ITEC 7305 Reflection
What are the 3 most important things you learned during this course?
This was by far one of the most challenging, yet knowledgeable course that I have completed for Instructional technology program. One of the most important things that I learned during this course is being aware of the different assessment tools a school has that helps gather data on students. The assignment aligned to this type of initiatives is the data inventory. I was aware of the assessment conducted by my grade level and others, but not all in our entire school. Another thing I learned that was valuable from this course is knowing where to find data for your school. Although each school has their own data collection, it is also important to reach out to what is online, which is being collected by the state. I learned so much from this process in order to complete the data overview because it helped me see data in a completely different way. Lastly, another thing I learned from this course is knowing that collecting, analyzing and understanding data takes time. I quickly learned that each assignment required quite some lengthy time in order to understand the data that was being presented in front of me. Taking the time to understand data and knowing how to interpret it is valuable time that should be taken into consideration for the sake of school improvement and better education for our children.
What was the most valuable field experience in this course and why? (Elevator Speech, Data Team Summary, Data Inventory, Instructional Initiatives Inventory, Data Overview, Action Plans)
I think for me personally; the data overview was the most valuable field experience in this course. I chose the data overview because I did not only get to see data collection from the last four years for my grade level, but also that of all the grade that take the Georgia Milestones. The data overview also helped me see different data that it is not often seen by teachers and that is overall student body count, comparison of different subgroups, percentage of students that move often, and attendance which can sometimes become a big factor in a child’s education and success in the classroom. I enjoyed analyzing all the data for the data overview assignment and it brought me to have questions as to why some gaps are continuing and how we can help minimize them.
How do you plan to continue applying this learning in your school?
Since I am moving into a new position this upcoming school year, I plan on continuing my data learning into my new role. I will be teaching ESOL in the upcoming fall and this is different data that I am not too familiar with. However, with the tools that I have gained from this course, I plan on implementing them to find trends and possible solutions in order to better educate and support the large number of ESOL population we have in our building.
What challenges do you anticipate as you continue to implement these ideas in your school?
I think one challenge that I can anticipate as I continue to implement the ideas learned in my school is ensuring our parents understand data and how it affects their students. Many times, parents are confused as to what scores mean, specially those that come from ACCESS testing. I feel like it will be my responsibility and that of my team to ensure our ESOL parents understand how to read these testing graphs and documents. Another challenge that I anticipate is finding ways to make the students part of the data process. I want to my students to be able to understand where they are coming from academically and how together we can work to help them meet or exceed the expectations presented in data meetings.
ITEC 7410 Reflection
During this course, I learned a lot regarding being a technology leader in a school. This course sparked my interest in learning the technology vision and plan the district and school has for all the students and staff. In the last five years, my district and the school have really started to give technology the focus necessary. We are very blessed to have district level and school-wide technology vision plan. These plans aligned perfectly and give the staff and students the opportunity to know the short and long term goals for everyone. I really enjoyed creating a shared vision for my school.
The vision my school has for technology helped me create my own for the vision assignment. I also enjoyed creating the SWOT analysis and getting to analyze the ISTE lead and transform diagnostic tool. This tool was very helpful for me to see the breakdown of the different component it analyzes. The SWOT assignment also gave me the opportunity to reach out to my colleagues and hear their voices regarding technology. The survey used to interact with my colleagues gave me insight to their opinion and beliefs they have for the school. The action/evaluation plan helped me see the needs in my school and strategies to find better solutions for these current issues. Lastly, the technology integration grant was my favorite assignment to complete because it gave the opportunity to find a need in my school and write a grant for it. I plan on turning in the grant in the following school year because I see the benefits and opportunities it will provide for all students, no matter their learning ability, background or socio-economic status. This course overall helped me understand and view technology from a different lens.
Lastly, I used the RRS feed “Feedly” to stay up to date with the latest in instructional technology and technology overall. Education and technology are currently changing at a fast rate. As educators, it is up to us stay current with the changes happening in these two areas that are part of our lives and that of our students. The feed was helpful for me to find new resources that I found to be beneficial for my students. The “Feedly” helped me find resources that created a student-centered, engaging and increased higher-order thinking in my students.
