November 21, 2024

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

UMW Organizes Fifth Annual EdTech Conference

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The University of Mary Washington’s College of Education will merge cutting-edge technology, teaching, engaging speakers and hands-on activities during its fifth annual EdTech Conference, taking place Friday, March 20 at the Stafford campus.   Teresa-Coffman_featuredWith a theme of “Learning, Innovation and Technology,” the 2015  conference will offer educators and those interested in education a close look at current technology and its impact in the classroom. The conference will take place between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the North Building on the Stafford campus. Registration closes March 16 and the $50 fee includes all presentations and a catered lunch. Keynote speaker Judi Harris will open the conference with a presentation that demonstrates how to balance technology integration with a well-developed teaching curriculum. Harris is a professor and the Pavey Family Chair in Educational Technology in the School of Education at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg. EdTech also will have interactive workshops on engaging game-based strategies in the classroom. Attendees will explore innovative teaching models, discover emerging technologies and work through game-based curriculum design. For additional information and registration, visit http://2015umwedtechconference.umwblogs.org/.

EdTech Brings Regional Educators to UMW

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Educators from across the region came together March 14 for the Fourth Annual EdTech Conference at the University of Mary Washington to talk about ways to change learning in the digital age. Students from J.W. Alvey Elementary School show Catherine Walker, adjunct instructor for the UMW College of Education, a project that they are completing. Pictured from left are Walker, fourth-graders Misha Padigala and Jessica Minelli. Sponsored by the College of Education, the day began with a keynote presentation by Director of Teaching and Learning at UMW Jim Groom who spoke about publishing and archiving student work, UMW blogs, digital storytelling and why K-12 educators should incorporate those tools in the classroom. “What we do as educators – what we do in higher ed and K-12 – is share a hope. It’s a hope that what we’re doing is framing a whole world of possibility and connections. And the Web is the single greatest tool ever invented to help us build on what we do,” said Groom. “It’s a remarkable world that we live in.” The conference also included a variety of sessions from “Animoto Movies in Your Class!” to “Expanding Your Web 2.0 Toolkit.” One session, “Frames and Share, You Can Do It!,” featured presentations from J.W. Alvey Elementary School students who created short movies and presentations. In the afternoon, Margaret Stout, a teacher at Antietam Elementary, introduced participants to Google Glass and demonstrated how she’s using the new technology in her classroom to teach students with autism. The conference ended with a panel discussion about current issues and challenges. From left to right, seventh-grader Danbi Rhee, second-grade teacher Roxanne Edwards, third-grade teacher Juliette Snyder and sixth-grader Ben Kopek introduce EdTech participants to Frames and Shares and explain how it can be used in an elementary classroom. Teresa Coffman, associate professor in the College of Education,  and Tami Pratt-Fartro, assistant professor in the College of Education, helped to create the annual conference four years ago with the goal of forming a regional network of educators who come together to share great teaching practices. That goal has remained intact. “I want people to build connections and community. I want them to think about their pedagogy in new and different ways and to use technology to foster learning in the classroom to engage their students to think critically and creatively,” said Coffman. “I want people to explore professional development in new and exciting ways.”

3rd Annual EdTech Conference

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Thank you to the College of Education faculty and staff, UMW employees and administrators, and the Conference committee, including K12 school officials, for another successful EdTech conference held Friday, March 15, 2013 at the University of Mary Washington. A special thanks goes to Tember Smith and Terry Luttrell for their continued efforts and special talents of organization to ensure our success.

Two Generations

Two generations of teachers
join the EdTech Conference

To begin the day, the Dean of the College of Education, Dr. Mary Gendernalik-Cooper welcomed over 150 K12 teachers, principals, superintendents, technology directors, parents, and university professors and students from UMW and around Virginia to the 3rd annual EdTech Conference on the Stafford Campus.

Our distinguished speakers presented the latest in cutting edge learning technologies and good teaching methods.

Jean Weller, Instructional Technologist for the VDOE Office of Educational Technology

Jean Weller, Instructional Technologist for the VDOE Office of Educational Technology

 

The keynote speaker, Jean Weller, instructional technologist for the Virginia Department of Education Office of Educational Technology introduced the attendees to quality resources  supported by the VDOE which can be easily found on their Web site as well as the many technology initiatives supported by the Virginia Department of Education that all Virginia teachers should be aware of.

Following the keynote speaker, the Conference shifted into seven back-to-back concurrent sessions that included K12 teachers, graduate students, instructional resource teachers, and the Director of Academic Technologies for Stafford schools.

The concurrent sessions highlighted best practices, both in instruction and across the school itself.

Dr. George Meadows and Tim Owen 3D Printing at UMW

Dr. George Meadows and Tim Owens
3D Printing at UMW

Dr. George Meadows and Tim Owens brought the group back together to provide the attendees with a taste of 3D printing at UMW and how these interactive tools are being used to teach students creative and design thinking.

In our final session, Tracey Lewis provided attendees with a look at social media throughout our society and discussed implications of use in K12. Her workshop centered on schools taking responsibility to help students learn proper and safe use of social media tools while providing them to students in an instructional manner.
To wrap up the day, a raffle sharing both electronic gifts and University items such as College of Education mugs,  t-shirts, and the prized 3D vase helped place a warm smile on everyone’s face as they were leaving the building.

Another successful year and we hope to see everyone again next year!

Tracey Lewis

Tracey Lewis
Social Media and our Kids

Sincerely,

Teresa Coffman and Tamie Pratt-Fartro

EdTech Conference Coordinators

Second Annual EdTech Conference Unites Virginia Educators

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Students from J.W. Alvey Elementary School give a presentation to the Dean of the College of Education Mary Gendernalik-Cooper

Former state technology leader of the year John Hendron assured a group of more than 100 teachers, administrators and instructional technologists at the University of Mary Washington that they still hold a significant role in education.

“Despite the ubiquitous availability of technology, students still need us,” said Hendron, webmaster and supervisor of instructional technology for Virginia’s Goochland County Public Schools. “You are here to inspire a legion of students.”

Hendron, who was recognized as state technology leader of the year in 2006 by the Virginia Department of Education, spoke at the second annual EdTech Conference on Saturday, June 2 titled “Leading through Change: Teaching, Learning, and Technology.”

The conference also included breakout seminars, with such topics as “Integrating an iPod Touch into an Elementary Classroom,” “Cooking Up SMARTER Lessons-A Recipe for Success” and “iPads in the Math Classroom.”  One session, “Frames and Share, You Can Do It!,” featured presentations from J.W. Alvey Elementary School students who created short movies and presentations.

The conference was founded by Teresa Coffman, associate professor of education, and Tamie Pratt-Fartro, assistant professor of education, to provide a venue of support for a community of learners around important topics such as teaching and learning, pedagogy and student success.

“This EdTech Conference was started to unite teachers and administrators from various K-12 school systems throughout Virginia for a day-long conference on learning and teaching with technology,” said Coffman.