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ConferenCe 2010VOLUME 30, ISSUE 3
A Publication of the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning MACUL
J o U r n A L
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2010MACULConference
2 | | MACULjournal| |Conference 2010
REgistER Now!
ExplorE ConfErEnCE HigHligHts on p.18-19.
rEgistEr onlinE or usE tHE form on pagE 33
The MACUL Journal is published four times per year (Fall, Winter, Conference Issue, Spring/Summer) by MACUL, the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning, Inc.
MACUL OFFICE3410 Belle Chase Way, Suite 100Lansing, MI 48911
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Annual dues for MACUL membership are $40 per year. MACUL’s membership year is May 1 through April 30. Dues include a subscription to the MACUL Journal.
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MACUL J o U r n A L
A publication of the Michigan Association for Computer Users in LearningConference 2010 | Volume 30, Issue 3
CONTENTS
Calendar .......................................................................................................... 4
MACUL Officers and Board of Directors ........................................................... 5
Special Interest Group Directors and LISTSERV groups .................................... 6
School 2.0 ....................................................................................................... 7
2010 MACUL CONFERENCE ............................................................................. 7
Using Technology in the Elementary Classroom ............................................... 8
Using Information and Communications Technologies to Reduce Costs and Improve Efficiencies ...................................................................................... 10
Video Field Trips .........................................................................................................11
MDE .............................................................................................................. 12
ROBOFEST ..................................................................................................... 14
Planning a Robotics Team? ............................................................................ 15
Project Based Learning .................................................................................. 17
2010 MACUL Conference Highlights............................................................... 18
2010 Conference Infobytes ............................................................................ 20
• Michigan eLibrary
• Social Media - What to do when it’s not so social
• Tic-Tac-Toeing with Web 2.0 Tools
• Teaching Other Teachers About Technology Integration
• Celebrate Constructionist Learning
• Easy Photo Editing with Inexpensive Tools
• Easy Classroom Websites • CSS Basics
CCWIM: Comparing and Contrasting Watersheds in Michigan ........................ 28
2010 MACUL Conference Registration Form .................................................. 33
MACUL Membership Form ............................................................................. 34
Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning
Founded 1975
An organizational member of The International Society
for Technology in Education
MACUL is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that exists to:
■ provide a state association for educators involved with, or seeking knowledge of, computer-related technology in learning
■ provide for the sharing and exchanging of ideas, techniques, materials, and procedures for the use of computer-related technology through conferences, publications and support services
■ promote and encourage effective, ethical and equitable use of computer-related technology in learning
■ encourage and support research relating to the use of computer-related technology in learning.
E-mail address:[email protected]
Website:www.macul.org
2 0 0 9 - 2 0 1 0
february 2010 February 8: Articles due for MACUL Journal Spring issue: Authentic Assessment
February 16: MACUL Board meeting, Lansing
March 2010 March 10: MACUL Board meeting, Grand Rapids
March 10-12: 2010 MACUL Conference, DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
March 11: Robofest Competition, 1:00 to 5:00pm at DeVos Place
March 11: Student Technology Showcase, DeVos Place, 11am-1pm
March 11: MI Champions Project Palooza, DeVos Place, 11am-1pm
March 11: Classroom Gadget Showdown, DeVos Place, 4-5pm
March 11: MACUL @ Night Reception, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 7:30-10pm
March 12: MACUL Annual Meeting, Grand Rapids
April 2010 April 20: MACUL Board meeting, Lansing
May 2010 May 7: Upper Peninsula Educational Technology & Business Conference, Munising
May 16-18: MACUL Leadership Retreat, Prince Center, Calvin College, Grand Rapids
May 17: Articles due for MACUL Journal Fall issue: Universal Design for Learning
June 2010
June 21, 22: Educational Technology Leaders Conference (ETLC), Thurston High School, South Redford, MI
June 23: Michigan Joint Education Conference, Thurston High School, South Redford, MI
June 27-30: ISTE 2010, Denver
Visit www.macul.org for calendar updates!The MACUL Calendar is updated in each issue of the Journal.
Send MACUL activities, dates, and related information to:
Judy Paxton, Editor — [email protected]
4 | MACULjournal|Conference 2010
Gail Aldridge Thornapple-Kellogg Schools [email protected]
Eric GetsoianSouthfield Public Schools, [email protected]
Pete Mantei Sault Ste. Marie Area Public Schools [email protected]
Shawn MasseyFlint Community [email protected]
Jo Ellen MiskowskiIngham ISD, [email protected]
Mike Porter Traverse Bay Area [email protected]
Ben Rimes Mattawan Consolidated Schools [email protected]
Reuben RubioSpring Arbor [email protected]
Steve SchillerMuskegon Heights Public [email protected]
Pam ShoemakerWalled Lake Consolidated [email protected]
Ricki Chowning REMCAM [email protected]
february 2010 February 8: Articles due for MACUL Journal Spring issue: Authentic Assessment
February 16: MACUL Board meeting, Lansing
March 2010 March 10: MACUL Board meeting, Grand Rapids
March 10-12: 2010 MACUL Conference, DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
March 11: Robofest Competition, 1:00 to 5:00pm at DeVos Place
March 11: Student Technology Showcase, DeVos Place, 11am-1pm
March 11: MI Champions Project Palooza, DeVos Place, 11am-1pm
March 11: Classroom Gadget Showdown, DeVos Place, 4-5pm
March 11: MACUL @ Night Reception, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 7:30-10pm
March 12: MACUL Annual Meeting, Grand Rapids
April 2010 April 20: MACUL Board meeting, Lansing
May 2010 May 7: Upper Peninsula Educational Technology & Business Conference, Munising
May 16-18: MACUL Leadership Retreat, Prince Center, Calvin College, Grand Rapids
May 17: Articles due for MACUL Journal Fall issue: Universal Design for Learning
June 2010
June 21, 22: Educational Technology Leaders Conference (ETLC), Thurston High School, South Redford, MI
June 23: Michigan Joint Education Conference, Thurston High School, South Redford, MI
June 27-30: ISTE 2010, Denver
Visit www.macul.org for calendar updates!The MACUL Calendar is updated in each issue of the Journal.
Send MACUL activities, dates, and related information to:
Judy Paxton, Editor — [email protected]
Tim KampsPresidentHolland Christian [email protected]
Susan HardinPresident-Elect Macomb ISD [email protected] Ren Baldwin Treasurer St. Joseph Public Schools [email protected]
Mike Oswalt SecretaryCalhoun ISD [email protected]
Diane ZoellmerPast PresidentMuskegon Area [email protected]
MACUL OFFICERS
MACUL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
| Conference 2010MACULjournal |
To subscribe to any of listservs,
send an e-mail message to:
listname-subscribe@ macul.org.
Leave the subject heading and the
body of message BLANK. Once you have
successfully subscribed, you will receive an
e-mail message telling you how to confirm
your subscription. Be sure to save this
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LISTSERV-NAME
MACUL members-at-large .......................macul-serve
SIGCS (Computer Science) ...................... macul-sigcs
SIGEE (Elementary Educators) ................. macul-sigee
SIGMM (Multimedia) ..............................macul-sigmm
SIGSPED (Special Education)
............................................................macul-sigsped
SIGPL (Professional Learning)
.................................................................macul-sigpl
SIGTC (Technology Coordinators)
.................................................................macul-sigtc
SIGTECH (Technicians) .........................macul-sigtech
SIGTELELEARNING (TeleLearning)
..............................................................macul-sigtele
SIGWEB (Webmasters) ......................... macul-sigweb
Bill Wiersma— SIG Liaison [email protected]
Richard Lamb— SIGCS Cranbrook Schools [email protected]
Gina Loveless—SIGEEKalamazoo [email protected]
Michael Rio— SIGMMHarper CreekCommunity [email protected]
Lorinda Tait—SIGSPEDC.O.O.R [email protected]
Jeff Trudell— SIGTCWyandotte Public [email protected]
Steve Best—SIGPLUniversity of [email protected]
Bill Deater—SIGTECHHesperia Community [email protected]
Laura Cummings— SIGTELELEARNINGOakland ISD [email protected]
Michael Partridge— SIGWEBPinckney Community [email protected]
LISTSERV GROUPS
staY ConnECtED
Visit www.macul.org
■ MACUL Journal: Easy access to articles and web links.
■ MACUL Space: Join over 2000 members collaborating about educational technology. http://maculspace.ning.com/
■ MACUL Member Benefits: Read about special MACUL opportunities, such as, MI Champions, MI Learning, MACUL Grants & Awards.
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP DIRECTORS
6 | MACULjournal| Conference 2010
Go to www.macul.org > Special Interest Groups for complete listing of SIG Officers and SIG information.
w w w . m a c u l . o r g
This is it! The 34th Annual MACUL Conference
We’ve been planning it for nearly a year. Actually, I signed the contracts in 2004 so it’s been in the works for six years. The 2010 MACUL Conference will be held in Grand Rapids, March 10-12, and this issue of the MACUL Journal is full of information that will help attendees get the most out of their conference attendance. I’d like to add a few things that might be helpful.
Classroom Gadget Showdown Want to have a say in picking the hottest new gadget in education? Be sure to come to the first ever Classroom Gadget Showdown (CGS) on Thursday, March 11 from 4-5 p.m. in DeVos Place. CGS will feature six-minute presentations of five products, with session attendees voting on which will have the biggest impact on schools and student learning. Conference exhibitors have until February 5 to submit a proposal to join the competition and MACUL will select contestants based on criteria such as potential impact in the classroom and on student desire to learn.