The vision my school has for technology helped me create my own for the vision assignment. I also enjoyed creating the SWOT analysis and getting to analyze the ISTE lead and transform diagnostic tool. This tool was very helpful for me to see the breakdown of the different component it analyzes. The SWOT assignment also gave me the opportunity to reach out to my colleagues and hear their voices regarding technology. The survey used to interact with my colleagues gave me insight to their opinion and beliefs they have for the school. The action/evaluation plan helped me see the needs in my school and strategies to find better solutions for these current issues. Lastly, the technology integration grant was my favorite assignment to complete because it gave the opportunity to find a need in my school and write a grant for it. I plan on turning in the grant in the following school year because I see the benefits and opportunities it will provide for all students, no matter their learning ability, background or socio-economic status. This course overall helped me understand and view technology from a different lens.
Lastly, I used the RRS feed “Feedly” to stay up to date with the latest in instructional technology and technology overall. Education and technology are currently changing at a fast rate. As educators, it is up to us stay current with the changes happening in these two areas that are part of our lives and that of our students. The feed was helpful for me to find new resources that I found to be beneficial for my students. The “Feedly” helped me find resources that created a student-centered, engaging and increased higher-order thinking in my students.
ITEC 7430 Reflection
This class has been by far my favorite to complete during this program. The amount of online learning tools I learned about is extensive. Although this class was my favorite thus far, it still challenged me to think outside the box. To start with, the class started with an introduction using Flipgrid. I am not one that likes to be filmed or get behind the camera to talk. This has always been intimidating for me, but I enjoyed finding out the Flipgrid gives you a limited time to film your video. I found this helpful to implement in the classroom for students to share their ideas, thoughts about a lesson or even to use as a homework assignment. Ours students in any grade level are now being exposed to so much technology, why not use it to our advantage in education and find ways to implemented to boost their confidence, students engagement and 21st century.
One online tool that really caught my attention was screen casting. There are many programs online, that do a great job, but the one I am the most familiar with is Screencastify. Screencastify has many features such as pausing your recording, deciding what part of your computer screen to share, among many other options that I see my students enjoying if they were asked to use this to share an assignment for others to view. A great benefit of screen casting that I vision for teachers is while you are away from school. I began to screen cast several of my lessons last year due to having a high number of training to attend. I did not want my students to get behind, nor did I want to get behind in my lessons planned for the week. My students really enjoyed having this virtual opportunity and it was easy for any of my substitutes to show the class. In some cases, I would simply post the link to my screen cast on our Google Classroom and my students would watch the lesson in their own Chromebook. Another teacher benefit of screencasting is using when the opportunity is there for a flipped classroom model. A teacher can simply record a lesson or even show students where to find resources for an assigned lesson to complete at home. This online tool helps support the different learning styles found in a classroom. For example, students that benefit from repeat directions or material can easily pause or rewind the screen cast in order to grasp what is being taught. ESOL students can also benefit from this online tool because they have to opportunity to use the components of learning a new language: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Another tool that I enjoyed learning, using and will introduce to my students once the testing season is over is podcasting. Podcasting is a very powerful online tool to use with students that are afraid to speak in person or in front of a camera. Podcasting offers them the opportunity to record themselves, without having to show their faces. Podcasting is a great tool for student collaboration, assessing student work and for students to share their opinions regarding a topic in science or social students or any other class. I recently learned of a podcast called Story Pirates where the audience (children) sends in their own written stories and turns them into a song or a dramatic story. I see this as very powerful for our young writers in elementary school, because their work is being recognized and validated by a larger audience. I love this idea and how it could be taken into a school wide project. Students in primary can submit their stories to upper grade students. Upper grade students can create a song or dramatic story. This is by far the favorite podcast my own children at home listen to while we are in the car. Podcasting will help them see the connection between literature, writing and technology all in one place. Plus, it may also motivate them to improve their writing skills as well!
Besides the only tools to use in the classroom, the class also focused on other important factor of technology, which were digital divide and internet safety.
