Teaching Technology through Interest Projects: 2013

March 14–16, 2013

TD Convention Center

(Greenville, SC)

I am thrilled to announce that I will be speaking this weekend at the Great American Homeschool Convention in Greenville, SC.

I will be presenting a workshop on my book, Teaching Technology Through Interest Projects, on Friday at 1 pm in the TD Convention Center. My publisher, The Critical Thinking Company, will be on site selling my book and their other fabulous teaching materials.

Session Description:

(102A) JENNIFER K. BROOKS (Critical Thinking Company) Teaching Technology Through Interest Projects
Jennifer Brooks and her husband, Greg, recently completed a field trip year with their three children where they traveled the USA and the UK as they homeschooled their kids. Jennifer taught in public school for 15 years with 10 of those years spent in gifted education. She is the author of Teaching Technology Through Interest Projects and the upcoming Surfin’ the Net Safari- Science. Whether traveling to world historic locations with her family or teaching a classroom of gifted students, Jennifer believes in the power of hands-on, interest-based education. Her popular blog, Brooks Sabbatical, documents her transition from public education to homeschool teacher and her family’s travels during their field trip year.
Teaching Technology Through Interest Projects
The curriculum in Teaching Technology Through Interest Projects allows students of all ages to explore their enthusiasm and passion for an individual topic of their choosing, within or without an assigned subject area. My session will demonstrate how parents can capitalize on their children’s interests to make learning complex technology research skills and computer presentation programs fun. I will demonstrate easy-to-follow instructions for creating dynamic, independent projects using three different media: slideshows (PowerPoint, Keynote), documentary movies (Windows Live Movie Maker, Photo Story 3, iMovie), and animations (Scratch).

I am further excited about my Saturday workshop on Family Field Trips where I will be sharing information about our travel year. This workshop will be at 10 am on Saturday in the TD Convention Center. I will have a great travel games giveaway as well as many tips for road school families.

Session Description:

(102A) JENNIFER K. BROOKS (Critical Thinking Company) A Family Field Trip Year
Jennifer Brooks and her husband, Greg, recently completed a field trip year with their three children where they traveled the USA and the UK as they homeschooled their kids. Jennifer taught in public school for 15 years with 10 of those years spent in gifted education. She is the author of Teaching Technology Through Interest Projects and the upcoming Surfin’ the Net Safari- Science. Whether traveling to world historic locations with her family or teaching a classroom of gifted students, Jennifer believes in the power of hands-on, interest-based education. Her popular blog, Brooks Sabbatical, documents her transition from public education to homeschool teacher and her family’s travels during their field trip year.
A Family Field Trip Year
I will describe how my husband and I decided to take a year off from normal (and stressful) commitments to travel and “road” school our children. Our creative financial planning for our travels will be shared. My transition from public education to homeschool teacher enabled me to better understand my own children’s education needs. Our hands-on learning and field trip curriculum transformed our family, creating a closer bond between kids and parents- resulting in a happier outlook on life for all.

For more information about the Great American Homeschool Convention, please visit their official website: http://www.southeasthomeschoolconvention.com

Imagine what your life would be like if every student was interested in the content they were studying...

Wouldn't teaching be so much easier?

My book, Teaching Technology Through Interest Projects, does just that: it will help you differentiate for each student in your classroom while teaching standards to the whole group.

Each student, ages 8 to 18, may choose their topic of study- anything he or she likes as long as it is not violent or vulgar.
Each teacher instructs the whole class (2 to 32) on the common core standards of research skills, reference materials, writing styles, and the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S). Each student applies the whole group lessons to his or her individual interest project.

Teachers teach whole group/ Students learn individual interest

Win/Win

Check out the free resources that accompany my book: Teaching Technology Companion Website.