Downtime for Learning

Sometimes the only time we have to catch our breath and take a step back is during our extended breaks. During this winter break, I took the opportunity to re-up my certification to remain a Certified Google Educator. When I first was certified in the summer of 2013, I didn't know that the certification only lasted eighteen months. It should not have been surprising though. Technology changes so fast that certifications should be renewed frequently. Google is smart that way. The requirements assure that certified educators are up on the latest changes to the technology.

The new certifications last two years. By then there will have been many changes that we will need to learn in order to stay current. During winter break this year, I took the certification exam for Level 1. In the next few months, I will probably attempt Level 2. After all, I use these tools in class everyday so I am very familiar with all of them. Even so, there were some new things I picked up in the training that preceded the exam. No matter how adept we think we are at something, there is always something new to learn. Now, for the next two years, I will be a Certified Google Educator. I'm interested to see what manifestation certification takes by the time I have to retake the exam.

Learning Opportunities

Every year, special learning opportunities come up during the school year. Any time we get the chance to incorporate these opportunities, we take them. Two months ago, we created EdCamp Harmony, our student edcamp. I have attended several edcamps and know that these events are powerful days of learning. We wanted our kids to experience that same thrill of learning from their peers. We structured the day so that kids could both teach and learn from each other. The kids loved it! Read more about that experience here. Since that first edcamp, we have conducted another one and plan a few more during second semester. This type of learning must expand in schools.

Last month, we participated in Adventure 15, a global initiative to connect classrooms from around the world. Because of our time zone, we were connected with a classroom in White City, Saskatchewan, Canada. The ability to connect with same-age kids in another country was so cool because our kids got to see how their lives were similar and different from ours. The kids did a little research on that area of Canada so they would have good questions for those kiddos. What a great, authentic learning experience it was. Read more about that event here.

This week, we have the opportunity to participate in a national student edcamp, #stucamp. This first annual event incorporates classrooms from around the United States using the app Unhangout. We are going into this event not knowing how it will work out but it seems like it will be awesome. When our kids have the opportunity to learn from middle and high school students from around the country, we take that opportunity. This is real, authentic, relevant learning for our kids. These are all experiences that they will remember for the rest of their lives.