Apple Distinguished Educators, Sydney

Steve Doyle, who manages education technologies for Apple Australia, introduces, Maxx Judd, Ivy, Geoff Vardy, David Maclean, but not Annie Agnew (yet) who has pulled this event together, referring to her specific role later.

He recounts his experience with the Apple Distinguished Education program, and the ADE program in general, recounting its growth from 25 or so to the 100+ current members.

Annie Agnew now speaks, re-introducing the Australian and NZ team.

The iPhone app (web-based) is demonstrated, then Maxx Judd, the US based head, talks about the extent of the program worldwide.

He talks about what the program is, and what it isn't. Most importantly, it's not being an Apple spokesperson. (It's also not about getting free product either, I might add)

Icebreakers

His "Yes, But…" turning to "Yes, And…" turns the tables on the "devil's advocate" approach which tends to stifle creativity and prevent progress. This is from Pixar and now adopted by Apple Inc.

Similarly, "embracing failure" asks what word we use when we make a mistake. One side of the room does this (with predictable results) The other side of the room are the mistake makers.

Tables turned and we use success words to acknowledge failure: celebrating failure.

The "story spine" activity takes 5 "volunteers" who tell a story using "Once upon a time, Everyday, but one day, and because of that, and because of that, and because of that, Until finally, and ever since that day, the moral of the story is…

Maxx announces that over 1700 ADEs exist worldwide and encourages partnering and the building of community and that ALI will disappear, (it's not a true social networking space), being replaced by a new, localised tool by this Christmas. (can you spell iTunesU?)