Learner
Educators continually improve their practice by learning from and with others and exploring proven and promising practices that leverage technology to improve student learning.
Educators:
A. Set professional learning goals to explore and apply pedagogical approaches made possible by technology and reflect on their effectiveness.
B. Pursue professional interests by creating and actively participating in local and global learning networks.
C. Stay current with research that supports improved student learning outcomes, including findings from the learning sciences.
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Narrative:
Thanks to my technology course taken at Pacific University, I was able to engage in a variety of different technology based educational tools. Although I knew of the growing market of technology based educational resources, I had no idea how expansive it was. I am still learning and will continue to learn about the ever expanding opportunities that technology can provide in the classroom. I was able to explore one new program more in depth that I found particularly interesting. Through working in my middle school placement, I have seen the emergence of iPads and Chromebooks being used in greater numbers. Students are becoming more prone to media in the classroom as opposed to consistent expository instruction. One way to maximize usage of videos in the classroom is TedEd. This program allows the teacher to create an online quiz/reflection that ensures the student gets the most out of informational media. I enjoyed learning this program and look forward to exploring more ways to educate through technology.
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Exhibit 1: TedEd Lesson: A Brief History of Surfing
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Leader
Educators seek out opportunities for leadership to support student empowerment and success and to improve teaching and learning. Educators:
A. Set professional learning goals to explore and apply pedagogical approaches made possible by technology and reflect on their effectiveness.
B. Pursue professional interests by creating and actively participating in local and global learning networks.
C. Stay current with research that supports improved student learning outcomes, including findings from the learning sciences.
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Narrative:
As my technology skills and knowledge continue to progress, I feel my that my leadership capabilities follow. In my exploration of technology and education, I have become excited to share my knowledge with my mentor teachers and my colleagues. I feel that helping my colleagues to keep up with the newest innovations has helped me in finding quality material. Engaging in these projects has inspired me to further my exploration of new programs and apps for education as well as the research that has surrounded it. As a teacher, I aspire to stimulate student interest in technology in my classroom. In order to prepare students for their lives after the classroom, I feel that it is imperative to actively engage them in a safe, technology rich atmosphere.
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Exhibit 1: TedEd Lesson: A Brief History of Surfing
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Exhibit 2: Statue of Liberty Webquest
Collaborator
Educators dedicate time to collaborate with both colleagues and students to improve practice, discover and share resources and ideas, and solve problems.
Educators:
A. Dedicate planning time to collaborate with colleagues to create authentic learning experiences that leverage technology.
B. Collaborate and co-learn with students to discover and use new digital resources and diagnose and troubleshoot technology issues.
C. Use collaborative tools to expand students' authentic, real-world learning experiences by engaging virtually with experts, teams and students, locally and globally.
D. Demonstrate cultural competency when communicating with students, parents and colleagues and interact with them as co-collaborators in student learning.
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Narrative:
One observation I have made since beginning the teaching program is how powerful collaboration can be. When I see teachers working to together in their schools or even networking across the world, I am inspired by what can be accomplished when educators work together. On a personal level, I feel blessed for the teachers and administrators who have reached out to collaborate with me for it has enhanced my teaching experience and taught me the value of working together.
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I had a wonderful opportunity this last fall to collaborate with a colleague to create a video podcast about Yuri Kochiyama. From the beginning of our work together, I noticed the value of our two minds working together. If it was not for my partner, I would not have chosen to research Yuri; I probably would have researched somebody I already knew something about. In our collaboration I felt inspired to carry on with my research of the Japanese-American Redress Movement and create a unit plan. Collaboration broke down walls and opened my eyes to new possibilities and I look forward to more experiences of the like in my future.
This last fall I created a webquest where students collaborate in their learning of the Statue of Liberty.
I feel that just as in teaching, students can accomplish so much more in their learning when they are able to work together. I aspire to design lesson plans and technology activities where students are able to work together and learn from each other.
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Exhibit 1: Yuri Kochiyama Podcast
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Exhibit 2: Statue of Liberty Webquest
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Designer
Educators design authentic, learner-driven activities and environments that recognize and accommodate learner variability.
Educators:
A. Use technology to create, adapt and personalize learning experiences that foster independent learning and accommodate learner differences and needs.
B. Design authentic learning activities that align with content area standards and use digital tools and resources to maximize active, deep learning.
C. Explore and apply instructional design principles to create innovative digital learning environments that engage and support learning.
