Last week, from Monday 7/22 to Thursday 7/25, I attended the CUE Rock Star Conference in La Jolla, CA. As I attended the annual CUE conference in Palm Springs for two years in a row, I felt that the teachers and presenters were inspiring and knowledgeable, yet I did not truly benefit from any of the sessions. With that said, Rock Star Camp offered what CUE could not in its mere 1-hour poster sessions--time to play and individualized attention. I met teachers from San Diego County who accomplished incredible feats with technology on their sides and managed to inspire their students to do the same.
What stayed with me since last week's training was the idea of sketch-noting. It replaces the stringent structure of traditional note-taking with obviously, sketches and other visuals to cement content in the mind for hopefully longer periods of time. I've even invested in a Paper 53 aluminum pen after downloading the Paper 53 app to use the app to its potential as an art app rather than a simple note-taking app. Sure, my drawings are god-awful, but sketch-noting (or just sketching in my case still) is definitely therapeutic for me.
What stayed with me since last week's training was the idea of sketch-noting. It replaces the stringent structure of traditional note-taking with obviously, sketches and other visuals to cement content in the mind for hopefully longer periods of time. I've even invested in a Paper 53 aluminum pen after downloading the Paper 53 app to use the app to its potential as an art app rather than a simple note-taking app. Sure, my drawings are god-awful, but sketch-noting (or just sketching in my case still) is definitely therapeutic for me.
On a side note, I've never been a true blogger, let alone a consistent writer when it comes to keeping journals or diaries. However, this will hopefully keep a running record of my reflection and/or the wild emotions that I experience as a teacher on a daily basis, even if it's summer vacation.
I'm also using this platform to determine what the best platform is best for me to use with my students (and what my students can use themselves)--Weebly, Blogger, or WordPress. Since I began teaching, I don't think I've used interactive notebooks correctly, nor have I truly seen the benefits pay off in my class yet. Before the new school year begins, I hope to find a truly paperless, digital option that I can use to document student work and lighten the workload.
I'm also using this platform to determine what the best platform is best for me to use with my students (and what my students can use themselves)--Weebly, Blogger, or WordPress. Since I began teaching, I don't think I've used interactive notebooks correctly, nor have I truly seen the benefits pay off in my class yet. Before the new school year begins, I hope to find a truly paperless, digital option that I can use to document student work and lighten the workload.