599 Final Post

Wow! This journey has been one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, of my life. I take great personal satisfaction in all I've learned and how I've grown as a techie and instructor. As I entered the program with little to no expectations toward the amount of knowledge I'd gain, with only hopes of becoming more tech savvy, I am beyond amazed at what I am strutting away from this experience (the program) with! My blog posts clearly communicate the excitement I experienced sharing new tools and knowledge gained with my students. Looking back over the past two school years, my lessons have grown to include much more technology than before which has lead to higher student engagement. Colleagues approach me with technological questions which would NEVER have happened prior to my entrance into this program! I am a better teacher thanks to this program!

Personally, the program has been utterly and amazingly satisfying. Albeit, I experienced oodles of frustrations and challenges as many of my blog posts communicate; this program has been nothing but great for my self-esteem and personal need to learn and grow.

Reading my 61 blog entries and my classmates' comments took me on a roller coaster ride of emotion. To begin, I must say I am completely touched by the empathy and support my cohort peers provided in the past 20 months. I journeyed with a truly amazing group of people! If not for their unending support and kindness, this journey would have been much tougher and at times more than likely unbearable.

Surprises encountered: I'm amazed that it feels like yesterday that I was in each and every course. The experiences still seem so vivid! I giggled aloud at my frustration level in some of the posts! Oh how the Pecha Kucha aggravated me! The level of frustration I felt throughout the courses makes me chuckle a bit but also makes me wonder if my blood pressure will be lower once all the loose ends of the course are wrapped up. Ha! I'm surprised that my knowledge of the importance of backing up files hasn't yet moved me toward backing up the irreplaceable photos on my computer's hard drive! In October of 2009, I stated my intentions of moving photos and videos to MotionBox...I wonder what happened. (Note to self: Do this soon!) (Another note to self: Snapfish acquired MotionBox!) An additional surprise is the amount of relief that is tangible in many of my posts regarding assignment, project, etc. completion. Mostly, I am surprised at how amazing this journey has been! At how much I've learned! At how much my learning has blossomed and continues to blossom!

Wish I would've delved deeper: I wish I would've created a spreadsheet or wiki (or something) of the tools I was introduced to in the past 20 months. I kept a small notebook of tools with my usernames and passwords; it's alphabetized! BUT, I should've included a blurb about each tool as well as likes and dislikes. The notebook is hugely useful, but I could've created a LiveBinder. I wish I would've delved deeper into social bookmarking...Diigo or Delicious...I also hope to get back to Twitter...not to Tweet but to make use of the resources that are shared there!


Satisfactions: The early introduction of Google docs in this program lead to my students for the past two years having Google accounts! It's grown to be completely commonplace. In my October 14, 2009 post regarding the "Considering the Future" post, I stated that the role of the teacher will change to one of less of a giver of information to more of a guide on the side. I am so pleased to say that this became a reality as I integrated My Big Campus into my English classes as part of my Culminating Project. Additionally, in my March 2, 2010 post I referenced my "expert blind spots." It feels good to know that I've been able to address some of this as I've placed directions, instructional presentations, and screencasts into My Big Campus to aid students' learning and allow them to practice and apply 21st century skills such as independent thinking and problem-solving. On top of that, reviewing my posts, my concern for how my learning would benefit my students is palpable. Excitingly, due to the digital storytelling course that's part of this cohort, my English students created digital stories! Moreso, my intention to use Dipity from my August 12, 2010 post came to fruition in my portfolio as I used the tool to account for the hours in my Culminating Project. The hugest satisfaction is that I stuck with the program to the end.

Future intentions: Create a video substitute plan for a pre-planned absence in the future. Continue to monitor my Google Reader account for ideas to use and share. Back up photos and videos on external hard drive. Continue to integrate technology to enhance my students' learning. Teach an online course. Share my instructional technological know-how in an organized fashion such as a conference or staff development session. Continue to be Techie in Training...an eternal technological learner.

