Week 4 Reflections

As I finish up my assignments for this week I find myself reflecting on many of the themes we have covered.  I am happy to have developed a few resources which will be useful in the upcoming school year: integrated lesson plans, forms and Padlets, plans for a parent info night (which might not be usable this year, but hopefully in the future), and proposals for technology integration in the school.  I have thought a lot about the strengths and areas of growth that my staff have in terms of how, when, and how effectively we integrate tech into our instruction and learning activities, and I can see that we are actually quite fortunate for the most part in the tech that is available to our school community.

I can't help but wonder, connected to the discussion this week around BYOD and Mobile Devices in the Classroom (E-tivity #2), how quickly we will have to adapt to a new learning model in September.  I am fairly confident that if we are not allowed to have shared devices and BYOD is encouraged, that most students in my school will have what they need, and those who don't will be provided for.  I am also confident that I, personally, will be able to adapt my programming to my students so that we can still engage effectively in learning materials, whether or not we can share printouts, photocopy rooms, and workbooks.  I also realise that I will probably be in high demand in my school, as my colleagues will experience a steeper learning curve and struggle more with making these kinds of changes.

While I recognize the importance of "unplugging", I have remarked several times over the last few months how fortunate we are to have the technology available to us that we do.  Without Zoom, I could not have had an Easter "get-together" with my extended family members.  I would have had to stop playing D&D with my friends.  While my little family of 4 is very close, we would have really missed our interactions with our friends and family.   Over the next few months until a cure for Covid-19 is found, we will have to be very mindful of our use of technology - using it where necessary and turning it off when it isn't.  It will have to become more of a tool for working and less of a tool for recreation.

Thank you for the thought-provoking conversations.

Week 3 Reflections

I think my big takeaway this week is that I have a responsibility to share my experience with integrating technology with my colleagues who are ready and interested to learn.  Thankfully, it is something that I genuinely enjoy doing, so it is not a burden in that respect. My only real concern revolves around finding time to do it.  For the past two years I have taken a 0.2 leave from my teaching assignment to try to improve the life side of the work-life balance, and next year I am returning to work full-time.  If I also add on coaching sessions with my colleagues outside of school hours, that will carve even more time out of my home life to dedicate to my school life, and I'm not sure I am ready to do that.  I know that I can offer some of these opportunities at lunch time, but it still means that there is something else that I am not doing (marking, planning, photocopying, etc.), which I will have to do at a later time.

Hopefully I can find a way to resolve these concerns and find a balance that is effective for all of us.

Through the activities this week I have also realized that with considered, effective planning, my time constraints within the curriculum can be significantly reduced.  By integrating subjects and meaningfully using technology to assist and motivate my students, I can end up saving myself time in the long run and perhaps make my workload more reasonable in that regard.

Week 2 Reflections

Q.  Describe one significant idea or issue that has arisen for you, as you were engaging in the topics during Learning Experiences #1 and #2.

A.  I think the overarching idea that has occurred to me is that there are a LOT of resources out there and sometimes we just have to be flexible in our thinking in order to make some of this work.  For example, I know that in my school (and across my Board), teachers are often complaining that we have not got enough access to Chromebooks, etc. for our students; but I'm coming to realize that DDSB has actually done a lot more for us than other Boards!  With a bit of creativity, cooperation and planning, we can actually find solutions for most of our woes, and most of those cost little to nothing.

Q.  Elaborate on how specific resources, ideas or experiences in the Learning Experiences have contributed to your learning. e.g. reading material, course activities, etc.

A.  LE 1, E-tivity #6  - Web 2.0 was a particularly interesting one for me because it gave me an excuse to look further into a resource (Edpuzzle) that I had heard about but not had time to learn about during Distance Learning.  I think it is going to be a really useful tool, and I was glad of the chance to try it out with a purpose.  

In LE 2, I found myself thinking a lot about the Special Needs students in our school and the technology we use with them.  At first I wondered if I had fallen into a rut of just using the same tech all the time (primarily Read & Write and Flipgrid) because it was comfortable for me, and that perhaps there was more out there.  However, I found the LE very reaffirming, as I discovered through reading my colleagues' posts that many of them prefer and use the same tools as I do!  I also took the opportunity to contact two friends of mine, one of whom just retired as our SERT, and the other who has taught many small class Spec. Ed. classes, and I found that they used and recommended the same ones as well.  I suppose the lesson is, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."  That's not to say I won't be continuing to watch and listen for new ideas (Marni's post on Fluency Tutor blew my mind!), but that I shouldn't doubt myself and my professional judgement so easily.

I will say that some of the resources have seemed a little outdated and I didn't find them as helpful.  The first article we read on the study of labs vs. classroom computers was so old it mentioned the use of floppy disks, and some of the articles in LE 2, E-tivitiy #6 were from 2012 (which in technological terms is quite a long time ago).

Q.  Share how your participation in the discussion forums have contributed to your learning and connect this to your understanding of the Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession.

