I have just got back from attending the Australian Council of Educational Leaders Conference where I was presented with the Microsoft NSW Innovative Teachers Award for 2010. I received this award for work I have done in the area of game design both with my own class at Cromer Public School, and with my MacICT project, Engaging Students as Game Designers, including the new work we are doing with Kodu.
I met with the other State winners, a group of amazing innovative teachers, who are all doing incredible projects in their classrooms and across their regions. What a privilege it was to spend time with such a diverse group of teachers and, after bonding very quickly, we are all looking forward to getting together next March.
Next March I will be off to Phuket, Thailand to participate in the Regional Microsoft Innovative Teachers Awards. I will be presented with many new experiences including working in cross cultural teams on different challenges. What an opportunity and what a journey I've been on. I'm definitely along for the ride and who knows where it will take me!
The huge screen at the Awards ceremony.
This award reflects the combined efforts of the amazing team I work with, particularly my immediate team, Anthony and Simon, and also all my colleagues at MacICT where we have the opportunity to collaborate around ideas, share intelligent conversations, debate and spark off one another. All the projects developed at MacICT are what they are because of the leadership of the Director (and my mentor) Debbie Evans whose leadership at the Centre promotes the process of innovation and creates incentives through giving project teams autonomy, the freedom to strive for mastery and a purpose for what we are doing. While perfection may not be attainable, the culture at MacICT is to chase perfection through repeated iterations of our projects and in chasing perfection, hopefully, we can catch excellence! (Vince Lombardi, American Football Coach)
In addition to this award, two students in my Year 6 class won first and second place in Australia in Kodu Kup, a game design skill competition aimed to recognise students who demonstrate excellence in a diverse range of technical, creative and game play depth and design in the use of Kodu Games Lab. What a fantastic achievement by these two students. I am one very proud teacher!
I also went for the award... so well done on all the hard work! Hope I can get it next year! HAHA
ReplyDeleteThanks. I checked out your website http://copyandpaint.wordpress.com/about/, it is fabulous. Go for it again next year and good luck!
ReplyDeleteWonderful news!! well done and CONGRATULATIONS!!!
ReplyDeleteVery exciting for you and your students. :)
Cathie, Congratulations and all credit to you! You are one of the most spectacular teachers I have ever met! You practise what you preach and produce some of the most independent thinkers and creative, confident learners I have met right there in your classroom. We are very proud of you at MacICT, but mostly we are lucky to have you on our team! You inspire us all. Thank you for the kind words :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you both Audrey and Debbie for your congratulations. I feel extremely fortunate to be part of such a great team.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Cathie! Richly deserved. It's great to see top performers in our profession recognised in this way.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your congratulations Rob, I really appreciate it. I am looking forward to catching up with you via Video Conference next term. Hope you enjoy the rest of your hols!
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