COSI - Columbus, Ohio's Dynamic Hands-On Science Center

Shane Howard, Video Network Engineer for ESC Region 12 in Waco, Texas. Shane shares his enthusiasm for videoconferencing with anyone he comes in contact with. His passion is for quality interactive programs. He works tirelessly to ensure that classes' experiences with collaborations, content providers, and staff development are using interactive videoconferencing as it should be...interactive, not just as a substitute for a videotaped program. Shane is not only an exceptional technical video engineer, but he is also a talented content provider for our youngest students. He has developed a "Singing With Shane" program that has served over 5,000 PreK through 1st grade students in 15 states. During the Christmas holidays, he shares his talents as Mr. Rudolph! He shares his IVC Etiquette via video conference with all of new sites and with others who need a remote connection during trainings. Shane has become a "go-to bridge guy." He gets calls from all over when people need assistance with training and making connections, up to and including COSI! Congratulations to Shane Howard and thanks for all the help and support to both Texans and COSI-types!

Mike is a leader in this field and is recognized as such by his peers having recently won the President's Award from TWICE. Mike was one of the founding forces behind TWICE and currently serves as Vice President of this organization.

He is always available to work with his colleagues from around the state to help solve videoconferencing problems. He has been instrumental in St. Clair County students participation in the Megaconference Jr. event and has also been instrumental in the deployment of videoconferencing systems in all public school buildings in St. Clair County. He patiently works with school district staff to get them connected to their various virtual destinations.

In many ways, Mike has been my mentor in the videoconferencing world. He is always available to comment on ideas I have in a helpful manner and to help me refine and implement these valuable resources in my county. For all of the innovations mentioned above and for the many still to come I believe Mike Maison is more than deserving of the Excellence in Education Technology Award given by COSI.

Nominated by Arnie Comer

Roxanne Glaser, Region 12 Education Service Center in Waco, Texas. Roxanne coordinates videoconferencing for over 60 districts in Texas with grace, style, and enthusiasm. Roxanne believes in high quality engaging videoconferences and passes on that expectation to her local site managers and teachers.

Roxanne is dedicated to promoting videoconferencing and sharing her knowledge with others. She is a joy to collaborate with, passionate about quality student learning, and committed to providing innovative learning experiences to her students.

Connie Manske, Northern Lights Network, CESA #11, Turtle Lake, Wisconsin. Connie has worked tirelessly this past year to get videoconferencing content to teachers and students in Wisconsin, while ensuring this content is tied to the curriculum and is of the highest quality.

She not only brings great content from distance learning providers to the students in northwest Wisconsin but also helps organize daily classes offered via videoconference that expand the curriculum of the 31 schools in the area. She is a great resource for teachers, bringing together her enthusiasm for learning and excellent troubleshooting skills to make distance learning an enjoyable experience for the schools that she serves.

Kathy Mohr, Northern Ohio Educational Computer Association, Sandusky, Ohio. Kathy clearly demonstrates her enthusiasm for technology on a regular basis with her can-do approach. Kathy has taken the lead role in distance technology projects for N.O.E.C.A. and is very organized and detail oriented, which has enabled her to take the lead in projects while still meeting other goals and responsibilities within N.O.E.C.A. Kathy spends numerous hours with member school districts, department heads, and providers to evaluate potential programs and to provide expertise to member schools.

Janine Lim, Berrien County Intermediate School District, Berrien Springs, Michigan. Janine is a leader in the videoconferencing field. She was one of the founding forces behind TWICE, a statewide organization within Michigan dedicated to advancing distance learning throughout the state. Janine also developed and maintains the Virtual Fieldtrip Providers database found at the TWICE website.

Janine was also instrumental in infusing videoconferencing technology into the National Education Association's Read Across America program. It began with one classroom in her county connecting to a classroom outside of the state of Michigan. TWICE now sponsors this event and in 2004 had almost 700 classrooms of students representing some 24 states participate in this program.

Lisa Perez, Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center, Chicago, Illinois. Lisa is recognized for her work in facilitating videoconferencing within her school and developing projects that connect her students to others around the world.

She has developed a distance learning website and publishes a monthly newsletter on videoconferencing. This newsletter, "Detailer," is available both in print and online. Due to Lisa's efforts, Von Steuben is the distance learning model for the Illinois International High School initiative.

Arnie Comer, Macomb Intermediate School District, Macomb, Michigan. Arnie is recognized for his work using videoconference programming to promote writing skills and interdisciplinary teaching methods in his district.

He is a strong advocate of quality programming and very willing to share successes and failures with educators in his region, while greatly expanding educational offerings to Michigan students.

Christopher Staats, Oswego BOCES, Mexico, New York. Christopher is recognized for his tireless testing and promotion of videoconferencing in the state of New York. He almost single-handedly convinced many regions of the state of the viability of this technology as an educational tool. Christopher continually searches for quality content and participates in the development of new content whenever possible. He has provided students in his area with many amazing educational opportunities through videoconferencing with a very limited budget.

David Worley, Adams County/Ohio Valley Schools, West Union, Ohio. David is recognized for his help in testing new technologies in the classroom and for sharing his successes and failures with teachers all over southern Ohio.

He was also the recipient of the Adams' County Teacher of the Year Award for his work in this area. COSI was privileged to be included in his work with Peebles Elementary students, project-based learning and videoconferencing.