Welcome to the EdTech Explorer Program, an initiative by the Kentucky Academy of Technology Education in the College of Education and Human Services at Murray State University, designed to immerse faculty and staff in the world of educational technology, and promote a culture of continuous learning and peer collaboration.  We can't wait to work together to transform our college and enhance our students' learning experiences! 

Your EdTech journey starts here, and we can’t wait to see where it takes you!

EDTECH EXPLORERS vs. #eduKATE COMMUNITY

KATE serves both an internal and external audience for EdTech professional development.  We’ve developed distinct branding to help differentiate between the two groups:

• EDTECH EXPLORERS: This is the umbrella under which KATE packages all EdTech professional development and support for COEHS.  

• #eduKATE COMMUNITY: This is the branding used for all external professional development for PK-12 teachers.  

The initiatives receive the same content and resources, but the EdTech Explorer Program was specifically designed for COEHS members and includes more robust support and in-person engagement opportunities.

STRUCTURE OF THE EDTECH EXPLORER PROGRAM

The EdTech Explorers Program is structured around a professional development menu. This menu was designed with four key categories to lead you on a comprehensive journey to grow your EdTech knowledge and skills:

CATEGORY 1: Reflection & Building Community

CATEGORY 2: Professional Learning & Development

CATEGORY 3: Application and Integration

CATEGORY 4: Leadership and Advocacy

Tasks on the PD menu that are highlighted in “blue” are opportunities provided and promoted by the KATE office, while the tasks in “white” are ones you can choose to engage in independently.  Of course, we are happy to provide support for the independent activities as well.  Since KATE focuses on providing EdTech professional development, most activities facilitated by our office will be found in Category 2: Learning.

All of the tasks align with the ISTE Educator Standards, which are the standards that have been adopted by the College of Education and Human Services for CAEP Accreditation.  These standards will serve the roadmap for your journey as you:

• Reflect on your personal learning goals to facilitate continuous growth.

• Connect with peers and actively participate in Professional Learning Networks (PLNs) to improve your practice and learn from others.

• Engage in professional development, both independently and collaboratively, to deepen your EdTech pedagogy.

• Apply & Integrate educational technology by implementing and refining technology-enhanced lessons and activities into your teaching, facilitating opportunities for your students to engage with the ISTE Student Standards.

• Lead & Advocate by sharing your EdTech knowledge and experiences within the COEHS learning community and beyond, contributing to the effective use of technology in education.

HOW TO GET STARTED

Your EdTech Explorer journey is gamified, offering a model for how you could incorporate gamified learning into your own courses - and, of course, to infuse a little fun into your learning. Here’s how it works:

EARNING POINTS
For every task you complete from the EdTech Explorers PD Menu, you earn points.  As you accumulate points throughout the year, you’ll advance through four different levels of mastery:

LEVEL 1 250 - 499 points

LEVEL 2 500 - 999 points

LEVEL 3 1000 - 1499 points

LEVEL 4 1500+ points

TRACKING YOUR PROGRESS
You can track your progress through the levels on the Mario Leaderboard located on the 3rd floor of Alexander Hall. This leaderboard celebrates everyone who has “leveled-up” their EdTech knowledge! A digital leaderboard will also be shared monthly, showcasing the top 5 overall point earners and the top 5 earners for the month.

SASHES AND BADGES
Display your EdTech journey on your EdTech Explorer Sash! Activities that are eligible for a badge are marked on the points menu.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAM ELEMENTS