Google Geo Teacher's Institute

This July I was lucky enough to be accepted to attend the Google Geo Teacher's Institute at the Googleplex in Mountain View, CA.  

This professional development experience was designed by the Geo Education team at Google in order to inspire and teach teachers how to get the most from Google's Geo products and Technologies.  We got hands on experience with Google Earth, Sketch Up, Google Maps, Mars, Moon and Sky.   

There were many great presenters, break out sessions, events and people at the Google GTI, however the most inspiring part of the entire event was beging back at the Googleplex.  I first visited the Googleplex in Mountain View, CA in June of 2008 when I attended the Google Teacher's Academy and became a Google Certified Teacher.  Being invited back to Google was an exciting opportunity to continue learning about the amazing tools that Google has for students and educators.  A huge thanks to Tina on the Google Geo Education team for dreaming up this event.  Tina's 20% project on the Google Earth team was to begin a relationship with educators to partner with them in how to teach about geography using the Google Tools.  Recently, Tina's 20% project became her 80% project and there is a Geography Education Team at Google! 

A few highlights were...

• The Google Geography Bee hosted by the one and only Alex Trebek
• Michael Hathorn and his team of 5 students sharing their Building VT Google Earth and Sketch Up
• Jerome Burg's presentation sharing Google Lit Trips
• National Geographic's Giant Traveling Maps project
• Networking with teachers from all over the world!
• Learning from Tina and the Geo Education Team at Google
• The Food!  Micro-Kitchens...enough said!
• Being on the Google campus!

The main resource that we used for this experience is the Google Geo Teacher's Institute Site.  Feel free to use any of the resources.

I've been collecting the variety of resources that I've come across as it relates to Geography and the Google Tools here.  FollowMolly's Google Geography Tools

Jean Ozwald, Mahtomedi Media Specialist & Molly Schroeder, Edina Tech Integration Specialist

ISTE Presentations and Schedule

The National Technology Education conference is happening in Denver, Colorado the week of June 26-30th. I'll be doing a few presentations throughout the conference. Here are the times, locations and resources.

Sunday, June 27th

Google Workshop for Educators

Presentation on Google Sites

Google Teaching Theater

These presentations will take place at the Google Booth in the Exhibit Hall

June 28th @ 12:30pm

Innovative Ideas for Using Google Forms

June 29th @ 3:30pm

Soaring to New Sites! Using Google Sites with teachers, students and administrators.

Announcing the Google Workshop for Educators 5-15-10

We are excited to announce the

Google Workshop for Educators

@ TIES May 15, 2010

8:30-3:30

$260 Lunch will be provided

TIES 1667 Snelling Ave. N, St. Paul, MN 55108

Bring your own laptop!

REGISTER HERE!

Search, learn, share! Brought to you by the producers of the Google Teacher Academy, the nationally acclaimed Google Workshop for Educators (GWE) introduces participants to innovative ways Google tools can be used in education. The one day workshop includes a full day of fast-paced presentations and hands-on activities including experience with advanced search techniques, collaborative web-based applications, and inspirational instructional strategies. Google Certified Teachers share ways they've implemented tools such as Google Docs, Google Earth, Google Sites, and... even more. Participants who complete the event are given access to the Google Workshops for Educators Network (GWEN), an online community focused on supporting educators as they learn more ab

out the power of Google to drive student learning.

We are looking for creative participants (eager beginners to advanced) that have a desire to build on current skills and integrate relevant technology into the classroom. Participants should have a desire to collaborate online with other educators from the workshop and help support each other with questions and successes. Participants should bring their own ideas and be willing to look at big picture when pace is fast and dive into the relevant details during time set aside for application.

Quotes from GWE past participants…

“Thanks! By far the best and most beneficial technology workshop I've attended.” – Nicholas, ISD 138

“This was a great workshop. I want more.....” – Cathy, Edina Public Schools

“This was fabulous! I'm excited about putting this to use with the teachers and students in my district.” –Penny, Orono School District

“All educators should have the opportunity to attend a GWE.” – GWE Participant, Hopkins, MN August 2009

“I dreamt of google last night!! Wish it was Monday so I could start working with teachers on the amazing things I learned at the #gwevegas” @joleneanxalone via twitter.

January Links of the Month

Happy New Year!

I hope you had a relaxing break! Here is a shorter Links of the Month for January!

Click here for Molly’s January Links of the Month

Remember you can copy and paste any of the links of the month onto your own Google Classroom Site…click here for directions!

Highlights this Month…

1. Teacher Highlight: SCRATCH – Purdy and Plasch
2. Brain Pop Movies of the Month
3. Sites to Review the Decade

Google Workshop for Educators @ TIES This Sunday

Ben, Sean and I are eagerly awaiting the next Google Workshop for Educators at the TIES Conference this Sunday, December 13th. (#gweties)

We are hoping to host another Google Workshop for Educators this Spring or Summer, so if you didn't get into the Workshop this time, fill out this form and you'll be the first to know of our next available workshop.

If you can't make it to the workshop, make sure to check out these great resources.

Google Workshop for Educators @ TIES Resources

Google Teacher's Academy - December 9, 2009 Washington DC

December Links of the Month!

Happy December!

I've just posted my December Links of the Month!

Feel free to forward this post to anyone who might find it useful!

New this month...

Teacher Highlight: Zach, Gerri and Katie using VoiceThread

Video Resources with Brain Pop and UnitedStreaming

All Links of the month are archived at the bottom of the page.

All Links of the month are added to Curriculum Resources in their appropriate location!

Highlands PTA Meeting November 10, 2009

Tomorrow night I'll be presenting to Highlands Elementary Parent Teacher Association.

The goal of the meeting is to share the many ways that technology is being integrated into the classroom. My opener for the presentation will be to challenge the parents not to only ask

"What did you learn at school today?"

but also ask...

"How did you learn at school today?"

Here is my presentation as well as the link to the website for the presentation.