On August 12, the Digital Learning Services department hosted our first ever Google Summit at the conference center. 149 people participated from all over the state, including 96 from within the ESD 112 region.
The summit was Google’s official statewide conference featuring 25 unique workshops and break-out sessions on Google Apps for Education. The significance of this event is that in the last two years, over 70% of the districts in Washington have adopted the Google Apps for Education suite of learning and collaboration tools, and ESD 112 is well positioned to provide the help and support needed by the districts on Google Apps.
Participants were told to bring a wireless device with them because it was a paperless event; true to the conference theme, all of the conference materials were provided online.
Feedback from participants:
“This was a tremendously engaging event. I could easily have done a couple more days of these sessions.”
“Great Summit. Looking forward to next year’s.”
“Great job everyone. This was a very worthwhile day. I would love to replicate this in Wenatchee!!!”
“The conference was very organized and well run. Thank you for the time the organizers put into it and the presenters took to prepare.”
“The summit was professionally put together and well managed.”
“Great exposure for this relative newbie. My brain is full!”
“Overall, this was great. I hope we will have it again next year.”
“I think the biggest thing I am taking away from this summit is that my enthusiasm for using technology in my classroom is re-stoked.”
A huge thanks to everyone who helped make the conference possible, including:
- Kristina Wambold, a Technology Coach for ESD 112’s Digital Learning Services, was the lead coordinator of the event. Kristina is a Certified Google Trainer, and is the one that applied to Google on behalf of ESD 112 to sponsor the official statewide summit. Katherine Livick is another coordinator in Digital Learning Services who is a Certified Google Trainer as well as a Certified Google Administrator.
- DigitalEdge was a primary partner of the event. Bunny Stevens coordinated all aspects of the vendor involvement, and arranged for awesome door prizes! Vendors were very pleased with the event.
- Diane Pfeiffer organized the logistics and took care of the details. As always, she was the glue that holds DLS together.
- Jeff Andrews oversaw the upgrade of the wireless network in the C&I Center so it will have the capacity for a large event such as this.
- Curtis Ellis and Kathy Koren were available throughout the day to provide tech support as needed.
- Heidi Barnes performed her artistic and graphical magic as she designed artwork for the event and ESD 112’s new Google Services in general.
- Julie Gaetze, Evelyn Hambleton, and the entire Print Center staff worked closely with the DLS staff to make sure signs, name tags, door prize tickets, etc. were professionally printed.
- Frank Fiolek and his great crew participated in the pre-conference planning, conference support, and post-conference follow-up that makes an event like this so successful.
- Judy Strong prepared the conference schedule for the large visual display in the lobbies, and directed participants down to the C&I Center. And … last but not least …
- Carmen Zabel and Adam Noar provided support with registration services and the check-in of participants at the event.
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