5.2 Professional Learning
Candidates develop and implement technology-based professional learning that aligns to state and national professional learning standards, integrates technology to support face-to-face and online components, models principles of adult learning, and promotes best practices in teaching, learning, and assessment. (PSC 5.2/ISTE 4b)
Artifact: ITEC 7460 Technology Workshop
Reflection:
The technology workshop is an artifact that was created to present in my school as a professional development workshop for the members of my team. I developed this workshop over the online tool Nearpod. Nearpod is an online tool I discovered Nearpod the previous year and found it beneficial for the students we serve at our school. Another reason I chose Nearpod for this professional is because the resources it offered aligned to our content standards in fourth grade. I created a presentation for the workshop, along with handouts. I also integrated and modeled the steps required to sign up and login in the Nearpod website. Lastly, I helped my team members learn how to navigate the website to find the resources available for teaching, learning and assessment.
The technology workshop demonstrates mastery of standard 5.2 because I developed this technology based professional development that aligns to state and professional learning standards. The workshop was implemented with my grade level members who later spent a week navigating the tool and using it in their own classrooms. Nearpod was the focus of the workshop after discovering the great benefits it offers for teachers with their unique way to deliver lessons. Teachers engaged in this professional development to enhance their knowledge of the Nearpod resources it offers such as interactive lessons, virtual field trips and opportunity for teachers to create their own lessons. The workshop was presented in a face to face session, but a Promethean board was used to present Nearpod to the teachers. A lesson plan was used to design the learning experience, which included lesson objectives, materials needed, and an evaluation method. During the professional learning experience teachers were able to interact with the online tool Nearpod to move at their own pace.
This artifact was by far my favorite to complete and deliver in my school. Prior to the completion of this artifact, I was not familiar implementing or developing a technology-based professional learning. However, I learned that it takes a lot to create and implement a professional learning. The start of this artifact began with the creation of the lesson plan where different elements were included in order to help the professional learning to be successful. I also learned that the workshop should be flexible and go in the direction of the teachers needs and wants. The educators had great questions that weren’t aligned to the lesson, but they were great teachable opportunities that were addressed.
Although the professional learning was technology-based, I did have some technical difficulties, but they reminded me to be understanding and improvise in order to complete the session. The implementation of this artifact also helped me learn more about Nearpod. Although I was already familiar with it, I learned that educators can receive training and become Nearpod certified and PioNears. I also learned that Nearpod offers social and emotional lessons that even counselors and regular classroom teachers can use with students from any age. If I were to implement this technology workshop again, I would choose to implement it with support teachers because Nearpod has resources for ESOL and Special education teachers. I would also conduct a survey to see if any teachers in the building are familiar with Nearpod and hold two separate sessions. One session would be geared towards beginner users of Nearpod, and one for advanced users. This would allow me to meet the needs of each group of educators specifically.
The work that went into creating the artifact impacted faculty development. During the implementation of the technology workshop members of the staff were able to enhance their knowledge of Nearpod. This artifact could impact student learning if teachers use the knowledge obtained from the workshop. The impact can be assessed by the evaluation that was embedded in the Nearpod workshop.
Reflection:
The technology workshop is an artifact that was created to present in my school as a professional development workshop for the members of my team. I developed this workshop over the online tool Nearpod. Nearpod is an online tool I discovered Nearpod the previous year and found it beneficial for the students we serve at our school. Another reason I chose Nearpod for this professional is because the resources it offered aligned to our content standards in fourth grade. I created a presentation for the workshop, along with handouts. I also integrated and modeled the steps required to sign up and login in the Nearpod website. Lastly, I helped my team members learn how to navigate the website to find the resources available for teaching, learning and assessment.
The technology workshop demonstrates mastery of standard 5.2 because I developed this technology based professional development that aligns to state and professional learning standards. The workshop was implemented with my grade level members who later spent a week navigating the tool and using it in their own classrooms. Nearpod was the focus of the workshop after discovering the great benefits it offers for teachers with their unique way to deliver lessons. Teachers engaged in this professional development to enhance their knowledge of the Nearpod resources it offers such as interactive lessons, virtual field trips and opportunity for teachers to create their own lessons. The workshop was presented in a face to face session, but a Promethean board was used to present Nearpod to the teachers. A lesson plan was used to design the learning experience, which included lesson objectives, materials needed, and an evaluation method. During the professional learning experience teachers were able to interact with the online tool Nearpod to move at their own pace.
This artifact was by far my favorite to complete and deliver in my school. Prior to the completion of this artifact, I was not familiar implementing or developing a technology-based professional learning. However, I learned that it takes a lot to create and implement a professional learning. The start of this artifact began with the creation of the lesson plan where different elements were included in order to help the professional learning to be successful. I also learned that the workshop should be flexible and go in the direction of the teachers needs and wants. The educators had great questions that weren’t aligned to the lesson, but they were great teachable opportunities that were addressed.
Although the professional learning was technology-based, I did have some technical difficulties, but they reminded me to be understanding and improvise in order to complete the session. The implementation of this artifact also helped me learn more about Nearpod. Although I was already familiar with it, I learned that educators can receive training and become Nearpod certified and PioNears. I also learned that Nearpod offers social and emotional lessons that even counselors and regular classroom teachers can use with students from any age. If I were to implement this technology workshop again, I would choose to implement it with support teachers because Nearpod has resources for ESOL and Special education teachers. I would also conduct a survey to see if any teachers in the building are familiar with Nearpod and hold two separate sessions. One session would be geared towards beginner users of Nearpod, and one for advanced users. This would allow me to meet the needs of each group of educators specifically.
The work that went into creating the artifact impacted faculty development. During the implementation of the technology workshop members of the staff were able to enhance their knowledge of Nearpod. This artifact could impact student learning if teachers use the knowledge obtained from the workshop. The impact can be assessed by the evaluation that was embedded in the Nearpod workshop.