Greetings Educators,

A few weeks ago my colleague and partner in crime, Matt Koehler and I, published an article in the journal Learning and Leading with Technology, the membership magazine of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).  In this article titled, “Too Cool for School, No Way” (http://tinyurl.com/c6p5ta/), we tried to make the argument that new technologies (such as Facebook, iPhone, Flickr, WordPress, Google Earth, GPS devices, YouTube so on) have the potential to fundamentally change the way we think about teaching and learning.

However, realizing this potential is not an easy task. Merely bringing these tools into the classroom will not lead to change and in fact may be a dangerous distraction. As educators we need to think through how these tools can function with specific pedagogical contexts for teaching specific subject matter. For instance even the same technology needs to be understood and used differently if teaching different subject matter or in a different grade level. For instance, using Google Earth to teach geography (http://www.google.com/educators/p_earth_discovery.html) at the high school level is very different from using it at the elementary level. Moreover, Google Earth does not constrain us to using it just to teach geography.  It can be used fruitfully for teaching mathematics (for instance check out http://www.realworldmath.org), something the original designers of Google Earth clearly did not consider when designing the software program. In the L&L article we have a bunch of other interesting examples that I won’t repeat here. But I do want to make two key points.

First, it is hard to predict what these new tools can do for us. Just as Google Earth could be used to teach mathematics, the educational possibilities of many of these tools is yet to be recognized or identified. A great example I recently came across was a classroom in Italy who used mp3 recordings of the moon landing and an open source audio-editing software program called Audacity to compute the distance to the moon! Who would have thought that Audacity, an audio editing program, could be used as a data analysis tool? You can read more about this fascinating project  at http://tinyurl.com/mqedva/.

Second, the fact that we don’t know which tools could be used for educational purposes makes it really hard to predict what we should teach in our teacher education and professional development programs. Clearly teaching specific technologies is doomed to fail. For those of us who remember the hype about Hypercard or the dreams about Dreamweaver, I wonder what we will think about the twitter about Web 2.0, blogs and wikis a decade from now.

What this means is that our emphasis should be more on developing flexible frameworks that support recognizing the potentials of new technologies and their integration into the teaching of subject matter. This is not a passive approach towards technology integration but rather one that sees teachers as creators of new ways of engaging students with powerful ideas. These are teachers who are designers of learning environments, fluent in their knowledge not just of subject matter, pedagogy and technology but in the way these three things are to work together.

In our master’s program we try to push for such flexible approaches towards educational technology. Through our on-campus, off-campus and online courses we attempt to create a way of thinking, a way of looking at the world that emphasizes these values of life-long learning and creativity, of engagement and play.

As our program is continually evolving and growing, the EduTech Today newsletter is undergoing a few exciting changes. First off, the Director’s column will now be shared between the Director of the Certificate program, Dr. Joseph Codde, and me (the Director of the Master’s program, Dr. Punya Mishra.) Another change to the newsletter is the addition of a few new column categories. We are adding three new categories: MAET News, Job Postings and Grants and other Funding as well as making changes to the Instructor Spotlight. The Alumni Spotlight has been merged with the Instructor Spotlight so we can highlight both our terrific alumni and program faculty.

We are transitioning to a new email service and therefore you may receive two newsletter emails this month. One from our old service and one from our new service, MailChimp. If you do not receive two emails of the same newsletter this month you may want to visit http://newsletter.edutech.msu.edu/subscribe to be sure that you are part of the new email list.

Lastly the number of issues that we will be distributing has changed. With our new format you will be receiving the newsletter bi-monthly (6 issues/year) instead of quarterly (4 issues/year). Many of the new columns that we have added are time-sensitive information that the quarterly format did not accommodate. The bi-monthly format will help you keep up to date with the latest information for job postings, grants and other funding, as well as other great tips and ideas for using technology in the classroom and ways to connect with the MAET program.

So once again thank you for being part of the MAET family. From all of us here at MAET central, all the best as you transition into summer.