Expect Classroom Gadget Showdown to be both informative and entertaining since MACUL has gained approval to create a variation of the
2010 MACUL
ConferenCe
7| Conference 2010MACULjournal |
MACUL Conference continued on page 30
School 2.0 continued on page 30
Last issue I wrote about doing your part to keep the conversation going about how to transform education into School 2.0, where students are prepared to compete in a global economy. Often we can get so bogged down “doing school” that we forget to reflect on what we could and should be doing to change how school is done. If you are anything like me, coming back from the holidays and finishing up the first semester of school has left me exhausted and often not thinking about the big picture. Whether you have been having those conversations in your school or district or not, now is the time to plan to “Jump Start” those conversations. For months MACUL Board and SIG leaders, along with office and conferencing staff, have been busy planning for this years’ conference in Grand Rapids. This year’s theme is Collaborate, Communicate, Create and you will have opportunities to do all three! Whether attending a Wednesday pre-conference workshop, a keynote or featured session by a nationally known speaker, over 100 breakout sessions, a hands-on session in one of the onsite labs or a BYOL (Bring Your Own Laptop) session, there will be ample opportunities to jump start the conversation. Add to that over 100 exhibitors to explore, a model classroom, a student technology showcase and new this year a MI Champions Project Palooza on Thursday where 60 plus teachers will share how their classroom has changed as a result of
B y T I M K A M P S , M A C U L B O A R D P R E S I D E N T
School 2.0
Jump starting the conversation
FROM ThE ExECUTIVE DIRECTORBy RIC WILTSE
8 | | MACULjournal| |Conference 2010
By M
arily
n W
este
rn
Elementary Classroom
Using Technologyin the
Glogster. VoiceThread. Animoto. All collaborative, creative ways to communicate. But let’s step back a step or two to the beginning planning stage. I’d like to offer a management strategy that will save your students time and give you fewer tense moments as students hunt to locate media to use in these fine projects.
Instead of sending students to the Internet with a list of do’s & don’ts to remember (including cite your sources!!!), you may want to create a Digital Collection for students to use. Your collection might include images, music, and/or web sites that pertain to the topic of study. Instead of sending kids out to do their own research, you collect, cite, and make available a shared folder with all the materials individuals will need to create a powerful, on-topic, curriculum related media extravaganza.
Create a folder for your Digital Collection. Within the folder, you’ll want to create several other folders, called Pictures, Sounds, and Web Sites. This will avoid the panic of viewing an overwhelming number of files in the collection folder.
Collect imagesIf you are using an image search engine (such as Google or Bing) to find and collect images for students to use, save the original image, not the thumbnail. Click on the thumbnail, follow the link to See Full Size Image, then right click and Save Picture As. Feel free to rename the image if needed when you save as you add it to your Pictures Collection folder.
How to cite imagesOption 1 Create a three column table in a Word document to record the name of the image and its URL. Resize the first column for students to add an X if they use that particular picture in their project. Sort the citations so they are in alphabetical order, making them easier to locate (select the whole table, sort by column 2). Make this available in your Picture Collection folder for students to access and use for their own bibliographies.
Option 2 Without opening the image, right click on the image file and select Properties. Click on the Summary tab. Add appropriate information: Title could be the name of the image; Author might be the name of the web site it comes from; and Comments would be the URL of the individual image. Click OK and the info is now “attached “to the image.
Before You Start…
9| Conference 2010MACULjournal |
Option 3 Copy the image and paste into Paint. Add a text box to the bottom of the image where you can paste the URL of that image. You may have to adjust the color to make it visible. When you save, change from a .bmp to .jpg.
Gather soundsCreate a folder called Sounds Collection in your collection folder for easy organization. Save sounds and their citations in this one easy to locate place. This folder might be a collection of music that can be used in the background of slideshows or movies. It can also include a collection of interesting sound clips that might enhance the presentation, such as whale songs for an ocean movie, or the sound of a hammer or a saw when talking about how colonists build their homes. How to save soundsDepending on the site, saving a sound may be as simple as right clicking and selecting Save Target As. Other sites will have a download button for you to use.How to cite soundsThe best way to cite sounds and music is to record in a Word table. Be sure to add the home page name and web address.Assemble web sites
Collecting specific web sites for students to use can also be a great boon to your project. Look for a variety of sites with different reading levels that address topics to match student interests within the project content guidelines. How to save web sitesOnce you have a spectacular web site in front of you, click and drag the icon in front of the web address to the folder called Web Sites Collection within your collection folder. If you need to rename the link (to indicate what the page is about), right click on the link in your folder, select Rename, and hit Enter when you are finished (to ‘stamp’ the new name on the link). How to cite web sitesIf you want full citations for web sites, use a service such as Son of Citation Machine http://citationmachine.net or BibMe http://www.bibme.org. Record your web site citations in a Word document that students can access to copy and paste to their own project bibliography.
Tips Save a backup copy of your collection folder on a cd or flash drive in case the li’l darlin’s cut instead of copy.Work with another teacher to create your collection. Many hands make light work.Do NOT post your collections on the Internet unless all files are public domain or you have received permission from the author/creator. It is okay to keep these files on your Intranet for student use in classroom/school.Because you have saved your images and sounds, you don’t have to check them each year, although you may want to add new material that becomes available, and take out any images or sounds that have outlived their usefulness. However, web site links point to constantly evolving web pages, so it’s a good policy to check the links each year to make sure they still point to the information you want students to have, and that the site hasn’t adopted new ‘activities’ that may not be child-safe.
Marilyn Western is the 2008 MACUL Teacher of the Year, a former member of the MACUL Board of Directors, a Discovery Educator Network (DEN) scholar, and a Mt. Pleasant Public Schools 5th/6th grade computer lab teacher. Outside of the classroom, she has worked as the 1998-99 MDE Technology Using Educator on Loan, an ATA, FTL, and MI Champions course designer and instructor, a technology trainer for Gratiot Isabella RESD and Bay Arenac ISD, a national presenter for the Bureau of Education & Research, and a district Tech Guru. She can be reached via [email protected].
Resource CornerGood plaCes to loCate imaGesGoogle images http://images.google.com Click on Advanced Search > Date, usage rights, numeric range, and more > Usage rights: free to use or shareCreative Commons http://search.creativecommons.org flickr images Top of the screen: I want something that I can… use for commercial purposes and/or modify, adapt, or build uponmorgueFile http://www.morguefile.com Some images you may not find elsewhere
Good plaCes to loCate soundsFreeplay music http://freeplaymusic.com Free to download and use in classroom presentations – do NOT re-publish to InternetFindsounds http://findsounds.com Short clips
Good plaCes to loCate web sitesThese sites are collections made by educators:ethemes http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/index.shtml Search by grade level4 2 explore http://www.42explore.com/index.htm Search by content area, then unit. Aimed at 3rd-6th graders.ala Great web sites for Kids http://www.ala.org/greatsites Search by topictrackstar http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar Search by keyword or grade level groupings
10 | | MACULjournal| |Conference 2010
At a time when new investments in our K-12 education system are not possible, Michigan faces the daunting task of improving student achievement at all grade levels and increasing graduation rates with fewer financial resources. Although this challenge may seem overwhelming, Michigan can harness innovation as a way to do more with less in K-12 education.
Public education is not alone in its need to manage scarce resources, maintain relevance and succeed in today’s new global economy. Nearly every sector of our economy is now turning to information and communications technologies to reduce costs and improve efficiencies. To date, public education has yet to realize the full potential of using technology to improve how educators teach and how students learn.
Earlier this year, the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) published “K-12 Online Learning: A Smart Investment NOW More Than Ever.” This document can be accessed online at www.inacol.org/research/docs/iNACOL_NowMorethanEver-lr.pdf.
In K-12 Online Learning, iNACOL says that in K-12 education “one of the most promising and cost-effective solutions is quality online learning.” The report goes on to say that “40% of our nation’s high schools – particularly those serving low-income, minority and rural youth – do not offer any Advanced Placement (AP) courses.”
Many online providers, including Michigan Virtual School, offer AP courses that prepare students to successfully complete the College Board exams. Online learning has significant potential to help schools in a number of ways, including:
1. Extend the reach of our best teachers across the state and create economies of scale in rural areas;
2. Expand world language offerings for all schools in Michigan;
3. Provide an opportunity for high-quality math and science teachers in all Michigan schools;
4. Ensure that more students are ready for college through college prep, credit recovery, and dropout prevention programs;
5. Ensure equity and quality educational opportunities to every student regardless of zip code; and
6. Expand teacher professional development opportunities for all educators in Michigan
Research has shown that online learning is academically effective and can provide meaningful alternatives for students who have a need for greater flexibility with their education. The iNACOL report says that “online learning has been show by research to be academically effective, providing
student performance ‘as good or better’1 compared to face-to-face instruction.”
Michigan educators are beginning to appreciate the full potential of online learning. However, I believe online learning needs to be part of the larger policy discussion related to restructuring public education in Michigan during this prolonged budget crisis. Economic arguments as well as the latest research on student learning support this position.
This is not about a single online course provider such as MVU®. Michigan has an opportunity to explore new and cost-effective online delivery models from schools, colleges, universities, nonprofit organizations and the private sector to support student achievement. I encourage all educators to continue to examine sustainable, effective and innovative online learning solutions as they work to create tomorrow’s public education system in Michigan.
NCREL Synthesis of New Research on K-12 Online Learning, 2005, North Central Regional Education Laboratory/Learning Point Associates, www.ncrel.org/tech/synthesis/
Jamey Fitzpatrick is President & CEO of Michigan Virtual University®, a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. MVU® operates the Michigan Virtual School®, and Michigan LearnPort®, Fitzpatrick can be reached at [email protected].
Using Information and Communications Technologies to Reduce Costs and Improve Efficiencies
By Jamey Fitzpatrick
11| |Conference 2010MACULjournal | |
Heading to the Florida coast or to the Baseball Hall of Fame during a class period with a
room full of fourth graders? Impossible, right? With today’s video conferencing technology, it’s not only possible, it’s educational too! With the help of a MACUL grant, the fourth graders at Pine Ridge Christian School in Holland were able to enhance our curriculum in so many areas by taking “video field trips”. We never left our school building, and usually only were on the “trips” for about an hour.
To help us learn about Michigan’s history in our social studies curriculum, we took several field trips. We learned about the early Native Americans in Michigan by participating the experience “The People of the Three Fires” through the Cranbrook Institute; and another called “Lumberjack Days” through Northern Michigan University. Both of these were like taking trips to a museum – with the kids never leaving the school building! We also visited the Baseball Hall of Fame’s “The Business of Baseball” to help with economics concepts. This was an interactive program designed to teach economics concepts using baseball ticket and concessions prices! The kids were placed into groups by decades and given a sample concessions price list and a World Series program. They calculated how
much it would cost to take a family of 4 to a World Series game in their assigned decade. The kids absolutely loved it, and learned valuable economics concepts along the way!
My students learned about probability this year when we went on a “trip” to a science museum in Ohio called, LEARNCO. The kids loved rolling dice to find out the probability of the dice landing on a specific number. They also enjoyed learning about data collection and averages by finding baseball player’s batting averages on another “trip” to the Baseball Hall of Fame!
