5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers:
a. participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning
b. exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others
c. evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning
d. contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community
a. participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning
b. exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others
c. evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning
d. contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community
Correlating Assignments:
During my career I have always had a goal to train and teach young emerging educators in the field of education. As I was gaining my graduate degree, I was able to use several different tools to develop enhancements to the trainings that I do to develop the staff at different early childhood centers.
This survey developed on surveymonkey was used as a pretraining tool gauge the educators current knowledge and comfort with using technology in the curriculum.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WZJFY3G
This survey developed on surveymonkey was used as a pretraining tool gauge the educators current knowledge and comfort with using technology in the curriculum.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WZJFY3G
This sliderocket presentation was developed to discuss the issues that arise with technology integration in the early childhood classroom.
http://portal.sliderocket.com/AIFMW/My-Presentation-1
http://portal.sliderocket.com/AIFMW/My-Presentation-1
The prezi presentation was developed to focus on the pros and cons in technology in early childhood and explore the way to find the balance between hands-on learning and technology use.
http://prezi.com/5utkktit0atu/technology-in-early-childhood-education-should-we-or-shouldnt-we/
http://prezi.com/5utkktit0atu/technology-in-early-childhood-education-should-we-or-shouldnt-we/
After reading the book "Totally Wired", I used a prezi to summarize the main points of the text.
http://prezi.com/dnxlhajfk_db/totally-wired/
http://prezi.com/dnxlhajfk_db/totally-wired/
The two powerpoints regarding Love and Logic teaching were developed to provide a professional development opportunity to teachers. Love and Logic is a school-wide discipline policy. Technology is not necessarily used to implement Love and Logic, but the training was enhanced by the use of powerpoint.
| love_and_logic_tips.pptx |
| love_and_logic_teaching_2.pptx |
An important part of being a professional educator is keeping up on current events that affect the area of education in which you specialize. I found it interesting that NAEYC is drafting a new statement regarding technology in young children. You will find a copy of the final draft below.
| draft_technology_in_early_childhood_programs_4-26-11.pdf |
How have I contributed to the Professional Growth and Leadership in the area of Early Childhood Education?
As a direct result of the knowledge I have gained through my MEd program, I have developed trainings on technology, early childhood curriculum, and Love and Logic teaching and parenting. The training has been approved through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and I have done the trainings at several schools in the Topeka area. I have had the oppportunity to increase the technology tools available in two different preschools in Topeka and train the teachers on how to use the technology with the children in the programs.
I have began to be an advocate for technology use in the early childhood classrooms in the professional early childhood groups that I am involved. There are many other professionals that administer early childhood programs and I try to teach them the new and innovative ways we can use technology in the classroom to enhance the curriculum.
The document below titled "Distance Learning" discusses the benefits and drawbacks that distance learning brings to students.
| distance_learning.docx |
I developed the powerpoint below to explore the different technologies that are available to early childhood students and educators to enhance classroom curriculum.
| emerging_technologies_in_preschool_education.pptx |
For a class assignment, I was asked to focus on my own personal learning environment. I thought about the different ways that I learn and the different areas that I rely on when gathering knowledge. I decided to create a online graphic representation on prezi.com. The link is below.
http://prezi.com/qgm1tjtogpnv/personal-learning-environment/
http://prezi.com/qgm1tjtogpnv/personal-learning-environment/