Nutrition For The Soul: SMART Technologies Global SEE Summit 2018

Nutrition For The Soul

Looking at these pictures, you may think a few things:
1. That's some delicious looking food!
2.  What does poutine and Beaver Tails taste like?
3.   But, what does this have to do with the 2018 SMART Global Summit?

This food fueled our bodies throughout the 5 day summit in Calgary, Canada at SMART Technologies Headquarters, but even more was how the experience fueled my soul for the rest of my life.

This was my second year attending the SEE Global Summit.  A SEE is a SMART Exemplary Educator.  Every year, the SEEs are able to complete an application to be chosen to attend the summit.  I became a mentor this year to those that were new to the summit experience.

During our time, we were told every day that SMART Technologies view this week as their favorite week of the year and they value our feedback.  This was very evident as they listened to our questions and wonderings.  One of my favorite parts of the summit was working with 5 of the SMART developers to bring to life a new feature that the educators in my group were really hoping to see.  This Hackathon event took an idea on Monday to fruition on Thursday when we were able to present it to the entire group of SEEs and SMART employees.  Everyone votes on their favorite idea and guess whose group won...  That's right!  MINE!!!  When they say they listen to what educators need, they mean it!

My amazing Hackathon developers!

This year, a new addition was brought into the mix.  High school students were invited to the summit.  They had participated in the Conrad Foundation Spirit of Innovation Challenge.  These students saw a problem in our world and worked hard to create a solution to this problem.  They used design thinking to solve this.  As a teacher of a STEM focus elementary school, this was great to see.  I work hard to teach my students how to use the Engineering Design Process and it was great to see how these students used this to create their solutions.  I will definitely be reaching out to these students this year to collaborate with my students.  I think they will be great role models for what they can do when they persevere on a task.  If you know a 13-18 year old, check out this link for more information about this wonderful challenge!

Philip and I in Banff National Park

Neha (My fellow Hackathon teammate)

I was blown away last year at how all the major SMART Technologies employees are willing to sit and chat with you during the summit.  Greg Estell, President of SMART Technologies, Jeff Lowe, Chief Marketing Officer, Nicholas Svensson, Executive Vice President of Operations and Product Development, along with other SMART employees filled us in on all that SMART is doing to help everyone understand that they are an outcome company.  I challenge you to see how SMART inspires greatness in your staff, students and schools!

Jeff Lowe, Gretchen Monahan, Erin Bigler, and me 

Lastly, the friendships and connections that I have formed at the summit can't be matched!  It is amazing how you can bond with a group of 30+ educators in a week and feel like you will forever be connected.  This small town girl now has global connections for herself and her classroom in Sweden, England, Australia, Texas, Germany, Austria, and many other places because of my SEE family.  Of course, my SMART Technologies connections are always there when I need them too!  They have the best customer service around.  We ended the week with an inspirational WOW ceremony.  We were honored by SMART employees with a special celebration of US!  I have goose bumps every time I think about it.  

Thank you SMART Technologies for inviting me back another year and for all you do!