Terry K. Smith
Currently:
Assistant Professor, Curriculum & Instruction, Teacher Education
Western Illinois University
Other Universities: Visiting professor, University of St. Francis; Online Educational Technology classes - Antioch University (3 yrs), Concordia University (2 yrs) - Course work for elementary, middle school, and high school teachers.
Dissertation on "Cultivating 21st Century Competencies in a Virtual Worlds Learning Environment" (Quest Atlantis), Pepperdine University, Graduate School of Education & Psychology. Past education: High school days in St. Charles, IL . Undergraduate Technical Communications at University of New Orleans, teaching certificate from the University of Texas, and Master's in Education from Lindenwood University. Certified in Illinois (K-9), Missouri (1-6), and Texas (K-6). Taught regular education classes as well as talented and gifted classes of combined age groups.
Use projects, computers, blogs, wikis, podcasts, cell phones, and various educational technology to stimulate and explore learning in the elementary classroom. I currently run multi-school projects Kidlink Landmark, and the annual Monsters Project. Technology roles I have had in schools include district Elementary Tech Coordinator in Texas, and webmaster at Eugene Field School in Hannibal, MO.
Interviews I've Done on Project-Based
Learning:
Edutopia - Project
Managment Keeps Learning on Track
Education Week - Web
Conferencing Finds Elementary School Niche
Scholastic Administrator- The
Power of Project Learning
Elementary/University Project Connection - Monster
Project Teaches Students an Array of Lessons
Before teaching, worked as a technical writer and editor for computer companies including Data General, SAS Institute, Tandem Computers, and Dell Computers. As a technical writer, I wrote about system administration for networks and operating systems: TCP/IP, Unix, and Linux. While living in Austin, Texas, transitioned into education because I saw the opportunity to take on a different role - where one could really make a difference in society.
I have traveled in
Taiwan, England, Ireland, Wales, France, Mexico, and Canada and love to hear
kids say "Wow, you've been there?"