NECC 2003 Notes

Monday, June 30th - Jaana Teal

June 30th Necc

What a busy, non-stop day today!  The day began with an 8:30 session on using the handheld GPS in the classroom.  This session sounded interesting to me because it was connected to real-world activities.  I think I was a little confused on what a handheld GPS tool really was.  Basically, I learned that a GPS has many tools.  For instance, it has a satellite, map, pointer, and menu.  Since I arrived a little late (my fault), I wasn't able to work directly with one during the session.  While at this session I picked up some great websites that may come in handy if you're interested:

http://www.cpsb.org/presentations/necc2003

www.geocaching.com

After this session, I spent an hour or so in the 6E ballroom.  I picked up a great deal of information and resources that will be helpful in the classroom.  The ballroom was set up with many mini-stations, so there was an abundant amount of informative info!  Some dealt with teaching of diversity, making webquests, technology integration, etc.

Cool websites I picked up:

www.lrsd.ab.ca/projects/family_treasures

www.f3programs.org

Jeopardy  www.bamaed.ua.edu/~mrice/diversity

www.classroommagic.com

www.coe.ksu.edu/att

There were lots of freebies in the exhibit hall!  Yeah, for the giveaways!

I visited the "Integration of Educational Technology with Middle-Level Mathematics" session.  I have done extensive amounts of research in this area, so I didn't find this session as helpful as the others.  I was hoping there would be some examples of how technology was implemented in the classroom, but this wasn't mentioned.

That's what brought me to my last session for the day, "Ways to use Excel in the Math Classroom".  This session was interesting and will be useful in my own classroom.

www.bridgingthedigitaldivide.org

This is a great website and contains premade excel sites to use in the classroom.  There are also assessment rubrics for each activity.  What more can I ask for...

Keynote Jaana Teal - June 29

June 29th Necc

When I first arrived in Seattle, I felt a bit overwhelmed.  While looking over the information we received at check-in to the conference, I quickly wondered how I would be able to attend all the sessions which interested me.  What I realized is that I would have to pick and choose which lectures would be the most beneficial to me.

I teach 6th grade math at an at-risk school in Cobb County, so I decided to focus my interest on diversity, math, and technology (of course).  I am also currently working on my graduate degree at KSU.  To complete my degree, I have to present a portfolio of information about my growth as an educator.  There is a section to the portfolio which deals with technology; therefore, I feel the conference will be helpful to me. 

I really enjoyed the keynote speaker, Dr. Jemison.  She was very inspiring to me in her accomplishments.  I also liked what she said, "Computers are not substitutes for teachers." 

Saturday/ & Sunday - June 28 & 29 Sara Davis

Guys,

The flight was good.  I slept the first hour on the plane.  When I woke up I was in awe!  I always wanted to see the mountains.  When I saw them, it was obvious to everyone around me on the plane knew that it was my first time seeing them. When we got here, Lisa drove the van as if she had been here all of her life.  I want to commend her for such a great job getting us to the hotel.  Once we checked in, some of us went exploring.   the "New Comers" session was exciting.  We learned how to choose our sessions, get around in Seattle, and where to go for excitement.  I even won a beautiful calendar with scenic pictures of Seattle.  We went to Pike Place Market, and boy did we enjoy that!  I chose "Cutters" for lunch, and the group followed me , however, I'm not sure if they will follow me anywhere else again.  I had Cod and creme potatoes at a small price of $25.00.  All in all, I had a good time.

Yesterday, was just as exciting as Saturday.  Mae Jemison was awesome.  She said a lot of things that some people may not have wanted to hear, but, it needed to be said.  We were fortunate enough to even take a picture with her.  One thing she said that really stuck with me:  "Never be fooled by a kiss, and never be kissed by a fool".  Well, the only thing I could say to that was, "too late."  We attended the reception and ate chicken wings, quesadillas, sausage, chips, sodas, and nachos and salsa.  That was dinner for me.  Strange how the weather changed from the 80's to the freezies.  Even though it was cold last evening, I still had a good time.

  

Monday, June 30, 2003

The morning began wonderfully with smiling faces and breakfast.

7:15- I attended the Newcomers Session which was very informative. This session helped me understand how to get around at the conference and who to ask for help.

8:30- I attended the

Dr. Audrey W. Beard, Albany State University

Dr. Audrey W. Beard is a  professor of Early Childhood Edcuation at Albany State University, and the Director of Clinical Experiences. She has twenty  plus years focusing on tapping into the untapped potential of all children. Currently she is working with several initiatives, GSTEP, GA TAPP, Destination Teaching, Teacher Support Specialist Trainer, and the NCATE commitee. As Director of Clinical Experiences all candidates are required to be INTECH trained prior to earning a degree in education at Albany State University.  Additionally, I am writing books and developing learning kits for children in Mali, Africa.  I will be traveling to Mali for a couple of weeks.  This trip is to ensure that the materials that we are developing are appropriate for the teachers and children in this country.

