How Has Your Nominee Been a Trailblazer Implementing Technology into Instruction?
Craig Mantin has been a pioneer for the North Rockland CSD Instructional Technology Department. He has created a blog to provide information to our school district teachers and administrators: http://nrhs.nrcsd.org/blogs/cmantin/
Craig has developed and trained many teachers to use online tools to assist students in acquiring access to school information from home. One example shows how Craig had Middle School Math students create screencasts for review and Craig placed them on TeacherTube for ease of access: http://willowgrove.wikispaces.com/screencasts
Craig teaches hybrid online graduate level classes for several colleges and universities. He is a very important part of our District Technology Committee in that he assists with the development of the District Technology Plan: http://www.nrcsd.org/www/nrcsd/site/hosting/TechPlan2010-2013.pdf
Along with the Technology Plan, Craig was instrumental in creating and producing our NRCSD Tech Expo. This Expo has been deemed ‘the best’ staff development day our district has ever had. Some of the newer and advanced technologies Craig has mastered and in turn is teaching our teachers: Web 2.0 Tools, Screencasting, Teachertube, Youtube, Skype, Smart boards, Flip cameras, Video streaming, Cell phones, Netbooks, Ipods, and PC and Mac applications.
Craig has played an important role in our use of cell phones in the classroom initiative, from setting them up, learning and teaching the software to others, and in presenting the project at our local LHRIC BOCES Tech Expo entitled Cell Phones in the Classroom. He is working with another local agency, Rockland BOCES, in preparing our teachers to learn more about implementing a Moodle via their County Moodle: http://moodle.rboces.org/
Craig collaborates with School Technology Teams and engages in ongoing evaluation of current uses of technologies. He develops curriculum materials and is an effective communicator. Craig is knowledgeable in current research, trends, applications and best practices. He is able to assist others via our Teachers Center, The Rockland Teachers Center, through which Craig teaches online graduate-level courses: http://www.rockteach.org/
Craig is exploring the implementation of a Google Apps domain for the North Rockland Central School District. Google Apps will provide our district gmail, calendar, docs, talk, and video storage all for free. Our students will have a space to share and publish their work and keep it from year to year.
In conjunction with our Special Services Department, Craig is working with Special Education teachers and students investigating and implementing Special Education Apps on the iPad for our students with disabilities. Also, Craig has been instrumental in teaching teachers and students how they can use ipods in their classrooms. One of our 3 middle schools is successfully using the ipods on a daily basis.
Craig is submitting a video to show NYSSBA in 90 seconds or less how our school district is building 21st century skills for our students to compete effectively in the global marketplace. This video should help to inspire others to embrace change in their classrooms.
Craig creatively shares his learned information and inspires others to take risks in order to move our students into their technology-rich future world. I whole-heartedly nominate Craig Mantin for his leadership and collaboration skills to be recognized as a CRSTE Kathy Schrock Digital Pioneer.
