A brief synopsis of how I am working to meet each of the five standards for teachers:

 

1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity.

I have a SmartBoard and docucam in my classroom. Our school has also adopted using Chromebooks and is adding more each year. Access for our students is growing. I have to admit that I could use the SmartBoard Software a whole lot more. I do use the SB to project videos, Word docs and the like. I also like to give students opportunities to be creative by using online tools that personalize learning. I use programs like Wordle and Animoto for students to be able to create summative [self] assessments which double as designs for portfolios and classroom displays. I also show CNN Student News to students on a regular basis in the structured study hall I teach called Freshman Seminar. It keeps students up to date on current effects, is a great conversation starter and helps me teach media literacy, as well. We talk about how each show is constructed, how music is used, and the use of lighting and camera angles. It serves to make students more aware of how they consume info on the internet, as well.

 

2. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments.

I have merged Career Exploration with geospatial technologies like Google Maps. One example was to have students create a map in Google My Maps and record a geographic location for each of five adult allies. This assignment not only identified an important network for them but allowed them to gain tech skills in adding descriptions and images to the markers they created. I also use videos from YouTube to start new units or to re-emphasize a point made in class.

 

3. Model digital age work and learning.

Our school has begun using Chromebooks this past year. This means the new door of Google Drive and Google Docs has been opened wide. In addition, each student was given a school email. I created email groups for all my classes and extensively used this method of communicating with them. I created assignments which were shared and assessed on Google Drive and taught them how to navigate in the Google World. I also use Animoto to create thematic presentations, that included a focus on each student.

 

4.  Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility.

This is an area where I expect to grow. I have discussed online digital citizenship and copyright issues with classes in the past but I expect to do better. I am hoping to gain a clearer understanding of relevant issues and become more familiar with resources to help students be respectful of the property rights of others.  Cyber bullying is another area that I would like to explore more deeply. Because I will be in a position to reach the whole school, I will be able to support the work that other teachers at my school are doing in this area.

 

5.  Engage in professional growth and leadership.

This another area where I am expecting good growth. I guess pursuing the Info Tech masters program is helping me meet this standard. I am seeking to learn more about the technology prevalent at CHS, particularly Google Apps and SmartBoard applications, and am eager to share new learning with my colleagues. I have taught teachers how to create email groups and use other Google products. I will also train teachers to help students navigate the Career Information System (CIS). I have already created screencasts about various topics related to CIS.