Suzi+Bender

My PETE&C 2011 Experience ===Many, many sessions at this year's PETE&C presented ideas about mobile learning. I believe that the use of mobile devices (iPads, tablets, iPod touches, smart phones, etc.) help make the students' learning experiences more personal and interactive, thus providing motivation for students at all levels.===
 * [[image:monday_petec_wordle.JPG width="400" height="232"]] || ===This //word cloud// (see [|www.wordle.net] to make your own word cloud!) is a visual summary of my __MONDAY__ workshop experience.===

I attended the following sessions on Monday:
|| //Session Description: Join Discovery Education at this year’s PETE&C keynote presentation, featuring Emmy-award winning wildlife biologist Jeff Corwin for an up-close and personal conversation about his work in the environment and ecology and how his experiences can be applied in the classroom to engage students and inspire an interest in learning.// Session Description: Are you interested in developing mobile apps or having your students develop mobile apps in the classroom? If so, then this presentation is for you! During this presentation we will demonstrate how to develop mobile apps using Google's easy-to-use App Inventor tool. This free tool requires no programming and allows you to publish real mobile apps. Session Description: Remember dreaming about tools that brought the world to you, enabling content creation, sharing ideas, and connecting with anyone, anytime? Remember when tools were built for your style of receiving/producing ideas? Well, fasten your seat belts, your plane is landing. Marco will show how a book-sized device can be MORE powerful than a university! **My thoughts: This presenter definitely showed us a lot of neat apps for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.** || //Session Description: There are soooooo many websites out there that can be helpful to science and math teachers. Sometimes it is hard to know where to begin! Learn about over 100 different resources that can be incorporated into your lessons right away! But wait! There is more! I will not only show you the websites, I will give you ideas about HOW to use them! (and maybe give away a set of Ginsu knifes while I am at it!!!)// **My thoughts: This was a fast-paced session that highlighted soooo many good sites. It will definitely take me some time to get through all of them, but I have NO DOUBT that most of the math links shared by Patti Duncan will find their way to my wikispace as well ([|www.bendermath.wikispaces.com]) so that our students can benefit from them.** || //Session Description: See how the ISTE 2008 National Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS*T) have been incorporated into an online professional learning program. Learn how one district implementation of instructional technology courses impacted teacher confidence. See technology projects teachers created with or for students. Discuss ways to overcome challenges.// **My thoughts: I think I should have read the complete description of this session before attending; I think I just went from the title. This was not a topic that pertained directly to my job.** || ===There is virtually (no pun intended!) an endless supply of great interactive sites on the web, and many of the presentations at this year's PETE&C highlighted sites that are great supplements to the classroom. Google is a very rich source of online tools.===
 * [[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]] || ==Opening General Session: **GO WILD: Environmental Education in the Age of Technology**==
 * My thoughts: I thought that Jeff Corwin's anecdotes were good, and I feel that he certainly has a passion for education. But although I enjoyed hearing him, I didn't quite make the connection between him as a featured speaker and the goals of the PETE&C conference. ** ||
 * [[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]] || ==How to Develop Mobile Apps for the Classroom==
 * My thoughts: I learned how incredibly easy it is to make educational apps for an android platform. Within minutes, the presenter had the attendees creating buttons and exploring Google's App Inventor online tool. Although this session was good, I was slightly disappointed because I thought that I would learn something about creating apps for iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad, but the Google tool does not support that platform. **
 * Site: [] ** ||
 * [[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]] || ==iPad: Personalizing Learning, Creating and Sharing==
 * [[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]] || ==101 Websites for Science and Math Teachers!==
 * [[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]] || ==Effective Use of Technology In the Classroom==
 * [[image:tuesday_petec_wordle2.JPG width="420" height="261"]] || ===This //word cloud// (see [|www.wordle.net] to make your own word cloud!) is a visual summary of my TUESDAY workshop experience.===

