“Get your head in the clouds” continued from page 7


shown, stored some documents to Dropbox for accessing later from another location, and of course checked the status of my family and close friends on Facebook. Cloud computing has become as much a part of our lives as driving a vehicle – we use it to get somewhere without even thinking about the vehicle itself but instead we think about the destination.


The challenge we face as educators is twofold. First, we need to make sure that we teach our teachers, administrators and students who use Internet based applications and development tools about digital media literacy. This includes not only learning how to critically review information received, but also to think intentionally about the best way to collaboratively create and share it.


“The continuing expansion of information demands that all individuals acquire the thinking skills that will enable them to learn on their own. The amount of information available to our learners necessitates that each individual acquire the skills to select, evaluate, and use information appropriately and effectively.” 2


Note that ‘all individuals’ are the focus of this statement from the American Library Association. The appropriate use of Cloud Computing will realize potential efficiencies and financial savings in the upkeep of our school district’s networks. However, it is imperative that these financial savings be redirected toward increased professional development efforts focused on helping staff and students think critically, create collaboratively, and then share widely (using Creative Commons3


).


“Award Winner” continued from page 7


at the Student Technology Showcase at the Capitol, on-site registration, conference presider, presenter, CEU stamper and worked wherever was needed throughout the years. “Educational technology has been a life-long passion for me. Being recognized by colleagues for whom I have such great respect was the high point of my career,” Jo Ellen said after receiving the award at the April MACUL Board meeting.


Thanks for all your years of dedicated service to MACUL, Jo Ellen! You truly made it happen.


Changes on the MACUL Board


We are sad to say goodbye to three others who are going off the MACUL Board with Jo Ellen the end of August. Shawn Massey served 9 years on the MACUL Board, Sue Hardin served 8 years and Liz Allen served 1 year. Shawn has served on many committees including Grants & Awards, exhibitor relations, and as chair of the MACUL conference. Sue served this past year as MACUL President and has also served as treasurer, chair of the


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communications committee, ATA design team member and is currently STEM MI Champions project director. Liz served on the Grants & Awards committee and helped plan the 2011 MACUL conference.


MACUL welcomes new Board members Tim Davis, Ron Madison, Tammy Maginity, Carolyn McCarthy, Todd Neibauer, Sandra Plair, and Matinga Ragatz.


SIG Leader Changes


We are also sad to say goodbye to Chris Ozias who served as SIGWEB Assistant Director for four years, and Lorinda Tait who served ten years as SIGSPED Director and Assistant Director. We welcome Matt Schwartz as SIGWEB Assistant Director and Sue Hardin as new SIGSPED Director.


If you are interested in becoming more involved in a leadership role in MACUL, contact me at rwiltse@macul.org.


Fall 2011 | MACULJOURNAL


“The digital divide, once seen as a factor of wealth, is now seen as a factor of education: those who have the opportunity to learn technology skills are in a better position to obtain and make use of technology than those who do not.”4


Schools are in


a great place to bridge this divide both for their staff and their students by proper education in digital media literacy. As we all work together, the possibilities are endless. This edition of the MACUL Journal is dedicated to the topic of Cloud Computing. I encourage you to discuss the topics in these articles with your colleagues, building teams and other groups as you use Cloud Computing as a catalyst to think critically and create collaboratively in the cloud.


Cloud computing – get your head in the clouds!


Endnotes 1. New Media Consortium, (2011). The NMC Horizon Report: 2011 K-12 Edition. 20 May, 2011 from http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2011- Horizon-Report-K12.pdf.


2. American Library Association (2007). Standards for the 21st-Century Learner. American Association of School Librarians . 20 May, 2011 from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/ divs/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/AASL_ LearningStandards.pdf.


3. “Creative Commons”. Creative Commons Corporation. 20 May, 2011. http://creativecommons.org/.


4. New Media Consortium. (2011). The NMC Horizon Report: 2011 K-12 Edition. 20 May, 2011 from http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2011- Horizon-Report-K12.pdf.


Mike Oswalt is the Assistant Superintendent for Regional Technology Services at Calhoun ISD and is the 2011/12 MACUL Board President.


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