How many of us have looked at a lesson after one of those days in the classroom only to wonder why it was so difficult to get the students to engage in the learning? I can think of several lessons that I thought would be engaging and exciting for my learners and felt the let… Continue reading Designing learning with the reflection of assessment in mind.
Paul Solarz from Learn Like a PiRATE said: “Collaboration allows us to know more than we are capable of knowing ourselves.” If we are encouraging a mindset of questioning in our students, then as teachers should we also collaborate and question ourselves and our instructional practices? (Spoiler: YES!) My current students are service-learning tutors who… Continue reading Digital Collaboration in a Pre-Service College Classroom
The Standard ISTE for Teachers Standard 4 states that “teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices” (ISTE 2008). To me that seemed like quite a charge. It’s a huge responsibility for teachers, but it is one that is … Continue reading “ISTE 4: Teachers Who Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Ethical Use – Can We Try Different?”
As teachers we use every tool in our toolbox to facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity (ISTE Teacher Standard 1) . We often model innovative thinking for our students, we strive to foster creativity by giving students choices and … Continue reading →
Aspects of Successful Coaching All quarter we have been exploring what make a successful coach. Sometimes this seemed like a really broad question. There are certainly a plethora of small aspects that can contribute to a successful coaching plan and relationship. I do know that there were some major ones that resonated with me.Read More
Lessons From Business Leaders: What can educators learn from the private sector about a sustainable peer coaching model? Throughout these past three months I’ve been exploring and practicing the peer coaching model. My professor, Les Foltos, literally wrote the book on the topic. His book, Peer Coaching: Unlocking the Power of Collaboration (http://amzn.to/2g7WiW7) is a […]
I refer to “dipping” my toe in the water above, because to me this is what my first few days of this spring quarter felt like. As usual, I was a little unsure of my actions and slightly doubtful of my skills and abilities. But, just like a lake that hasn’t quite had the chanceRead More
This quarter in the Digital Education Leadership program at Seattle Pacific University I am focused on the fourth standard of the ISTE Coaching Standards, Professional Development and Program Evaluation:
Technology coaches conduct needs assessments, develop technology-related professional learning programs, and evaluate the impact on instructional practice and student learning.
Over the last several weeks, my classmates and I have learned how to implement a successful professional development program and I have identified the following elements as being most useful when evaluating a professional development program:
Sadly, professional development is generally “something that is ‘done’ to teachers” (Pilar, 2014). Teachers need opportunities to explore their own interests and venture into those topics at a personalized level that works for their individual learning styles. In a study conducted by the Center for Professional Education, it was found that “90% of teachers reported participating in some form of professional development, and they also reported that it was not helpful in their practice. Thus, professional development is happening, but it is not effective” (Blattner, 2015). Imagine a place where teachers drive their learning by expressing their interests, learning at their own pace, implementing their discoveries and reflecting on their current and future practices. … Read More
“If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.” –John Dewey With each concept I teach, I evaluate the students understanding through their programming code, the required comments explaining the code, and the coding structure. I also know what they understand by listening to the questions that they ask. Formative assessment… Continue Reading Achieving Better Instruction through Reflection
Most educators are becoming familiar with the SAMR Model, a framework designed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura to “help educators infuse technology into teaching and learning” (Shrock). While there are four equally important aspects to the SAMR Model, this post is going to look at R = Redefinition.
What exactly is the “Redefinition” of the SAMR Model? And how can we implement it into our classrooms? Let’s take a look!
Drag your cursor to 1:46 to see these teachers practice redefinition:
How is this “Redefinition”? Ask yourself these questions:
Could the teachers have played back the golf ball bouncing in slow motion without the technology?
Could the teachers have watched the movement of the ball at varying speeds if this lesson had been taught without the technology?
Have they (or how could they) share this work and their findings with a larger audience? How could this work benefit others? …When unpacking science standards? …In other contexts?
How did this work transform the lesson?
Miller, M. (2014, April 3). 10 ways to reach SAMR’s redefinition level [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://ditchthattextbook.com/2014/04/03/10-ways-to-reach-samrs-redefinition-level/
NGSS. (n.d.). NGSS: science and engineering practices [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/science-engineering-practices-achieve#
Schrock, K. (n.d.). Resources to support the SAMR … Read More
