Author: edtechbites

Unmasking Innovation: Exploring TCCA’s 13th Annual EdTech Extravaganza

On October 28th, 2023 I attended the 13th Annual TCCA Conference. This conference unfolded with an electrifying twist, taking inspiration from the thrill of Friday the 13th. It was a showcase of educational technology drawing educators, tech enthusiasts, and pioneers alike, transforming a typical conference into an immersive, costumed extravaganza. There were butterflies, Freddie Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Pennywise, unicorns, and other costumes that would literally stop people in their tracks.

What makes this conference extra special is that it is free, lunch is provided, it’s on a Saturday so no need for admin approvals or sub plans, and it really brings some top-notch presenters and speakers. Just because it is free does not mean participants are getting a watered down conference. 

As the largest free edtech conference in the Lone Star State, it provided a bustling platform for educators to explore, share, and collaborate. My mission? To capture the pulse of innovation by interviewing diverse presenters and participants for my podcast, EdTech Bites. I set up shop in my own private podcasting area and got to it with the help of our TCCA episodes sponsor Wakelet. 

Wakelet has been changing the game when it comes to student portfolios. The platform is helping students across the US showcase tangible evidence of their success in creative and personalized ways. Wakelet portfolios boost college readiness, and help students share their skills and achievements in ways that go beyond just test scores. For teachers, Wakelet is a powerful tool for sharing learning resources, creating lesson plans, and boosting collaboration in your classes. Help your learners redefine student success, and outshine their test scores with Wakelet Portfolios. Head to wakelet.com/portfolios to learn more, and sign up for a free account today.

Throughout the day, I engaged with nine remarkable individuals, each offering a distinct perspective and expertise. Our discussions covered the intricacies of instructional coaching to the nuanced strategies for ESL students. The topics were great, but not as much as the guests. I chatted with Tisha Poncio, Jeni Long, Sallee Clark, Tony Vincent, and others to cover these much-needed topics. Being that my show is all about chatting edtech while breaking bread together, I gave each guest their own bag of donut holes while we chatted. I did that at TCCA 2022 as well and will keep this tradition going for as long as I can continue to cover this conference.

As the curtains closed on this edtech extravaganza, I departed with a wealth of insights and a renewed enthusiasm for the future of education. TCCA 2023 wasn’t just a conference; it was a celebration of innovation. This experience reminded me of how important human connection is. Chatting with people in person while breaking bread is one of the most primitive and important things we can do and I had the opportunity to do this with innovators and experts at TCCA!

All Episodes Are Available On Your Favorite Podcast App. Click On Each Image To View Our Conversation!

Ep. 188 | Shapegrams With Tony Vincent: By The End, You Will Have Groan!

We want to take this moment to thank our sponsor – Wakelet. Wakelet has been changing the game when it comes to student portfolios. The platform is helping students across the US showcase tangible evidence of their success in creative and personalized ways. Wakelet portfolios boost college readiness, and help students share their skills and achievements in ways that go beyond just test scores.

For teachers, Wakelet is a powerful tool for sharing learning resources, creating lesson plans, and boosting collaboration in your classes.

Help your learners redefine student success, and outshine their test scores with Wakelet Portfolios. Head to wakelet.com/portfolios to learn more, and sign up for a free account today.

In this episode, I chat with Tony Vincent about his educational journey. Tony and I have crossed paths years ago and here we are years later, full circle. He now focuses on Shapegrams. I know what you’re thinking… what the heck are Shapegrams? Well, tune into this episode to find out what they are and how YOU can utilize these in your classroom. This conversation was recorded at the TCCA conference in Aldine, Texas. This is the last of 9 episodes from the TCCA conference and what better way to end this series than with Tony Vincent. Buen provecho!

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About Tony Vincent

Tony Vincent started teaching fifth grade in Omaha 26 years ago. Several years later he took on the role of his school’s technology coach. Eventually he left school teaching to be a self-employed consultant, sharing friendly ways for teachers to reach, empower, and inspire their students. Tony is a prolific sharer, approachable, and consistently selects practical tools and strategies that can be implemented right away. Tony went back to teaching for the 2018-2019 school year in Council Bluffs, where his fifth graders became Chromebook superusers and creative communicators. Tony posts lots of handy tech tips on social media, and he hosts a series of digital drawing challenges for kids called Shapegrams. Most importantly, Tony is the father of 10 year old twins. 

Connect With Tony Vincent

Ep. 187 | Tips For Our Emergent Bilinguals, ESL, and Students With Dyslexia w/ Nicole Lipps

We want to take this moment to thank our sponsor – Wakelet. Wakelet has been changing the game when it comes to student portfolios. The platform is helping students across the US showcase tangible evidence of their success in creative and personalized ways. Wakelet portfolios boost college readiness, and help students share their skills and achievements in ways that go beyond just test scores.

