Welcome to the award-winning website of Bill MacKenty - where I discuss technology and education! I'm the Director of Technology at the American School of Warsaw, where I support the effective use of technology in schools and classrooms.
I am especially interested in the use of computer games in learning and teaching. I have successfully used games in my classroom to help students learn. Please click here to see what I've written about games in education, and feel free to explore Balanced Gaming, my consulting business that helps parents, schools, and gamers understand how computer games fit into a balanced life.
Technology strengthens, deepens, and broadens our learning. Want a hint how to successfully integrate technology into learning? It's not about the what, it is about the how. Click here to learn more....
Expression Engine is a best-of-class content publishing system. I've used Expression Engine to provide powerful and flexible solutions for my school. Built on the Code Igniter PHP framework, it is an excellent tool for schools.
Text based gaming has been around since the earliest days of computing. Using only text, players enter in another world, and explore, socialize, achieve and impose in the game world. There is no sound, no flashy graphics, simply text. Click here to learn more.
I first realized I was a geek in the 6th grade. My 6th grade math teacher put me in front of a Texas Instruments 99A and 4 days later I was teaching the class how to program. I absolutely love hacking around in OS X and Linux. I have worked with kids and helped others my entire life. I love teaching, and watching a kid “get it” really lights me up. I am very interested in effective education, educational theory, assessment, and learning.
I’ve always thought a device that works like an appliance would be ideal for education. I like tablets and I’ve played with netbooks…
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Bit of a trick question, actually. The proper answer is “however it works best for them”.
This is part one of a series of blog posts focusing on my three year vision for my school.
My principal has asked…
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Ok, to be technical, it was a twit from twitter, but still…
Do you still have the schematics of StarTrek ships? I’m looking for a…
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Looks like the nice folks at twitter got bit by a hacker. They report the problem stems from a twitter employee who the same…
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I’m participating in the Expression Engine 2.0 Beta. Can’t wait to share more!
As a point of practice in educational technology, I believe web-based (and cloud computing) is the way to go. Why?
1. I don’t…
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Powerschool is a student information system (SIS). It makes administrating your school easier. Part of powerschool is something called power teacher. …
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I am the director of technology at the American School of Warsaw. I am committed to strengthening, deepening and broadening student learning through technology. I honestly believe HOW we teach is far more important than WHAT we use to teach. I am a technology skeptic and a technology evangelist. I am certified school building leader and school district leader in New York State. I love technology, and hacking around - especially in Linux and OS X. I am a text-based gaming aficionado, and I enjoy smoking a pipe now and again. Please feel free to poke around and learn more about me and my views of educational technology.
I do almost everything there is to do in technology and education. My goal is create the conditions for excellence in education through technology. And I'd like to share what I know with the educators in Poland.
Chuc M....