When we studied animal habitats, we were able to venture to the Florida coast to learn about coastal habitats; and to the Columbus Zoo to learn about animal adaptations. We took a second “trip” to the LEARNCO science museum to learn about electricity. During that experience, the kids were able to construct a simple working circuit, as well as learn about open and closed circuits and the flow of electricity. The kids really enjoyed the hands-on aspect of these trips.
There are also plenty of free or low cost options for video conferencing. For example, we were able to connect with other
students in classrooms across the United States. To celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday, we connected with another classroom of students to exchange literature selections. In the spring, we connected with another group of students in Michigan to celebrate Michigan Week. Each classroom was able to present something about their area of Michigan to the other class and then ask questions of each other. They really appreciated the opportunity to connect with other kids in other schools!
How do you go about finding video field trips of your own? Visit the TWICE website (www.twice.cc) to choose trips based on subject area or cost, as well as Michigan Curriculum Standards. There is also a section of the website for collaborations where you are able to post a collaboration of your own, or see what others have posted that might fit your curricular areas. Usually in the springtime, the Read Across the Planet and Michigan Week collaborations are available. Once you start using this, the opportunities are limitless!
Diane Riemersma, a fourth grade teacher at Pine Ridge Christian School in Holland, MI, teaches math, science, social studies and Bible classes. The video field trips taken were as a result of a MACUL grant she received for the 2008-2009 school year.
Video Field Trips
By Diane RiemersmaMACUL Grant Recipient
12 | | MACULjournal| |Conference 2010
“For many years, I have told students, ‘Do not do what I do; rather, take whatever I have to offer and do with it what I could never imagine doing and then come back and tell me about it.’ My hope is that our education systems will be shaken out of their complacency and will open teaching and learning to a future we cannot conceive.” – Mark C. Taylor, Ph.D., Columbia University
In many ways Michigan’s 2010 State Educational Technology Plan represents more of what we already know is needed to move education forward in Michigan in terms for technologies and support. We identify the missing components to make our education system competitive nationally and internationally in terms of graduating college-ready, work-ready digital citizens. We have included the best guesses of dozens of experts (thank you, Educational Technology Advisory Group members) of the required capacity in terms of technical infrastructure and human resources that our educators and schools need to prepare our children to survive and thrive as our society shifts into technology overdrive.
The new plan, adopted by the Michigan State Board of Education in February 2010, is the Michigan Department of Education’s (MDE) best attempt at articulating a shared vision for the educational technology and the role of education technologists in Michigan schools over the next three to five years. The significant contribution the 2010 plan makes is the alignment of the State’s educational technology goals with the five strands of the Michigan School Improvement Framework (MSIF), accomplished by consolidating eight goals into five and reprioritizing around “teaching for learning.”
By collapsing several goals, removing redundant action steps and sharpening the language, we were able to tighten the 2010 plan to focus on key objectives. For example, to actively encourage our Intermediate School Districts (ISD) to pursue funding
and shared IP infrastructure strategies that boost broadband connectivity across Michigan’s patchwork of school and library connections, we articulate a clear benchmark of 1 gigabyte / 100 megabyte-per-second connectivity for every school district / building. This specific measure aligns with national broadband targets and matches connectivity speeds available to schools and libraries in Pennsylvania, Ohio and nationwide in Japan.
With this plan we attempt to create a technology infrastructure that supports the broader aims of education innovation and the re-imagining of K20 education while offering solutions that reduce the overall cost of educating our students. Our hope is that the 2010 State Educational Technology Plan will serve as a roadmap for implementing the kind of technology-based solutions that rapidly move the needle on student achievement and speed solutions to our most pressing educational challenges.
MDE is pleased to present a plan that contains a balance of vision and actionable steps that will help schools meet the requirements of 21st Century learning. But we can’t get there from here without you, the technology-savvy educators, the technology coordinators, the media specialists, and the technology directors that will translate this vision into action and results. What’s more, we hope you will be like Dr. Taylor’s students that “take whatever [we] have to offer and do with it what [we] could never imagine doing and then come back and tell [us] about it.”
Bruce Umpstead is the Director of Educational Technology and Data Coordination for the MDE Office of Education Improvement and Innovation.
Michigan’s 2010 State Educational Technology Plan
By Bruce Umpstead
2006 Educational Technology Plan
goalsLeadership1. Digital Citizenship2. Student Learning3. Professional Learning4. Data Driven Decisions5. Broadband Access6. Shared Resources7. Funding8.
michigan School Improvement
FrameworkTeaching for Learning1. Leadership2. Professional Learning3. School and Community 4. RelationsData and Information 5. Management
2010 Educational Technology Plan
goalsTeaching for Learning1.
Digital Citizenship / •21st Century Skills
Leadership2. Broadband Access•Shared Resources•Funding•
Professional Learning3. School and Community 4. RelationsData and Information 5. Management
12 | | MACULjournal| |Conference 2010
14 | | MACULjournal| |Conference 2010
Have you ever noticed the crowds, the excitement, and the engaged young faces concentrating on their laptops and robots during the Robofest competition at the
annual MACUL Conference? Did you know Robofest competitions like this one are held all across the U.S. and around the globe, leading up to a final World Championship at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan?
How have these students become so absorbed in this technological world? The answer is: Robofest!
An annual autonomous robotics competition in its eleventh season, Robofest motivates 4th through 12th grade students to learn new concepts in logic, mechanics, physics, electronics, mathematics and computer programming so they can achieve their goals – goals that are fun and engaging,
encourage creativity and innovation, and instill the advantages of teamwork.
Local schools, home school groups, neighborhood clubs and community/civic organizations form teams of one to seven students that compete in one of four categories:
• Game.TheGame“mission”andrulesarerevealedin December and include unknown problems or conditions students must address on the day of the competition.
• Exhibition.Thiscategoryallowsstudentstointegrate their inventive ideas with autonomous robotics. Any topic is allowed, with past projects including ideas in entertainment, business, humanitarian relief and scientific research.
• RoboFashionandDanceShow.Teamsdesignrobots to display costumes and dance maneuvers on a small stage. Judging criteria include creativity, decorations, choreography, and the math and science skills used.
• VisionCentricRobotChallenge.Gearedforcollege students or gifted high school students, this challenge emphasizes computer vision processing programming. Teams use specially built L2Bots controlled by laptops with webcams to navigate a course.
The simplicity of Robofest makes it available and affordable for every student. Anyone can start a team anywhere for very little investment, and each student can get valuable hands-on experience in building and programming.
Most robotics kits are allowed along with any additional materials desired provided the robot is completely autonomous and meets the requirements for its specific category of competition. Any programming language is permitted, although icon-based languages are recommended for 4th through 8th grades and more powerful text-based languages are suggested for 9th through 12th grades. Materials for competition fields are also simple, inexpensive and readily available at local stores.
Qualifying Competitions are held worldwide from February through early April, with top teams from this level invited to Regional Championships held in April. Regional winners advance to the Robofest World
Championship scheduled for May 8, 2010 on the campus of Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan.
Certificates, medals and trophies are given liberally at all levels with grants, robotics prizes and scholarships awarded at the World event.
This year’s Robofest qualifier hosted by MACUL will be held on March 11, 2010 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM at DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Additional competition sites, coach and team registration information, detailed rules and site hosting information are all available at www.robofest.net .
By Wendy MacLennan, Robofest Coordinator
RobofestM o t i v a t i n g Y o u n g M i n d s t o M a s t e R t h e M a c h i n e
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PLAnning A robotiCs teAM? Cover ALL CostsKids love robotics! With robotics teams growing in popularity, many districts are forming new teams or expanding existing ones. In this current budget climate it is important to consider all the costs involved.
Each robotics organization may have a specific fee involved for each team. Some of these fees can be substantial, and it is important to remember the fee often covers only one team. If a large number of students are involved it may mean multiple teams must be registered and multiple fees paid. Even if there is no limit from the robotics organization, practicality limits the number of students that can actively participate on a team simultaneously.
For every team, there must be kits and tools. Kits are a major expense. Many robotics organizations have specific parts that can only be purchased from them or their authorized suppliers. While cheaper parts may be found from other sources, be aware they may be a source of disqualification in regional and other meets. Also plan for spare parts: things break, and one single kit rarely has all the parts a team may need or want. A personal observation is that there is a direct correlation between the cost of a part and its likelihood to break and/or the need to have “just one more” of that part. Motors in particular are an excellent example. Even simple items like batteries can escalate costs.
All the tools one needs are not included in the kits, and expenses can add up quickly. Ever try to look for a chain breaker (a tool to break apart a chain drive) on a Sunday afternoon? Even “common” tools like wrenches, screwdrivers and pliers must be available in the right sizes and be in plentiful supply. Power tools such as drills, bench grinders, Dremels, and the like are the greatest offenders in this category for budget overrun. Don’t forget tools and kits must have storage places to hold them when not in use. Have you priced tool boxes recently?
Next, you need a field for practice. The field must meet specifications, because if it does not your robot may not function properly, or at worst, your team may be disqualified. Oh, don’t forget laptops with cords, flash drives and such to create and transfer programs. And don’t forget crystals for remote controllers – kits typically come with just one frequency, and to stage a mock meet, or even a simple practice, you’ll need multiple sets.
After the basics, come incidental expenses that can become not so incidental in cost. For example, our teams have snacks (juice, cookies, chips, etc.) for each meeting. Given a typical teenager’s appetite for such, costs can quickly rise. Buying in bulk can mean substantial savings.
Now it’s time to participate in the regional contest. Typically, these are far away and
require travel. Don’t forget this includes team members, adults, all the kits, robots, tools and such, as well as overnight accommodations and meals. If you have to fly to the meet (this is often the only practical way) you will need to rent cars at the destination for local travel. Sometimes renting a bus or minivans is a cheaper alternative.
Got an invitation to a national meet or world finals? Congratulations! Take the costs of the previous paragraph and multiply by two.
The simple message is to plan for everything you need. Hidden costs are very common and need to be anticipated for a successful robotics team.
Rich Lamb, computer science teacher at Cranbrook Kingswood School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, is Director of SIG Computer Science. SIGCS is having a preconference workshop on robotics for the 2010 MACUL conference.
