Inside a Cyber Studio: Naomi Harm

Due to the popular response I've decided to issue two columns a week instead of one. I will post one at the beginning (monday/tuesday) of the week and then one at the end (friday). Otherwise, it would just take to long to get through all of them.
Keep in mind the questions might change from time to time (especially as technology changes), and I'm looking to provide other formats as well (audio/video).

I hope you all find this to be a fun/exciting journey as we get to learn a bit more about each other and why we love technology & education.

Naomi Harm
Blog: http://blog.innovativeeducator.us/

1. Where do you live? Brownsville/MN/USA
2. How long have you been working w/ technology/education? 15 years
3. What OS/platform do you use for your work? Mac & Windows
4. What is your favorite Web 2.0/21st Century Tool and why? I have so many, but my ultimate favorite this month is Google Forms. I create dynamic surveys and interactive surveys to immediately poll students, teachers and admins, and then the data is instantly collated into a spreadsheet to get results. I can also insert a variety of Google gadgets to enhance the spread for presentation purposes.
   
5. What is the biggest misconception about technology? That technology needs to be taught as a "separate" content area, and not infused within the curriculum. Also other view technology as an "extra" not an essential productivity and efficiency tool to promote inspired learning.
6. What are the biggest hurdles you face as a technology educator? To get the Network Administrators to understand the importance of the educational value and total cost of ownership of Web 2.0 technologies, and to open up the network filter to allow for Web 2.0 technologies to be utilized in a k-12 environment.
7. What has been your biggest success in technology integration? To get the Network Administrators to understand the importance of the educational value and total cost of ownership of Web 2.0 technologies, and to open up the network filter to allow for Web 2.0 technologies to be utilized in a k-12 environment.
8. What has been your biggest setback in technology integration? The blocking of certain websites that I have requested for a tech integration workshop or keynote presentation, and the network administrator has guaranteed me that it is open and it will work, but ultimately it is locked down tighter than a drum. Lastly, limited support from district administrators of modeling tech integration best practices and leadership, and leaving these decisions to be made by technicians/ or network admin's who have no educational teaching experience to guide and support their decisions they make to lock down the system.
9. Who has been your biggest inspiration in technology/education? My biggest inspiration in technology is the thousands of teachers I work with throughout the year. The go getters, the risk takers, the lurkers, and the skilled and crafted veteran teachers leading the way with technology, because they do not want to be left behind. Everyone of these teachers has told me personal story to tell about their educational journey with technology, which allows me the opportunity to share with them a new teaching tool, technique or strategy to match up with their unique learning and delivery style. Ultimately empowering them to do more, achieve more, and inspire their inner passion for learning, to be the best teacher they can be to impact and motivate student learning.
10. Where do you see technology integration headed in the future? I see it as a continuum- more collaborative, more communicative, more content creation driven. I see our learning environments transformed into virtual realities with robust connectivity to enable for full synchronous learning.

Next on Cyber Studio: Greg Limperis