Almost There (599)

It's been almost two weeks...One week, week before last, I attempted to be "unplugged" with Charlie. He signed a contract to watch no TV, not use the computer, play no video games, etc. I couldn't (or didn't?) totally unhand my phone and the access it provided to social networking sites, but I made a valiant attempt to support Charlie in his endeavor. The time NOT spent at my computer was NOT beneficial to me completing school work or course work, but the family time spent together was stupendous!

This past week was Spring Break. I had grand plans to get so much work done...but where did the time go? I managed to work on my portfolio and Culminating Project for a total of about eight hours but devoted the rest of my time to home and family. And, we got a puppy, Prince Fernando. He's a four month old Shih tzu who my teenage daughter claims to be the best present to our family EVER! BOTH my kids cried as they were so happy to get him! I was thinking I really needed to find something else to do now that grad school is wrapping up...I think Prince will keep me on my toes for awhile! (Side note: He has been groomed since the photo and looks like a new puppy!)

I most proud this past week of figuring out how to successfully embed my Dipity timeline into my portfolio. I'm proud of how it looks and even prouder when I view my course page in my portfolio and see that ALL of my classes now have artifacts and reflections attached to them!

599 Week 3

What I did this week: This week I spent hours pouring through my Google Reader account in search of tools to enhance the research unit that is at the center of my Culminating Project. I also pulled out my (paper) notebooks from our program's courses in search of ideas. I settled on creating screencasts to aid students in citing websites, books, and magazine/journal articles (using EasyBib) they used in the research process. I used Screenr (super easy!) and created the following: citing websites, citing books, and citing magazine/journal articles. The bummer for my students is that Screenr is labeled as social networking, so they're unable to access the screencasts at school. I hope this hurdle can be addressed in some way. I'll have to contact our tech department to look into other means of sharing screencasts with my students as they're invaluable learning tools...Looked into AND Screenr is one of the suggested tools but is blocked...nonsensical...looking into further.

BAM!: I hit the AHA! jackpot and finally realize that my culminating project is essentially concerned with the work I do prior to any work in the classroom. This week I hope to hone in on finalizing the tools I can put in students hands to help them be successful and insure everything in my Google site makes crystal clear sense to whomever takes a peek at it!

Roller Coaster: This course is strange as for the first time in some 18 odd months I feel completely disconnected from my cohort classmates. I've come to depend on Monday nights for some humor, learning, and engagement my week doesn't otherwise offer...Internet camaraderie isn't as easily replaced as I thought it would be!

599 Week Two

Wowser, this course is challenging me possibly more than any other course in the past year-and-a-half! Now that I've almost straightened out my S.M.A.R.T. goals, I am feeling a bit more confident in my work. A challenge has been putting what I'm doing into words that others can identify with and understand. Additionally, the pieces of the project are taking me much longer than I originally anticipated. One piece I'm excited about, but took seemingly forever to complete, is the timeline I created in Dipity. It's a tool I ran across months ago, and I finally took the time to try it out! Additionally, as part of my project I created an online survey in FluidSurveys. I ran across the survey tool in my Google Reader and thought What the heck, no time like the present to try out the tool! I'm anxious for students to take the survey at the end of our unit in mid-May.

It's comforting to confidently integrate Web 2.0 tools in classroom instruction to enhance my students' learning. If not for this program, I would not have even touched the tip of the iceberg in regard to what I can do with technology in the classroom! And oh are my students reaping the benefits! I'm so appreciative for all I've learned!

Perusing my classmates' culminating projects was exhilarating! What a dedicated group of professionals I work with! It's inspiring to view the projects everyone's undertaken. I could feel the passion and ownership in the projects I viewed. I will truly miss this group of people!

599 Post 1

Random Thoughts: I'm sort of in disbelief that this is my last class. Relief and amazement washes over me, but I'm also feeling a bit antsy -- What am I going to do next? Not that it won't feel terrific to simply be responsible for my family and my job, but... To pacify some of this early onset antsy-ness, my daughter and I signed up to help at and partake in a couple of walks in the next month or so - one for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and one for the Juvenile Research Diabetes Foundation.

