This is Just the Beginning
Just this past week, a colleague asked me for help with his Masters, he was supposed to create a technology lesson for English Language Learners. He made a comment that I am a technology expert because I am working on my Masters of Arts in Educational Technology. As my Master of Arts in Educational Technology program is coming to a finish, I do not feel like an expert or a master. I have learned about several technologies, however. I am sad that in seven weeks my formal education is coming to a close. I am worried I will get out of touch with technology without having required time to explore educational technologies each week.
New technologies are constantly being innovated. I will have to continue my technology education on my own or at district level. My school, Osbourn High School, gave every freshman and sophomore a tablet as a part of a grant from the Commonwealth of Virginia. The course I teach, World History 1 is a new course so I am required to use the online textbook through McGraw-Hill ConnectED. Due to the fact, that the course is new along with the new technology, I definitely need more professional development training and time with the online resource. It looks like the online resource has some great featuring including assigning, grading and managing student assignments, similar to that of a course management system.
In addition to the tablet, Manassas City Public Schools created google accounts for every student with the intention of using Google Drive with students. Students would use Google Drive to work collaboratively, complete and turn in assignments, and create an online portfolio. I have been using Google Forms as warm up and exit slips to formatively assess my students knowledge. I have been using Google Docs with my students to create and share assignments. After 8 weeks of school, I feel like I have been using Google Drive and Google Forms for the same activities, I would love to receive more professional development in Google Drive so I can learn other innovative ways to teach and assess my students.
In addition to Google Drive, I want to learn how to use Google Classroom. My school’s intention was to use Google Classroom. Due to school district complications, I am not currently using Google Classroom. I would love to spend time learning how to use Google Classroom . Google Classroom is designed to help teachers create and collect assignments paperlessly. For students, Google Classroom can help students keep track of what and when assignment are due. Teachers then can easily see who has the work. This will eliminate any confusion or miscommunication between teacher and student regarding missing work and students claiming they do not have assignments. This will also help to alleviate issues created when students are absent for a day or for an extended period of time. Overall, there are several benefits to Classroom over Drive including; organization, communication and time saving.
Along with Google Applications, I would love to learn and use a timeline app in my AP World History classroom. AP World History is a new course to me and I am learning content, writing skills and technology every single day. The course is very fast, a chapter a day. I am trying to teach 2 million years of history in 10 months. I would love to find a timeline app that can help the students organize all of this new information. I would love if I could color code civilizations, add dates with pictures or a description as a review activity in April to help the students prepare for the AP exam in May.
This upcoming Friday, I am continuing my education by attending the Virginia Council for the Social Studies Conference in Tysons, Virginia. This is the first social studies conference I will have attended since my internship year, so I am very excited to be able to attend the conference as a certified teacher with my own classroom to keep in mind as I attend sessions. The theme of the conference is Virginia in a Global World with sessions focusing on technology: Integrating Technology Through Game Based Learning, iSTEM–Integrating STEM Technologies in the Social Studies Classroom and Technology-Enhanced Teaching: Connecting the Past, Present, and Future. I will also be attending an AP workshop for AP World History in two weeks. This will be my first formal professional development with regards to teaching an AP class.
Whether it is Google Apps, a timeline app or learning about my social studies content at conference, my learning will never stop. I consider myself a lifelong learner. I actually created a video in CEP 810 my first semester in my MAET program on the buzzword “lifelong learner.” I love that lifelong learner was my topic and now I am able to reflect and come full circle since that project. My technology education will not stop with my MAET degree, it has only ignited my passion to continue learning about technology. This is just the beginning.
New technologies are constantly being innovated. I will have to continue my technology education on my own or at district level. My school, Osbourn High School, gave every freshman and sophomore a tablet as a part of a grant from the Commonwealth of Virginia. The course I teach, World History 1 is a new course so I am required to use the online textbook through McGraw-Hill ConnectED. Due to the fact, that the course is new along with the new technology, I definitely need more professional development training and time with the online resource. It looks like the online resource has some great featuring including assigning, grading and managing student assignments, similar to that of a course management system.
In addition to the tablet, Manassas City Public Schools created google accounts for every student with the intention of using Google Drive with students. Students would use Google Drive to work collaboratively, complete and turn in assignments, and create an online portfolio. I have been using Google Forms as warm up and exit slips to formatively assess my students knowledge. I have been using Google Docs with my students to create and share assignments. After 8 weeks of school, I feel like I have been using Google Drive and Google Forms for the same activities, I would love to receive more professional development in Google Drive so I can learn other innovative ways to teach and assess my students.
In addition to Google Drive, I want to learn how to use Google Classroom. My school’s intention was to use Google Classroom. Due to school district complications, I am not currently using Google Classroom. I would love to spend time learning how to use Google Classroom . Google Classroom is designed to help teachers create and collect assignments paperlessly. For students, Google Classroom can help students keep track of what and when assignment are due. Teachers then can easily see who has the work. This will eliminate any confusion or miscommunication between teacher and student regarding missing work and students claiming they do not have assignments. This will also help to alleviate issues created when students are absent for a day or for an extended period of time. Overall, there are several benefits to Classroom over Drive including; organization, communication and time saving.
Along with Google Applications, I would love to learn and use a timeline app in my AP World History classroom. AP World History is a new course to me and I am learning content, writing skills and technology every single day. The course is very fast, a chapter a day. I am trying to teach 2 million years of history in 10 months. I would love to find a timeline app that can help the students organize all of this new information. I would love if I could color code civilizations, add dates with pictures or a description as a review activity in April to help the students prepare for the AP exam in May.
This upcoming Friday, I am continuing my education by attending the Virginia Council for the Social Studies Conference in Tysons, Virginia. This is the first social studies conference I will have attended since my internship year, so I am very excited to be able to attend the conference as a certified teacher with my own classroom to keep in mind as I attend sessions. The theme of the conference is Virginia in a Global World with sessions focusing on technology: Integrating Technology Through Game Based Learning, iSTEM–Integrating STEM Technologies in the Social Studies Classroom and Technology-Enhanced Teaching: Connecting the Past, Present, and Future. I will also be attending an AP workshop for AP World History in two weeks. This will be my first formal professional development with regards to teaching an AP class.
Whether it is Google Apps, a timeline app or learning about my social studies content at conference, my learning will never stop. I consider myself a lifelong learner. I actually created a video in CEP 810 my first semester in my MAET program on the buzzword “lifelong learner.” I love that lifelong learner was my topic and now I am able to reflect and come full circle since that project. My technology education will not stop with my MAET degree, it has only ignited my passion to continue learning about technology. This is just the beginning.