Building Learning Communities 2012

Chris is the CEO of 3D Robotics and founder of DIY Drones. From 2001 through 2012 he was the Editor in Chief of Wired Magazine. Before Wired he was withThe Economist for seven years in London, Hong Kong and New York in various positions, ranging from Technology Editor to US Business Editor.

He is the author of the New York Times bestselling books The Long Tail and Free as well as the new Makers: The New Industrial Revolution. In 2005 he was named Editor of the Year by Ad Age, and in 2007 he was named to "Time 100," the newsmagazine's list of the 100 most influential men and women in the world…

Tom Barrett is one of the UK’s best known classroom teachers, working in the elementary schools sector. He curates and shares thousands of practical ideas from teachers across the globe on his blog edte.ch, and puts into practice the very best thinking on educational technology to inspire and engage children in their learning.

Tom works on leadership, technology adoption and improving teacher capacity with NoTosh in schools across the UK, and inspires teacher audiences with fresh ideas for engaging young people in learning.

Michael is a teacher and the ICT Coordinator at Knox Grammar School in Sydney Australia. Knox is an independent boys school running a laptop program and Michael works closely with all teachers K-12 integrating technology throughout the curriculum.

Michael is a Google Certified Teacher and has presented at conferences throughout Australia. He has worked at various independent and government schools in his 20 years of teaching.

Jennifer Beine has been the director of November Learning’s BLC Professional Development Conference since 2008, while also serving as the technology coordinator for various school districts since 2003. In her director role she shows tremendous work ethic, excellent interpersonal skills and incredible proficiency in organizing over 55 presenters, 1000+ attendees and a staff of 25, which included 12 middle-school students. Teachers who have attended her workshops hold her in high esteem. In her role as a coordinator she was invaluable in building mutual respect by showing educators how to integr…

Chris has been an 8th grade English and Reading teacher as well as Department Chairperson with the Mount Clemens Community Schools for 14 years. She has been involved with distance learning programs promoting authentic audiences since March 1999. Her blog “The Clem” www.theclem.org has been an avenue for her students to publish their writing to an authentic audience. Chris was awarded the Pioneering Partners Award for her programs She has also presented at state and national conferences.

Kathy Cassidy is an award-winning Canadian first grade teacher who is passionate about literacy and about connecting her classroom with the world. Her students regularly learn from and with people and classrooms from around the world.

Kathy has a classroom blog and her students each have their own blogs which are digital portfolios reflecting their learning in all subject areas. These portfolios include images, video, podcasts and other evidence of their learning.

In addition to teaching, Kathy is an author and speaker. You can also find her online at her professional blog and on Twitter.

Tom Daccord is an educational technology speaker, instructor, and writer who has worked with schools, districts, colleges and educational organizations in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Author of Best Ideas for Teaching with Technology: A Practical Guide for Teachers by Teachers and The Best of History Web Sites, Tom has presented on educational technology topics at national and international conferences, including ISTE (U.S.), ELMLE (Europe), and ICTLT (Asia). He has produced a series of online courses on Web 2.0 and iPad integration, as well as 21st century school leadership an…

Liz B. Davis is the Director of Academic Technology at Belmont Hill School, an independent all boys day school in Belmont, MA where she also teaches 7th grade English in a 1 to 1 iPad setting. She has also been using Google Apps for Education in her classroom extensively for the last 5 years. Liz believes in the power of technology to transform learning, energize communities and inspire innovative thinking. Liz blogs at http://www.edtechpower.blogspot.com and Tweets as @lizbdavis.