Digital divide is a current hot topic in education. As I learned in this class and other previous classes, not all students have the same access to technology. I can speak on behalf of those teachers who are limited to technology, because I experienced prior to moving to the school I have now been working for the last two years. Lack of technology can be difficult and frustrating at times. It causes teachers to think of creative ways to give students the access to technology that they need. However, it is not a game over for teachers. Non-profit organizations gives teachers the opportunities to apply for grants that will allow them to purchase needed materials to their classrooms. For example, there is Donors Choose where teachers can submit a project and ask for the materials they will need. Another way to find funding is through grants offered by organizations such as GaETC. There are other cases where students do have the technology access at school, but not at home. Most of my students fall into this scenario. In situations like this, the district or school can reach out to the community, business partners or local internet providers to offer internet to these families for an affordable price. having the access to technology is now critical for our students if we want to prepare them for future jobs and even from that transition from elementary to middle and high school.
Lastly, internet safety is another topic covered in class that I found very interesting. Internet safety is something that is very important for us to take into consideration and very seriously, when our students are using any type of technology or online tool. Technology can turn into a dangerous tool when our students' identify or personal information is not protected properly. To take precautions as teachers we need to ensure we are providing our students with digital citizenship in order to show them the dangers and ways they can stay from online dangers such as cyber-bullying or loss of personal information. It is our job to help our students be prepared to use technology and teach them the ways to stay protected while they are online.
One online tool that really caught my attention was screen casting. There are many programs online, that do a great job, but the one I am the most familiar with is Screencastify. Screencastify has many features such as pausing your recording, deciding what part of your computer screen to share, among many other options that I see my students enjoying if they were asked to use this to share an assignment for others to view. A great benefit of screen casting that I vision for teachers is while you are away from school. I began to screen cast several of my lessons last year due to having a high number of training to attend. I did not want my students to get behind, nor did I want to get behind in my lessons planned for the week. My students really enjoyed having this virtual opportunity and it was easy for any of my substitutes to show the class. In some cases, I would simply post the link to my screen cast on our Google Classroom and my students would watch the lesson in their own Chromebook. Another teacher benefit of screencasting is using when the opportunity is there for a flipped classroom model. A teacher can simply record a lesson or even show students where to find resources for an assigned lesson to complete at home. This online tool helps support the different learning styles found in a classroom. For example, students that benefit from repeat directions or material can easily pause or rewind the screen cast in order to grasp what is being taught. ESOL students can also benefit from this online tool because they have to opportunity to use the components of learning a new language: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Another tool that I enjoyed learning, using and will introduce to my students once the testing season is over is podcasting. Podcasting is a very powerful online tool to use with students that are afraid to speak in person or in front of a camera. Podcasting offers them the opportunity to record themselves, without having to show their faces. Podcasting is a great tool for student collaboration, assessing student work and for students to share their opinions regarding a topic in science or social students or any other class. I recently learned of a podcast called Story Pirates where the audience (children) sends in their own written stories and turns them into a song or a dramatic story. I see this as very powerful for our young writers in elementary school, because their work is being recognized and validated by a larger audience. I love this idea and how it could be taken into a school wide project. Students in primary can submit their stories to upper grade students. Upper grade students can create a song or dramatic story. This is by far the favorite podcast my own children at home listen to while we are in the car. Podcasting will help them see the connection between literature, writing and technology all in one place. Plus, it may also motivate them to improve their writing skills as well!
Besides the only tools to use in the classroom, the class also focused on other important factor of technology, which were digital divide and internet safety.
Digital divide is a current hot topic in education. As I learned in this class and other previous classes, not all students have the same access to technology. I can speak on behalf of those teachers who are limited to technology, because I experienced prior to moving to the school I have now been working for the last two years. Lack of technology can be difficult and frustrating at times. It causes teachers to think of creative ways to give students the access to technology that they need. However, it is not a game over for teachers. Non-profit organizations gives teachers the opportunities to apply for grants that will allow them to purchase needed materials to their classrooms. For example, there is Donors Choose where teachers can submit a project and ask for the materials they will need. Another way to find funding is through grants offered by organizations such as GaETC. There are other cases where students do have the technology access at school, but not at home. Most of my students fall into this scenario. In situations like this, the district or school can reach out to the community, business partners or local internet providers to offer internet to these families for an affordable price. having the access to technology is now critical for our students if we want to prepare them for future jobs and even from that transition from elementary to middle and high school.
