On Track

August 6, 2015 {218/365}

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." - Will Rogers. 

This is especially true in the field of educational technology. Tools and applications are constantly evolving to meet the needs of 21st century learners and educators. This morning, I took the 6:15 Amtrak Hiwatha to Chicago to train a group of teachers and administrators at the Youth Connection Charter School. Our focus was Google Apps for Education, a suite of collaborative tools that have transformed instruction, engagement, and assessment of learning. We reviewed the basics of Drive and Docs, explored Add-ons and Chrome Extensions to further enhance learning and productivity, considered the potential of Twitter and other social media tools for building a Personal Learning Network, and modeled the use of Google Classroom to create and organize assignments, communicate, and provide feedback. It was a very full day made even more challenging by the number of educators at various levels of comfort and ability, yet I know everyone learned something that will augment learning in their schools. If we want our students to succeed, all teachers must also commit to continuous learning. It takes hard work and dedication. As Shel Silverstein so eloquently points out, "If the track is tough and the hill is rough, THINKING you can just ain't enough!"