By Rich Lamb, SIGCS Director
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The two new age-appropriate robotics systems, WeDo™ Robotics (for elementary) and TETRIX™ by Pitsco (for high school), along with the popular
LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education system, give students access to the latest in robotics technology and curricula at all age levels, preparing them for life after
school and careers in science, technology, and engineering industries.Visit the LEGO Education booth for in-booth demonstrations.
RoboticsFor All Ages
Ivery Toussant 877-647-0043 [email protected] www.LEGOeducation.us
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Y ou never know as an educator when you are going to have one of those “aha” moments. It can happen just about anytime: with
a student in a classroom, while attending a professional training, when reading an article or blog, or in a discussion. I had one of these moments this past summer.
This past August I had the privilege of being one of the MI-Champion participants that participated in the Project-Based Learning (PBL) training. This two-day training was coordinated by Beth Baker and John McCarthy at Wayne Count RESA. It was a busy two days of being both introduced to PBL and creating a PBL unit to take back to our classrooms/schools this fall. For those that don’t know, according to Wikipedia, Project-Based Learning “is an approach for classroom activity that emphasizes learning activities that are long-term, interdisciplinary and student-centered.” As Beth and John introduced us to the framework for and reasoning behind PBL, I had one of those “a-ha” moments. It made sense to me: an approach to learning that incorporated student choice, allowed for differentiated learning among students, gave relevance to learning activities, and pushed for a deeper level of content understanding.
The first challenge for me was to create a unit that could be implemented. In my job, as a Technology Coordinator, I did not have a classroom to take it back to, so I convinced several of the middle school teachers I work with to collaborate with me on a unit for them to implement into their classes. It turns out that in seventh grade Social Studies, Ancient Greece is a major topic, and in seventh grade English, Greek mythology is one of the suggested genres. Because of this, I began putting together a project that would incorporate these at the same time.
PBL uses a “Driving Question” to begin the planning process. For the unit I was developing, the question I focused on was “How do the Greek myths of Ancient Greece relate to us today?” This would help resolve the difficulty students have in relating older literature to modern times. From there, I began to develop (with the input of the teachers I was working with) the culminating product students would be developing. We decided together that we wanted students to create their own myth, and added the twist that it would be one set in modern times.
The best part of this type of approach is that it helps the creator focus all learning activities towards the goal of creating the culminating product. In our case, it allowed us to take about fifteen various assignments the teachers had accumulated or found, and narrow down to the ones that best helped students build the knowledge and skills they needed to be able to create their myths.Ironically, our biggest hurdle in doing a collaborative project ended up being one of our biggest assets. Scheduling a calendar together so activities in the three classes could coincide in the correct order for students to build knowledge was difficult. We postponed the start date three times in order to let a teacher wrap up units they were already involved in. Once we began the unit, this scheduling problem became an advantage as when an activity took longer than anticipated in one class, we moved another activity out of there and into one of the other classes. What great flexibility!The technology available to our students and teachers was another huge advantage in working on this project. All three of the teachers use Moodle for course management. This gave them a common location for students to access online
resources for the unit, and facilitate some asynchronous discussions between all students-not just those in one class hour. Our students also had access to their laptops, so they were given some choices for some of the assignments. For example, they had to create a fact sheet about the character they created; some students created a handmade poster for this, others designed it electronically. Additionally, their myths would be written within a word processor so they could use the electronic version to take them through the writing processes of proofreading and editing.
At the time of this writing, students were deeply involved in this unit. They had not only studied about the characteristics of Greek Mythology and characters of Ancient Greece, but they were creating their own Greek god/goddess or hero/heroine, listening to The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan (a Greek Myth set in modern times), and beginning to map out their own myth involving Greek characters. Early indications are that students are not only enjoying the unit, but they are benefiting from the reinforcement of having cross-curricular collaboration and gaining a much deeper understanding of the subject matter.
If you are interested in learning more about PBL, I encourage you to visit the following sites:
Leading PBL: http://leadingpbl.•pbworks.com/PBL Co-Laboratory: • www.pbl-online.org/CoLab/PBLCL-01.login.php
Melinda Waffle is the Technology Coordinator at Union City Community Schools in Union City, MI and is the Communications Officer for SIGMM. Previously, she taught mathematics, health and computer applications. She can be reached via email at [email protected].
Project-BasedLearning
By Melinda Waffle
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the MACUL Conference is an excellent opportunity to obtain information on best practices on how to use technology to improve student academic achievement. You’ll leave the conference fueled with information on using technology as a tool to transform your building into a high-performing school. Conference sessions are organized into strands relating to nets and the Michigan education technology standards and expectations, addressing the needs of administrators and teachers as well as technology directors and media specialists.
early registration must be postmarked or completed online by february 22. register online by credit card or purchase order, or use the registration form on p.__, or download at www.macul.org and submit by mail or fax. registration for all workshops must be completed online. visit www.macul.org for complete conference information.
with over 140 BrEaKouT SESSIoNS in ten session hours and morE THaN 100 EXHIBITorS, all EDucaTorS will discover solutions, ideas and techniques to improve student learning in their districts. almost 20 pre-conference workshops will be offered on wednesday and over 30 hands-on workshops will be offered during the conference on a wide variety of technology subjects.
Sessions presented by the authors of TEcHNologY-rIcH lESSoN PlaNS for K-12 educators
mEa STuDENT TEcHNologY SHowcaSE – register now and be eligible to win a digital camera for your school! Participating teachers receive discount conference rate!
mI cHamPIoNS ProJEcT PalooZa View the project based learning examples used in the curriculum by our mI champions participants.
Thursday, march 11 from 11am-1pm in the DeVos Place grand gallery.
macul @ NIgHT rEcEPTIoN come gather at the amway grand Plaza Hotel’s ambassador Ballroom on Thursday, march 11 from 7-10pm for an evening of fun, fellowship and networking. Enjoy DJ ron madison, our own mI-champions coach! light refreshments and a cash bar will be available. Sponsored by EduTek midwest.
For aDmINISTraTorS complimentary registration for superintendent and school board members
aDmINISTraTor luNcHEoN Featuring mike Flanagan, Superintendent of Public Instruction, mDE
Noon-1pm on Thursday, march 12.
reservations required.
claSSoom gagDET SHowDowN **NEw!** on Thursday, march 11 from 4-5pm, a spirited classroom gadget Showdown session based on the wildly popular last gadget Standing program staged at the consumer Electronics Show each January will feature five products competing to be chosen by educators in the audience as the one that will have the greatest impact on students, schools and the learning environment. Each company will have six minutes to make its pitch and demonstrate its product. Hosted by Elliot Soloway, this will be a must-see event!
alTErNaTIVE FuNDINg For alternative ways to fund your macul conference participation, visit www.macul.org.
ConferenCe HigHLigHts:
registertodAY!
Liz Kolb, Graduate Student InstructorLearning Technologies
School of Education, University of Michigan
Ruston Hurley, Executive DirectorNext Vista for Learning
http://www.nextvista.org
Hall Davidson, Discovery EducationSponsored by Discovery Education
www.discoveryeducation.com
Warren Buckleitner, Editor Children’s Technology Reviewwww.childrenssoftware.com
Vicki Davis, President & CEOBright Ideas, Inc.
http://www.coolcatteacher.com/
Leslie Fisher, Directorlesliefisher.com
www.lesliefisher.com
Marina Leight, Editor in ChiefConverge Magazine
www.convergemag.com
Michigan’s Online Teacher of the YearSponsored by Michigan Virtual University
www.mivu.org
Anne Truger Special Education District of Lake County, IL
Sponsored by Tech4Learning
ADDITIONAL FEATURED SPEAKERS:Elliot Soloway, University of Michigan
Brian Dixon, High Tech HighMark Zietlow, Clark Hill PLC
Helen Hoffenberg, Apple Inc.Ladd Skelly, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Donald Welch, Merit Network, Inc.
Steve Dembo, Online Community ManagerDiscovery Educator Network, Discovery Education
Sponsored By Discovery Educationwww.discoveryeducation.com
Alan November November Learning
Sponsored by Macprofessionalswww.novemberlearning.com
wEDNESDaY, marcH 10pre-Conference workshops
THurSDaY, marcH 11opening Keynote
Featured and breakout sessionsexhibits
student technology showcasemi Champions project palooza
Robofest Competitionadministrator luncheon
Hands-on workshopsbring Your own laptop sessions
model ClassroommaCul auction
Gorilla sessionsClassroom Gadget showdown
maCul @ night Reception
FrIDaY, marcH 12
maCul annual meetingopening Keynote
Featured and breakout sessionsHands-on workshops
bring Your own laptop sessionsexhibits
model ClassroomGorilla sessionsmaCul auction
Closing Keynote session& prize Giveaways
Join over 3,000 educators who attend each year and register noW for the maCul Conference…a
must for educators in michigan and the midwest!c o N F E r E N c E S c H E D u l E
F E a T u r E D S P E a K E r S
K E Y N o T E S P E a K E r S
Mike Flanagan, Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction, Opening Keynote
Steve Dembo, Discovery Education, Friday Keynote
Hall Davidson, Discovery Education, Closing Keynote
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As the generation born with the chip nears graduation, we are seeing the first group of high school students who have been so fortunate as to have grown up with Michigan eLibrary or MeL, www.mel.org. In these difficult economic times, MeL continues to bring exciting resources to students and educators, including magazine, newspaper and journal articles, digital books, audio/visual content and online tests. MeL contains general resources covering all subject areas as well as specialized resources focusing on health, business, test preparation, genealogy, careers and education. New features supporting curriculum and content standards have been added. Regular classroom instruction and online coursework are benefiting from the availability of MeL materials.
At Lakeview High School in Battle Creek, MeL has been the mainstay of our electronic resources since 1997. Our library Website at http://remc12.k12.mi.us/lhslib was created so as to give students direct access to such early databases offerings as FirstSearch and SearchBank (now Gale Infotrac). As the list of MeL options has expanded, we have continued to promote these important instructional tools at Lakeview and became one of the first school libraries in Michigan to join MeLCat, the state-wide resource sharing network. We are even incorporating MeL materials into the teaching of an Introduction to Information Literacy hybrid online course delivered via Blackboard Content Management System.If you are familiar with MeL’s extensive database collection, you won’t want to miss
the MACUL session focusing on some exciting MeL updates for K-12 education. You will be glad to discover the enhanced capabilities of Gale’s new Power Search 2.0 providing expanded multimedia content. You will be interested in learning about the important MeL additions of OAIster, Archive Grid, the new features of SIRS Renaissance and the extensive collection of Michigan Online Resources for Educators (MORE).