Lastly, internet safety is another topic covered in class that I found very interesting. Internet safety is something that is very important for us to take into consideration and very seriously, when our students are using any type of technology or online tool. Technology can turn into a dangerous tool when our students' identify or personal information is not protected properly. To take precautions as teachers we need to ensure we are providing our students with digital citizenship in order to show them the dangers and ways they can stay from online dangers such as cyber-bullying or loss of personal information. It is our job to help our students be prepared to use technology and teach them the ways to stay protected while they are online.
ITEC 7400 Reflection
21st Century Teaching and Learning
I was very nervous in the beginning of this course and program. I have always enjoyed using technology, but I knew there was more for myself to learn and for my students to experience. This course did not disappointed. The first module taught me online tools that I can use with my students when it comes to publishing their work. Publishing our students’ work is a way to give them an audience besides their peers and teachers that they may interact with on a daily basis. I also learned different online tools that can be used to help teachers and students collaborate. Our world is very fast paced and due to conflict in schedules, two individuals may not have the time to meet face to face. Collaboration tools help us communicate with each other through the help of technology. Some tools only allow you to message, while others even give you the opportunity to see the other person you are having the conversation with. Productivity tools was one of my weaknesses when I started this course, but after reading and exploring the resources in module 3, I gained more understanding and ideas on how to use tools like google drawings, Prezi, and Near Pod. I am personally looking forward implementing virtual field trips, simulations and the different virtual realities that are available for my students to use. My hope is to obtain funds to purchase a head mounted display that my students can use and explore the educational wonders technology has to offer for us. My pedagogy in the aspect of technology has truly grown this summer. I feel more prepared than in the beginning to later become an instructional coach that can help other educators find the benefits of using technology.
Technology definitely has a place in education. It is here to stay and we should not be afraid of replacing us as educators. It is very important for our 21st century learners to acquire the necessary technological and educational tools in order to be prepared for the jobs waiting for them in the future. Our goal as facilitators of learning and technology is to ensure our students become digital citizens through the implementation of the ISTE-S. According to these, we must ensure we create digital learning environments we can support and offer learning opportunities for our students. The ISTE-S also state the continuous learning growth and development in the technology area of teaching. This is very important to keep in mind as facilitators of technology. If we do not know how to properly use a tool, how can we expect for other educators and students to use them correctly?
ITEC 8500 Reflection
This was a very challenging course for me this semester due to academic and personal reasons. However, I believe I came out of it stronger than when I started. I learned many things; yet, I plan on focusing part of this reflection on the two main things learned from this course.
The first thing I learned from this course is the importance of being prepared for every assignment. This meant doing your side and ensuring that assigned readings and materials have been read in order to understand how to complete each assignment. To me this meant making sure I paced myself correctly in order to be ready before an assignment was due. ITEC 8500 required a lot of readings and research specially for the capstone proposal, which felt to me like the most important assignment of the semester. Another lesson I learned from ITEC 8500 is the importance of being open to constructive criticism. The capstone alone required to take in a lot of suggestions made by the professor that were not meant to damage your capstone proposal, but rather help it come out more presentable and stronger. It was also very important to take the constructive criticism made by my peers on the different assignments completed. Constructive criticism is very important not only as a graduate student, but also as an individual who happens to be in the education field.
Overall, this course taught me many more things, but it is important to recall that all things learned in this course can be continued to be implemented outside of this course. For instance, the research required for the capstone proposal can be taken into consideration when wanting to implement something new as an instructional coach or teacher. It is very important to always ensure we are implementing strategies and just things that are research based. Without research-based evidence, we cannot prove that a specific method has been successful in the classroom. I also take with me the importance of always being open to new opportunities or methods. I learned about different strategies and hot topics through the different modules of this course that got me thinking outside the box. It is fine to be afraid to try something new, because it may end up being something that can change your teaching philosophy in a positive. At the same time, this risk-taking chance can also impact your students in a way that they will always remember your class in a positive, yet engaging way.
The first thing I learned from this course is the importance of being prepared for every assignment. This meant doing your side and ensuring that assigned readings and materials have been read in order to understand how to complete each assignment. To me this meant making sure I paced myself correctly in order to be ready before an assignment was due. ITEC 8500 required a lot of readings and research specially for the capstone proposal, which felt to me like the most important assignment of the semester. Another lesson I learned from ITEC 8500 is the importance of being open to constructive criticism. The capstone alone required to take in a lot of suggestions made by the professor that were not meant to damage your capstone proposal, but rather help it come out more presentable and stronger. It was also very important to take the constructive criticism made by my peers on the different assignments completed. Constructive criticism is very important not only as a graduate student, but also as an individual who happens to be in the education field.
