NYSCATE 2008 Grants and Awards
23/11/08 18:25 Filed in: Sunday
11/23/08
2008 GRANT & AWARD
WINNERS
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NYSCATE is pleased to announce the winners of our 2008 Grants and Awards. These prestigious awards are presented at our Annual Conference in November 2008.
2008 NYSCATE Teacher Grants:
Barbara Bittel – Lyncourt Union Free School District
Enhancing Social Interaction and Learning with Interactive WhiteBoards
A portable interactive whiteboard and software products such as, EasiTeach and Kidspiration, will be used to provide a multisensory environment to meet the needs of students with autism and thus, enhance their learning experience.
Nedra Isenberg – Holland Patent Central School
How SMART is Your DBQ?
SMART technology will be used to promote learning strategies that will improve ELA skills in the area of the 4th and 5th grade Social Studies DBQ. This technology will incorporate Web 2.0 tools such as, Mnemograph, timeliner programs, NYPL Digital Gallery, the National Archives’ Digital Vaults, and others, to achieve learning outcomes. Kurzweil software or Read the Words will be used to meet the needs of all learners. Students and teachers will be introduced to VoiceThread in the assessment of this project.
Marcie Faust, Deerfield CSD
Wendy Smith, Webster CSD
Stream Stewardship Project – Connecting to Learn Together
Two elementary schools, one on the shore of Lake Ontario and the other on the shore of Lake Michigan, will collaborate throughout the school year exploring the water quality of streams emptying directly into their lakes. Students will make a prediction before taking data and then collect real-time water quality data using Vernier LabQuest Sensors. In the classrooms, this data will be exported to a computer, graphs created, and analysis of findings from both sites will take place as students videoconference after their on-site visits. A project wiki and Google Docs will be used to enhance collaboration among students at both sites. Broader environmental issues will also be explored. A multimedia online stream stewardship presentation will be co-created by students in order to share project findings and promote responsible use and care of the Great Lakes.
Jamie Sonneville – Williamson Middle School
TechYes
The Williamson Central School District has closely examined the 21st Century skills that students will need to be successful in the careers of the future. As a beginning step to preparing students, a pilot group of teachers engaged in extensive technology training. The TechYes program will be an opportunity for students in grades 6-9 to engage in authentic learning leading to national certification. At the Williamson Middle School, the enrichment teacher, who was part of the teacher training group, will implement this program with small groups of students to assist them in attaining technology competency. A different group of students will participate in TECHYes each semester.
Barbara Grenga – Phoenix Central Schools
Stop Cyber Bullying!
After learning about and discussing what cyber bullying is, its effects and consequences, students will create public service announcements with the “Stop Cyber Bullying!” message. These projects made with PhotoStory or Publisher will be imported into an online source that will allow all district students to view the PSAs. These PSAs will also be shown during morning announcements at the high school and middle school via their in-house TV/announcement systems.
Eric A. Walters – Marymount School of New York
Here’s the Forecast! And it’s a Podcast!
Students in their 12th grade Atmospheric Science elective class will research, write, and produce a comprehensive 3-day weekend weather forecast/podcast for New York City and Los Angeles. They will use GarageBand software and the new features of the Leopard server. The podcast will be supported by accompanying artwork to visually represent the forecast. Students will also learn to create podcasts subscriptions through iTunes as well as how to create RSS feeds.
AWARD WINNERS
Lee Bryant Outstanding Technologist Award:
Susan Palmer – Akron Central Schools
Susan Palmer, who teaches Global Studies 9 and US History in the Akron School System, has been described as a “digital pioneer.” She strives to stay current on new technologies and thinks “out of the box” when it comes to using technology to motivate students. She has transformed her classroom to give her students support 24/7 with a variety of online tools that provide differentiation for multiple learning modalities with a focus on the district’s special education population. Ms Palmer has developed her own Drupal based learning community (www.masterymaze.com) that combines educational content with social networking in a safe environment where students and teachers can work together to achieve mastery in the classroom. This website is loaded with worksheets, options for special credit, class notes and review sheets. She has also completed review podcasts that cover each of the Global Studies 9 and US History units. These podcasts can be downloaded by students from the masterymaze.com site and are also preloaded on MP3 players that she loans to her students. Susan Palmer openly shares her successes and visions with other teachers through forums and blog postings, wikis, her iPod Educators NING and BOCES workshops.
OUTSTANDING TECHNOLOGY LEADER:
Brian McQueen - Whitesboro Central Schools
Brian has been the Director of Information & Instructional Technology in Whitesboro Central School District for the past three years and served as an elementary school principal for the previous nine years. In his role as a Technology Leader, he has greatly expanded the capacity of the existing infrastructure in the district to make it robust, reliable and transparent to the user. He was a key figure in the formation of a District Technology Plan which has led to more student-directed learning and increased achievement. The many distance learning options for middle and high school students including Mandarin Chinese and American Sign Language exist due to Brian’s efforts. Brian has been instrumental in moving the Whitesboro School District forward with the implementation of technologies in the classrooms such as interactive whiteboards, portable computer stations, wireless Internet access, podcasting, and videoconferencing. He has also revitalized the District website to improve communication between school and home and installed EdAlert, a system that notifies subscribers instantly of schools events. A high level of excitement about technology has been generated throughout the Whitesboro school community. Several of the elementary principals in the District have described Brian McQueen as “not only a leader of technology, but a visionary… He knows kids, knows technology, and knows what works.”
