Onwards and Upwards...

     

   

Ideas form from many places and spaces. How do we get these ideas?  Sometimes they just come to us and sometimes we are fortunate enough to come across people who inspire ideas or just plain give the ideas to us.  This is what has always been a significant driving force for my continuation of learning. 

     The learning in the last two modules brought home the crux of technology: What is needed to create, implement and sustain learning?  How can we get old dogs to learn new tricks?  How can we collectively learn from each other?  How can we stay current when innovation moves quickly?  And how can we CREATE time to learn when there isn’t any time left?  I will endeavor to find answers and/or accommodations to all of these questions along my journey.

Notions to ponder...both myself and my mentor:

     If I am not the creator of the task then I am a hands-on learner. I need to see it in action, how it was developed what are the driving forces behind it.  I need exemplars. I need to talk it out.  I need to ask a gabillion questions. I need timely answers.  Soooooo if I need this, there are more of us out there.  I need to be mindful of this throughout my career and others need to as well.  Even when they are teaching adults.  We discuss differentiated instruction…well, it doesn't stop just because you’re teaching an adult.  Also, I’m not a one type of learner: I need to hear it, see it, and write it.  I need it all!  Therefore, many modes of learning throughout this course, helped to solidify my learning.  I honestly, can’t say one was better over the other. I can say that differentiation needs more attention.  That said, I do have one comment on one specific task: The Strategic Technology Plan. When creating a 3yr plan to have a mobile tech cart,  I was reminded of something George Couros said: “Technology should be at the point of instruction and be as accessible in learning as a pencil; it shouldn't be an event. How many pencil labs do you have in your school?”

 

I think that is plenty of a notion to consider...universally.

 Bottom line…learning should be accessible.  Learning should be equitable.  And continuing to learn, for whatever your reason is, will help to maintain several standards within yourself and or within the standards of practice.  We need to commit to our students’ success, development and achievements. Equally, we need to commit to ourselves.  We are in charge of improving are teaching practices. Therefore, we need to improve our learning practices. 

I maintain a commitment to staying the course and not becoming obsolete…

Masterful Bloggers...

BLOGGING!

Depending on what you are looking for, there are several Bloggers worth following.

I like to follow Kathy Schrock http://blog.kathyschrock.net and George Couros, http://georgecouros.ca/blog/# I also follow Matt Miller, http://ditchthattextbook.com (although it is more of an article based website, you can follow him on Twitter and receive regular emails with new resources such as :#EdTech Resource) and Global Citizen Digital Foundation, https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/21st-century-fluencies/solution-fluency Within this site are different blogs to follow.

I have posted before on my endeavour to one day become a regular, contributing blogger.  Until then, I will continue to follow and learn from various shared Bloggers.  The biggest advantage to following others is the advancement in your own learning that comes from collaborating.  I would surmise that the biggest disadvantages would be complacency, privacy and  accountability.  Once information is out there it is never coming back and you never know what people will do with that information.  You'd hate to have a bad day and type the wrong thing for millions of people to read and misinterpret because lets face it, reading of anything-books, texts, blogs etc, is an individual interpretation/mindset of information.  

That said, I will choose to see the good over the bad and in this case, the wealth of knowledge received supersedes potential pitfalls.  Until I feel I can navigate and mostly master the true art of blogging, I will continue to sit back, learn and be in awe of all the information that is available and the masterful distribution of information, ideas and resources.

Cheers!

Reflection: Module 3

As I endeavour to continue to upkeep this blog, I find that it doesn't have the purpose I would like it to.  It seems to be a means to an end because I don't have my own classroom to comment on.


That said, I look forward to the regular camaraderie that I do not ordinarily get.  The comments, suggestions and resources motivate me to continue my path towards my long terms goals.


I thrive on discourse and feedback; it helps me to improve and learn. Any and all insights are much welcomed and I look forward to the final module that puts me that much closer to the Specialist session.

Cheers!

“Necessary for some good for all...”

Throughout this module I have grown to have a better conceptualization of the necessity of assistive technology for some students.  Assistive technology leads to an autonomous form of education.  It allows for differentiated instruction but most importantly gives student’s voice and choice.  Students gain independence and are able to move forward in ways that they might not otherwise.  

I have also developed an enlightened concept of the necessity for mainstream students to have more opportunities for technology within his/her learning.  It's the proverbial carrot being dangled when iPad and Chromebooks enter the room.  This is not to discount the true necessity for special needs but to acknowledge its contrary presence in the room. That said, I’d like to see a movement that all students at some point get the luxury of assistance through technology.  

Struggles and Triumphs

The ongoing struggle for me within AQ courses is that they are geared towards contract teachers.  I find myself asking for assistance within each course: how can I modify and or accommodate this activity in order to get the most out of it?, how can I tackle this activity without reinventing the wheel?  “Choose a student in your class, make changes to your long-range plans” etc. The luxury a contract teacher has in choosing programming for a student is knowing the totality of the student’s needs.  I can “make a student up” but I don't know what makes them tick, what’s their price, what sets them off, what engages them, what encourages them etc. etc. etc. With regular discourse concerning modifications and accommodations why have the programmers not thought to take into account supply teachers that have long term goals and need the best platform to learn/get the most out of the learning.

I also like to ask questions…lots and lots of questions.  Online learning isn’t the best venue for this need but it does suit other needs.  If you have a question regarding interpretation or clarification you are at the mercy of a timely response; moving forward is a standstill until a response arrives.

Conversely, there is always amazing and useful discourse, collaboration and resources within the posts.  I love when someone offers me an alternative or additional way to support my contributions.  I also enjoy sharing all my resources that I am holding onto for future use.

Within the Professional Knowledge of the Standards of Practice, members are to strive to understand and reflect on pedagogy and learning theories that support student development. This course, among others, keep me current and responsive to the needs of all students. Continuously moving forward and applying best practices helps me to reflect, understand and improve my praxis.

My long-term goal is attaining the IICT Specialist. These assignments, and collaborative discourse will propel me to this goal.  I have and will continue to enjoy this journey with my peers.  I hope to continue to improve and continue to offer any assistance I can for the remainder of our time together…