Matt Miller has been infusing technology and innovative teaching methods into his classroom for more than 10 years. After trying to do the traditional “teach by the textbook” for a few years, he launched into a textbook-less path where learning activities were often custom-produced for his students as well as infused with technology. He likes the results a lot, and his students do, too.
He has been recognized for excellence in teaching and technology integration. He is a Google Certified Teacher (one of less than 2,000 worldwide) and a PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovator. He was awarded the Golden Apple Award by WTHI-TV in Terre Haute, Ind., and was nominated for a Bammy Award for Secondary School Teacher of the Year in 2014.
Matt is the author of Ditch That Textbook, a book that encourages teachers to free their teaching and revolutionize their classrooms with mindsets, techniques and curriculum to serve today’s learners. He also created the Ditch That Textbook blog (DitchThatTextbook.com) and regularly writes about educational technology and creative teaching. Thousands of educators subscribe to his blog, which has visitors from more than 200 countries.
Matt hasn’t always been in education, though. Before becoming a teacher, he was a newspaper reporter and wrote for several Indiana daily newspapers, including the Indianapolis Star. He made the switch when he realized that his true passion was helping other writers with their writing, not doing the reporting himself. He returned to school and had a teaching job in eight months. The rest is history.
He is a proud graduate of Indiana State University (go Sycamores!) and is living the dream — a wife, three kids, a mortgage and two dogs.
Connect with him … he lives for it!
- Twitter: @jmattmiller
- Google Plus: plus.google.com/+MattMiller16
- YouTube: youtube.com/DitchThatTextbook
- Pinterest: pinterest.com/DitchThatTxt
- E-mail: matt@DitchThatTextbook.com
Keynote
Title: The Art and Science of Memorable Teaching
The world is changing quickly. The work world demands more and more. How can we prepare students for it? And can we do it in a way that honors our unique, true selves as teachers? Using classroom stories, vision and surprises at every turn, Matt Miller shows how teaching is a craft -- part art and part science. With a little perspective and confidence, we can take great strides toward the classroom of our dreams. You’ll leave this speech entertained, equipped and inspired to create memorable learning that changes students’ lives.
(Alternate keynote description below)
Your beliefs about education shape your classroom. They affect your lessons and impact student motivation. A disastrous lesson changed Matt Miller's beliefs about his role in education, and it's likely to change yours, too. This keynote is full of stories to reach your heart and surprise twists to keep you on the edge of your seat. In the end, it will make you think about your purpose as a teacher and inspire you!
FULL-DAY WORKSHOP
Title: The Ditch That Textbook Workshop
Technology can help us create an amazing learning experience for students. But it’s not easy. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all the options. And how do we know it will actually help student learning? The Ditch That Textbook Workshop is designed to empower you with tools you can use AND lots of practical, effective ways to use them. This workshop is anything but “sit and get.” You’ll play the part of the student, trying new activities hands-on. Then, you’ll see what it takes as a teacher to make them happen. You’ll leave with new strategies to try the next school day -- and we’ll have LOTS of fun along the way!
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Tech Like a Pirate: Make Learning Memorable with Tech
In “Teach Like a PIRATE,” author Dave Burgess shows teachers how to use passion and presentational skills to engage students and create memorable experiences. In this session, attendees will get lots of ideas for combining student engagement and technology to connect with students like never before. Matt will share specific tools in combination with PIRATE engagement hooks, giving teachers plenty of “use tomorrow” content.
(If teachers aren’t familiar with Teach LIke a Pirate, below is an alternate title/description for the Tech Like a Pirate session above.)
8 Techy Ways to Make Class UNFORGETTABLE
If class is forgettable, how do we expect students to learn? In Matt Miller's book, Tech Like a Pirate, he shares 8 ways to make class a memorable learning experience with tech. You'll leave with concrete ideas to use right away -- and a process for coming up with your own. Engage your students. Supercharge learning. And enjoy the process!
FREE copy/assign templates and how to make your own
You know you love a good template. Grab it. Make a copy. Assign it to your students. It saves time AND can create fantastic learning experiences. In this session, you’ll get a digital binder FULL of 50+ templates. We’ll talk about how to use them, how to modify them, and how to make your own.
