Collaborative Tools for Learning Conference
Friday, November 13
Macomb ISD, Clinton Township, MI

The 3rd annual Collaborative Tools for Learning Conference, sponsored by the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) and hosted by the Macomb ISD, will show educators how to make use of the next generation of technologies to support student learning and achievement. A host of new tools and practices of Web 2.0 and beyond are focusing on how learners of all ages and abilities can collaborate to explore new ideas and understandings.

This one-day conference will include both hour-long demonstration sessions and 90 minute hands-on sessions to develop skills and provide ideas of how these new tools address student understanding. Proposals are welcomed from all educators who can show how these tools support and enhance student collaboration and learning.

Two full-day preconference workshops will be offered on Thursday, November 12 by SIGPL on:

1. iTeach: Using iPods and iPhones for Teaching and Learning
2. How to Survive (and Thrive) as a Technology Integration Specialist

Online registration will be available at a later date.  Visit http://macul.org/otherevents/collaborativetoolsconference/ for more information.

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

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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.

Visit Us at Two Upcoming Conferences

The Educational Technology Programs will be represented at two upcoming conferences in Michigan in March.  The first conference is the 2009 Michigan Science Teachers Association Conference which is being held at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center from March 5-7.  Come visit us at booth H.

The MACUL Conference 2009 is being held at Cobo Hall from March 18-20. This is a great conference for educators to learn more about technology and how it can be applied in the classroom. They have hands on workshops as well as presentations conducted by other educators and educational vendors. Several of our instructors (Carolyn McCarthy-Research Based Classroom Formative Assessments; Michael Partridge-Joomia! Free Content Management for Schools) will be presenting in pre-conference workshops on Wednesday March 18^th, as well as doing information sessions on Thursday and Friday (Tammy Maginity -We’re Just Moodlin’ Along; Michael Partridge- Bringing Technology to Your Theater Arts Program; Eric Spicer- Explore, Engage, Empower: Using Interactive Tools in Your Classroom) Additionally, a number of teachers that graduated from our program will also be presenting in different sessions.

The Educational Technology Certificate Program, the Master’s in Educational Technology and the Confucius Institute will all be represented at booth #423 in the exhibitor hall. Come visit us and learn more about the certificate, endorsement and Master’s programs in Educational Technology. We’d be happy to provide a demonstration of our Certificate program classes.

Representatives from the Confucius Institute at MSU will also talk about their online materials developed with up-to-date technologies, such as podcasts; 3-D language learning environments (”Second Life”); and other multimedia learning materials that teach adult and K-12 students about Chinese language and culture.

We look forward to seeing you at either of these conferences!

-Carrie Albin, Outreach Coordinator and Co-Editor

Master Student Participates with her Students in the AT&T/MACUL Student Technology Showcase

Students from elementary, middle and high schools throughout Michigan gathered to participate in the eighth annual AT&T/MACUL Student Technology Showcase on November 12, 2008 at the Capitol Building. The showcase was designed to keep legislators apprised of how technology is being used by schools to enhance the education process and help youth successfully transition from the classroom to a career.

Heather Janik, a student in our Master’s of Educational Technology program and a teacher at Mancelona Middle School, participated with her students.  Her students demonstrated their projects which they created using ToonDoo.  Each student created a page to contribute to a grade level comic book on a topic of his/her choice.

Heather explains,

I tried to come up with a project that is engaging and uses digital media.  For the end of the 2007-2008 school year I put together a comic book unit.  This unit was designed, not to focus on the art, as much as it was designed to focus on what makes a comic; the terminology, the parts of a comic, free comic creating resources online, and finally having the kids create their own full page comic.  I found that this was enjoyed by ALL students; not just boys and not just comic readers.

To learn more about Heather’s project please visit http://hmjanik.googlepages.com/finalproject.

To learn more about the event and to see a complete list of participating schools and projects, visit the MACUL Web site at www.macul.org.