NATIONAL COPILAS PARTICIPATES IN DENVER, CO ACTFL WORLD LANGUAGES CONFERENCE ---7,000 PARTICIPANTS, NOVEMBER 17-20, 2011
Fast Look Summary
Dr. Milton Chen's key note address illuminated an excellent framework for the effectiveness in educating students in world languages----the necessity of full integration of technology, engagement, methods of assessing students and the effectiveness of Project Based Learning. He went on to describe 21st Century Global learners. Chen also discussed the disconnect with educators who do not realize the power of technology in the learning process studying the broad landscape with inter disciplinary collaboration of teachers in art, music, science, math, history, and religion with world language teachers and the on- line, real time opportunities through smartboard and hand held instruments. When Dr. Chen spoke about the power of technology he coined the phrase "Weapons of Mass Instruction". An interesting practice in many "Best Practice Schools" is the establishment of Teacher Assistants. High School students assisting teachers who are immigrants to technology to find the best web sites, and hooks ups with classrooms throughout the world. A new Education Nation embraces a new age of 24/7/365 learning." Dr. Chen recently authored "Education Nation, Six Leading Edges of Innovation in our Schools", Jossey-Bass-Wiley Press. I had the opportunity to personally meet with Dr. Chen and drill deeper on several of his concepts and practices that work to ensure each student succeeds and averting failure.
Dr. Roberto Sveriro and Cesarina Horing participated by manning the National COPILAS display booth, chairing and making several presentations. Newly appointed Directors at Large
Dr. Anthony Tamburri (President of the Calandra Institute, and Professor at Queens College) and Dr. Antonio Vitti (President of the American Association of Teachers of Italian -ATTI-and Professor of Italian Language at Indiana University) provided significant leadership at the ACTFL Conference.
The ATTI sponsored 35 workshops and seminars concerning the effective teaching of Italian language and Culture to students PK-16. Workshops included: Multicultural Classrooms, Opera as a Powerful Medium of Instruction, The Revised AP Italian Language and Culture Course, Technology in Italian Language Instruction, The Art of Teaching Italian through Italian Art in Rome, Italy, The Certification of Teachers of Italian, and Perspectives for AP Italian and the Role of the Enti Gestori. National COPILAS leadership chaired 10 of the 35 workshops and seminars.
I had the opportunity to interview 8 prospective Directors at Large that are committed to establish National COPILAS chapters in the Mid--West, West Coast, South and South West. All prospective directors are holders of Ph.D's in Education and Language and possess a great deal of energy and passion and adroit in implementing state of the art technology programs in schools, colleges and universities.
Warmest regards,
Daniel L. Stabile, Ph.D
President, National COPILAS
Ambassador, Middle States Accrediting Association for Schools, Colleges and Universities
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