Monday, May 29, 2017

A Muggle’s (non-teacher) Journey into Ed Tech and a desire to make a difference

It all started with a tweet:
Yes please!  I would love to share my unique perspective with my superheroes;  TEACHERS!  Thank you!

My involvement with technology began in 1986 with an Apple IIe that included two 5/14” floppy drives. The first program I ever used?   Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.  It was a text adventure gaming software program that required imagination and some sleuthing.  Six months later I was upgraded to an XT Personal Computer with a Hayes 1200 baud modem. That modem opened up doors for me, because at the time I was a single parent with a newborn son, trying to make ends meet. The modem allowed me to log into Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) which was pre World Wide Web.  You would dial a number that would connect you to a computer. One of the first BBS’s I logged into was Sharky’s MAChine. The Sysop (System Operator) used his personal MacIntosh computer to host the board. The BBS was like our present day Facebook experience but without the pictures, it was all text.  However, if you were super creative there was ASCII (graphics made up of characters).   I remember one time after logging into Sharky’s MAChine reading through the boards and then all of a sudden words appeared scrolling across the screen as they were being typed:

“Hi!  This is Sharky, thanks for connecting to my BBS”
I tentatively type:  “Hello?”  

I don’t remember the exact details of that conversation, but it was my first experience with chatting online, 30 years ago.   I do remember that I was hooked from that moment as I discovered there were other folks out there with similar interests, a whole community of people that I regarded as my tribe that dialed into BBS’s.  I was so inspired, I even instituted my own BBS and at the time I was the only female Sysop in San Diego County. I met a lot of folks through weekly meet ups at the Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour in Escondido and then later on at the Dairy Queen.  This group of folks are who led me on my path to become as involved in technology as I am today.  Thanks to this new found network of friends I was offered my first job in technology selling Tandy Computers at Radio Shack during the holiday season in 1987.  

It wasn’t until eleven years later that my mind was blown with what could be accomplished with technology in the classroom. That was outside of software programs such as  “Oregon Trail” and “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?”   In 1998, I was called out to our corporate pick-up desk at CompUSA where I was working at the time.  This was my first time meeting Dr. Jeffrey Felix, then a superintendent at San Pasqual Union School District. He shared with me that he had just returned from an “Anytime, Anywhere” Learning Summit and that he wanted to establish a 1:1 program for his 6th graders.

1:1?  
What is that? This was a new term for me.

Dr. Felix  explained to me that each student (1 student) would be issued a laptop (1 laptop) that would be used throughout the day ( and even at home!) for school work.  

1:1!  
That’s awesome!

I remember thinking that this is exactly the kind of classroom I wanted my then 11 year old son to be in.  I wanted my son to have a teacher and an administration that supported innovative learning environments and have an engaging learning experience. I will never forget that day when my eyes were opened up to a whole new world. I really started to love my work even more as I knew that I along with others could make a difference in a child’s life through the use of technology in the classroom.  I now had a purpose and that purpose was fueled by the knowledge that we could “think outside of the box” when it is linked to students and their learning.  

Fast forward to today, 1:1 is common and we have an extensive and overwhelming selection of tools and programs for educators to choose from. Technology is replacing textbooks and is producing rich interactive learning experiences.  It aids teachers by producing data allowing them to teach more effectively which in turn yields personalized learning experiences with positive learning outcomes for each and every student.  There is so much to choose from and so many exciting opportunities for not only teachers to teach but most importantly for students to learn.  I anticipate that we will see more students falling in love with learning as it will become more engaging thanks to their teachers using technology effectively as a tool to support their practice.  

What can we do to better support the adoption of technology being used productively in the classroom?  As I see it, technology is now completely woven into our lives, workplaces have evolved and so must our schools.  So how can we use technology effectively to better prepare our students and provide them with the necessary instruction to ensure success?  With so many choices available for teachers, how do they choose what is best for their students? I love and appreciate the Twitter chats that allow for educators to exchange and share ideas.  But what about teachers not actively engaged in social media?  As we continue to embark on this journey together, I would invite you to reach out to me to share your ideas, thoughts and how I can support you from the San Diego County Office of Education. I am one of your biggest cheerleaders and I adore creativity and innovation. It truly has been a journey for me for the past 30 years and I’m sure you can relate with your own personal journeys.  I can’t wait to see what you, as our leaders in the classroom will come up with next to share with each other and our students.   




paulette pink glassess.jpg

Paulette Donnellon

In June of 2016 Paulette Donnellon was elected to the San Diego County Board of Education representing District 4 which includes a large portion of the county, stretching from Vista to the eastern county line and from Lakeside to the northern boundary.
Paulette has over 25 years of experience working with technology in education. Currently she is the Director of Partnerships for Gooru, a technology non-profit organization, whose mission is to honor the human right to education. Paulette served on the Escondido Union School District Board of Education from 2012-2016.  She also served 9 years in the U.S. Army and was deployed during Desert Storm.  She is an active community member and enjoys spending time with her family and friends in the desert.  

Friday, May 26, 2017

SDCUE Mini Grants 2017

SDCUE Mini Grants 2017
What would you do with $1000 to transform your learning environment? 

