Technology with Intention

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Free Google Earth in Edu webinar

By Jac de Haan On October 23, 2012 · Add Comment · In educator profiles, resources

Mary Beth Hertz | Alliance for Progress Charter School

By Jac de Haan On August 21, 2012 · Add Comment · In educator profiles

Name: Mary Beth Hertz (Website, @mbteach)
Organization: Edcamp Foundation, Alliance for Progress Charter School
Current title: Technology teacher, Board member of the Edcamp Foundation
Selected accolade: ISTE Emerging Leader in 2010

What is the best part of your job?

The creativity of my students.

What skill(s) do you feel are most important for today’s students to explore in academic settings (tech or non-tech related)?

It is important for young people to be able to read critically. In an age of information overload, it is imperative that future generations can weed out the ‘crap’ and form their own opinions.

For a teacher looking to use technology to connect with students, enhance learning or embrace 21st century skills, where do you suggest one begin?

My suggestion is to start small. Pick one tool or website to use each year and think carefully about the purpose that tool or site serves. Just because everyone else is using it doesn’t mean that you have to if it doesn’t fit what you are already doing in the classroom. In a nutshell, look at your learning goals for a unit and [...]

Top educators named at 2012 #PiLUS forum

By Jac de Haan On August 2, 2012 · Add Comment · In educator profiles, tech in the news

jac de haan - microsoft innovative educator - seattle us forum

Ben Smith | Red Lion Area School District

By Jac de Haan On July 19, 2012 · Add Comment · In educator profiles

Name: Ben Smith (@edtechben)
Organization: Red Lion Area School District
Current title: Physics Teacher / Consultant
Selected accolades: 2011 Making IT Happen recipient, ISTE PK-12 representative for the Board of Directors (2008-2012)

What is your key to personal growth as an educator?

What we want students to be able to do? I figure out what I want from students first – this is both content plus those 21st century (or science) skills. Then I work backwards.

I encourage teachers to use a less formal structure with students (Don’t Worry, Be Vague). I think this loose structure allows and encourages students to be creative and gives teachers a chance to work more closely with their students.

What skill(s) do you feel are most important for today’s students to explore in academic settings (tech or non-tech related)?

I have four goals for my students. I want them to be able to communicate, collaborate, be creative and solve problems. I use physics as the vehicle but the emphasis is truly on the skills students need to be successful. As a science teacher, this comes naturally to me as it is important to not only [...]

Chuck Milsap | Daniel Bagley Elementary

By Jac de Haan On May 7, 2012 · 1 Comment · In educator profiles

Chuck Milsap - technology with intention in the PE classroom

Name: Chuck Milsap (gobeehive.com)
Organization: Daniel Bagley Elementary, Seattle School District
Current title: Health & Fitness Instructor
Selected accolade: Washington State Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year, Voted best smile in 7th grade

What skill(s) do you feel are most important for today’s students to explore in academic settings (tech or non-tech related)?

By 5th grade, kids should have the skills to independently develop and follow a personalized exercise plan. This plan doesn’t have to be incredibly extensive, but students should consider personal fitness goals, various components of fitness, a variety of activities and other factors when creating a plan to enhance health. Creating such a plan is particularly important considering our current obesity epidemic combined with the fact that students generally see a decrease in PE minutes during the middle and high school years.

“K-12 Physical Education has evolved more than any other subject over the past decade and continues to make tremendous advances in the way technology is integrated to enhance instructional outcomes.”

How are you using technology in PE? As an organization tool for yourself and also with students?

I use some form of technology on a daily basis in PE. Heart rate [...]

Melissa Lim | Portland Public Schools

By Jac de Haan On April 6, 2012 · Add Comment · In educator profiles

Name: Melissa Lim (@actionhero, pdxtlc.ning.com)
Organization: Portland Public Schools, Portland, OR
Current title: Instructional Technology, IT Outreach
Selected accolade: EdCampPDX organizer, member of leadership team for statewide Oregon EdTech Cadre

What was your path to your current position?
I began my career in education as an elementary classroom teacher in Vancouver (WA) Public Schools and then Portland Public Schools. I became interested in using technology when I was awarded a classroom grant that brought hardware and software into my classroom and also provided me with regular training to implement best practices using technology. I left the classroom to take a job in instructional technology, which I have had, in some incarnation, for the last 11 years.

“I am passionate about using technology to re-imagine education.”

What is the best part of your job?
The best aspect of my job is having the flexibility to be involved with a lot of different educational technology initiatives and projects. I help manage some IT-related initiatives, but most of my time is spent doing professional development work with teachers. I make site visits to schools to observe what’s happening in our classrooms and assist with instructional technology support needs [...]

Liz Davis | Belmont Hill School

By Jac de Haan On February 20, 2012 · 1 Comment · In educator profiles

Name: Liz Davis (Website, @lizbdavis)
Organization: Belmont Hill School
Current title: Director of Academic Technology
Selected accolades: EdCampIS organizer, EduCon presenter

What skill(s) do you feel are most important for today’s students to explore in academic settings (tech or non-tech related)?

Curiosity and a love of learning for learning sake are extremely important to have in a rapidly changing world. You can’t be afraid to fail, especially when working with technology. You have to be willing to click all of the links and explore all of the possibilities of a tool without being afraid you will break something.

For a teacher looking to use technology to connect with students, enhance learning or embrace 21st century skills, where do you suggest one begin?

I think Twitter and Classroom20.com are both great resources for teachers looking to connect with others who are integrating 21st century skills into their teaching.

What is the best part of your job?

I love wearing so many hats. I work with faculty to help them integrate technology in their classrooms. I teach my own classes (7th grade English, Digital Video and [...]

David Johns | Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences

By Jac de Haan On February 6, 2012 · 1 Comment · In educator profiles

Name: David Johns (Website, YouTube channel, EduCreations channel, Knol Article)
Organization: Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences
Current title: Upper School Mathematics Teacher

I love teaching and finding new ways to reach students. I try to use all technology available to make learning interactive and (hopefully) more informative than traditional methods.

What skill(s) do you feel are most important for today’s students to explore in academic settings (tech or non-tech related)?

Students should be comfortable with math basics and have strong number sense. They need to recognize when a value from a computer may be wrong. Students should also be good navigating around technology tools: graphing calculator tricks (and their are many), spreadsheet use, and hopefully some understanding of introductory programming.

I tell my students this all the time, “I have to have a reason to spend all my life teaching mathematics to you when I know most of you won’t be graphing parabolas at 30.” Math is just the medium to create better problem solvers and algorithm followers. Math class is the weight room for brain.

For a teacher looking to use technology to connect with students, enhance [...]

learning in public with technology and education

Free Google Earth in Edu webinar

Mary Beth Hertz | Alliance for Progress Charter School

Top educators named at 2012 #PiLUS forum

Ben Smith | Red Lion Area School District

Chuck Milsap | Daniel Bagley Elementary

Melissa Lim | Portland Public Schools

Liz Davis | Belmont Hill School

David Johns | Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences

Marcie T. Hull | Science Leadership Academy

Michael Gorman | Southwest Allen County Schools

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