DANA SPECKER WATTS, Ph.D.
EDUCATION
University of Kentucky, KY: Doctorate Candidate, CASTLE program
State University of New York College at Buffalo, NY: M.S. Multidisciplinary Studies: Digital Literacy (2011)
Canisius College, NY: M.S. Secondary Education: English (1996)
Harvard University, MA: Extensive course work (24 credits) toward Masters in Liberal Arts: English (1994-1996)
Canisius College, NY: B.A. English (1994)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Director of Innovation – 21st Century Learning International, 2015 – Present
- Build and expand professional development with a focus on the training and facilitation of workshop leaders for conferences
- Development and delivery of online courses and workshops on leadership
- Conduct thematic analysis of data from ongoing Digital Life study within the international school community
- Help establish the company as a source of original and innovative thinking in educational technology
High School Technology Coach – Hong Kong International School, 2015 – Present
- Collaborate and facilitate student and faculty support for the 1:1 Bring Your Own Mac (BYOM) initiative
- Plan, coordinate and facilitate technology integration for educators across the secondary level
- Develop, implement and teach Intro to Game Design and Junior English
English Teacher – The Country School, Easton, MD 2014-2015
- Develop, plan and instruct 7th and 8th grade English Literature
- Redesign curriculum to help integrate 21st century skills to enhance learning in the classroom
Coordinator of International Outreach and Graduate Research Assistant – University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 2013 – present
- Graduate Research Assistant for the School of Technology Leadership in the subjects of Virtual School Leadership, Open Source Publishing, International School Leadership, and Principal Job Ads
- Increase recruitment of international teachers to create a new cohort of international educators
Founding Partner and Chief Learning Development Manager – Eduro Learning, 2013-2015
- Design, deliver and implement a long range strategy for online courses and programs including Digital Citizenship and Design Thinking
- Maximize effective use of emerging technologies for teaching and advising, recruiting and providing professional development for course instructors
- Build, maintain and expand connections with fellow leaders in online learning to keep abreast of online learning strategies, pedagogy and advances in technology platforms for delivery of online instruction
MS Technology Coordinator – American Embassy School, New Delhi, India 2010 – 2013
- Designed and implemented 1:1 iPad Program
- Created cross-curricular ongoing Digital Citizenship Camp
- Coordinated the development and implementation of Middle School Assigned Laptop 1:1 Program
- Facilitator of CoETaIL courses for SUNY to enhance digital literacy within culture of the school
- Developed two after-school clubs for students: Tech Tutors and Team Geek to empower students to share their learning with others in the school community
High School English/IB Teacher – International School Bangkok, Thailand 2006 – 2010
- Facilitate student learning and implementation of 21st century skills in High School English Department through the use of ePortfolios and blogging
- Assist in the coordination and implementation of High School English Department’s Organizational Goal in Independent Reading Program
- Coordinate with Grade 9 and 10 teams to ensure best practice in the delivery of the curriculum
- Restructured and implemented new curriculum in the Middle School Humanities Grade 7 Department for the Connected World unit which utilizes web 2.0 tools
High School English Teacher – Mt. Mercy Academy, Buffalo, NY 1999 – 2000
- Taught Speech Communications, Study Skills, and English Honors in addition to English 9 and English 10
- Maintained standards in keeping with the state curriculum and incorporated women’s literature when possible
- Instructed students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods such as cooperative learning, writing groups, lectures, discussions, and demonstrations
- Developed book club for students after school and served as a judge for the school debate team.
- Created a women’s literature curriculum at the principal’s request
Full-Time English Lecturer for the Academic Skills Department/English Department – SUNY College at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 1996 – 1999
- Instructed students in all basic writing skills. Main course load each semester consisted of ENG 099, ENG 101, ENG 102, and taught ESL courses to foreign students predominantly from Asia
- Coordinated the Academic Intervention Management (AIM) program targeted towards at-risk students. Established Study Skills courses and tutors for probation students campus wide and worked hand-in-hand with various academic deans throughout the university to better prepare students for college level material
- Taught numerous subjects outside content area such as Communications 101, Speech Communications, and Anthropology 101. At one point, taught 7 full time courses in single semester due to a teacher shortage
Adjunct English Lecturer – Niagara County Community College, Niagara Falls, NY 1994 – 1997
- Instructed ENG 099, ENG 101, and ENG 102 to incoming students. Students were mostly returning adult education students, ESL students, and some traditional freshman
- Coordinated the campus Writing Center and taught writing process to students across campus throughout the day. Students with any type of academic paper had access to the writing center, and all levels of academia were assisted.
