Y’all wanted corporate secrets that can be put into the classroom, so now I’m here to give you those secrets.

None of these contain classified information.

And I know I was supposed to do this a little while ago but, you know, life.

Let’s start with collaboration briefs.

1/
Not too long ago I mentioned collaboration briefs (see below). Usually curated by the marketing or business strategy department, they essentially catch key components of someone’s personality or work style so that you can form a connection with them.

2/
Now, mine says GAY, BREAD, AND DISNEY. I know exactly what this means. I’m gay as hell, I love bread, and I go to Disney parks often.

But to someone meeting me for the first time, this means that to connect with me they can mention a neat pastry they had, or…

3/
…maybe talk about the last time they went to a theme park, or a theme park they want to go to.

In the classroom I switch this up into two activities. The first being “how would you describe yourself?”, which is pretty self-explanatory. But the second activity is…

4/
…different. It’s “what can we say to describe the way we work together?” and they come up with a few words or even sentences to describe their work style. This can be adjusted throughout the year, but it helps to set the tone for ways they want to work together and succeed.

5/
Ok, now onto: TECH TALK!

This is a little bit unique to my situation because I’ve worked for tech companies but you’d be surprised how many people struggle with computer basics if they’re not directly in the technology strategy or software development sector.

6/
I see this a lot in my role as a STEM coach too. Sometimes folks do not recognize what technology we have that we can use, let alone how to use it to elevate instruction.

Tech Talk is time for us to just play around with the technology with another adult in the room…

7/
…so that you can experiment with the tools but there is still someone in the room that can answer your questions. Think of it like an interactive workshop without any real agenda.

I do this in my role by scheduling Tech Talks so that teachers can come and play…

8/
…with the technology in a safe space in case they need another person (me) to step in and show them how to use something.

No agenda, just ⭐️vibes⭐️ and I can help them with anything they need.

Last one for now: FEEDBACK CYCLES.

I find this is becoming more common…

9/
…in classrooms, but I’ll give you some insight into how feedback in corporate works. Sometimes projects go through 10-15 rounds of feedback in order to achieve the anticipated result.

Now in classrooms, that’s just not sustainable. However, here’s a trick.

10/
Most projects in corporate (unless they’re small) have a “program manager” that tracks budgets, timelines, and most importantly—feedback to be incorporated and who is going to own that feedback.

In both individual and group work, students are essentially…

11/
…their own “program managers” but sometimes can struggle with the implementation of the feedback and how to do it constructively.

If you’re interested, I think this video breaks it down REALLY well as to how to use feedback constructively. vimeo.com/38247060

12/
See, in this video, Austin was tasked with drawing the butterfly and incorporated feedback from his classmates to enhance his product. There were still cycles of feedback here to improve, but not 10-15.

So, working in corporate can be challenging sometimes, but…

13/
…it’s interesting for me because I am at this interesting intersection of working for a technology nonprofit yet being assigned a school site, as well as an independent technology consultant. This is around me all. The. Time. And I do see some of its merit in classrooms.

14/
Okay…back to drinking my morning tea.

Y’all have an awesome day! ❤️

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More from @VictoriaTheTech

15 Sep
I saw a tweet yesterday inquiring as to why more tech coaches and “eduinfluencers” aren’t pushing for remote instruction in their districts.

As someone who proudly embraces the first and begrudgingly acknowledges that I am one of the second, let’s chat.

1/
Really, this all boils down to folks severely misunderstanding the role of the tech coach/instructional coach.

First, my job is not to influence district administration. My job is to work with teachers so they get better at their craft, and inform school administration to…

2/
…see how we can advance tech initiatives and STEM integration at our school, alongside equity.

Most folks at my school don’t know I have an internet presence. In fact, when a school-wide email was sent out about something I did globally, I got questioned: “ARE YOU FAMOUS?!”

3/
Read 10 tweets
4 Sep
A la @MrTomRad, I have found myself in a situation where I am also listening to someone speaking to somebody else in my favorite airport lounge.

This woman was dumped in PORTLAND, OREGON!!!! And now she is going to go confront him in Spokane.
She has a job interview coming up! She is excited!

But most importantly, she wants this man to get his comeuppance for leaving her stranded in Portland, Oregon!
Wendy can't tell her what to do just because Wendy has a husband and kids! WENDY CANNOT TELL HER WHAT TO DO JUST BECAUSE WENDY HAS A HUSBAND AND KIDS!
Read 8 tweets
3 Sep
Alright, it's time to pop off. @TechySewell and I were JUST talking about this topic.

EVERY tech company says this. "We've achieved pay equity! If you have any questions or concerns, come to us!"

You know what happens when you come with the concerns? You get the axe.

1/
If you don't get the axe for ruffling feathers or questioning pay hierarchies, you'll be lucky to get invited to speak about how you view pay the pay structure to be inequitable.

When you bring up your credentials and what you bring to the team, then YOU get questioned.

2/
Some places do not believe in merit based pay. And you know what? I can get down with that. Because in so many merit based structures, the person who actually DOES the work does not get compensated and the person who merely oversees the work does. And that's messed up.

3/
Read 7 tweets
28 Jun
During my #ISTELive session today on Being Anti-Racist in Tech, there was someone that mentioned they do not think that Katherine Johnson (from Hidden Figures and literally helped to put us on the moon) and Isaac Newton are on the same level.

I've got time, so let's discuss.

1/
I'd like to begin by asking you *how* many of you knew about Katherine Johnson before Hidden Figures came out.

Being a Black woman myself and having parents who are *very* pro-Black, I didn't even know until I saw the movie, and I'd wager many of you are in the same place.

2/
There's a reason why: it's because, traditionally, people of color and marginalized communities have seldom been celebrated alongside their white or white-passing counterparts aside for special months (i.e. Black History Month).

SO.

This leads us to the comment today.

3/
Read 11 tweets
26 Jun
This heat wave is messing with my ability to do pretty much anything so here’s a rambling thread of useless facts I know.

1.) After The Lion King was released, the Disney company was sued by a hyena biologist claiming that the movie painted hyenas in a negative light.

1/
2.) Richard Gere’s middle name is Tiffany.

3.) The opposite sides of a die will always add up to seven (and this makes for some GREAT math challenges).

4.) The plastic thingies on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.

2/
5.) All the babies in the original Rugrats are voiced by women.

6.) One of the women, Christine Cavanaugh (one of my FAVE voice actresses), also voiced Dexter in Dexter’s Laboratory.

7.) And E.G. Daily, voice of Tommy Pickles, once recorded the show when she was in labor!

3/
Read 6 tweets
17 May
I've got a free minute and I got several questions regarding my implementation of @iste standards at my school. This has literally been MONTHS of progress and since I've received inquiries, I want to share!

To begin, here is the document I created: docs.google.com/document/d/1L2…

1/
Leadership wanted to implement ISTE wasn't exactly sure where to begin, so I created this plan.

First, you'll notice that not all standards are being implemented at once. Because, honestly, that's a LOT to take on. We are focusing on three standards per three cohorts.

2/
I specifically chose standards we're already DOING, but could also do BETTER. I don't want this to be an additional burden on educators/students/staff after an already wild year given the pandemic and hybrid learning.

Speaking of, we'll be starting implementation NEXT year.

3/
Read 6 tweets

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