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Setting New EdTech Goals




Last week I accomplished an edtech goal that I have had for the past year - I was selected as a Google for Education Certified Educator! Yay! This was a really big goal of mine, and I'm really proud of myself for following through on it. The most challenging part for me was creating the video because it involved talking about myself. It felt SUPER awkward. 




This seems like a great time to set some new edtech goals!

Present at an EdTech Conference

I really want to start presenting and sharing ideas at edtech conferences. I love going to edtech conferences because I always learn something new, and I think that I have some ideas to share that might help other teachers try new things in their own schools and classrooms. There is an EdTechTeam Summit coming to Phoenix in March. I think that would be a great opportunity to try submitting a session proposal!

Become an ISTE Certified Educator

In September, I began the process of becoming an ISTE Certified Educator. The certification is based on the ISTE Standards for Educators, and it recognizes "educators who use edtech for learning in meaningful and transformative ways." I attended a two-day, in-person training with a cohort of other educators. That was followed by 5 weeks of online learning, which I just completed a couple of weeks ago. 

 Now comes the most challenging part of the process: I have six months to assemble a portfolio that demonstrates my learning. The portfolio is made up of artifacts and detailed reflections that provide evidence that I have mastered the ISTE standards. I know it will be challenging, but I'm excited to get started to learn more about the standards!
     

Observe Blended Learning Classrooms

In my last few years as a classroom teacher, I tried to incorporate blended learning models into my classroom. I read as much as I could about how to blend learning effectively, and many of my first ideas and strategies came from Catilin Tucker's blog posts and books. 

 This model really helped me understand how I could rethink the way that teaching and learning looked and felt in my classroom, and I think it could be really transformative if used on a wider scale in a district. I would love to work with teachers in my new district and help them create effective blended learning environments at their schools. 

 I know that transitioning to blended learning can be a challenging concept for most teachers. While I have my own experience to share, that's just one specific subject area and grade level. I need to see how this looks and works in a variety of grade levels and subject areas. I can look for resources and examples online, but I think it is really important to try to visit classrooms and see it in action. I need to start reaching out to principals and teachers in my own district and in neighboring districts to see if there are some places where teachers are trying this model already.


 I'm super excited to work on these goals over the next 6 months! What are some goals you have set for yourself? I would love to hear them! 
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