Inspirational Learning at the CUE Conference

Killing time at the airport by
perusing conference seminars

On March 14th, four Bonny Doon School teachers and I flew out of SFO to the CUE conference in Palm Springs.  Although our flight was delayed for three and a half hours, we were excited about attending this national conference on educational technology.  Having the opportunity to take a few days off to become immersed in learning, especially in a place like Palm Springs, is not something teachers normally get to do, but a grant from the Santa Cruz County Office of Education made this trip possible.

For those of us who are not "digital natives" and who don't have a career in the field of technology, keeping up with what's new and exciting in the field while working full time can be a daunting task.
Fortunately, due to this grant, we were able to spend three whole days attending workshops and seminars, and sharing and collaborating with other educators.  This felt like an incredible luxury for all of us, and we are so appreciative to have had this opportunity.

We arrived late the first night due to the pouring rain in Northern California.  What a relief to arrive at the hotel!  Still, we got up bright and early, had breakfast by the pool, and made our way to the Palm Springs Conference Center.

Breakfast at the hotel

There we stayed all day, except for a nice walk downtown for lunch.  Attending a conference like this can be intense, as the learning never stops; our brains were stretching and growing at such a fast pace that we were all overwhelmed with excitement and inspiration at the end of the first day, and mentally and physically exhausted.  Then, of course, the evening was spent at dinner sharing everything we had learned, what would work for our school, how we could implement the strategies we were excited about, what we needed to do to follow up, and even which particular students would benefit most from those strategies.

Days two and three were more of the same, and just as good.  This particular conference is very well attended each year and full of thousands of educator from across the country, with some coming from other countries as well.  Some of the attendees are extremely proficient and up-to-date on recent advances in educational technology, and others and still learning how to become comfortable with a laptop.  There  were plenty of sessions for those folks as well as all of us in between. We decided to split up into groups for the sessions in order to get the most from the conference as we could.  Among many others, we attended sessions on cross-grade level collaboration, 50 of the best apps for iPad, integrating choice into the curriculum, digital image manipulation, Discovery Education, use of Smart board technology in the classroom, iBook publishing and interactive textbooks, using iMovie with special education students, and use of technology to support students in language arts, social studies, science, and math.  The teachers were particularly excited about programs in mathematics and writing that mesh completely with what we use currently, and will provide interest and extended opportunities for students at every academic level of proficiency.  They were also inspired by the resources available through Discovery Education and how those resources can bring the curriculum alive for students and support learning at every level.

Teaching can be an isolating profession.  In these days of budget cuts, having opportunities for professional learning off campus are few and far between, but so necessary in order to continue improving.  I feel lucky to work with a staff who is willing to step out of their comfort zone to grow and learn and who understand that in order to improve, sometimes we must change how we do things.  And, although change can be exciting, it can also be scary.  The trick now will be to keep the excitement and momentum going.  We have already discussed how to share what we have learned with our colleagues.  Each teacher is committed to taking at least one thing they learned to the next level and to using the programs/ideas in their classrooms.

Technology changes so fast it makes one's head spin.  When computers first made their way into classrooms, they were mostly used for word processing and math and reading games.  It's a whole new world out there. Technology is a resource that, when used well, can be a powerful tool for engaging students, supporting more effective differentiation for students at different academic levels, making learning current and relevant, and connecting to students in a way that they understand.  Times have changed, and we must change with the times.  Sometimes good, old fashioned paper, pencil and a chalkboard are the best tools for learning, but we need to become proficient with all of the tools at our disposal in order to choose what's best for each lesson we present and for each student we teach.  Once we get past the fear of the unfamiliar, whole new doors of possibility open up for us.

I am grateful that we had the opportunity to spend this time together as colleagues and as professionals.  We will work hard to pass on what we have learned to the rest of the staff and to integrate that learning into our classrooms. We are already talking about how we can find the funds to attend the conference next year!  Thanks again to the Santa Cruz County Office of Education for making this trip possible for us.  It was worth it!