Technology in Education
Outstanding Adjunct Faculty

Michelle Strickland has been in education since 1982, teaching Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th grades. She has also taught self-contained and inclusionary special education, as well as technology, journalism and yearbook classes at the junior and senior high school levels. She has taught in both public and private school settings.

Michelle earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary and Special Education from Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma. In 1989 she completed her Master's degree in Technology in Education at Lesley University, and she is currently working on her Doctorate in Education, studying brain development and the media at California Coast University.

After earning her Master's degree from Lesley, Michelle developed a technology program for the Adams County District #12 where she taught and then worked at the district level developing programs to integrate technology. She also ran a private consulting business. As a technology director, coordinator and consultant, Michelle worked hard to introduce and integrate technology in non-threatening, thought provoking ways. Michelle strongly believes that technology "used well" is a wonderful way to empower teachers and students, and make learning come alive.

Michelle has written and self-published a book titled "The ABC's of HyperStudio and Multi-Media Curriculum Integration," ISBN # 0-9672055-1-4. For more information on her book, contact her at strickla@cntweb.net. Michelle is currently working on a second book on media literacy and brain development with Gloria DeGaetano. Michelle met her co-author, a nationally known speaker and author of several books on parenting, media and brain development including "Screen Smarts" after using Gloria's book for ECOMP 6010 - Video as Educational Technology.

Since 1995, Michelle has taught as an adjunct faculty for Lesley, and currently teaches for both the Technology in Education and Creative Arts programs. She teaches the following courses:

• ECOMP 5100: Computers, Technology and Education - face-to-face and online
• ECOMP 5016: Teaching and Learning with Multimedia
• ECOMP 6010: Video as Educational Technology
• GARED 6008: Arts and Technology

A strong love of learning and people, as well as having the opportunity to learn and share with others around the country, contributes to Michelle's enjoyment of teaching for Lesley. Michelle agrees with Mary Claire Powell, another Lesley faculty member, that "Good teaching comes directly from the mind, heart, and spirit of an awake and growing human being."

Michelle has lived in Colorado most of her life and currently lives at 9000 feet above sea level, at the foot of Pikes Peak, in a small Colorado mountain town known as the "City Above the Clouds." She loves to spend time with her two teenage children and enjoys reading, skiing, camping, walking, and spending time with friends and family.

Some quotes from Michelle's students:

"I was a real computer novice but Michelle was very patient and encouraging. I became more confident in my own abilities which led to my starting to use computers with my students."

 

"Michelle has done an excellent job of breaking down difficult tasks and helping us learn in an organized, progressive way. She has provided us with an interesting array of examples that we can use in our classrooms right away."

 

"Throughout our online course, Michelle conveyed a sense of warmth and caring even through the use of a computer!"

Michelle's students also let Lesley know about her wonderful organizational skills, sense of humor, tremendous energy, and concern for her students' learning. She is always developing new teaching strategies to better assist her students, in both face-to-face and online classes. She contributes an enormous amount to the Technology in Education program by serving our students so well.