Robert Goodman, the 2006 New Jersey Teacher of the Year, is the Director of the New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning. As the science chair and a teacher of physics, chemistry and environmental science at the Bergen County Technical High School in Teterboro from 1999 to 2009, he founded and led the development of the Progressive Science Initiative (PSI). Bob is a Content Expert Reviewer for Achieve, a Field Reader for the US DOE and a member of the Education Advisory Committee for the Liberty Science Center. In April, 2008 Bob co-authored the article, Squaring the Circle: A Mathematicall…

Mike is a graduate of Western Michigan University, Indiana University, and Johns Hopkins University’s. He has partnered with ISTE and various educational, governmental, and business organizations and foundations. Past experience includes overseeing the Integrated Solutions Block, a 21st century program serving 1050 students integrating technology with core standards, at Woodside Middle School near Fort Wayne, Indiana. He currently serves as the One to One Laptop Initiative Coordinator in Southwest Allen County Schools in Fort Wayne.

Mike is also a consultant for Discovery Education and Novemb…

Garth Holman and Mike Pennington have a combined twenty-five years 7th grade social studies teaching experience. Garth currently teaches in Beachwood City Schools where he piloted their 1:1 initiative ten years ago. Mike teaches for Chardon Local Schools and is currently piloting a connected classroom. Their collaboration started six years ago and has expanded to include their students. Every year Mike and Garth connect their students from two districts nearly thirty miles apart. Collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and intrinsic learning are life-long skills that Mike and Garth’s stud…

Special guest, Lachlan Hull is a Primary School Educator for Brisbane Catholic Education in Queensland, Australia. He is currently in his second year of Teaching and is the ICLT Coordinator at his school.

About Eunhee Jung, Ph.D.
Founder & Executive Director, IVECA International Virtual Schooling

Dr. Eunhee Jung is the Founder and Executive Director of IVECA International Virtual Schooling. Her expertise is in using instructional technology to integrate classroom activities with virtual teaching and learning environments that are cross-culturally situated to promote intercultural competence of young people around the world.

Dr. Jung developed an Intercultural Virtual Exchange program of Classroom Activities (IVECA) throughout her doctoral study started in 2005. Since then, she has been dedicat…

Kern Kelley has provided technology support for educators for over ten years. He is currently the Education Technologist in central Maine at R.S.U. #19. He has conducted professional development in technology at the state, national and international level. You can find out more about him at www.kernkelley.com

About Darren Kuropatwa

Curriculum Coordinator for Digital Learning with the St. James-Assiniboia School Division in Winnipeg, Canada

Darren was an early user of blogs as part of his senior Math classes. Darren has gained notoriety for his innovative use of visuals and exploration in using technology to enable students to do things they could not have otherwise done. Darren is a regular presenter at conferences both nationally and internationally. You'll find Darren's digital footprints at http://about.me/dkuropatwa Lately he has also been video blogging #WhileWalking http://j.mp/whilewalking…

Julia Leong is a technology integration specialist who develops innovative teacher professional development programs for school districts internationally. She inspires technology infused learning that engages teachers to examine their practice and encourages students to demonstrate knowledge in multimodal ways. Julia’s sessions are highly creative and designed to make you question how your role as a teacher changes with technology. You will leave with practical ideas to teach and learn in new ways. She is one of approximately 100 Canadian Apple distinguished Educators and a November Learning A…

Brian Lukoff, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Fellow in Technology and Education at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University, where his research focuses on using technology to develop innovative ways of improving student engagement and learning in the classroom.  He is also co-founder and CEO of Learning Catalytics, a company that develops a cloud-based technology for facilitating and managing an interactive classroom.  He holds a Ph.D. from the Stanford University School of Education, where he studied educational measurement and technology.

Angela Maiers is an award-winning educator, speaker, consultant and professional trainer known for her work in literacy, leadership and global communications.

She is an alumnus of The University of Iowa and has her masters degrees in educational supervision and reading from the University of Iowa and has spent 22 years working in elementary, middle and university settings as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, coach, special programs facilitator and university professor.