The Unknown Google Slides: Practical Ideas You Never Considered
Google Slides can be used for so much more than giving oral presentations! Get students creating and engaged in class with these nontraditional uses of Google Slides. Bring a device (laptop/Chromebook recommended) to learn new ideas hands-on!
Take Kahoot! + Digital Formative Assessment to the Next Level
You may be familiar with Kahoot!, Quizizz and Quizlet Live. They’re GREAT formative assessment tools. How can you take them to the next level? Learn about features and ideas for implementation that you may not have tried before!
Digital Instruction: To Infinity and Beyond!
Tired of the glazed over eyes? The slumped posture? Gather ideas to students actively engaged with new content. Create self-paced lessons where students are their own guides in learning. These steps will move your class from teacher-centered toward student-centered learning right away!
Organize Your Google Classroom, Marie Kondo-style
Does your Google Classroom spark joy? We can fix that! Find the best tips, tricks and strategies to make the most of your Google Classroom. Regain time. Be more productive. Spark joy with your digital assignments!
Learn Like a YouTuber: Engaging video activities
Let’s face it. Your students spend lots of time on YouTube, and they probably have their favorite YouTubers. Let’s take popular styles of YouTube videos and turn them into learning experiences! In this video, you’ll learn how you -- and your students! -- can make top 10 videos, unboxing videos, and more as a demonstration of learning.
How to BLOOM with Google, Flipgrid and more
Bloom's Taxonomy isn't just for teacher prep programs! Revised Bloom's Taxonomy (2001) is a treasure trove of activity ideas for class. Plus, tech tools like Google, Flipgrid, and others can help us take those ideas to new levels. Get a quick tour of Revised Bloom's and lots of practical ideas to start revitalizing your teaching right away!
Surfing the Webb: Deep Learning with Tech and DoK
If we're not careful, it's easy to get stuck in superficial learning. How can we help students think more deeply and learn for the long haul? When we use powerful tech tools with Webb's Depth of Knowledge, we get the kind of learning students will remember! Get plenty of practical examples and tips for creating your own lessons in this session!
The Path to Solid Techy Lesson Plans
When teachers create lessons, there's a lot to take in. It's easy to focus on the wrong things. With a solid framework they can rely on, they can keep first things first -- and improve their skills over time. The framework in this session focuses on: learning, engagement, tech, lesson design and enhancement. We'll see examples, discuss and design lessons together!
Connecting Classrooms to the World
Class doesn’t have to be confined to the four walls of the classroom anymore. Powerful communication tools like Skype, Google Hangouts and more can connect your students to other cultures and viewpoints as well as give them access to experts in your field and virtual field trips. Includes great, thorough digital handouts. Learn how to use these free tools to turn your class global!
Tik Tok and Snapchat classroom FUN: No app or account needed!
Tik Tok. Snapchat. Instagram. Students love them. They use them all the time. (And if they’re too young, they watch their parents use them!) If social media is a language students speak, let them put those skills to good use! Learn how to capture the excitement of these social media platforms without actually downloading and using the apps. You don’t need the app to create the experience!
Educational Eye Candy: 5 Brain-Friendly Google Drawings Activities
The verbal/visual connection has huge brain benefits. Get students creating with what they’ve learned using these Google Drawings activities. You’ll learn how to create infographics, visual notes, interactive posters and more!
The Voice: Encourage Student Voice with Podcasts, Video and More
Students can be world changers! Their ideas and the new things they learn deserve to be told. Learn easy ways to use podcasts, video and other tools to give student work an audience AND help them build speaking skills so they can go out and change the world!
Sketchnotes: Tools and Tactics for Visual Notetaking
Sketchnoting is a fun, visual, brain-friendly way to remember important ideas and make sense of them for others. In this session, you’ll learn some sketchnoting basics and best practices. You’ll learn how to create them digitally or on paper. You’ll also get a chance to create your first sketchnote!
Instant Virtual Field Trips with Google Maps
Google Maps Street View takes students right on the street virtually of most places around the United States and the world. But it can also take them inside important landmarks and buildings. Learn how to start using these instant virtual field trips and where to find the best ones. Digital handouts save all of the resources in one place for reference later.