Karen Rose used to be a techno-weenie, anxious about using computers and confounded by PowerPoint.
During her final presentation in an education technology class at the University of Oklahoma, she deleted a key computer file. The professor showed mercy.
"She told me, 'I'll give you credit for the presentation as long as you promise you won't give up on technology,' " Rose recalled.
To say she hung in there is an understatement.
Rose - a third-grade teacher at McKillop Elementary in Melissa - recently went to Denver to collect the International Society for Technology in Education's award for outstanding teacher of 2010.
The group, representing 80 professional associations and more than 100,000 teachers, cited the many ways Rose uses technology in her classroom, including guiding students to create digital portfolios.
Her students do videos, podcasts, PowerPoints, animation and other wizardry. Her classroom Web page lists 50 technology-enhanced projects from last year ranging from "proper nouns" to "poverty."
One video shows her kids doing a Texas version of "The 12 Days of Christmas," with pecan trees, bluebonnets and mockingbirds subbing in for traditional gifts. Students wrote the script and shot and edited all the video.
"My focus is not on them learning a specific software," she said. "It's on them being creative, learning to express themselves and learning to work together."
Rose is on a roll. About to begin her ninth year of teaching, she has been honored by the Texas Computer Education Association (which nominated her for the International Society for Technology in Education award). Her class also won a national competition sponsored by the education technology company eInstruction. That yielded a $30,000 technology makeover for McKillop, in northern Collin County.
She became a technology convert in her first teaching job when a patient mentor teacher and enthusiastic kids helped her realize the advantages.
"I quickly discovered that with the computer, anytime we used it, there was more focus," she said. "All the kids - boys and girls - were very engaged and motivated."
Rose also married well, technologically speaking.
Her husband of seven years, Doug Valentine, is the librarian at McKillop. He has students do video book reviews and lots of computer-assisted research. His own "Dr. Loopy" educational videos have earned him a big following on TeacherTube.
For his innovative use of technology, Valentine was named the Association of Texas Professional Educators' special services educator of the year for 2009-10.
"They're a dynamic duo," said Cheryle Gonzales, who recently retired as McKillop's principal. "It's amazing what their kids do, and it's all kids. Karen asks for the kids that have challenges."
Rose and Valentine - employees of the 1,400-student Melissa Independent School District - are recognized enough now that they get e-mails from other educators, asking for advice. And they're always scouting for new technological tools and how those might be applied in the classroom.
"We never unplug," Rose said. "It's constantly a discussion in our house."
Karen Rose and Doug Valentine from McKillop Elementary in Melissa have been honored for their use of technology in teaching. Here's their advice:
- Remember that what's technology to most adults is just the way things are for kids. They are not afraid to do it wrong.
- Don't be intimidated. Find one new thing to learn, get comfortable with it and keep moving forward.
- Always try out a new tool yourself before using it in class. Read the FAQ sections of websites and see what other educators are saying.
- Never underestimate what young people can do. That goes for technology or anything else you might be teaching. It's amazing to see what they can accomplish if you give them a chance.
- Don't be afraid to learn right along with your students. Discovery is a vital part of learning.
- Find and read blogs and wikis written by teachers and librarians. There is some great information out there by people using technology every day.
- Find out what your kids are interested in and figure out a way to use that in your lessons.
--Sam Hodges / The Dallas Morning News
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