my version of transparent, collaborative leadership...with a Teamann twist

Bloggy McBloggerson

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Who knew way back in college when I became besties with a gentleman that I worked with that I’d eventually be SUPER indebted and impressed with his wife??

Well, he probably knew that, 🙂

 

I mentioned on Facebook last spring how completely confused with creating my own website & blogging platform. I needed it to be categorized by something that wouldn’t get caught in school filters, but also was in fact, a blog. There were terms I didn’t understand like SEO, and domain name, and themes. I consider myself a techie girl…but I was lost.

Step in my hero. Heather Steele, with BlueSteele Solutions offered to help me get started and situated. Now only did she help with my website design, she helped get everything customized to just the way I want it. I emailed her over and over and she was even available via phone or instant message. (I’m high maintenance!)

 

If you’ve given any thought to wanting to set up your own site, as an educator, or in any other role, contact Heather, it will be worth your time!

 

 

blogged up,

Amber

 

 

Texas Tripapolooza…

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2013-04-18-ChildressEdTechMy word. It’s the first day of summer and I haven’t paused to take a breath.

#TEPSA13 was great. Fast paced and full of sharing. Wish there were more admin’s on Twitter so they could have shared about their sessions. When you’re missing that techno component now, I feel like I miss out so much of what the conference has to offer. There’s a only a couple sessions per day, so it was hard to pick and choose where to go. Did get to dinner with some great peeps…and go t to meet @DrJolly for the first time.  Have  Relevant content, lack of tech.tepsa

#ignite13 was great. (there’s a pattern here, go with it.) I didn’t realize that it was a techno focused conference so that was a pleasant surprise! There were several district peeps there that I hope enjoyed the sessions…I saw sites like Dovewhisper and Blabberize being shared.  Was bummed that the Aurasma session was scheduled at the same time as mine so I wasn’t able to go to it, but I’ve already warned @TechNinjaTodd that we’re having a sit down to discuss next week.  Met several tweeps in person, including the great @Shareski, whom I hope to have more time with at #iste13 next week. Wish the content was stronger, but great tech involved…

 

The last of my triple threat trips is next week. (pant, pant, pant) I leave for ISTE on Saturday. What’s in store for me there? LOTS of my PLN who’ll I’ll either see again from ASCD or get to meet for the first time, 🙂 Super excited about my roomies, which will prolly make the trip worth it for me! (Joan, Ashlie, Erin, & Angela) Hoping this conference will be the perfect cornucopia of tech, content, and fellowship. I have a post coming up on that, on the great tech divide.

 

This has literally been the year of the conference for me and I can’t wait for 1013-2014 to put into action all that I’ve seen…but I’m not going to lie. I am ALSO ready for several weeks off … 🙂

 

haven’t packed yet,

Amber

 

 

 

3…2…1..social media blast off!

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tinywebbannerKeeping current as an administrator can be difficult! Come get fired up about social media (FB, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) and learn how you can use it to your administrative advantage. You will walk out knowing how to get started and with some best practices for experienced users. This session will cover the how to’s and the why’s from an elementary and secondary administrators’ perspective.

 

 

 

Prezi from today’s session:

[prezi id= ‘http://prezi.com/ur7rwnpztsak/321blast-off/‘ ]

 

 

Twitter for beginners

Chat schedule

Hootsuite for Beginners

Printable Template for Pinterest Board

Instagram template

Facebook Assignment

Flutter video

Sasquatch video

Social Media

 

 

a SM blast,

Amber

Truth, Justice, & the Edtech Way

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One of the more fabulous reasons that personal learning connections are so worthwhile are those random moments when they can impact what you do, daily. I’ve responded to a couple of different hashtag requests that the reason I love twitter so much is that it allows me to connect with people who make me better at what I do.

Cue this rainy afternoon. I come home drenched, soggy toed and exhausted from a stormy school dismissal and am directed to check out a live podcast that was being shown on Youtube. I recognized all the faces from the show today, and realized what a GREAT group was assembled!

Lisa Johnson, @techchef4u, is an educational technologist in Eanes ISD. She blogs all kinds of instructional technology awesomness at www.techchef4u.com, a site that you can lose yourself in for hours. She’s also the creator of the TechChef app, “TechChef4u offers multiple resources to support teachers and parents in their search for FREE quality apps to support their children and students. While the TechChef4u app is an educational app store that provides searchable and categorized lists of 500+ FREE apps for PK-12.” Check it out in the app store!

Greg Garner, @classroom_tech, is from Austin, Texas. I love the line on his about.me page, “Always improving and taking people with me, I define success as empowering others to be successful themselves.” Isn’t that we should all strive to be?

Jon Samulson, @ipadsammy, also from Eanes ISD, is an educational technologist. He is an incredible provider of technology resources, especially on his other other job, hosting the @Techlandia podcast. He’s a big fan of Tony Romo, thank goodness, and someone I enjoy greatly “on the twitters”.

Carl Hooker, @mrhooker, is the director of educational technology in Eanes ISD. As a relative new member of his fan club, his reach is far and wide. With over 30, 000 hits on his blog, www.hookedoninnovation.com, he is an ed tech force to be reckoned with. From his start as a teacher to his current district technology leadership, he’s always had one common belief – the kids need to drive their own learning. How can you not be fan of that guy??

 

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Four different perspectives, four different levels of experience…four more opportunities to learn! Check out their vodcasts in the iTunes store, just search for iVengers radio, and you can also subscribe to their podcasts there. I can’t wait to go back and listen to the rest of them! Thank you, Carl, for the pick me up pointer!

 

AmVengePressed