Discovering New Life.

In my past life I was a teacher or a scientist. How I became an ICT pro I can't explain. I love nature documentaries and working with kids, but I never pursued a career in either discipline. So nowadays I just get to watch from afar and think about what could have been.

Recently I learned of a project that will allow three special teachers to accompany scientists from The Nature Conservancy and The American Museum of Natural History on a trip to Palmyra and the Solomon Islands. They’ll see first hand the amazing diversity of life found there and view efforts to conserve the fast vanishing marine and terrestrial habitats.

The teachers are:

Robin Bottini
Science Teacher from Avon Lake High School, Avon Lake Central School District, Ohio

Dawn Sherwood
Science/Oceanography Teacher from Highland Springs High School, Henrico County Public Schools, Virginia

Jennifer Van Gundy
9th Grade Science Teacher from Hinkley High School, Aurora Public Schools, Colorado

You can also check their progress at http://www.rediscoveringdarwin.org/

SMART Table Gets Some Gizmodo Love

Even my fellow geeks at Gizmodo.com have nice things to say about the SMART table and how they can be used to educate our children. You know how I feel about edu-tech, so check out this post.

New Promethean Viral Shows and Proves.

The folks at Promethean went with a testimonial feel with their new video, but also added actual classroom footage. Check out the video below.




Also worth noting is Promethean's use of consumer feedback after the initial beta release of their new software ActivInspire. Between the teacher blog contest and hundreds of unsolicited responses, the software developers had plenty of fodder to go back and make corrections. Check out this article.

Simple and Clean

Here is Peter H. Reynolds doing his thing at BETT Show 2009 on an Activboard.

Promethean Blog Competition or When is it Okay to Lie?

Sometimes I really wish I had just made a career change to become a teacher a long time ago.  There are so many cool things going on in education these days even in the midst of a recession.  Just got the news from the education wire that Promethean is currently holding a blog competition with huge prizes.  The grand prize being a $8,000 ACTIVclassroom setup.  I'm considering submitting a blog entry where I lie and describe myself as a teacher of young special needs war veterans.  Gotta pull those heart strings!

You can find more information by clicking here:

Good luck everybody, keep your favorite non-teacher in mind if you win.

Decatur EDtv gets ACTIV

Activboards have been introduced to several schools in the City Schools of Decatur.  Check out this video of an Activ classroom in action.

 

For All My Educators out there.

I received this email a week ago about FETC 2009 in glorious Orlando, Florida:

 Top Five Reasons to Cover FETC 2009:

 

1. Many great stories about classroom challenges and ed-tech under one roof
2. Discover innovative ways to improve teaching during a tight economy
3. Secure informative quotes from inspiring speakers
4. Report on the latest ed-tech tools, tactics and trends
5. Gather unique anecdotes from local educators and the nation’s top ed-tech professionals

 

 

One of the largest conferences in the nation devoted entirely to educational technology is fast approaching.  FETC 2009,The Educational Technology Conference in Florida, will take place Jan. 21-24, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.  Register for press credentials now and allow your audience to live (and learn) the experience through you!

 

Media representatives and bloggers are encouraged to attend and see the latest in educational technology. There is no cost for media registration; those interested can register online at www.fetc.org (click on Press and then go to Credentials). Please note that media representatives and bloggers are required to register and will not be admitted into any FETC venues without a press badge.

 

We hope you will consider attending and/or covering this important conference.

 

If you have any questions, please contact Rick Oppenheim at (850) 386-9100 or FETCpress@1105media.com.