always learning

I love travel, teaching and technology.

Luckily I’ve found a career which enables me to combine these three interests – allowing me to see new parts of the world, help children learn, and keep up with the latest developments in the world of technology. I am constantly learning about technology, and I consistently strive to implement those new tools into my teaching as often as I can. I was recently profiled on the Infinite Thinking Machine blog for my work with web 2.0 tools in the classroom - please feel free to read and listen to the interview. This year, I have been invited to present at three international education conferences: Teach IT! in Singapore, the Future of Learning in a Networked World in Bangkok, and the EARCOS Teacher’s Conference in Kuala Lumpur. 

I am currently the 21st Century Literacy Specialist at the International School Bangkok in Thailand, where I coordinate the successful infusion of 21st century literacy skills into the core classroom at the elementary level. Previously I was the Middle School IT teacher and Technology Facilitator (6th through 8th grade) at Mont’ Kiara International School. I spent the previous five years at Munich International School, where I was the Academic Information Technology (IT) Coordinator (AITC) for the middle school of MIS (grades 5-8, PYP and MYP programs). At both previous schools I was responsible for the integration of technology at the middle school level and taught several high school IT courses.

As the 21st Century Literacy Specialist, my work is focused on helping core subject teachers utilize web 2.0 technologies in the classroom, creating a global and collaborative approach to learning. Over the past two years I have worked with classroom teachers to develop internationally collaborative projects that authentically engage students from all around the world, helping them become effective 21st century learners, collaborators and creators.

Both the 21st Century Literacy and Technology Facilitator/Coordinator positions have allowed me to use and expand my extensive IT skills, with the goal of making both teachers and students aware of the many ways computers can be used in the classroom through our integrated information literacy curriculum. I have taken full advantage of my extensive PYP and MYP training and experience, as well as the Understanding by Design method to develop curricular units which engage and excite students about learning. All student work is shared with the entire community via blogs and wikis (ISB: Connect 2.0; M’KIS: Middle School IT Wiki).

Some of my favorite projects here at ISB are the grade 5 Life ‘Round Here digital video collaboration examining each student’s experience adapting to Thailand; our grade 2 classes connecting about culture and global citizenship in the grade 2 World Village project; and developing a love of reading with our grade 4 students on the Books Go Global! VoiceThread and wiki project. A few of my favorite projects at M’KIS were: creating an “online medical clinic” using wikis in grade 6 Science; discovering the joys of reading and writing through the use of blogs in grade 8 English; learning about current events while blogging with grade 6 Social Studies students; and discovering the world using Google Earth in grade 6 Social Studies. Some of my favorite projects at MIS were: designing and creating logos with our grade 6 Art classes; developing websites in German with our grade 8 German Language B classes; and allowing our grade 8 Science students to create IT enhanced presentations (websites, digital videos and PowerPoints) to help them be the “teachers” for their Forces and Motion unit.

Throughout my years as a teacher I have always strived to stay abreast of current educational trends and to continue my professional development. I am currently working towards a School Library Media Specialist certificate through Indiana State University and have attended six (and presented at three) international education conferences in my first year at ISB. While working in KL, I completed a certificate in Educational Leadership through the State University of New York (in the ISKL cohort). As part of this program, I have attended a workshop on Assessment in International Education with Bambi Betts, studied Cognitive Coaching with Bill Powell, and studied the Understanding by Design model of curriculum planning with Jay McTighe.

In addition to this coursework, I have also given several professional development training sessions for both teachers and parents at ISB and M’KIS, including: Electronic Portfolios, Blogging Across the Curriculum, and Introducing Understanding by Design. I have also strived to make connections among international school teachers through the use of my professional blog and the development of a specialized wiki and collaborative blog called “Tech In The Middle” for Middle School IT Integration.

In my last year at MIS, I attended the Alliance for International Education conference in Dusseldorf, presented our model of IT integration at the Association of German International Schools conference in Hannover and successfully completed the Workshop Leader Training at the MYP conference in Hilversum, the Netherlands.

In addition, I recently completed my teaching certification and Master’s coursework at the U.S. State Department’s Fast Train program at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. This program was designed specifically to train international school teachers.

Teaching, travel and technology are my passions. I look forward to every day in the classroom because I know that not only will my students be learning something new, but so will I!

Personal Narrative: What Makes an Outstanding Educator?

As the middle school Academic IT Coordinator for at Munich International School, I had the challenging job of integrating technology into the core curriculum subjects for all 400 of our middle school students. One of my favorite projects was a movie project with grade 5. I believe that the way I planned and taught that unit, in collaboration with the grade 5 teachers, exemplifies many of the skills that help make me an outstanding educator.

An outstanding educator is one who challenges her students in new and creative ways every day. The goal of my week-long project was to get students excited about using their language arts skills in new ways by introducing them to digital video editing. Using digital video cameras and iBook laptops with iMovie software, the students filmed and edited trailers advertising a movie version of the book they were reading in class.

An outstanding educator encourages students to try new things and to share ideas through collaborative learning. Students were divided into small groups and given the task of creating their trailer. The students worked together to plan, write, act, direct, and film their scenes.

An outstanding educator inspires her students through enthusiasm, expertise and excitement. Through a process based on the MYP Technology Design Cycle and utilizing the PYP practice of inquiry, the students went through the stages of investigation, planning, creation and evaluation to complete the project. Each group used the inspiration of real movie trailers they found online to plan their script and storyboard. After filming, the students edited their videos, adding titles, music, transitions and video effects.

An outstanding educator recognizes the need for differentiation in the classroom to enable all students to succeed. Each group worked at their own pace according to their own abilities and needs. Each project was different, but all fulfilled the expectations of the unit. Student evaluations indicated that they thoroughly enjoyed the project and have become competent digital video editors; ready to tackle the next new technology that comes their way.

Above all, an outstanding educator knows that teaching is a learning experience and that, upon reflection, she always has room for improvement. This project was a fantastic experience for me, and the students, and I know the next time I teach it, it will be even better.