Free Tech Sharing Certs for School Nurse, Teacher Appreciation Week and Mother's Day

Thanks to 2500+ using the Tech Sharing Certs for Mother's Day, Teacher Appreciation, School Nurse recognition and other days that can be associated with sharing techspertise.

With many people looking to give meaningful gifts on limited budgets here are a few free certificates that you can use or modify for your tech sharing event for upcoming School Nurse Appreciation Day, Teacher Appreciation Week and Mother's Day. Many children want to give but may not know what to give...so the gift of your time can be memorable especially when sharing techspertise.

These are created in Google Docs and you can create a copy and print or tailor to your needs. Be creative and give the gift of your time and share techspertise amongst each other.

No tech in the classroom or at home? Meet at the local library, introduce people to members of your PLN, show someone how to make that digital clock to quit blinking, challenge others to explore menu bar options, share tips on recycling tech, enjoy a Google video chat or Skype conversation.....fill in the blank with your idea.  Tech skills are as diverse as the tools available...why not help someone learn something new...or be willing to let someone show you what they have learned.

School Nurse Technology Sharing Gift Certificate

Teacher Appreciation Technology Sharing Gift Certificate

Mother's Day Technology Sharing Gift Certificate

Enjoy...and feel free to share how you used the certificates. Thanks to all of you (2500+) who have used these tech sharing certs with others.

Comments, recommendations, and/or checks in the Reaction boxes are welcome.

Making a difference and Community Collaboration

Today I will facilitate another Scholarship Workshop in the computer lab at Diamond Lakes Library. Wednesday's workshop was fun, everyone learned something new and students connected with others they may not have met on the street.


We run through a Google Presentation that is shared with the public and participants can view it at their own pace before, after, or during the workshop and for those who cannot physically visit the library, the chat function in presentations is used. I provide them with a printed handout that is also available through Google Docs and ask them to share any golden nuggets of what is working or has not worked for them. This document is updated by participants so it is a continuous project. So this post is used to document lessons learned and consolidate the resources.

We also walk through the library to see the options of printed books, from the reference section of books that do not leave the library to the library books that range from college life to tests available/required for career and college options that can be checked out. We also point through the glass of the available study materials that can be checked out and used in the library.  


It was 2 years ago that I gave my last workshop at the library before transitioning to North  Carolina. My local library was also one of my first stops when I returned to Georgia. While I was glad to see the library offering free wi-fi and basic computer classes during the day, I was sad that no one had picked up the Google products and Scholarship workshops even though all materials used are available on the web and printed copies were left with the library.


So what did we learn?
Everyone shared something and everyone learned something new.
Everyone was registered through GACollege411 and Fastweb.
Everyone has a resume but not available online.
Everyone used Google to see what is associated with their name and screen names used on other sites and viewed the web results, images, news, and maps.
Everyone understands that competing for scholarships is as challenging as competing for jobs.
Almost every scholarship source has some type of social media connection.
School counselors still do not provide information to students that dual enrollment is an option during high school. 
Google Alerts
Google Books
Google Voice
That volunteering can lead to a real job.
We (as a community) lack support and encouragement for our young adults in the tech world at the local college and high school levels.


I limit the workshops to one hour and it seems to be the quickest hour of my day, even after a long day on the job with our service members in the professional military education (PME) system. I stay afterwards for those who have additional questions or recommendations or to just use my library for the many resources available. This time I am giving the participants a printed copy of the Tech Sharing gift certificate and a challenge to share what they learned with a friend, a parent, a neighbor and to return to the library to do it.


The follow up emails, texts, and voice mail messages are what keep me going back. I believe in our replacements, regardless of their computer skills, race, sex, age, national origin, religion, ability/disability and/or sexual preference. Regardless of how you feel about a younger generation, you eventually will be replaced. What is your continuity plan as you look to exit a position, a community, or life? After you are gone, it is the difference you made represented by the dash in between the date you entered the world and the date you expire.


The Dash by Linda Ellis
The story behind the poem
Movie  Time: 2:47
A Teacher's Dash
A Mother's Dash

How are you making the difference in your replacement's life?
Comments, recommendations, and/or check the block of the Reaction boxes are always welcome.

How do you share what you learn?

October has been a month in transition for me...at home, career, and community and for many reasons. While I have not been as active on my blog or through Twitter, I am thankful for my RSS feed reader to keep me up to date on personal and professional information. For that, my PLN is awarded the ABCD (Above & Beyond the Call of Digital Duty) Award.


For those of you who blog, tweet, or share through the Internet keep up the great work, regardless of the post...you never know when that one tidbit of information will bring value or provide a reference point when someone is looking for something. Using Google and Google's social search I can quickly access tweets, posts, or other items of interest from those I am connected to virtually. Keep sharing what you learn or whatever you are passionate about because you never know when you may be helping someone who needs a unique perspective.


November brings the opportunity for me to return to the local branch of my community library, Diamond Lakes Library and give the computer workshops using Google products, scholarship searches and even start up the BYOT (Bring Your Own Tech) workshops initially starting with Twitter. I enjoy these workshops because the audience is only limited by their ability to acquire a free library card and register for the free workshops. This audience is very different from our local public (Richmond County GA) school students where social media and cell phones are banned and from the military audience who may or may not have grown up with social media and work within the Department of Defense's regulatory guidance.


So for those of you who share via social media, you are awarded the ABCD Award for going Above and Beyond the Call of Digital Duty.

Keep up the great job and many thanks to the participants of my PLN!