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About the Author
I think I kind of always knew that I wanted to be a teacher. When I first obtained my degree from Sonoma State, I figured that I would jump right into a credential program in the fall. Like many things in life, my plan didn't go the way that I thought it would. I went to work for a contractor for the summer to make some extra money, and before I knew it I had been working for 5 years as a carpenter. Things were going fine until the economic downturn occrued. Prior to that, there was more than enough work to keep me busy full time. After the downturn, I was lucky if I was working 20 hours a week. At the time it was tough, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. While I appreciate and value the skills I learned those 5 years, the situation created an opportunity for a career change. Within a few months of moving on from being a carpenter, I was in a credential program. A few weeks later I was teaching Physical Science to middle school students. It was a pretty dramatic transition... but I was ready for it.
I have always tried to be an open minded person. I watched effective teachers around me and tried to learn from them. Whatever they were doing that was working, I wanted to learn how to do the same thing. Some of the best advice I ever heard was when another teacher laughed at the thought of ever having "set" lesson plans. If I wanted to be effective, I had to be willing to constantly change with my students. This program allowed to keep that mindset. To continue seeking new and helpful ways that would allow my students to progress the way that I hoped they would. My action research led me to focus on feedback as a way to help students become better critical thinkers. We are moving towards integrating new standards in Science, and more is expected of my students than in the past. Over the course of the last year in the program, I feel that I have continued to grow as a teacher. I have already begun to use what I learned through my action research in my class. I have had the opportunity to work and talk with awesome teachers from a variety of backgrounds in my Cohort. I also realize that this isn't some kind of arbitrary end point. There is no end point in education. My goal is to continue to try and get better everyday. I will carry that with me forward as I move forward in this crazy and awesome job.
I think I kind of always knew that I wanted to be a teacher. When I first obtained my degree from Sonoma State, I figured that I would jump right into a credential program in the fall. Like many things in life, my plan didn't go the way that I thought it would. I went to work for a contractor for the summer to make some extra money, and before I knew it I had been working for 5 years as a carpenter. Things were going fine until the economic downturn occrued. Prior to that, there was more than enough work to keep me busy full time. After the downturn, I was lucky if I was working 20 hours a week. At the time it was tough, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. While I appreciate and value the skills I learned those 5 years, the situation created an opportunity for a career change. Within a few months of moving on from being a carpenter, I was in a credential program. A few weeks later I was teaching Physical Science to middle school students. It was a pretty dramatic transition... but I was ready for it.
I have always tried to be an open minded person. I watched effective teachers around me and tried to learn from them. Whatever they were doing that was working, I wanted to learn how to do the same thing. Some of the best advice I ever heard was when another teacher laughed at the thought of ever having "set" lesson plans. If I wanted to be effective, I had to be willing to constantly change with my students. This program allowed to keep that mindset. To continue seeking new and helpful ways that would allow my students to progress the way that I hoped they would. My action research led me to focus on feedback as a way to help students become better critical thinkers. We are moving towards integrating new standards in Science, and more is expected of my students than in the past. Over the course of the last year in the program, I feel that I have continued to grow as a teacher. I have already begun to use what I learned through my action research in my class. I have had the opportunity to work and talk with awesome teachers from a variety of backgrounds in my Cohort. I also realize that this isn't some kind of arbitrary end point. There is no end point in education. My goal is to continue to try and get better everyday. I will carry that with me forward as I move forward in this crazy and awesome job.
Reflections and the role that TPACK plays
When I first started this program, I thought that I was integrating technology in an effective way. What I didn't realize at the time was that I was really just substituting "technology" in my classroom with the same kind of work that I had done in the past. It wasn't until I was able to see the TPACK and SAMR models that my viewpoint of technology integration changed. I always felt that I was doing alright in the pedagogical and content portions of the model, but didn't realize how much I had to learn regarding to technological piece. While I still don't consider myself proficient, I feel that I have now moved into the augmentation stage of integrating technology. I am very mindful these days of the sites that we use in class. How does this benefit my students? What are they doing now that they couldn't do with a pencil and paper? What kind of real world connections and applications are they making? While I still have a lot to learn, I feel that my kids are benefitting from my application of what I have learned.
When I first started this program, I thought that I was integrating technology in an effective way. What I didn't realize at the time was that I was really just substituting "technology" in my classroom with the same kind of work that I had done in the past. It wasn't until I was able to see the TPACK and SAMR models that my viewpoint of technology integration changed. I always felt that I was doing alright in the pedagogical and content portions of the model, but didn't realize how much I had to learn regarding to technological piece. While I still don't consider myself proficient, I feel that I have now moved into the augmentation stage of integrating technology. I am very mindful these days of the sites that we use in class. How does this benefit my students? What are they doing now that they couldn't do with a pencil and paper? What kind of real world connections and applications are they making? While I still have a lot to learn, I feel that my kids are benefitting from my application of what I have learned.
Lasting Learning from the Innovative Learning program
When I think of what I have learned over the course of the last year, it has definitely been a whirlwind. Between my action research, educational text, conversations with my Cohort members, and crash courses in new technology, I feel that I was able to gain valuable tools that will allow me to continue to progress as an educator. My time in the program shifted my view on technology integration in the classroom, and reaffirmed my belief of trying to be open minded when it comes to new strategies and ideas. It also opened my eyes to how quickly the world is changing around us, and my responsibility to try and keep up (the best I can anyway). While I feel that I have taken steps to improve my craft, I know that I am still a work in progress, and need to continue to always try and be better tomorrow than I was today.
When I think of what I have learned over the course of the last year, it has definitely been a whirlwind. Between my action research, educational text, conversations with my Cohort members, and crash courses in new technology, I feel that I was able to gain valuable tools that will allow me to continue to progress as an educator. My time in the program shifted my view on technology integration in the classroom, and reaffirmed my belief of trying to be open minded when it comes to new strategies and ideas. It also opened my eyes to how quickly the world is changing around us, and my responsibility to try and keep up (the best I can anyway). While I feel that I have taken steps to improve my craft, I know that I am still a work in progress, and need to continue to always try and be better tomorrow than I was today.