EduTECH and Teachmeet reflections 2014

EduTECH 2014 lived up to my expectations and exceeded some from the 2013 event. So much more going on this year, and different speakers. Some familiar faces, speakers and topics that have dominated some of my twitter feed over the past 12 months. My highlights from the Conference included the Teachmeet sessions, Dan Haesler, Ewan Mcintosh, Ian Jukes and Sir Ken Robinson. The common theme in all the talks related to the fact that we need to change education, need to change the way schools are run and policies are made. We need to serve the needs of our students better by preparing and offering them the best opportunities to grow.

Ewan McIntosh focused on Agile Leadership, and a key point i took away from that is to focus on one thing at a time, there will be struggle, but at the end do it well. This resonates with how I used Evernote from the start, I have obsessed and focused on using it well, integrating it into all aspects of my life. I still struggle at times, but it is becoming more and more natural in all my teaching. 

Dan Haesler on students engagement also fits in well with my thoughts that should empower our students to change the world. He said that every single child has the power to change someone's world, and that is what we need to remember. The concept of relationships being key to engagement is also part of my own teaching philosophy, and an area that I hope to keep on improving. He had a great slide that showed this:

Ian Jukes concluded the event with his keynote, which was very powerful and energetic. His topic of 'Education being in a Disruptive Innovation Age' was very interesting, challenging and the perfect way to conclude the event. His message needs to make it though to the policymakers in education, we need a new mindset in education for the future.

It is 2 days of intense non-stop conversations and presentations that inspire and challenge education in Australia. Finally meeting some of the people that I have connected with online was a highlight for me. The Teachmeet event that was organised by Matt Esterman was a wonderful privilege to be part of. I shared this stage with so many amazing and inspiring teachers. My topic was on Evernote and how I have used in my classroom this year. Here is a link to the presentation (click on image): 

I'm hooked on the Teachmeet concept and look forward to starting my own Teachmeet up in the Fraser Coast region this term. It is a fantastic experience to be part of and one of the best forms of professional development for educators. Look at the http://tmsydney.wikispaces.com/ site for more information. Here is a list of the presenters from EduTECH sessions.

TeachMeet Session	Timings	PRESENTATIONS
Day 1 - Session 1 Hosts: Matt E	1:30pm-2:15pm	1. Ewan McIntosh - teacher ;-) 2. Rob O'Brien 3. Michelle Jensen 4. Simon Crook
Day 1 - Session 2 Hosts: Steve B	3:15pm-4:00pm	1. Cathie Howe 2. Steve Brophy 3. Richard Prowse 4. Jacques Du Toit
Day 2 - Session 1 Hosts: Simon C	10:40am-11:25am	1. Jill Andrew 2. Jessica Leonard 3. Nadia Merchant 4. Rachel Kathriner
Day 2 - Session 2 Hosts: Simon M & David G	2:25pm-3:10pm	1. Simon McKenzie 2. Annalise De Mel 3. Nicola Martin 4. David Gall

Now I look forward to the second half of the year, to continue connecting, learning, sharing and applying some of the new ideas.