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Narrative:
I have found through my work at Pacific and with my students that I love designing websites, games, lessons, etc.. I have enjoyed the opportunity to learn how to design a website that promotes education and positive social awareness. I have been able to design authentic learning activities through technology such as my Statue of Liberty Webquest or my TedEd lesson. Exploring these new avenues has allowed me to innovate my instruction and refine my lessons. I aspire to teach the benefits of design in the digital world to my students. I envision my students creating their own podcasts and websites where they are motivated to include content that benefits their community and strengthens their own creativity.
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Exhibit 1: Teacher Website
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Exhibit 2: Statue of Liberty Webquest
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Facilitator
Educators facilitate learning with technology to support student achievement of the ISTE Standards for Students.
Educators:
A. Foster a culture where students take ownership of their learning goals and outcomes in both independent and group settings.
B. Manage the use of technology and student learning strategies in digital platforms, virtual environments, hands-on maker spaces or in the field.
C. Create learning opportunities that challenge students to use a design process and computational thinking to innovate and solve problems.
D. Model and nurture creativity and creative expression to communicate ideas, knowledge or connections.
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Narrative:
My goal through technology education is to facilitate authentic student learning. I have found that students' learning is noticeably more memorable when they feel they are discovering it for themselves. This way, the students are able to take more ownership and responsibility of their learning. Technology has become such a central tool in education because so much can be discovered with so few materials. Honing the skill of being an effective facilitator takes practice, and I am by no means calling myself a master as of yet. However, I have seen the importance of facilitating skills with technology in the classroom and I am working towards becoming a knowledgable facilitator.
In my beginning stages, I have created a webquest that I believe depicts my work towards becoming that facilitator. It allows the student to explore materials on their own, in their own way, and then collaborate with their peers to present what they have learned. I feel that experiences such as these enhance students' education and inspire them to use powerful, socially responsible sources of material.
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Exhibit 1: Statue of Liberty Webquest
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Exhibit 2: TedEd Lesson: A Brief History of Surfing
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Analyst
Educators understand and use data to drive their instruction and support students in achieving their learning goals.
Educators:
A. Provide alternative ways for students to demonstrate competency and reflect on their learning using technology.
B. Use technology to design and implement a variety of formative and summative assessments that accommodate learner needs, provide timely feedback to students and inform instruction.
Use assessment data to guide progress and communicate with students, parents and education stakeholders to build student self-direction.
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Narrative:
Differentiating is a constant challenge as teacher; a necessary challenge in order to make our teaching superior. Any tool that can help us conquer this challenge should be explored and utilized. Technology has offered us an array of tools to help us reach more students in a meaningful way. However, not all of these tools that are marketed towards teachers are as effective at improving our learning environments as others. This last summer I was introduced to a program called Quizlet. This is a popular program being used around the world to help teachers grade more effectively, communicate to parents more thoroughly, and engage students more inclusively. Before I researched TedEd and created my lesson, I was exploring Quizlet, as I had remembered how novel it seemed when it was first introduced. There are a lot of benefits to the program; it is fun for students, it helps with assessment, and it aids in parent teacher discourse. But Quizlet is also centered around rote learning, which is essentially the antithesis of discovery learning; the type of learning I hope to embody in my classroom. Therefore, I have a hard time advocating for Quizlet in my own classroom, even if I feel that it can serve a purpose. I am still actively pursuing ways to implement a variety of formative and summative assessments through new technology and I look forward to what I may find.
ISTE Standards
Educators inspire students to positively contribute to and responsibly participate in the digital world. Educators:
A. Create experiences for learners to make positive, socially responsible contributions and exhibit empathetic behavior online that build relationships and community.
B. Establish a learning culture that promotes curiosity and critical examination of online resources and fosters digital literacy and media fluency.
C. Mentor students in safe, legal and ethical practices with digital tools and the protection of intellectual rights and property.
D. Model and promote management of personal data and digital identity and protect student data privacy.
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Narrative:
As I am just beginning my role as a technology enthusiast and instructor, I feel that I have had limitations in my role as a citizen. Although I feel the digital resources I have produced are socially responsible and beneficial, I have not yet had the chance to encourage students in safe, legal and ethical practices with their own digital tools. As I will continue to model, to the best of my ability, socially responsible contributions to the digital world, I look forward to instructing students about the benefits of technology when used to build positive relationships and benefit their communities.
For my own work, I feel that the video podcast I made in partnership with my colleague, Megan Togami, is a defining example of a positive contribution and an effective pedagogical technique. I also am very proud of this website as it is a place where digital learning tools are promoted and education is pursued.
Exhibit 1: Yuri Kochiyama Podcast
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Exhibit 2: Teacher Website
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