Joel Backon - Choate Rosemary Hall: Director
As Director of Academic Technology and a History teacher, Mr. Backon has been a supporting member of the Choate Rosemary Hall leadership team since 1992. Mr. Backon has taught history and political science since 1998, and has led two teams that created a two world history courses stressing depth and analytical thinking rather than the traditional survey approach. He has also designed a technology- and research-based Contemporary Global Issues course, as well as teaching and redesigning three senior electives, Use and Abuse of Power, Democracy, Media and Politics, and American Diplomacy. When he used a Tablet PC years ago, Mr. Backon married the Tablet and Blackboard to create his "paperless classroom," a concept he expects to continue in this age of the iPad. Choate adopted a 1:1 iPad program in 2012. He also directs the Choate Technology and Learning Institute (TLI), a summer program providing Eight Schools Association faculty members with an opportunity to hone their technology integration skills to improve teaching and learning. Mr. Backon is a former chair of the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools' Commission on Technology, a current member of the CAIS Commission on Professional Development, has consulted to ADVIS, NJAIS, and several independent schools, and has made numerous presentations including intellectual property and copyright laws, using Web 2.0 tools for collaborative projects, mapping course management system tools with pedagogy, and redesigning curriculum to reflect the "new shape of knowledge."
As Director of Academic Technology and a History teacher, Mr. Backon has been a supporting member of the Choate Rosemary Hall leadership team since 1992. Mr. Backon has taught history and political science since 1998, and has led two teams that created a two world history courses stressing depth and analytical thinking rather than the traditional survey approach. He has also designed a technology- and research-based Contemporary Global Issues course, as well as teaching and redesigning three senior electives, Use and Abuse of Power, Democracy, Media and Politics, and American Diplomacy. When he used a Tablet PC years ago, Mr. Backon married the Tablet and Blackboard to create his "paperless classroom," a concept he expects to continue in this age of the iPad. Choate adopted a 1:1 iPad program in 2012. He also directs the Choate Technology and Learning Institute (TLI), a summer program providing Eight Schools Association faculty members with an opportunity to hone their technology integration skills to improve teaching and learning. Mr. Backon is a former chair of the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools' Commission on Technology, a current member of the CAIS Commission on Professional Development, has consulted to ADVIS, NJAIS, and several independent schools, and has made numerous presentations including intellectual property and copyright laws, using Web 2.0 tools for collaborative projects, mapping course management system tools with pedagogy, and redesigning curriculum to reflect the "new shape of knowledge."
Kris Wiemer - Deerfield Academy
Kris is the Manager of Instructional Technology at Deerfield Academy and has been working in that field for the past 20+ years at Deerfield, Philadelphia University, and The Williston Northampton School. He has taught mathematics, physics, computer science, space science (hybrid course), and currently teaches an elective in the history of comic and sequential art (hybrid course). He has a breadth of knowledge working with learning management systems, productivity suites, Web 2.0 tools, and other web-based applications. He has presented at several regional and national conferences as well as conducted workshops and webinars on Web 2.0 technologies, active learning in online courses, and 1:1 initiatives.
Kris is the Manager of Instructional Technology at Deerfield Academy and has been working in that field for the past 20+ years at Deerfield, Philadelphia University, and The Williston Northampton School. He has taught mathematics, physics, computer science, space science (hybrid course), and currently teaches an elective in the history of comic and sequential art (hybrid course). He has a breadth of knowledge working with learning management systems, productivity suites, Web 2.0 tools, and other web-based applications. He has presented at several regional and national conferences as well as conducted workshops and webinars on Web 2.0 technologies, active learning in online courses, and 1:1 initiatives.
Melissa Poole - St. Paul's School
Melissa is in her fourth year as Coordinator of Academic Technology at St. Paul’s school, where she also teaches in the Humanities department. Prior to moving to St. Paul’s, Melissa spent 9 years at Purnell School where she was the Director of 21st Century Learning, a position that included curriculum design and technology integration. Melissa has also served as a Director of Residential Life, Dean of Students, and Academic Dean. Her favorite educational experience was the 4 years she spent directing a wilderness summer camp for teenagers through “Baltimore Yearly Meetings” summer camping program. That experience has ignited Melissa’s particular passion for integrating academics and student life.
Melissa is in her fourth year as Coordinator of Academic Technology at St. Paul’s school, where she also teaches in the Humanities department. Prior to moving to St. Paul’s, Melissa spent 9 years at Purnell School where she was the Director of 21st Century Learning, a position that included curriculum design and technology integration. Melissa has also served as a Director of Residential Life, Dean of Students, and Academic Dean. Her favorite educational experience was the 4 years she spent directing a wilderness summer camp for teenagers through “Baltimore Yearly Meetings” summer camping program. That experience has ignited Melissa’s particular passion for integrating academics and student life.
Chris Edler - Northfield Mount Hermon
Serving as the current History & Social Sciences Department Chair, Chris has been teaching History for 25 years at Northfield Mt Hermon School. In 1998 Chris helped create an interdisciplinary Sophomore Humanities course and in 2004 she was a part of the team that designed Shared Voices: A Multicultural Approach to US History. Teaching in the extended block schedule (80 minutes a day) has allowed Chris to delve into the pedagogies of student-centered learning and project-based learning. In addition, each class allows a chance to introduce problem-based, open-ended learning in which discussions and group work take center stage. NMH's recent move to the learning management system, Canvas, has opened new opportunities for online discussions and independent projects. Chris has also recently completed the Online Learning & Design Cohort with colleagues from the Eight Schools Association.
Serving as the current History & Social Sciences Department Chair, Chris has been teaching History for 25 years at Northfield Mt Hermon School. In 1998 Chris helped create an interdisciplinary Sophomore Humanities course and in 2004 she was a part of the team that designed Shared Voices: A Multicultural Approach to US History. Teaching in the extended block schedule (80 minutes a day) has allowed Chris to delve into the pedagogies of student-centered learning and project-based learning. In addition, each class allows a chance to introduce problem-based, open-ended learning in which discussions and group work take center stage. NMH's recent move to the learning management system, Canvas, has opened new opportunities for online discussions and independent projects. Chris has also recently completed the Online Learning & Design Cohort with colleagues from the Eight Schools Association.