Most people have it, in varying degrees, the fear of missing out or #FOMO.
This is what drives me each year to plan for all of the conferences I will attend. I plan my calendar so that I attend certain events each year, even though we all know it is a lot of work to be away from our jobs, even for a few days. I go to CUE and other conferences each year so I don't miss out on my own learning, making connections and experiencing the energy of being around enthusiastic educators and avid learners. It is the #FOMO that drives me to plan for and take educators in my district to conferences each year. We want to keep pushing our selves to get better.
Each year I attend at least one CUE conference and one STEM conference so I can stay current on STEM topics and learning. No longer do I think of CUE conferences as technology conferences, they are about learning. Teacher learning, student learning, fun learning, collaborative learning. That is why I attend one, or sometimes both, CUE conferences each year. To stay current with my own learning and the learning I facilitate for others. That is why I always take a team of educators with me, so we can not miss out on all things #eduawesome.
Here are the top 3 things I learned at Fall CUE 2016.
1. Swift Playgrounds - I spent time at #cuesteampunk learning about this new coding software available to middle and high school students. Anyone who has participated in an #HourofCode knows that students LOVE coding and eat this stuff up. Apple even has Swift Curriculum on iTunesU.
I came in 8th! |
3. Create classrooms that students would attend even if it wasn't required - Teach Like a Pirate author, Dave Burgess, was on fire during his opening keynote at Fall CUE. He reminded me to keep pushing to be that teacher who creates a buzz on campus and a desire to learn in students.
Are you a teacher with a #FOMO on what engages today's students? Then join me at a CUE conference and we will all keep getting better.