Wednesday, January 25, 2012

ESU IDT Alum chosen as week's Top Influencer in LinkedIn Group

David Swisher, ESU IDT alumnus and Learning Management Systems Coordinator Tabor College was recently chosen as the week's top influencer in the LinkedIn group - Curriculum Development & e-Learning Professionals. In addition, his discussions were on the top of the most popular discussions list. Congratulations to David for making a difference in the world of online and distance learning!


Saturday, January 21, 2012

Monday, January 16, 2012

2012 AECT International Convention - Visit to Louisville

World's largest baseball bat!

The 2012 AECT International Convention planning team made a short (2 day) site visit to Louisville, KY in December 2011. We made visits to the Muhammad Ali Center, the Louisville Science Center, and marvelous attractions on Museum Row on Main. Prior to our tour of Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, we seized the opportunity to have our photo taken in front of the world’s largest baseball bat. The Galt House Hotel (our convention venue) was beautifully decorated for the holidays.  Walking through the hotel and checking-out the rooms needed for our concurrent sessions, panels, roundtables, and poster sessions, brought back many fond memories from our 2009 convention at the Galt House.  As a matter of fact, I still remembered many of the rooms and the presenters who used them (shades of Simonides and Method of Loci, I suppose?).
Speaking of rooms, staying at the Galt House also refreshed my memory about the spacious guest rooms in the Galt House. Not only are the guest rooms large (most notably the reasonably-priced suites), but they are also impeccably clean and comfortable. Hint: If you have some additional funds for your stay in Louisville, be sure to pay a little extra for a suite; it’s worth the price.
Hitting a home run with Big Pappi's bat.


On the planning end of things, our 2012 convention planning team (consisting of planners from divisions, affiliates, committees, and other partners) started working the last day of our Jacksonville convention and has already met via Adobe Connect. Division/affiliate descriptions have been updated and the All-Academic proposal submission site is up and running.  Soon, I hope you will take some time to prepare and submit a proposal (or two).  Doing so will reduce your stress as the March 2 closing date approaches. More importantly, getting your proposals submitted well in advance will reduce MY stress (and high blood pressure) as I wait for all of those last minute submissions. I'm excited about our 2012 convention. Let's knock it out of the park!

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Two IDT students lead team from Olathe North HS to $50,000 Battle of the Brains win!

IDT students Rhonda Reist and Amy Johnston led a team of students from Olathe North HS to a $50,000 Battle of the Brains win! Congratulations to Rhonda and Amy (and your very bright students!)

By next summer visitors to Science City will be exploring how mechanical power is transformed into energy — by running in giant hamster wheels to generate electricity.

That fun yet educational concept by
juniors and seniors at Olathe North High School won top honors at the Burns & McDonnell Battle of the Brains competition. It also earned them $50,000 and the privilege of seeing their project, “Unplugged,” installed as a working exhibit in Science City at Union Station.

Kansas City Star article and video at - http://www.kansascity.com/2011/11/21/3278497/olathe-north-wins-battle-of-the.html

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Webinar - A Conversation with the Eminent Scholar about the Secrets of Designing Games for Learning

Thursday, Dec. 8, Noon (Central)
Dr. James Paul Gee is a Presidential Professor of Literacy Studies
at Arizona State University. He is also a member of National Academy for Education. Professor Gee has published numerous articles and books on the topic of designing games for learning. His recent books “What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy” and “Good Video Games and Good Learning: Collected Essays” are highly acclaimed resources for designers to learn the foundations of game designs.

Sponsored by AECT

Register at https://cc.readytalk.com/r/e9n5mre1h9zx