Dr. Punya Mishra
Director MAET Program
College of Education
Michigan State University
Web: http://punyamishra.com
Blog: http://punya.educ.msu.edu/blog/

Online CEP 810 Course Wins AT&T Award in Instructional Technology

Responding to the growing use of online technologies for instruction at Michigan State University, Libraries, Computing and Technology held its third annual awards program, generously funded by AT&T, to both recognize and encourage best practices in the use of technology to enhance teaching and learning.

Our CEP 810: Teaching for Understanding with Computers course, the first course in the Certificate and Master’s program, tied for first place for the best fully online course.  The team that worked on the course was recognized for their hard work in developing the online course at the awards ceremony on April 20, 2009.

A courses that is considered for the award must demonstrate the learning and interaction goals of the course, points of interest and innovation, ways in which the course meets accessibility guidelines, evidence of effectiveness with students and plans for sustainability.

You can read more about the award and why CEP 810 was selected at http://att-awards.msu.edu/index.php/winners/2009/cep_810_isb_202.

The following people were a part of the team that helped develop the CEP 810 online course.

Carrie Albin, Outreach Manager, Educational Technology Certificate Program, Curriculum/Designer
John Bell, Associate Professor, Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education, Curriculum/Technology
Brandon Blinkenberg, vuDAT, eProducer
Joe Codde, Director, Educational Technology Certificate Program
Kathryn Dirkin, Graduate Student, Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education, Curriculum/Designer
Carolyn McCarthy, Adjunct Faculty, Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education, Instructor
Tae Seob Shin, Graduate Student, Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education, Curriculum
Brook Thompson, Assistant to Director, Educational Technology Certificate Program, Transcriber/Accessibility
Sue Way, Former Master’s Coor., Educational Technology Certificate Program, Curriculum

CURRENT STUDENT NEWS
MAET Student Dana Dziedzic who as awarded a $2500 grant for classroom clickers based upon her Dream IT assignment she created for her East Lansing summer cohort class last summer!  Dana says “I was turned down the first time, but resubmitted it in January.  So, if students complain about the assignment, tell them that I will have $2,500 in new teaching tools come next fall.”

MAET REQUIRED SOFTWARE LIST
We have provided a list of commercial software along with free/open source alternatives.  In order to support your individual needs and to make the summer most beneficial to your school/work environment you must have the software in each category, though you are are not required to buy the commercial versions.  All projects can be completed successfully with either commercial or open source alternatives.

An updated list of required software and hardware can be found by visiting:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ah93×5pp2qng_5t4dxbzg3

NP ENDORSEMENT
Upon completion of the 21 Educational Technology endorsement credits (CEP 810, 811, 812, 800, 815 (formerly 801), 820, 822) you will need to apply for the NP endorsement using the following form:

http://www.educ.msu.edu/programs/forms/endform.pdf

FALL 2009 APPLICATION DEADLINE
The fall MAET application deadline of July 1st is quickly approaching!

Thanks to all who have recommended family, friends and colleagues to our program! Application materials can be found by visiting – http://edutech.msu.edu/apply_masters.html

JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORKS!
Our Facebook fan page is at 115 fans and growing! Make sure to join us

at: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=49440874208

In addition to our Facebook group, check our our presence on

MACUL Space:
http://maculspace.ning.com/group/msuedutech

or

LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=1865810&trk=anet_ug_hm

College of Education Graduate School Programs Top National Rankings:  7 Graduate Programs in the Top 10

MSU’s College of Education has done it again. For the 15th year in a row the college’s graduate programs in elementary and secondary education have been ranked number 1 in the 2010 U.S. News & World Report guide to “America’s Best Graduate Schools”.

A total of seven educational specialties at Michigan State University placed within the top-10 based on a survey of more than 278 education school deans across the country. They include rehabilitation counseling, which retained its No. 1 ranking (from 2007), curriculum and instruction (No. 2), higher education administration (No. 4), educational psychology (No. 5) and administration/supervision (No. 8). In addition, the College of Education was ranked 17th overall.

