Posts on “ conferences ”

Are you transforming your pedagogy to meet the needs of 21st century learners?  We often hear stories of passionate BrainPOP Educators breaking new ground with innovative teaching practices and technology integration.  Now is the time to share this expertise and empower others by presenting or conducting a workshop at the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) 32nd Annual Convention and Exposition! This year’s conference theme is “e5 – Embark. Engage. Energize. Empower. Educate.” With this in mind, we encourage you to submit a proposal targeting the innovative ways you use technology in your learning environment in conjunction with BrainPOP, BrainPOP Jr., BrainPOP ESL, or BrainPOP Educators. The TCEA Convention and Exposition will be held in Austin, Texas on February 6-8, 2012. The due date for submission of proposals is fast approaching, May 30, 2011 by 5:00 p.m. CST! Click here for all the details. Notice that there are several types of proposals you can submit: Presentation Session Hands-on Workshop BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Workshop Panel Presentation If your proposal is accepted, BrainPOP will cover your conference registration fees, substitute teacher costs, and offer you a complimentary 12 month subscription to BrainPOP, BrainPOP Jr., or BrainPOP ESL. Plus, we’d be happy… Read the Rest»

Wendy Gorton is a technology integrator at an American school in India, a Google Certified Teacher, and Google Apps EDU Certified Trainer. She enjoys integrating collaborative and innovative technologies in the classroom to help her students learn and share about the world with each other.  Find her to collaborate on www.twitter.com/wendygorton! I first saw Moby, not in the flesh, but most certainly in the plush, roaming around the halls of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) annual conference in Denver last year. I was immediately transported back to the memory of my first walk down Main Street in Disneyland when I was six, spotting Minnie Mouse and instantly enveloping her in hugs. As a fully-grown adult having this kind of excitement and glee over seeing this whimsical character whose beeping wise cracks are so familiar to me, my students, and my fellow teachers, I can only imagine the joy that my students would have. I instantly uploaded the photo online for all of my students back at home, who comment back with cries of joy and, “Did he beep?” I discovered BrainPOP as a student teacher five years ago and never turned back. Oftentimes, videos can be maligned… Read the Rest»

ISTE’s Special Interest Group for Mobile Learning is pleased to announce a Video Contest on Mobile Learning! Here’s the scoop: Who:The contest is open to ISTE SIGML members. If you are an ISTE member but not a SIGML member, it is easy to join. Log on at www.iste.org, click “Connect” (top left), and then choose “Join a SIG” from the left-hand navigation. Once there just check the box next to Mobile Learning (SIGML), click “Save” at the bottom of the page and you’re done! What: Show off your best practices in mobile learning by creating a short video (3 minutes max) that showcases what you are doing with mobile learning and share it with ISTE members. An independent panel of judges will pick the top 10 videos. ISTE members will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite 3. Winners will receive some fabulous prizes! For the full scoop, visit the contest wiki http://sigml.iste.wikispaces.net/2011_Video_Contest When: Videos are due May 13, 2011 Prizes: First – Flip Camera with accessories and ten Titanium headphones (HPK-1040) from Califone Second – ISTE book and five Titanium headphones Third – ISTE book and one Titanium headphone To see the contest entries from 2010, please visit… Read the Rest»

A year and a half ago, Dr. Jan Harris, district superintendent from Cullman City Schools, spotted Moby on the shirt of BrainPOP’s VP of 21st Century Learning, Dr. Kari Stubbs.  Dr. Harris shared her district’s enthusiasm for BrainPOP and its use alongside other cutting edge technology tools to increase 21st century learning outcomes for students and teachers. BrainPOP has been following Cullman City Schools’ successes ever since and has had the opportunity to collaborate with one of their star Technology Integration Specialists, Aimee Bates. Here at BrainPOP, we were ecstatic to learn that Cullman City Schools recently won the 2011 CoSN Team Award for their visionary leadership and utilization of technology! They were recognized during the CoSN annual conference for their effective and innovative use of technology to transform teaching practices, learning opportunities for students, parent and community involvement, and professional development for teachers. To learn more about the award and the accomplishments of Cullman City Schools, check out the recent press release issued by CoSN. BrainPOP couldn’t be prouder of Cullman City School City schools! Keith Kreuger, CEO of CoSN, said it best in the press release, “From their implementation of a one-to-one laptop initiative to ensuring that teachers… Read the Rest»

Kate Ryder, a 5th year elementary school teacher, is one of five winners in the Mobile Learning Experience Contest. Join us in congratulating Kate as she shares her vision for mobile learning, “My own love of learning, A-Ha moments, and FUN are promoted by my favorite mobile devices. I, myself, have experienced a positive impact professionally and personally when incorporating mobile learning into my daily life and as a result strive to provide my students with the same opportunity.” Mobile Learning Facilitates A-HAs and FUN There are two things any teacher, from pre-service to old-school veteran, will tell you are required for high student achievement (academically and socially). No, it is not based on years of research…just good old fashioned common sense! Students learn and retain more information when: 1.  The students’ light bulbs illuminate and they have “A-Ha” experiences. and 2. Students are engaged, on task, and learning when they are…dare I say it…having FUN! Even though this is not justification for the “powers that be,” it is understood by educators that are in the trenches everyday. (However, when decision makers are asked about their favorite teacher…inevitably, that teacher cared to make learning memorable and FUN!) Mobile learning facilitates these two elements in… Read the Rest»

