Teacher as Learner
“The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.”
~ B. B. King
Educators continually improve their practice by learning from and with others and exploring proven and promising practices that leverage technology to improve student learning. Educators:
1a: Set professional learning goals to explore and apply pedagogical approaches made possible by technology and reflect on their effectiveness.
1b: Pursue professional interests by creating and actively participating in local and global learning networks.
1c: Stay current with research that supports improved student learning outcomes, including findings from the learning sciences.
1A: Setting Professional Learning Goals
In order to set personal learning goals, we must first assess where we are in terms of technology integration. To help you make this determination, read through the Technology Integration Matrix website. The matrix itself may take a minute to make sense of as you click "more" to see the various criteria, descriptors, and video examples. This is where checking out the other pages in the website may help. You are going to analyze where you fall on the matrix. So, keep that in mind while you read.
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Once you have determined your level of integration for each of the characteristics of the learning environment, plot them on our shared Thinglink.
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How do I do this?
1. Navigate to ThinkLink.com. You will want to create an account if you don't already have one. In the set up process when you are prompted input the invite code: 9B6TSD55 (If you miss this you can also do it once your account is set up, you will see a button in the top right corner to put in your invite code). Once you are in your account, look for the Media in the menu bar on the left. Click and find our folder for Summer 2023. The Thinglink is in that folder.
2. Reflect on your own use of technology for teaching and learning (and if you are new to teaching, what you have used in the past in a similar way).
3. Add ThingLink nodes in EACH row of the Technology Integration Matrix where your past use has been. Include a description of why you chose that position on the matrix and feel free to add links to apps, tools, videos, and resources you use within that stage. Finally, add your initials. View this screencast to watch Dr. Falbe do the example.
4. To add nodes, hover over your assigned image and click the edit pencil. A new window will open to the left, and you will click add tag. Chose the type of tag ( I did text and media since I was adding a video). You can choose your own color or icon for your notes at the very top of the annotation bar to the left.
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There will be many nodes on the image by the time we're all done. So, don't be too concerned about getting your node in an exact spot. Rather, get it close and try not to completely cover someone else's node. When we're done we'll be able to see any general trends across our class.
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If it doesn't let you edit, then someone else has it open at that moment. Please try back in a few minutes. Be sure to press DONE after you have finished adding your nodes. ​
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As you continue to think about your goals for this course, the SAMR model can provide you with more to consider. The SAMR model for assessing your use of technology helps move you to the next level as you consider new ways to use technologies. These videos provide an overview of the model.
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Next, read SAMR: A Powerful Model for Understanding Good Tech Integration by Youki Terada to gain a deeper explanation of how the SAMR model can work with the lessons you design. You might also look through Kathy Shrocks guide to SAMR and Blooms where she provides numerous resources to support your understanding of SAMR.
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Let's take an example of an aspect of education that has been through the SAMR process: Assessment in the form of Digital Badging as Micro-Credentials. In this course our assessment approach has been inspired by the evolution of digital technologies and what they make possible. It is a competency approach wherein we provide micro-credentials (or certificates for distinct learning targets) in the form of digital badges. Check out this introduction video and these two posts by educators. As you watch and read the following, consider which of these types of integration digital technologies inspired: Is Digital Badging a Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, or Redefinition of Assessment?
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In these next four weeks we'll focus on making the most of the new affordances that digital technologies bring; and discuss ways of evaluating the effectiveness of our technology integration. Connect, communicate, collaborate, curate, and create are among the many modes of learning facilitated by technologies—all of which fall under the umbrella of critical thinking. Throughout the semester, you will have the opportunity to explore these 5+ Cs through a wide variety of software applications, hardware tools, and platforms. View the The 5C Framework by Chrissi Nerantzi and Sue Beckingham from Chrissi Nerantzi embedded below to find out more about the 5Cs. These 5+ Cs have played a critical role in the design of this course, and will be a recurring theme throughout the semester.
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1B & C: Actively Participate in Learning Networks & Stay Current with Research
Evolving technologies have enabled teaching and learning to move beyond the barriers and restrictions of classroom walls. The same is true for educators. Being a Connected Educator means you have a strong base of support and means for growth beyond what is made available at your home institution. We're also knowledgeable of evolving knowledge, tools, practices, and platforms for our teaching and learning. One way teachers are strengthening their connections--both online and offline and formally and informally--is through developing their Personal or Professional Learning Network (PLN). "Personal" just means that it is not determined by your home institution. It's your own network. Everyone's looks different. To learn more, watch and read the following:
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First, check out Dr. Nicole Mirra's curated collection of posts by teachers/for teachers on what it means to be a Connected Educator. Read her introduction, paying close attention to the characteristics of Connected Educators she presents in her infographic. Then check out a couple of the resources she curated on the menu on the right. As you click on the main title of some of these, additional subpages of resources will pop up. As you check them out, think about the ways you exemplify some of the Connected Educator attributes and which you could set some goals around.
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What are your thoughts on what it means to be a connected educator? This could be a take-away from the readings and exploration, a goal that you have now that you have read some characteristics, or a disposition you are hoping to develop. Share this face to face (or through the text, zoom, email etc.) with a colleague, a friend, or love one. You could also use your professional social media pages (Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook are all social media sites educators use to connect with each other) to share your thoughts. Use #tch401 and #connectededucator if you share on social media.
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Next, check out PLN 101 by EduBlogs. Scroll through the page and be sure to watch the videos and pay close attention to the graphics.
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Connect: Learning is strengthened by connections--between peers, ideas, settings (like in school and outside of school). What are ways we can make the learning inside our classroom connected? Read the Introduction (pages 6-8) and (at least) one chapter from Teaching in the Connected Learning Classroom. Each chapter has an intro and three examples from teachers about how they are working to make their classrooms spaces of connection, facilitated in part by digital technologies.