“For 15 years now, these rankings have recognized our continuing commitment to address critical issues in education through both high quality research and teaching,” said Carole Ames, dean of the College of Education. “We take pride in our faculty and programs that prepare effective, global-minded educators for the challenges of the future.”

• Elementary Education — #1 for the 15th year
• Secondary Education — #1 for the 15th year
• Rehabilitation Counseling –#1 (shared rank with Univ. Wisconsin)*
• Curriculum & Instruction–#2
• Higher Education Administration–#4
• Educational Psychology–#5 (Shared with Univ. Illiois-Urbana-Champaign)*
• Administration & Supervision (K-12)–#8

The magazine ranks the nation’s 278 graduate education schools that grant doctorates or Ed.S. degrees. The rankings are based on six attributes:

• reputation
• faculty resources
• research activity
• student selectivity
• overall rank
• specialty rankings

See more details about our ranking categories or visit the U.S. News site for the nationwide listings.

Educational Technology Specialist position available at Missouri S&T

Hiring Department:

Information Technology

Application Deadline:

May 26, 2009 or until filled

Full Time/Part Time:

Full Time/Benefit Eligible
Hours are Mon – Fri 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Job Description

This position will provide opportunities for and assist faculty members in the use of educational technologies, both on a pedagogical and a technical level.  Duties will include providing direct technical problem solving and instructional design assistance to faculty members using educational technologies; advising faculty members on a one-on-one or group basis on innovative and effective uses of educational technology tools in their courses; developing and improving faculty knowledge of best practices concerning pedagogy and technology.  Facilitate focus groups and client meetings in order to tailor on-line programs that meet business needs and improve performance.  Work with technical and academic staff to devise new functionalities;  integrate academic technology tools, including but not limited to LMS, into the existing computing infrastructure; and recommend enhancements where appropriate.  Research and implement new educational technologies as appropriate. Serve as a liaison with vendors, technical support and other institutions; monitor product developments in the course management system and portal markets.  Participate in department wide information and resource sharing.  Plan and test software upgrades. Monitor system performance and reliability and keep track of usage statistics and trends.  Implement the export, import, creation and copying of LMS course sites.  Perform other duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s degree in an area in which emphasizes educational technologies, or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities can be acquired, is necessary.

Two to three years experience working with teaching and pedagogical methodologies in a higher education environment.

Demonstrated excellent communications and interpersonal skills, including ability to communicate tactfully and effectively at all levels of the university community.

Ability to work independently and as a part of a team.

To learn more or to apply for this job  go to http://hr.mst.edu, on the left will be a menu option for Employment Opportunities.  Once you click there, you will have to choose Perspective Employee and create a login to get to the job posting and/or apply for the job. 

Apply now for a MACUL Grant

Apply now for a MACUL Grant. The application window is now open for MACUL members to apply for a MACUL Grant (up to $1500) to support effective use of technology in the classroom. Details are listed below as well as the links to the Overview, Rubric and Timeline. Deadline for applying is midnight, June 27, 2009.

Purpose: To encourage and support members interested in promoting effective instructional uses of the computer or related-equipment.

Grant Goal: Each project should focus on an instructional use of the computer or related equipment, which has the potential of being replicated in other educational settings.

Grant Limit per Application: $1,500

Eligible Applicants: MACUL members who are classroom teachers, coordinators, administrators, or higher education personnel. MACUL Grant recipients from the last two years are ineligible to apply.

Requirements for Acceptance of Grant Funds:
1) Complete a MACUL-Grant Project Summary Form and Budget Report,
2) Carry out plan for sharing the project with other educators and MACUL members,
3) Submit a MACUL Journal article on the project and present the project at the MACUL Conference in either a one-hour session or a poster session.

Length: The recommended overall length of a MACUL Grant is 2000-2500 words.

