My “why” for signing up to get my master’s degree in Digital Learning and Leading with Lamar University. Well I kind of always wanted a masters degree but was not to thrilled about having to go back to school to get it. There are so many options for a master’s degree that I could pursue and making that decision was too difficult so I did nothing. I went back in forth between two degrees basically. My first thought was to get my MBA since I have a business degree in marketing and I am a human resources officer in the U.S. Army which would be a great way to go back into the corporate world if I so choose. My second idea was something in education... undecided because I wasn't focused on becoming an administrator but I would like to lead other teachers and help them be more successful - so maybe a math instruction coach... decisions (what should I do?).
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I never really given it much thought to networking as an educator. I've researched the web to find ideas and resources to use but never to reach out to another educator or to even share ideas and projects that I have done. Normally, I find other educators blogs, go to Pinterest, or seek out resources on twitter (as I've connected with many professional organizations or bloggers). Prior to starting my masters degree in Digital Learning and Leading with Lamar University I was in a connected learner program within my school district, Katy Independent School District, where I joined a Professional Learning Network (PLN) even though I really didn't know or think of it as a PLN. In my masters program, I was asked to join three networking organizations so check out my blog, I wrote for my class. Click the image below to see what I have chosen. I'm sure I will join more over time but I don't want to overwhelm myself right now.
I haven’t given it much thought to joining a professional learning network (PLN) until recently. Normally, when I’m in need of resources or assistance I’d search the internet (usually finding teacher blogs), go to Pinterest, or seek out my contacts on twitter (as I’ve connected with many professional organizations or bloggers). This summer, I joined ISTE as I’m participating in a connected learner course through my district and they wanted us to read some articles on the ISTE website where I joined the site in return. I haven’t gone to the page a whole lot I’ve have been a bit busy as school started back up and starting this master’s program, as I’m sure with most of us that are teachers. However, I do receive emails regularly from ISTE I read over and sometimes go to the site to read more. With ISTE I’m able to see the latest EdTech trends that are being used. I decided to go look at who I follow on Twitter as I know I follow some professional sites and never thought to go look at their page outside of Twitter. So, with that, I found that I’m following several PLNs. I guess I need to better utilize my resources that I have at my fingertips. I guess the problem I incur is “when do I have the time” and I only use the information when I’m seeking something specific that I need in my class. Anyway, here are a few I decided to not only follow but join: As I read and watched the videos this week on the COVA learning approach I was very excited and started thinking about the vast amount of things that I will actually learn and remember throughout this journey. I tend to learn better by taking what I learn and appling it to my life. Having choice makes the learning more genuine as Dr. Harapnuik stated in his video as well as creating a personalized learning environment. For instance, when I was doing my growth mindset assignment it took me a minute (or hours really) to figure out what I was going to do since I had this choice and by having this choice I wanted it to reflect who I was which in turn taking ownership of my project.
What goal do I have related to technology integration?
Well, I have really wanted to do the flipped classroom model now for a couple years. I lacked the knowledge in the ever changing technology world. I was afraid to venture down this path as I felt that I was "too old and out of touch". I have to turn to my own children for help with computer or mobile devices which has heightened the fear that I couldn't do this. However, I got a new partner teacher (young and just out of school) last school year and I shared with her that I'd like to do a flipped classroom so with her help I learned and learned (slowly changing from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset). Well, starting at the beginning of the 2nd semester last year, we started flipping our classrooms. We recorded our video lessons from our SMART notebooks and put them on Canvas (application similar to Blackboard - used at some college campuses) for the students to watch and take notes. We incorporated quizzes on canvas so the students can have immediate responses and not have to wait for me to grade them by hand. We had found various resources on-line for our reviews so the students were playing, thats right playing, interactive games in class (or at home) the day before tests to improve understanding. Basically, we used technology to enhance our classroom and allow us more time within the classroom to do hands on activities and more one on one intervention. Yes, there is still a lot I have to learn and grow as with anything. I see that I started and that is an accomplishment in itself... I CAN do this! I am a little behind in getting my discussion board started. As I've been reading and watching the video clips I'd like to really focus in on how adopting the growth mindset will change the way you learn. It is a bit overwhelming to be returning to college after 20 years of receiving my bachelors degree and I am a bit nervous about being successful in this course. I feel that I have a fixed and a growth mindset, dependent upon the situation. In this situation, I feel that I'm leaning toward the fixed mindset as this is more geared toward my personality mindset. This class is my first time taking an online course and to write in the discussion board is very nerve racking compared to just having a discussion in a classroom setting. My ideas and comments are written versus spoken which makes me more subconscious and I write and rewrite my comment(s) to come across as "intelligent". While reading Dr. Dweck's book I've realized that I need to focus on my learning and not so much on if/how I will be judged.
I started a growth mindset professional development course with my district last year and I learned that we learn more from our failures and I brought that into my classroom a little letting my students know it is okay to fail. I have created posters and have them all over my room letting students know that it is okay as long as they keep learning and growing. We should focus more on the process versus the right or wrong and that is how we can present a growth mindset to our students. It is not something that we can teach to them overnight like we are used to in our teaching career but this takes weeks, months, and even years. Back to my lack of a growth mindset beginning this course I do believe I have an intellectual growth mindset in most cases and I need to work on my personality mindset. Learning there are more than one kind of mindset makes me feel better that my personal qualities can change too and it allows me to be more free and dive in to learn and focus more on the learning that I will gain in this course and degree program in turn boosting my confidence. |
Jill HobbsMatthew 6:34 'Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.' Archives
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