The Connected Classroom

You know we’ve been posting about our featured speakers for METC 2011 in the last couple of weeks. Here’s the last group, including our final keynote speaker. These presenters will definitely motivate, engage, transform and connect with conference goers!

Featured Speaker Torrence Temple built a small media company in 2001 called iScienceDVD, LLC. Atom & Quark video collection  incorporates all of Torrence’s research on digital media design for enhanced learning (isciencedvd.com). Torrence built, edited, designed, and produced every aspect of the videos to enhance the absorption of science knowledge in elementary  school classrooms. Torrence continues his research and development of new, cutting edge technology applications at Azusa Pacific University where he’s taught technology courses to teachers for the last 9 years.

Dr. Howie DiBlasi was recognized as “Vocational Teacher of the Year” for the state of Arizona and nominated as a finalist in the “Top Secondary Leaders in America.” He has presented programs, courses and presentations to thousands of administrators, teachers, technology specialists and professionals around the country-  including past Midwest Education Technology Conferences. Howie is a recognized leader in digital technology, multi-media, interactive video conferencing and 21st century learning. He has extensive hands on experience in training administrators and educators using 21st Century technology and applications.

Gwyneth Ann Jones, aka The Daring Librarian, is a blogger, a plurker, ISTE board member, a citizen of Nings and a resident of Second Life. She’s a digital immigrant with a longtime green card and a passion for educational technology, school librarianship, and being a change agent within her learning community both geographically and within the ethernets. As a teacher-librarian and technology specialist at Murray Hill Middle School in Howard, Maryland, strives to bring kids into her information center for what she calls investigative research adventures.

Also added to the keynote roster is Lee Crockett. He is a national award winning designer, marketing consultant, entrepreneur, artist, author and international keynote speaker. He is the Director of Media for the InfoSavvy Group and the managing partner of the 21st Century Fluency Project. Lee is the chief architect of the extensive network of websites, web-based applications and presentations of which the InfoSavvy group is comprised. Lee is also the co-publisher of the Committed Sardine Blog, which is electronically distributed to more than 100,000 readers in over 60 countries. He is co-author of Understanding the Digital Generation, The Digital Diet, Living on the Future Edge, and the upcoming Literacy is not Enough. Lee is a “just in time learner” first and foremost, constantly adapting to the new programs, languages and technologies associated with today’s communications and marketing media.

The Midwest Education Technology Conference is a program of Cooperating School Districts (CSD). Remember that you can follow METC on Twitter. Registration for the conference opens on Friday, October 1, 2010.

Tags: 21st Century, Cooperating School Districts, Gwyneth Ann Jones, Howie DiBlasi, iste, Lee Crockett, Midwest Education Technology Conference, Torrence Temple, Virtual Learning Center