Whoa!  My 2010 CUE Conference presentation was voted as one of the Top 25 presentations.  Knowing the caliber of presenters at CUE, and the sheer number of presentations (over 200), this is humbling and a real honor…  Thanks to the great people who attended and made it a positive experience.

I will be presenting at CUE on Friday, March 5th, 2010.  My presentation during Session 2 is entitled, “Open Source 2D and 3D Animation software”.  More info below:

Dan Eliot        2077
Friday, March 5
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
This presentation discusses three open source animation titles; Pencil, Pivot, and Art Of Illusion.  Together, these titles could be used as the basis of an animation unit or course.
Beginning, Intermediate, 9 – 12
TL            Oasis 4            Palm Springs Convention Center

Here is a PDF version of the presentation for printing:  cue_2010_animation.ppt.pdf

I will be presenting at the CLMS / CLHS / CUE conference in Monterey, CA on December 6th, 2008.  A PDF of my presentation can be found here:

Wiimote Whiteboard Presentation

Build Your Own Interactive Whiteboard System

Dan Eliot, El Dorado High School

The Nintendo Wii Remote ($60) has an effective built-in motion-sensing video camera. When coupled with an LCD projector, this camera can be used to convert almost any surface into an interactive whiteboard. Learn the steps necessary to create a “Do It Yourself” interactive whiteboard for under $100, see a demonstration of the system, and receive suggestions on ways to use such a system.

In my own mind, technology is a support player to good classroom teaching.  It is simply a powerful tool that, when placed in the hands of a great teacher, will help increase learning and achievement.  However, in recent years, there are a growing number of critics who feel that technology is not being used properly in education.  An interesting “listen” on this topic is provided by the CUNY lecture series, which includes a discussion by Omar Wasow, suggesting that public schools are pushing technology at the expense of real learning:

Public schools are pushing too much cutting-edge technology instead of focusing in the core mission of education, according to Internet guru Omar Wasow. Mr. Wasow, a former board president of the Brooklyn Excelsior Charter School in Bedford Stuyvesant and co-founder of the social networking website, BlackPlanet.com, keynoted the New York City College of Technology’s “Race and New Media” conference.

Listen to the podcast episode HERE or you can subscribe to the CUNY lecture series HERE.