ADE Experience  Distinguished Educators

Waiting to check into a Phoenix hotel, seeing high fives and hugs all around from people with the conference. What's going on? Applauding and high fives to me from perfect strangers as I entered the first orientation session. What is going on? A Pulitzer prize winning photographer taking my picture? What is going on?

Let me back up for a moment. In March of this year, I was selected as an Apple Distinguished Educator. What did this mean? The Apple Distinguished Educators (ADE) program was created to recognize K-12 and higher education pioneers who are using a variety of Apple products to transform teaching and learning. Today it has grown into a worldwide community of visionary educators and innovative leaders who are doing amazing things with technology in and out of the classroom. That includes working together — and with Apple — to help bring the freshest, most innovative ideas to students everywhere. 

http://www.apple.com/education/apple-distinguished-educator/

I'm not sure I measure up to this standard, but I gave it a whirl.

So I applied to Apple to illustrate to them how our incredible students at Ladue High School in St. Louis, MO were creating amazing live morning newscasts, monthly student produced television programs, and cinematic short films, all using Apple technologies.

I must say that my selection to be an ADE is a true reflection on the tremendous abilities of our Ladue students. They are the creators. They are the innovators and authors of our video content. I should also mention that none of the work we accomplish in our Ladue Broadcast Technology program, can be done without another true professional. My teaching partner Marteana Davidson. It takes a village to be successful, and Marteana is right there with me. Without her support and expertise, these opportunities wouldn't be happening. (Shout out Marti!)

So, I was thrilled to be given this personal opportunity to become an even better teacher for our students, and off I went. I packed my bags and headed for Arizona for a summer institute this past July. What is going on?! I didn’t know, but the idea sounded great. (Except for the heat. And believe me dry heat is still HOT!)

Once I arrived, I began to understand our task. Apple’s goal for all the attending educators, was to find a group of 4-6 people, in an area of our interest, to spend the next 3 days working with to actually create tangible, authentic content for iTunes U. Content that educators from around the globe would leverage in their classroom, to help build a stronger 21st Century learning environment. Imagine.

But before our group began to work, we first discussed educating with iPads, iPhone devices, iPod devices, etc. We covered digital storytelling and how it can impact critical thinking, collaboration, and the planning process for any lesson. We experienced a video production simulation, and realized it’s not necessarily about teaching, but rather facilitating learning. Audio, are you listening? That was next. The importance of audio is paramount.

Are we ready yet to work? Not quite. We were inspired by a North Dakota ADE teacher, who is creating miracles everyday with his students using Apple technologies. Imagine seeing a child take their first photograph EVER, using an iPad, and the imagine the smile. We witnessed this. Imagine.

We were motivated by an ADE educator from Kansas, to get up out of our chair and get engaged. You must! We must. The tools are there. Not to replace teaching, but to enhance learning. 

But the real message for me, was about building relationships.

Maxx Judd, our fearless Apple Distinguished Educator leader, encouraged us to meet as many new people as possible, everyday. What started as surface talk with each person, ultimately evolved to great depths of conversation, collaboration, learning and inspiration. We worked tirelessly with our focus groups, all the while learning about each other personally. We shared three meals a day, sitting at round tables, talking to new people, hearing their stories.  All in the matter of days. The stories were amazing. The Apple technology helped tell the stories. Yes it's possible. Imagine.

These relationships culminated with a celebration of life on the last day. Kickoff your shoes and dance with “strangers” is exactly why we did. Because after this experience, we were no longer strangers. We were colleagues with one common goal. (Breakfast Club-Esq? Maybe.) This experience validated for me that no matter the technology, at the core of life and learning are relationships. Above all the devices, apps, operating systems, etc,  it all boils down to relationships.

Imagine what we could accomplish in our individual schools if we embraced this same approach. Imagine the learning that would take place. Imagine.

Apple brought us all together to celebrate our accomplishments. They also brought us together to collaborate and create content that would transform education. I believe this is happening. But what else happened for me was just as extraordinary. I too became transformed as educator. And how cool is that?!