DEN+2010+Institute

Motiviation Last year I learned so much about software, programs and tools to use in my classroom that my teaching was that much better this past year. As you can see from this Wiki (which I know you aren't going to page through but is here) but on the right you will see some of the tools I used in my classroom which I learned about at the Institute in San Francisco last year. Each of these tools added to my ability to engage my students and improve on my craft of teaching, which I strive to do on a regular basis. Not only did I learn so much useful information, but I made some wonderful contacts that have evolved into strong friendships and important networking partners. Tracy Selock and I arranged to present at ICE (Illinois Computing Educators) and I presented to a packed room. Trace Blazowski, Tracy McGrath and I all went to New York and Philadelphia together to have some girls' time and share ideas. These networks and friendships are invaluable to me and I look forward to establishing more at the Institute in Boston this summer.



Activity In my school district I have presented many times and been the leader of technology and lesson planning with technology for many grade levels and teachers. At our last professional development day, I lead the sixth grade teachers in planning an entire science unit incorporating technology as much as possible. We spent hours perusing Discovery Streaming and selecting the best media that fit our lessons. I also demonstrated how a Promethean board or Mimio board could be used in the classroom, using some Discovery Streaming activities and material to showcase the equipment. If you read the results pdf below you will see the agenda from that meeting and the subsequent notes, including the Discovery materials we agreed to use to improve the teaching of this very dry science unit.



Expertise For me, modesty is a fault, as I would hardly consider myself an expert at anything. I know quite a bit about technology and have been a leader in my district for years, but the term expert? I could certainly share anything I have done in my classroom and for all of these, I have presented both to my district and at a conference--using wiki's, several web 2.0 programs such as blabberize, audacity, voicethread and wordle, or several of Google's programs such as their custom search engine. I could also demonstrate using Mimio or Promethean Boards and how I use that kind of technology in my classroom. I think my most valuable contribution would be addressing the practical application of the technology, as my students and I do utilize a great deal of it in my classroom.

Again, I appreciate the opportunity and look forward to hearing from you,

Liz Charlton