Grant Information and Overview

Grant Rubric

Online Application

Timeline

———————————————————————————-

MEA Professional Growth and Development Grant

The Michigan Education Association is committed to improving the quality of education for Michigan students in the state’s public schools. As part of its continuing commitment to deliver quality professional development and improved professional practice for its members, MEA established a program to provide funding grants to members, local associations and local professional development committees. MEA’s Professional Growth & Development (PG&D) Grant projects allow members to plan and implement conferences, workshops, research or other projects that address educational needs and professional practice.

To learn more about how to apply for this grant go to http://www.mea.org/pd/pdf/pdg-grants.pdf.

To educators, technology is both an opportunity and a challenge. They don’t have time to scour the millions of resources available online to find content that is credible, appropriate and standards-based. Yet, to engage today’s students – of all ages – technology is a must.

That’s exactly where Thinkfinity.org comes in. This comprehensive Web site delivers free online resources to advance student achievement, including: top-quality, standards-based, K-12 lesson plans; student materials; interactive tools; connections to educational Web sites; research-based models and courses; and metrics for literacy instruction. From the classroom to literacy programs, after school or home environments, Thinkfinity.org gives teachers, instructors and parents the tools they need to increase student performance today and create the lifelong learners of tomorrow.

What is Thinkfinity?

Thinkfinity.org is a Web site that contains thousands of free lesson plans and student materials in every core subject, designed by the leading educational and literacy organizations in the United States.  Thinkfinity is designed to improve learning in traditional settings and beyond the classroom by providing high-caliber content and professional development needed to improve student achievement anytime, anywhere, at no cost.

In a nutshell, here’s what clicks with teachers who use Thinkfinity.org:

• Content is free and meets national education standards and the educational standards adopted by each of the states.
• Finding information is simple and fast.
• Content providers are knowledgeable and trustworthy.
• Lessons are exciting, fun and cover a depth and breadth of topics.
• Resources can be readily used by an individual student, small group or whole class.
• Literacy materials are targeted to early childhood, K-12, family, adult and English language learners.

The Thinkfinity homepage, located at www.thinkfinity.org, is the access point for all Thinkfinity resources. On the right hand side of the homepage, you will find the Search Engine, where you can quickly search for lessons, interactives, worksheets, media and much more! In the center of the homepage, you will find links to the Content Partner sites and four main menu items: Educator, Student, Parent and Afterschool. Each of these sections will allow access to additional resources.

The Educator portal contains a search tool for lessons and interactives and a calendar that highlights events that have occurred on specific dates with accompanying lessons and activities. It also provides links to monthly highlights and the newest resources.

Thinkfinity Professional Development

A comprehensive professional development program prepares educators to incorporate Thinkfinity’s rich resources into their instructional settings for maximum impact. A rollout network of select state and national education and literacy organizations ensures the broadest possible reach for these valuable resources and services. The Professional Development menu is also found within the Educator portal.  The Professional Development section links to training opportunities and resources. Currently Thinkfinity offers one-hour Webinars (a combination of online and voice phone seminars) and a Flash-based self-guided training presentation online for free.  Additional training opportunities are available in Michigan through our Field Trainer Network.  Please contact Karen Hariston (hairstonk@michigan.gov) for more information.

Flatten Your Classroom

A few years ago Thomas Friedman wrote the international bestselling book “The World is Flat”, which examined the effects of globalization on countries, companies, and individuals.  Globalization and the latest in Web 2.0 technologies have also affected education.   A new free e-book titled “Seven Steps to Flattening Your Classroom” is based on an Atomic Learning workshop developed by Vicki Davis, who has been recognized for her innovative use of the Web in the classroom.  The book shares seven steps to transform the classroom through global collaboration.

The seven steps that are covered in the e-book include:

Step 1: Connect Yourself

Step 2: Connect Your Students

Step 3: Create Prolearners

Step 4: Communicate

Step 5: Character

Step 6: Citizenship and Safety

Step 7: Choice and Focus

If you are interested in learning more about flattening your classroom you can also visit the workshops that Vicki Davis has created for Atomic Learning at http://movies.atomiclearning.com/k12/7sfc_wb2.  Several of the workshops are offered as free samples but most of them are only accessible if you have a subscription to Atomic Learning.