Join us in congratulating, Mary Bade, as one of the five winners in the Mobile Learning Experience Contest.  Mary is a a former 5th grade teacher and current Teacher Technology Facilitator at Los Ranchitos Elementary School in Tucson, Arizona. She started teaching for the Department of Defense Schools in Italy in 2006 and moved to Tucson in 2008. Her current school district, Sunnyside Unified School District, has taken on a digital initiative to put laptops in the hands of 5th and 6th graders by the end of 2011. Mary shares with us her vision for mobile learning, “I am honored and encouraged to be a part of this endeavor by the district, but want to take learning to an all new level with the students by making it a truly mobile learning experience.” Life Long Learning In Your Hand What better way to engage students in achieving academic success than reaching them with the tools they use every day. Laptops, iPods, iPhones and iPads are where our students are comfortable using and acquiring information. I envision a class where all students are engaged in the learning process with a computer in front of them and a smaller portable device for on the go… Read the Rest»

Karen Bosch teaches K – 8 technology and K – 5 art at Southfield Christian School in Southfield, Michigan.  She is one of five winners in the Mobile Learning Experience Contest and a 2007 Apple Distinguished Educator. Join us in giving Karen kudos, as she shares her vision of  how mobile devices positively impact student learning! Fostering Creative APP-titutes in Children using Mobile Devices Last week 6 new iPod touch devices “joined” our school community and I couldn’t be more delighted! Our students will use them to explore topics using search, map, reference, and video apps (such as BrainPop) and will enjoy practicing math and grammar skills using learning games.  But my primary vision of how students will use the iPods is to take the information and skills they are learning and use the devices to design products that creatively share their knowledge with others. The National Educational Technology Standards state that 21st century learners need to be able to use technology to demonstrate creative and innovative thinking that applies existing knowledge to generate creative ideas or products. I believe the drawing tools, video and still cameras, and voice recorders that are included in mobile devices like the iPod touch and iPad will shift the… Read the Rest»

Tisha Poncio was one of five winners in the Mobile Learning Experience Contest.  Join us in congratulating Tisha, as she shares her vision of  how mobile devices positively impact student learning, “After teaching high school for 8 years, then becoming an instructional technologist, I found that no matter what the subject, if kids of any age were given the opportunity to hold something in their hand, interact with the device, the teacher, and their peers, their world opened up, their eyes lit up with excitement, and for many it was their first time to see learning as FUN instead of a struggle or a chore!” i have a dream that one day our schools will rise up and live out the true meaning of its mission: “. . . seeks to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.” (US Department of Education 2010) i have a dream that one day, every day, every student will have the ability to own or use a mobile device and work together to create music, books, movies, websites, and presentations that will change how the world thinks, evolves and engages as a people. i have a dream… Read the Rest»

Terri Eichholz  was one of five winners in the Mobile Learning Experience Contest. She has been teaching for twenty years and currently works at Fox Run Elementary in San Antonio, TX as a Gifted and Talented teacher.  The enthusiasm of her students and the support of her administration inspires her to eagerly embrace mobile technologies.  Join us in congratulating Terri, as she shares her vision of  how mobile devices positively impact student learning! The most exciting new form of communication that appeared when I was young was the Erasermate pen.  I still remember the whispers at our strict Catholic school about the students who were using them, and the confusion the nuns seemed to have about the legality of their usage in class.  To be able to erase your pen marks, which were as permanent as the engravings in stone tablets, seemed like an open door to temptation to some, and absolutely freeing to others. Mobile computing has the same effect, though to a much larger degree, on the teachers of today.  The structures of our schools are literally and figuratively being ripped out to accommodate this new technology, and some teachers are mourning the loss of the control they could wield over their… Read the Rest»

Got app? Share your favorite! We’ll be in Phoenix next week for the Mobile Learning Experience Conference, where we’ll hit … the sandbox! Not to worry – there will be no playground bullies and you won’t need any shovels at this kind of sandbox. Instead, we’ll be bringing some of the newest mobile tools for you to explore over lunch on Thursday, the 7th and Friday, the 8th.  Head to the sandbox to check out these up-and-coming devices and play around with apps recommended by fellow BrainPOP Educators. That’s where you come in.  Recommend your favorite educational apps in a reply to this blog post – get it to us before March 31st 5:00 p.m., EST. We’ll post your responses here and load the recommended apps onto the devices we’ll have at the sandbox.  Be a part of this great chance to explore, share and discuss the power of mobile learning in education. Hope to see you in Phoenix!