FETC 2014

FETC 2014 is in full swing today offering time in the exhibit hall and speaking with company representatives: Edmodo, Follett, Google Apps in Education, Dell, Amplify, and SynergySE, just to name a few.  As people mill in and out of display areas, the conversations vary but an overall topic is "I'd like to use that in my classroom."

Connecting with what is available is an important step for an educator or administrator.  When you see a technology tool and make the connection of how it can improve student learning, you've had a

WOW moment. It just might be the catalyst needed to change perceptions.

Twitter is active and #FETC is among the lead in topics of the day.  Speakers have used Twitter to advertise their sessions, share resources, and comment on the conference and the impact it is having on them.   Pics are being posted on Twitter as well.  Here are a few tweets, just to give you an idea!

• "Did you know there are 300 Canandians at #FETC?" from MindShareLearningMag
• "Twitter makes PD personalized." from Jonathan Apostol
• "Second Session that read write think from Thinkfinity has been shared today at #fetc cube creator. Favorite ela resource." Rhonda Roysden

Connecting with friends and meeting new people is a real plus when it comes to attending conferences.  Your PLN (Personal Learning Network) continues to grow.  Here I am with Luis Perez (Accessibility and Inclusive Design Consultant) and Tony Dutra, (Region 5 Technology Coordinator, Technology & Learning Connections/USF).

39 Years

I made up my mind.  I'm retiring.  Retiring is not an end, but a beginning.  I look forward to using the technology skills I've acquired in numerous ways.

When I became a teacher, I truly viewed my career as a 'calling', a vocation choice.  After spending 25 years in the classroom, the past 14 years have been spent in technology and the integration of technology into the classroom.  I've met so many wonderful people along my 'educational path'.  Being a life long learner will not end with retirement.

I'm going out while I still love what I'm doing and still have a positive effect on the folks I work with.  I don't know what the future holds, but that's a good thing.  I imagine there will be a needed adjustment period, but I am ready. I am retiring!

May is just around the corner

April is nearing an end.  I know that May is a busy month for educators.  As I look ahead, I can't help but wonder what new challenges the month will bring.

Join the Crowd at FETC

Thinkfinity: Florida Thinkfinity: FETC 2012

Thinkfinity: Florida Thinkfinity: FETC 2012

Will you be attending the FETC conference this year? What are you most interested in?

FETC 2012

FETC is set to start in Orlando, Florida, January 23-26, 2012. This national conference is content rich and brings educators together to share best practices and the latest hardware and software available.

Students at Ivey Lane Elementary School Achieve Dramatic Increases in Math Performance

MIND Research Institute’s Math Initiative provided pilot grants for a new visual math software program to Ivey Lane and 22 other schools in Orange County Public Schools
ORLANDO, FL, Sept. 7, 2011 – The non-profit education researcher MIND Research Institute announced that third-grade students and their teachers at Ivey Lane Elementary School using MIND’s ST Math® visual math software program achieved a dramatic 26-point gain in grade-level math achievement on the 2011 FCAT 2.0. Ivey Lane also finished 2010/11 in MIND’s top 10% nationally in completion of the challenging, web-based ST Math software, out of more than 1,000 schools in 24 states.

Ivey Lane was one of 23 schools in Orange County Public Schools to pilot the ST Math approach and software in 2010/11, which taps into students’ innate ability to reason their way through visual math puzzles covering Florida’s Next Generation Sunshine State math standards. Schools implemented the program at grades 3, 4 or 5. The 23 schools participated in a philanthropically funded Orlando Math Initiative, receiving their software licenses at up to two grade levels free of charge in fall of 2010. Overall, the average results at these schools were also significant and positive, with an average 4-point increase in grade-level performance across all sites on the rigorous FCAT 2.0. The FCAT 2.0 is new, and by design in 2011 showed no net statewide gains.
Third graders at Ivey Lane achieved the most dramatic results. Grade-level math achievement went up by 26 points, from 59% in 2010 to 85% in 2011. And in 2011, the percentage of students at the lowest FCAT achievement level dropped from 9% to zero. These high gains, accompanied by record-high implementation of the new ST Math software program, are signs of outstanding dedication by the school staff to their students’ success with the assistance of the program.
“2010 was our first year piloting our unique program in Florida, and Orange County Public Schools, the pioneer district. So we were anxiously anticipating the results on Florida’s state-of-the-art Next Generation standards and FCAT 2.0 assessment. Thanks to the outstanding reception and implementation our Math Initiative received in Orlando, we are extremely pleased to report these increases in student math achievement,” said Andrew R. Coulson, Education Division President, MIND Research Institute.
“A total of 23 schools in the Orange County Public Schools began our math program last year with two grades enrolled. The Math Initiative continues to make licenses available to expand the program to all of grades K-5 at these sites, adding two grades per year,” continued Coulson. “Public/private partnerships with local schools and our corporate sponsors enabled us to get this pilot going, and great educator partners have shown what is possible in student math achievement gains.”
Funders for this pilot, as part of a scale-up across the United States, include PricewaterhouseCoopers, CISCO, Wells Fargo Foundation, and University of Phoenix Foundation.
“Wells Fargo is proud to support the communities we serve, including Orlando and the state of Florida. Investing in children’s education here is crucial to building a stronger tomorrow for everyone,” said Tim Hanlon, Wells Fargo’s head of philanthropy. “We commend the children and staff at Ivey Lane for their excellent accomplishments in math, as well as the MIND Research Institute for bringing innovative math programs to children across the nation.”
Math Initiative sites received MIND’s award-winning ST Math instructional software, teacher training, and real-time reports on student progress for teachers and principals. MIND Research proactively supports each school’s implementation throughout the year.
MIND Research Institute
The MIND Research Institute is a neuroscience and education research-based, non-profit corporation. MIND applies its distinctive visual approach to illustrating math concepts and building problem-solving skills as the basis for innovative, research-proven math education programs for elementary and secondary schools. MIND’s programs currently reach over 320,000 students and 13,000 teachers in more than 1,000 schools in 24 states. For more information, visit http://www.mindresearch.net.