The MACUL conference was extremely interesting because of my lack of knowledge associated with the different online tools available to teachers in the classroom. Our first presentation discussed blended classrooms and how to go about infusing these websites into your own curriculum. I was immediately blown away by the (free) resources available to teachers to make presenting content more interesting. At one point during the presentation I began planning a lesson using the websites mentioned. I left the session super pumped and more confident about blending my own classroom and letting technology be a useful tool in my classroom. I knew having this information would assist me in encouraging my mentor teacher to allow me to include more tech in my teaching. Once I returned to my placement I discussed some of these tools with my mentor teacher with made it great.
The most impactful part of the conference was the "lightening" presentation session at the end which featured five minute quick presentations from educators. The session was great because people were given a limited amount of time to speak, making whatever they spoke about carefully chosen and passionate. I enjoyed hearing the variety in the speakers chosen, as well as why the decided to become teachers. Two of the presentations stood out to me in particular. The first being a woman most likely in her early thirty's who used a Charlotte's Web reference in her presentation and then discussed her own adversities as a student. The second was the last presenter, a young man from Florida who gave the session a "Poetry Slam" feeling. Their presentations were emotional, passionate, intellectual, and ultimately, inspiring. The MAC program has definitely been a zoo, but ending my day with that session made me remember why I want to be a teacher. I am very happy that I went.