Personally, I really enjoy the discussion forums and all of the knowledge that is shared there.  I have learned about technology I wasn't aware of, and new ways of using those that I did know about (Fluency Tutor, eg.).  When I was at teacher's college at the University of Calgary, they really emphasised the importance of collaboration in the teaching profession, and I took it to heart.  I very much enjoy the experience of building ideas together with my colleagues and making something better than any of us could have made alone.  I feel like that is what is gained from the discussion forums.

When I review the Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession, I see that they also encourage this same collaborative style.  Under "Professional Practice" it states, "Members refine their professional practice through ongoing inquiry, dialogue and reflection."  I feel that this dialogue and reflection both take place in the discussion forums, as my colleagues and I discuss and share our best practices and our struggles.  

In "Leadership in Learning Communities", it states, "Members promote and participate in the creation of collaborative, safe and supportive learning communities."  While I believe the main focus on this statement is within our schools and classrooms, I think it also applies to our own professional learning as well.  Through the discussion forums, my colleagues and I have, I believe, created a collaborative, safe and supportive learning environment for one another.

Q.  Discuss any outstanding questions and the steps you may take to further explore your interests as part of your learning in the course.

A.  Right now I think my biggest question is, "Where am I going to start when preparing for the next school year?"  We are only half way through the course and I already have so many new ideas and strategies and it's a bit overwhelming.  I know from experience that the best strategy is to pick one thing that I want to use right away, develop comfort with that, and then choose the next new tool or strategy to incorporate into my practice.  A lot may also depend on whether next year will be back in the classroom full-time (which, if the rumours in the news are right, is what it's shaping up to be), or whether it will include a blend of online and in-person learning.

One thing I plan to do to further my learning is to work more on getting to know Scratch.  I have had my students use it before with the Learning Partnership (Coding Quest) and I would like to be able to assist my students more effectively next time I take part in the program.  Over the summer I plan to work with my daughters to create some fun things in Scratch as it's something I would like my kids to do and it will help me learn it at the same time.

Later in the summer, I will be in touch with my teaching partner and determine together what really resonated with both of us and what we would like to begin with in the upcoming school year.  

Week 1 - My brain is full!

This is the first AQ I've taken in some time, and WOW, is my brain ever full!  I've really enjoyed getting to know everyone a little bit, and have already come away with so many new and innovative ideas to put into my professional practice next year.

I've been reminded of Skype in the Classroom, which I had previously really enjoyed, but got put off because the site was previously so difficult to navigate that I couldn't find relevant lessons.  That seems to have been remedied now. 

I have been brought back to my educational roots of reflection, as well as long-term planning.  Reflecting on current practices and determining what's working (and what isn't) is so important for ourselves, but also for our students.  Long-term planning helps us to avoid getting stuck in a rut and feeling immobile in our work.

I've been bookmarking like crazy, and while I am sensible enough to know I won't put everything into practice right away (one thing at a time!), I have lots of inspiration filed away for the coming years.  I particularly enjoyed the Web 2.0 activity, as I found myself travelling down several interesting rabbit-holes into new resources I've never even heard of before!

I'm looking forward to the coming weeks and I hope we'll continue to find new and innovative ways to engage our students, especially with the continued threat of Covid-19 and potential distance learning.

Reflection is Part of Your Work

George Couros' blog post, "Another Reason to Blog: Proactive Through Reflection" really resonated with me on a number of levels.

I have recently been working with a psychologist to work through some stress-related issues in my life.  One of the questions he asked me to think about was what were some of the things I used to do when I was happier that I don't do now.  At first I thought of a lot of the things that I put to the side when I became a parent: singing in a choir, swimming regularly, spontaneity!  (haha)  However, after I let he question sit for a bit, I realized that one big thing that I had stopped doing was journalling.  I was an avid journaler in my youth from when I was about 11 or 12 until just after Teacher's College.  I guess I got busy and other things took priority and I just slowly dropped the habit.  It's something I have decided to revisit, and perhaps I will do so in digital form so that, like Couros, I can later easily search my posts for references to things I begin to forget as I age.  😉

Secondly, it took me right back to my days at UofC when I was earning my teaching degree.  We had to reflect on EVERYTHING!  "Reflect" and "pedagogy" were the much-mocked buzzwords of my graduating class that year, the words were used so often and by so many.  However, I do see the value in that reflection.  Thinking back on a lesson, and determining what went well and what did not is ALWAYS valuable, and has helped me keep my teaching practice fresh and innovative over my 18 year career.  Reflecting carefully on what proverbial hill is worth "dying on" in differences of opinion between myself and my administration or a colleague.  Reflecting on interactions with parents and how to do better next time (either to stand up for myself better, or learn to compromise a bit more).  I believe that reflection is part of our work as teachers, and really for anyone who wants to continue to learn and grow in their line of work.

Like the old saying goes, those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it... and I would add that those who don't reflect on their mistakes, are doomed to repeat them as well.