Seminar day 1

While all the eighth graders are testing, the students get to stay home, and the teachers get to attend seminars.

Today was our technology seminar.  Our director tooted his horn for a while, then in a small group meeting that I was assigned to, he tooted his horn some more.  He announced again with great importance that were are THE Google Educators Group of Ankara.  I again had to ask him,
"And, what's the significance of that?"
"I know you got a bone to pick with this."
"Sorry, that's not my point - you say it with such importance, I wonder what I'm missing here."
"Well, it's our group."
"So we have the power?"
"Not really, our small school gets to make the way."
"So it's not collaborative?  We call the shots?"
"No, it's collaborative.  But the Ministry of education really wants to have control of the group."
"And if they did, we would be limited?"
"Exactly."  And he made a squeezing of the neck motion.

I still don't get it.  But, apparently, it's a very important and significant title.

I had volunteered to lead a technology session today.  My friend was desperate and she made it sound easy.
"You could teach people the basics of iMovie."
Yes, I could.  I'm really good at making home movies.  And in true fashion - I title my workshop "iMovie Basics" and I titled my presentation and notes "iMovie Basics."

I spend most of the night preparing my notes for my very small group of ten people.  It took so long because 1) I had to learn how to do it on iPad 2) I took screen shots of all the steps 3) I created it on Keynote because 3) I couldn't transfer all the pictures to Google Slides.

But the end product was great.  I didn't mind putting the time into it because I don't doubt that I will use it again with my 5th graders.  I showed an example product, I walked everyone through the steps of Google and complications we face with the school iPads. Walked everyone through iMovie vocabulary, inserting and editing photos, videos, and audio.  And had everyone publish, download, upload and share their final product.  It was interactive the whole time because everyone had a school iPad - and I've never had a lesson go so perfectly.  I taught everything in my 1 hour and 45 minute session and finished with two minutes to spare.

It was a good feeling.