Today, Angela is at the forefront of New Literacy and Web 2.0 technologies. An active blogger and social media evange…

Eric Marcos is a sixth grade mathematics teacher at Lincoln Middle School in Santa Monica, CA. Eric integrates purposeful-technology with a “kids teaching kids” model. Using screencasting software, Eric’s students create math video lessons, called mathcasts, which are used in classroom instruction and for the class podcast. He created the Web site Mathtrain.com, where students actively collaborate on-line and the video site Mathtrain.TV. The site was recently featured on EuroNews to over 150 countries and in 11 languages. Recently, Eric launched the free student site, StudentCreated.TV. Eric …

After obtaining a Ph.D. degree in experimental physics at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands in 1981, Dr. Mazur came to Harvard University in 1982. In 1984 he joined the faculty and obtained tenure six years later. Dr. Mazur has made important contributions to spectroscopy, light scattering, the interaction of ultrashort laser pulses with materials, and nanophotonics.

In addition to his work in optical physics, Dr. Mazur is interested in education, science policy, outreach, and the public perception of science. He believes that better science education for all — not just science majo…

Dave McCollom began at TechSmith as an IT specialist in 2006 before moving into his role as education evangelist in 2007.

Currently, he works closely with users around the globe, specifically focusing on the educational markets. In his position, he conducts ongoing and direct conversations with customers in order to influence continuous product improvement. Dave’s outreach to the educational community includes attending conferences both in the U.S. and abroad as well as visiting schools and classrooms for one-on-one and group training sessions with educators.

Prior to working for TechSmith, …

Ewan McIntosh is CEO of NoTosh Limited, a startup that works with creative industries on the one hand, and then takes the processes, attitudes and research gained from working on those projects to the world of education, providing schools, districts and Governments all around the world with ideas, inspiration and research on how to better engage teens.

More information is available on the company website: http://www.notosh.com, and you can follow his take on current education trends on his regularly updated blog: http://edu.blogs.com.

Shannon McClintock Miller is the district teacher librarian and technology integrationist at Van Meter Community School in Van Meter, Iowa. She encourages her students to have a voice while learning, creating, collaborating and connecting to others within their school and around the world.

Shannon is the author of the award winning Van Meter Library voice blog and enjoys writing for ISTE's Leading & Learning journal, School Library Month, Teacher Librarian, various blogs and in other forums. She has had the opportunity to speak in Iowa and around the country about advocacy, technology, social…

Described as having an infectious enthusiasm and incredible depth of knowledge, Brian shares a powerful vision for teaching and learning with administrators, teachers, parents and students. He focuses on critical thinking, motivating students through authentic tasks and developing collaborative partnerships. His varied experiences allow him to present this information in logical and thoughtful ways.

Brian prides himself in being an engaged, lifelong learner. He was named as one of Google’s first 200 certified educators, and he has developed a professional network of global peers who contin…

Kym is a teacher and a leader in the effective use of digital media technologies in teaching and learning in Australia. Based in South Australia at the Department of Education, he is responsible for film making and new media projects with students, and professional learning programs for teachers to develop pedagogical frameworks to design learning with new media.  His current focus is to implement approaches across the state that enable students to become more fluent and creative when designing and producing media texts, and strategies to establish effective ways to provide evidence of their e…

Robin Neal teaches English at Beaver Country Day School in Boston. He has also taught in public and international schools and has experience at all levels from grades 6-12. He is particularly interested in how technology in the classroom can create more dynamic, authentic educational experiences. He has presented at local, national, and international conferences on this topic and takes pride in avoiding lectures, creating a learn-by-doing atmosphere instead.

Robin will have some of his students from Beavery Country presenting with him.

Alan November is an international leader in education technology. He began his career as an oceanography teacher and dorm counselor at an island reform school for boys in Boston Harbor. While Alan was a computer science teacher in Lexington, MA, he was probably the first teacher in the world to have a student project on line in 1984, a database for the handicapped. He has been director of an alternative high school, computer coordinator, technology consultant and university lecturer. He has helped schools, governments and industry leaders improve the quality of education through technology.

