Teaching, technology, and the building of professional communities of support
Teaching, technology, and the building of professional communities of support
Academic Year:
2014 - 2015 (June 1, 2014 through May 31, 2015)
Funding Requested:
$1,285.00
Project Dates:
-
Applicant(s):
Overview of the Project:
In the graduate course that I teach for the MAC (secondary teacher certification) Program on teaching with technology, my goals are to help my students think creatively about using web-based technology to enhance student learning, and to provide them with meaningful professional experiences that connect them with the larger community of educators. My application for funding is linked to a plan designed to work purposefully towards reaching these goals. In previous years, my students have attended Michigan's annual conference on teaching with technology, the MACUL (Michigan Association of Computer Users in Learning) Conference. This year, I am applying to have my students actually present at the conference, with their presentations based on work they do in class in which they teach their peers how specific new technology tools can enhance student learning across the disciplines. In a day when both teachers and school funding are under siege, new teachers must be able to speak articulately and publicly about their practice, so the other part of my plan is to invite graduates of our program, who themselves do professional development work, to attend a "dress rehearsal" of the presentation and to offer feedback to my students. I want my students to participate in rich professional conversations, and I also want to strengthen ties with our alumni community, and I believe that my plan, at a very modest cost, will accomplish all of this, while providing my students with a valuable personal and professional experience.