Pages

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!

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

    ReplyDelete
  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

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

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congratulations and best of luck.

    ReplyDelete
  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

    ReplyDelete

Please post your thoughts here. Thanks!