Pictured: North Bellmore School District technology educators Leslie DiChiara, right, and Cathy Schlaich were selected to present at national conferences this year.
Photo courtesy of the North Bellmore School District
A pair of technology teachers from the North Bellmore School District shared their expertise with educators across the country when they presented at recent national conferences. Leslie DiChiara, the district’s assistive technology specialist, and Cathy Schlaich, a computer science teacher, spoke about current trends in technology education.
Ms. DiChiara presented two sessions at Access2Education, hosted by PATINS in Indianapolis. In “EdTech Playlist: Tools for Accessibility and Inclusion,” she discussed Web 2.0 tools that support collaboration and innovation while also meeting the needs of a variety of learning styles. The second session, “Comparing Universal Tools: Feature Matching for Reading, Writing and Research,” focused on an ever-evolving collaborative document created by assistive technology specialists that lists different applications, platforms and tools that can be used to meet student needs.
She also spoke at the Assistive Technology Industry Association conference in Orlando, Florida. Ms. DiChiara and other assistive technology specialists presented “AT Design Lab.” The hands-on session provided educators with a chance to explore a wide range of technology tools and create a vision to use those resources for student success. She and the other facilitators provided mentoring support to help participants implement an effective inclusive technology plan.
“When selecting and creating the sessions, I often try to merge together my background as a classroom teacher and my current role as an assistive technology specialist to ensure that the topics are relevant, current and practical in their application,” she said. “It’s important that the sessions include topics that address the current needs of our students.”
Ms. Schlaich was a presenter at the Future of Education Technology Conference in New Orleans. The annual event brings together educators, technologists, thought leaders and pioneers in the field to discuss best practices and issues surrounding educational technology in schools. She led a session on the successful implementation of the engineering design process for robotics and 3D printing.
“Educators in the field of technology come from all over the country to share their experiences and learn from one another,” Ms. Schlaich said. “Technology in our lives changes so quickly. Keeping current with new technologies, learning from others in the field, and sharing and listening to educators discuss best practices and details of implementation is truly essential in the field of computer science.”
In the workshop, Ms. Schlaich showcased the use of Cubelets and Lego robotics, discussed how to connect literature with the engineering process, and highlighted specific apps to create meaningful 3D prints. She cited the successful work of North Bellmore’s computer science department, which strives to design lessons that focus on bringing real-world ideas and issues that challenge students to devise unique solutions. This includes identifying a problem, doing research and working with others to brainstorm ideas.
“Focusing on the process usually leads to a better product,” Ms. Schlaich said. “The heart of the process is when students design, build or create and test their creations.”
Ms. DiChiara said she enjoys attending national conferences to network and learn from other professionals in the same field. The knowledge that she gains benefits North Bellmore students and teachers. For her presentations, her goal is for participants to leave with tangible and realistic strategies or tools that they can use.
“It is important for them to see how I have utilized the tools or strategies and to find ways to then bring it back where they can utilize and adapt to their own needs if necessary. There is a certain responsibility when presenting at these conferences to ensure that the participants feel they have taken away something valuable and also practical.”
Recent Comments