Monthly Archives: April 2012
iPresenter Spotlight Series – Tech Chicks
Anna Adam & Helen Mowers – Killeen, TX
Instructional Technologists & Creators of Tech Chick Tips
Twitter: @BetterAnnaMac & @techchick94
Bio: Anna Adam and Helen Mowers are the creators of Tech Chick Tips, a podcast with tips for educators about using technology in instruction to engage students (http://techchicktips.net). They both work for the Killeen Independent School District, in Central Texas. Anna is in her 14th year as a Campus Instructional Technologist, where she juggles being instructional support and technology guru for Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade students and their teachers. Helen’s 18 years of experience with KISD have included being a science teacher, instructional technologist, and professional developer. Anna is the proud wife of one and mom to three digital kids, ages 12, 10 and 8, and Helen is proud auntie to two digi-nieces, ages 5 and 2! In addition to presenting at conferences and authoring articles, Anna and Helen are both Apple Distinguished Educators and addicted to cool gadgets, blogs, podcasts, and social media, and can often be found surfing the web at all hours of the day and night looking for new tips and tools that can engage kids and teachers!
The Tech Chicks will be presenting 2 sessions at iPadpalooza on Sowing the Seeds of Storytelling and Bringing Science and Math to Life.iPadpalooza Keynote Speaker – Tony Vincent!
Tony Vincent – Phoenix, AZ
Mobile Guru
Planet 5th became so popular that it received thousands of hits from around the world. In 2001 his students began using Palm handhelds, and ever since Tony has been an advocate for mobile learning. He co-wrote Handhelds for Teachers & Administrators in 2003. In 2005 he developed Radio WillowWeb, making it one of the first podcasts by students. Tony left classroom teaching to become an independent consultant in 2006. While he misses his former school, he’s had amazing experiences as a consultant. Currently based in Phoenix, Arizona,Tony has worked with teachers and students from around the world.
iPresenter Spotlight Series – Scott Meech
Scott Meech – Downers Grove, IL
Director of Technology, Downers Grove District #58
Twitter: @smeech
Bio: Scott Meech is starting his 17th year in education. Currently, Scott works as the Director of Technology in Downers Grove District #58. While Scott began his teaching career in Social Studies, he quickly realized his greatest educational interest was in the transformative nature of technology. Scott was an early adopter and was regularly the test pilot for any and all new tech initiatives. Scott’s teaching quickly transformed from a traditional teacher-centered paradigm into a constructivist student-centered approach. Meech earned his masters in education in curriculum and technology in 2005 and he just finished an educational leadership certificate program through Johns Hopkins University program in conjunction with ISTE to obtain his educational leadership certificate.
While he has a myriad of interests, his favorite pastime besides spending time with his wife and three daughters is studying the impact technology is making and can make on education. He believes that education is on the brink of major change and that technology will finally fulfill its promise. Scott is an Apple Distinguished Educator and Google Certified Teacher. He is also a founder of several initiatives including EdReach.us, IEAR.org and AppofApproval.us.
Scott will be presenting on a variety of topics including “iPad Army Knife” and Personal Learning Networks -iPad Style
Registration back open!
We reached our initial limit on registered attendees which shut down registration today. However we have expanded the limit and registration is back open again. Sorry for the inconvenience!
Click here to register:
http://goo.gl/501ID
iPadpalooza Video Promo is live!
Special thanks to WHS students Kendall French Kazen and Sarah Vollman for creating this video for this event. ”Spirit in the Sky” is a trademarked song by Norman Greenbaum. Visit his website at www.spiritinthesky.com for more info. Also, check out his anthology on iTunes.
iPresenter Spotlight Series – Mike Scheid
Mike Scheid – Highlands Ranch, CO
Technology Integration Specialist – Cherry Hills Christian School
Bio: Mike Scheid has been working with students for over 16 years, first as a High School and Middle School youth pastor in Scottsdale, AZ and Denver, CO. He has always been passionate about helping to better the lives of those around him, especially students. After leaving his position at a church in the Denver area he began working at Apple for 4 years as a certified trainer. During his time at Apple he presented many 1 on 1 training sessions along with multi user workshops for up 300 participants. He received certifications from Apple including Mobile Device, Aperture, iLife, iWork, OSX, Trainer, and Presenter. He left Apple to become the VP of operations for a non-profit organization that supplied relief for Rwanda. In his work with this non-profit, he was responsible for developing their technology infrastructure to facilitate their relief efforts. After that position he began his work with Cherry Hills Christian School, a prestigious private school in Highlands Ranch, CO, were he is currently the Technology Integration Specialist. In this role he is leading the implementation of their 1 to 1 iPad program that began in early 2012.
iPresenter deadline extended!
We still have a few spots open for those of you wishing to present on your iPad initiatives, clever creative uses of iPads in your classroom, how you manage iPads in your district, or just some off-the-wall yet surprisingly educational apps.
As such, we are extending the proposal deadline to next Friday, April 20th.
Click on this link to submit: http://goo.gl/bP0eN
Click on the “iPresent” tab above to learn more. Who knows, you might even be a featured presenter!
iPresenter Spotlight Series – Jon Samuelson
Jon Samuelson – Austin, TX
4th Grade Teacher – Cedar Creek Elementary
In 2005 in Anchorage, Alaska, was named a Technology Teacher Leader in his district. At Muldoon Elementary in 2006, Jon led an Intel Teach to the Future program and taught fellow teachers technology-based programs for which they were given professional development credit.
In Texas, in 2008, Jon presented “Tech Integration in the Classroom” at the ISTE Conference. In 2009 & 2012, he presented “Twitter for Educators” at the TCEA Conference and gave a presentation on his true passion…mobile learning.
In 2011, Jon presented two programs at the Mobile Learning Symposium, “Educational Gaming,” and “iLearning Innovation.” He presented a program titled “45 Apps in 45 Minutes” exclusively to school administrators at the Eanes ISD Administrators Retreat. Jon’s has many professional plans for 2012, which will include a presentation at the ISTE Conference, “Apptivities – Creative Lessons for the iPad.”
Jon is committed to making use of the innovations in technology that are exploding onto the educational front and everywhere else. Jon believes that technology is here to stay and that it is no longer a matter of individual choice as to whether or not teachers make use of it, but, rather, it is how effectively they make use of it.
iPresenter Spotlight Series
Lisa Johnson - San Antonio, Texas
Instructional Technology Specialist & TechChef4u Founder & CEO
Twitter: @computerexplore & @techchef4u
BIO: Appaholic, Apptivity Author, Social Geek, iPad Evangelist, WordPress Addict, Blogtalk Radio Host, MOPS Mom, Caffeine Dependent. After graduating with a degree in elementary education with an English certification, Lisa taught secondary mathematics and began writing technology-infused curriculum for Computer Explorers. She then completed her master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction & Technology Integration and was “appy” to take an an Instructional Technology Position with North East ISD. Her love for “cooking up” technology integrated lessons, the need for a creative & productive outlet, and a social and collaborative venue led her to create the techchef4u blog in early May of 2011, co-author the iBook “Hot Apps 4 HOTS” in January of 2012, and debut the TechChef4u app in April 2012. Lisa also co-hosts an “Appy Hours 4 U” blogtalk radio show with Yolanda Barker that airs weekly and covers all sorts of appy topics. As a tech chef, she wants to share these dishes with the world. The Mumford & Sons song, “Awake Your Soul,” says it best, “Where you invest your love, you invest your life.”
Lisa will be presenting on a variety of topics at iPadpalooza, from Pre-K integration to Bloom’s taxonomy with iPads
