I teach a yearly Professional Development class, in which I often implore students to put their phones to work for them.  I warn students that smart phones can be a terrible master if they allow it.  I am not alone with this claim.  Recent research from the University of Texas found:

​“It didn’t matter whether a person’s smartphone was turned on or off, or whether it was lying face up or face down on a desk. Having a smartphone within sight or within easy reach reduces a person’s ability to focus and perform tasks because part of their brain is actively working to not pick up or use the phone.

During the weekend of October 6 - 8, I attended Magna’s Teaching with Technology conference in Baltimore, MD.  My expectations were to acquire additional information and resources that I could immediately take into the classroom for a more productive and exciting classroom experience.  I am always concerned about the quality of my teaching, ways to better prepare my students for success, and how technology can serve as a tool to accomplish both goals.

The conference did not disappoint.  The highlight was the pre-conference workshop conducted by Barbi Honeycutt (@barbihoneycutt) and Sarah Glova (@chirpsbysarah) on the topic of “Tools to Engage Students in Flipped, Blended, and Online Courses”.  I anticipate using the skills and resources acquired in their workshop for years to come. ​