The Eiffel Internship Experience

1. The Eiffel Internship Experience Christakis A. Roushias cr265@columbia.edu

2. Why being an intern? • The main reason I choose to work as an intern in the Eiffel project was to gain experience in the fields of developing, testing, and implementing effective teaching methods to the use of media and technologies. • I wanted to work with teachers, educators, and administrators towards the above goal (especially in the Internet-related fields), which will finally enhance the process of learning in our schools.

3. The Schools • During this semester I have been working closely with elementary school teachers from three different schools in Manhattan: • Sister Clara Mohammed School • Manhattan School for Children,and • Public School 11 • Most of the 6 teachers I have been working with had little experience with new media technologies. However, they do have many technology resources in their schools.

4. The Teachers • Khaleelah Ziyad-Islam (S.C.M.) • Lynda Abdul Ali (S.C.M.) • Wendy Smith (M.S.C.) • Heidi Paisner (M.S.C.) • Kate Abell (P.S.11) • Betty White (P.S.11)

5. Teacher Projects (a few examples) • The Silk Roadby Kate Abell • Asia Questby Kate Abell • Weather Wise by Khaleelah Ziyad • Grant Information by Khaleelah Ziyad • Writing Resources by Khaleelah Ziyad • Literature Lesson by Khaleelah Ziyad • Story Time for Tots by Lynda Abdul Ali • Native Americans by Wendy Smith • Our Classroom Model by Heidi Paisner • Animals around the world by Betty White

6. Reflect… • The teachers I work with, have started realizing the essence of technology. • They acknowledge that technology is very much our own response to overcoming obstacles that stand in the way of a better, more productive way of life. • I believe, I helped them see that technology is us - our tools, our methods, and our own creative attempts to solve problems in our environments.