Ten Things You Should Know About MACUL

 

by Ricki Chowning, MACUL President, since 1990

www.macul.org

1. MACUL stands for the The Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning. (MACUL) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization established in 1975 dedicated to support the use of technology to enhance teaching and learning.
   
   
2. Its 3,500+ members come from Michigan, neighboring midwest states and Canada. MACUL is an organizational affiliate of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).
   
   
3. MACUL sponsors the largest annual educational conference in Michigan. In 2009, over 3000 teachers and administrators attended over 150 sessions and pre-conferences. In 2010, the conference will be held in Grand Rapids at DeVos Place on March 10-12, 2010.
   
   
4. The MACUL Annual Conference Administrative Luncheon speaker will be Mike Flanagan, who is also the opening keynote speaker. Both events will be held on Thursday, March 11, 2010. Administrators and school board members are eligible to receive a complimentary ticket to the luncheon, but advance registration is required. See http://www.macul.org.
   
   
5. MACUL sponsors the MI-CHAMPIONS PROGRAM, funded for the third year. Through a grant from the Michigan Department of Education, MACUL has trained over 750 Michigan educators to develop skills in using technology to improve student academic achievement. The purpose of the grant is to design and deliver a statewide model for professional development that will create the skill set necessary for building based "Technology Integration Champions" at the local level. Over 50,000 Michigan students have impacted by the MI-Champions program.
   
   
6. MACUL is also the managing partner in the ATA Technology Academy, a training program that equips educators with the skills to integrate technology in the classroom. Over 2500 Michigan educators representing more than 600 schools have become ATA Scholars, and an estimated 50,000 teachers and administrators have been impacted by the train-the-trainer program. Other partners include the Michigan Virtual University, the Michigan Institute for Educational Management, AT&T, the Michigan Education Association and the Office of United States Senator Carl Levin.
   
   
7. MACUL sponsors MI Learning on iTunes U, a gateway to educational audio, video, and pdf files submitted by organizations and educators throughout Michigan. Computer and other mobile devices --- offering great learning opportunities for students, educators and community -anytime and anywhere, can access these leadership, professional development and curriculum resources!
   
   
8. MACUL provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate innovative uses of classroom technology projects. Since 2001, MACUL has sponsored a Student Technology Showcase at the Michigan Capitol Building in Lansing. Representatives from the Governor’s Office, the Michigan State Board of Education and the Michigan Department of Education have been involved in the event. The event also recognizes key legislators every year who have made a significant contribution to supporting educational technology.
   
   
9. Each year, MACUL awards grants of up to $2000 each to educators for innovative projects that involve technology in the classroom. $25,000 in grants are awarded annually.
   
   
10. The MACUL journal is published four times yearly and has a circulation of over 5,000. The publication features information related to educational technology and best practices models and is sent to every district in Michigan.

For more information, contact Ric Wiltse, Executive Director
rwiltse@macul.org