I stumbled into the MEMO organization by accident over a decade ago. This was when it was never my intention to become a media specialist. I was going to school to get my Educational Technology Masters. My classes just often overlapped with library media courses. For my first year as a TIS, I was the only one in my district. I found that this group was a great place to get ideas, find answers, and make connections.
Over the past ten years, I have seen MEMO grow. At one time, I was one of the few tech integrationists in the room. Or in the state for that matter. I found the MEMO conference meaningful to me to connect with others working to support teachers in using resources – especially technology – to engage learners and increase student achievement. TIES also hosts a great conference, but it is big. Looking back, the MEMO conference was my first experience where I got to know my fellow attendees and really built a PLN.
MEMO’s biggest change came in July of 2014, when the Minnesota Education Media Organization formally changed its name. This was done to better reflect the members of the group. Many like me are tech integrationists. We have classroom teachers in the group, technical support people, as well as the library media specialists. All of the members are focused in literacy, technology, and so much more.
I am excited to be a part of ITEM as this new school year begins.
ITEM stands for the Information and Technology Educators of Minnesota.
The goal is to be inclusive of all people who are interested in the application of information and technology in learning. ITEM includes the library media people with a book focus, but it also has expanded to include so much more. For someone who spans the ends of the spectrum, I feel ITEM is a good fit to support fellow educators like myself. Watch for the unveiling of a new website soon!
Coming up very soon is the 2014 ITEM Annual Conference. This is held October 2-4th in St. Cloud, Minnesota. I think this coming year will be my favorite. It is Made in Minnesota!
The Keynotes:
Naomi Harm will be the keynote speaker on Friday. The title: Minnesota Moon Shot Thinking. Naomi describes herself on her website as a 21st century educational technology literacy specialist! (I love that title!) If you don’t follow her on Twitter yet, you should! @nharm
Saturday’s keynote will be presented another of Minnesota’s leaders: Jonathan Friesen. The title of his session is The Whole in the Center: The Forgotten Origins of Literacy. Follow Jonathan at @FriesenJonathan
Highlights:
- Tech Pre-Conference on Thursday
- QR Code Social Thursday Night
- Silent Auction
- An UNCONFERENCE on Saturday (If you can’t miss school, you could come just for that!)
Sample Breakouts (It’s not all about books!)
- Digitivity! Digital Creativity with K-5 Literacy
- Get Creative with AppSmashing
- iChoose: Integrating Academic Choice and Technology
- iPad Basics
- 2014 Horizon Report: What’s Coming in Ed Tech
- 23 Mobile Things: Online Professional Development Experience & Ideas
- Engaging history through technology: MN Historical Society’s Interactive educational experiences
- The Kitchen or the Grocery Store: Rethinking Learning Spaces
- The Making of a High School MakerSpace
If you’d like to learn more about the 2014 ITEM Conference, visit http://memotech.ning.com/page/2014-fall-conference
Please let me know if you have questions!
Please share your experiences at the MEMO/ITEM Conference. How have you found these days to be valuable to you?