MeL is funded by the Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) via the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Library of Michigan. The cost of MeL is approximately $5 million per year with a savings to the state’s libraries, schools, colleges and universities of over $72 million per year.
MeLCat contained over 38,000,000 items as of July 2009. The 359 MeLCat libraries processed more than 625,000 interloans in the previous 10-month period. During this time span, 12 million plus full-text articles were retrieved from the MeL databases while nearly 36,000,000 searches were executed.
As Michigan residents, we can take pride in a state library system which delivers a wealth of online materials to all citizens at no charge 24/7. Presenters Margaret Lincoln (Lakeview High School) and Deb Biggs Thomas (MeL Director) look forward to sharing with you the background and successes of MeL and MORE at MACUL 2010!
Margaret “Gigi” Lincoln is a library media specialist at Lakeview High School, a database trainer for the Library of Michigan and a part-time online instructor in the School of Library and Information Science at San José State University. She has been an American Memory Fellow with the Library of Congress and a United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Teacher Fellow. In 2006, Gigi earned a Ph.D. in library and information sciences from the University of North Texas.
2010 ConferenCe infobYtesthe information in Conference infobytes describes a quality resource or identifies an issue with suggested solutions. discover more about
these topics during the sessions at the 2010 MACUL Conference.
MORE Ways that Michigan eLibrary Keeps Working for You and Your Students in 2010!
By Margaret Lincoln
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2010 ConferenCe infobYtesSocial Media — What To Do When It’s Not So Social By Mark ZietlowA hacker shut down Twitter one day last week. Millions of Twitterers were forced to talk to each other the old fashioned way--through Facebook.
Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn, Twitter, Flickr, meetup, digg, Stumbleupon, YouTube, friendster, reddit, del.icio.us, blogs, chatrooms, and forums are changing the way we communicate and learn. Hundreds of millions of individuals use social media channels.
This is generating a new set of legal problems, including hoaxes, rumors, invasion of privacy, libel and slander, free speech, pornography, cyberbullying, plagiarism, trademark and copyright infringement.
Students have been shot, harassed and stalked as a result of social media postings. Educators and administrators are being sued for violation of due process rights, failure to report postings
to the proper authorities, and illegal restrictions on use of social network sites. Appropriate policies for use of social media will be overviewed.
New technology information is doubling every two years. Educators must understand whether videos, photographs, graphics, images, blogs and postings on social media sites can be copied and how they can be used. Best practices for use of social media materials will be suggested.
This vital information about social media issues will be shared during this session at the 2010 MACUL Conference.Mark H. Zietlow is a member of Clark Hill PLC. Mark has advised educators and administrators on social media practices, trademark and copyright issues, internet policies, and intellectual property matters.
Tic-Tac-Toeing with Web 2.0 Tools in Upper Elementary ClassroomsBy Grace Smith, Ph.D. and Stephanie Throne, Ph.D.
Offering students choices is one of the most powerful strategies teachers can use. Why? Studies show that:
When students play a role in their own learning, their levels of accountability increase.
Students are more successful in school and find it more satisfying when they are taught in ways that are responsive to their readiness levels, interests, and learning profiles.
Choice positively affects student engagement.
The first step to providing choice is to understand and embrace the idea that there is more than one way to demonstrate that content has been learned. If you think about it, offering choices to students gives them a way to make decisions about what they will do in order to meet class requirements. And, providing options
paves the way for choice-making during the rest of their lives. As multiple intelligences guru Thomas Armstrong says, “Giving students choices is a fundamental principle of good teaching.”
One of the ways teachers can offer choices is by constructing a Tic-Tac-Toe (T3) board (sometimes tagged Think-Tac-Toe board) or framework of activities from which students can choose. T3
choices can be based on multiple intelligences, readiness, learning preferences, or another strategy.
Here is a sample T3 board that could be used in fifth grade social studies.
Please visit our session at the 2010 MACUL Conference to see the Web 2.0 tools students can use to collaborate, publish, and communicate information.Grace Smith, Ph.D. is a former classroom teacher and district technology coordinator. Stephanie Throne, Ph.D. is a former university professor. They co-authored the ISTE books Differentiating Instruction with Technology in K-5 Classrooms and Differentiating Instruction with Technology in Middle School Classrooms. They also teach in the Discovery Education-Wilkes University Instructional Media Program and consult with educators regarding differentiating with technology.
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2010 ConferenCe infobYtesWe know that when it comes to teaching our students about how to effectively use technology, there are many times we don’t need to teach this – many of our students already know the tools and even if they don’t, they tend to pick up the basics pretty quickly. But, what does it take to teach other teachers about how to integrate technology into their instruction in a productive manner? The Special Interest Group for Professional Learning (SIGPL) is ready to help address this question, and we will be doing so through our workshop and conference offerings this March at the MACUL Annual Conference in Grand Rapids. See the “rules” below, along with some of the learning opportu-nities that SIGPL will offer at the conference.
Give teachers an overview of the technical skills required 1. to use the tools in the classroom. Pre-conference workshops “SurvivalStrategiesforTechIntegrationSpecialists” and “CollaborativeOnlineToolstoSupportTeacherLearning” will address these issues by presenting a number of hands-on experiences with tools that can be useful for those people who are new to the role of helping their colleagues learn about and use technology in a productive manner in their instruction. “Survival Strategies…” will address a number of tools, including Camtasia and Jing, and show how they can be used to help teachers master technical skills, while “Collaborative Online Tools…” will address how to set up an online PD program using Moodle, Google docs, and a variety of other tools. Look for these sessions in the pre-conference workshops for the conference.
Provide models for technology integration that are based 2. on research and actual experience in implementation from both experts and peers. SIGPL is addressing both of these items throughout the conference. Troy Hicks will lead the “CreatingYourDigitalWritingWorkshop” pre-conference session. Hicks, leader of the Red Cedar Writing Project and author of The Digital Writing Workshop, will share experiences and research findings from his extensive work on this topic. Later, during the regular conference sessions, SIGPL will announce the first winners of the Action ResearchGrantprogram who will share their findings from exploring their own use of technology in their classrooms (in two sessions; a presentation and roundtable discussion). Whether you want to hear about what they found, how they conducted their research, or what we will offer through this program in future years, these sessions will be helpful for all who attend.
Model instructional practices during the professional 3. development process, so that teachers can observe and reflect on their own experience. All of the pre-conference workshops mentioned here will be taught in a way that allows participants to see how these approaches could not only be used in the classroom, but also how attendees could use these strategies and resources from the workshops to
teaching
other
teachers
about
technology
integrationby steve best, sigPL director
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2010 ConferenCe infobYtes
The MACUL Silent Auction at the 2010 MACUL Conference will have a new look this year. Auction items will reflect the artistic and creative side of MACUL members. We are looking for donations of items hand-crafted by MACUL members or friends and colleagues. Suggestions are fine arts, photography, jewelry, knit or crocheted items, fabric art, weaving, stained glass, woodcarving, pottery, metal ware—we look forward to seeing your talents! We hope to exhibit a wide range of exciting, intriguing and unique items and are looking for your participation to make this a success. If you have a craft or hobby (or know someone who does), please consider donating to our own MACUL Auction!
all items are tax-deductible; macul will provide a donation form.•Items should be easily and safely transported to and from the conference.•Items may be brought to the conference or shipped earlier.•macul will receive 100% of the proceeds.•
If you are able to contribute or wish more information, please email Ricki Chowning [email protected]
2010 maCul auCtion
help support their colleagues. In addition, SIGPL is sponsoring several additional sessions on Friday at the conference that are specific to the needs of people who provide support for teachers, whether they are teacher educators, professional development specialists, tech integration specialists, or others. For a list of these sessions, you can visit the SIGPL page on the MACUL web site prior to the conference.
Provide an opportunity to see how “cutting-edge” 4. technologies can be utilized to support learning, so that teachers can get a vision on what the future of the tools might look like in their classrooms. Yet another pre-conference workshop, “iTeach: Using iPods/iPhones in the Classroom” will address how these tools, which so many of our students already have, can be used to support 1:1 learning. While we know iPods themselves aren’t exactly cutting-edge, using them in place of computers is. We’ll explore how teachers and students could use these tools to provide an inexpensive yet powerful ubiquitous learning tool in schools.
Provide opportunities for follow-up learning experiences 5. and collaboration with peers about the process of integrating technology. One of the challenges of most conferences is
that, while you can learn a lot of basic information at the conference, there is no real opportunity for follow-up to deepen the learning experience. SIGPL is working to change this, as all of our preconference workshops and several of our regular conference sessions will provide for follow-up learning and discussion through a set of online professional development tools. Select presentations will be recorded and posted online through the MI Learning portal of iTunes U, and a set of online discussions and courses will be established so that participants can extend their learning, share ideas with colleagues, and find new resources for classroom use. Details of these will be posted on the SIGPL page at: http://macul.org/specialinterestgroups/sigpl/
And, if you are looking for more information about any of these ideas, the underlying research, or examples of these ideas in practice, visit the TechTools4Teaching.org website, where SIGPL members and others are sharing ideas about how technologies can support teaching practices and student learning.
Steve Best directs outreach and professional development efforts for the U of M School of Education. He is also Director of the Michigan Mathematics and Science Teacher Leadership Collaborative.
2010 ConferenCe infobYtes
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The Constructivist Consortium (www.constructivistconsortium.org) in partnership with SIGTELE is bringing the popular “Constructivist Celebration” to Michigan! Plan to join in this pre-conference learning experience on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 in Grand Rapids. Participants will receive the day’s educational program, a hearty lunch and free software from Constructivist Consortium members, including five free tools from Tech4Learning: Pixie, Frames, WebBlender, Twist, and ImageBlender. Bring a charged laptop, a digital camera (optional) and your creativity! This hugely popular workshop, also offered as a pre-conference event at the National Education Computing Conference (NECC), sells out quickly each year. Don’t miss your chance to learn with the best at this full-day, hands-on workshop.
SIGTELE officers, Laura Cummings and I (Mary Saffron), along with three MACUL Board members (Diane Zoellmer, Eric Getsoian and Tim Kamps) experienced a Constructivist Celebration first-hand at the 2008 NECC conference.
