Kim Cofino

About Me

I love travel, teaching and technology.

Luckily I’ve found a career which enables me to combine these three interests – allowing me to see new parts of the world, help children learn, and keep up with the latest developments in the world of technology. I am constantly learning about technology, and I consistently strive to implement those new tools into my teaching as often as I can. I was recently profiled on the Infinite Thinking Machine blog for my work with web 2.0 tools in the classroom. Please feel free to read and listen to the interview.

I am currently the Middle School IT teacher and integration specialist (grades 6-8) at Mont' Kiara International School. From 2000 - 2005, I was the Academic Information Technology (IT) Coordinator (AITC) for the middle school of Munich International School (grades 5-8, PYP and MYP programs). At both schools I was responsible for the integration of technology at the middle school level and taught several high school IT courses.

The middle school IT integration position has allowed me to use and expand my extensive IT skills, with the goal of making both teachers and students aware of the many ways computers can be used in the classroom through our integrated IT curriculum. I have taken full advantage of my extensive MYP training and experience to develop a curriculum which utilizes the MYP Technology Design Cycle (Investigate, Plan, Create, Evaluate) in all of our integrated IT units across the core subjects. I have also enjoyed exploring new web 2.0 tools (blogs, wikis, podcasts, etc.) as part of our IT integration projects here at M'KIS. I have taken advantage of these tools to post the entire M'KIS middle school IT curriculum on the Middle School IT Wiki.

This year a few of my favorite projects were: creating an "online medical clinic" using wikis in grade 6 Science; discovering the joys of reading and writing through the use of blogs in grade 8 English; learning about current events while blogging with grade 6 Social Studies students; and discovering the world using Google Earth in grade 6 Social Studies (and it's only December!). Some of my favorite projects at MIS were: designing and creating logos with our grade 6 Art classes; developing websites in German with our grade 8 German Language B classes; and allowing our grade 8 Science students to create IT enhanced presentations (websites, digital videos and PowerPoints) to help them be the "teachers" for their Forces and Motion unit.

Throughout my years as a teacher I have always strived to stay abreast of current educational trends and to continue my professional development. Since I have arrived in Malaysia, I have been working towards a certificate in Educational Leadership (completion date: June 2007) through the State University of New York (in the ISKL cohort). As part of this program, I have attended a workshop on Assessment in International Education with Bambi Betts, studied Cognitive Coaching with Bill Powell, and studied the Understanding by Design model of curriculum planning with Jay McTighe. In addition to this coursework, I have also given several professional development training sessions at M'KIS, including: Electronic Portfolios, Blogging Across the Curriculum, and Introducing Understanding by Design.

I have also strived to make connections among international school teachers through the use of my professional blog and the development of a specialized wiki and collaborative blog called Tech In The Middle. This site was developed to support the successful integration of technology into middle school core subject classes in international schools around the world.

In my last year at MIS, I attended the Alliance for International Education conference in Dusseldorf, presented our model of IT integration at the Association of German International Schools conference in Hannover and successfully completed the Workshop Leader Training at the MYP conference in Hilversum, the Netherlands.

In addition, I recently completed my teaching certification and Master's coursework at the U.S. State Department's Fast Train program at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. This program was designed specifically to train international school teachers.

Throughout myyears as a teacher, I have always strived to consciously grow and develop as a learner. I enjoy reflecting on my professional experiences on my blog, Always Learning, as a way to practice what I teach. Outside of school, I love cooking, yoga, jewlery making, reading, movies, and anything that has to do with technology.

I am an enthusiastic, passionate teacher, who truly loves working with children. My goal as a technology teacher is to teach students how to learn, and to ensure that every child that leaves my classroom feels comfortable, confident, and excited about the challenges and rewards that technology has to offer.