Graphics, Animation, Multimedia, Integrating Technology into K-12 curriculum
I am running for Director for Education to expand my involvement with a group of individuals who have enabled me to grow as an educator.
My involvement with SIGGRAPH began as a conference attendee. I was struck by the diversity of what the conference and organization had to offer. This diversity is exhibited in no better example than the Education Committee, the backgrounds of the individuals and their areas of interest. This diversity is what keeps me interested and involved. I was a recipient of an Educator's Grant, which provided me with the opportunity to attend the conference, with a variety of materials to use in my classroom, and to share with others. I joined the Education Committee in the role of Director of the Education Committee Conference Booth. This responsibility also includes the production of the annual Committee Catalog and organizing and displaying student slides. Over the three conferences that I have had this responsibility, our presence has expanded as has the scope of materials distributed. At the 1993 conference it was suggested that the Education Committee increase its interaction with SIGKids, and responding to this, I became a member of the SIGKids Committee for the 1994 conference. I have also served as the co-chair for the Educator's Program in 1995 and 1996.
Last year also marked the first joint sponsorship of the conference booth with Professional Chapters, an activity that was successful and will continue.
The Education Committee has made definite progress in meeting the recommendations of the Snowbird Conference. It is possible to continue to expand upon them without negatively impacting other successful activities.
There is a need to develop activities that reach and benefit all educators the other 51 weeks a year in an accessible, affordable manner. There has been an attempt to address this with the development of online services, but we have found, particularly for those in K-12 who are still without Internet access, this is not enough. I propose to develop more localized activities done in concert with Professional Chapters and shorter regional conferences and workshops held on the campus of host institutions.
The Education Committee has been successful through the efforts of no one person, but rather through the various talents, expertise, and efforts of many.
I would view my role not as an overseer, but a facilitator, who enables individuals to develop creative solutions to the needs from all areas of computer graphics education that they have identified from their experiences.
Electronic mail: mjbarr@frank.mtsu.edu
1996 ACM SIGGRAPH Election Information
ACM SIGGRAPH General Information