I am a Technology Teacher in Philadelphia for grades K-8 and a certified Technology Integration Specialist. I not only teach in a computer lab, but I also support my colleagues with integrating tech into their classrooms. I am also a blogger and avid user of social media to improve my practice and stay abreast of what's new in edtech.
Blog Posts
For decades, students have been completing assignments in school. Often, these were seen only by the teacher, graded and returned to the student. Sometimes, the work was posted on a classroom wall or in a school hallway. Many teachers kept portfolios of student work for report card conferences...
Read More.Poetry has a very special place in my heart. I started writing poetry in high school and continued throughout college and even into my 20s. Eventually, teaching fulltime, along with other responsibilities, pulled me away from that art form, but I still love to read poetry, and I love hearing it...
Read More.Back in 2011, I wrote a post about the "New Digital Divide." Based on Pew Research data from 2011, it was apparent that, while many previously marginalized populations now had more access to the...
Read More.Last month, I attended the unique and energizing conference, Educon, held annually at Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia. Over the weekend of January 25th, innovative minds in education from all over the US and Canada converged on SLA to discuss...
Read More.What Is a "Hangout?"
A Hangout is a web-based tool created by Google for communicating through video. Up to ten people can "hang out" at one time in a virtual "room." A Hangout can be as simple or as complex as needed for the task at hand. It can be used simply to converse or, through...
Read More.I have spent six of my almost nine years of teaching in a computer lab. Over that time, my feelings about computer labs have fluctuated. It may seem silly for me to be in opposition to my own job, but there are times that teaching in a lab can be frustrating and isolating. On the other hand,...
Read More.This December 9-15 has been declared national Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek). The dates coincide with the birthday of renowned Admiral Grace Hopper, a pioneer in computer science. This...
Read More.There are a lot of dangerous stereotypes out there. "Asian students are always better at math." "Boys are always better at sports." And perhaps the most dangerous of all: "The current generation are all digital natives."
It is easy to see the danger in the first two stereotypes. They...
Read More.Two weekends ago, I attended EdCamp NYC at The School at Columbia, an independent school on Manhattan's Upper West Side. One of the things I love about attending edcamps is that the day is always unpredictable...
Read More.October 21-27 is National Character Counts Week. This is a chance for schools and districts to celebrate positive relationships among their students and to promote positive school culture.
Read More.
