| 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. |