It's been a while......
Since
my last blog post I have moved on to a new class with Dominican. I am now
taking EDU 777: earning Theories and Instruction Design. I am enjoying
the class and learning a lot. In this class we are learning what it will
be like to step into the role of a Technology Specialist/Instructional
Designer. The main project in the class is to identify a need in my
school or classroom that relates to utilizing technology that I have been
learning about. I am also expected to write a proposal, come up with an action plan, and pilot the project.
So
far, I have come up with an idea, assessed the need that I want to address, and
conducted basic research on what it will take to carry out my plan. Here
is my reflection on the plan and the process up to this point.
The
process has been a challenge. I had a tough time coming up with an idea
because of my unique teaching situation (I teach a self-contained 3rd & 4th
grade special education class which is part of the Communication Development Program
of ECHO Joint Agreement). I ultimately decided upon creating professional
development training for my colleagues in the CD program. I conferred
with my program principal to help streamline the need to address for the
professional development. We decided on providing an introduction to, and
training on Blended Learning.
My
principal and I decided that the best approach would be for me to design and
narrate a power point presentation to introduce blended learning to the
certified staff. The staff would view the power point independently.
I also plan to prepare several screencasts for the staff to view introducing
web 2.0 collaboration tools. The tools that I will introduce can be used
in a blended learning format and would also be applicable for our student population. Finally, the certified staff will meet for a
group training where the program principal and myself will conduct the staff in
a blended learning lesson exercise.
The exercise will be an actual lesson about blended learning and will
include using some of the collaboration tools they have been introduced too. I
am very excited yet nervous about the plan. It is a need for our program,
but it is also intimidating providing training for your colleagues.
The
plan is doable, it is meeting a need. and I feel like I am experiencing what it
would be like as a Technology Specialist. The biggest challenge I am
facing in making all of this happen is time. It takes a lot of
time to plan, pull all the needed components together, and conduct the training.
It's tough enough planning instruction for my students on a regular basis, add
onto that going to grad school, and then doing the work for a big project like
this. It can truly be overwhelming at times but it's worth it. I
am looking forward to one day being a Technology Specialist. My classes
and this project have reinforced that this is something I want to do one day as
a career.