We began the day armed with laptops, cameras, curiosity and a lot of enthusiasm joining more than 100 participants from around the world. Dr. Gary Stager kicked off the day off with an inspirational keynote address about the why and how of effective project-based learning. Then it was our turn to jump into exciting hands-on projects led by outstanding ed tech leaders. Special guests and expert faculty were also available to support us in our project development and collaboration.
The real fun began after we selected free software tools from our workshop folders and loaded them on our laptops. Imagine a workshop where time is scheduled to simply explore, create, learn, and experience! During the event Gary Stager provided more in-depth demonstrations and explanations using MicroWorld, while representatives from Tech4Learning, Inspiration, and FableVision moved through the packed restaurant, offering suggestions, answering questions, and providing encouragement and praise as we all explored and experimented with their software.
After lunch, we returned to our laptops to finalize and fine tune one of the projects we had started earlier that day. During this final working phase we were also asked to move around the room to view and share each other’s creations. This was certainly a highlight of the day. The level of imagination and creativity gathered together in that room resulted in the development of many exceptional learning tools, sure to inspire and motivate learners of all ages. It was only after several requests that we all returned to our seats for closing comments, reflection and discussion.
The mission of the Constructivist Consortium is to empower learners. As stated on their website, members of the Constructivist Consortium support in the following principles:
• The learner is at the center of the educational process and knowledge results from socially constructed experiences.
• Computers and communication technology create expanded opportunities for children to learn traditional concepts and additional opportunities to learn new things in new ways.
• Hardware and software are best used in ways that enhance each student’s creative and intellectual development in a flexible open-ended fashion.
Celebrate Constructivist Learning (and get free software tools!) By Mary Saffron,
SIG TeleLearning Communications Officer
Constructivist Learning continued on pg. 31
2010 ConferenCe infobYtes
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Have you ever wanted to edit a photo, but you really can’t afford to go out and purchase the expensive editing programs like Photoshop? There are several options that one can turn to online where editing a photo becomes easy.
One example of these tools is LunaPic, (http://www.lunapic.com/editor/). The interface is very user friendly with examples on the homepage, as well as easy-to-choose-from drop down menus.
Here I have uploaded an old picture of a little girl:
Now if I roll my cursor over the “Effects” button on the top menu bar, I get the following options:
I want to use this picture as a cover for one of my online photo albums, so the picture can be abstract in nature when I am done with it. For this reason, I am going to experiment with a couple of options. See Fig. 1-3 below for various edits.
Editing photos for various purposes is both fun and purposeful. By making an image more engaging, you can attract more attention from your audience.
SIGWEB is hosting a Pre-Conference session called “Photo-editing and Fun Creation with Free and Inexpensive Tools.” During this session, participants will be learning multiple editing techniques, as well as what programs and websites to access to get the job done. Please see the Pre-Conference descriptions for more information. We would love to see you there!
Easy Photo-editing with Inexpensive ToolsBy Kelly Kermode, SIGWEB Communications Officer
Fig. 1 – The sketch style Fig. 2 – The comic Book/ Newsprint style Fig. 3 – Sharpened, then a vignette effect was applied.
Constructivist Learning continued on pg. 31
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2010 ConferenCe infobYtes
Classroom websites are an easy way to get connected to parents and extend your classroom into the homes of students. Building a website does not have to be as difficult as it used to be. There are a number of new tools that help teachers quickly and easily create a simple-to-update site. Weebly for Education is one of the newest of these sites.
To create an account visit: http://education.weebly.com/
Once you get logged in you will have the opportunity to create a new site or edit your existing site.
From here you are taken to the page editor. There are several tools listed at the top of the page. The basic idea behind editing in Weebly is that you pull “blocks” down from the “Elements”
tab at the top of the page. Blocks act like a container for content – buckets for the stuff you want on your page.
Once you add the block to the page below, you can click on the block to add content. Each time you click on a block you will see an editing bar appear just below the toolbar at the top of the page.
Once you add the elements (blocks) to the page and add your content, you can play with the page design by selecting the “Design” tab. By hovering over the design samples your page will show a preview of that theme. It’s a quick way to get a feel for what you pages will look like. Click on a theme tile to select that theme.
Easy Classroom Websites: HOW DO I
GET STARTED?
By Michael Partridge, SIGWEB Director
Easy Websites continued on pg. 31
27| |Conference 2010MACULjournal | |
2010 ConferenCe infobYtes
The internet is a powerful way to communicate and the tools available today make it easier than ever to post content online without having to know anything about web development. However, knowing even a little about building a web page can give you more control over how to present and communicate your message.
Cascading Style Sheets, or CSS, are the best-practices method for controlling the look and feel of your web site. Whether you’re building a site from scratch, customizing a template designed by someone else, or personalizing your social network page, CSS skills give you more control over how you look on the web.
CSS is based on identifying different parts of your website and then applying different styles to them. For example you can change the color and size of a title, add a background to your paragraphs, or make your links change when someone mouses over them. If you have access to the style sheet for your site you can add a logo to every page on your site or even rearrange the whole page layout with some changes to the style sheet.
Let’s try making a simple change to an existing web site. In this example I’m going to add a custom image to my MaculSpace (maculspace.ning.com) page using CSS.
Currently my page looks like this:
In order to add an image to the top I need two things: an image posted somewhere online and the name of the part of the webpage I want to change.
Let’s assume I’ve got an image online already and know the address for it (“http://www.something.com/image.jpg”).To find out the name of the top section (which is where I want the image to go) I go to View > Page Source on my menu bar. That brings up a big page of scary-looking gobbeldy-gook known as The Source Code. Don’t worry, to make this work I don’t actually need to understand everything in The Source Code. Instead I’m going to look for something I recognize. I noticed that my web site has the phrase “connecting educators” in the space I want the image to be so I’m going to look for that
phrase in the source code (hint: most web browsers will let you search for a word or phrase). Doing so I find a line that says:
<p id=”xg_sitedesc”>connecting educators & enhancing learning</p>
Ah-ha! Found it! The important part is the bit that says id=”xg_sitedesc”. This tells us that this section has a name (“id”) of “xg_sitedesc” (no, the name doesn’t make sense to me either but we’ll go with it).
Armed with the name of the section, a picture online, and just enough knowledge to be dangerous, I now go into the settings for my page. For MaculSpace I click the “settings” link in the upper right corner. I then click “My Page” followed by “Appearance.” At the bottom of the “Appearance” page there are three tabs; I’m going to click the third tab, “Advanced.” The advanced tab allows me to add my own CSS to my page. In the text box under this tab I’m going to type the following:
#xg_sitedesc { background: url(http://www.something.com/image.jpg) no-repeat; height: 128px; }
(Slightly technical explanation: what I just typed begins with a selector --in this case #xg_sitedesc. This names the part of the web site we’re going to change (“xg_sitedesc” is the id name we found in the source code and the pound sign is a CSS secret code for “id”). After the selector comes a pair of braces (curly brackets -- didn’t you always wonder what they were for?). The braces contain the declarations: the statements that describe what we’re going to change. In this case we’re changing the background by adding an image and we’re changing the height of the space so the picture can fit.) When I save and go back to my page it now looks like this:
This is just one example of what can be done with CSS. If you want to learn how to understand and use CSS join SIGWEB at our Pre-Conference session, “CSS Basics” at MACUL 2010. For more information, please read the full description under SIGWEB Pre-conference session topics. We would love to see you there!
by Chris Ozias, SIGWEB Assistant DirectorCSS Basics
Easy Websites continued on pg. 31
28 | MACULjournal|Conference 2010|
By Charles Yeager
Students from Wayne County RESA and Marquette-Alger RESA are Comparing and Contrasting Watersheds in Michigan (CCWIM).How do students and teachers from such great distances collaboratively study their respective watersheds? Technology! Students have used wireless internet cards, laptops, and SKYPE accounts to communicate in real time about their respective watershed studies. Students designed projects to answer questions about their local watersheds, specifically about the health of their watershed, and the implications of activities in the area. Students have determined ways to positively impact their watershed and have compared and contrasted their data with data collected by students from different watersheds. They have learned protocols for locating field study sites using GPS receivers and they have learned to measure
conductivity, ph, temperature, and turbidity using Vernier Lab Pro equipment with the appropriate sensors and TI-84 calculators. Students have also documented their work with RCA Small Wonder digital video recorders.
During the first year of the CCWIM Program twenty teachers participated in a summer institute that prepared them for the on-going work to be completed during the 2008-09 school year. Each teacher developed a unit plan scheduling interactions with their geographical distant partner. During the summer of 2009, five additional teachers from each RESA joined the 2008-2009 CCWIM teachers for year two of the CCWIM Project.
The project initially connected middle and high school students and teachers from Wayne RESA schools and Marquette-Alger RESA schools for a four-day inservice. Funds from REMCAM helped pay for equipment needed to connect schools from each REMC, software and hardware needed for water quality monitoring, geographic information systems, and global positioning systems.
Teachers were provided resources to help the students with their investigation: lab equipment and materials, books, access to websites, and other research materials. Those materials included the following: MEECs Water Quality Kits, LabQuest Water Quality Starter Probes, Logger Pro Software, Water Quality with Vernier Lab Books, Webcam, Flip Video Camera, Handheld GPS, A Whole New Mind: Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age By Daniel H. Pink, Educator’s Guide to Program Development in Natural Resources – Education as a Community Resource (NSF/ATE/DUE9813445) and Community as a Context for Learning (NSF/ATE/DUE0101498). Wayne RESA provided each teacher in the 2008-2009 project with a wireless Sprint card to access the Internet from testing sites. New teachers will receive the equipment listed above. New and returning teachers will each receive a ProScope high resolution handheld electronic microscope. This will help students share biodiversity data with each other and with each site.
To find out more about this project, visit http://science.resa.net and click on Professional Development under Middle School or High School. On the left hand side, click on the CCWIM 2008 button. Teachers have posted pictures, data, information, and comments from the CCWIM Project on the Ning website, http://ccwimproject.ning.com. Water quality data has been posted to the Globe Website www.globe.gov, however this data will also be posted on http://h2omapper.resa.net/pmapper/map.phtml#.
comparing & contrasting watersheds in michigan
29| |Conference 2010MACULjournal | |
Students can use Frames to share ideas through through cel,
stop-motion, claymation, and digital storytelling! Creating
animated movies and digital stories engages students in the
curriculum and provides a means to communicate ideas.
