Welcome!
Welcome to the Madera Unified Educators’ Toolkit Blog site!
Although this blog is currently being used to posts assignments generated from my EdTech 700 course at San Diego State University, my vision is to use this blog as a way to collaborate with educators, sharing ideas, professional developments schedules and information in the form of an EdTech newsletter. I would also like to use my EduBlog site to distribute instructional technology resources to the teachers and administrators in Madera Unified School District.
My name is Kim Imrie and I have been happily married to my best friend (Steve) and high school sweetheart for 37 years. We have been blessed with two beautiful daughters and two great son-in-laws. We are also the proud grandparents of two perfect, precious grandchildren, Sierra age 8 and Steven age 5. I have worked in Madera Unified School District for more than 25 years; as a teacher in 3rd and 5th grades and a resource specialist in a K-6 elementary school. Seven years ago I was hired as a district technology coach for Madera Unified, during that time I have had the pleasure of working with four other certificated technology coaches and five classified technicians. My job includes writing grants, training district teachers how to integrate technology into their daily curriculum, working on projects with K-8 students and trying to keep up with new technology curriculum. Last summer my job was upgraded to an administrative position and I am now the Instructional Technology Coordinator for the district.
My hobbies include archery (compound bow shooting) and spending quality time with my husband, children, and our beautiful grandchildren
I have always desired to obtain my Masters in Educational Technology, but until recently, very few colleges and universities offered Educational Technology courses that were based on classroom integration ideas, techniques and strategies. When I heard that Bernie Dodge was going to head up the COMET program, I jumped with joy!
Since I became a district Technology Coach seven years ago, my greatest desire was to bring the latest classroom technologies and advances to the teachers in Madera Unified. I truly believe that technology engages students in the learning process. Using a computer is easy, integrating it into your daily lessons with your students is the hard part. In my job I have the opportunity to help teachers do that every day, and I want to make sure that I am sharing the best educational technologies, techniques, strategies and classroom “best practices” while helping move teachers into a technology-rich learning environment. This master’s program has given me the ability to do just that…introduce new, useful technologies to the teachers in Madera.
I have had some experience creating and using a blog (using Blogger), but I have had no experience with Wikis. I have listened to podcasts, but I have had no expeirience designing one.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Glad to have you as part of this class.
Later in the class when I talk about tech administrators, I hope you help teachers understand your point of view. Wont’ allow this… won’t allow that… help me explain to them why things are that way.
July 16th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Hi, Kim! Your job sounds really interesting. Do you find that most teachers you work with embrace the opportunity to implement new technologies in their curriculum?
July 17th, 2008 at 10:52 am
I have no experience with wikis either. I noticed that we need to have an account in wikispaces before our next class, so I went ahead and opened one. It’s definitely different from setting up a blog.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Cool hobby. I’ve been to an archery range with a friend and enjoyed it.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Kim, this is such a great idea for a blog. Will teachers be able to post to this blog? It will be a valuable resource for your teachers.
July 19th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Hi Kim,
What a great idea for your blog! I feel that many teachers just go to professional developments and never share what they have learned with other for many reasons. If you set up a site teachers will have a great resource to access great information to integrate into their classrooms! Congratulations on being married 27 years, that is wonderful:)