This is my fourth time in Memphis attending Lausanne Collegiate’s Laptop Institute conference.  The first time I came with one other teacher, the second time I came alone.  Last year I was able to convince school and district admin that more teachers needed this experience, and we ended up with nine staff members attending.

This year is special however.  Last fall I received an invitation for Nashwaaksis Middle School to be the 2009 Spotlight School at LI.  This would mean a lot of commitment – both financial and human – from our admin and staff.  We gladly accepted.  It’s a $20,000 ticket for our school, with funding coming from a variety of sources – to whom we are very grateful.  But more than that, our teachers made a huge professional commitment to prepare presentation proposals, make arrangements, get their presentations together and deliver the goods here in Memphis.

As we start day 2 of Laptop Institute, I couldn’t be more proud of our staff.  I’ve been doing this conference presentation gig for quite a while now, but I do recognize that, for many teachers, there’s nothing more scary than laying yourself on the line to your colleagues.  Many were nervous – very nervous. But from everything I heard and saw yesterday, they rocked – absolutely hit a home run!

Like a proud dad, I am just as excited about what this will mean for them and, by extension our school and, most importantly, our kids!  Their professional growth as learning leaders will be incredible.  While I would have stacked our staff up with anybody, anywhere, I can already see another huge shift in ideas, motivation and skills. I can’t wait to get back to school.

Touch em all guys! Just a few more innings to go today.

Technorati tags: technology, education, whipple, learning, laptopinstitute, laptopinstitute09

I am back in Memphis again for Lausanne Collegiate School’s Laptop Institute.  This conference is a special place for me for many reasons, not the least of which it is the spot where I experienced a revelation of sorts during my first visit here.

You see, I was a laptop teacher for two years and was experimenting with digitizing practice and some other ideas, but hadn’t really been exposed to the powerful opportunities of 1:1 and the idea that it wasn’t about the efficiencies of technology, but the fact that it gives us an opportunity to fundamentally change how we teach and, more importantly, learn in our classrooms.

I still remember the moment my story of learning was interrupted and changed forever.  David Warlick was the opening keynote that year.  Not to bore you with the details, but his message blew me away.  His ideas of literacy and learning were like a shot of adrenalin that jump started my passion for change. Later, I had a chance to chat with David on the bus to the hotel.  I began reading his blog. He challenged us to start blogging.  I did.  The rest is history.

I am excited to be back.  As a veteran I am happy to say that that initial trip or two alone has led to 10 staff coming last year and this year we have 14 staff attending.  Not only that, Nasis Middle is this years Laptop Institute School Spotlight Award winner.  Our staff are pumped as they get set to present sessions on the great stuff they do in their classrooms.  I am so proud of them.

More to come from Memphis!

Technorati tags: technology, education, whipple, learning, laptopinstitute, laptopinstitute09