Reflection of Leading, Teaching, and Learning in the 21st Century- Dr. Luscre

I really enjoyed Dr. Luscre's course, "Leading, Teaching, and Learning in the 21st Century."   I gained a very real understanding on how to use the LoTi measurement guidelines to categorize engaged learning projects.  Our required textbook:

Roblyer, M.D.  (2016) Integrating Technology into Teaching, (7^th ed). Boston: Pearson, is a great resource and gave some great ideas on how to use technology in teaching any class or at least many classes.  It of course did not have much to offer to Outdoor Education, but I was able to see how I could use many of the ideas in LA, SCIENCE, SS, Math, HPE, and even cross curriculum for project based learning.   I really enjoyed focusing on the On-Line projects and using video to communicate, document, collaborate, investigate, interrogate, compete, congratulate, and evaluate.  

The main thing I learned from this course is just how to use technology in the classroom and to transfer from technology making my life easier to using technology in a way that it motivates, engages, and overall makes learning easier and more relevant. I learned that to get the most engagement out of my students is to create lessons that ultimately have my students interacting and collaborating with students and topical experts around our world.  I also learned that to get the higher LoTi, my students have to expand the idea of the classroom and really reach out to seek answers and advice from experts.  The best way to do this would be to utilize Skype business and other video or audio conferencing apps and tools.  

I think that 21^st Century K-12 Learners want and need to be tasked with creating projects that can actually help others, be used by others, or to make other real world successes to be safely and securely shared with others around the community and our world  By sharing with a larger community, students will strive to produce the  best possible product that they can.  Students will learn first hand how to relate to others on-line with respect and develop empathy. They will be writing comments, reactions, and advice to collaborating satellite peers.   They will use a computer of digital device to start communicating back and forth and learning to respond to positive feedback, negative feedback, and constructive criticism.   The other cool thing, is that we now have so many great Technology usage standards that guide your use of technology with anyone who might be interested.  I also learned how technology can support student acquisition of content standards and the NETS-S standards to really strengthen any lesson in any class.   I am including the standards below to create a quick reference that I could pull up whenever I would need to use.   

I loved the Engaged Learning Project and look forward to making it come to fruition.  I also have some great ideas from my teammates to maybe try to use too.  I feel truly blessed to have had such hard working, talented, and direct teammates.   They all helped me, inspired me, pushed me,  and supported me throughout that process.  

Thanks guys,  :)

 Standard 2: Teaching, Learning, & AssessmentCandidates demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to effectively integrate technology into their own teaching practice and to collaboratively plan with and assist other educators in utilizing technology to improve teaching, learning, and assessment. (ISTE-C Standard 2)
2.1 Content Standards & Student Technology StandardsCandidates model and facilitate the design and implementation of technology-enhanced learning experiences aligned with student content standards and student technology standards. (ISTE-C 2.A) 2.2 Research-Based Learner-Centered Strategies Candidates model and facilitate the use of research-based, learner-centered strategies addressing the diversity of all students. (ISTE-C 2.B) 2.3 Authentic Learning Candidates model and facilitate the use of digital tools and resources to engage students in authentic learning experiences. (ISTE-C 2.C) 2.4  Higher Order Thinking Skills Candidates model and facilitate the effective use of digital tools and resources to support and enhance higher order thinking skills (e.g., analyze, evaluate, and create); processes (e.g., problem-solving, decision-making); and mental habits of mind (e.g., critical thinking, creative thinking, metacognition, self-regulation, and reflection). (ISTE-C, 2.D) 2.5 Differentiation Candidates model and facilitate the design and implementation of technology-enhanced learning experiences making appropriate use of differentiation, including adjusting content, process, product, and learning environment based upon an analysis of learner characteristics, including readiness levels, interests, and personal goals. (ISTE-C, 2.E) 2.6 Instructional Design Candidates model and facilitate the effective use of research-based best practices in instructional design when designing and developing digital tools, resources, and technology-enhanced learning experiences. (ISTE-C, 2.F) 2.7 AssessmentCandidates model and facilitate the effective use of diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments to measure student learning and technology literacy, including the use of digital assessment tools and resources. (ISTE-C, 2.G) Standard 3: Digital Learning EnvironmentsCandidates demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to create, support, and manage effective digital learning environments. (ISTE-C, Standard 3)
 3.1 Classroom Management & Collaborative LearningCandidates model and facilitate effective classroom management and collaborative learning strategies to maximize teacher and student use of digital tools and resources. (ISTE-C, 3.A) 3.2 Managing Digital Tools and ResourcesCandidates effectively manage digital tools and resources within the context of student learning experiences. (ISTE-C, 3.B) 3.4 Adaptive and Assistive TechnologyCandidates facilitate the use of adaptive and assistive technologies to support individual student learning needs. (ISTE-C, 3.D) 3.5 Basic TroubleshootingCandidates troubleshoot basic software and hardware problems common in digital learning environments. (ISTE-C, 3.E) 3.6 Selecting and Evaluating Digital Tools & ResourcesCandidates collaborate with teachers and administrators to select and evaluate digital tools and resources for accuracy, suitability, and compatibility with the school technology infrastructure. (ISTE-C, 3.F) PSC Standard 6: Candidate Professional Growth & DevelopmentCandidates demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to engage in continuous learning, reflect on professional practice, and engage in appropriate field experiences. (ISTE-C Standard 6)
6.1 Continuous LearningCandidates demonstrate continual growth in knowledge and skills of current and emerging technologies and apply them to improve personal productivity and professional practice. (ISTE-C, 6.A, 6.B) 6.2 ReflectionCandidates regularly evaluate and reflect on their professional practice and dispositions to improve and strengthen their ability to effectively model and facilitate technology-enhanced learning experiences. (ISTE-C, 6.C) 6.3 Field ExperiencesCandidates engage in appropriate field experiences to synthesize and apply the content and professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions identified in these standards. 

