TIE conference in Colorado

From one world to the other!

I now find myself at a conference in Colorado that is about bringing technology into education. A perfect venue to share how schools have been using the website to enrich-en the learning experience.

It's a long ways from Rwanda, but oh so beautiful!

Colorado sunset.

View from the condo where I am staying in Dillon CO.

My co-presenter at the TIE conference, Amy Tharp, Reading Specialist at Highland Elementary in Littleton CO.

Technology is a wonderful tool that has the capacity to bring the world to your classroom.  But it runs the risk of being sterile, dry or detached like a video game.  The challenge is how to use it as a tool to connect the students to the world on a heart and soulful level, how can it be used to connect the hearts of people from one world with the other in a way that inspires educates and enriches both worlds?  Creating a special synergy, which one and one does not make two, but more than anyone could have ever imagined.  Sparking the curiosity and empathy for the world.

Technology is organic in that it continues to change and grow, and when used in creative authentic ways, it can help facilitate the same in young minds and hearts.

 

Cheers,

Dean

Comments

[Ashlynn Wieder]

Dean,
Hi it is me Ashlynn Wieder!School is over now and I wanted to say HI! My birthdy was on the thirtyth of june! So I am 11 now! I am very scared about middle school. Any advice? I hope you are having lots of fun. TTYL ( talk to you later) KIT( keep in touch):p BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chris ndamuzeye]

Hey Dean, Muraho?

Great to hear that you are still busy helping the world up there. To me it sounds crazy how one goes from one end of the world to another and immediately copes with what he left behind some months ago, and has things to tell people, to present in such an important conference. ah yes, as far as it talks about education, it has something in common with your last important activity in Bisate:donation of pens and notebooks, hahaha. You are really smart as my son always tells me when I do him a thing he likes.

We miss you outta here man!

Thanks for the gorilla you left on my desk. The photo talks by itself.Nta kibazo?

[Dean Jacobs]

Thank you for the kind words, they are appreciated!

What a wonderful conference. Addressing the needs to help us catch up in the world.

Cheers,
Dean

[Maria Ortiz]

What an amazing message! I enjoyed hearing about your travels and I can not wait to use your site with my students. Thank you for the inspiration!

[Nicholle Shughart]

The lessons highlighted in "Exploring the World Through Technology" presented at the TIE Conference illustrates how technology can be integrated with Language Arts in a way that inspires, motivates, and empowers student learning. The website takes children outside the walls of the classroom and allows them to step out into the world. Dean, it was a pleasure to experience your adventure in person at TIE. Thanks for sharing!

-Nicholle Shughart

[Dan Maas]

A spectacular story and relationship highlighted at the TIE Conference this afternoon. I particularly appreciated the point of the importance of human relationships. We wrote of this sentiment in our district ETIL plan where we firmly assert that technology should enhance and extend human relationships, not replace them. This story epitomizes that truth. Thanks for all your work and travels!

-Dan Maas