Google, Twitter, and Wetpaint … OH MY!!!

How these three things have let me be the change I’ve been wanting to see.

The Beginning

It all started on May 6th, 2008 with a simple e-mail that started “Hello and Happy National Teacher Day.” From that e-mail came one of the most interesting, stimulating, and enriching experiences of my life (not to mention some friendships that will last a life time). The e-mail was from the Google Educator Outreach, a list serv about all things Google Education-ish. It explained that, for the first time ever, Google was opening up their application process for the Google Teacher Academy worldwide. If you could pay for it (or find someone to help you) and got accepted you were in! Heart beating wildly, I quickly shot off a note to my Director, Marc Carraway, to ask if I could apply and if my school, the Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School, would help with the cost. Receiving an emphatic “YES!” and the calming addition that BRVGS would cover all my costs were I to be accepted, it began.

The Application Process

Applications were due May 28, 2008. Laboring for days on the essay questions and storyboard for a 60 second video that would give Google an idea for my philosophy on “Classroom Innovation,” the application process was daunting. I scoured the Internet for videos from others to get an idea, but it was hard to tell what I should do. Wanting my video to show passion for technology in education but to be strongly focused on students, the decision was made to go simple. Using Screenflow to create a quick 10 second intro about our school and then simply leaving my fate in the hands of the phenomenal people at Animoto, the video portion was done. Animoto is a website that will take your uploaded photos and create an MTV-like video with the pictures appearing to the beat of whichever song you choose (here is my video). Everything was complete on May 18th so I hit the submit button on my application and left the rest up up to the minds at Google. Now it was simply a matter of wringing hands, biting nails, and trying to stay nonchalant until June 5th, 2008 when the confirmation e-mail instructed acceptance letters would be sent, and I would learn my fate.

The Day I Checked a Million Times to Make Sure My E-mail was Working

June 5, 2008 - 6:00am - Checked to make sure e-mail was working. It was…no message from Google

June 5, 2008 - 6:30am, 7:00am, 7:30am, 8:00am - Checked to make sure e-mail was working. It was…no message from Google

June 5, 2008 - 8:07am (EST) - Glanced at e-mail while doing some work… see a message from Google Teacher Academy Team…breath shorted…palms sweated…what if it says “No?”

Too Late! I had already clicked on the message and was jumping in the air as I read, “Congratulations Sallie! You have been selected to participate in the Google Teacher Academy at the Googleplex. After reviewing your application, we believe that you have the experience and passion necessary to positively impact K-12 education, and we are excited to have you join us on Wednesday, June 25th at the Googleplex in Mountain View, California.”

I called my husband at work (a fellow edtech’er). I could barley speak from jumping up and down exclaiming, “I’m going to Google! I’m going to Google!” He laughed and told me he’s very proud of me but completely jealous!

I quickly filled out the the required survey to “claim” my spot and I began checking on flights, hotels, car rentals and directions.

I Start Learning the Power of the Internet

On June 7th, 2008 I decided to see how many other GTA attendees could be found online. Scouring blog posts for mention of other people that were going finally led to the discovery of one or two GTA attendees, but there had to be another, better way. I decided to setup a wiki and send the link out to the masses.

Using a Wetpaint wiki, I simply added my info and sent it out on Twitter to Vicki Davis (the Cool Cat Teacher) and asked her if she would be willing to Twitter it as well knowing that she had a MUCH wider following. From her “tweet,” the Wetpaint wiki quickly began getting members and updates. By the end of the first day, the membership was up to four people. By the next day we had 11. Then 13. Then 15. By the day of the Google Teacher Academy, there were 25 members in addition to multiple blog and podcast mentions.

The Wetpaint wiki’s discussion board filled up with posts from the get-go. Where were people staying? Should we meet up for dinner the night before? Did anyone want to be the PodPirate’s guest to the Monterrey Bay Aquarium the day after?

It was so exciting to see how many amazing educators from all over the world were coming and how quickly we already felt like friends. The decision was made for about 12 of us to meet the night before, a few were from California but most were from out of town.

Google Teacher Academy Eve

Getting out to California took about 12 hours. I thought I would have been exhausted, but the adrenaline running through me pusehd me onward. I went to meet up with two fellow GTA attendees in the lobby of our hotel for dinner. We had never met in person and our familiarity was limited, mostly, to screen-names. When we walked into the restaurant, a man look expectantly at us. “PodPirate???” we asked. He laughed and responded with a simple, “Yes.”

One table quickly filled and another was moved in for our ever expanding group. We all took a turn giving our real names, where we hailed from, and what we do. I have never felt so comfortable, so quickly with a group of relative strangers. Finding our techno loving, education innovating brethren was invigorating! There was great conversation, great food, and lasting memories. If an informal dinner with near strangers was this good, what would tomorrow bring???

The Day

A whirlwind- there seems to be no other way to describe it. We spent the day talking with fellow teachers, listening to phenomenal speakers, learning loads of cool info/techniques/tools, and generally just soaking up all that it means to be part of Google. If Virginia was not so deeply rooted in my being, I wouldn’t hesitate to move to Mountain View, Ca. and take any job Google would give me. Google does not feel like a giant company, but like a community where people are happy to work, happy to learn, and mostly happy to share what they’ve learned. Doesn’t that sound EXACTLY what school should be like? Among the other goals that I have planned for this year as part of my “Google Certified Teacher Action Plan,” I will be trying to bring a little “Googleness” back to Virginia and into the BRVGS lifestyle. I want my teachers and students to feel just like Google employees: passionate, excited, appreciated, supported, and connected.

The Days, Months, and Years After

Now home and getting geared up for Staff and Curriculum Development for BRVGS next week, my mind is spinning with ideas and connections. I’ve already started thinking about my Action Plan for Google and am firmly set on a few things.

One: To start blogging.
Having always been an avid blog reader and an occasional commenter but never a writer, this will be tough. Honestly, I never felt that my voice was unique and didn’t want to repeat the same tired ideas as everyone else, but I realize that my job is unique in the education world and the more people hear about it, the more people will join in.

Two: Start participating in a podcast.
The “speciality” will be talking to GCTs from around the world about what they are doing in their schools. Hopefully, this will be the catalyst for other teachers to try new things in the classroom.

Three: Change the world. Can’t do it alone, but I can add my voice to the conversation and my strength to the cause.

I can’t thank all the people at Wetpaint, Twitter, and Google enough for helping me have an amazing adventure and opening the door to so many yet to come!

June 30, 2008 | Filed Under Sallie |  

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