A BIG Congratulations to Dana Dawson!

NMSU alumna receives Presidential Award for mathematics and science teaching

Earlier this month President Barack Obama named 103 mathematics and science teachers across the United States as recipients of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, one of whom was New Mexico State University alumna Dana Dawson.
http://newscenter.nmsu.edu/news/article/5186/

Neat workshop for teachers

Lots of fun. Not free for non-Floridian teachers, but worth it if one can afford it. Schedule usually” breakfast, 1 hour class, boats to reef. Lunch, 1 hour class, boats to reef. Dinned, 1 hour class, outdoor activity close in, like astronomy, plankton collection, etc.

Janet
 
www.marinelab.org <http://www.marinelab.org>  – regular site.
 
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Hello from MarineLab in Key Largo!
 
We are excited to present a variety of teacher workshops this summer! In addition to our long-time favorite Coastal Marine Ecology of the Florida Keys, we offer an Advanced MarineLab/AP Programs workshop and the ReefCheck Data Gathering on SCUBA workshop.  
 
The workshops take place July 25 - 30, 2010 and have an option to receive continuing education credits OR graduate college credit through Barry University in Miami Springs.
 
SCHOLARSHIPS are available for Florida teachers for either of the snorkeling workshops!  Applications and directions are available on the website.
 
An added bonus for SCUBA certified teachers is the opportunity to extend your workshop and participate in coral reef restoration through the Restoration Workshop on July 30 & 31.
 
For details including an itinerary, visit our website at http://www.marinelab.org/Teacher_Workshops.html. All workshop fees include meals and accommodations.  Hope to see you this summer!
 
The MarineLab Team
 

New Spring Webinars

Dear Educator,

Please join us for our Transforming Teaching through Technology webinars this semester beginning January 25th.  RETA Webinar professional development sessions are one-hour seminars created to fit into the fast-paced schedules of today's educators. Launch your journey of eLearning with emerging technologies, online teaching & learning and classroom technology integration every Monday from 4:30-5:30 pm (Mountain).

Edmodo, Twitter and Yammer: Microblogging in Education
Monday January 25th, 2010 from 4:30-5:30 pm (MT)

What is this Twitter everyone's talking about? How does this pertain to me as an educator? Microblogging is here to stay, but there's no doubt it can seem strange at first. This new form of communication uses status updates to broadcast and receive information across a learning network. A microblogging community can be everything from a source of breaking information to a virtual water cooler or an 'unconference' with people around the world. Whether you want to use a microblog as a personal learning environment for yourself, with your colleagues, or even with your students, we've got the tools for you. 'Follow' us to learn about these free microblogging tools and their potential classroom uses: Twitter, Yammer and Edmodo.

To attend this event, register by going to: http://webinars.nmsu.edu/detail.cfm?id=73
You will then receive a confirmation email with the webinar link.

Plan to join us 15-20 minutes prior to the start time to configure your computer. To participate, speakers are required. A simple computer microphone and/or a headset are ideal for interaction. A webcam is optional.  If you have never used Adobe Acrobat Connect Professional, please test your connection at: Adobe Acrobat Pro Support Center https://admin.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

For a complete schedule of all of our webinars, visit us at: http://webinars.nmsu.edu or contact us at webinars [at] nmsu [dot] edu or call 575.646.6143.   And don’t forget to find us on Facebook, http://tinyurl.com/ahffeh or tweet with us on Twitter, http://twitter.com/retazens

Our featured webinar this week is Copyright for Educators I: http://nmsu.na3.acrobat.com/p62749492/

Have a cup of coffee, invite a colleague and raise your eQ (eLearning Quotient) with us!

Thank you,
The RETA Webinar Team
(575) 646-6143
http://webinars.nmsu.edu
webinars [at] nmsu [dot] edu

reBlog from Hollyrae: RETAzens Blog

I found this fascinating quote today:

Help save IDEAL NM! Please share this post with the hashtag #saveidealnm and advocate with us today! Find out how below.Hollyrae, RETAzens Blog, Jan 2010

You should read the whole article.

Online Math Secondary Resource

Web site offers free online math lessons


The California-based Web site Brightstorm offers online math help for students with video lessons created by teachers. Most of the site's math lessons are free, but the company also offers fee-based lessons in preparation for standardized tests. "Anybody who is confused with their homework can come to our site, search for the concept, find it really quickly, and then they can get an explanation that is concise and to the point from a really talented presenter who is also a great teacher," a Brightstorm representative said.

http://www.brightstorm.com/

Indictment of use of technology to improve learning?

Has education wasted the money and opportunity to improve learning, teaching, achievement by only using new technologies to perpetuate traditional, non-effective learning strategies?

What/Where is the evidence?
 
What is meant by using new technology as a "cognitive tool?" What would that look like?
 

Special Edition: Educational Outcomes & Researc h from 1:1 Computing Settings  
The Journal of Technology, Learning, and Assessment

The End of Techno-Critique: The Naked Truth about 1:1 Laptop Initiatives and Educational Chang
http://escholarship.bc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1193&context=jtla