Cathy McQuone cathy@mcquone.com has 33 years of experience as a teacher and tutor in Math, Science and Computer Programming. She graduated from Duquesne University with a B.S. in Ed and received a teaching certificate in Mathematics and Physics. In 1984, she received a Masters Degree in Computer Education when professors were still trying to figure out what teachers should know about and do with computers. She learned on Apple IIe’s and TRS-80’s with tape drives – the dark ages of technology. Utilizing her experience with her own 5 children and students, she quickly realized how important computers could be in children’s learning IF USED PROPERLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
In 1983, she created an Electronic Bulletin Board System (BBS) for Children in Cleveland, Ohio. Her computer was on all the time waiting for a child to log on. Children could post messages to each other. Teachers were on hand to answer questions they might ask. Cathy’s children participated as well. When the floppy drive would whir indicating that there was an incoming call, they would immediately go to the computer to see who was calling in. They could ask the caller if he/she wanted to go into CHAT mode. This occurred often. The family actually had to create a “No BBS during dinner rule” because they really enjoyed getting to know other children in this fashion. When the family moved to Tallahassee, Florida, she created the Rickards High School Bulletin Board, which exchanged messages with the children in Cleveland each evening. By the end of that year, messages were being exchanged among students in 160 cities in over 5 countries – very unique for 1989. For this project, Cathy won the Florida Computer Teacher of the Year sponsored by IBM and Classroom Computer Learning Magazine in 1989 and was one of the 12 national finalists. The following year she was asked to share this project in Brussels, Belgium at the International Conference for Computers in Education.
In 1998, Cathy was awarded a Ground Weather Station that downloads visible and infrared satellite weather images from polar orbiting satellites from Florida Explores, FSU Meteorology Dept. Satellite images of local hurricanes can be found on the website http://www.fsus.fsu.edu/mcquone/weather/groundstation.html
Since then her experiences include: being a web-master, creating on-line courses, and demonstrating leadership in mathematics, science and technology. In 1999, she wrote curriculum http://www.passporttoknowledge.com/ptweather/ptwchandson.html
http://www.passporttoknowledge.com/ptweather/ptwcactivity.html
http://passporttoknowledge.com/storm/
for Live from the Storm (www.passporttoknowledge.com), and designed classroom materials. Her own students created Hurricane Houses as a culmination of the Weather unit. For this Cathy won, in June 1998, the Tallahassee Red Cross certificate awarded for disaster preparedness with high school science students. Students conducted a Solar Eclipse Project, and had fun Building Classroom Roller Coasters.
Since 1996, she has maintained a website for Integrated Science, Astronomy, and now programming classes in SQL and Java found at http://www.fsus.fsu.edu/mcquone/mcquone.html
Her speaking engagements include local, state and international conferences. Florida Educational Technology Conference sessions include: “Building Bridges and Breaking Down Barriers Through Telecommunications” 1989, “The Science Connection – From Supercomputer to PC: A Modern Approach to Teaching Science” 1992, “Using the Internet in the Science Classroom” 1994, and “Data Modeling, SQL, Java and a unique business-education partnership: The Oracle Internet Academy at Florida State University School” 2002.
From 2000 – 2002, she was the New Millennium High Schools Project Director at Florida State University School (FSUS).
Most recently, she won the opportunity with FSUS to receive instruction directly from the Oracle Corporation and to host an Oracle Internet Academy at her school. Courses include: Data Modeling, SQL database programming, and Java programming. After 2 summers of training, she has attained Novice Instructor status in both areas and has passed the Introduction to Oracle 9i SQL Certification exam.
Currently her goals are to enhance the learning of her 7th and 8th grade students by providing meaningful, relevant technology projects including on-line collaboration and telecommunication opportunities. The Oracle Internet Academy will provide her juniors and seniors with highly academic computer programming skills with a focus on skills necessary to succeed in the workplace.
As Teacher-Editor for Midlink Magazine, she will sponsor these projects:
- “Rebuilding a
Nation’s Spirit” will
chronicle the Day of Remembrance being held at Florida State University
School in Tallahassee, Florida on Sept. 11, 2002. Teachers who wish to
share their school’s events are encouraged to participate with us.
Apple Java for the Teacher: A collection of Java computer programs specifically designed by junior and senior high school students to demonstrate classroom content. Over the course of the year, students will write computer programs to display topics that will help the teacher teach. For example,- Algebra
II – Display the Fibonacci Sequence up to the sum of 10,000
- Physics:
Create a 3 column Table of Horizontal and Vertical Distances of a
Projectile tossed at 0, 1, 2, … 90 degrees.
Directions for creating and sending
programs are on the website.
She lives up to her signature title:
Touching the World
With a
Passion for Learning
Building Bridges and Breaking Down Barriers on the Internet
Learning changes forever the way you look at the world.
Being in touch with the world can change forever the way you look at learning.