A…

Erin Olson is a high school English teacher in Sioux Rapids, Iowa-a small, rural community. Erin also serves as an English/Language Arts Teacher Consultant for Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency. Erin is a proponent of inquiry design and conceptual learning connecting her students’ voice to the world via technology. Erin views technology as an avenue to create, to collaborate, to share and to learn. Erin works to incorporate social issues into her classroom, and this led to her class taking part in an online fantasy Supreme Court League, Then Feed Just One, and World11Kids. She is a passion…

Brad Ovenell-Carter is the Director of Educational Technology at Mulgrave School, a co-ed K-12 IB school in Vancouver, Canada. Brad is fascinated with the way technology is reshaping education. As an Apple Distinguished Educator he has consulted at individual schools and been asked to speak on developing best practices in this field at BLC and to the Canadian Association of Independent Schools, the Independent Schools Association of British Columbia where he sits on the professional development and, technology committees as well as working data privacy policy. With a decade of experience in ed…

Shelley Paul is the Coordinator of Teaching & Learning at Woodward Academy, where she provides professional development and collaborative support for teachers in the areas of curriculum, instructional design, 21st century learning and digital-age skills. She is inspired by the power of social media to connect people and ideas. Shelley is a recycler, an improvisor, a design thinker, a poet and a fan of libraries. Her online course, K12 Learning 2.0 (http://k12learning20.wikispaces.com) has introduced hundreds of participants from around the world to new web technologies and networked learning. …

Mike Pennington and Garth Holman have a combined twenty-seven years 7th grade social studies teaching experience. Garth currently teaches in Beachwood City Schools where he piloted their 1:1 initiative eleven years ago. Mike teaches for Chardon Local Schools and is currently the only connected classroom. Their collaboration started seven years ago and has expanded to include their students. Every year Mike and Garth connect their students from two districts nearly thirty miles apart. Collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and intrinsic learning are life-long skills that Mike and Garth’…

Creativity champ, Peter H. Reynolds is a NY Times best-selling author/illustrator and founder of FableVision, an award-winning educational multi-media company co-located at the Boston Children’s Museum. Published in over 20 languages, Peter's books The Dot, Ish, Sky Color, Rose's Garden, I'm Here, So Few of Me and The North Star inspire children and “grown up children” with his messages about authentic learning, creativity, bravery, empathy, and courageous self-expression.  Peter also illustrated the best selling Someday by Alison McGhee, Guyku by Bob Raczka, Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenth…

Elizabeth grew up in a multimedia rich environment. Having been a part of the world renown SFETT, a program created by media coach, Marco Torres, she benefited directly from the use of media in the classroom. Alas Media understands the importance of giving students multiple ways to express and evaluate their learning.

Schools and educators have embraced their unique approach to the use of multimedia and storytelling. Programs throughout the country as well as in Europe and Australia have discovered the benefits of their approach through their videos, workshops, trainings and online resources.

Rosa grew up in a multimedia rich environment. Having been a part of the world renown SFETT, a program created by media coach, Marco Torres, she benefited directly from the use of media in the classroom. Alas Media understands the importance of giving students multiple ways to express and evaluate their learning.

Schools and educators have embraced their unique approach to the use of multimedia and storytelling. Programs throughout the country as well as in Europe and Australia have discovered the benefits of their approach through their videos, workshops, trainings and online resources.

Ala…

Aaron Sams has been an educator for 12 years. He currently teaches science at Woodland Park High School in Woodland Park, Colorado where his peers consider him to be an innovator in the implementation of technology in the classroom. He has taught many staff development courses, primarily in the area of technology integration. He was awarded the 2009 Presidential Award for Excellence for Math and Science Teaching. Aaron recently served as co-chair of the Colorado State Science Standards Revision Committee.

Mark Schulte taught global issues-based journalism in Washington, DC for nearly ten years, most recently founding an international network of high school reporters online with members in more than 50 countries contributing daily to a web publication devoted to their stories.

