Why Blended Tech Learning?
Why Nic?
Every educator deserves to feel confident and empowered to integrate technology when it is best for student learning. I believe that if educators possessed the essentials needed to assist in their teaching to help learners reach their potential, we would be developing a terrific movement in education today. Helping someone learn is one of the greatest gifts there is in life.
I want to instill that confidence and passion that people bring to each other when they interact and learn together. I want to inspire both the digital natives and those trying to understand and use technology to truly connect and make learning meaningful and authentic utilizing technology. As someone who knows education and can relate to teachers and learners, I strive to guide and provide experiences for educators to integrate technology for their purposes or goals .
Experience and Expertise
I have been contracted by these tech companies to work on their behalf to provide training, support, or work for internal projects to help their education initiatives all over the United States. My own work as well as those with these companies has allowed me to see first hand and impact how all types of public and private schools and districts integrate technology for teaching and learning. Being an expert in all of these platforms has allowed me to assist schools like no other company to integrate technology tools no matter what device, platform, school, or initiative. While my focus is in teaching and learning, I realize administrator and technology support setup and training is equally as important to make sure educators have what they need to provide for the learners in their classroom. I guide school leaders through best practices for their specific implementation, goals, and initiatives.
Integration and Training Practices
As a former classroom teacher, I expect, respect, and provide for different needs and levels of experience and comfort. In the past, this significant issue has been addressed, in cooperation with clients, by providing multiple training opportunities geared specifically for users of certain experience levels or with certain needs that may be related to their roles in an organization, for example. Also, by incorporating components designed to address varied learning styles within all sessions, differentiation is allowed, even among an otherwise like group in terms of skill-level or role. A blended learning approach is also supportive in that it allows for learners of varied availability to access training. Additionally, I feel particularly adept at making all learners feel comfortable and able. Participant evaluations of our trainings consistently report this as one of my personal strengths.
Types of training models
I offer customized training, including on-site, webinars, printed material, and video tutorials, and am open to exploring other models that may be of interest to an organization. While there is an increased prevalence in online learning (eLearning) contexts, I find that many people do still prefer face-to-face on-site training which allows for a high degree of personal guidance and support.
Meeting the needs of diverse learners
Typically, I allow for flexible interactions that will meet the needs of diverse learners. I believe people must feel at ease in order to secure a maximum gain from any training opportunity. While some may need to physically interact with an application, for example, as it is explored, others may need to take notes and listen, while still others may need to discuss and talk through their understandings. Thus, I build in interactions that encompass these varied needs, including hands-on practice, time for questions and discussion, as well as direct teaching/training. I have established a reputation as a patient and flexible trainer who demonstrates respect for and attention to the various roles and level of expertise learners have, as well as for the different types of interactions that support diverse learners.
Customization
Each training can be as customized as the client desires and is able to support in collaboration with me. Together, we can determine what will be the most valuable, efficient, and effective means of meeting the organization’s training goals, in terms of content, format, context, organization-specific application, etc. All training and training materials are customizable as much as the client is willing and able to provide the information and cooperation needed for us to do so effectively.
Local Company
It is important for me to continue supporting and working with schools and school districts in North and South Carolina where I served as a teacher and digital learning specialist. Knowing the local school leaders, initiatives, challenges, and climate of education in our state has helped me serve local schools in many facets as well as providing an on the spot resource and trainer. I have had the privilege to train the trainers and administrators in larger public districts such as Richland 1, Richland Two, School District Five of Lex/Rich Counties, Carolina Consortium for Enterprise Learning, Charleston County, Beaufort County Schools, Jasper County Schools, and Orangeburg Five in South Carolina as well as Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, Union County Public Schools, Gaston County Schools, and Stanly County Schools in the Charlotte Area.
While serving my local area is important to me, I do travel around the country to provide professional learning. See the map below of my 7 year journey.
Nic Finelli is the Founder and Chief Learning Engineer for Blended Tech Learning. Blended Tech Learning, established in 2011, provides professional learning and mentoring for schools and school districts on various levels from technology planning to integration training to IT support across many platforms.
Nic (dba Blended Tech Learning) provides a broad range of expertise in customized professional development, training, and consulting services, focusing on meaningful, efficient, and successful technology integration. With more than 18 years of classroom teaching experience and years of service as a school-based technology-integration specialist, Nic truly believes and has an appreciation for the teaching and learning context, and an extensive first-hand knowledge base, that is unique and unmatched among full-time providers in the edtech field today.
He has been recognized as an Google for Education Certified Trainer, Microsoft Innovative Educator Master Trainer, a SMART Certified Education Consultant and worked with Apple Professional Learning as an education provider as well. Nic is a National Board Certified Teacher, a Google for Education Certified Innovator, YouTube for Teachers Curator, Hapara Champion Trainer, Apple Teacher, Minecraft Global Mentor and Certified Trainer, zSpace Pro Trainer, and a Discovery Star Educator. He holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and has instructed graduate-level courses in technology integration. As a full-time digital learning specialist, PD trainer, and consultant, Nic and Blended Tech Learning serve education, business, and government organizations.