MACUL 2008
just in case you’re curious, the MACUL conference speaker proposals are due tomorrow. i have been presenting at this conference since i moved to Michigan in 2000 and it’s a great little conference. i say little, but it’s probably one of the largest state technology in education conferences around. it’s really a regional conference and thousands of educators will flock to the conference. last year was in Detroit and this year is in my backyard — Grand Rapids. i am running into a problem as I’d like to present on something novel and innovative and i can’t decide what to do. hmmm. last year i talked did a presentation titled, “Wiki, Wiki, Wiki . . . Textbook?” and i have since switched to the idea of an open source textbook, but not using the wiki. so, i guess i jumped the gun by trying to be too innovative, eh? that being said, the theme of the conference is, “Technology: 21st Century Learning Tools” so an innovative focus would probably be welcomed.
however, i would really like to focus on assessment and the method of curriculum-based measurement (CBM) — describing strategies for how technology can really enhance the process and make it all possible, etc. i could demonstrate how i am doing this in my classroom with weekly surveys and how easy it is to make curricular changes and adjustments and all of that jazz. as exciting as this is to me, i can also picture a potential attendee reading about assessment and CBM and thinking, “ewwww.” heh. so therein lies my dilemma . . . do i want to potentially impact more people or do i want to present a really meaningful session for a small number of participants? i think i’ll actually stick with the CBM idea, but i’ll fiddle with ways to make the session sounds as exciting as i think it can be. time will tell if it works or not. for that matter, i still have to be accepted. ;~)
Technorati Tags: MACUL, CBM, assessment, technology, technology in education
November 17th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
So what did you end up choosing to submit? The more lecture-like CBM idea, or the hot-hot-hot web 2.0 open textbook idea?
If you did choose the CBM related presentation, you’re more than welcome to do an impromptu presentation about your open textbook idea in the Guerrila Room. There was only one Guerrila session last year, but it was a group podcast and was a blast. It would be awesome to set up a collaborative session in the Guerrila room, where everyone there could all work on your open text book, as well as learn about it!
November 17th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
I’d love to do something like that. We’ll have to chat as the conference time approaches.
For my proposal, I ended up not doing any of the above. Instead, my wife and I are going to present on using technology for vocabulary instruction for students with disabilities. We received funding from the National Institute of Health and I wanted to include her in the presentation since we live here in G.R. and it’s an easy conference for both of us to make together.
But I like the idea of a Guerrilla room.
November 17th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
My sabbatical proposal that is making its way through the channels (passed overwhelmingly thus far) is about the open source textbook idea, so that will be front and center in my thinking by the time MACUL rolls around. just FYI.