Closure Reflection 8

Where do you see alignment with these standards and the LEC coursework?

The NETS standards for teachers and students can be found throughout and align well with the Leading Edge Certification coursework. Throughout this course I used the NETS-T and NETS-S standards in lessons and activities for each module. The LEC curriculum is based on the National Education Technology Plan and the NETS standards for teachers. Throughout the last several weeks I have consistently indicated and reflected upon my strengths and weakness in addressing the technology standards in the projects I developed and implemented. This course has been an exciting and challenging learning adventure with a myriad of skill building opportunities built in. The high level of engagement that my students have been exhibiting has left me encouraged and inspired to continue exploring and expanding the use of digital tools in the classroom. It has been exciting to know that I no longer need to be on center stage in the classroom but I can now work more as a facilitator. This LECDE course has made it vividly clear where my strengths are and where I have room for improvement. I plan to continue on this learning adventure to expand the digital tools that I can use in the classroom.

Which NETS-T standards correspond to your areas of strengths and needs?

1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity

I have been teaching for several years so I am familiar with the content and different ways to instill and inspire learning in my students. This is an area of strength for me given that kindergarten students are naturally curious and open to new learning experiences. Introducing the new challenge of using laptops independently to learn and extend their digital skills turned out to be a natural expansion of their learning journey. I found this to be challenging in the beginning but with consistent practice this is no longer an area of great concern. Relaxing some of my control and allowing the children to explore their interest to express their learning in innovative and creative ways turned out to be very liberating for me as an educator.

2. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments

Integrating technology into the given curriculum and developing alternate assessments that support individualized digital age learning experiences is very challenging. If the curriculum and assessment plans that I have been given were aligned and supported 21st century digital pedagogical approaches then this standard would flow more seamlessly. Currently we do not have a systemic plan and clear vision district wide that is aligned with integrating and implementing digital learning tools. Therefore, I am armed with all of this new knowledge but it is important for the leadership to proactively empower teachers to promote a 21st century digital pedagogical approaches that allows for creative PBL and creative innovative assessment measures that promotes opportunities for student to communicate, collaborate utilize creative and critical thinking to reach out to authentic audiences in the global digital community. In addition, kindergarten students still require pencil, paper, crayons, paint, scissors and other traditional tools to support fine motor development, support basic skills like writing their names and numbers , and concrete learning experiences that are developmentally appropriate. Using multimedia technology tools to introduce, reinforce, extend and allow for individual exploration for various activities, and lessons in all content areas has been an invaluable addition and has improved my practice greatly but the use of traditional tools a still essential for kindergarten students.

3. Model digital age learning

Modeling using digital tools and producing digital projects is a natural extension of what I do in kindergarten. I need to model everything for kindergarten students, so this standard is one of my strengths. I have been modeling pencil paper work so transferring to modeling digital age work was a very easy task.

4. Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility

Explaining and modeling digital citizenship was not very challenging because I stayed with basic concepts that my kindergarten students could understand. Like do not share your password, phone number or address with anyone online. They were taught that if they came in contact with something on the Internet that did not feel right then they should tell an adult. They were also warned against sharing their pictures or talking with strangers online. I introduced the concept of cyber bullying and we related it to real-life bullying. I found a lot of helpful information that was age appropriate about Internet safety, digital citizenship and responsibility at http://www.netsmartzkids.org/ I put this website in my Symbaloo webmix and my students to my surprise were independently studying this topic.

5. Engage in professional growth and leadership

I have always derived great joy from studying and learning new concepts. It is enjoyable when I learn about new processes, methods, and tools. As a result of this class I have been seeking more professional development opportunities independent of the school district. The drive to engage in professional growth is a definite strength. On the other hand, I need to improve in the area of leadership and I am encouraged that I will be able to use my new digital skills to share digital tools and resources with my KPLC as well as other teachers at my school site. I will need to take on a leadership role by modeling digital age lessons and promoting collaboration in planning and designing effective learning environments. I will move out of my comfort zone and endeavor to become an effective digital educational leader and a life-long digital learner.

6. What is your action plan for applying what you have learned after this course?

1. I plan to take advantage of the multiple professional learning networks through social networking to continue to grow my digital skills and learn more about PBL in kindergarten.
2. I plan to share my learning with the my colleagues at my school site and KPLC group in my district.
3. I plan to design lessons from day one to insure that I am infusing technology to promote digital literacy and digital citizenship for my students.
4. I plan to seek more professional development opportunities within the district as well as independent of the district.
5. I plan to take more risks, have more confidence in my abilities and to become an effective digital educational leader