Overall, this course taught me many more things, but it is important to recall that all things learned in this course can be continued to be implemented outside of this course. For instance, the research required for the capstone proposal can be taken into consideration when wanting to implement something new as an instructional coach or teacher. It is very important to always ensure we are implementing strategies and just things that are research based. Without research-based evidence, we cannot prove that a specific method has been successful in the classroom. I also take with me the importance of always being open to new opportunities or methods. I learned about different strategies and hot topics through the different modules of this course that got me thinking outside the box. It is fine to be afraid to try something new, because it may end up being something that can change your teaching philosophy in a positive. At the same time, this risk-taking chance can also impact your students in a way that they will always remember your class in a positive, yet engaging way.
ITEC 7460 Reflection
I thoroughly enjoyed this course because it taught me a different view of the job of an instructional technology coach. One of the very first things I learned was the various coaching styles that can be implemented when working with teachers. I quickly learned that the job of an instructional coach is like one of a matchmaker. The right coaching style has to be found in order to make the partnership work.If this partnership is not matched correctly, the colleagues involved and teachers will not gain benefit. However, if the partnership is matched perfectly, then all parties involved will gain a knowledge, obtaining a strong relationship where everyone will walk out learning from each other.
This course taught me the importance of deciding the best teaching style that fits with the type of goal you are trying to reach as an instructional technology coach. For example, one to one may be the best choice when working with individuals that have specific teaching goals in their classrooms. However, it may not work with all teachers in a building. Some coaching sessions work best when the instructional coach and teacher are working side by side like a co-teaching style. On another hand, other teachers may like implementing the strategies shown by the instructional coach, and later having this same coach observe the strategies being put in action. This type of coaching style may help those teachers that at first are not comfortable with something new. This offers the opportunity to get familiar with the strategies before the coach comes for feedback and observation.
Another lesson this class taught me is the importance of listening to a teacher when coaching. The voice of the teacher is sometimes not heard, and as a coach, it is our responsibility to know what the teacher wants, and how we can help them succeed in their classrooms. A coach whether instructional or academic should always be there for teachers to be heard and know the needs they have for their students. ITEC 7460 also showed me the valuable lesson of creating surveys that can help identify the type of learners found ]when it comes to technology usage. I personally liked creating the surveys because this is a tool that will always be used after a coaching session or the completion of a workshop. Most importantly, this course taught me to always let teachers know that the job of a coach is to support teachers and guide them to success. As an instructional coach, you want to steer your school in the right directions to benefit the students.
This course taught me the importance of deciding the best teaching style that fits with the type of goal you are trying to reach as an instructional technology coach. For example, one to one may be the best choice when working with individuals that have specific teaching goals in their classrooms. However, it may not work with all teachers in a building. Some coaching sessions work best when the instructional coach and teacher are working side by side like a co-teaching style. On another hand, other teachers may like implementing the strategies shown by the instructional coach, and later having this same coach observe the strategies being put in action. This type of coaching style may help those teachers that at first are not comfortable with something new. This offers the opportunity to get familiar with the strategies before the coach comes for feedback and observation.
Another lesson this class taught me is the importance of listening to a teacher when coaching. The voice of the teacher is sometimes not heard, and as a coach, it is our responsibility to know what the teacher wants, and how we can help them succeed in their classrooms. A coach whether instructional or academic should always be there for teachers to be heard and know the needs they have for their students. ITEC 7460 also showed me the valuable lesson of creating surveys that can help identify the type of learners found ]when it comes to technology usage. I personally liked creating the surveys because this is a tool that will always be used after a coaching session or the completion of a workshop. Most importantly, this course taught me to always let teachers know that the job of a coach is to support teachers and guide them to success. As an instructional coach, you want to steer your school in the right directions to benefit the students.
ITEC 7445 Reflection
https://youtu.be/O1WjJ9HKKBo
The link above demonstrates my reflection for the ITEC 7445 course. The reflection was completed as a culminating project of all the skills learned in this course. The name of the reflection project was called Video Skills. This course was by far the most challenging to me so far in this program due to the amount of technology knowledge it acquired me to learn and implement at once. However, throughout the course, I learned numerous strategies that I could easily implement as an instructional coach and educator. Technology is a fast pacing world that is changing day in and out. It is up to us as educators and instructional coaches to stay ahead of the newest that will fit best in the classrooms we serve. I felt this course had the best of technology to show our teachers and students how we can easily implement it without having to be an expert.