Earlier he worked as a magazine writer and editor, covering politics and education in Virginia, and ultimately converted the magazine into a web journal of college life. That experience gave him a passion for the reach and dynamism of the web, and he has worked online ever since, experimenting with web technologies to fin…

Carolyn is a curriculum and professional development designer for technology and Internet-based projects, including directing several projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Carolyn is especially intrigued with allowing students to collect real-time data with portable sensors and probes attached to handheld computers and microcomputer-based lab (MBL) systems. She has designed professional development that includes implementation of technology into the classroom curriculum, teacher and student utilization of existing software, design of tailored activities and manipulation of…

Travis Allen is a young visionary for Digital Learning in the classroom. Before graduating high school, Travis created a viral YouTube video on revolutionizing education in America through mobile learning. Today, Travis is a junior at Kennesaw State University (KSU), where he operates his growing non-profit organization, the iSchool Initiative. Working closely with the Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) organization at KSU he has been able to turn his vision into a full blown movement with schools all over the world adopting the iSchool Initiative's concept. Travis manages a team of thirty peo…

Formerly a K-6 technology teacher, Lisa Thumann works with innovative learning technologies at the School for Global Education & Innovation at Kean University. Previously, Lisa was the Senior Specialist in Technology Education for Rutgers University's Center for Mathematics, Science and Computer Education where she worked on helping educators effectively integrate technology. Lisa focuses on her 21st Century Learning Initiative, developing personal learning communities and implementing Google Apps. She has presented at six of the Google Teacher Academies and is a Google Apps for Education Cert…

Marco Antonio Torres has been an educator for ten years. He was a media coach and Director of Education Technology at San Fernando High School, one of the nation’s largest urban schools in Los Angeles. In addition to his work in the classroom, Marco Torres is a professional filmmaker and photographer who utilizes these digital storytelling tools to add value to his curriculum. He has been recognized locally and internationally. Marco Torres was honored as a California Teacher of the Year for his accomplishments in the classroom and for his use of technology to empower minority students. His wo…

Dr. Truding has 43 consecutive years in education in 7 different states and 11 different suburban school districts. Dr. Truding has served as a teacher, coach, consultant, principal, director and Assistant Superintendent for Student Learning. Truding has also designed two new schools; one in Birmingham, Alabama (Trace Crossings School) and one in Birmingham Michigan (Birmingham Covington School-BCS).

Dr. Truding's Doctorate in Educational Leadership; Dissertation: "The Effects of a MMORPH on Second Language Acquisition", 2011. Truding has many partnerships including the authors of ELA Common …

Joyce Kasman Valenza loves her work as the teacher librarian at Springfield Township High School (PA)! For ten years, she was the techlife@school columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer. She currently blogs for School Library Journal. She considers herself a mother and a founding member of the school library Geek Tribe, TLNing, TL Virtual Café Pathfinder Swap, School Library Websites, and TLGuide.

Before joining the November Learning team, Jim was a teacher, Technology Director and Interactive Media Consultant at Macomb Intermediate School District in Michigan. As a consultant with our team, he works with districts in providing teacher and administrative trainings and conducts curriculum evaluations at a school and district level.

Jim has presented keynotes and workshops at local, state-wide and national conferences, including the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) and our annual Building Learning Communities Conference (BLC). He has also received awards for curriculum in…

Jordy is a 3rd-8th grade teacher at Birmingham Covington School in Birmingham MI. Always curious, Jordy has: taught in 3 different districts for 20+ years; designed and facilitated school and district level initiatives for Birmingham; served as Educator-On-Loan for the Michigan Department of Education; taught overseas and online graduate courses for Michigan State and Western Michigan; researched capacity building in systemic reform, technology integration, and mathematics teaching; led professional development workshops for MACUL and Apple Professional Development; served on MACUL's board of …

Sara was a Math, Science and Engage teacher at Birmingham Covington School for 13 years before adding the roles of Learning Mentor and Process Development Coach to her repertoire. Sara is a consultant for November Learning and a member of the EdLeader21 Advisory Team. In each capacity, Sara strives to connect the experiences of students, teachers and administrators to foster a critical understanding around the meaningful integration of technology, pedagogy and content. Sara has facilitated workshops at schools, educational conferences and professional development seminars, nationally and inter…