Culminating Experience:
I thought I had a firm grasp on what my proposal should look like and such, but after reading through the Syllabus for 599, I'm not so sure. I am looking forward to meeting with Louis Saturday morning to get the kinks worked out and clarify my concerns.

On a positive note, my students are certainly reaping the benefits of the focus of my project - integrating My Big Campus into my English classrooms during our research unit. I have already found students more willing to voice their questions and concerns, and I feel that I have a better handle on their daily progress than in the past. I pinpoint students in need of help faster as well as those who have failed to meet expectations.

I think students feel empowered by the tool as they can truly help themselves or at the very least attempt to help themselves with the resources available prior to asking for help. It's met their needs of self-exploration and independent problem-solving.

I wish My Big Campus had a feature that allowed me to contact parents and allow parents to see their child's work and progress. I especially like that students can access My Big Campus from outside the school, from any computer with Internet access.

Yippee!

Let the last class begin!

565 Final Post

Let me start by saying, this course may have provided me with the most thought-provoking knowledge I've attained over the course of the last two years. I was challenged to think about things I directly control as a non-class requirement...not use a new tech tool or facilitate an online class, not take a computer apart or collaborate to create a Google slideshow...the leadership that I can offer my students, my colleagues, the school and community I teach in. For the past couple of years I've simply made the choice to NOT lead, albeit difficult! This course, as the second to last course in the program, truly helped me to realize the importance of being a teacher leader, especially as a part of a profession I truly believe is one of the most important in existence.

How has my definition of leadership altered or been reinforced?

• I've always known that being a good leader is a purposeful endeavor. This course broke down the components of good leadership as well as helped me to pinpoint exactly why I've viewed some leadership as positive and others as negative. It's helped me to more knowledgeably talk about the importance of good leadership as well as think specifically about what I can do to be a successful, positive leader. Additionally, as appalled as I first was by the thought of moving along prior to everyone being on-board with change or an initiative, I now see the necessity of that.
  

Your definition of teacher leadership?

• Before this class, I wouldn't have categorized myself as a teacher leader. In an effective school where learning is embraced, teacher leaders are hugely important. A teacher leader may lead by example, collaborate with colleagues, share resources and ideas, communicate regularly with staff as well as administration, discuss curriculum, promote learning, teach using best practices, invite and welcome teachers and administration into his/her classroom, involve the community in the learning process, be open to and promote changes that benefit education, be dedicated, and be a picture of a strong advocate for children. Teacher leaders believe in their purpose, place ownership on their purpose(s) and help to create and promote buy-in and community. Teacher leaders are vital to schools moving forward.
  

Has your opinion of your leadership potential changed?

• My opinion of my leadership potential has been reinforced rather than changed. People that surround me have always told me that I'm a natural leader, that people listen when I talk. If I make the choice to lead, I think I could have a huge impact on school climate as well as attitude toward changes taking place in our building. The importance of collaborating with colleagues, not hiding in my classroom for efficiency sake, and communicating more across grades levels rather than just within my own unless necessary has grown clearer. Teacher leadership is a responsibility I must embrace in order to support and hold onto my career.

Do you agree with our textbook's assertion about "improving education from within"? If so, what will you do to help?

• As much as it aggravates me that schools are so dependent upon state funding, taxes, and such to "run," as teachers we cannot directly control any of those things. What we can directly control is making a difference and working toward positive change within our school buildings and within our districts. In order for any change to occur, someone has to spark that change. Regardless of materials available, funding available, number of students in a classroom, etc., teachers are resourceful and capable individuals who know how to make education work. We are the experts. We must collaboratively combine our expertise in order to improve education. To help, I will communicate, collaborate, and share with colleagues, promote the importance of education to people I cross paths with, inquire about what I can do to help lead change, lead by example, and be available and accessible to those I teach with. I will speak up rather than bite my tongue and choose to stay out of the limelight. I will create awareness within and amongst members of my school community. I will reflect constantly on the state of my classroom and my school and be willing and open to change in order to embrace learning. I need to focus my energies on things I can control and be a proactive member of my teacher community.