MACUL Conference 2010

Thanks to Professor Jeff Stanzler for inviting UM MAC students to attend the MACUL conference this year in Grand Rapids. I’m glad I had the opportunity to go and hear about many excellent uses of technology in the classroom. Even though the trip to and from Grand Rapids was nearly six hours long, I enjoyed the peaceful time it gave me on the road with good company, my friend Sara Staten.

We attended sessions on innovative uses for technology in the secondary English classroom, differentiated instruction, and Google Lit trips. We also had the opportunity to experience other lectures we could not attend simultaneously by reading the live-blogs posted by our cohort.

At first I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to focus on the presentation with a live-blog requirement, but was pleasantly surprised to see how useful it actually was. It helped me pay closer attention to the main points of the presentations and I found it to be an excellent method for documenting a record I can always refer back to.

The conference also helped me form connections with teachers I found particularly innovative, including Jeff Blakeslee from Canton High School, who invited me to visit his classroom :)

The following is a list of all the presentations that interested me (from the MACUL online planner): http://planner.macul.org/planner.aspx


Creative Ideas for Technology in Secondary English Classes
8:30 AM-9:30 AM
Two teachers from PCCS will share innovative ideas for using technology to teach Language Arts (transferable to other subjects). Strategies are based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Lesson plans will include ideas for project-based learning, SMARTBoards, Moodle, wikis, blogs, e-pals, Web 2.0,video production, and more.
Presenters
Jeff Blakeslee - Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
Dayna Lang - Plymouth-Canton Community Schools


Combining Technology and Universal Design for Learning to Reach All Learners
10:00 AM-11:00 AM
The UDL model, developed by CAST in 1994, is a helpful framework for organizing learning experiences that reach all learners in the classroom. Explore successful examples of UDL learning journeys that embrace diversity, meet learners where they are, and help you meet your curriculum goals successfully.
Presenters
Anne Truger - Special Education District of Lake County, Illinois


Google Earth for Educators
10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Google Earth, Google's satellite imagery-based mapping product, puts the whole world on a student's computer. It enables users to "fly" from space to street level to find geographic information and explore places around the world. Like a video game and a search engine rolled into one, Earth is basically a 3D model of the entire planet that lets you grab, spin, and zoom down into any place on Earth. From literature to environmental science, Google Earth can help you bring a world of information alive for your students. You can use Google Earth demos to get your students excited about all subjects.
Presenters
Aidan Chopra – Google


The Power of Play: Infusing Fun Into Professional Development
10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Fostering play in technology workshops is an effective way to allow people to interact with new technologies. This workshop will focus on the link between play and learning as well as specific strategies to foster a spirit of play in a professional development setting.
Presenters
Andrea Zellner - Red Cedar Writing Project
Leigh Graves Wolf - Michigan State University


What Do You Think You See?
11:30 AM-12:30 PM
A 21st century learner is required to be literate in several areas; visual literacy is one of them. Visual literacy is defined as the ability to understand communications composed of visual images as well as being able to use visual imagery to communicate to others.
Presenters
Barbara LaBeau - Grand Valley State University
Russ Barneveld - Grand Valley State University


Pack Your Bags!
11:30 AM-12:30 PM
Pack your Bags will show participants how to integrate Discovery Streaming, literature, and Google Earth seamlessly and allow teachers to take their students on worldwide trips without leaving the classroom. Based on Google Lit Trips, participants will see how combining these three pieces will expand the walls of the classroom.
Presenters
Cheryl Lykowski - Bedford Public Schools

MACUL Liveblog: Creative Technology for English