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: Screenshots of my Tweets from my attendance at the 2014 conference for the International Society for Technology in Education
Reflection: The first standard in strand 6 focuses on continuous
learning for specialist candidates to be familiar with current and emerging
technology. To that end, for my artifact for standard 6.1, I chose the
professional learning experiences with which I was involved during the course
of my specialist coursework. For the actual artifact, I used screenshots of Tweets sent from my account during the 2014 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference. I chose this as my artifact because I truly
believe that it is a teacher’s job to remain active in learning as much as
possible to improve his practice in the classroom. To that end, I try to take
part in as many professional learning opportunities as I can. While completing
my specialist coursework, I have also participated in school-level and
county-level professional learning opportunities to learn about current and new
technologies as well as about classroom instructional practices. Additionally,
I attended the 2014 conference of the International Society for Technology in
Education where I learned about cutting edge technologies and practices while
also networking with my peers from around the globe.
Since a technology specialist should always work to improve his or her craft inside the classroom, I engage in professional learning outside of the classroom. Some of the professional learning opportunities took place at the school level and focused on improving practice using research-based strategies for increasing rigor in the classroom. One specific instance of school-level professional learning was a mini-conference in which teachers from my school planned and delivered short sessions in which they introduced new technology tools for use in the classroom. After introducing the new tools, teachers were encouraged to brainstorm methods for using those technologies in the classroom to deliver more rigorous lessons while helping students reach their full potentials.
In addition to school-level professional learning, I attended a variety of district-level professional learning events. I took after-school classes on using Edmodo to interact with students and parents, using Excel in my classroom, and using a variety of different visual learning tools with my students. These classes afforded me the opportunity to learn new skills in using technology for organization, communication, and creation. The classes also introduced me to some new technologies that have proven useful in allowing my students to use technology in the classroom in meaningful and creative ways. Also at the district level, I participated in the Teachers Leading Cobb Conference for two years. In both instances, I was able to attend sessions led by my peers demonstrating their innovation in their classrooms. From these sessions, I was able to gain many new insights that I have put into use in my own classroom. At one of those conferences, I was also afforded the opportunity to present myself. In that case, I was honored to be able to disseminate some of the techniques that I had used in my own classroom.
Finally, outside of my local and district levels, I attended the 2014 conference for the ISTE. At the ISTE conference, I had the chance to hear speakers from school across the United States and the world. I gained insights into their methods and the proven research-based practices that they used in their classrooms. Many of my favorite lessons in my own classroom were gleaned directly from the ISTE conference. In addition to the sessions from other schools, I wandered around the exposition floor and was introduced to new technology tools and products. Shortly after the conference I was fortunate to apply for, receive, and administer a grant to purchase many of the products that I saw. This interaction helped me to stay at the forefront of the technologies available for teachers to use in their classrooms, and I was able to spread those products to other teachers at my school.
Through the process of completing the professional learning involved in this artifact, I learned a lot about new technologies that exist and how to use them in the classrooms, methods for reaching students, and the research-based practices that my peers around the country and the world use in their classrooms. Throughout the process the one thing that I always remark that I should do better is to appreciate the opportunities that I am afforded more and to take fuller advantage of those opportunities. One example of this was at the ISTE conference. The conference was in Atlanta, so to save money, I stayed at my own home and commuted in for the conference sessions during the day. Because of this, I missed out on a lot of the networking opportunities that were a part of the conference experience.
This artifact had two main impacts. The first impact was the most obvious, and that was on my own classroom practice. I have used and will continue to use the technologies that I learned about through this professional learning in my classroom. I will also continue to search out new and innovative tools and techniques for use in my classroom. The second impact was on the professional learning of my colleagues. Every time I attended a professional learning event, I was inspired to redeliver what I had learned to my colleagues and to prepare and create more professional learning opportunities for my peers.
Since a technology specialist should always work to improve his or her craft inside the classroom, I engage in professional learning outside of the classroom. Some of the professional learning opportunities took place at the school level and focused on improving practice using research-based strategies for increasing rigor in the classroom. One specific instance of school-level professional learning was a mini-conference in which teachers from my school planned and delivered short sessions in which they introduced new technology tools for use in the classroom. After introducing the new tools, teachers were encouraged to brainstorm methods for using those technologies in the classroom to deliver more rigorous lessons while helping students reach their full potentials.
In addition to school-level professional learning, I attended a variety of district-level professional learning events. I took after-school classes on using Edmodo to interact with students and parents, using Excel in my classroom, and using a variety of different visual learning tools with my students. These classes afforded me the opportunity to learn new skills in using technology for organization, communication, and creation. The classes also introduced me to some new technologies that have proven useful in allowing my students to use technology in the classroom in meaningful and creative ways. Also at the district level, I participated in the Teachers Leading Cobb Conference for two years. In both instances, I was able to attend sessions led by my peers demonstrating their innovation in their classrooms. From these sessions, I was able to gain many new insights that I have put into use in my own classroom. At one of those conferences, I was also afforded the opportunity to present myself. In that case, I was honored to be able to disseminate some of the techniques that I had used in my own classroom.
Finally, outside of my local and district levels, I attended the 2014 conference for the ISTE. At the ISTE conference, I had the chance to hear speakers from school across the United States and the world. I gained insights into their methods and the proven research-based practices that they used in their classrooms. Many of my favorite lessons in my own classroom were gleaned directly from the ISTE conference. In addition to the sessions from other schools, I wandered around the exposition floor and was introduced to new technology tools and products. Shortly after the conference I was fortunate to apply for, receive, and administer a grant to purchase many of the products that I saw. This interaction helped me to stay at the forefront of the technologies available for teachers to use in their classrooms, and I was able to spread those products to other teachers at my school.
Through the process of completing the professional learning involved in this artifact, I learned a lot about new technologies that exist and how to use them in the classrooms, methods for reaching students, and the research-based practices that my peers around the country and the world use in their classrooms. Throughout the process the one thing that I always remark that I should do better is to appreciate the opportunities that I am afforded more and to take fuller advantage of those opportunities. One example of this was at the ISTE conference. The conference was in Atlanta, so to save money, I stayed at my own home and commuted in for the conference sessions during the day. Because of this, I missed out on a lot of the networking opportunities that were a part of the conference experience.
This artifact had two main impacts. The first impact was the most obvious, and that was on my own classroom practice. I have used and will continue to use the technologies that I learned about through this professional learning in my classroom. I will also continue to search out new and innovative tools and techniques for use in my classroom. The second impact was on the professional learning of my colleagues. Every time I attended a professional learning event, I was inspired to redeliver what I had learned to my colleagues and to prepare and create more professional learning opportunities for my peers.