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Tots and Technology Conference

The Conference Formerly Known as Tots and Technology

by Peggy Reimers March 28, 2018

written by Peggy Reimers

Remember the BIG name change in 1993? Prince announced he would no longer go by the name Prince, but rather a symbol which was a mash-up of the male and female gender symbols. Logistically, this was a nightmare for the media, so they made up the clumsy title of “The Artist Formerly Known As Prince.” Well, at TCEA we are not being reckless and foolhardy with names, but we are changing our Tots and Technology summer conference to a new name (a very LOUD drum roll, please.)

Elementary Technology Conference

We feel the new name clearly identifies the audience this conference is built for:

Innovative PreK – 5 Educators

Now that we have established the BIG name change, time for a . . .

Quirky Quick Pop Quiz

What is the number of instruments Prince could play?
Name the number of seconds Julia Roberts sang Prince’s “Kiss” in the bathtub before being rudely interrupted by Richard Gere in the movie Pretty Woman.
How many years was Prince known only for his symbol?
The TCEA Elementary Technology Conference has been around for how many summers?

Of course, next I could make a bulleted list and talk about the who, what, where, why, when, and how of the TCEA Elementary Technology Conference, but how boring and not one iota like “The Artist Formerly Known As Prince.” So in celebration of the number eight, Prince, and the ETC, turn on “1999” and let’s shake things up with a Magic 8-Ball.

Magic 8-ball gif featuring questions and answers.

Just in case you needed to know the answers to the pop quiz, here you go.

School will be out and summer will be here before you know it. Rock and roll over to this webpage and get registered for the TCEA Elementary Technology Conference. I know I will be packing my Prince music for the beach!

Animated Gif created by Author.

Featured Image created by TCEA.

March 28, 2018 0 comment

Lots of Laughter and Learning at Tots and Technology Galveston

by Susan Meyer June 28, 2017

written by Susan Meyer

Standing in the Galveston Convention Center during the 2017 Tots and Technology summer conference means being surrounded by the sights and sounds of elementary educators enthusiastically learning. The whir of robots being showcased. The excited laughter of a group successfully escaping a digital breakout. And the incredible conversations between educators sharing ideas from their own classrooms and libraries and schools: what’s worked for them, what didn’t, and their hopes for the new school year.

I already shared a little of the experience of Tots in Galveston on site at the conference. If you missed these posts, you might want to check them out to learn more about the fun that was had at the makerspace pre-conference and the amazing learning and sharing that took place at the Birds of a Feather session. But I also wanted to share a few highlights of the event as a whole for those who weren’t able to join us at the beach this summer.

Hands-On Learning

What makes Tots and Technology such a fun conference is that educators get to experience the technology they will be bringing back to the classroom with them. They get hands-on practice so that they are not only familiar with the app, program, or gadget and how it can be used for cross-curricular learning, but also get to experience the technology for themselves. This way they’re aware of both the fun and engagement potential and the possible pitfalls and questions a student user might face.

Discovering the Latest in Ed Tech

Not all of the learning takes place in the session rooms. The exhibit hall at Tots was also a great place for educators to learn about some new products and ideas for technologies tailored specifically for the elementary classroom. They were able to talk one-on-one with exhibitors and try out new technologies in a laid back environment. They also started helpful discussions about what had worked in their classrooms and what product features they hoped to see.

Having a Ball

When in between sessions, our educators had a blast playing with the 12-foot inflatable beach ball we brought to the convention. They discovered some pretty creative ways to make great photo ops. Many demonstrated a huge amount of teamwork from hoisting the ball to making some quick saves to stop it from rolling down the hall. Elementary educators pack in the learning, but they know how to have a ball too! Our beach ball found a new home as a door prize for one lucky educator, but we’ll be sure to have new surprises in store for next year and for Tots Arlington coming up in just a few weeks.

The Tots Train Is Heading to Arlington!