I attended the following sessions on Tuesday:
|| //Think you know Google? Think again! Buckle up and join in a whirlwind tour of new FREE Google tools for the classroom. Experience Google's Wonder Wheel, Translated Search, licensing search features, News Archives, Sidewiki, Custom Search Engine, bookmarks and much, much more. Presenter is a Google Certified Teacher.// **My thoughts: I do use google tools (such as google docs), but this session showed so many more (and new) tools available. ....and the nice thing? They're FREE! There was a lot presented for different disciplines.** || //West Chester University (WCU) conducted an Apple iPad pilot in Fall 2010 with a group of 10 faculty. The goal was to explore the viability and usability of the iPad for teaching, learning, and scholarship. Results of this iPad pilot project, and the use of Twitter to keep participants connected throughout the study will be provided.// **My thoughts: This session was very interesting because we are talking of some type of pilot program at MUAHS with the iPad and iTouches. The results of this study showed that even the least "techie" people did find the iPad somewhat intuitive, and everyone found the tool useful in their personal and professional lives. The problem with the iPad in particular is that some who have not experienced the interactive nature of the iPad simply think it's a replacement for the laptop. NOT THE CASE! It's a SUPPLEMENT to the laptops we have and will continue to use for word processing and spreadsheets. The iPad is a tool that encourages users to INTERACT with a topic or lesson. In algebra, the iPad can be revolutionary in allowing kids to experience algebraic thinking processes without being "bogged down" by the arithmetic or even the writing associated with solving a complex equation. I'm convinced that more kids will have more confidence in and do better with basic algebraic objectives if arithmetic errors are eliminated so that they're "thought flow" is not interrupted and they can "see" algebra more visually. This is a topic that I plan to research more indepedently in my search for really good math/algebra apps.** || //As mobile devices become more widely available, many of us recognize the value of using them to supplement traditional classroom instruction. In this session, we will present ways of using these technologies and provide you with a hands on experience, tips, and a quick reference guide on utilizing them in the classroom.// **My thoughts:** ||
 * [[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]] || ==Oh the Places You'll Go-ogle!==
 * [[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]] || ==iPad Faculty Pilot==
 * [[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]] || ==Mobile Devices in Classroom Instruction==
 * [[image:wednesday_petec_wordle.JPG width="400" height="160"]] || ===This //word cloud// (see [|www.wordle.net] to make your own word cloud!) is a visual summary of my WEDNESDAY workshop experience.===

I attended the following sessions on Wednesday:
|| //Learn innovative strategies to leverage very inexpensive, easy-to-use online testing and surveying programs. Eliminate copying of homework among students while enabling learning throughout assessments. Reduce the time you spend grading, while enhancing your ability to analyze and improve student performance.// **My thoughts: This presenter shared examples of online homework and quizzes from the site []. I've used this site many times, but this session was still informative because the two teachers present showed us different ways that their students experienced success through using the site with the teachers' guidance.** || //With the introduction of so many new technologies and the changing learning styles of our students, we need to rethink how we reach our students in our math classrooms. This session explores some of the changes that are being implemented in Jimbo Lamb's math classroom and how it has changed the way his students are learning math.// **My thoughts: This was my favorite regular session because I felt as if this presenter and I were definitely on the exact same page about how students should experience math class. Jimbo Lamb's wikispace (http://misterlamb.wikispaces.com/PETE%26C+2011) shares very creative ways to incorporate Web 2.0 tools into every lesson every day. I would love to hear more from this teacher and exchange ideas with him.** || //This session with focus on the proper uses of Facebook in Education. We will discuss privacy and security settings, creating private groups for your class, and the effective uses of Facebook as a study and collaboration tool. Please come with a Facebook account set up so we can dig in to the endless possibilities!// **My thoughts: I'm a Facebook addict, and this was good, new information for me. Presented by our TIU11's own Justine Kobeski, this session introduced the facebook blog ([]) which allows users to stay up-to-date on the new changes Facebook makes to its site. We learned how to have one Facebook account that utilized filters which help Facebook serve professional purposes while preserving privacy.** ||
 * [[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]] || ==Web-based Testing for Homework & In-Class Quizzes==
 * [[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]] || ==Rethinking the Math Classroom==
 * [[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]] || ==Facebook in Education==
 * [[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]][[image:thumbs_up.jpg width="27" height="31" align="right"]] || ==Closing Session: **The Art of Leadership and the Business of Social Change**==

//Bill Strickland is a mesmerizing speaker who will inspire you to make a difference, in your life and in the lives of those around you. He delivers a profoundly simple, optimistic message for leaders: Give people the tools they need, treat them with respect and they will perform miraculous deeds. He also delves into his story of hope of how a kid from Pittsburgh's ghetto would go on to lecture at Harvard and serve on the board of the National Endowment of the Arts; of his meeting with a pottery teacher who would change his life; of growing a near-bankrupt community center into one of the most acclaimed social organizations in the world. Throughout, he shares his powerful set of beliefs: For example, that we all make ourselves "poor" in one way or another when we accept that we are not smart, experienced, or talented enough to accomplish something. "A successful life is not something you simply pursue -- it is something that you create, moment by moment."// **My thoughts: This guy was phenomenal! :-) Bill Strickland is most definitely a gifted speaker and a leader in education. His ideas are simple ones that many may think aren't enough to change a culture, but Mr. Strickland makes you believe in everyone. One message that stuck with me was "the only cure to cancer of the soul is love and sunlight." I most certainly will buy this man's book entitled, "Make the Impossible Possible." To learn more about Bill's journey and accomplishments, see []. You'll be impressed. My only question is, "How can we get this guy to come to Mount Union??" Jeff Vogus has an idea, and we should all keep encouraging Jeff to continue the discussion he began with Mr. Strickland.** ||