6.1 Continuous Learning
Candidates demonstrate continual growth in knowledge and skills of current and emerging technologies and apply them to improve personal productivity and professional practice. (PSC 6.1/ISTE 6a, 6b)
Artifact: Attendance at GaETC, 2013
Reflection:
While at Kennesaw, I was afforded the opportunity to attend the Georgia Educator’s Technology Conference (GaETC). This exciting conference brings together educational technology leaders from across the state, along with a number of nationally known educational technology speakers, to provide teachers and technology coaches with new knowledge, the chance to develop new skills, and opportunities to learn about advancements in the field of educational technology. I was personally able to attend numerous sessions related to online and blended learning, the flipped classroom, emerging technologies, and apps for BYOD initiatives.
Attending conferences and engaging in the learning experience is an important component of being an effective teacher, since the best teachers are also lifelong learners. Teachers and technology leaders understand that technology is not stagnant and neither should be the teacher. Instead, it is important to continually grow in knowledge and skills of current and emerging technologies and to learn more about how educators across the country are leveraging technology to enhance student achievement. One emerging technology I especially enjoyed learning about at GaETC was EduCreations. Although I had heard before about this screen casting tool, I had always seen it demonstrated for use in math and science courses; however, at GaETC I was able to see an English teacher offer examples of how she uses her iPad and EduCreations in her classroom to demonstrate poetry annotation and model close reading. This is the perfect example of why teachers need to engage in professional development that is both related to technology and specific content areas. I was able to return to my classroom and apply the knowledge and skills learned at GaETC about EduCreations to improve personal productivity and professional practice. I gained a new tool students could use to demonstrate their close reading skills, but I also improved personal productivity by developing a sound method for recording lessons for students who may be absent. Likewise, I was very interested in the numerous Google apps sessions I was able to attend at GaETC. I had dabbled in Google Docs previously with my students, but during GaETC I was able to witness ways that Google Docs could help transform my classroom to one that was paperless and constantly engaged students with technology; although I have yet to truly process all that I learned about Google Docs and the numerous extensions associated with it, I have a technology goal that I will work toward in the coming year.
GaETC certainly improved my knowledge and helped me to develop technology skills, but more importantly, as a future technology coach, the conference assured me that I am competent enough to present even at state level conferences. As a current classroom teacher with relatively little technology available to me (especially as compared to 1:1 schools and certain technology magnet schools), it can be intimidating to speak before a group of educators who you think may have more knowledge than you do on certain educational technology issues. I know that I do not, nor will I never, know all there is to know about educational technology, but I did attend several workshops in which I was already familiar with most of the digital tools and resources shared with the group, which assured me that through KSU’s Ed.S. program and my own classroom practice, I am developing the knowledge and skills necessary to be an effective technology coach. I have already submitted several conference proposals for local county and regional workshops, and will consider doing so as well for next year’s GaETC conference because I now know that I am competent and well-informed enough to present a workshop topic that is engaging and practical for certain teacher groups.
Engaging in continuous learning by completing a new degree program, earning a Professional Learning Unit (PLU), or attending a conference is a critical component of faculty development. The best teachers realize that they too should be lifelong students who never cease trying to expand their knowledge and improve their skills in an effort to be better and achieve greater outcomes.
While at Kennesaw, I was afforded the opportunity to attend the Georgia Educator’s Technology Conference (GaETC). This exciting conference brings together educational technology leaders from across the state, along with a number of nationally known educational technology speakers, to provide teachers and technology coaches with new knowledge, the chance to develop new skills, and opportunities to learn about advancements in the field of educational technology. I was personally able to attend numerous sessions related to online and blended learning, the flipped classroom, emerging technologies, and apps for BYOD initiatives.
Attending conferences and engaging in the learning experience is an important component of being an effective teacher, since the best teachers are also lifelong learners. Teachers and technology leaders understand that technology is not stagnant and neither should be the teacher. Instead, it is important to continually grow in knowledge and skills of current and emerging technologies and to learn more about how educators across the country are leveraging technology to enhance student achievement. One emerging technology I especially enjoyed learning about at GaETC was EduCreations. Although I had heard before about this screen casting tool, I had always seen it demonstrated for use in math and science courses; however, at GaETC I was able to see an English teacher offer examples of how she uses her iPad and EduCreations in her classroom to demonstrate poetry annotation and model close reading. This is the perfect example of why teachers need to engage in professional development that is both related to technology and specific content areas. I was able to return to my classroom and apply the knowledge and skills learned at GaETC about EduCreations to improve personal productivity and professional practice. I gained a new tool students could use to demonstrate their close reading skills, but I also improved personal productivity by developing a sound method for recording lessons for students who may be absent. Likewise, I was very interested in the numerous Google apps sessions I was able to attend at GaETC. I had dabbled in Google Docs previously with my students, but during GaETC I was able to witness ways that Google Docs could help transform my classroom to one that was paperless and constantly engaged students with technology; although I have yet to truly process all that I learned about Google Docs and the numerous extensions associated with it, I have a technology goal that I will work toward in the coming year.
GaETC certainly improved my knowledge and helped me to develop technology skills, but more importantly, as a future technology coach, the conference assured me that I am competent enough to present even at state level conferences. As a current classroom teacher with relatively little technology available to me (especially as compared to 1:1 schools and certain technology magnet schools), it can be intimidating to speak before a group of educators who you think may have more knowledge than you do on certain educational technology issues. I know that I do not, nor will I never, know all there is to know about educational technology, but I did attend several workshops in which I was already familiar with most of the digital tools and resources shared with the group, which assured me that through KSU’s Ed.S. program and my own classroom practice, I am developing the knowledge and skills necessary to be an effective technology coach. I have already submitted several conference proposals for local county and regional workshops, and will consider doing so as well for next year’s GaETC conference because I now know that I am competent and well-informed enough to present a workshop topic that is engaging and practical for certain teacher groups.
Engaging in continuous learning by completing a new degree program, earning a Professional Learning Unit (PLU), or attending a conference is a critical component of faculty development. The best teachers realize that they too should be lifelong students who never cease trying to expand their knowledge and improve their skills in an effort to be better and achieve greater outcomes.