Need that iPad and Apple TV to enhance instruction?
How about a set of Chromebooks for a student center?
Always wanted science probes to connect to your devices?
Maybe Lego technology for hands on learning?

Whatever your wish, SDCUE is here to make it come true! Apply now for one of four $1000 mini grants from SDCUE. Show to us you have innovative ideas with a plan for implementation and we will support you.

Check out the past winners on the SDCUE Blog.

Applications due September 1st. Recipients will be announced by October 1st.

Mini Grants recipients will be featured at the San Diego CUE Tech Fair, and will be expected to write a short blog post about how they are using the materials in their classroom/school.

Click here to apply.

Thursday, May 25, 2017

SDCUE Innovative Educator and Innovative TOSA Honored at CFF Award Event



Last night, Classroom of the Future Foundation held their annual Innovations in Education Awards event. It was a fabulous night at Sea World, connecting with fellow educators, as well as local community and business leaders, and learning about all the innovative programs happening around the county.

SDCUE was proud to honor two of our members who earned our SDCUE Innovative Educator and Innovative TOSA awards.

Heather Love-Fleck, from Oceanside, received the Innovative TOSA award. Heather explains her innovative approach:

Innovation is an important theme within the STEM Lab (my classroom) at Stuart Mesa elementary school. In the STEM Lab, I facilitate student exploration and learning in grades K-8. I encourage all students to wonder, question, collaborate, fail, and reflect on everything they do, which embodies the “Innovator’s Mindset.” In grades K-5, I begin all activities with a driving question or challenge for students to explore. As students research and begin prototyping their solutions, I support them by asking questions, sharing my observations, wondering aloud, and encouraging them to reflect on “what did and did not work.” My middle school students (grades 6-8) have the opportunity to personalize their learning during their time in the STEM Lab. I encourage them to research STEM topics that they are passionate about. I believe that when students are working on projects that are meaningful, they are more likely to problem solve and take risks. Students in the STEM Lab often struggle and feel frustrated when things don’t work immediately, but I constantly encourage them to think critically and persevere. Students are empowered and excited when their resilience brings them success, and I absolutely love being part of that excitement!

Learn more about Heather by watching her video submission.

Allison Slattery, of Bonsall Elementary, received the Innovative Educator award. Her ticket to innovation lies within her commitment to being a lifelong learner:

I know it is cliche to say but I am a lifelong learner. The students I am privileged to work with teach me something new each day. As a learner I seek out Edcamps, technology conferences, and Open Educational Resources to enrich my classroom. As the technology lead for my campus I am given staff development time to share ideas and resources with my colleagues. Our school motto is to work hard, be inspired, think of others, and dream big. Students in my room are encouraged to take chances and understand the greatest learning occurs when we make mistakes. We understand working collaboratively is more powerful than working as individuals. Yet, individual contributions are respected and we actively listen to the ideas of others. We are creators more often than we are consumers. Troubleshooting and adapting to constant changes in technology allow the students in my class to form lasting habits that will benefit them in their unpredictable futures. The changes I have witnessed over my 20 year career in education have been enormous. Teaching students to navigate in a world where growth is exponential and change is unavoidable, human creativity, collaboration, and flexibility are key.

Learn more about Allison by watching her video submission.

We congratulate both of these ladies, as well as everyone who was presented an honor at the event.






Sunday, May 21, 2017

The SDCUE Blog wants YOU!

We want YOU to write for the San Diego CUE Blog!

Are you a teacher, TOSA, administrator, superintendent, parent, student, or human? If you answered, "yes" then we want you to write for the SDCUE Blog! All are welcome to write. 

Post Guidelines:
  • Diversity is key! We want diversity in authors, background, and your role in education. Your voice matters!
  • Ideally, posts are 500-1000 words. If you feel your post needs to be longer, talk to me first.
  • Captivate us! Use personality, real stories, and engagement. Just like in our classrooms, blog posts that are dry and super academic are not the most exciting to read.
  • Think Open! Before you share a tool or an app, think to yourself: is it free and cross-platform? If not, try to provide a comparable free alternative.
  • Use this exact post template. Please do not change the font or text size.
  • Be mindful of formatting:
    • Single. Space. After. Periods.
    • The Oxford Comma is your friend.
  • Cite your sources. This includes images and any quotes or statistics. Be sure you have the rights to use an image, whether it’s through creative commons online or media releases of students.
  • Edit first, submit second. We make our kids edit their work before they submit. And, we often ask them to peer edit. Find a friend to look over your post before you submit.
  • Follow your deadline. Things come up, and I completely understand. Please let me know asap if you will not be able to make your deadline.
  • Promote your post! Share it out on social media. Don’t be shy!

Not sure what to write about?

  • Favorite tech-integrated lesson
  • How you use technology in your classroom to connect students
  • Free app or tool
  • Conference experience (SDCUE Tech Fair, National CUE, Fall CUE, CUE Rockstar, ISTE, etc.)

Email mventurino@sdcue.org to sign up to write or if you have any questions.


Keep checking back for great content from our excellent San Diego teachers!