User:Wiredinstructor

Dennis O'Connor is K-12 teacher, professional development specialist, online educator, and educational technology consultant with 33 years of classroom experience. As a district Language Arts Coordinator he organized teacher training in the Writing Process and the 6-Traits Writing Model. As a computer coordinator he established the first email system and computerized business labs in his district.

Dennis taught 7/8 language arts and technology for 15 years at Kingsbury Middle School, at Lake Tahoe Nevada where his students scored top in the state for three years in a row on the (traits based) State Analytical Writing test. The core-based technology infused curriculum he designed at Kingsbury was recognized when the school was named the Nevada National Technology Spotlight School for 2000.

In 1995, groundbreaking work in technology infused interdisciplinary teaching led to a Milken Educator Award. After working online with the ISTE National Educational Technology Standards Projectin 1998, Mr. O'Connor became a project writer developing units of practice for ISTE-NETS, Connecting Curriculum and Technology. Dennis remains active as a product lead reviewer, subject matter expert, and project writer for ISTE.

In 2001 he earned an MS. in Online Teaching and Learning from California State University, East Bay (formerly CSU Hayward) where he taught graduate students for several years. In 2005, Dennis earned an M.Ed in Instructional Design and Technology Integration at Western Governors University. His undergraduate degree is in English from the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to teaching Mr. O'Connor has worked as a builder, freelance magazine writer, corporate training director, and educational technology consultant.

Dennis was recently named Program Coordinator for the UW-Stout E-Learning and Online Teaching Program. In addition to overseeing this new program, he also teaches two classes for the Online Professional Development Program at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. His courses: Teaching and Assessing Writing with the 6-Traits and E-Learning for Educators are electives in the UW-Stout Online Master of Education program.

Dennis also works as an online curriculum development specialist for the 21st Century Information Fluency Program, which is part of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy's educator professional development program. Currently he is creating content and editing the Full Circle Resource Kitfor IMSA.

After living in the Sierra Nevada Mountains at Lake Tahoe, California for nearly 30 years, Dennis has moved to San Marcos near San Diego California. In his spare time Dennis enjoys snorkeling, swimming, gardening, and spending time with his family. He can be contacted directly via Wiredinstructor.