For teachers, Wakelet is a powerful tool for sharing learning resources, creating lesson plans, and boosting collaboration in your classes.

Help your learners redefine student success, and outshine their test scores with Wakelet Portfolios. Head to wakelet.com/portfolios to learn more, and sign up for a free account today.

In this episode, I chat with Nicole Lipps. We discuss various tools and strategies to help our emerging bilingual students, ESL students, and students with Dyslexia. There are some great tips Nicole touches upon to help these student populations grow in our classrooms.. This conversation was recorded at the TCCA conference in Aldine, Texas. There’s a student eSports competition going on in the background so keep your ears open for cheers in addition to our conversation. Nicole brings a wealth of information to the listeners so I’m surprised that this is her first time on a podcast. Hopefully, this won’t be her last. Buen provecho!

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About Nicole Lipps

Nicole Lipps is a passionate educator with 18 years of experience in the classroom. She has taught grades 3-8 and is currently a Campus Technology Liaison and 8th Grade US History Teacher in Conroe ISD. Nicole is dedicated to student success and amplifying student voices. She believes technology can be a powerful tool for learning, and she is committed to using it to help students reach their full potential.

Nicole is always looking for new ways to improve her teaching and stay up-to-date on the latest trends in education. She is a Certified Apple Learning Coach, Google Certified Educator, Adobe Creative Educator, Microsoft Innovative Educator, and a Microsoft Flipsider. She also has a Master’s degree in Applied Digital Learning.

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Ep. 186 | When Best Friends Part Ways In EDU: Catching Up With Jenallee

We want to take this moment to thank our sponsor – Wakelet. Wakelet has been changing the game when it comes to student portfolios. The platform is helping students across the US showcase tangible evidence of their success in creative and personalized ways. Wakelet portfolios boost college readiness, and help students share their skills and achievements in ways that go beyond just test scores.

For teachers, Wakelet is a powerful tool for sharing learning resources, creating lesson plans, and boosting collaboration in your classes.

Help your learners redefine student success, and outshine their test scores with Wakelet Portfolios. Head to wakelet.com/portfolios to learn more, and sign up for a free account today.

In this episode, I catch up with Jeni Long and Sallee Clark AKA Jenallee. This conversation was recorded at the TCCA conference in Aldine, Texas. This dynamic duo has been best friends and been working together for years… up until now. They had an EDU breakup but still manage to spread the educational goodness as Jenallee wherever they go. We discuss where Jenallee goes from here and I also quiz them on 5 different food trivia questions. Can you beat Jenallee in food trivia? Find out for yourself. Buen provecho!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Jeni Long

Jeni Long is a 25 plus year educator that is dedicated to providing unwavering support for teachers both inside and outside the classroom. She understands the challenges that teachers face and is here to offer guidance, resources, and support to all educators. Jeni recently joined the team at MagicSchool.ai as their Senior Community Strategist. Her mission is to ensure that every teacher feels supported, inspired, and empowered to make a difference in their students’ lives. She believes in the power of a strong community and knows that when teachers come together, they can create magic in their classrooms.

Jeni has held various positions in education, including 6th grade Math Teacher, ELA Curriculum Specialist, Technology Integration Specialist, and Science Curriculum Specialist. Jeni is a recognized international speaker, consultant, blogger, and author, having shared her knowledge at conferences worldwide. As the co-host of “The Jenallee Show,” a popular YouTube and TikTok series, she collaborates with Sallee Clark to showcase the latest EdTech tools and provide valuable tutorials for educators globally. Connect with her at http://www.bit.ly/jenallee and visit her website, http://www.thejenalleeshow.com.

About Sallee Clark

As an expert in educational technology, Sallee Clark is passionate about leveraging innovative tools and platforms to enhance the learning experience for both students and educators. Sallee brings expertise gained from her 19-year tenure in education, which includes valuable experience as an instructional technologist, a teacher and librarian. Her knowledge and practical insights have made her a featured presenter, leading impactful professional development sessions at esteemed conferences worldwide.

As part of the dynamic duo known as #Jenallee, alongside Jeni Long, Sallee shares her expertise and EdTech wisdom with educators through various engaging platforms. Their informative TikTok videos, YouTube content, and engaging discussions on Twitter Spaces have empowered countless educators to make learning accessible and fun! 

