Using Google Slides to Curate & Share Innovation Bits and Bytes

This year, to help gather and share some innovation bits and bytes to staff, I decided to use Google Slides as a way to curate everything. I went back and forth with which tool to use and chose Google Slides with the following reasons why: 

• We are a G Suite K-8 district and I love utilizing the apps that Google offers.
• The Google Slides app is such a versatile tool that can be used in so many different ways, besides presentation creation.
• I love seeing tech tools used in unique ways and taking the tools to different levels. A tool is just a tool -- it’s what we do with it and how we use it that makes a difference.
• With Google Slides the content can be ever-changing and easily updated anytime.

DPS109 Innovation Bits and Bytes

bit.ly/dps109bitsandbytes

Setting up the Google Slides for the Innovation Bits and Bytes

• Slide 1: My title slide includes a short description and a shortened URL. I like using bit.ly to shorten because you can customize the URL name. 

• Slide 2: A quote that will change every so often. You never know when someone needs a little boost of inspiration.

• Slide 3: Table of Contents. I’ll link each issue to the matching slide in the slide deck.

• Slide 4: The most current issue will go here all past issues will follow.

Quick email blast to staff to share the newest issue added in the Innovation Bits and Bytes

Each time there's an updated issue, I’ll send a quick email to staff letting them know. In the email, I'll add both the link and a (clickable) image preview of the slide. When clicked, both the link and image will jump to newest issue or slide. To add a link to an image in Gmail, try this:

Add the image to your composed email in Gmail

Select the image by clicking and holding to the right of it, then dragging the cursor left until the image turns blue. When the image is blue, this indicates it has been selected

How to send viewers to a certain slide in Google Slides

• Each slide has its own unique URL. If you look at the end of the URL you’ll notice the unique ID after the /edit# 
  
• Pick the slide you want to appear when the link is clicked, then copy the URL. That is the URL to share with the viewers.
  
  
  
  
  
• To see how this works, click here to jump to slide 4 in the Google slide deck. Sometimes (not always) viewing from a phone will take you to the first slide. This works best viewed on a computer. 

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Finding ways to effectively communicate new bits of innovation and ideas to staff is so important to me. Hopefully this method is helpful in doing so. What do you think? What methods of communication are you using and finding successful? Would love to hear. 

The Mindset Innovator Visits #Engage109

When you haven’t blogged in awhile and the person who inspired you to start blogging visits your school district, you start writing.

George Couros, one of the most inspiring educators out there, visited my school district for our fall institute day. I'm so thankful for this opportunity my district created for all of us. Our day began by hearing George’s keynote. If you’ve never heard George speak in person, it is something I hope you can experience one day. It’s a very special thing. A form of “art”. There will be a roller coaster of thoughts and emotions while you hear him. Some highlights that come to mind from hearing George: fun, engagement, smiles, laughter, tears, thoughts of the past, the present, the future, thoughts of the children you teach inside your classroom, and your own children at home, thoughts of your life, their lives, inspiration to be better for yourself, better for your students, you feel empathy, you embrace who you are and you wonder what you’d like to see yourself attempt, and of course you ponder the notion of being innovative. It touched my heart to see so many amazing educators in one place moved by George, whether it was their first time hearing him or not. The atmosphere was full of hope by people who care deeply about what they do.

I tried to capture some moments and was sharing them throughout the day on my Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat.

George beginning his keynote. 

The Innovator's Mindset (now signed my George). :)

George sharing stories of his beautiful family.

Learning is messy, embrace that!

"We need to make the positives so loud, that the negatives are almost impossible to hear."

Then, this happened...

A special moment for all. This was the first time I witnessed a standing ovation for a speaker in the 16 years I've been in my district. 

George is such a great role-model for innovation. In his book, The Innovator’s Mindset, he says, "education's "why" is to develop learners and leaders who will create a better present and future....and to develop these traits in our people, we must empower them; we must INSPIRE innovation". This, in my opinion, describes George. He inspires and empowers. He is someone who innovates by making you feel like you can do anything you want if you put your heart and mind in the right place. His amazing gift of storytelling and making connections go straight to the heart and mind. And that's why after hearing him speak you learn so much, and become so motivated, empowered, and inspired.

Our selfie with George (courtesy of his awesome selfie-taking skills)
preceding an awesome afternoon conversation with him and middle school colleagues. 

I feel thankful to George Couros for inspiring us, for pushing our thinking, for stressing the power of having an “innovator’s mindset” to gain deeper learning and understanding, and for reminding us to help keep the light in our student’s eyes.