Berrien County Educators at MACUL

The Michigan Association for Computer Users for Learning 2006 Conference is this week, March 8-10 in Grand Rapids. It is a great conference with numerous opportunities to expand your knowledge base. The keynote speakers are good, the hands-on workshops are good, the vendor exhibits are good…hey, it’s all good.

There are a lot of educators from in and around Berrien County who participate at MACUL and help make it a great conference. I thought I’d take a sec to highlight them…hope I don’t forget anyone.

• Ren Baldwin (St. Joseph) is this year’s President as well as the Conference Chair. Ren’s a glutton for punishment, obviously, and I know he’s worked hard to provide Michigan with a world-class educational technology conference.
• Linda McConville and Diane Nye (St. Joseph)
  Voices of Twin Cities Past—A Collaborative Distance Learning Experience
  Thursday 10:00
  This research project, developed by a media specialist and a classroom teacher, uses distance learning to unite two diverse classrooms. Using the Big6 research model to learn about the history of both communities, the project focuses on important individuals who have made a difference in the communities’ past. Attendees can easily replicate this project in their own community.
• Paula Donner (River Valley) and Sally Irons (Niles)
  The Crazy Things That Kids Can Do With Their Imaginations
  Friday 8:30
  Two enthusiastic and crazy techno-geeks will spotlight the wild and wacky things that kids can cook up when exposed to the ISTE NETS for Students. Participants will walk away with far out examples that will compliment the integration of technology within the curriculum.
• Casey Wollenzier and Jenny Mudra (Hartford)
  Engage, Ignite, Succeed!
  Friday 8:30
  Interactive media will come to life as student learning is ignited through the use of interactive electronic white boards! Imaginations will soar with the touch of a finger as Internet sites, software and web-based activities capture the attention of learners at all ability levels. Motivation will increase as children of all ages enjoy the interaction
  this amazing tool has to offer. Leave this session with practical lessons and activities that will ignite and engage all children to succeed!
• Ben Rimes (Countryside)
  The Tech Savvy Educator – Practical Uses of Technology Within Your Classroom
  Friday 10:00
  The Tech Savvy Educator wants YOU! To discover practical ways to integrate technology within your K-12 classroom. Share your technological discoveries with educators from around the nation in a noncommercial, collaborative environment. Discover sites for free software, interactive lessons, and tools to keep you on the cutting edge of educational technology.
• Janine Lim (Berrien County ISD)
  Enriching Your Curriculum with Interactive Videoconferencing
  Thursday 4:00
  Learn many exciting educational opportunities available via video
  conferencing. Find programs correlated to the Michigan Curriculum
  Framework. Learn about the many places that offer educational programs
  for K-12 schools.
• Kevin Clark (Berrien County ISD)
  Moving to Cyberspace Using Moodle
  Thursday 10:00
  It’s time to move your classroom online to take advantage of your
  students’ connectedness! Find out how painless it can be to set up
  lessons, discussions, wikis, and more online using Moodle, a free tool
  that’s easy to install, setup, and manage. Using Blackboard? Moodle is
  an amazing (and affordable) alternative!

I’ll be live blogging the conference, although the way the wireless is set up, I might not be live blogging, but delayed blogging. We’ll see.