For the second year in a row the conference sold out, doubling in size to over 600 in attendance. This year a "pre-conference" day was added featuring full and half day breakout sessions to provide an opportunity to go deeper with various Google tools and teaching styles. Sessions on project based learning, the flipped classroom, Google Drive, Chromebooks, and more were offered. Every session was filled.
The best part of the miGoogle conference is that it is a Michigan conference. Planned by Michigan organizations, sessions led by Michigan teachers, and even many of the sponsors are Michigan based companies. It's a great time to be in Michigan!
I had the opportunity to delivery the keynote address to open day 2 of the conference and made a case that we, as classroom teachers, should be training "dot connectors" instead of encouraging students to be "dot collectors." My slide-deck and a [partial] recording of my talk can be accessed here.
Five sessions were featured throughout the day. These sessions showcase some of Michigan's best presenters and hottest Google topics. You can watch recordings of these sessions here.
If you weren't able to make it to the conference this year, you can still benefit from the learning by checking out the resources posted on these session pages. You can also look at the #migoogle hashtag for lots of links
Didn't make it to miGoogle13? Didn't even know about it? Follow the conference on Google+ or Facebook to receive updates about next year's conference. Or fill out this form to be notified when the call for speakers and registration for miGoogle 2014 opens!
Mr. Sowash,
ReplyDeleteHello, my name is Lance Wilkinson. I am a student in EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama.
Congratulations on your successful conference. I can't imagine all the work that must have went into planning a conference centered around Google applications.
It seems you're really immersed in technology's potential in Education. I certainly want to retain the past, but it's hard not to be impressed with all the things that can be shared with Google. I especially liked your comment about students being "Dot Connectors".
Best,
Lance
Mr. Sowash my name is Lucas Skinner and I am a student in EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama. That is awesome you were able to head the google event! I have heard about that conference last year and have been wanting to attend since I understood what it was. Your enthusiasm in involving technology into students education in today's world is very inspiring. I feel exactly like you in terms of helping students excel in the education environment by having teachers be Dot Connecters.
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing about this! I wanted to attend this year, but wasn't able to. I will check out your session!
ReplyDeleteHello Mr. Sowash. My name is Holli Snow and I am a student at the University of South Alabama in the course EDM 310.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, WOW! It must have been an amazing experience to head such an event, especially one centered around Google applications. I agree that we should view our students as "dot connectors" instead of "dot collectors", like the saying about teaching a man to fish will feed him for a lifetime, the same can be said about teaching children how to learn and to learn efficiently.
Hello...I'm glad if I could attend one of your seminar. Congrats...
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