Frames is the perfect storytelling tool. Frames helps students: • Showcase their knowledge using a relevant, popular medium.
• Combine original art with writing, narration, and music to tell stories.
• Transform digital images into instant animations.
Find out more at: www.tech4learning.com/frames
New in Frames 4: Integrated Drawing Tools Digital Storytelling Features Flash Export
Everyone has a story to tell!
The staff for the CCWIM project include:
MARESA—Betty Burke-Coduti and Charlie Yeager
Lansing—Keith Etheridge
Wayne RESA—David Bydlowski, David Frankel, and Andy Henry
Technical Support—Steve Michael
The CCWIM Funding Partners include:
Dart Foundation
Marquette-Alger RESA
Michigan Department of Education
MI Math and Science Center Network
REMCAM
Wayne RESA
Charles Yeager is the Comprehensive School Health Coordinator, Safe and Drug Free Schools Coordinator, and Education Consultant for Teaching, Learning, and Technology Services at Marquette-Alger Regional Educational Service Agency (MARESA).
30 | | MACULjournal| |Conference 2010
School 2.0 continued from page 7the MI Champions Grant. If that is not enough to get you re-energized about the conversation, you can bring your laptop and join the backchannel discussions on Twitter and our own MACULSpace (maculspace.ning.com) or enjoy/contribute the photos posted to our Flickr tagged feed. Maybe you are committed to making the changes needed to reshape education, but need to enlist a school administrator or board member to join you so they can see it first hand for themselves. Why not offer them a free conference registration with your paid registration so they can join you in the conversation and see examples of School 2.0 in action? MACUL is again offering 1 free registration for a school board member or superintendent with a paid registration. What a great opportunity to include them in the conversation! Wherever you find yourself, let’s work on jump starting or growing the conversation! See you in Grand Rapids!
MACUL Conference continued from page 7wildly popular and sometimes raucous Last Gadget Standing, a highlight of the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas each January. Contestants in the CES session have the option of incorporating as many props, humor and guests as they can squeeze into their product plugs before everyone in the packed room casts a vote.
There is one more reason that we predict our Classroom Gadget Showdown will be a fun event—it’s going to be hosted the University of Michigan’s Elliot Soloway. Everyone who has seen one of Soloway’s energetic sessions at a MACUL conference can warn you, “Hold onto your hat!” We’re confident that CGS is going to be a fun ride.
While in the Furniture City…
Grand Rapids earned the name Furniture City in the 1800’s by being the home of many companies that mass produced furniture for homes, businesses and schools. Today’s Grand Rapids may look completely different from the days of old, but there are many attractions that conference attendees should check out during their time in Michigan’s second largest city.
• VanAndelPublicMuseum 272PearlStreetNW
• GeraldR.FordMuseum 303PearlStreetNW
• FrederikMeijerGardens&SculpturePark EastBeltine/LeonardStreetNE
• GrandRapidsArtMuseum 101MonroeCtrNW
• GrandRapidsChildren’sMuseum 22SheldonAvenueNE
• UrbanInstituteforContemporaryArts 41SheldonBoulevardSE
• VoightHouseVictorianMuseum 115CollegeAvenueSE
• MeyerMayHouse(FrankLloydWright) 450MadisonAvenueSE
• AppleStore,WoodlandMall 28thStreet/EastBeltlineSE
• Barnes&Noble,WoodlandMall 28thStreet/EastBeltlineSE
Carolyn Hinckley, MACUL Leader
We mourn the passing of Carolyn Hinckley,
Special Interest Group Leader for Computer
Science (SIGCS), who died September 18,
2009. Carolyn was valued for her many
contributions to MACUL. Her optimistic
outlook and ready smile always made those
around her feel comfortable and welcome.
Her insights to improve SIGCS and the
MACUL Budget Task Force will continue on,
based on the firm foundation she set for both
groups. Carolyn was employed by the Van
Buren Intermediate School District, which has
established a scholarship fund in her memory.
Carolyn will be greatly missed by the MACUL
Leadership and extends sincere sympathy to
her husband, Dr. John M. Hinckley and her
two daughters, Sarah and Catherine Hinckley.
31| |Conference 2010MACULjournal | |
Constructivist Learning continued from page 24 Easy Websites continued from page 31Next, select the “Pages” tab to create more pages or manage the pages you have created. On this page you can also reorder
the pages (the order they show in your menu). To add a new page (content that won’t change very often) click on the “New Page” button and give the page a name. The “New Blog” button creates a page that allows you to add new content that will always appear at the top of the page. It’s a great place to post announcements and classroom updates.
Once you have these basic elements in place you are ready to publish your site. You will find the publish button in the upper right corner of the page.
And with that you have a pretty basic web site. This is just a taste of some of the excellent tools that will be shared during the SIGWEB pre-conference session on creating easy websites with free web-based tools. Please see the Pre-Conference description for more details. We would love to see you there!
• Students are empowered by abundant access to computers and while engaged in personally meaningful projects.
• Teachers are in the best position to know how to meet the needs of their students.
• Opportunities for student collaboration, communication and publishing are at least as important as access to information.
• 21st Century students are creative, thoughtful and capable of responsible leadership in their schools and communities. Student empowerment is a key to academic success.
If you find yourself agreeing with any or all of these principles, you will want to join us on March 10 in Grand Rapids for this full-day learning experience. Projects vary but may include claymation, digital photography, video game design, animation creation, simulation building and much more. While free software is always a draw, the learning experience itself is certainly priceless. The spirit of collaboration, exploration, and the building of new learning will leave you with fresh ideas and innovative possibilities to enhance and improve the learning in your classroom. Plan to join SIGTELE and the Constructivist Consortium for the Constructivist Celebration workshop. See you there!
Mary Saffron, Ph.D. is a business teacher at Fraser High School, adjunct faculty for the Instructional
Technology department at Wayne State University, and is the Communications Officer for SIG TeleLearning.
Registration info and form on
pages 32-33
Conference Registration Information
SPECIAL PRIZE DRAWING FOR EARLY REGISTRATION!
Send your paid conference registration postmarked by December 31, 2009, to be entered in a drawing for an iPod!
Details at www.macul.org
FEES by 2/23/10 after 2/23/10
Full Conference [Thursday and Friday] $180 $210Single Day Rate $130 $160Student Rate* $75 $90*Full-time college students pay the same rate for one or two days
All conference fees include MACUL membership dues. For new or lapsed members MACUL membership takes effect January 1, 2010, and expires April 30, 2011.
The registration fee increases by $30 after February 23, 2010.
Full Conference Registration: A full conference registration includes all keynote, featured, and general sessions, and entrance to the exhibit hall Thursday and Friday. Pre-conference and hands-on workshops and meals are not included in the full conference registration fee.
Please refer to the MACUL website or call the MACUL office for information about discounts for 10 or more full registrations from the same school district.
Single Day Rate: A single day conference registration includes all keynote, featured, and general sessions for that day, and entrance to the exhibit hall that day. Pre-conference and hands-on workshops and meals are not included in the single day registration fee.
Student Attendance and Student Rate: Full-time college students pay the same rate for one or two days. Full-time college students must submit proof of full-time enrollment with their registration to be eligible for the student rate. High school students must meet the following guidelines in order to attend and be eligible for the student rate: students must be directly involved in a presentation or directly involved with their school’s technology support staff; students must be 16 years of age or older; adult chaperones must accompany students and must register for the conference; students must submit proof of age and name(s) of chaperone(s) with their registration.
REGISTER Online: www.macul.org
Mail to: MACUL • 3410 Belle Chase Way, Suite 100 • Lansing, MI 48911
Fax to: 517.882.2362
No phone registrations accepted. Questions, call: 517.882.1403
PAYmENTPlease remit payment through one of the following methods.
Checks: Make checks payable to MACUL and mail with the completed registration form.
Credit Cards: VISA and MasterCard are accepted online, by mail, and by fax with the completed registration form.
Purchase Orders: School district purchase orders are accepted online, by mail, and by fax with the completed registration form. An invoice will be sent to the billing address provided. A $25 billing fee will be charged on all invoices not paid within 30 days of the invoice date.
EARLY REGISTRATIONTo receive the early registration discount, forms must be post- marked or orders placed online by February 23, 2010. When your order is received and processed, an email confirmation will be sent to the email address provided on your registration form. If you register early, your name badge and confirmation letter will be mailed to you beginning the week of February 23, 2010. Please bring these items with you to expedite your check-in and to receive your conference tote bag and materials.
LATE REGISTRATIONThe registration fee increases by $30 after February 23, 2010. When your order is received and processed, an email confirmation will be sent to the email address provided on your registration form. If you register after February 23, you must pick up your name badge on-site at the conference registration help desk in the DeVos Place Grand Gallery. After March 3, 2010, attendees must register on-site.
CHANGES TO REGISTRATIONTo change your registration in any way, including changing days of attendance or changing workshops, email MACUL at [email protected]. The email must include your name, the desired change(s), and, if additional funds are due, the payment method. Changes are made on a first-come, first-served basis. After March 3, 2010, all changes must be made on-site at the conference registration help desk.
WORKSHOP REGISTRATIONDescriptions and fees for all workshops will be available January 5, 2010. Registration for pre-conference and hands-on workshops will be available ONLINE ONLY. Individuals who have pre-registered for the conference may add work- shops to their registration between January 5 and March 3. Workshop tickets will be sold on-site at the conference registration help desk, as space is available.
REFUND AND CANCELLATION POLICYRequests for refunds must be made in writing by fax, mail, or email ([email protected]) by March 3, 2010. MACUL membership dues of $40 and a $25 handling fee will be deducted from the refund. No refunds under $10 will be issued. Refunds and overpayments will be issued no later than 30 days after the conference.
If you do not request a refund by March 3, 2010, you will not be granted a refund for any reason other than hospitalization or a death in the family. If you find you are unable to attend due to an unexpected reason, please contact [email protected] to discuss transferring your paid registration to another educator.
