Before completing this post I reviewed some of my peers’
blogs to see how others spent their time at MACUL. I wanted to determine
whether my experience was different from others, or if we all had similar
reactions to the conference. All of the blogs that I read gave positive reviews
of the conference and all discussed seminars different from the ones that I
attended, perhaps that was my mistake.
I have to be frank here; I was underwhelmed with my
experience at MACUL. I saw three separate presentations, all on completely
different topics, but alas I left Grand Rapids feeling no more knowledgeable
about the uses of technology in the classroom than when I arrived. I saw a
presentation titled “Student Creativity and High Expectations,” one that
focused on 1:1 Implementation, and finally “Using Technology When
Differentiating Instruction.”
I think the presentation I was most disappointed by was the
seminar on 1:1 Implementation. I was excited to look at how it’s being
implemented in schools, what activities and lessons educators have developed,
and how some of the challenges have been tackled. Instead the hour focused on
why schools should look to 1:1 classrooms in the first place. I did get to have
a conversation with a Principal in Western Michigan that will be implementing
1:1 this year, it was interesting to hear about how the process was going for
her as well as what exactly she was hoping to gain and what opposition she
received.
I won’t go into detail on the “Using Technology When
Differentiating Instruction” presentation. We were shown website after app
after website, focusing mainly on math resources. Perhaps it’s all of the
assignments focusing on differentiation this term, but I’m inclined to argue
that having students play math games on the computer “at their own pace”
doesn’t necessarily qualify as differentiation. I did take down notes on some
of the websites, so I’ll have to look at them in more detail to gain a better
understanding.
Finally, the first presentation I attended on student
creativity and high expectations should have been scheduled for the afternoon.
This was my favorite seminar of the day. It left me so excited and motivated to
go home and make lesson plans, and differentiate, and create exciting lessons!
Rushton Hurley was an excellent speaker and left me we a rekindled enthusiasm
for teaching that was getting dragged down by assignments. I hope some of my
peers were able to go to this presentation because it was fascinating.
Overall I’m glad I attended MACUL. I’ve gotten to use a TON
of technology in my classes this year and we’re always trying new things. It
was nice to get a few new ideas and be re-inspired as this semester comes to a
close.
