Thursday, September 1, 2011

The Nerdy Teacher: Technology Curriculum Specialist

Isn't that a fancy title?

As of yesterday, I am the new part time Technology Curriculum Specialist for Grosse Pointe Public Schools. I'm very excited to get the job and I can't wait to get to work. My main focus will be working with teachers across the district on integrating technology into their curriculum. I will spend days with individual teachers as I learn their teaching styles, suggest great tools that match their style and help them build lessons using those tools. I feel like I get to be a student and a teacher at the same time as I learn new things from different curriculums and help teachers learn about great tools that my PLN shares on a regular basis.

My blog will switch in focus a bit as I will write a bit more on working with staff in my district on tech integration. I will still be reviewing cool apps, tools and other great things I stumble upon, but now I will get a chance to view tech integration from a different side and I look forward to sharing what I learn along the way with all of you.

Since the tech job is part time, that means I will still be in the classroom part time. I couldn't be happier with this set up. I feel like I need to be in the classroom so I can actually use the tools with students to better help the staff in the district and my PLN as a whole.

I will be teaching 3 classes American Literature this year. I'm excited because I love American Lit and have taught it for years. I'm sad because I will not be teaching Freshmen. That means I will not be able to follow up The Epic Romeo and Juliet Project with another movie. I can honestly say I watched the movie the kids did twice this summer and am still blown away by what they were able to accomplish. I loved working with Shawn Heyer and Shannon Miller from Van Meter and I look forward to working with them again. Without them, none of the last year would have been possible.

I have some fun ideas I intend to bring back with some fun tech twists when I dive into the American Lit curriculum. One involves putting Mark Twain on trail for writing vulgar and racist material. Stay tuned for that project. I have a feeling the trial might be U-Streamed. :-) That's all I'll give away about that project and others currently in the cooker.

I want to thank all of you for the support you have given me over the past couple of years that has given me the confidence to think I can do this job. I am sure I will be bugging you often for advice and stress reduction.

Thanks again and I look forward to sharing my new adventure with all of you.

- @TheNerdyTeacher

9 comments:

  1. Congrats Nick! So well deserved! I'm sure you'll do an awesome job. Can't wait to hear about your new adventures and to keep learning from you!

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  2. Wow- I wish I had a teacher like you in high school. Looking forward to more details on the Mark Twain project!

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  3. Congrats! This is an exciting time to be involved in tech integration, and how lucky are your teachers to have you. Really enjoy your blog ... don't stop! < Lori at Learning.com

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  4. Nick! This is so perfect for you! I'm super excited. Congrats!!

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  5. Congrats! There are so many wonderful engaging projects possible--I'm sure you'll help to make them a reality.

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  6. This is a great Blog. As a retired tech specialist, I will indeed follow you.

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  7. Congratulations and best of luck.

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  8. Congrats man. I know the excitement of a position like this. I just started as an Instructional Technology Specialist in Union County NC. I look forward to more blog posts and sharing ideas. You can follow me on Twitter @wblackledge

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