Podcast
NYSCATE
--------------------------------------------------------
NYSCATE is pleased to announce the winners of our 2008 Grants and Awards. These prestigious awards are presented at our Annual Conference in November 2008.
2008 NYSCATE Teacher Grants:
Barbara Bittel – Lyncourt Union Free School District
Enhancing Social Interaction and Learning with Interactive WhiteBoards
A portable interactive whiteboard and software products such as, EasiTeach and Kidspiration, will be used to provide a multisensory environment to meet the needs of students with autism and thus, enhance their learning experience.
Nedra Isenberg – Holland Patent Central School
How SMART is Your DBQ?
SMART technology will be used to promote learning strategies that will improve ELA skills in the area of the 4th and 5th grade Social Studies DBQ. This technology will incorporate Web 2.0 tools such as, Mnemograph, timeliner programs, NYPL Digital Gallery, the National Archives’ Digital Vaults, and others, to achieve learning outcomes. Kurzweil software or Read the Words will be used to meet the needs of all learners. Students and teachers will be introduced to VoiceThread in the assessment of this project.
Marcie Faust, Deerfield CSD
Wendy Smith, Webster CSD
Stream Stewardship Project – Connecting to Learn Together
Two elementary schools, one on the shore of Lake Ontario and the other on the shore of Lake Michigan, will collaborate throughout the school year exploring the water quality of streams emptying directly into their lakes. Students will make a prediction before taking data and then collect real-time water quality data using Vernier LabQuest Sensors. In the classrooms, this data will be exported to a computer, graphs created, and analysis of findings from both sites will take place as students videoconference after their on-site visits. A project wiki and Google Docs will be used to enhance collaboration among students at both sites. Broader environmental issues will also be explored. A multimedia online stream stewardship presentation will be co-created by students in order to share project findings and promote responsible use and care of the Great Lakes.
Jamie Sonneville – Williamson Middle School
TechYes
The Williamson Central School District has closely examined the 21st Century skills that students will need to be successful in the careers of the future. As a beginning step to preparing students, a pilot group of teachers engaged in extensive technology training. The TechYes program will be an opportunity for students in grades 6-9 to engage in authentic learning leading to national certification. At the Williamson Middle School, the enrichment teacher, who was part of the teacher training group, will implement this program with small groups of students to assist them in attaining technology competency. A different group of students will participate in TECHYes each semester.
Barbara Grenga – Phoenix Central Schools
Stop Cyber Bullying!
After learning about and discussing what cyber bullying is, its effects and consequences, students will create public service announcements with the “Stop Cyber Bullying!” message. These projects made with PhotoStory or Publisher will be imported into an online source that will allow all district students to view the PSAs. These PSAs will also be shown during morning announcements at the high school and middle school via their in-house TV/announcement systems.
Eric A. Walters – Marymount School of New York
Here’s the Forecast! And it’s a Podcast!
Students in their 12th grade Atmospheric Science elective class will research, write, and produce a comprehensive 3-day weekend weather forecast/podcast for New York City and Los Angeles. They will use GarageBand software and the new features of the Leopard server. The podcast will be supported by accompanying artwork to visually represent the forecast. Students will also learn to create podcasts subscriptions through iTunes as well as how to create RSS feeds.
AWARD WINNERS
Lee Bryant Outstanding Technologist Award:
Susan Palmer – Akron Central Schools
Susan Palmer, who teaches Global Studies 9 and US History in the Akron School System, has been described as a “digital pioneer.” She strives to stay current on new technologies and thinks “out of the box” when it comes to using technology to motivate students. She has transformed her classroom to give her students support 24/7 with a variety of online tools that provide differentiation for multiple learning modalities with a focus on the district’s special education population. Ms Palmer has developed her own Drupal based learning community (www.masterymaze.com) that combines educational content with social networking in a safe environment where students and teachers can work together to achieve mastery in the classroom. This website is loaded with worksheets, options for special credit, class notes and review sheets. She has also completed review podcasts that cover each of the Global Studies 9 and US History units. These podcasts can be downloaded by students from the masterymaze.com site and are also preloaded on MP3 players that she loans to her students. Susan Palmer openly shares her successes and visions with other teachers through forums and blog postings, wikis, her iPod Educators NING and BOCES workshops.
OUTSTANDING TECHNOLOGY LEADER:
Brian McQueen - Whitesboro Central Schools
Brian has been the Director of Information & Instructional Technology in Whitesboro Central School District for the past three years and served as an elementary school principal for the previous nine years. In his role as a Technology Leader, he has greatly expanded the capacity of the existing infrastructure in the district to make it robust, reliable and transparent to the user. He was a key figure in the formation of a District Technology Plan which has led to more student-directed learning and increased achievement. The many distance learning options for middle and high school students including Mandarin Chinese and American Sign Language exist due to Brian’s efforts. Brian has been instrumental in moving the Whitesboro School District forward with the implementation of technologies in the classrooms such as interactive whiteboards, portable computer stations, wireless Internet access, podcasting, and videoconferencing. He has also revitalized the District website to improve communication between school and home and installed EdAlert, a system that notifies subscribers instantly of schools events. A high level of excitement about technology has been generated throughout the Whitesboro school community. Several of the elementary principals in the District have described Brian McQueen as “not only a leader of technology, but a visionary… He knows kids, knows technology, and knows what works.”
Podcast
NYSCATE