Truthbombs and Feedback

Thanks to the kind folks at Virginia ASCD, I had the chance to trek on down to Williamsburg and deliver a packed house presentation entitled “Beyond Kahoot: Fully Gamified Instruction for any Content or Grade Level” as part of this year’s annual VASCD conference about two weeks ago. I really try wherever possible on this blog to be completely transparent about what’s working and what’s falling flat. And since I will probably expect a few more of these things as we near the launch of the book (!!!), I thought it would be a good idea to use this entry to post session feedback to keep tabs on what’s working and where I can improve.

John Dewey 101: reflection > experience.

 

So here’s what folks had to say after this year’s VASCD session

THE GOOD | Notes like this…
This session blew my mind!! Everything about it was great – amazing ideas that I am 100% going to work to implement in my building. Thank you for sharing your story and your work!

And this:

His energy was contagious! I just wish my teachers could see him. I am going to do one of his activities at an upcoming faculty meeting.

Ooh. And this one:

The best session I have ever been to! So informative and motivating. Highly recommend

Thanks, gang. And right back at you. YOUR energy inspires ME! I can’t stress it enough: enthusiasm is infectious.

 

THE BAD | A funky bit of logistics (aka “what’s that smell?!”)

I signed up but the room was full when I got there so I went to a different session
Truthbomb. We most definitely packed the house well beyond capacity. I counted 80+ human beings in a room intended for just north of 50. And by the time I got done packing all my stuff up about 20 minutes after the session had wrapped, the thermostat in the back of the room was STILL showing a temperature of 82 degrees. Whoops.
THE UGLY: One carnivore’s reminder that you can’t please everybody.
Didn’t gain any real “meat and potatoes” to help me in my classroom but was still enjoyable.
Stay humble, Meehan. Stay humble.
Back at it we go.

Author: John

John Meehan (@MeehanEDU) is an English teacher and school instructional coach at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia. He began his teaching career in 2010 as a career switcher through The New Teacher Project, after spending five years working in social media and event marketing. He is a 2017 ASCD Emerging Leader, and an alumnus of the 2016-2018 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Teacher Advisory Council. In 2016, he was named one of Arlington, Virginia’s “40 Under 40” by the Leadership Center for Excellence. He is a past presenter and regular attendee at educational conferences throughout the United States, including the annual conference for National Catholic Education Association, ASCD Empower19, and the Play Like a Champion Today: Character Education Through Sports summer conference at the University of Notre Dame. He’s an avid runner who’s completed more than three dozen marathons, half marathons, long-distance road relays, mud runs, and obstacle course races. John lives in Silver Spring, Maryland.

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