Major Initiatives, Beautiful Fall, Relevant Assignments, Challenging Balance = What a semester!!!!!

BLOG fall 2016 KSU-EDL 7105

     I had a very difficult semester balancing life and school.  It was an incredibly "Real" look into the inner workings of Administrative life through a school's starting a new school year, its implementing a huge new initiative with our 1:1 device roll-out, and what goes on behind the scenes concerning strengths and challenges of technology support, staffing, PD, and school governance.  The assignments around our Strategic Plan, Technology Plan(which we are still formulating), Shared Vision, SWOT, and Action Plan were very “Real.”  Thank you for your patience and support.

Well, the beginning of this school year as a teacher and the start of my fourth semester at KSU started off smoothly enough. Needless to say, I am a very supportive husband and have always tried to put my family first.  When I first talked to Meredith about getting my masters degree, I promised her to do my best to not allow my studies to interfere with “Family Time” or unfairly impose extra burdens on her.  The first 2 semesters I was lucky to not have too many choices to make between project deadlines or time with family.  However, this summer was a battle.  I was convinced that this fall would be much easier.

Both of this fall’s classes had delayed starts due to technical issues, so I had more time to prepare to use organizational tools, like creating a KSU digital calendar and creating pages in my OneNote digital notebook to store assignment directions and work… BUT THEN…  the events/ celebrations/ distractions began.  

Last spring, it was announced that my wife, Meredith Tongue was selected as the Fulton County Teacher-Of-The-Year.  This was extremely exciting, but this title comes with many other responsibilities.   Starting off was Meredith addressing and welcoming the 1,000 or so teachers who were new to Fulton County at the beginning of August.  She did an amazing job speaking and represented our district, community, school, and our family very well.  She then had two additional speaking events to prepare that bookended November.  In the first week of the month, she addressed 2,000 or so Fulton County administrators, teachers, support staff, business partners, city and county leaders as well as friends and family of the celebrated Professionals, Administrators, and Teachers Of The Year. To close the month, she is MCing the “State of Our Schools” event that highlights the strategic plan for the county and allows for various department leaders to share their vision for supporting the county’s direction.  So, I obviously sacrificed work/ reading time to help out with our daughters. 

Speaking of daughters, we had family come into town at the beginning of the semester for our oldest daughter , Maya’s, birthday.  Her celebrations over a couple weekends and then my bday a week later which spanned two weekends as well.  In fact, I was looking forward to the weekend after my birthday as a work weekend, but as I was walking out of school that Friday, Meredith was there waiting for me with the girls in the car.  They had planned a surprise weekend retreat in Helen.   It’s funny how things come in bunches.  I was then invited by 3 different groups to go up to the Blue Ridge area 5 times throughout September and October.  I simply chose to spend time with my family and friends enjoying an uncharacteristically long and beautiful fall.  We even had camping trip up at Carter’s Lake.  I had to drive from there all the way past the Harstfield/Jackson International airport that Saturday morning of the camping trip to take my Tennis team to the county tournament.  It was freezing, but surprisingly when I returned to Carter’s Lake, the water was so low that when you went down to hangout right by the water, there was no wind and tons of bright warm sun.  I went from lower 50’s at the top of the campsites to upper 70’s by the water.  It was an oasis of warmth.

