Thursday, March 1, 2018

Trying something new (SOL18 #1)

This week I was lucky enough to attend the ICE (Illinois Computing Educators) Conference. I look forward to this conference each year because it gives me an opportunity to recharge, and come back with some great new ideas for incorporating technology and other best practices into my classroom. Luckily, this year's conference was no different. One of the big takeaways from the first day of my conference was the importance of doing things that we expect our students to do. 

Although I've heard this before, hearing it again really made me reflect upon how often I am actually taking risks like my students do each day when they are learning something completely new. (Hint: It's not too often. At least new things that take me out of my comfort zone) So I went into day two with a different mindset. I was going to try something completely new to me, and something that made me slightly uncomfortable. 

Sketchnotes. 

Over the last couple of years many teachers on my PLC use Sketchnoting as a way of making sense of what they have read, heard, or watched. Although I was impressed with the products that they created, I shot down the idea as something that I would simply be a talent of mine. At least not yet. 

So on the second day of the conference I took the risk and tried. As a creature of habit trying something new did not feel great, but I grew more confident as a I continued to practice. I ended up creating Sketchnotes for each of the sessions that I attended and I must admit, I actually liked it. 

Deciding to my put myself even more out of my comfort zone I thought that I should share my sketchnote on my Twitter and tag the presenter in the post.  By the end of the day I had a response from him saying how much he loved it and asking if he could save it for himself. 

Needless to say, I'm glad that I took the risk and tried something new. I am also grateful for my students being the inspiration for me to step out of my comfort zone. 

My first sketch note

19 comments:

  1. Trying new things is something many teachers in my district are doing this year. New leadership has really encouraged being innovative and taking risks. It's made me excited to be in education right now and I've spent a lot of time learning a new role I'll take on next year, incorporating technology into my coaching. It's a little uncomfortable (ok,a lot uncomfortable sometimes!)but it's been so rewarding! Congrats on your new mindset and the success it's made you feel!

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    1. It sure does make for an exciting time in education! It's great that your district is promoting the risk taking. It makes it easier if the risk doesn't turn out the way that you had expected. Thanks for your comment!

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  2. Excellent job! So brave to post it on Twitter. I'll bet you remember the information much better than if you'd taken a list of notes :)

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    1. You are so right! I found that I was way more engaged by interacting with the content while listening. Thanks for your comment!

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  3. Excellent job! So brave to post it on Twitter. I'll bet you remember the information much better than if you'd taken a list of notes :)

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  4. Excellent job! So brave to post it on Twitter. I'll bet you remember the information much better than if you'd taken a list of notes :)

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  5. Your Sketch-notes look great! Impressive!

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    1. Thanks, Jennie! I always see you sketchnoting and I was inspired. :)

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  7. Katie, your Sketch-note looks amazing! Can you please show me how to do it sometime? I give you some "mad-props" for posting it to Twitter AND tagging the speaker...good for you! It's funny... our blogs are very similar today, thanking our students for pushing us out of our comfort zones :)

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    1. Absolutely! We could Sketchnote a Gilmore Girls episode. We may have to pause it a lot, but it could be kind of fun! :)

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  8. Katie, so awesome you tried out the Sketchnotes. I felt like you did, they were really hard at first, but then I got better with time. Your image for Genius Hour was fab!

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    1. Thanks, Brezek! I'm excited to keep sketch noting!

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  10. Your sketchnote looks great! I can totally relate...sketchnoting is intimidating, but your post makes me want to try it! Thanks for sharing :)

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    1. Thanks, Brittany! You should totally try. :)

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  11. I LOVE THIS. I loved seeing them on Twitter the other day, but I loved reading your thought process and reflections even more. Fantastic.

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    1. Thanks, Leah! I appreciate the encouragement! :)

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  12. ICE was so much fun with you. I think watching you Sketchnote made me more interested in trying it myself.

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