Introductions

[Kevin H.]

Hello
Please spend a minute to introduce yourself to our community.
Kevin

[Penny Saurino]

Hi,

I am Penny Saurino, the Tech Liaison for the Cherokee Rose Writing Project, and an Assistant Professor at the University of West Georgia. I am most interested in expanding my knowledge of Web 2.0 so that our teachers and students are well prepared for the possibilities of a Global Economy.

After our 3rd Summer Institute, my husband and I will be moving to Western Carolina University in Cullowhee NC as new professors. I already have 2 colleagues at Western who will assist me as we apply for a Writing Project Site. My new chair contacted me recently asking me to send the letter of intent. Good times are ahead.

Another project that I am already pursuing for Western is creating a Multi-literacy Clinic which will replace the more traditional Reading Clinic. If you have ideas about where I could find grant funding for this project, please post away. I can't think of a better way to prepare young people and their teachers to be literate users of Web 2.0 and other technologies than by providing them with a clinic to do so. We are still developing the framework for the Multi-Literacy Clinic so your thoughts on the topic are highly valued.

Penny

[Kevin H.]

Good luck with the new site application -- that is exciting.
(Troy just got a new site up and running, too, so you may want to lean on him for some advice)

I am just curious -- why is it called a "clinic?" Is that a regional term?

Kevin

[BJ Bagwell]

Hi Penny,

Wow! Great news! It reads like a very exciting opportunity for both of you! Congratulations and best wishes! BJ

[Fred Mindlin]

I'm Fred Mindlin, a Fellow of the Central California Writing Project in Santa Cruz, and informal technology consultant to CCWP since 1995. I retired from full-time teaching in 2006 and now consult with schools, non-profits, individuals, and businesses on creative uses of computers. My passions are digital storytelling and string games. It all came together for me in my first digital storytelling workshop with Leslie Rule at KQED in San Francisco--"A String Epiphany." I maintain the digital storyteller website.

[Kevin H.]

Great to have you here, Fred.

[Bonnie Kaplan]

Welcome Fred,
You sound a bit like me. I retired about 5 years ago from full time English teaching and began carrying my equipment on my back as I moved into the digital world with a vengance. I found my way in with digital storytelling as well and now I create my own pieces and work with schools on projects connected with my writing project work. Sounds familiar, no?
I'm looking to sharing more,
Bonnie

[Fred Mindlin]

Interesting parallels, Bonnie. Look forward to working together one of these days...

Warm regards, Fred

[Bonnie Kaplan]

You bet Fred,
Bonnie

[Fred Mindlin]

Just wanted to update everyone as we go into the National meeting, CCWP just adopted the new Associate Director structure recommended by NWP, and I've taken on the new title Associate Director for Technology Integration. I'd guess this supplants the old "Tech Liaison" designation...

We're in the middle of our second series of digital storytelling workshops, this time formally offered through the Pajaro Valley USD, and I'm thinking to write a Tech Mini-Grant to do a continuing series on digital storytelling with in classroom support visits to the participants. Graciela Vega Carbajal is collaborating with me on these, and we've updated the curriculum at http://digitalstory.pbworks.com/

Looking forward to meeting lots of folks face-to-face at the Friday gathering, if not before.
Cheers, Fred

[Kevin H.]

Is this is a title change or a change in the way tech is being integrated, Fred?
Kevin

[Fred Mindlin]

I think it is a change in the approach to technology--rather than having a single Liaison person or a technology group, our vision is to have technology integrated throughout the work of the Project, as appropriate. I've never believed in separating technology as a strand apart in any curriculum, except perhaps at a technical school.

[Seth Mitchell]

Hello, all --

This is Seth Mitchell, a high school English teacher, TL for the Southern Maine Writing Project, and member of the TLN's leadership team. I'm happy to meet you all and to enjoy the benefits of this extended network.

Seth