In addition, Sallee and Jeni have co-authored of “The Microsoft Teams Playbook.” Their contributions and innovative approaches have honored them with the Top 30 2022 EdTech Influencer Award by EdTech K-12 Magazine. Connect with her at http://www.bit.ly/jenallee and visit her website, http://www.thejenalleeshow.com

Connect With Jeni Long

Connect With Sallee Clark

Connect With Jenallee

Ep. 185 | You Had Me At Fried!: friED Tech And Food Trivia With Courtney Watson and Amy Storer

We want to take this moment to thank our sponsor – Wakelet. Wakelet has been changing the game when it comes to student portfolios. The platform is helping students across the US showcase tangible evidence of their success in creative and personalized ways. Wakelet portfolios boost college readiness, and help students share their skills and achievements in ways that go beyond just test scores.

For teachers, Wakelet is a powerful tool for sharing learning resources, creating lesson plans, and boosting collaboration in your classes.

Help your learners redefine student success, and outshine their test scores with Wakelet Portfolios. Head to wakelet.com/portfolios to learn more, and sign up for a free account today.

In this episode, I chat friED Tech with Courtney Watson and Amy Storer. This conversation was recorded at the TCCA conference in Aldine, Texas. Aren’t sure what friED Tech has to offer? After hearing this fun episode, you’ll be clear as to what they can offer educators. Not only do we chat friED Tech, I also quiz them on some food trivia. Can you beat Courtney and Amy in food trivia? Find out for yourself. Buen provecho!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Courtney Watson

Courtney is a Google Certified Educator/Trainer and Lead Learning Guide at friEdTechnology. She is passionate about equipping all learners with the necessary tools to help them become successful and ensuring they have fun while learning. #TechWithoutTears is her goal when sharing tools and ideas with educators to effectively integrate technology into their classrooms.

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About Amy Storer

Amy is a Lead Learning Guide at friEdTech, Google Certified Educator and Trainer, Microsoft Certified Educator, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, Microsoft Innovative Educator Trainer, and a Microsoft Global Mentor. She is a distinguished educator that encourages and motivates others to reach far beyond the classroom walls to make learning more meaningful and inspiring. She has a true passion for purposeful technology integrations, meaningful PD, and global connections. 

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Connect With FriED Tech

Ep. 184 | The AI Evolution In Education: Rachelle Dené Poth’s Top 3 Picks for AI in Education

*We want to take this moment to thank our sponsor – Wakelet. Wakelet has been changing the game when it comes to student portfolios. The platform is helping students across the US showcase tangible evidence of their success in creative and personalized ways. Wakelet portfolios boost college readiness, and help students share their skills and achievements in ways that go beyond just test scores.

For teachers, Wakelet is a powerful tool for sharing learning resources, creating lesson plans, and boosting collaboration in your classes.

Help your learners redefine student success, and outshine their test scores with Wakelet Portfolios. Head to wakelet.com/portfolios to learn more, and sign up for a free account today.

In this episode, I chat the evolution of Artificial Intelligence in the classroom with Rachelle Dené Poth. We dig into how far it’s come in less than a year and I ask her to give me her top 3 AI tools for the classroom. There are several tools out there but she had to pare it down to her top 3. If you’re not sure what her top pics are, check out this episode and share it with a friend. Make sure you give Rachelle a follow and check out her top 3 tools. This conversation was recorded at the TCCA conference in Aldine, Texas. Buen provecho!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Rachelle Dené Poth

Rachelle Dené Poth is an edtech consultant, presenter, attorney, author, and teacher of Spanish and STEAM: Emerging Technology. Rachelle has a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law, a Master’s in Instructional Technology, and is currently pursuing a second doctorate, focused on Educational Technology. Rachelle is an ISTE Certified Educator and recipient of the ISTE Making IT Happen Award and several presidential gold and silver awards for volunteer service. She presents regularly at state, national, and international conferences and provides professional development and coaching for educators on a variety of topics including assessments, and emerging technologies such as AI, AR and VR, and STEM. 

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Ep. 183 | The Importance of Collaboration Between Administration and Tech Specialists w/ Stephanie Balster And Laura Depp

*We want to take this moment to thank our sponsor – Wakelet. Wakelet has been changing the game when it comes to student portfolios. The platform is helping students across the US showcase tangible evidence of their success in creative and personalized ways. Wakelet portfolios boost college readiness, and help students share their skills and achievements in ways that go beyond just test scores.

For teachers, Wakelet is a powerful tool for sharing learning resources, creating lesson plans, and boosting collaboration in your classes.

Help your learners redefine student success, and outshine their test scores with Wakelet Portfolios. Head to wakelet.com/portfolios to learn more, and sign up for a free account today.

