My Presentations
These are my current presentations. These are designed to fit into 60 minute time slots, but can be trimmed down to 45 minutes or expanded to last 90 minutes depending on your particular needs.
Developing a system of organization is key to helping us keep our sanity. During this session, I will show you how Chrome can help with this. Learn how to pin tabs, create and organize bookmarks, folders, and favicons. We will also take a look at the Chrome Web Store and add some awesome apps and extensions. Bring a laptop or Chromebook to this session.
Explore Our World: Go There With Google
Think maps are just for social studies teachers? Think again! Explore our amazing world using tools that you might not know even existed! Discover ways to engage your students by taking them to fascinating places around the world! This session is laptop, Chromebook, and tablet friendly! It would be useful to download the StreetView app on your Android or iOS device ahead of time.
Cultural Treasures of the World
In 2011, a team of Googlers launched the Google Art Project. Their goal was to catalog works of art from around the world in order to make them more accessible. The original Google Art Project, now called Google Arts and Culture, includes art, historical collections and figures, as well as virtual tours of locations around the world. During this session, I will share tips and tricks that will help you get the most out of Google Arts and Culture. You will spend a significant amount of time exploring collections that pique your interest.
Stories can be incredibly powerful. During this session you will learn how to use Google MyMaps and Google Tour Builder to tell stories. This session is not just for social studies teachers! I will share lots of ideas for how MyMaps and Tour Builder can be used with students of all ages in a wide variety of subjects. During this session you will have the opportunity to create your own map and tour. Bring a laptop or Chromebook to this session.
Magical World of Screencasting
Screencasting allows us to capture a video of both our screen and our voice. Knowing how to create and share a screencast is an important skill that all teachers, administrators, and students should have because they can impact when, where, and how learning happens. During this session we will create a short screencast, learn how to share them with our audience, and explore ideas for using screencasting in our schools.
If you think building a website is too complicated then this session is for you! We will explore the new version of Google Sites and you will see examples of how both teachers and students use Google Sites. Then you will roll up your sleeves and build your own site. I promise you will be successful!
What a PLN Is and Why You Need One
Teachers used to be isolated, but social media has changed all of that! Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and other platforms have provided teachers with a virtual place to share ideas, ask questions, and learn from one another. It is never too late to make the decision to connect to other teachers and end your isolation! During this session you will learn about different social media platforms and have the opportunity to ask questions to help you figure out where to begin. This session is ideal for social media skeptics or anyone who is just starting to build their personal learning network.
Building an Audience the Write Way
Writing can be a very powerful learning tool. It provides students with the opportunity to organize information while thinking critically about the ideas they are trying to convey. Blogging is a fantastic way to have students of all ages write, reflect, and engage in dialog with their face-to-face peers as well as connect with people from around the world. During this session we will discuss the benefits of blogging, how to manage and provide feedback on numerous blogs, and how to connect with other classrooms around the world.