32 | | MACULjournal| |Conference 2010
ConfErEnCE rEgistration information
33| |Conference 2010MACULjournal | |
TOTAL AmOUNT ENCLOSED (US funds only) $ __________
OFFICE USE ONLY
ID __________________
CS# _________________
PARTICIPANT INFORmATIONMACUL Membership New Renewal
Name ____________________________________________________ Employer _____________________________________________________
Preferred Mailing Address (where conference name badge will be sent)
Street _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
City ____________________________________________________ State/Province ______________________Zip/Postal Code __________________
My preferred mailing address (above) is Home Work Work Phone (_________) _________________________________________
Home Phone (_________) _____________________________________ Fax (_________) ______________________________________________
Email (confirmation will be sent to this address) _______________________________________________________________________________________
I wish to receive MACUL news and updates via email Yes No MACUL may release my mailing address Yes No
I have special needs to accommodate a disability (indicate requested accommodation ______________________________________________________________ )
POSITION — Professional responsibility (check all that apply) Teacher Part-Time Teacher/Coordinator Principal Superintendent Coordinator/Director Media Specialist/Librarian Assistant Principal Assistant Superintendent
AREA — Area of responsibility (check all that apply) Preschool Middle/Junior High K–12 Post-Secondary Gifted/Talented Elementary High School ISD/RESA/REMC Teacher Ed/Preservice Special Education
CONFERENCE FEE (includes $40 membership dues) by 2/23/10 after 2/23/10 Amount DueFull Conference [Thursday and Friday] $180 $210 ..................................................................................................... $ _________________Single Day Rate $130 $160 Thursday Friday .......................................................... $ _________________ Student Rate* $75 $90 ..................................................................................................... $ _________________ *Full-time college students pay the same rate for one or two days
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (SIG) DUES ($5 per SIG) SIGCS SIGPD SIGTECH SIGEE SIGSPED SIGTELE SIGMM SIGTC SIGWEB SIG Membership(s): _______ @ $5 each = SIG Dues total $ __________
Card number __________________________________________________ Exp. date ____________________________
Cardholder Billing Address _____________________________________________________________________________
Authorized Signature _____________________________________________ Card Security Code (last 3 digits on back) _________
PAYmENT
Your registration form must be postmarked by February 23, 2010, to qualify for the early registration discount. Please type or print neatly.
2010 mACUL Conference Registration Form
mAIL to: mACUL, 3410 Belle Chase Way, Suite 100, Lansing, mI 48911FAX to: 517.882.2362 QUESTIONS: 517.882.1403
VISA MasterCard Purchase Order (attached) Check (payable to MACUL)
(number, street, city, state, zip)
Register online atwww.macul.org
REGISTER FOR HANDS-ON AND PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS AT WWW.mACUL.ORGWORKSHOP REGISTRATION OPENS JANUARY 5, 2010
34 | | MACULjournal| |Conference 2010
MACUL MEMBERSHIP FORM
Please check appropriate box: New Member Renewal
Select Mailing address: Home Work (all MACUL mailings will be sent to the address you specify below)
NAME_____________________________________________________ EMPLOYER________________________________________________ BUILDING_________________________________________________ STREET___________________________________________________ CITY/STATE________________________________ ZIP__________
WORK PHONE ( )_____________________ HOME PHONE ( )_____________________ FAX ( )_____________________ EMAIL ADDRESS____________________________________
MACUL may release my mailing address: Yes No I wish to receive MACUL news and updates via email: Yes No
Professional Responsibility
Teacher Coordinator/Director Part Time Teacher/Coordinator Media Specialist/Librarian Principal Assistant Principal Superintendent Assistant Superintendent
Area of Responsibility
Preschool Elementary Middle/Junior High High School K-12
ISD/RESA/REMC Post Secondary Teacher Educator/Preservice Gifted/Talented Special Education
PAYMENT Check each SIG you would like to join:
SIGCS (Computer Science)
MACUL Dues....................................$ 40.00 SIGEE (Elementary Education) SIG dues ($5 each) ............................$________ SIGMM (Multimedia)
SIGPL (Professional Learning) (formerly PD and TE) Total....................................................$________ SIGSPED (Special Education) SIGTC (Technology Coordinators) Please make checks payable to MACUL. SIGTECH (Technicians) For VISA or Mastercard payment, SIGTELE (TeleLearning) please complete the following: SIGWEB (Webmasters)
Purchase Orders are not accepted.
Credit Card Number_____________________________________ Expiration Date______________________ Security Code (the last 3 or 4 digits printed on the back of the card in the signature field)__________________ Authorized Signature___________________________ Cardholder Name ______________________________ Cardholder Address_________________________________________________________________________
Please return this form to: MACUL, 3410 Belle Chase Way, Suite 100, Lansing, MI 48911 or fax to 517.882.2362
35| |Conference 2010MACULjournal | |46 | | MACULjournal| |Conference 09
four-color Ad rates Conference IssueSize 1-Time Rate 4-Time Rate 1-Time Rate*
Full Page $ 1,025.00 $ 950.00 $ 1,130.002/3 Page $ 865.00 $ 825.00 $ 950.001/2 Page $ 730.00 $ 700.00 $ 800.00Back Cover N/A $ 1,400.00 N/AInside Back Cover N/A $ 1,040.00 N/AInside Front Cover N/A $ 1,400.00 N/A2 Page Spread $ 1,845.00 $ 1,675.00 N/A
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* 4-time advertisers pay their regular rate for Conference Issue ads.
For MACUL sponsorship opportunities, call the MACUL office at 517.694.9973. Major sponsors receive 25% advertising discount. General sponsors receive 10% advertising discount.
Ad DeadlinesIssue space reservation Materials Due Mail Date
Spring/Summer 2009 Feb 2, 2009 Mar 6, 2009 May 8, 2009Fall 2009 May 13, 2009 Jun 12, 2009 Aug 6, 2009Winter 2009–2010 Aug 18, 2009 Sep 18, 2009 Nov 5, 2009Conference 2010 Nov 6, 2009 Dec 4, 2009 Jan 22, 2010
for ad space reservation or more information, please contact:
Publisher’s notes• The MACUL Journal is sent to every school district in Michigan as
well as to educators in nearly 40 states, and Canada.• The Journal is an important source of information for teachers and
administrators in elementary through college levels.• The Journal is published four times a year, with a readership
circulation of 6,000.• Need help developing an ad? As a service to our advertisers, ad
design and copy alterations are available for a fee.• The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertising not in
keeping with our standards.• Cancellations are not accepted after the ad reservation deadline.• Rates are effective as of January 2008.
Mechanical requirementsSize Live Area (w x h) Finished Size (+ bleed)
Full Page 8” x 101⁄2” N/A2/3 Page 51⁄4” x 101⁄2” N/A1/2 Page 8” x 51⁄8” N/ABack Cover 8” x 101⁄2” 81⁄2” x 11” (+ 1⁄8” full bleed)Inside Back Cover 8” x 101⁄2” 81⁄2” x 11” (+ 1⁄8” full bleed)Inside Front Cover 8” x 101⁄2” 81⁄2” x 11” (+ 1⁄8” full bleed)2 Page Spread 161⁄2” x 101⁄2” N/A
The Editor accepts ads in the following formats:• High-resolution PDFs (300 dpi) – preferred• High-resolution TIFs (300 dpi)• Email high-resolution PDFs or TIFs to…
2009-2010 ADVerTIsInG InforMATIon
Michigan Association for Computer users in Learning
Judy Paxtoneditor, MACUL JournalTelephone: 231.342.4801
E-mail: [email protected]
MACuL J o u r n A L
Conference 2010 Nov 6, 2009 Dec 4, 2009 Jan 22, 2010Spring/Summer 2010 Feb 5, 2010 Mar 5, 2010 May 3, 2010Fall 2010 May 14, 2010 Jun 11, 2010 Aug 5, 2010Winter 2010-2011 Aug 20, 2010 Sep 17, 2010 Nov 5, 2010
Spring/Summer 2009VOLUME 29, ISSUE 4
A Publication of the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning mACuL J O u r n A LeduCAtiOnAL
PRESORTEDBOUND PRINTED MATTERU.S. POSTAGE PAIDRAVENNA, MIPERMIT NO. 320
PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE
PAIDRAVENNA, MIPERMIT NO. 320
PRESORTEDFIRST-CLASS MAILU.S. POSTAGE PAIDRAVENNA, MIPERMIT NO. 320
NONPROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGEPAID
RAVENNA, MIPERMIT NO. 320
BOUND PRINTED MATTERU.S. POSTAGE PAIDRAVENNA, MIPERMIT NO. 320
FIRST-CLASS MAILU.S. POSTAGE PAIDRAVENNA, MIPERMIT NO. 320
PRESORTED STANDARDU.S. POSTAGEPAID
RAVENNA, MIPERMIT NO. 320
These are the standards we are to use.These were created on 10/23/07.Information from Andy Straw
gAming
gAming
eduCAtiOnAL
Full Page 8” x 10-1⁄4” N/A2/3 Page 5-1⁄4” x 10-1⁄4” N/A1/2 Page 8” x 5-1⁄8” N/ABack Cover 8” x 10-1⁄4” 8-1⁄2” x 10-3/4” (+ 1⁄4” full bleed)Inside Back Cover 8” x 10-1⁄4” 8-1⁄2” x 10-3/4” (+ 1⁄4” full bleed)Inside Front Cover 8” x 10-1⁄4” 8-1⁄2” x 10-3/4” (+ 1⁄4” full bleed)2 Page Spread 16-1⁄2” x 10-1⁄4” N/A
Meet Michigan’s 2009
Melanie Laber
ONLINE TEACHER OF THE YEAR
www.mivu.orgOnline teachers play a critical role in helping students
succeed in the virtual classroom. Michigan Virtual
School™, a pioneer in online learning, has trained more
than 450 educators how to teach online. Online teachers inspire
students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn, differentiate
instruction and use Internet-based tools to teach, mentor, support
and coach students. Michigan Virtual School has recorded more
than 65,000 online course enrollments since its inception in 2000.
The growth of online learning presents itself as the most significant
development in educational technology during the last 10 years.
Online teachers are a leading force in defining the course of this
robust future.
In Her Own Words:“Technology is changing the way students learn. As educators we must embrace this change to meet the needs of our learners. Students are able to store and retrieve information quickly which means that we must nurture students’ critical thinking and collaboration skills so that they are able to make sense of the amount of available
information.”
Atte
nd M
elan
ie’s
MA
CUL
pres
enta
tion
on
Frid
ay, M
arch
12,
“B
est
Prac
tice
s in
Onl
ine
Lear
ning
: The
Voi
ces
of E
xper
ienc
e.”
Online Instructor in Mathematics, Michigan Virtual SchoolMiddle School Mathematics Teacher, Livingston County
