Hello! My name is Dr. Elodie Jones, and I may be your instructor for a section of AEP 800. AEP 800 is an action-packed 8-week course (maybe 4 weeks), so be ready to create a schedule and stay on track with assignments and peer discussions/interactions. Remember, this is a 3-hour graduate course condensed and requires time management. 

I have been at FHSU since August 2013. Before coming to FHSU, I was an instructor for two undergraduate (elementary and secondary) technology integration courses at the University Kansas School of Education, where I completed my Master's in Instructional Technology and my Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction. My dissertation primarily concentrated on investigating the barriers to technology use and integration of technology concerning novice teachers. In my former life, I was a high school business and computer educator. As a side note, I received my two undergraduate degrees at FHSU and am a native Kansan. P.S. I cheer for ALL Kansas teams, but in the end, I will always be a TIGER! 

After teaching for three years in an undergraduate setting in the Department of Teacher Education at FHSU, I moved to Advanced Education Programs (AEP) in 2016. I began teaching within my field of expertise, which is instructional technology. While in the Teacher Education Department, I taught Foundations of Education, Curriculum and Assessment, and Educational Psychology as a capstone course and prep for the PLT exam. I now teach at least one undergraduate course to get my "face-to-face fix" and connect with undergraduate pre-service teachers. Regardless of what I've taught over the last 24 years, I've always advocated for using and integrating technology across the curriculum. However, technology has a time and a place, and it is our job to know when and where it best fits for a rich, innovative, creative, and productive student learning experience. Contextually, integration includes both aspects of the teacher and student(s) framework for learning objectives, assessment, general knowledge, utilization, and overall mindset concerning the use of technology - for instructional and administrative purposes. I align fully with the ISTE Standards and the ISTE #digcit competencies. 

I am excited to learn from you and understand what you do in the field - whether in a classroom or a different market sector! Our shared experience only happens through postings and shared conversations with your peers and me throughout this program. If you need my insight or assistance, my email (ejjones@mail.fhsu.edu) is the best way to contact me, including on weekends. I am also available in the evenings when you need me the most. Feel free to use my cell when needed (913.961.7002), but  Google Chat and Google Meet/Hangouts also work. It's all preference.

As an educator and learner, my philosophy is to play, explore, fail, re-do, research, experiment, learn from others, and be curious. In turn, I believe we are to share our failures and trials with others. It is important that regardless of our tenure, we will strive to continue exploring, playing, creating, and modeling a growth mindset with our students, peers, administrators, parents, and stakeholders (really anyone who will watch or listen!). Through a shift in mindset, we can display our full "human-ness" to others and reduce barriers of perfectionism and "all-knowing" to truly begin or renew our growth as lifelong learners. Recognizing and owning our humility, vulnerability, spirit for exploration, and growth mindset allows us to also model for others that we are not afraid to try, fail, go back to the drawing board, assess, reflect, ask for help, put ourselves out there - to experiment, to explore, to be the learner, and to create new paths ways to become better educators and better people. As an educator and facilitator, I certainly do not expect perfection; however, I expect effort, exploration, open-mindedness, failure, reflection, peer interaction, sharing, and improving each other through constructive feedback, peer review, and discussion. Together, we are better!

Have a wonderful semester,

-ej                                                          
                                                                  ______________________________________________

"Be willing to make mistakes (and learn from them), for they are the best teacher (I know)..."

 - e. jones 

"Be willing to be a beginner every single morning."

    - m. eckhart

Video link to my favorite poem written by Mariann Williamson entitled, Our Deepest Fear, as featured in Akeelah and the Bee (YouTube, 2:41).

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References

DigCitCommitt. (2019). Explore the DigCitCommit Competencies. DigCitCommit. https://digcitcommit.org/

International Society for Technology in Education. (2017). ISTE standards: Educators. ISTE. https://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards-
for-teachers