CILC Symposium Corner
Keeping the community alive!
Each month CILC will be interviewing a Symposium attendee
Meet Dona Weber…
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Dona Weber |
Dona’s responsibilities as Technology Resource Teacher in her elementary school include troubleshooting technology, training and supporting teachers in learning new technologies and integrating them into the classroom. She also gets to work with the students; sometimes leading lessons which serve as training for both students and teachers, and sometimes supporting the lessons led by the teachers. Her background, which includes teaching in grades K-4, seventh grade, and one year as a teacher on loan to Japan, has given her incredible insight for her current work.
Dona jumped into videoconferencing with two feet and never looked back. One of her very first experiences was Read Across the Planet which involved every one of her 18 teachers!
Symposium Expectations
“I only had one school year’s experience in using videoconferencing when I heard about the CILC Symposium. (I won a membership to CILC during the Megaconference Jr.) I was very excited that my district approved my attendance. My expectations included learning best practices, strategies for overcoming challenges, and meeting new people with whom to make connections.
These expectations were more than met. The format of this event engaged the participants. The Birds of a Feather sessions allowed for more in-depth discussions and problem solving within topics. It was helpful to brainstorm with others ways to solve the issues and challenges that accompany videoconferencing. The symposium provided great opportunity for networking as well. Even the building design with its informal, comfortable sitting areas lent itself to easy networking.”
Biggest Take-away
“The biggest take away for me was being able to meet in person some of the people with whom I have previously connected and to make new contacts for future connections.
I also realized that I was extremely fortunate to have this type of experience early on in working with videoconferencing.” Dona shared that the Symposium attendee list, with its photos and contact information, has been very useful for her. She has kept in touch with some of those contacts and is looking to make connections with them this school year.
Immediate Implementation
“As a result of the Symposium, I look at all aspects of the videoconference experience more carefully for ways to make it successful, particularly in offering more support to the teachers involved.” As she listened to others who shared their challenges and those who shared possible solutions, she realized that students needed to have time while in a videoconference to interact with each other. She also learned that teachers needed to have ownership in using videoconferencing technology. She has done this by involving them in the entire process; from the beginning planning stages, to preparing the students, to the final event.
“Teachers are often hesitant to try something with their students that they haven’t experienced themselves.” Setting up a videoconferencing visit with a content provider to experience the power of the technology and to learn about potential opportunities for their students has been working well for her. “Teachers need to be a leader in the videoconferencing experience. It should be a collaboration between the site coordinator and the videoconference participants.“
Spreading the Excitement
“I shared information relating to successful videoconferencing with my colleagues, other Technology Resource Teachers in our district, who will have equipment and coordinate videoconferencing in their school building this year. My district, Euclid City Schools has a proud tradition of offering the finest computer and technology resources available to our students and staff. We are fortunate to have not only hardware and software but also a support team of specialists that help teachers integrate new technology into their curriculum. The Symposium helped me to be a better support to my teachers and staff.”
Further Needs
Dona told us that her videoconferencing experience started globally. Now she is ready to try classroom collaborations and more content provider programs. “Being able find content providers and others members for collaborations and continuing to offer professional development opportunities to keep us current in emerging trends is very helpful.” To this end she uses the Collaboration Center and Professional Development Marketplace on www.cilc.org and the projects on Collaborations Around the Planet (CAP) both of which send her email updates on new opportunities.
Final Comments
This was a wonderful conversation with Dona. We quickly learned that she has an incredibly positive attitude, creatively handles unexpected technology glitches, and that she loves what she does!
Dona shared that the CILC Symposium fueled her excitement about videoconferencing.
She was so pumped up when she got back that she had another Technology Resource Teacher express a desire to attend this year! While there will not be a 2008 CILC Symposium, CILC is reviewing its ability to present a Symposium in 2009! More to come.
Thank You
CILC thanks Dona for sharing her insights with us and with you.
It is our way of helping to continue to strengthen the community of videoconferencing practitioners.
Contact Information
Dona Weber
216) 797-4456
www.euclidschools.org
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