My goal for attending the DigCitSummitUK is to continue the mission of the Digcitsummit. I will continue to facilitate real, open, and honest conversations between parents, students, tech companies, educators and the business world regarding the challenges of raising our children and teens in today's interconnected and networked world. As an educator and mother of two, I want to go beyond talking about what we should avoid online and focus on what we should encourage. With your help, I plan on making a difference in moving real solutions forward that will influence all students on a global scale.  

As a first-time speaker at the Summit, the money raised will help me travel from St. Louis, Missouri, USA to London to attend two free technology events. The DigCitSummitUK was planned around the timing of the BETT Show, so the delegates could attend both conferences. At BETT I will help support companies by sharing with attendees, as a 25 year veteran educator and trainer, my first-hand knowledge and personal experiences of how their products can be used in education to promote authentic learning, problem-solving, engagement, creativity, and efficiency. I am fully prepared to speak with potential users 1-on-1 or in groups, give demonstrations, share/brainstorm classroom uses, and answer questions from an educator/trainer point of view. As a trained Cognitive Coach, mentor, teacher, and educational consultant, I can connect with educators on a familiar level and address any problems/questions/concerns that may arise. After the event I will reach out to my personal learning communities on Twitter, Google+, etc., and my soon-to-be-developed BAM Radio program and share what is happening in ed-tech to help others become aware of these products, as well as how they can be used by tech-savvy students who need some help understanding the “safe” and “ethical” part of digital citizenship.

At the DigCitSummitUK I will share with participants (parents, educators, students, administrators, and organizations) the ins-and-outs of becoming a responsible, digital citizen. From the first time parents post a photo of their newborn all the way through college graduation and beyond, we are creating a digital profile for ourselves and our children that outlines who we are and want to be. We are building our personal "brands" that will stay with us the rest of our lives. Understanding the consequences of our choices in a digital world is vital. My goal is to make sure all who attend my session will leave with a better understanding of how to create and control their personal brands safely and intelligently, while staying within their own ethical boundaries.

In order to give back what I learned from this experience,  I plan on continuing to develop the discussions started at the DigCitSummitUK and at the first event in the USA in 2015, and help in any way I can to further educate others on the importance of what it means to be a digital citizen. I will share my knowledge and open discussions at upcoming conferences, with teachers and students, and with my personal learning communities to support the ongoing mission of the DigCitSummit and help develop solutions to address our global challenges.

The money raised will be used for:

• Transportation (round trip flight between St. Louis, Missouri, USA and Heathrow, UK): $1,200 USD (based on price on 12/30/15)
• Hotel: $820 USD - 5 nights total to cover both events (London and Bournemouth)
• Food: $720 USD for meals 1/18/16 -1/25/16
• Public Transportation (to and from the airport, to and from the venue): $100 USD

Back Up Plan