I wanted to compose this post soon after the Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE) America’s Institute, but with my twin brother’s wedding, launching a new LMS at Elizabeth Forward School District, and a toddler entering his “terrible-twos”, I finally had the opportunity to reflect on the experience. The ADE Institute has been over for over ten days now, but I thought I would share some of the highlights and takeaways from the best Professional Learning experience that I have ever attended... Let’s backtrack a bit…On April 3rd, I received the news that I was accepted into the ADE Class of 2019. The ADE program was created to “recognize K–12 and higher-education pioneers who are using Apple technology to transform teaching and learning”. When I first learned about the program from fellow ADE (not to mention National History Teacher of the Year) Joe Welch, I knew it was something that I wanted to be a part of. I remember constantly looking at the ADE website and wondering if Apple would ever open the application process (It's embarrassing, but it took about a year to realize that new ADE classes occur every two years). When the news came that I was accepted into the Class of 2019, I was beyond excited. In fact, it felt like the excitement of Christmas morning, or a Pittsburgh Penguins playoff victory. Numerous people sent me congratulatory emails & tweets and told me that I was in for something special… They were definitely right! However, as the beginning of the Institute approached, I began to really question if I belonged in this group of educational rock-stars. If you are on Twitter and you follow an excellent teacher, administrator, or educational pioneer, chances are that they are an ADE. Did I really belong with these, as the ADE website describes, “trusted advisors, passionate advocates, authentic authors, & global ambassadors”??? Enter my ADE Institute roommate, Ben Kalb, ADE Class of 2017. Before the institute, Ben reached out and I soon found that we had a lot in common. Not only is Ben a runner, but he’s also into Liverpool FC, and is a dad. In addition, he could possibly be one of the funniest individuals that I have had the pleasure to hang out with. From the beginning, Ben became a pseudo-mentor at the Institute. During the first dinner, Ben introduced me to so many new people. Ben seemed to know everyone, including some giants in education like Anthony Johnson. If you don’t know who Anthony Johnson is, do yourself a favor and check out this article/podcast… you’ll thank me later! It was during these moments that I really began to feel the sense of family within the ADE community. One of the high-points of the Institute occurred when Ben gave his Showcase presentation. During his three minutes, Ben described the “imposter syndrome”, or the belief that you are not talented or creative enough to be included in a program like ADE. It was reassuring to know that Ben had similar anxieties that I had prior to his first ADE Institute. Ben went on to share his story about the Podcast that he co-hosts called Vrain Waves. Anyone who knows me knows that I do not listen to many Podcasts. However, I can honestly say that I am hooked to Vrain Waves. If you are a teacher, administrator, or just looking to be entertained, you have to check out this podcast! I am so thankful that I got the chance to meet Ben because he is definitely an amazing educator and a great friend! #Rise-N-Grind. On a completely different subject, I was shocked to see how many of the developers and engineers from Apple attended the ADE Institute. I was able to attend multiple sessions that were led by the developers and team-members of my favorite applications, like Keynote & Garage Band. Not only was it really cool to meet these geniuses, but I was amazed by how open they were to teacher input and advice. For example, Jay Welshofer, the Senior Product Manager for iWork, shared how teacher feedback brought some new features to Keynote. Even more surprising was the way Jay casually told the audience to email him questions or ideas and that he would respond ASAP. It was this type of genuine care for educators displayed by the Apple Team that really made me appreciate Apple Education even more. There were so many other amazing events at the ADE Institute (Battle Mania, Showcases, the Pitch, General Sessions, etc.), but I think the best part was the attendees. Besides the individuals that I already mentioned, I had the opportunity to connect, share, and learn from some of the best. Chuck Langston & James McCrary are two guys that I really came to know and admire. I had the opportunity to be in some workshops with Chuck, and he is a technology genius. Some of his ideas from the Pitch Session that we attended were remarkable. Besides his knack for unique ideas, Chuck was also a great person to bounce ideas off of. Chuck runs a really cool project out of his department that hires students as tech employees… think about the power of a program like that! James McCrary is the epitome of southern hospitality. James is a Director of Technology and also a host on the Virtual Reality Podcast. I really valued the conversations that I had with James, especially hearing about the workshops he attended. It obvious from these conversations that James is really passionate about being in the realm of education. Both Chuck and James were full of tangible advice as I begin my new role at Elizabeth Forward, and their dedication to enhancing their skills in order to improve their school district was obvious. I’ll put it like this… Chuck is a brand-new father and still came to the Institute, while James basically needed to battle a hurricane to make it to the Institute. Finally, the ADEs that hail from Pennsylvania were also inspiring. I have to give a special shout out to David Diokno from Apple for introducing me to the Pennsylvania ADEs. In addition, David provided great wisdom and advice for a few “next-steps” after the Institute. I really look forward to working with David in the future because I know that we are going to do great things. I already mentioned Joe Welch, but I am really excited to see where a potential collaborative project with Joe might lead. Also, thanks to Jessica Garrigan, Khelia Dunkerly, Erika Moser (Who also had an amazing Showcase) Holly Jackson, Jenny Mitchell, Holly Jackson, & Morgan Cave (OK, not all are from PA, but they are totally amazing) for their great stories, welcoming personalities, and sage advice. Not only was I really impressed by their work at the institute, but if you are looking for some creative ideas to use in your classroom, please check these amazing educators on Twitter. The ADE Institute was the best learning experience that I have ever been a part of. I left the Institute feeling that I was a part of something bigger and a member of a really innovative & supportive family. Thank you, Apple Education, for bringing so many passionate educators to one place, and really inspiring me as I embark on a new journey in my own educational career… Thanks for reading.
0 Comments
|
Mr. Steve Hartnett
Mr. Hartnett will update the Room 212 Blog with classroom updates on a regular basis. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @ MrHartnett212 Archives
July 2019
Categories |