In this episode, I chat the importance of collaboration between administration and tech specialists with Stephanie Balster and Laura Depp. We also do some food trivia in this episode. This conversation was recorded at the TCCA conference in Aldine, Texas. Stephanie and Laura bring a great vibe to the show and each come to the table with a specific perspective. Can you beat Stephanie and Laura in food trivia? Find out for yourself. Buen provecho!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Stephanie

Stephanie Balster is an Innovation Leader for Castleberry Independent School District. She has been in education for the last nine years and has taught first – third grade. She graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and Exceptional Student Education from the University of West Florida. Stephanie is bringing her expertise in education and technology to the forefront, helping teachers integrate technology into their classrooms in meaningful and impactful ways. With a focus on engaging learners, building critical thinking skills, and fostering digital citizenship, Stephanie is dedicated to helping students thrive in the digital age.

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About Laura

Laura Depp serves as the Campus Academic Leader at Castleberry Elementary. She has been in education for seventeen years. Laura taught in all grades kindergarten through fourth grade prior to becoming a math coach which eventually led her to her current position. She is passionate about making learning come alive for all students through hands-on learning experiences and student discourse. Laura holds her national STEM certification, as well as, her Master’s in Educational Administration.

Ep. 182 | CTE: The Best Kept Secret In Education With Heather Brantley And Stacie White

*We want to take this moment to thank our sponsor – Wakelet. Wakelet has been changing the game when it comes to student portfolios. The platform is helping students across the US showcase tangible evidence of their success in creative and personalized ways. Wakelet portfolios boost college readiness, and help students share their skills and achievements in ways that go beyond just test scores.

For teachers, Wakelet is a powerful tool for sharing learning resources, creating lesson plans, and boosting collaboration in your classes.

Help your learners redefine student success, and outshine their test scores with Wakelet Portfolios. Head to wakelet.com/portfolios to learn more, and sign up for a free account today.

In this episode, I chat CTE with Heather Brantley and Stacie White. This conversation was recorded at the TCCA conference in Aldine, Texas. Heather is a two time EdTech Bites Food Tour participant and Stacie is a CTE teacher who “doesn’t Social Media”. This is an awesome discussion around this hot topic in education. And sticking with CTE and Culinary, I also quiz them on 5 different food trivia questions. Can you beat Heather and Stacie in food trivia? Find out for yourself. Buen provecho!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Heather Brantley

Heather Brantley is an experienced educator and founder of HeatherTechEdu. With a background in instructional design and technology integration, Heather is passionate about helping teachers and students leverage the power of technology to enhance teaching and learning. Through HeatherTechEdu, she provides presentations on AI/AR/VR in the classroom,  instructional design services, and educational technology consulting to schools and districts around the country. Heather is currently teaching CTE technology and CEER at Pine Tree ISD.

Connect With Heather

About Stacie White

The Amazing Mrs. White has been teaching for 18 years both online and in the brick and mortar arenas.  She has taught Spanish 1 and 2, as well as Special Education Reading Resource. Now she focuses on her favorite course of all, Project Success, which is a career explorations course through the Career and Technical Education department.  She is passionate about helping students gain vision for their lives and guiding them to be the best they can be both in and out of the classroom. At home, she and her husband of 18 years have 5 super involved kids, 2 loving grandparents, a German shepherd and a chihuahua who remind them to be grateful for their many blessings.

Ep. 181 | Let’s Chat Wakelet and Food Trivia W/ Tisha Poncio

*We want to take this moment to thank our sponsor – Wakelet. Wakelet has been changing the game when it comes to student portfolios. The platform is helping students across the US showcase tangible evidence of their success in creative and personalized ways. Wakelet portfolios boost college readiness, and help students share their skills and achievements in ways that go beyond just test scores.

For teachers, Wakelet is a powerful tool for sharing learning resources, creating lesson plans, and boosting collaboration in your classes.

Help your learners redefine student success, and outshine their test scores with Wakelet Portfolios. Head to wakelet.com/portfolios to learn more, and sign up for a free account today.

In this episode, I chat Wakelet and Food Trivia with Tisha Poncio. This conversation was recorded at the TCCA conference in Aldine, Texas. This is Tisha’s 4th time on the show and as always, we have a great conversation while breaking bread together. We discuss Wakelet and I also quiz her on 5 different food trivia questions. Can you beat Tisha Poncio in food trivia? Find out for yourself. Buen provecho!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Tisha Poncio

Tisha Poncio, M.S. Learning Technologies, served in public education for 21 years as a classroom teacher and a digital learning specialist. She has presented at numerous educational technology conferences across the nation and in her home state of Texas speaking about student leadership, student autonomy, digital citizenship for all ages, and meaningful technology integration. She is currently serving as a Digital Learning Specialist for Wakelet! 

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