On the Road to Learning

Husband and wife team Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson live, work, and travel in a motor home complete with a two-way satellite dish. As ex-schoolteachers and library media specialists, the two conduct workshops, seminars, and presentations, develop Web materials, and write and publish textbooks. Lamb and Johnson have put their PhDs in instructional technology to work for schools across the United States and Canada -- and sometimes beyond!

"At our former university positions, we each created Web sites for our separate departments," Lamb told Education World. "As we struck out on our own, it seemed natural to create and develop our own Web site, eduScapes. EduScapes is more global in scope, with content aimed at learners and teachers of all ages and stages."

With their Web site, Lamb and Johnson hope to promote teaching and learning through the effective use of technology.

"We recognize that teachers have limited amounts of time, energy, and resources," explained Johnson. "If technology is to make a difference in teaching and learning, it has to be integrated as an essential component of the process. Our Web site materials are designed to help learners and teachers do that, to help with practical suggestions and resources."

Among the site's resources is Teacher Tap, a professional development resource for educators that addresses common technology integration questions. 42eXplore is where Lamb and Johnson narrow the task of finding quality online resources by offering four great links for a new theme each week. Literature Learning Ladders provides ideas for connecting books and online literature with interactive projects, WebQuests, and other Internet resources in ways that bring reading alive.

"We’d like to encourage others to embrace the idea of life-long learning through Internet resources," said Lamb. "We see our Web site as a public service. If every educator shared his or her favorite lesson plan, just think about the rich set of resources that would be available!"

Article by Cara Bafile
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