Waukegan Google n' More Conference

I just got back from a great Google Conference. It was held in Waukegan, Illinois. I have always had a special spot for any Google conferences (it must be all that GAFE Kool-aid I drink). This conference was no different...well...maybe a little. It was attended by 10 "DEN Family" members from this year's DENSI 2014 from all over the country (Texas, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan). It is always fantastic to connect with these amazing educators in person (we always connect online between DENSI events). Below are my 2 presentations if you missed them or just want to check them out. Dig around on the linked sites and grab my resources. Happy Googling!

How much fun was Waukegan Google n' More? Here is my DEN Family hanging out after presenting all day. Laughing, hugging, and smiling! Fun had by all!

My Presentations: 

• Feel free to look around, dig through my resources, and use what you want!

• Collaboration with Google Sheets: 
• Google Sheets can be used for more than just collecting and working with data. Google Sheets can be a fantastic and easy to use collaborative tool. This hands-on session will focus on some great real classroom uses for collaboration with Google Sheets such as Parent-Teacher Conference sign-up, student created vocabulary definitions, student generated book critiques, classroom party supply sign-up, student data collection/analysis, and other easy to setup and use collaborative Google Sheets. Come ready to see how Google Sheets can make your teaching life much easier!

bit.ly/CollaborationWithSheets

• Snagit and Share-It!: 
• There are many tools for creating screen captures. Perhaps the easiest is TechSmith's Snagit for Chrome. After installing the extension and App in your Chrome browser the world of image and screen capture is open...all for FREE! In this session we will look at how to use Snagit to annotate images, create video screen captures, create animated GIFs, and how this integrates beautifully into Google Drive for sharing. This is perfect for the flipped classroom, image/GIF creation, or for sharing screen capture images or “How-To” videos.

bit.ly/SnagitAndShareIt

Check out all the other presentations at Waukegan Google n' More Here!

MACUL 2014: Hands-On Presentation Materials

Every March the state of Michigan gathers all its tech interested educators and administrators for a phenomenal event: The MACUL Conference (Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learners). This year was the largest MACUL to date (around 4,600 participants)! MACUL offers incredible learning, networking, and sharing! This year's theme was Ignite Learning, and it did not disappoint: Learning WAS Ignited! 

This was my 5th MACUL Conference I attended, but it was the first time I presented. It was a completely different experience for me this year. I helped with a half day Pre-Conference session Wednesday (Instructional Technologists Rally) and ran a 2 hour Hands-On session on Thursday (Collaboration with Google Drive). Below are my materials. I designed them to be step-by-step so participants could use/share them after the session. 

Below is a list of resources used in the session as well as "How-To" materials. Please feel free to share with others.

• Google Comments:
• Comments Presentation
• Sample Work File
• Kaizena Voice Comments Link 
• How-To Video

• Sharing with QR Codes:  
• QR Code Presentation
• QR Code Generator Site
• How-To Video

• Parent Teacher Conferences:
• Conferences Presentation
• Sample Spreadsheet
• How-To Instructions

• Student Created Vocabulary:  
• Vocabulary Presentation
• Student Video 
• Sample Spreadsheet

• Student Created Book Critiques:  
• Book Critique Presentation
• Book Critique Form
• Book Critique Response Data

• Classroom Party Help
• Parent Volunteer/Supply Sign-Up

• Student Data
• Student Data Records

• Positive Student Comments
• Positive Comments Data
• Mail Merge (Word File)

All my materials are available here: tinyurl.com/BadinerMACUL2014.

DENSI 2014 Application

Well, it is off! My DENSI 2014 application is on its way to Discovery Education! I am now in that excited nervous waiting period. It is not too late for all those DEN STAR teachers out there! You have until March 24th to apply. Give it some thought! This is the best Ed Tech PD I have ever experienced. Need to know more about what the DEN Summer Institute is all about? See my DENSI 2013 blog post here (DENSI 2013 Reflection) or look at the links below. 

Important links:

• DEN Summer Institute Info
• DENSI 2014 FAQ
• DENSI 2014 Application

Important Dates:

March 24 (8am ET): Applications are due
March 31 (by 6pm ET): Acceptance/waitlist notifications sentApril 4: Confirmations dueApril 7- July 10: Waitlisted applicants notified if openings occurJuly 11-12: PreConference for DEN Leadership Council membersJuly 13-18: DEN Summer InstituteJuly 19: #napchat for DENSI attendees

Here is my Video Application

Consider applying if you are a DEN STAR teacher (as long as you don't take my spot, that is!). It is an experience you will never forget!

Fall Conference Schedule

Here is a PDF and video to help Gull Lake staff edit last year's Conference Schedule to work for this year. All that needs to be done is to change the dates to match this year's calendar. Below is a link to the PDF for full instructions if you need them.

Click Here for PDF Instructions

How to Change the Dates:

Step-By-Step "How-To" Set it All Up