferences I know I am in the right place, with all the right people.

Over the past year, I have made some great connections with some pretty amazing educators throughout the state of MI because of #miched. I have visited their schools, attended their conferences, and learned from their blogs, websites, and tweets. When I restarted my Twitter account last year I really thought it would just be used to find new ideas for the classroom. Little did I know the connections I would make and the inspiration I would gain.

This year MACUL allowed me to meet and connect with these wonderful educators face to face and they are all exactly what I expected!