PANEL - Diverse Tales from the Digital Crypt - What Effective Computer-Using Educators Know about Teaching: An International Perspective

Objectives
A great deal of effort is being invested in preparing teachers to develop their personal technological fluency in both pre-service and in-service settings. However, the panelists, each a leading classroom teacher and teacher educator are observing that the growing climate of fear found in schools and the increasingly vocational nature of teacher preparation makes it less likely that teachers will use computers in intellectually rich and creatively expressive ways.

The panelists believe that a solid foundation in a variety of learning theories helps a modern educator shape and articulate their educational philosophy. The panelists will share what they believe to be the essential knowledge and experience teachers need to be effective integrators of technology; strategies for improving pre-service and in-service education; examples of higher-order uses of computers; and ideas for sustaining professional growth and innovation in 1:1 environment and computer labs. This discussion is critical in shaping the future of learning.

Outline
The panelists, each with decades worth of experience working in technology-rich schools and districts, public and independent, will discuss what effective technology-using teachers know and do. The panelists will discuss what they have found to be foundational knowledge in learning theory and practical teaching techniques.

Topics of discussion will include:

• Critical learning theories for effective technology integration

• Creating productive learning environments

• Best practices in computer-rich learning environments

• Sustaining innovation in 1:1 schools

• The practical teaching techniques required to maximize your investment in technology

• Inservice professional development strategies for overcoming deficits in pre-service teacher education.

Audience members will be invited to spend approximately 1/3 of the session time sharing their views on the subjects discussed and all of the participants will brainstorm strategies for improving professional practice.

Panelists
For 25 years Geoff Powell has been adapting technology into classrooms around the world. He is currently Head of Academic Technology at St Hilda’s School. Previously he was Director of Computing at Geelong Grammar School and spent time as a Fellow at Deerfield Academy (USA).

For 27 years, Gary Stager, an internationally recognized educator, speaker and consultant, has helped learners of all ages on six continents embrace the power of computers as intellectual laboratories and vehicles for self-expression.

Steve Costa is the Deputy-Head of Methodist Ladies College Junior School. He led the team of teachers at MLC who introduced laptops into the college in 1990. This innovative laptop program was the first of its kind in the world.

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