Carol Anne McGuire — 2008 ISTE Outstanding Teacher of the Year

Making these movies had unexpected outcomes for the students.  Their communication skills skyrocketed, because creating videos around various curricular projects made them better writers and public speakers.  Test scores went up because they had become better problems solvers and critical thinkers.  They also became more familiar with technology that they could use in their personal and professional lives for years to come.

This group of blind students went on to win awards for their movies locally and statewide as they presented their work to Google, Apple, and local businesses.  Meanwhile, Carol Anne began dreaming of a way to connect students from every continent that would collaboratively allow them to compose music with Garageband, make movies, and meet each other via live video conferencing.  She found teachers that possessed the technical skills that she lacked and, working with them, the project took off.  Now her classroom had no walls.  Her blind and visually impaired students were learning alongside students from other continents in core curriculum subjects such as reading, writing and math.  Sighted children were asking to be accepted as a part of her class.  The visually impaired students were thrilled to be connected with their peers in a new way.  Classes from around the world were now not only connected, but they also had the opportunity to learn with real professionals .  When they studied the sun, they had access to their own NASA scientist who answered questions and talked to them.  When they studied digital storytelling, they had access to the American Film Institute and its educational resources.  They created long-lasting relationships with members of their local community and of corporate America.  Even in the international community, this group of students was being listened to.  From their desks in Anaheim, California, they addressed the Departments of Education in major cities around the world:  Tel Aviv, Tokyo, and Moscow.

The project has expanded from Carol Anne’s school to four others in the Orange Unified School District—two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school.  She also continues to spread word of her project as a keynote speaker at conferences around the world on topics such as Global Collaboration, Accessibility, Digital Storytelling, Podcasting, Technology in the Classroom, and Movie Making for the Non-Techie Teacher.

On her Rock Our World website, Carol Anne describes Rock Our World as an exciting way for students to collaborate with other students, and at the same time learn about their world.  Students use the entire iLife suite of tools from Apple to collaborate across geographical boundaries to make movies, write songs, and tell stories.  They also meet each other in iChat videoconferences to discuss their schools and cultures, and to meet new friends around the globe.

For more information, visit www.rockourworld.org to view some of the videos and other materials that have been developed to “Rock Our World.”

Carol Anne's Specialties:  Curriculum, English/ Language Arts, Technology/Technical Applications, Fine and Performing Arts, Special Education, General Education, Apple computer applications (iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes, GarageBand, iPod, Video conferencing)