Digital Learning

Creating schools that work for students shouldn’t just be a trend or best practice. It needs to be how schools look now. Schools need to change with the times. We are no longer part of the industrial era. The schools need to work for the students on they best learn. We need to change the mission of public schools instead of attendance but learning (Reagle, 2006, pg 24). The goal of the schools should be to ensure that all students in all communities get to know (Reagle, 2006, pg 24).  If a school is not doing well then it creates a growth plan to improve test scores they are struggling at instead of the underlying issues (Reagle, 2006, pg 25). Everyone needs to be on board for the change that needs to happen at the school and doesn’t happen overnight. The careers that we had been preparing the students for don’t exist anymore, we need to prepare them for jobs that don’t exist yet (Sheninger, 2016, pg 3). The system is not changing as fast as the world around it, the teaching and le...

Creativity is one of the most important things to foster in schools and classrooms. If students are not trying to expand their minds and develop new ideas, they won’t apply themselves. Creativity is encouraged in many different ways. First, creativity is a stepping stone that can lead to advancement in discoveries and economic development in the future (Ahmadi & Besancon, 2017, pg 2). Second, the teachers play an essential Finally creative role in encouraging creativity and can affect the student’s attitudes in the future (Ahmadi & Besancon, 2017, pg 3). Third, creativity can lead to other skills set like communications and collaboration with others (Schmoelz, 2017). Fourth, creativity can strengthen skills like expressing emotions, social participation, and personal discovery that are important to a child’s development (Schmoelz, 2017).  Catherine Thimmesh (2014) talks about creativity can come in many forms and many different levels of creativity. She talks about simply t...

       This year, we have decided to promote three programs for teachers and leaders in the classroom or school. The three programs are Google Apps, Canvas, and STEM ingratiation. The STEM integration will only introduce a few things a year to not overwhelm the teachers. Instead, we want to create student-centered learning in the classroom, and students become problem solvers using STEM resources. By training teachers in this way, we want students to learn with project-based learning. So teachers can learn at their own pace and complete what they feel comfortable doing.       For example, I had a Spanish teacher feel nervous about using Canvas and putting some assignments online. So I walked it through with her and put information about her class on Canvas first, then build-up to the assignment. The student now submits assignments and videos on Canvas. She said Canvas has made her class more efficient. Then she had teachers see how well it worked ...

  In my practicum, I have stepped out of my comfort zone to start learning more about integrating STEM into the classrooms. I have attended professional development on STEM integration. In addition, my district recently received a STEM mobile library for teachers to use in the classroom. I wanted to be able to assist teachers with the materials.  The STEM materials can transfer a classroom into a student-centered classroom. The STEM materials can also provide learning experiences for the teachers and students where they use critical thinking skills and collaboration to solve the problems.  All of K-1 received iPads for their class. We have been setting up training on incorporating the iPads into your curriculum, not about the apps. The teachers worked in groups to develop lessons with the iPads. One of the sessions focused on differentiation and how could the iPad enhance the experiences. The teachers loved it, and when I visited the classroom, you could see that the teac...

 Leadership Style Learning & Developing  I am still building relationships in the different schools since I am new to the district relationships built over time. Once I know my teachers and their strengths, I can build off those strengths (Couros, 2015, pg 148). The teachers need to feel comfortable with the facilitator to push them in the right direction and know their abilities to complete the task. I am still learning to balance trust and giving trust away before it is earned. To have a culture that innovators grow in, we need to realize that we already have everything and just need to use it (Couros, 2015, pg 148).  I have been going to lesson planning and teachers’ classrooms to start working on those relationships. I have been letting teachers explore new ways of using technology tools in the classroom and trusting that they are making the right decision with their students learning.  Weakness One of the things I need to work on is following up after trai...

  Building Relationships When building a relationship with learners, it can be difficult if you don’t approach it the right way that works for you and your learner. Building Relationships is about having trust before you are ready to trust (Cauros, 2015). I have been building relationships by listening to the teacher’s needs and giving them the support they need in the classroom. Then by getting my foot in the door, I can start building the relationship. I can encourage them to step out of their comfort zone by making small changes.  Getting a couple of teachers in your circle of trust and seeing how well you are accomplished will bring teachers on board. When you start to build that relationship with those teachers, I can make my identity known as a technology facilitator. I have begun by small talk with teachers on their needs and what they want to accomplish for the year with technology. In some ways, I have started to empower teachers by encouraging them to take that risk ...