I believe that teachers should be in charge of education and in the current political climate we must work together collaboratively to take back our profession from the politicians. The focus should be on student learning needs. I'm not convinced that the 9-3 classroom-based, brick and mortar system is currently the best system for all students. Students of all ages should have the advantage of a variety of learning experiences and opportunities including the classroom, travel. apprenticeships, field-trips, online learning, 1:1 learning, etc. I'm not a fan of testing or grading. We need infuse the joy of learning into all learning experiences in order to engage students in real-world learning opportunities. I am a constructivist by nature, and train teachers to use project-based learning with technology in their classrooms. I also believe that we need to be connecting learning communities, schools, children using Internet technologies to break down the barriers and create a global learning community through global project-based learning.
My Community
Although I’ve spent most of my life and career in the San Francisco Bay Area (Silicon Valley), I now live in Spokane WA. I've spent the past 9 years living and working in North Carolina. Although I've retired, I still teach online courses, and love that I can continue to work with outstanding educators.
My Environment
Most recently I worked for the NC State's Friday Institute for Educational Innovation's 1:1 Laptop Initiative. I continue to teach online courses for Educators through Foothill College's Krause Center for Innovation. Before retiring, I worked for New Tech Network, a part of KnowledgeWorks, training/coaching teachers and administrators in NC and LA in project-based learnng and technology integration Previously I worked in a community college in a program that provides technology and PBL staff development courses for teachers. I was a Technology Learning Coordinator and a teacher for Oak Grove School District in San Jose, CA for several years. I’ve taught in a variety of settings during my career as an educator.