Profile: Aaron Deal, Teacher/LG2G Advisory Board Member

"I try to remove barriers so that we can integrate technology in all our classrooms," says teacher, technology coordinator and LG2G Advisor Aaron Deal. "When I've done that, I know I've had a good day."

And Aaron knows a thing or two about overcoming barriers. As a young man, he was advised against going to a four-year college and in fact, was put on academic probation and then dismissed from the college he did attend. Even though he'd lost his financial aid, Aaron's determination and spirit just wouldn't let him quit. Taking one or two courses a semester and paying tuition out of his own pocket, Aaron returned to college and eventually got his Bachelor's degree in seven years. He then became an elementary school teacher and eventually got his Master's degree in Education with a focus on teaching and learning with technology. And in 2003, Aaron Deal reached another level of success, by being honored as Maryland's Teacher of the Year. Currently, he is the Technology Coordinator at Salisbury Middle School (Salisbury, MD) where he also teaches Advanced Computer Science to seventh- and eighth-graders.

Aaron's school is a relatively new one (it was built only seven years ago), and it has many technological resources, including wireless connectivity. While he spends much of his time working with teachers to enhance their use of technology, he says his primary goal is to "put technology in the students' hands." The benefits of technology in the classroom are clear to Aaron: "Students want to be in front of that screen. Their engagement is greater and their creativity is greater with the tools we can give them." As a part of the LG2G Advisory Board, Aaron will help to ensure that LG2G products meet the needs of students and teachers in the classroom.

As a teacher, Aaron knows that LG2G has to help educators address learning standards and help students pass tests. As an advocate of technology use and an avid gamer himself, he also knows that LG2G might offer additional benefits. "The impact of technology use is not always immediately obvious," he says. "Sometimes we have to take a longer view. I watch the kids engaged with the technology and I ask myself 'What are they thinking about? What could they create next because of this?'"

Sounds like some more barriers might be coming down.

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