Summercore at ISB: A Computer Course for Teachers of All Ages and All Stages
June 25-29, 2001
Details on the web: www.summercore.com/isb.html
for more info, e-mail: isb@nobles.edu

Some quotes from participants in June 2000 (used with permission of course)

"I would never have thought it possible to pack so much into such a short time. At the same time you made me realize that I will never know even a fraction of what there is to know. BUT you also gave me the confidence to experiment. I somehow feel empowered even though I have learned how little I know. Odd!"
-- from Anne Clarke Biology and Env Science ISB

"Overall reaction to Steve and Lynne, you mean, as you (plural) ARE Summercore – I couldn’t imagine two OTHER people being able to keep the whole thing flowing along so smoothly for so long. You were not merely instructors but immediately friends to all of us, tolerant of our idiosyncrasies and eccentricities, and ready to do all you could to satisfy our individual requests and interests. Your commitment to the program was astonishing – 120%, always ready to help everybody at a second’s notice. As Dorothy may have mentioned to you, I approached the whole course with some trepidation, but was instantly reassured by your initial lesson on Monday morning, which, for the first time, put the whole computer drama into perspective for me. Subsequent lessons were great, e.g. Lynne’s on Excel spreadsheets which in an hour revealed the whole thing -- I’d struggled with it for ages, without much success. Anyway, I’ll be eternally grateful to you both for this week – at last, in Sept., I won’t feel less than adequate in this IT field! Nimmons the Champion now! Enjoy and exploit Steve and Lynne’s presence to the full – their like is not to be found elsewhere. Feel privileged like the Belgian pioneers!"
-- Colin Nimmons History Teacher ISB

"Bravo. Never have I attended a course so well thought out and executed. You are absolutely PROFESSIONAL."
-- Rosemary Careaga ESL teacher, K-8, ISL: Int School of Luxembourg ISL

"I learned so much…I feel much more confident to click and work on my own, to try new things…definitely enjoy all the graphics. Enjoyed mixing working on the web and discovering that world as we went on with basic computer skills. I thought they blended very actively into each other."
-- Anne Dalebroux ECC Resource Teacher, K-2 (Fine Motor Skills, Perceptual awareness, handwriting, math) ISB

"Exactly what I wanted, expected, needed! Has been an excellent stimulus to move me forward in my computer literacy. One sentence of advice to the next Summercore group? Watch out for taskmaster Steve and his 330 mph on the road to computer heaven! Lynne is an angelic counterpoint who makes the thought of working with computers divinely attractive! Enter Summercore at your own risk, but be sure to know that when you exit you will be more than satisfied!"
--Branan Gary, ESL teacher, St. John's International School of Waterloo

"Steve, you are an excellent teacher . (and you know that I am an old experimented teacher…) The timing was excellent. We should more take time to think about concrete strategies using computer, about evaluation, or think about what concretely technology bring new in term of learning or teaching. BRAVO ET ENCORE MILLE MERCI A STEVE ET LYNNE ... Steve, I would have liked to spend more time to discuss or drink good Belgian beer. But it was a real marathon, I understand. Maybe another time!"
-- Christian Noyon, French Teacher, ISB

"I had fun and learned a lot. I think it was a great idea to have two different levels, so as to avoid feeling left behind on some explanations. There was an excellent combination of listening and hands-on activities. The food was really delicious and made a wonderful break in the day. I liked the idea of using students as helpers. One sentence of advice to the next Summercore group? Don’t panic and relax, it’s really quite fun."
-- Debbie Barter Speech and Language therapist in the special ed unit, ISB

The Pace of the Marathon? very fast but necessary
The JV/Varsity Split Groups? excellent idea for everyone
Our Student helpers (Kelly, Phil, Bryan): superb helpers and fast
The actual Friday Carnival: I had not expected to be interested but I learned very much from all of my colleagues and was able to get around to all the booths where I got excellent overviews of what they had learned. Most worthwhile. Overall reactions to Summercore? Excellent program – too concentrated but I know why.
One sentence of advice? TAKE IT and be open to everything but concentrate on something you will use.
-- Eliane Van Stichel, Spanish Teacher, ISB

"The Pace of the Marathon? Blasting us with facts at the beginning of the week and then letting us focus and consolidate later on was THE BEST
Overall reactions to Summercore? FANTASTIC I’m a bit scared that you won’t come back to Brussels again though because I think that to do another course in 3 or 4 years time would REALLY help."
-- Jane Reid, Math Teacher (high school), BSB

"The Pace of the Marathon? Yes it was a long week, but as soon as the pace dropped off at the end during the Carnival I wanted to pick it up again. I like running but as soon as I stop running that’s it, I stop
The JV/Varsity Split Groups: Great ideas and a good pace. I know Lynne thought at one stage I should have been in another group however I was able to learn new skills as well as fill in the gaps at my own pace.
Our Student helpers (Kelly, Phil, Bryan): so helpful so polite They have renewed my faith in the younger people of today.
Overall reactions? Well worth it! I have been on computer courses before, but here they not only knew your stuff, teach your ideas, but were excellent role models, demonstrate by example excellent teaching practises. Together you made a great team."
-- Kris Dossett, kindergarten teacher, ISB

"For an ignoramus, a wonderful start. The atmosphere was fun and unthreatening, though demanding, and certainly created the desire to become as well acquainted as possible with it all in time, and to continue with the learning. The participants were very friendly and supportive. Lynne and Steve were fantastic teachers, endlessly dedicated to helping us all along as far as possible, and to bringing us to an awareness of the state of the art. The idea of being able to connect with them at any time later, via Summercore, is reassuring and exciting. However technically incompetent I still am, I’m encouraged to go on, and feel that I have learned an enormous amount. It has certainly convinced me of the need for first rate computer training for faculty in schools. Don’t plan to do too much else around the edges of the course. You need rest and a free mind, and some time to study!"
-- Liz Stephan, Curriculum Coordinator/Head of English (Eng 10-12), St. John's International School, Waterloo, Belgium

"Overall reactions to Summercore? Awesome! One of the most amazing learning experiences I have ever taken part in. Steve and Lynne, you are superb teachers with infinitesimal patience and a real gift for explaining very complex concepts clearly and concisely.
One sentence of advice? It was really good that I had to come to Brussels and stay at a B&B so that all I had to focus on was eating (I doubled my daily calorie intake), sleeping (this was cut in half), and Summercore. It would have been REALLY TOUGH to have to focus on my family and the other commitments of my regular daily life and do this course at the same time. So if there is anyway that you can truly devote all your focus to Summercore, that will make the week easier and more profitable for you."
-- Marian Aldred ESL K-6 teacher and program coordinator, ISL: Int School of Luxenbourg

"JV/Varsity Split Groups: I liked the fact that these groups were not fixed and one could change according to the skill being thought
Our Student helpers (Kelly, Phil, Bryan): What a great idea to include the students. They were most helpful and skillful.
Preparing for the Carnival on Thursday? For me personally this experience was most satisfying as I worked together with a colleague from another school. We both taught each other new skills as well as learned something totally new such as the photo shop. I hope that we will continue to keep contact and start to exchange ideas as well as images, this time via the web.
The actual Friday Carnival? A fun way to end the course, share skills and learn more by attempting to teach others.
Overall reactions to Summercore? I really like your way of having an intensive course instead of evening classes etc. This way feel I have made progress and have a much clearer picture of the overall functioning of both the hardware and the programmes available. I feel motivated to continue exploring more at home during the summer.
One sentence of advice to the next Summercore group? Come with an open mind. It will all make sense in the end"
-- Outi Connolly Art Teacher, 1-6 ISL