Post date: Feb 23, 2015 8:20:37 AM
Innovative Pedagogies has stretched me more than the previous Google and YouTube section of the IEC program did. I think this has been for several reasons. One is because of how familiar I already am with using Google tools in the classroom. While yes my district is not a GAFE district as a teacher I still create Google forms for students to complete, have a Google site that I maintain for school use. What I have enjoyed is how it has gotten me to think outside of my classroom and to think about how I can apply these outside the walls of just my classroom but also to share them with others on my campus.
As for my project it is still taking shape but I have been holding monthly 'Appy Hours' for teachers in my district. We have an Edmodo group for the Appy Hours to share information. While I know there are already website that one can go to find recommendation for iPad apps. Curating those to the needs of teachers in my district and then helping with any issues that come up and making recommendations to the District of apps for them to purchase helps teachers with less experience or time.
While I know I do need to start thinking about electives at the current time I'm still to busy to start that process yet. I have been thinking about which electives I will take when the time comes and at the current time my thoughts are that these will be my choices:
Differentiating Instruction with Technology
Web 2.0 Tools for the Classroom
Cloud Computing in the Classroom
Last weekend I was in Petaluma for CUE Rockstar and had the chance to talk with a few former IEC cohort members. I'm so busy at the current time I really should not have taken the time to go out of town for the weekend to go to Rockstar but should have been home getting caught up on work that I'm behind. I started off in January on track and then life as it so often can kicked me in the teeth and I shut down for a couple weeks. Before going to Petaluma I was debating did I make a mistake signing up for the IEC program this year. I went to Petaluma because I needed to be around other Rockstars and re-energize. Had a great talk with a couple folks and was encouraged to not give up but push through finishing Innovative Pedagogies as I was closer to being done than I thought as I had everything in at least a partial done state. Emails and twitter handles were swapped to have people to call for help if need.
So pushing on down the long and winding road I go....