As one can see from the video, the reflection showed a wide variety of technology tools and strategies that even students can use to complete a project or just a basic presentation. One of the first components that was seen throughout the video was the implementation of photos in the presented throughout the assignment. The photos however had to be carefully placed so that position and flow of the assignment was not blocked. The photos also helped share the story that was told within the assignment. Another component that was required for the Video Skills assignment was the usage of music. This for me was the most difficult part to include because I wanted to make sure the audio used reflected the images embedded in the assignment. Since the video showed the transition of my oldest son from the time being born until his current age, I wanted to ensure the music demonstrated his exciting journey of growing up. The next component of this assignment was to ensure transitions were included in the video. I used a wide variety of transitions to show the changes in ages of my oldest son. Lastly, creativity was a final component to add. I felt my Video Skills assignment was well created and had creativity from the introduction of the video and the purpose of it, until the end where it all wraps up.
I plan on continuing to use the skills I gained in this course to help my students and colleagues learn how to implement technology in the classroom and assignments. The skills acquired in this class can easily help a student create a presentation over a science or social studies topic. The assignment can be easily modified for all learners. For example, ESOL students can practice their speaking skills by including a narration of their video. For our SPED students, the teacher can ensure a minimum limit is included on images and time the video need to be. Lastly, gifted students can also create a project like this where they are sharing a new topic to their classmates. The topic may have come from their gifted class and shared with their classmates in their homeroom. To take it further, gifted students can create a video to persuade their teachers to learn about new topic in class.
All in all, I felt this class prepared me to complete other assignments that will be coming up in other classes. This course also helped me take my learned skills and use them to implement with my own students and to share among the staff and colleagues in my building.
The link above demonstrates my reflection for the ITEC 7445 course. The reflection was completed as a culminating project of all the skills learned in this course. The name of the reflection project was called Video Skills. This course was by far the most challenging to me so far in this program due to the amount of technology knowledge it acquired me to learn and implement at once. However, throughout the course, I learned numerous strategies that I could easily implement as an instructional coach and educator. Technology is a fast pacing world that is changing day in and out. It is up to us as educators and instructional coaches to stay ahead of the newest that will fit best in the classrooms we serve. I felt this course had the best of technology to show our teachers and students how we can easily implement it without having to be an expert.
As one can see from the video, the reflection showed a wide variety of technology tools and strategies that even students can use to complete a project or just a basic presentation. One of the first components that was seen throughout the video was the implementation of photos in the presented throughout the assignment. The photos however had to be carefully placed so that position and flow of the assignment was not blocked. The photos also helped share the story that was told within the assignment. Another component that was required for the Video Skills assignment was the usage of music. This for me was the most difficult part to include because I wanted to make sure the audio used reflected the images embedded in the assignment. Since the video showed the transition of my oldest son from the time being born until his current age, I wanted to ensure the music demonstrated his exciting journey of growing up. The next component of this assignment was to ensure transitions were included in the video. I used a wide variety of transitions to show the changes in ages of my oldest son. Lastly, creativity was a final component to add. I felt my Video Skills assignment was well created and had creativity from the introduction of the video and the purpose of it, until the end where it all wraps up.
I plan on continuing to use the skills I gained in this course to help my students and colleagues learn how to implement technology in the classroom and assignments. The skills acquired in this class can easily help a student create a presentation over a science or social studies topic. The assignment can be easily modified for all learners. For example, ESOL students can practice their speaking skills by including a narration of their video. For our SPED students, the teacher can ensure a minimum limit is included on images and time the video need to be. Lastly, gifted students can also create a project like this where they are sharing a new topic to their classmates. The topic may have come from their gifted class and shared with their classmates in their homeroom. To take it further, gifted students can create a video to persuade their teachers to learn about new topic in class.
All in all, I felt this class prepared me to complete other assignments that will be coming up in other classes. This course also helped me take my learned skills and use them to implement with my own students and to share among the staff and colleagues in my building.