PRESENTATIONS
2015
Boone Community School District in Boone, Iowa: “Owning Your Global Footprint”
EARCOS Spring Educators Conference in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia: “The Road Towards Empowerment Through Digital Citizenship”; “Redesigning the Learning Landscape”; ‘Infusing Creativity with iPads”
2014
ASB Un-Plugged in Mumbai, India: “Redesigning the Learning Landscape with Mobile Technology”
Indian Oil in Noida, India: Keynote speaker for the Festival of Ideas titled: “Creativity and Innovation in Education”
NESA Spring Educators Conference in Bangkok, Thailand: “Integrating iPads in the ES”; “Integrating iPads in the MS/HS”
2013
21st Century Learning in Hong Kong: “The iPad Academy“, “iPad Management”
American Embassy School in New Delhi, India: “Digital Citizenship Camp in the Middle School”
Apple Distinguished Educators of Korea in Seoul, Korea: “Redesigning Learning”; “Digital Citizenship and Information Literacy” and “ADE Annual Planning: Vision & Goal Setting”
Chadwick International School in Incheon, Korea: “The Road Toward Digital Citizenship”, “App Exploration by Subject Area” “iPads in the ES Learning Environment” and “SAMR: A Journey Toward Transformation”
Google Apps in Education: India Summit in Mumbai, India: “Using Google Forms for Mobile Learning”
Gyeonggi Suwon International School in Suwon, Korea: “Documentation of Learning”, “The Road Toward Digital Citizenship”, “Impact, Redesign & the Role of Learning”, “SAMR: The Journey Toward Transformation”, “Digital Citizenship & Information Literacy” and “Language Learning with iPads”
Korea International School in Gyeonggi-do, Korea: “iPads with 3rd & 4th Graders”, “Leveraging iPads for Admin Efficiency”, “Parenting with iPads”, “iPads for Specialist Teachers” and “iPads Across the Curriculum”
Learning 2.013 in Singapore: “iOS in Education: Creating with iPads“, “Utilizing iTunes U for Course Development” and “Utilizing iPads to Change the Learning Landscape”
NESA Spring Educator’s Conference in Bangkok, Thailand: “iPads in the Classroom”
Taejon Christian International School in Daejeon, Korea: “Documentation of the Learning”, “Integration of iPads into the ES Classroom”, “iPads in the Library”, “Impact of iPads on Learning”, and “Leveraging iPads for Admin Efficiency”
The iPad Summit in New Delhi, India: “Leadership Strand“, “Leveraging iPads for Admin Efficiency“, “Infusing Creativity with iPads”
Yokohama International School in Yokohama, Japan: “iPads with YIS”
2012
ASB UnPlugged in Mumbai. India: “iPads @ AES: How to Implement an iPad Pilot Within Your School” with the AES Technology Team
Learning 2.012 in Beijing, China: “iPads for Learning” and “Leading to Learn” (mini keynote)
21st Century Learning in Hong Kong: “ePortfolios: The Ultimate Transportable Gift”
21st Century Learning in Hong Kong: “Technology and Curriculum: Moving Forward Together” with Stacy Stephens
2011
Learning 2.011 in Shanghai, China: “Technology and Curriculum: Moving Forward Together” with Stacy Stephens
21st Century Learning in Hong Kong: “ePortfolios in Your Classroom”
2010
EARCOS Tech Train Weekend Workshop in Bangkok, Thailand: Two Day Presentation on “Beginners Learning Technology Tools Together”
NESA Spring Educators Conference: Full Day Learning Institute on “Building Student Centered Blended Learning Environments” with Jeff Utecht
RECENT CERTIFICATIONS
Apple Distinguished Educator – 2013
Google Certified Teacher – 2013
WEB 2.0 SKILLS
21st century learner in the following areas: PowerSchool, Microsoft Office applications, Netscape Navigator, Google, Moodle, Pearsons, Rubicon Atlas, FirstClass, Skyward, ISTE member since 2009
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Tsunami Relief Adviser (2 years), Invisible Children adviser (1 year), Student Council Leadership Retreat, Tsunami Relief Friendship Exchange Co-Coordinator: Fall and Spring