She provides workshops for public school teachers in states across the country and the immediate education counties surrounding Albany State University.  She developed and taught a course entitled Professional Development for Accomplished Educators.  This course was based on the National Board Standards.  The teachers were taught to become reflective practitioners. This course assisted veteran teachers with improving their quality of instruction with children of diverse backgrounds.

Finally, she seeks to be a change agent in the education arena. She is the proud mother of two wonderful children.  Sheveland Lillith Beard is a twenty year old biolgy major with a minor in cheminsty at Albany State University.  She has travel to Europe, and completed research projects at the University of Georgia and Vanderbilt/Meharry Medical Schools. She has presented research in Puerto Rico and Tuskegee University.  Jordan Carnell Beard is a junior at Monroe Comprehensive High School.  He was recently named Mr. Esquire 2003 for the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.  He is a member of the marching and concert bands, and president of the Youth Department at Bethel A.M.E. church.  He was recently named Who's Who Among American High School Students for  2002-2003.

Keynote Jaana Teal

June 29th Necc

When I first arrived in Seattle, I felt a bit overwhelmed.  While looking over the information we received at check-in to the conference, I quickly wondered how I would be able to attend all the sessions which interested me.  What I realized is that I would have to pick and choose which lectures would be the most beneficial to me.

I teach 6th grade math at an at-risk school in Cobb County, so I decided to focus my interest on diversity, math, and technology (of course).  I am also currently working on my graduate degree at KSU.  To complete my degree, I have to present a portfolio of information about my growth as an educator.  There is a section to the portfolio which deals with technology; therefore, I feel the conference will be helpful to me. 

I really enjoyed the keynote speaker, Dr. Jemison.  She was very inspiring to me in her accomplishments.  I also liked what she said, "Computers are not substitutes for teachers." 

Audrey W. Beard, June 30, 2003

The keynote address was excellent.  I am hoping that the talk will be placed on the wesite.  I am sure that I can use this information in the classes that I teach.  It is imperative that we train teachers that can take children from diverse backgounds and take them to higher levels of achievement.

 The Browning of America is a phrase that depicts the children of color in America's schools.  There is a need to prepare future teachers of color to work with students of color.  We should strive to elimate the Digital Divide in the area of cultural diversity and awareness. This information was current and important to the educators of the future.  We must first know ourselves prior to assisting children with loving themselves.

Electrified! Using Standards-Based E portfolios for Preservice Teacher Assessment.  The NCATE process requires that we track the growth and development of the candidates that the university prepares.  The session demonstrated how to utilize Task Stream as a tool to show what candidates can do.  This is important work to add to our knowledge base.

Audrey W. Beard, Albany State University

NECC 2003 for Monday June 30th - Michael Washington

The first talk that I attended was on "Calculator-Based Laboratory Projects in the High School Math Classroom".  The speaker was Donald McQuarrie and he focused on using well known science labs in the mathematics classroom.  Students would use data collected from a science lab, plot it on a graphing calculator, and then analyze the graph using mathemtics (i.e. find the slope, max point, min point).  He is going to email me his power point presentation if anyone is interested in this talk. 

"Excel: A tool for Teacher Productivity and for Teaching Mathematics" was a good session to attend.  The speaker presented some interesting ways of using excel with students.  Her website, http://www.iste.org/bookstore/detail.cfm?sku=spread points you to different excel lessons that you can use in your classroom.  I believe that all of the lessons are on a CD entitled "Digital Lessons in Excel". 

Also, for those that are interested, one of exhibts is raffling off a Smart Board.  I can't remember the name of the company, but as you walk around just look for a big television screen. 

Take care!

Monday's Review

Today was a pretty good day.  I went to sessions that related to Early Childhood Education.  The sessions had good information, but the presenters were boring.  I feel that they should have been more hands-on and not so much lecturing.  There also was the problem of not having enough seats.  I did try to get me some ideas to take back and use in my classroom.  I found an easy way to explain putting spaces between words by using Microsoft Word.  That was one idea that never crossed my mind.  It is more obvious on a computer screen than it is on paper.  I am looking forward to tomorrow, it has to be better. 

June Johnson

Anne Davis - Sunday & Monday June 29 & 30

Mae Jemison's Keynote

Open Source

ESL Children