Did you miss Tots in Galveston this year? If so, you’re in luck! We offer a second Tots and Technology summer conference in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. It will be held at the Arlington Convention Center from July 16-18. And the best part is it’s not too late to register. You’ll get all the hands-on learning, networking opportunities, and fresh ideas that educators experienced at Tots in Galveston in a fun new city. Find out more information and register here.

June 28, 2017 0 comment

Educational Trends Good Teaching

Birds of a Feather Create Innovative Classrooms Together

by Susan Meyer June 12, 2017

written by Susan Meyer

Learning new ideas and technologies from ed tech experts is what many elementary educators look forward to most at the Tots and Technology summer conference. But not all of the experts stand at the front of the room presenting. And not all of the learning takes place in organized, hands-on sessions. One of the most exciting parts of the conference is seeing our attendees interact with each other. They share stories from their own classrooms, libraries, and schools. They can hear what strategies and tools are engaging students in districts both across the state and around the country.

Many of these resource-rich conversations take place over breakfast or just waiting for a session to start. However, at the Birds of a Feather sessions, attendees’ enjoyed having these valuable discussions facilitated for them. Teachers and administrators gathered together with their “flock” of peers who taught at the same grade level or performed the same role. Each flock, from PreK and early elementary learners up to fifth grade, administrators, and electives teachers, met to discuss the challenges and successes they’d faced in the previous year.

Challenges and Successes

Many of the teachers in all grades shared some of the same challenges. One teacher from a PreK classroom explained that at her school, they received iPads to use with their students halfway through the year, but no instructions for how to use them with the kids. Another teacher echoed that they wished they had started their technology initiatives earlier in the year.

However, there was talk of many successes from the year, too. Some teachers had started maker spaces and tech labs for their students. Others were proud of new apps they had introduced in their classroom to maximize student engagement or make assessment a breeze.

New (School) Year Resolutions

One advantage of a summer conference is that it really allows for reflection on the previous year and preparation for the upcoming one. Here are just a few of the plans educators had for their next year:

Sydney Musslewhite (@smussie) said that next she wants to begin the year with Google Classroom, try new apps like EdPuzzle and NearPod, and actually put them to use in the social studies classroom.
Arianna Zampierin (@arizampierin) said she wants to use a variety of QR codes at different stations in order to reach all kids at different instructional levels.
Delainie Hanson (@delainie_hanson) said she will try to match TEKS with technology for greater efficiency.
AmyLittle (AmyLittle1234) wants to increase mentoring and coaching and involve parents by training them on how to use technology to engage digitally.

Sharing Great Ideas

What makes Birds of a Feather such a great resource is that the participants meet in small groups and really get to engage with exact grade-level peers experiencing the same challenges and successes with their students. They may face challenges figuring out how to adapt a technology to work with their content requirements. Or they might face similar lack of buy-in for new resources. By working together, they also shared some great ideas for apps and how they can be used for specific skill building. Here are just a few apps that were shared:

Jennifer Almaguer (@Jenn_Almaguer) suggested using the VersoApp so that students can have a discussion while keeping their identities anonymous. The teacher can still see which student makes each comment.
Angel Herring (@AngelinHouston) shared that Epic Books is free for teachers. It allows access to a digital library of 25,000 books and videos.
Several teachers suggested Chatterpix as a great way to get students engaged and excited about learning new content on any subject. With Chatterpix, you can make anything talk, including pets, friends, objects, doodles, and more!

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

Educators at Tots feel a sense of belonging in talking with their peers fighting the good fight to get more technology in schools. As one teacher said “It’s great to come to Tots because everyone here just gets it.” While they might face reluctance from their schools about the need for technology expansions and district buy-in, for these two days, at least, they can be surrounded by like-minded ed tech fanatics ready to take on the world and transform learning.

If you want to join the networking, learning, and laughs at Tots and Technology, there’s still time to register for our second conference in July. It will be held in Arlington, Texas and will also feature the Birds of a Feather session. Read more about it and learn how to register here.

June 12, 2017 0 comment