Standard 5.2 Professional Learning
Candidates develop and implement technology-based professional learning that aligns to state and national professional learning standards, integrates technology to support face-to-face and online components, models principles of adult learning, and promotes best practices in teaching, learning, and assessment. (PSC 5.2/ISTE 4b)
Artifact: Technology Workshop
Reflection:
This artifact is the Technology Workshop that I completed in ITEC 7460. This workshop focused on integrating Google with the eCLASS LMS that Gwinnett County Public Schools uses. With the recent popularity of Google Apps for Education, teachers are wanting to incorporate more of these Google apps with their students, but they are still required by the county to heavily utilize eCLASS in their instruction. As a result, this workshop was very beneficial for teachers because it showed them that they can have both! This artifact shows mastery of Standard 5.2 - Professional Learning - which states that "candidates develop and implement technology-based professional learning that aligns to state and national professional learning standards, integrates technology to support face-to-face and online components, models principles of adult learning, and promotes best practices in teaching, learning, and assessment" because this professional learning opportunity that I presented to teachers was very successful due to the fact that I included each component found in this standard.
This website that I created to house this professional learning opportunity demonstrates my ability to develop and implement a very successful technology-based professional learning program. First, this professional learning workshop is aligned to state and national professional learning standards, specifically the Learning Forward Standards. This workshop really focuses on the Outcomes standard because the knowledge that teachers gain from this professional learning will ultimately benefit their students. In addition, this workshop also emphasizes the Learning Designs standard. Prior to creating this workshop, I knew the teachers at my school were very interested in exploring Google more and the possibilities that it could have for their classrooms. As a result, I know that interest levels would be high for this workshop, and teachers would be engaged.
This professional learning opportunity integrates technology to support face-to-face and online components. I created a presentation using Google Slides to go through with the teachers during the face-to-face workshop. I also embedded this Google Slide into the website so that teachers can go back to it later. I also embedded several instructional screencasts that walk teachers through how to do various tasks in Google. These will be incredibly helpful for teachers once they are back in their classrooms applying what they learned during the workshop. I also converted some of these screencasts into handouts to meet the needs of all learners. I have worked with some teachers who love watching screencasts and others who love handouts.
This workshop models principles of adult learning. As I created the workshop, I created it with the knowledge of some of the beliefs and attitudes that many teachers will have coming into the workshop. Some teachers are very excited about Google and will be excited about the possibilities that I will share with them. Other teachers will come in to the workshop feeling overwhelmed and hesitant to add one more thing to their already overloaded plates. As a result, I built in time during the face-to-face part of this workshop to actually walk teachers through how to use these tools and for them to actually create some of these resources so they can begin using them right away in their classrooms. My teachers really appreciate hands-on training and time during workshops to actually create something they can go right back to their classrooms and implement. This workshop has all of that instead of it just being a lecture for teachers to sit and listen to. In addition, this workshop is relevant, and teachers will see how it will improve their teaching and their students' learning. It is so important for teachers to believe that what they are doing matters and is actually useful, and I believe they will feel this way about the content of this workshop.
Finally, this workshop promotes best practices in teaching, learning, and assessment. This is a hands on workshop rather than just an instructor standing in front of the group and speaking the entire time. Participants are actively involved in the workshop and are asked to participate and do the activities along with the instructor. The content of the workshop is relevant and allows teachers to prepare resources that they can go right back to their classrooms and use with their students. In addition, I created instructional material two different ways - videos and handouts - to meet the needs of all my learners. I also listed several websites teachers can use to extend the learning that occurred during the workshop. Finally, I included a pre-survey and a post-survey for participants to take before and after the workshop. That way, I will be able to determine the learning that occurred during the workshop and any next steps and follow-up that should take place after the workshop.
I learned a lot from creating a technology workshop from start to finish. I learned how important it is to create resources that teachers can go back to later as needed. That way teachers do not leave the workshop and never look at the material covered again. I also learned how beneficial post-surveys can be. The questions that I put in that survey will really give me an idea of what teachers got out of the workshop and how I can support them in their classrooms as they implement what they learned. If I could create this workshop again, I would have created some type of video "hook" to show the teachers at the beginning of the workshop. I am all about hooks and beginning a workshop by drawing people in, and I think a video would make the workshop fun for participants.
