When it comes to conferences, justifying going to sessions, keynotes and workshops doesn’t seem too hard. The learning benefits from such experiences are obvious. But what about cultural tours, school tours and similar networking events? These may look like simple touristy or sightseeing experiences, but there’s a lot of benefit to them. This year, I … Read more
(Note: Post contains affiliate links. Actions taken may result in commissions for Renovated Learning) A Creature Workshop Towards the end of last school year, one of my students came up with one of my favorite design challenges: Make a creature that does something. That’s it. This prompt wins for simplicity and the designs that people come up … Read more
Starting at a new school can be overwhelming, so it’s good to have a plan. I’ve shared this on social media, but not in an official blog post here. This year, I will be the new media specialist at Tampa Preparatory, an independent 6-12 school. It’s my first time at a new-to-me school since I started … Read more
Click on over to AASL Knowledge Quest to read the full post, or scroll down to get the summary: Going to a national conference can be exciting and thrilling. Unfortunately, it can also be overwhelming and exhausting. I’ve been to ISTE three times, AASL once, and FETC seven times, so I’ve had to time to … Read more
Big education conferences like ISTE, ALA, AASL and FETC can be fun, exciting and thrilling. But they can often be overwhelming, especially for first-timers. I’ve been going to big conferences like these for seven years, so I’ve been working on tweaking and perfecting my conference gear to make it 1) not too heavy and 2) … Read more
“[I]magine how your students feel when they walk into your learning space. Are there comfortable seating options available? Is there a good variety to support both groups and individuals? Or are all the chairs uncomfortable and crammed tightly together?” In my post for AASL Knowledge Quest, I share the stories of two different airport experiences. … Read more
My post last month on Why a Makerspace isn’t a Magic Cure-all for Your Problems gained a lot of notice. I’ve seen a vibrant social media conversation take off since then. I have heard many people say in the conversation about making and libraries that they have reservations. Many are worried about sacrificing literacy or reading when they … Read more
I realize that this title is going so upset some people. That some might accuse me of click-bait. But I think this is a topic that is often being left out in the discussion about makerspaces. Many school librarians have beautiful visions of putting out some arts and crafts supplies or LEGOs or robots and … Read more
The very first conference I ever attended was my state conference, FAME (Florida Association for Media in Education) back in 2010. I was a brand new librarian and soaked up all the new information, ideas, and connections. It only took one conference to get me hooked. Since then, I’ve attended and presented at conferences all … Read more
Connecting Students to the World Through the Cardboard Challenge Makerspaces and maker projects can be amazing catalysts for connecting your students with others. The Imagination Foundation’s Global Cardboard Challenge is one of my favorite maker activities to help my students feel connected to the world and see the power of making. Combine that with a Skype … Read more