So, other responsibilities I took on at my school besides Coaching tennis for 7 weeks were: starting an on-line PLC for my class, Adventure Quest, with a couple other AQ teachers in Fulton County, helping with the 1:1 “Roll Out” committee planning, the actual “Roll Out,” Getting MIE(Microsoft Innovative Educator) trained, attending 3 days at GaETC through being a Vanguard member, leading 2 training sessions for colleagues at Elkins Pointe, and championing an 8 month long cross curricular PBL project to build a torii gate at the entrance of our Titan Nature Trail.   So, this semester has had me stretched thin to say the least. 

I am very blessed and fortunate to be a part of KSU and their understanding faculty.  This semester’s assignments have also been very eye-opening and helpful to me as I adjust from being teacher-minded- to a teacher leader- to ultimately me being more administrative-minded. The assignments have helped me to start to realize many of the behind the scenes executive and collaborative decisions that a school leader will make.  Through some of our assignment like investigating school’s technology plans, school strategic plans, learning and applying ISTE standards to various school roles, learning about budgeting and grant writing, school safety and nutrition plans, and opening up deeper discussions with administrators due to these assignments. 

It also helps to have a very supportive administrator.   I have tried to protect her time by reaching out to other of our A.P.’s but on all three requests, I have only received emails saying they will try to find time for me, but then I get no further communication.  So, really, I just needed to go to my Principal the whole time. 

Reflections from Experince Log KSU-EDL 7105 Dr. Ribble

1. Briefly describe the field experience. What did you learn about technology facilitation and leadership from completing this field experience? This fall’s field experiences were by far the most relevant due to the immediate implementation of my PD to using what I learned to help train colleagues.  I was able to have an inside look into our school making a major transition into a 1:1 school.  Getting to see all the planning and work pay off with an effective “Roll-Out,” was great to witness for future idea employment in a school setting.  I have seen how so many facets inside a school can work together with effective communication and a clear vision.  I feel that this is an invaluable lesson to learn early on this EDL path that I am on. Also, several of these experiences became a “real view” into what Educational Leadership looks and feels like.  I give credit to my principal, Mrs. Kindra Smith, for inviting me to be a part of SGC and Principal’s area meetings.  It is so very important as a leader to encourage and help grow future leaders in your building.  My principal knows that I am not necessarily following this path to go into Administration, but she keeps encouraging me because she sees my heart and passion for students.   I made a promise to myself and my family to get my master’s degree 20 years ago, and I do want and need to learn more about leadership in order to develop more young leaders. I am really getting my master’s degree to open up new unknown doors, and I really do not fully know what doors this degree may open.  The doors that I know it will open do not necessarily appeal to me, ie. Admin.

2. How did this learning relate to the knowledge (what must you know), skills (what must you be able to do) and dispositions (attitudes, beliefs, enthusiasm) required of a technology facilitator or technology leader? (Refer to the standards you selected in Part I. Use the language of the PSC standards in your answer and reflect on all 3—knowledge, skills, and dispositions.) This course’s required learning goals were: • To gain          a deeper           understanding of         the       field     of         educational            technology,     including         the       history of         the       discipline,        future            career   options,           and      professional     organizations/resources           to            support            ongoing           learning. • To     develop           a          vision   for       technology      use       in         K-12    schools            and      a          research-based rationale          to         support            that      vision. • To     understand      and      assess   essential           conditions       for       effective            technology      implementations          in         K-12    schools. • To     develop           a          school-level     strategic           plan     to         strengthen            the       essential           conditions       and      to         realize  students’         vision            for       technology      use. What an experience??!!  What a combonation??!!!  Learning from this course readings, videos, and assignments, then developing skills that allowed me to be a more competent stakeholder in my school, and finally be a real advocate for change and witnessing the enthusiasm, doubt, fear, frustration, and ultimately the pride of achievement that we all shared, will not soon be forgotten.  Combining these goals with the skills of interviewing, documenting digital data, collaborating, problem-solving in real time and monitoring the dispositions of in real situations, under real deadlines, for a real “Roll-Out” was a true lesson of taking the tasks of this course and really making a difference to my home school. Also, being able to use these national standards directly at my school due to supportive administrators who supported and invested in my own advanced training to allow me to personify and awaken these 2 dimensional standards to allow me to design, model, facilitate, and promote learning and positive attitudes in the face of a daunting program implementation.

