ADE Institute 2023 Sketched

 ADE2023 APAC Gold Coast delivered some nuggets

Day 1 we kicked off with some awesome new traditions. Celebrating and welcoming the Class of 2023 was a great way to show the theme of this institute which was one of inclusivity. That’s probably my biggest takeaway. Break language barriers; use the Translate app. And always remember that if a person has broken English it means that they speak more than one language. After all, we can’t call ourselves connected educators if we are not connecting across all cultures and languages. I felt extremely privileged to be surrounded by creative, inspired educators who have the YES, AND mindset.

Every system is perfectly designed to achieve exactly the results it gets. If that is true, what results is the school getting? And what is it in the design that leads to that? What internal changes need to be made to get the desired outcome? The other important message was about your role. Do your job well. Build collaborative relationships. And don’t get sidetracked with jobs that are not yours to fulfil, complete or worry about.

Day 2 we kicked off with three vital messages.

• Every student should have the opportunity to make an impact. Educators are the ones that can offer those opportunities.
• Accessibility is a human right. And technology makes accessibility easier.
• Educators deserve powerful tools. We have these tools at our fingertips.

The best technology for learning is the one that engages, scaffolds, connects and amplifies. And the mantra of pedagogy first; technology next is still valid. As is the Post-it app!

Day 3 meant that I was up for my Showcase. My message was that Improved Literacy Impacts Lives! Without sound literacy, all the most powerful and engaging technology will be lost. But we can utilise technology to improve literacy. That is my main aim for all students. The great thing about doing a showcase, besides getting your message out to a broader audience, is that you connect with your fellow presenters. This means that I now have friends in Japan, Malaysia and Australia to name a few.

I would encourage all ADEs to get up and do a Showcase. It’s not so much about what you are doing or spotlighting your achievements. Rather, it is a platform to share ideas and give back to the Apple Education Community that has given us so much. That is my motivation for doing a Showcase. My way of saying thank you to all the ADEs who continually inspire me.

Unfortunately, just like that, the action-packed three days were over. Thank you to the ADE team for inspiring us to be passionate advocates; trusted advisors; authentic authors and global ambassadors.