Web Sites Worth Visiting

Website	Description and Educational Applications
http://phet.colorado.edu/index.php	PhET Interactive Simulations has free online physics, chemistry, biology, earth science and math simulations. (Submitted by Patrick Gillespie, Certificate student)
http://chartle.net	Chartle is a web based application that lets you create, embed and share your plots, maps, charts, diagrams and business reports online.(Submitted by Leigh Graves Wolf, Master’s Program Coordinator)
http://cobocards.com	Cobocards are virtually created flashcards. You can print them and study offline, edit them again and again, compare with older versions, check the status of your knowledge, upload pictures and graphs, and share your flashcards with friends.. (Submitted by Leigh Graves Wolf, Master’s Program Coordinator)
http://classtools.net/	Classtools.net allows you to create free educational games, activities and diagrams in a Flash! Host them on your own blog, website or intranet! No signup, no passwords, no charge!
http://www.doink.com	DoInk is a web based application that lets you easily draw and animate online.  You can collaborate with friends and other artists by reusing the works already created.

This issue’s alumni spotlight is . . . Patricia Boehm

Patricia, a 2006 graduate of our MAET program, recently had an article titled “Fostering Creativity While Nurturing Learners” published in the May/June 2009 issue of Knowledge Quest (KQ) from the ALA school library division, AASL (American Association of School Librarians).

In addition she is working on an article for School Library Media Activities Monthly for the Sept. 2009 issue on the new AASL program guidelines “Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Media Programs.”

MAET Graduation Year:  2006

Current Employer: Brighton Area Schools

Job Responsibilities: Library Media Specialist, Brighton High School – Manage a school library and its budgets, purchase materials (print and online) to support the curriculum, teaching, and learning; collaborate with teachers to enhance their instruction to include inquiry based learning, technology integration, and 21^st century teaching and learning; develop relationships with students; website design and maintenance. I always hope to provide easy access to information and great resources.

What are your “ed tech” responsibilities and challenges?

Aside from my responsibilities as a librarian, I am the sole teacher whose work includes supporting teachers as they infuse technology in teaching and learning. There are other tech savvy teachers here but they do not have the luxury of a flexible teaching schedule as I do. My vision is for teachers and students to use technology for collaborative learning. It’s through collaboration that we bring out the best understandings from the synergy of the group. Each individual brings a unique perspective to the discussion and collaboration, informing others and advancing their personal knowledge and that of the group. I’m honored to have opportunities to teach all students, as well as their teachers, in my work. I’m challenged by the enormity of the task but I love doing it!

How did the MAET degree program help prepare you for these challenges?

I became a better teacher focused on social constructivist learning – really. Learning is shifting to student centered and I’m feeling on top of the game. We worked closely with our cohort teams, laughed, created, taught each other, shared, and all on the beautiful MSU campus. We used Web 2.0 tools as they were emerging. I’ve made friendships that to this day still keep me informed of the latest technologies to use for teaching and learning. It was the best summer camp I’ve ever attended! I’m very proud to be a Spartan!

Question: Is there an easy way to convert an audio and/or video file without having to download any special software?

Answer: Yes!  Zamzar.com offers a free online file conversion with a wide variety of image, document, audio and video formats.  You can convert files that are up to 100 MB and up to 5 files at a time for free but be forewarned that you will be bombarded with ads.  They do have paid versions with no ads and free online file storage but if you are only using it occasionally it won’t be worth the monthly price.

In addition ZamZar has a free download video feature.  This would also be helpful if you are presenting at an off-site location and are unsure of the stability of the Internet connection.  You can download the video prior to the presentation so that you can be sure to have it available.

When using the download video feature it is important to keep in mind copyright guidelines.  When using the video for educational purposes you will want to review the Four Factors of Fair Use at http://www.lib.umn.edu/copyright/fairuse.phtml#fourfactors.