What you won't learn at SXSWedu

If you go to SXSWedu hoping to learn lots of new tech tools and hear from educators who are in the field of education—you may be disappointed. I am not saying that there aren’t educators at SXSWedu, but it is a different feel and a different kind of conference.

However, that is what makes SXSWedu refreshing. It is almost like an “unconference” within the structure of a conference.

You can attend sessions/panels/hear from big names/attend keynotes/watch films/sign up for mentoring sessions. There is some opportunity for making—trying out 3D printers, building robots and a few random apps and websites—but that is not the focus of SXSWedu. (If that is more your style, you should go to TCEA. Or go to both!)  

What you can do at SXSWedu is plentiful. 

You can expand your learning. You can tweet. You can attend sessions based on topics that interest you. You can hear from futurists: and hear the vision and predictions about how education will change. 

From the Keynote speech on Wednesday morning, from Jane McGonigal. "I am making the future." 

You can also hear from entrepreneurs and people who are pushing their own products. (Which sounds a lot more negative than it is. I feel like you can learn a lot from an entrepreneur.)

You can network with people from other states and countries. You can have discussions about hot topics in education. 

Truly, to me SXSWedu is indicative of what Austin is really about.

Another person I loved hearing from was Lizzie Velasquez. She has an amazing story and is a great speaker on bullying! 

When you think about what Austin represents, not only is the city in Texas—but it is a city that is known for music, the tech industry, the University of Texas, bluebonnets, “Keeping Austin Weird,” breakfast tacos, and food trailers.  (I am sure there is more, but I digress.)

And, for me as an educator, when I leave SXSWedu, I leave with a sense and a hope that education is changing. I feel like our kids deserve it. 

A little "Thanks" goes a long way

Thank you.

Those two words were ones that I rarely heard as a teacher.

I am not talking from parents or students, but in ten years of teaching I never received a thank you note from a principal. I can honestly say that the word, “Thank you,” may have come out of my principals mouth a handful of times. (And, I worked at several schools—so this is not just limited to one principal.)

However, in my new job as a digital learning coach, I get to hear “thank you” quite a bit.

Just yesterday a librarian emailed me and told me I was her “hero.” Last week, I got a really nice thank you email from a teacher that I helped teach her class iMovie.

But, I hadn’t really thought about the words “thank you,” until today when I was talking to two of my coworkers.

We, teachers don’t need gifts. (Sure, Starbucks gift cards are nice…) But, a thank you note goes a long way.

So, as a principal—when was the last time you told your teachers thank you? When was the last time you wrote one of your staff members a thank you note? If you have never done it…start now!

As a parent—when was the last time you thanked your child’s teacher? Don’t wait until teacher appreciation week (If you don't know when that is...I am not judging you.) Just, thank them today!

As an instructional coach—when was the last time you thanked someone for the great things you get to see them do in their classroom? 

March is a tough time to be a teacher, and a little thank you goes a long way!

Thank YOU for reading my blog post.

Dear Teacher: You are good enough!

Dear Teacher,

You are good enough. Repeat, “ I am GOOD ENOUGH.”

Too many times, teachers don’t think that their ideas are good enough.

I say this because our district puts on a “Technology-themed conference,” called Fusion. In reaching out to people to get them to present—several have said, “my ideas aren’t good enough.” Or, “I don’t have anything good to present on.”

But, each and every day I go into teachers classrooms and visit schools, I see amazing things on Twitter, I talk to my colleagues…I believe that good things are happening in our district and in classrooms everywhere.

We haven’t confirmed anything on our end, but in reviewing the applications for Fusion—I am so impressed. It makes me wonder when/where teachers started thinking that their ideas are “not good enough.”

Because, that could not be farther from the truth.

Teacher, you are amazing. Seriously. You deal with things that no adult should have to deal with. You are disrespected, you are knocked down, you are told to be superheroes. You are over scheduled, over planned, over graded, and over administered. (Interpret that however you want.)

You have amazing ideas. You know your kids better than most. You can tell who a child is by their handwriting. You spend more time with your students than their own parents do.  You create engaging lessons. You can adapt a lesson “on the fly.”

You love. You learn. And, you keep going.

You are good enough.

Now, you need to share your ideas with others. Don’t be afraid to come out of your classroom and out of your comfort zone. Because, you are good enough.

Blog, read a book, write a book, Tweet, take pictures, make a movie.

Show how amazing you are.

Signed, 

A former teacher