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About the Author
Jason Chatham has been teaching English since 2001. He was the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) Northern California First Year Teacher of the Year for the 2001-02 school year. He teaches AP Language and Composition and AP Literature and Composition in the Napa Valley Unified School District. Mr Chatham also works for the College Board as an AP Reader. Additionally, he is also the head baseball coach at Napa High School. Above all else, Mr Chatham sees himself as a modern day Indiana Jones; capable of experiencing meaningful learning and adventure both in and out of the classroom.
Reflections on your Journey
Usually this is where an educator tells everyone that they believe that students can all learn. I don’t disagree with that. But I want to be more specific: students will show up and learn when they know they are getting something out of the experience that will help them. We can either create a classroom where we have “an economy of points” and make grades the focus-- or we can put student needs in front of all else and co-author an experience that shapes learning, passion, and focus towards students’ futures. We also know that education is slow to evolve. Certainly it lags behind the fast-paced business and tech world that students will encounter outside our classroom. To try and face that challenge together is far more important than to look at micro percentages on a grading scale. There is so much change needed in our field. And I believe that change is best accomplished with a collaborative spirit, not just with other educators but with students in mind.
A number of years ago, maybe 10 or 11, I was really excited that I was using Google Docs in the classroom with students to collaborate. That changed to sharing docs with other teachers for their use with their classes-- and we could debate together with other classrooms over ideas in books or media. We were ahead of the curve. Now, that feels ancient. Today pulling tech, pedagogy, and content info is critical-- not just a good idea. It is THE idea. We are evolving to meet the needs of our students as we blend traditional knowledge with current technology and meaning.
That was my TPACK journey and my *why* in a nutshell-- and taking this journey not only has made my work far more relevant, but it's been quite necessary.
A number of years ago, maybe 10 or 11, I was really excited that I was using Google Docs in the classroom with students to collaborate. That changed to sharing docs with other teachers for their use with their classes-- and we could debate together with other classrooms over ideas in books or media. We were ahead of the curve. Now, that feels ancient. Today pulling tech, pedagogy, and content info is critical-- not just a good idea. It is THE idea. We are evolving to meet the needs of our students as we blend traditional knowledge with current technology and meaning.
That was my TPACK journey and my *why* in a nutshell-- and taking this journey not only has made my work far more relevant, but it's been quite necessary.
Lasting Learning from the Innovative Learning program
I am a big believer in constant growth. This is year 20 for me as a teacher, and I have really tried to never stop learning or allow myself to feel like I have fully arrived as a teacher. To me, that mindset fosters growth. When Covid arrived on the scene and disrupted lives in countless ways, it occurred to me that an opportunity might present itself to grow. On social media there was a huge push to write a novel or get in shape or take up a new hobby-- and none of us really knew how long this would last or what would happen. I looked at it as a way to adapt to a new learning environment and to put an emphasis on my own reputation within the field of education. And I now found myself with an opportunity to grow professionally and purposefully.
Part of what I love about the program is that it truly meets the moment in a way that other programs may not. We have been trained to respond to needs in a digital environment as well as a hybrid one. We have tackled problems as opportunities. And we have kept our schools, communities, and most importantly our students at the forefront of this work.
Part of what I love about the program is that it truly meets the moment in a way that other programs may not. We have been trained to respond to needs in a digital environment as well as a hybrid one. We have tackled problems as opportunities. And we have kept our schools, communities, and most importantly our students at the forefront of this work.
Jason Chatham’s Blog
Want to contact Jason Chatham? [email protected]