My Learning Revolution Journey
If I knew then what I know now....
When I started the Digital Learning and Leading (DLL) program, I thought I knew where I was going, but I really had no idea. I have grown as an educator and a leader. Each class brought more clarity to the final goal. Now, I can see the big picture.
When I started the Digital Learning and Leading (DLL) program, I thought I knew where I was going, but I really had no idea. I have grown as an educator and a leader. Each class brought more clarity to the final goal. Now, I can see the big picture.
Concept of Educational Tech
This class was a great starting point for me. At 45, I went back to college which made me a little nervous, but excited. Fortunately, the important concept of growth mindset was introduced. At the time, I realized the importance of learning from mistakes and trying again, but magnitude of its importance during the DLL program cannot be stressed enough. Learning how to listen to constructive feedback and use the advice to improve myself has shown to be an invaluable skill. Learning to use a growth mindset in order to embrace and grow from my mistakes also meant that will mean that I could no longer can I say that I was too old, it was too difficult, or that I didn't have the time. Growth mindset encouraged me and reminded me that I could learn at any age and that struggles, challenges, and chances are worth it. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
This was the first time I was introduced to COVA ( choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning opportunities). I sounded like a great idea, but I had to continue the journey to understand the concept. It is a learner centered approach to teaching. It gives the learner choice (C), ownership (O), and voice (V) through authentic (A) learning opportunities. It took time for me to adapt to having a choice when it came to my education. The traditional way of learning is to complete an assignment from a professor in a way that will get me the grade. Have a choice helped me learn in a way that was best for me. I took responsibility for my learning.
This was the first time I was introduced to COVA ( choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning opportunities). I sounded like a great idea, but I had to continue the journey to understand the concept. It is a learner centered approach to teaching. It gives the learner choice (C), ownership (O), and voice (V) through authentic (A) learning opportunities. It took time for me to adapt to having a choice when it came to my education. The traditional way of learning is to complete an assignment from a professor in a way that will get me the grade. Have a choice helped me learn in a way that was best for me. I took responsibility for my learning.
Applying Educational Technology: EPortfolio
This class was used to organize my website and collect my thoughts. My ePortfolio changed a dozen times before the program ended. I researched, tried ideas, changed the way I thought, and learned. The act of creating an ePortfolio causes students to reflect making their learning deeper (Harapnuik). As I have worked, I have grown as an educator.
The basic needs of an eportfolio are the following: A bio, main interests, projects, categories, archives, links, social media connections, and contact information (Harapnuik, 2015) . Creating and organizing all of these ideas was easier said than done and those were just the basic needs. My main interest is helping teachers incorporate technology in their classroom and making the best possible learning environment for students. These two interests are fueling each other.
The basic needs of an eportfolio are the following: A bio, main interests, projects, categories, archives, links, social media connections, and contact information (Harapnuik, 2015) . Creating and organizing all of these ideas was easier said than done and those were just the basic needs. My main interest is helping teachers incorporate technology in their classroom and making the best possible learning environment for students. These two interests are fueling each other.
Disruptive Innovation
This was one of the most difficult class for me. I researched and developed my innovation proposal. I created a plan to flip my classroom and create station rotations using technology to create a blended environment. Deciding on a topic was a challenge. I want to do so much in my classroom. While I was afraid to bite off too much, I was also afraid I was not doing enough. After much thought, I wrote a proposal, outlined my plan ,and I found research to back my proposal and plan. This was not a small task, but it was one of the most enlightening classes.
Create Significant Learning Environments
This was one of my favorite classes. I was given time to design a significant learning environment by creating unit to use in my classroom that would provide students authentic learning opportunities. I used Fink's Learning Outcomes 3-Column Table and the Understanding by design (UbD) template developed by Wiggins and McTighe. Blending the models helped create a complete unit of study that was not worksheets and assessments. This was about the time in my studies when I began to understand the concepts of growth mindset and COVA. I was given time to reflect on growth mindset.
Leading Organizational Change
This is an area for future growth. In order for me to make changes in my organization, I have to know how to lead change. Building change will require conversation skills to positively influence others. By staying focused on my goal and reminding teachers that students are our focus, I can lead the change that our students need.
Developing Effective Professional Learning
I loved this class. Changing one day "professional development" to ongoing "professional learning." We are all learners and should continue to learn from each other. I developed a professional development plan training a group of teachers to implement blended learning in their classrooms. Professional learning can be more successful.
Digital Learning Local/Global
During this class, I stepped out and looked at how technology is being implemented globally. I read a ton of research to find out what has work and what had not worked when implementing blended learning globally. I revisited my literature review and made many changes. I have learned so much since writing the original review.
Assess Digital Learning Instruction
In this class, we learned about action research. Many times, we will find that research is not available for our specific situation. We can use others experience and build or adapt to help our action be successful. This class helped show how to develop a well thought out research plan.
Instructional Design Online Learning
This is where I got to develop the nuts and bolts of a math unit. I was given the time to design an online unit of study. I gathered resources and put together a course outline.
Digital Citizenship
We are all responsible for following the digital citizenship rules, but what exactly are those? Anyone using the internet needs to understand the obligations we have to keep ourselves and others safe and the legal aspects of the digital world. When an item is put on the internet, it leaves a digital footprint.
Resources for Digital Environments
I was able to use this time to reflect on where I have been and where I want to go. Hopefully, in the near future, I will be able to create a link to a published paper that I wrote. It is time to stop being a resource consumer and start creating and sharing resources.
Synthesis Digital Learning
And here I am. Looking back at the work I have completed over the past year and a half. I have learned how to lead professional learning, create significant learning environments, design online instruction, research ideas, and share resources to lead disruptive innovation. I have spent the last year embracing and learning to love COVA. Education is changing and I want to be on the front lines. From here, I will continue to research ideas to help make my classroom a place students learn using choice, owership, and voice through authentic learning environments.
Resources:
Grenny, J., Patterson, K., Maxfield, D., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2013). Influencer: The new science of leading change: 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education
Harpnuik, D. (2015, Sept). Why Use An Eportfolio? Retrieved April 2, 2019 from http://www.harapnuik.org/?s=reflecting
Harpnuik, D. (n.d). Eportfolio Retrieved April 2, 2019 from http://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=5973
McChesney, C., Covey, S., & Huling, J. (2012). The 4 disciplines of execution: Achieving your wildly important goals. New York, NY: Free Press.
Sinek, S. (2013, September 29). Start with why. Retrieved July 17, 2019, from https://youtu.be/sioZd3AxmnE
Harpnuik, D. (2015, Sept). Why Use An Eportfolio? Retrieved April 2, 2019 from http://www.harapnuik.org/?s=reflecting
Harpnuik, D. (n.d). Eportfolio Retrieved April 2, 2019 from http://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=5973
McChesney, C., Covey, S., & Huling, J. (2012). The 4 disciplines of execution: Achieving your wildly important goals. New York, NY: Free Press.
Sinek, S. (2013, September 29). Start with why. Retrieved July 17, 2019, from https://youtu.be/sioZd3AxmnE