Here's day 2:

Monday, 6/28 - I wake up around 9am shower, shave, and grab some breakfast. I plan on using Denver's Bcycle service as transportation. This turns out to be a good idea, sorta. I know I'm running late and have already missed the keynote. I download the Bcycle app to my phone and find that the nearest Bcycle station is nearly 1 mile away. So I walk to the station, purchase a 24 hr pass and Google Map it to the convention center. I arrive at 12:30pm and am surprised that it's hot but I'm not sweating too bad; I later find out this because Denver isn't as humid San Antonio. I check in and head directly to the Social Butterfly Lounge. There I hope to collect myself before heading to my first session. While trying to make sense of ALL that is ISTE and which free session to attend one occurs right next to me. There is a principal from Minnesota presenting on her school's 1:1 success; and how it has helped increase state test scores across the board 15-20%, curbed discipline issues and motivated teachers. I jot down notes and scramble to plan my next move, it's nearly 3pm! Twitter is not helping because there are so many great things happening at once I can't focus. On the TV directly in front of me an audio stream of Dr. Robert Marzano begins and I decide to listen. He's explaining his research process with Promethean and what has developed since beginning 2 years ago on this project. I am geeking out because I've used Promethean's ActivBoard for the past 6 years and presented across the country on them. He is to the point and very clear about his findings. What? I've missed lunch, it's after 4pm and I have a Tweetup at 5pm! Outside I go to grab a bcycle and roll arrive at the Tweetup just after 5pm. I haven't missed much but my feet and hands are hurting. I've been lugging my heavy laptop bag and ISTE swag bag with 1 1/2 functioning hands. I don't win anything and my tummy is not impressed with the snack food. I grab another bcycle and find that my bed is over two miles away. This doesn't bother me, I'm an endurance athlete and regularly ride 10 times as far. What does bother me is that Google Maps and my internal compass can't seem to jive. I head in the wrong direction, twice. By the time I find my bearings the light outside begins to wane. Vietnamese noodles at Parallel 17 it is. I find the strength to drop off the bcycle, walk the mile back to the hostel and shower. My head is pounding when I lay down and I can't believe what an absolute dump this place is. I was in the Army for 6 years and if I think this place sucks the average person wouldn't be able to keep their lunch down. I blackout from exhaustion sometime around midnight.

My thoughts on ISTE and EdTech after today is that about 50% of us are quick to notice the inequities of our schools, school leaders, and our ed. situation in general. I overhear conversations ranging from excited optimism to downright caddy. This is education so that's nothing new to me, but I am surprised that so many of my technology people are so quick to find the fault in things. Maybe it's just me and the jetlag, maybe it's just people settling into ISTE. My first day at ISTE has me perplexed.

My First ISTE

In 2008 ISTE was NECC and it was held in my town, San Antonio. I was asked by a vendor to present at NECC but had to graciously decline because of vacation plans. Last year I missed ISTE in D.C. because my school was in a huge administrative transformation (i.e. all spending was halted), and I honestly couldn't afford the conference fee, travel, and hotel expenses then. Reading that last sentence I'm glad I am now on Twitter and connected to so many wonderful educators. If I find myself in a similar situation again I will be able to follow from home via Twitter posts, conference/session links, and streaming events.

Here's day 1:

Sunday, 6/27 - Today is my birthday and I'm rushing around cooking a brisket, mowing, and packing for my flight at 7pm to Denver. During the food preparations I trip over the dog and drop the sharpest knife I own. While in mid-air I see the trajectory of this Samurai sword landing directly into said dogs back. Not wanting to see him sliced in half I grab at the knife while it falls. The tip of the knife misses the dog's back, grazes his foot and cuts two of my fingers in three places. He doesn't yelp but he does move. After this I notice blood in my hand and on the floor. So my dad helps bandage me up and treat the dog's foot. Mom's yelling at me to go to the hospital and get stitches. BTW, if you've never had to play field nurse for a dog let me just say there's a reason for the 'cone of shame.' They don't like having limited lick access. Fast forward to my flight which connects in Phoenix. I am delayed and looking at landing around midnight now in Denver. I use this time to check in on my ride from the airport and arrange my late check-in. I am staying at The Hostel of The Rockies because all of the hotels were booked by the time my district decided to let us attend. After landing in Denver I realize I've leap-frogged from Central Time to Pacific and back to Mountain Time. The day is getting long now. Super Shuttle has a super ginormous line and reservations don't guarantee a timely ride. I finally arrive at the hostel at 2am (3am my time) and crash hard.

Gaming Across the Curriculum

Go here to see some amazing educational games. This blog belongs to Marjee Chimel one of the two presenters of "Gaming Across the Curriculum" at ISTE 2010.

How to convert a .pdf to a .doc

Here's how I convert my .pdf's to .doc's. I hope it helps, let me know how it works for you.

Presenter' s meeting at ActivEducator Conference

Marzano research

I first heard about Dr. Robert Marzano's research at a Promethean User Group Conference in 2008. Over the past year I've heard more and more references to his research. Today I sit in an electronic gradebook training and the presenter said that Marzano's grading schema, that allows for individual "algorthimic" grading based on content comprehension that is irrelevant to time, is an option in their system; and that major, national, education leaders are supporting this type of grading.

I'm not sure a grading revolution is on the horizon but here's Dr. Marzano's website. Check out the free resources section. If you're not familiar with his research this will give you an idea of his findings and philosophy.

Downloading YouTube videos using 3outube

This is a video showing how to download your educational videos at home from YouTube. Let me know if it helps.