Introductions

Please introduce yourself, let us know a little bit about you, and where you are from.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Doug Butchy on July 6, 2010 at 8:57pm

Hi Everyone,

I have been a member of this ning for a while now, but have not been very active. I am from extreme Western PA on the PA/OH line in a city called Sharon. I hope to use the Ning a little more effectively in the future...there is so much great information here! I am currently an elementary, middle, and high school band director, and am working towards my Masters in Education with a major in Instructional Media from Wilkes University.

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Permalink Reply by Keith Bone on July 7, 2010 at 6:55pm

G'Day all;

Name is Keith and I lecture in Occupational Health and Safety at Durack Institute of Technology, Geraldton, Western Australia.
Industries around here include mining (gold, iron ore, other minerals) and fishing.
Our main campus is here in Geraldton (Google Fitgerald Street) and other smaller campuses at Carnarvon, Exmouth and Wiluna in outback Australia.
Very involved in e-learning and on-line delivery.
Cheers

Keith Bone

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Permalink Reply by Taunia on July 9, 2010 at 9:05am

Hi there!

Just thought I'd stop by and introduce myself as requested! My name is Taunia, and I manage the social media and outreach for Rhythm, Rhyme, Results at www.educationalrap.com.

I'm a 38 yr old professional vocalist and voice teacher, and I've worked in education my entire adult career. As an educator myself, I like to keep connected with other teachers - especially those using technology in the classroom. We also love hearing feedback and suggestions from teachers about our music, and I welcome any comments or questions about what we do.

Many thanks, and I look forward to becoming an active part of this community!

Cheers,
Taunia

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Permalink Reply by Krista Easton on July 9, 2010 at 9:14pm

Just introducing myself... I'm Krista Easton, a high school music teacher in northern NY state currently pursuing my masters at Crane School of Music. I've been teaching vocal and general music, world drumming, music theory, guitar class and more for going on 15 years all around New England

I'm following up on a first year of making my teaching environment more up to date with the 21st Century, have done some videoconferencing and collaborative work, am new to using a SmartBoard in the music room, and even newer (like did it for the first time ever 4 days ago) to the blogging community and online networks of teachers. Can't wait to spend time learning and sharing with the great minds I've been reading about here!

They're still in the VERY beginning stages, but I would welcome comments and/or feedback on my new blog http://makemusicmeaningful.blogspot.com/ and wiki page http://pblinmusic.wikispaces.com/. Looking forward to talking with some of you soon and seeing what you all are up to!

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Gelrud on July 11, 2010 at 3:18pm

Hola! Michelle Gelrud from Richmond, VA. I teach high school Spanish and would love to collab with some of you! I'm always looking for new resources and ideas to use in class!

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Permalink Reply by Kathy A. Stetter on July 12, 2010 at 11:11am

Hello, My name is Kathy Stetter. I am a second grade teacher in the South Western School District. I have a masters in Instructional Technology fro Philadelphia University. Thnk you Mark for helping to keep educators in the loop

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Permalink Reply by Darlene B. Koenig on July 12, 2010 at 12:02pm

My name is Darlene Koenig; I'm a freelance education writer who would like to share your successes using social media tools in the 6-12 classroom. The article is for Teaching Tolerance magazine, a publication of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

I'm particularly interested in your story if you've been using Twitter, Facebook, Skype or other web-based apps to reach tolerance-related goals such as bridging cultural divides, learning and/or collaborating with other cultures, or helping students to involve themselves in issues of social justice. This can be at school, community, national, or international levels. I'm interviewing teachers this week, and can be reached by e-mail at koenigeducation@verizon.net or through Facebook at www.facebook.com/darlene.koenig. Thanks so much!

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Jungbauer on July 14, 2010 at 8:25am

Good morning. My name is Michelle. I am a 9-12 science teacher at a high school which is going 1:1 in the fall with the freshmen. Sophomores and juniors will be added midyear. Looking forward to the challenge and discovering new ways to enhance my students critical thinking. I am from Neenah, WI.

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Permalink Reply by Jessica Galbraith on July 14, 2010 at 1:05pm

My name is Jessica Galbraith and I am high school socials studies teacher from Connecticut. I was exposed to this website through a doctoral level course I am taking in Instructional Technology. I am amazed by its capabilities!!

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Permalink Reply by Sameer Mehta on July 14, 2010 at 1:17pm

Hi all. My name is Sameer Mehta, from San Francisco, CA. I work with Adobe in developing a new multimedia software that will be used to help teachers prepare assignments and materials very easily! It will also, allow an exchange so teachers across the country can share material. I am very excited by this group, and would love any help.

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Permalink Reply by Marsha Goren on July 16, 2010 at 10:38pm

I am Marsha from Globaldreamers Israel and one of the ePals ambassador teachers.
You can see it on the E-Pals site. (http://www.epals.com) See teacher ambassador winners.

. In 1991 It was my wish for my students to become excited and interested in their learning and found that the internet offered children the opportunity to collaborate with other students all around the world and become involved in real world, authentic learning opportunities that could be enjoyable and truly meaningful. I am the creator of Global Dreamers web site (http://www.globaldreamers.org) and along with my students promote the vision of “worldwide peace”. I am now a mentor for so many teaching professionals and present workshops locally and nationally and even internationally. I am always willing to share my time with other educators, “…Remember, knowledge is power and educators have been given the gift of finding and sharing it.’

The children have always been my inspiration and so I’ve tried to inspire them. It wasn’t until the web took the world by surprise, though, that teaching became an exciting challenge, an unbelievable experience where collaborative learning comes alive in classrooms around the world, and my students have become learners and leaders; partners and participants through their Global Dreamers involvement.

Looking back I now realize the social innovation that Global Dreamers has brought to the educators, students and of course me. It was the different strategies we implemented which have helped our dream come true for the last nine years. Indeed our work has helped to enrich and engage the lives of many of our global partners and friends around the world. This social innovative way of teaching and sharing tries to answer to old problems that the world faced before the power of the Internet and technology touched our lives. It has also helped to change biased opinions by learning about others and has extended and strengthened the civil society and the future it may bring.
Our work has brought us much satisfaction and me personally a new outlook on education. It is not the awards that have come our way but the true motivation the kids receive through this process.I am proud of the kids and what they do. They are willing to take the extra step for their global friends.
Look forward to hearing from you,

Best wishes,

Marsha Goren Ein Ganim School Petach Tikva, Israel
(http://www.globaldreamers.org)
Come and dream with us soon.