Florida State University School
email@example.com has 35 years of
experience as a teacher and tutor in Math, Science and Computer Programming. She
graduated from Duquesne University with a B.S. in Ed and received a teaching
certificate in Mathematics and Physics. In 1984, she received a Masters Degree
in Computer Education when professors were still trying to figure out what
teachers should know about and do with computers. She learned on Apple IIe’s and
TRS-80’s with tape drives– the dark ages of technology.
Utilizing her experience with her own 5 children and students, she quickly
realized how important computers could be in children’s learning IF USED
PROPERLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
In 1983, she created an
Electronic Bulletin Board System (BBS) for Children in Cleveland, Ohio. Her
computer was on all the time waiting for a child to log on. Children could post
messages to each other. Teachers were on hand to answer questions the children
might ask. Cathy’s children participated as well. When the floppy drive would
whir indicating that there was an incoming call, they would immediately go to
the computer to see who was calling in. They could ask the caller if he/she
wanted to go into CHAT mode. This occurred often. The family actually had to
create a “No BBS during dinner rule” because they really enjoyed getting to know
other children in this fashion. When the family moved to Tallahassee, Florida,
she created the Rickards High School Bulletin Board, which exchanged messages
with the children in Cleveland each evening. By the end of that year, messages
were being exchanged among students in 160 cities in over 5 countries – very
unique for 1989. For this project, Cathy won the Florida Computer Teacher of
the Year sponsored by IBM and Classroom Computer Learning Magazine in 1989
and was one of the 12 national finalists. The following year she was asked to
share this project in Brussels, Belgium at the International Conference for
Computers in Education.
In 1994, she organized the
first school-to-school videoconference in Leon County Schools. Both the fifth
grade students at DeSoto Elementary School and ninth grade students were
studying the scientific aspects of the Net Ban Amendments that would be part of
the November election. The fifth graders asked questions of the ninth graders
over the videoconference.
In 1998, Cathy was awarded a
Ground Weather Station that downloads visible and infrared satellite weather
images from polar orbiting satellites from
Explores, Florida State University Meteorology Department Satellite images
of local hurricanes can be found on
her Weather Website.
Since then her experiences
include: being a web-master, creating on-line courses, and demonstrating
leadership in mathematics, science and technology. In 1999, she wrote curriculum
for the Weather and Climate
Hurricane Houses Overview,
Hands on Activities ,
Evaluation Form for
Live from the
Storm, and designed classroom materials. Her own students created
Houses as a culmination of the Weather unit. For this Cathy won, in June
1998, the Tallahassee Red Cross certificate for disaster preparedness with high
school science students. Students also conducted a
Solar Eclipse Project, and had fun
Classroom Roller Coasters.
From 1996 until now, she has
for Integrated Science, Astronomy, and now programming classes in SQL and Java.
Her speaking engagements
include local, state and international conferences. Florida Educational
Technology Conference sessions include: “Building Bridges and Breaking Down
Barriers Through Telecommunications” 1989, “The Science Connection – From
Supercomputer to PC: A Modern Approach to Teaching Science” 1992, “Using the
Internet in the Science Classroom” 1994, and “Data Modeling, SQL, Java and a
unique business-education partnership: The Oracle Internet Academy at Florida
State University School” 2002.
From 2000 – 2002, she was the
New Millennium High Schools Project
Director at Florida State University School (FSUS).
In 2002, she won the
opportunity with FSUS to receive instruction directly from the
Oracle Corporation and to host an
Oracle Internet Academy at her
school. Courses include: Data Modeling, SQL database programming, and Java
programming. After 2 summers of training, she has attained Novice Instructor
status in both areas and has passed the Introduction to Oracle 9i SQL
Certification exam. In February, her students placed in the top six winners of
an International Data Modeling Competition and received
In 2003, she enhanced the
learning of her 7th and 8th grade students by providing
meaningful and relevant technology projects including on-line collaboration and
telecommunication opportunities. The
Oracle Internet Academy provided her juniors and seniors with highly
academic computer programming skills with a focus on skills necessary to succeed
in the workplace.
From 2003 to the present, she
teaches Earth/space Science.
In May of 2004, she and
her students participated in
Megaconference Jr. Using multipoint videoconferencing equipment and
internet2 technology, over 100 schools from 11 different countries ‘taught’ and
‘learned’ in real-time from 7 am to 7 pm EST. Her students shared the "Hurricane
in a Classroom" activity. She is now on the planning committee for
Megaconference Jr 2005
collaborated with Professor Paul Ruscher at Florida State University Meteorology
Department to establish the
Florida High Real-Time Weather Station
at her school.
In addition, she has begun the
High K-12 Weather club affiliated with the American Meteorological Society,
one of the first in the country.
In January 2005, she presented
at the Florida Educational Technology conference, 'Florida
State University School Goes Global with Megaconference Jr.'
As a Teacher-Editor for
Midlink Magazine, she sponsors
a Nation’s Spirit” will chronicle the Day of Remembrance being held
at Florida State University School in Tallahassee, Florida on Sept. 11, 2002.
Teachers who wish to share their school’s events are encouraged to
for the Teacher: A collection of Java computer programs specifically designed by junior and senior high school
students to demonstrate classroom content. Over the course of the year,
students will write computer programs to display topics that will help the
teacher teach. For example,
- Algebra II –
Display the Fibonacci Sequence up to the sum of 10,000
- Physics: Create a 3
column Table of Horizontal and Vertical Distances of a Projectile tossed at
0, 1, 2, … 90 degrees.
Hurricane in a Classroom Announcing an exciting science project to
teach your students about
- hurricanes and hurricane preparedness:
Hurricane in a Classroom.
- Recently, very destructive hurricanes,
Frances, Jeanne, and Ivan hit the coast of Florida and damaged a significant
number of homes. Building homes that can better withstand the winds from
hurricanes will be a consideration in all future housing construction. Many
people will be building homes on the Florida Atlantic or Gulf Coast.
Students can learn NOW how to build and protect homes from hurricane winds.
Florida State University Schools Earth/Space students are doing just that!
- What did the students get when they
combined a leaf blower, construction
- paper, straws and tape? A
Hurricane in our Classroom
Inquiring Minds Want to Know: Scientifically speaking The nature of
science and scientific inquiry is a fundamental core of Earth/Space Science
classes at Florida State University School (FSUS). This fall students began
independent science inquiry. Share samples of student's scientific process.
You are invited to join us in sharing student inquiry learning.
“Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink"
This quote from the Ancient Mariner by the English Romantic poet Samuel Taylor
Coleridge in the early 1800’s exemplifies the concern that water can be
abundant but unusable. Florida has many beautiful ponds, lakes and rivers.
Knowing if they are safe for plant and animal live is a goal for Florida State
University School Earth/Space science students in Tallahassee, FL. This fall
the students investigated the water quality of a local pond. Here are their
stories…………… Teachers are invited to share your water quality projects.
Directions for creating and sending programs are on the website.
She lives up to her signature title:
With a Passion
Building Bridges and Breaking Down
Barriers on the Internet
forever the way you look at the world.
Being in touch
with the world can change forever the way you look at