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“Information on and from Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis' Learning Division”

Tag Archives: METC

Tuesday, May 21, 2013 METC 2014 Call for Proposals is Open

2013 METCSubmit a proposal for the 2014 Midwest Education Technology Conference this summer! As you can see from 2013 keynote Ken Shelton, you’ll jump for joy if your submission is accepted! The preconference proposal deadline is August 23, 2013 and the general session submissions deadline is September 15, 2013. The advisory committee will review all proposals in the fall and the presenters will be notified of their acceptance by October. To see all the information you need to submit a proposal for METC 2014, visit METCconference.org.

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Thursday, March 7, 2013 2013 Virtual METC Available Through Fall

Once again the Midwest Education Technology Conference offers free content to educators world-wide. Select presentations from METC 2013 were chosen for the annual  Virtual Conference, including those from Keynote Speakers, Featured Speakers, and Midwest Spotlight Educators.

sessionsThese presentations were live-streamed at the conference in February, and the archived session recordings are available until fall 2013, so educators can learn at their own pace, on their own device, and share the information with their colleagues.

Cooperating School Districts and METC would like to thank the speakers, as well as Conference Technologies, Inc. (provided streaming services) and SqoolTechs, LLC. (provide the conference Moodle).

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Friday, March 1, 2013 February 2013 Top Reads

feb 5Here are the top five blog posts for the past month on The Connected Classroom — have you read them?

(1)  Students Front & Center @ METC 2013
(2)  February 11: Best Practices Conference
(3)  Announcing the Winning 2012 Show-Me Movies
(4)  Reinventing Project-Based Learning
(5)  Free Opportunities for Teachers this Week in St. Louis

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Wednesday, January 30, 2013 Students Front & Center @ METC 2013

For 30 years, the Midwest Education Technology Conference (METC) has provided a venue for K-12 educators interested in integrating technology into the classroom. Inspiring keynote speakers, as well as top-notch presenters, are hallmarks of the conference.   This year, students are taking an even more active role in METC, bridging what they learn in class to the real world.  Student roles include:

  • Presenters – Six breakout sessions feature students:
    • Student Centered Support for 21st Century Schools
    • Robotics Advancing the Human condition
    • BDPA: Providing Students Hands-on Experience in Web Development
    • Buder Bobcat News: Who Says that Elementary Kids Can’t Produce the News?
    • Shakespearean Stop Animation
    • Live Morning Broadcast, More than Just Announcements
  • Reporters – The METC eNews Bureau will report on happenings at the conference.  All aspects of the eNews Bureau (reporters, editors, photographers, web developers) involve high school students from the St. Louis area, including Brentwood, Ladue, MRH and John Burroughs. To follow the METC 2013 eNews, go to http://www.brentwood.k12.mo.us/metc2013/.
  • Tech Support – Eighteen students in the Cisco Networking Academy class at North Tech High School will provide technical support for presenters.
  • Graphic Design – metc 2013 programMETC collaborated with Wentzville High School graphic design teachers to find students to design the conference program cover and a special t-shirt.  The teachers selected five designs as finalists and the METC Advisory & Planning Committee selected the winning designs.  This opportunity will be opened to other districts for METC 2014.
  • Show-Me a Movie is a digital storytelling contest that allows students in grades 2 through 12 to demonstrate their creativity and digital moviemaking skills. Based on curriculum and with a content focus, the movies will showcase what students know, care about, and are able to do. Cash prizes go to the school of the winning movies in each category.   All winning movies are showcased at a reception on February 12, 2013 during METC.

Online registration is available at www.METCconference.org.
METC is a program of Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis.

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Tuesday, January 29, 2013 February 11: Best Practices Conference

Cooperating School Districts’ Best Practices Conference is a full day of learning and sharing the best educational practices. CSD ITEF partnered with the Innovative Technology Education Fund for the conference this year. ITEF is a St. Louis- based charitable nonprofit operating as a private foundation. Best Practices participants will hear keynote Monte Selby, as well as top educators from the St. Louis metro area, whose practices are making a difference for students and teachers, like:

  • Don Goble, Ladue School District, on media literacy
  • Patricia Ulrich, Ritenour School District, on systems thinking
  • Gregory Taylor, St. Louis Public Schools, on creating and using classroom websites for differentiation
  • plus other education professionals from CSD, the St. Louis RPDC, and school districts

In addition, ITEF Spotlight Presentations Include:

  • Using iPads in the Classroom, Affton School District
  • Great Video Made with Inexpensive Gear, Westminster Christian Academy
  • Using Online Courses to Keep Students On Track to Graduate, Marian Middle School
  • iPads and the Library:  Transforming All Students into Digital Learners, Hazelwood School District

Dr. Selby will also present several sessions during both the morning and afternoon, including Emotions: This Crazy Kid is Making ME Crazy and Motivated Meetings: The End of Boring. Dr. Selby will share ideas and strategies to use with children, preK-12; providing solutions to issues and challenges facing classroom teachers today.

You are invited to join area teachers and leaders on Monday, February 11. Online registration ends on February 1, 2013; walk-ins, however, are welcome the day of the conference. (Also scheduled, although in a different section of the St. Charles Convention Center, are the preconference workshops for the 30th annual Midwest Education Technology Conference). For questions on either event, contact CSD’s Conferences & Events Coordinator, Karen Vaughan at kvaughan@csd.org.

