It's another year at the Technology in Education conference in Copper Mountain. This year I am doing TWO sesssions, one on Web 2.0 and one on ComicLife. I did ComicLife last year, so I feel pretty confident about it. The Web 2.0 one, however, is a first. The session was yesterday, and it went surprisingly well. I was really nervous about it, and didn't sleep much Monday night, having nightmares about my teeth falling out. That's never a good sign. Luckily my roommate Greg volunteered to assist with my presentation, and he was a huge help, running around the room helping teachers with technical issues.

Participants set up a del.icio.us account, and then used a PB Wiki that I set up to learn about Web 2.0 tools. Here's the link to the wiki. I created the shell, and the participants added the content. There was a good buzz in the room as people worked in groups on their wiki pages. Another good sign was that no one left the session early, which often happens when people are bored or disengaged.

We'll see how Thursday's ComicLife session goes. I'll try to add some more photos in the next post.

This is the end of the second week of school, and it's been going well. At first, it didn't seem like I was going to be that busy, but that's changing now! Teachers are asking for help, there's some workshops starting next week that will create more work with teachers, and I'm into wikis this year. Last year it was ComicLife that was my favorite program. I'm starting to see a trend here. Each year I get really excited about a new technology, and can't wait to share it with teachers and students. Three years ago, it was the CPS grant that I received at Sagebrush, and learning to use the clickers.

This realization made me think about my philosophy about technology in education, and how I approach it. For me, I just LOVE learning about new technologies and trends.  Once I discover a new education technology, I'll find ways to make curriculum benefit from my newest tech discovery. Other coaches on my team take the opposite approach, thinking about the curriculum FIRST, and then looking for ways to integrate technology into that curriculum. I think BOTH approaches are valid, and they're just two different ways to arrive at the same end: raising student achievement. Being aware that that's how I approach my job as an instructional technology coach will help me make a difference in how I work with teachers and students.

I was searching around YouTube tonight, and found this video from eSchool News with highlights from NECC that I attended July 4-7. It's a good synopsis of what it was like, including keynote speakers and interviews with attendees.

 
Finally, Apple has announced a replacement to eMacs that are reasonably priced and well-equipped. I hope these start appearing in some of my schools this year...

Apple Introduces $899 Education Configuration for 17-inch iMac

NECC, SAN DIEGO–July 5, 2006–Apple introduced a new $899 configuration of the 17-inch iMac® designed specifically for education customers featuring a 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, a built-in iSight™ video camera and iLife® ‘06, the next generation of Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications. The 17-inch iMac for education is available immediately and will replace the eMac®, Apple’s last CRT based computer, providing students and teachers everything they need to learn and create in today's digital classroom, all in the ultra-efficient iMac design.

The ultimate in design simplicity, the iMac is ideal for the space saving needs of both the classroom and the dorm room with the entire computer built right into a two-inch thin display. The iMac design has continuously improved generation after generation, resulting in inc

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