The EdTech Connection

Over the past week or so, I started having problems with my "Perma Meet" link. The Meet would still open, but I was unable to get my camera or mic to work at all. After MUCH frustration, I happened to be in another Meet and realized that everything was working just fine.

Solution? I just made a new Meet link! If you had saved the previous one, use THIS ONE instead from now on.

Another sad update to Google Meet is that we are no longer able to record our meetings to share with those who aren't able to attend live [insert sad panda face here].

For those of you who are like me and prefer to use Meet but still want to record, I have a work-around! In my testing, you can use either Screencastify or Loom to record your Meet and then share the recording from that platform. One bonus to using Screencastify for this is that paid users also have the ability to insert questions INTO the video (similar to Nearpod or EdPuzzle).

When I was at Lambert, I was able to open a "coffeeshop" in the school, right by my office. It was called the WIld Tech Café and we were "open" every Tuesday PLUS any time we had required meetings nearby. I would also open it at other times throughout the year upon request (collaboration teams who wanted to meet in the space, the week before winter break, the first week of school, etc.).

When I left, I was sad to leave behind my coffeeshop (especially since it also closed) AND sad that there was no way for me to create a similar space at the district level.

BUT GUESS WHAT? I finally did it anyway!

Not long before the end of last semester, all of technology moved into the 1130 building on the District Office "campus." I share a classroom with two other wonderful ladies where we have our cubicles, a meeting table, and a panel. Yesterday, I was talking to a friend from Lambert and she said that my space looked familiar, but she couldn't see the coffee or snacks. That was all it took and now the "Corner Café" (name is still a work in progress) is open for business!

Next time you're around, stop in Building 1130 Rm. 451 and grab a cup of coffee/tea/cocoa and a snack and say hi while you're at it!