This artifact will impact faculty development and student learning because of the content covered. The possibilities that Google has for the classroom are endless. Collaboration is huge, and Google allows teachers and students to collaborate and work together in very authentic ways.
This artifact is the Technology Workshop that I completed in ITEC 7460. This workshop focused on integrating Google with the eCLASS LMS that Gwinnett County Public Schools uses. With the recent popularity of Google Apps for Education, teachers are wanting to incorporate more of these Google apps with their students, but they are still required by the county to heavily utilize eCLASS in their instruction. As a result, this workshop was very beneficial for teachers because it showed them that they can have both! This artifact shows mastery of Standard 5.2 - Professional Learning - which states that "candidates develop and implement technology-based professional learning that aligns to state and national professional learning standards, integrates technology to support face-to-face and online components, models principles of adult learning, and promotes best practices in teaching, learning, and assessment" because this professional learning opportunity that I presented to teachers was very successful due to the fact that I included each component found in this standard.
This website that I created to house this professional learning opportunity demonstrates my ability to develop and implement a very successful technology-based professional learning program. First, this professional learning workshop is aligned to state and national professional learning standards, specifically the Learning Forward Standards. This workshop really focuses on the Outcomes standard because the knowledge that teachers gain from this professional learning will ultimately benefit their students. In addition, this workshop also emphasizes the Learning Designs standard. Prior to creating this workshop, I knew the teachers at my school were very interested in exploring Google more and the possibilities that it could have for their classrooms. As a result, I know that interest levels would be high for this workshop, and teachers would be engaged.
This professional learning opportunity integrates technology to support face-to-face and online components. I created a presentation using Google Slides to go through with the teachers during the face-to-face workshop. I also embedded this Google Slide into the website so that teachers can go back to it later. I also embedded several instructional screencasts that walk teachers through how to do various tasks in Google. These will be incredibly helpful for teachers once they are back in their classrooms applying what they learned during the workshop. I also converted some of these screencasts into handouts to meet the needs of all learners. I have worked with some teachers who love watching screencasts and others who love handouts.
This workshop models principles of adult learning. As I created the workshop, I created it with the knowledge of some of the beliefs and attitudes that many teachers will have coming into the workshop. Some teachers are very excited about Google and will be excited about the possibilities that I will share with them. Other teachers will come in to the workshop feeling overwhelmed and hesitant to add one more thing to their already overloaded plates. As a result, I built in time during the face-to-face part of this workshop to actually walk teachers through how to use these tools and for them to actually create some of these resources so they can begin using them right away in their classrooms. My teachers really appreciate hands-on training and time during workshops to actually create something they can go right back to their classrooms and implement. This workshop has all of that instead of it just being a lecture for teachers to sit and listen to. In addition, this workshop is relevant, and teachers will see how it will improve their teaching and their students' learning. It is so important for teachers to believe that what they are doing matters and is actually useful, and I believe they will feel this way about the content of this workshop.
Finally, this workshop promotes best practices in teaching, learning, and assessment. This is a hands on workshop rather than just an instructor standing in front of the group and speaking the entire time. Participants are actively involved in the workshop and are asked to participate and do the activities along with the instructor. The content of the workshop is relevant and allows teachers to prepare resources that they can go right back to their classrooms and use with their students. In addition, I created instructional material two different ways - videos and handouts - to meet the needs of all my learners. I also listed several websites teachers can use to extend the learning that occurred during the workshop. Finally, I included a pre-survey and a post-survey for participants to take before and after the workshop. That way, I will be able to determine the learning that occurred during the workshop and any next steps and follow-up that should take place after the workshop.
I learned a lot from creating a technology workshop from start to finish. I learned how important it is to create resources that teachers can go back to later as needed. That way teachers do not leave the workshop and never look at the material covered again. I also learned how beneficial post-surveys can be. The questions that I put in that survey will really give me an idea of what teachers got out of the workshop and how I can support them in their classrooms as they implement what they learned. If I could create this workshop again, I would have created some type of video "hook" to show the teachers at the beginning of the workshop. I am all about hooks and beginning a workshop by drawing people in, and I think a video would make the workshop fun for participants.
This artifact will impact faculty development and student learning because of the content covered. The possibilities that Google has for the classroom are endless. Collaboration is huge, and Google allows teachers and students to collaborate and work together in very authentic ways.