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Friday, January 18, 2013 Media Literacy in the K-12 Classroom Book Review

baker book / metc 2013Several of the Midwest Education Technology Conference Advisory Committee members have volunteered to read the books being offered at the METC book store  and are providing brief reviews on the content. Here’s the latest:

Media Literacy in the K-12 Classroom
by Frank W.  Baker, reviewed by Julie Smith

Teachers wanting to tackle media literacy in their classrooms now have a fantastic resource to help them get started.  Frank Baker has created a dynamic tool for teachers across the curriculum.  Each chapter covers specific aspects of media literacy and how to use them in the classroom, including examples, discussion ideas, links and countless additional resources.   What makes this book remarkable is Baker’s ability to provide tools for all ages, it really can be used for K-12 or even graduate-level media pedagogy courses.  Teachers of any subject – of any age group – can find something in this book that will encourage critical thinking of EACH of their students.

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Wednesday, January 16, 2013 Book Review: Playing Games in School

As posted yesterday, for the 2013 METC, several of the Midwest Education Technology Conference Advisory Committee members have read some of the books being offered at the METC book store  and are providing brief reviews on the content.

2012 metc book store selectionPlaying Games in School: Video Games and Simulations for Primary and Secondary Schools edited by Atsusi ”2c” Hirumi, reviewed by Tom Swoboda

Playing Games in School is an extraordinary resource for teachers and administrators looking to utilize gaming in the classroom. The book investigates the rationale behind using video games in the classroom. It examines the types of students who are entering our classrooms and the effect both psychologically and physiologically that video games have on those students. A solid case is made for the educational benefits of video games. Additionally, the book discusses the alignment of gaming with NETS.

Section II of the book is a valuable resource for all science, math, language arts, social studies and health and fitness teachers. This section gives educators recommendations of games that can be used as well as examples of best practices, reviews of games and instructional methods.

The final sections of the book give educators a look at how to plan, integrate and facilitate student learning through the use of video games. To conclude the book, several educators give their perspectives on gaming in the classroom. Different types of gaming are discussed as well as a look at some of the barriers that can be involved with gaming in the classroom.

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Tuesday, January 15, 2013 METC Book Reviews

This year, several of the Midwest Education Technology Conference Advisory Committee members have read some of the books being offered at the METC book store   and are providing brief reviews on the content. We’ll offer their reviews throughout several posts, starting here:metc bookstore

Digital Storytelling- Guide for Educators
by Midge Frazel, reviewed by Robert Dillon

This book is an excellent resources for teachers, technology integrators, and school leaders. It takes a fresh look at the importance of storytelling in schools. For as long as there has been language, there have been oral histories that have been passed down generations based on stories.

Today’s connected world creates new opportunities for students with storytelling and specially digital storytelling skills. Frazel uses the ISTE NETS for students to showcase how digital storytelling can grow student’s technology IQ. The book provides outstanding resources and clear explanations.

The author walks the reader through all steps of the process from planning, to creating, to presenting the digital story. In addition, Frazel writes some specific chapters about classroom engagement, using story to support explanation of family history, and using story to build community connection. This easy read is ideal for educators looking to build engaging learning opportunities for students in this essential learning area.

2012 metc book store selectionEnergize Research Reading and Writing
by Christopher Lehman, reviewed by Bill Bass

While this book isn’t really a technology book, the connection between research and technology has never been greater. When we want to know something, by and large we turn to these technological tools to help us out. Through his book, Christopher Lehman makes a connection for the reader between the reading and writing that is done by using real world examples and giving us the ability to implement the strategies regardless of the level of tech in a given classroom.

METC is a program of Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis

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Wednesday, December 5, 2012 Making IT Happen with METC

Greg Lawrence MITCooperating School Districts’ ISTE Affiliate (Missouri Educational Technology Community) is currently seeking nominations for the Making IT Happen
 Award. Making IT Happen is an internationally recognized awards program for educators and leaders in the field of educational technology integration in K–12 schools. The program identifies and rewards educational technology leaders around the world for their commitment and innovation. Do you know an educator who makes IT happen in their school or district? Please complete the brief nomination form by
January 25, 2013.

Rena RockwellWinners will be awarded at the annual Midwest Education Technology Conference and later acknowledged at ISTE’s national conference. Past affiliate winners are Diana Dell, Greg Lawrence, Ruth Litman-Block, and Rena Rockwell. In addition to Making IT Happen, there are many ways METC recognizes our members. Below are the annual award opportunities:

  • Outstanding Teacher

    This award recognizes and honors one teacher who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership in implementing technology to improve education.
  • Outstanding Leader

    This award recognizes and honors one leader who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership in implementing technology to improve education.
  • Outstanding Young Educator
    This annual award is presented to an outstanding young educator (under the age of 35) who demonstrates vision, innovation, action, and transformation using technology to improve teaching and learning. The work of the selected educator will reflect ISTE’s mission and purpose and can be used to model best practices in the field. Anyone may nominate an eligible candidate, including affiliates.

The nomination form for these awards is also taking submissions until January 25. Learn more about the METC Affiliate at csdvlc.org.

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Tuesday, November 6, 2012 #kidvote brings election to classroom

To see some great images of students participating in mock elections this week, check out the #kidvote hashtag. One particularly active teacher is METC Spotlight Educator Krissy Venosdale of Hillsboro, Missouri. She’s documenting every step of her students’ election process- voting, tabulating, reporting, and Skyping- over several media platforms. You can find links to them all at her Twitter feed, including their mock election results. Remember, for those of you 18 and over voting in the real election, the closing time for Missouri polls is 7 p.m. central time; the Show-Me State is worth 10 electoral votes in the presidential race.

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