It is hard for me to pinpoint one particular session or event during NCCAT as being most useful or interesting. I found everything very insightful, helpful and useful. However, if I have to choose something, it would be learning more about the available tools in Google and how to use them. I have wanted to use Google tools but was unsure of how to utilize them. using Google forms can help to eliminate the use of paper and I can keep up with the information in a folder.
One of he highlights to my week at NCCAT was my learning how to access Twitter and how to tweet. This brings me one step closer to being techno-literate. My assistant principal wanted me to get a Twitter account so I can connect with other educational professionals. I can inform her of my success.
There a a few things learned that I plan to use within my classroom. Google forms, classroom and docs for sure. I want to use Google forms to conduct beginning and end of the year surveys and also as a form of assessment. I want to use Google docs as a place to store all my evidences for teacher evaluations. Mr. Rowls had quite a few interesting ideas to capture the attention of many of my students. i will surely implement some of these strategies. The games he introduced can be used as ice breakers and break points for students.
Not that it was not a good presentation, but the “Why is Culture Important?” was probably next to the bottom. I just feel that the presentation was too long to not have information that directly connected the teachers to students in the classroom. In other words, a topic like “How Culture Affects the Classroom Environment” would have probably been more interesting among the fellows.
Compared to other PD opportunities I have experienced, I must say that the week at NCCAT has been one of the most interacting and engaging. Most of the information presented was done by a variety of current teachers who actually have students or many different backgrounds. The presenters could relate to how we felt about certain situations and could offer suggestions and strategies that they presently use.