Reaching the Summit

What's so special about being a Microsoft Innovative Educator(MIE) Expert or a Showcase School? Microsoft EDU helps you reach the summit of learning, literally. I recently attended the MIE Expert and Showcase School Summit the day before the TCEA Conference in Austin, Texas. Summit is such a fitting name for the event since this day felt like I was reaching the mountaintop of professional learning and collaboration. How?

1. Through Social Tips from Robyn Hrivnatz
Throughout the day Robyn shared social media tips including the ingredients to have in your profile and how to build connections and engage followers. I definitely get into ruts so the reminders took me outside of my everyday routine and helped me improve.  For example, I learned that when I retweet something, a better way to engage people is to quote the tweet instead of just retweeting.

2. Through hands-on learning with MakeCode, AdaFruit, and a Makerspace
Jacqueline Russell was our keynote speaker, and her presentation on MakeCode was informative and engaging. We received an Adafruit Circuit Playground Express and made magic wands with MakeCode and makerspace materials. In March, I plan to set up an Adafruit station and entice my high school students to come into the library to experiment with it and MakeCode. For more information, go to MakeCode and Adafruit. I'm also hoping to teach a computer science coding course next year, so this introduction was a good stepping stone for me.

3. Windows 10 Photos App Demo
The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update brought the ability to make videos with the Windows 10 Photos App. At the Summit, we created videos of our day. Earlier, in January, I had a class for the teachers at my school, and those who attended are hopeful that the video mixing in the Photos App will be a viable replacement for our beloved MovieMaker.

• To learn more about the app click Windows 10 Photos App.
• To see a sample video from our day at the Summit click Summit Video.

4. Learning about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a OneNote Breakout
Collaborating in a team, we had to use clues in a OneNote Notebook to disable a virus and break out of the notebook all while learning about the SDGs.  If you would like more information on teaching SDGs, also called Global Goals, CLICK HERE to take the course on the Microsoft Educator Community website.

5. Meeting many of the amazing educators I follow on Twitter face to face
I had such great conversations with the educators there and at TCEA.  I am the tech coach at my school but was asked to also be the librarian this year after our former librarian retired.  I haven't been in the library for about 5 or 6 years, so I am trying to catch up in this field.  I was able to talk to someone who is also in a catholic high school, and he was telling me about some of the flexible seating and space changes in the library at his school.  This conversation encouraged me that I am on the right track and also reminded me that I am not alone.  It takes help to get to the summit, and I am so thankful to get that help from the MIE Expert community.  Thank you, Robyn Hrivnatz and Jennifer Mitchell, for a wonderful day of learning!