Three Innovative Approaches to Mobile Learning
Ready to throw out the heavy textbooks and jump into the world of mobile learning? Yes, but how do you do it? Are you on the mobile learning train but feel the content and teachers aren't quite there yet? This panel will explore three different ways mobile learning is being incorporated today in the elementary school environment. Katherine Burdick from Learning A-Z argues that it is better to take the safe approach and blend traditional book learning, online, and mobile apps. Tom Wolf from eSpark Learning takes a bit bolder step and states that all after school programs should adopt mobile technology only. Finally, Matt Federoff from Vail School District has had teachers throw the textbook out the window as Vail has gone totally wireless making everyone operate off of laptops and iPads to the point that even the school buses are wireless. Angela Maeirs, author of Classroom Habitudes, serves as referee.
Presenters
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 evangelist, she deeply committed to helping learners understand the transformational power of technology. Her intimate knowledge of teaching and learning, down-to-earth style, and powerful message of literacy as change have made her a highly sought after keynote speaker and a vibrant courageous voice in both the business and education space.
As owner and lead consultant at Maiers Educational Services, using her passion for literacy and technology to discover creative ways to assist schools and organizations in meeting their learning and productivity goals. When she is not at home in Clive, Iowa, spending time with her husband and two children.
Katherine Burdick has worked in the education sector for over thirty years. Using her experiences as a teacher and a school administrator, she has developed a strong track record of creating innovative leading educational products while holding marketing and editorial positions within companies such as Pearson Education and Scholastic Inc. For the last seven years she has worked in product development at Learning A-Z directing the development of reading, writing, and science products delivered online. Learning A-Z is a winner of the distinguished CODiE Award, Teacher's Choice Award, and AEPs Beacon Award. Katherine is passionate about mobile learning and is busy learning and teaching others about all its possibilities.
Matt Federoff is the Chief Information Officer for the Vail School District in Vail, Arizona. Matt has been with Vail since 1999. Before Vail, Matt taught high school science for eight years. Matt was the 2005 Arizona Technology Director of the Year, and in 2007 was named one of the National School Board Association "20 to Watch". Matt lives with his wife and children in a straw-bale house in the wilds of the Empire Mountains south of Vail.
Tom has spent a lifetime working in and developing a deep understanding of the tech industry. After obtaining a BS in Computer Science from Michigan State University, he worked for Americorps, did some consulting work for non-profit organizations, and spent several years in the publishing industry. Tom has written and advised on curriculum varying from computer instruction to Computer Science. His professional projects range from academic security research on the Linux kernel to custom back-ends for multimedia remixing social networks. His time at eSpark Learning is shaped by his desire to bring improved educational opportunities to as many communities as possible through personalized mobile technology.
Monday, March 12
