My #HackEd2014 Summary and Reflections

One of my favorite conferences is ISTE Unplugged / Hack Education. The schedule of the discussions is decided the day of the conference based on the interests of the participants.

What is appealing to me about Hack Education is the small group setting that fosters deep discussions, and the organic nature of the conversations that are completely based on the group's expertise and ability to ask probing questions. I always feel like I walk away smarter.

My notes for some of the sessions are illustrated below as sketchnotes with thinglinks/interactive links, bullet points, or as the main points I Tweeted out.

Personalized Learning - facilitated by Barbara Bray

Click here to view above image with thinglink

1:1 Deployment

Click here to view above image with thinglink

Smackdown

Community, Global Connections using tech to build relationships

Click here to view above image with thinglink

Agency & Self-Direction in Education - facilitated by Steve Hargadon
  • Focus on the pedagogy -- it's about the learning and not the shiny object.
  • Don't underestimate the power of building relationships, especially when it comes to being a change agent. 
  • Remember to focus on the learners, and why the change may be beneficial; and keep in mind what's in your control.
  • What's your elevator pitch? Carefully choose your language and the message you craft.

Final thoughts

The last session of this day really amplified that technology in and of itself is not the key to success; instead, focus on learning and pedagogy.

All of the other sessions I attended: Personalized Learning, One-to-One, and Global Collaborations are not the silver bullets for success. Each and every one of them can fail without the leadership, vision, and focus on the students' learning... and each of them can be successful ...

However, what works in one environment might not work exactly in another environment. So, keep your eyes open. Listen. Learn. Unlearn. Relearn... and focus on what's best for the students.
  • What ideas, resources, or challenges could you add to this post?
  • How else did this post connect with you?

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