Dave Boardman, a teacher at Messalonskee High School in Oakland, Maine, started LiteracySparks in 2004 after seeing the stark differences between the access some students had to technology, and the challenge faced by others as they struggled to gain computer access to develop writing or work on projects. What became apparent was that often, the students with access to computers were also the ones who performed better in school, and were best prepared to improve their literacy skills.
Named the 2006 Instructional Technology Teacher of the Year by the Association of Computer Technology Educators of Maine, Dave is a teacher consultant with the Maine Writing Project, and coordinates Literacy Through Technology, a coalition of Maine educators who provide workshops and mentorships for colleagues interested in using multimedia in their classrooms. In addition to teaching high school students, Dave also works with practicing educators through the University of Maine and in national workshops and conferences. His reflections on his students' technology-based learning experiences, "Inside the Digital Classroom," was published by Heinemann in October, 2008, as part of Teaching the Neglected "R;" Rethinking Writing Instruction in Secondary Classrooms. His research on empowering student writers through the creation of multimedia was published in the 2008 issue of the Journal of Maine Education.
His current research focuses on effective integration of information and communication technologies and teaching strategies for online learning in both academic and corporate settings.
© Copyright 2008. All Rights Reserved. LiteracySparks.