3. Describe how this field experience impacted school improvement, faculty development or student learning at your school. How can the impact be assessed?  This field experience impacted school improvement by being directly involved with the 1:1 roll out plan and event.  This process of having an implementation of a program coming your way, allotting appropriate time and collaboration to prepare, effectively managing people and resources, and trusting all stakeholders in this process to do their job, was a beautiful thing to be a part of. My trainings in both Vanguard and MIE have been directed towards my ability to pass on this knowledge to make the shorten the learning curve with Office 365 tools and other effective ways of using our Dell latitude Laptop devices.   My trainings at the GaETC will continue to impact the education and classroom management at my school as I and several other Vanguard members design future PD for our colleagues and hopefully for other schools’ faculty too.

Summer Session KSU-EDL 7305 Data Analysis Discussion posts

Here are my discussion posts for KSU-EDL 7305 

PLN

The experience of investigating, creating, and enhancing a Person Learning Network was a good amount of work.  There seems to be a learning curve of at least a couple hours from most of the on-line PLN tools we covered in class.   As with anything, the more time you spend with any of these tools of Technology the more time it will save you in the end.  It seems to me though that the time spent learning a new use in technology is often the definitive obstacle to teachers trying something.  I really think this in turn leads us to an effective way to get teachers trying new tools of Technology.  We all have the occasional faculty meeting, at least one per quarter.  This is a chance for all the teachers to be together,  why not introduce and train teachers on an online tool when they can all be together with their friends.  Faculty meetings generally are met with resistance and walked away from with resent for it not being effective or efficient.  Spending time walking the staff through a tool, sharing all the shortcuts and steps to take to use it more fully, and offering opportunities to actually use the tool to create something for your class on, would be well worth the time for the faculty and administrator.  I think so, but I am usually all about trying something new.

Another aspect of learning all these tools  is that they all required constant looking back into and updating ,so it really gave you a window glance into the reality of what it takes to keep you online tools up to date and current and therefore relevant.  By setting alerts and alarms in my phone and on my google calendar I was able to maintain a constant check and stay fairly current on articles, podcasts, wiki responses, shared resources as well as staying updated on videos and projects of what others are doing.  Once our school adopts the "One to One" program and all our students have a device, I will be ready and aware of what it takes to run and maintain online PLNs as well as able to share what I have learned with my faculty.

Adventure Quest's legacy

Experiencing and witnessing the affects of low self esteem and students who have very little resources or support at home.

--Geoffrey Canada, "Our Schools failing: Enough is Enough" TED Talks

Schools need to change

banks, technology have all grown and changed, why haven't schools. banks decided to open up after people get home from work, opened up on Saturdays.

State tests, give great data, but don't get scores back in time to do anything.  Lets have the continual calendar for schools to decrease the amount of time students have off away from academic stimulus and gain more time to actually put the Testing data to use.

Schools have to innovate and take risks.

yes you will have failure, but keep on creating. charter schools are good risks.

--bill gates said simply 5 billion on education could make huge impact on leveling the playing field in education.

- help us be teachers and parents. Elizabeth warren study.

Knowing how much a few kind words and someone's encouragement actually helps-7th grade Mr. Scarborro encouraging me to teach a lesson on the Heart in 7th grade science class. Turned my whole life around to focus on Academic Success

This set me on a career path to make sure I'm involved with teaching at schools where there is a diverse population with a high ratio with Socio economic needs. I want to make sure that I can help and encourage teachers to not only work hard but Show students they Love hard too.

I spent 15 years working in LA and SS- I consistently had above average performances (Meets &/or Exceeds) from most of my students. Teachers from other schools would observe me and say that they are teaching in a very similar fashion, and all I could add is that I take time to learn about my students and I tell them that i love them and appreciate them. That is really all I do. I eventually got into PE and now I have my own class that I've been able to really create new units for team building, leadership training, trust activities and overall just encouraging everyone to be the best themselves that they can be and teach acceptance and awareness of each other.

I believe that my class is very important with all my students. Maslow's Hierarchy of needs states level one physiological air, food, level two safety, level 3 love and belonging, 4 self esteem,, 5 self actualization. Before students can truly see their potential in life and have that moment of self actualization, they have to be loved, feel that they belong, and develop some self esteem. Adventure Quest does that. They practice speaking in front of their peers, they catch each other in Trust activities, they post work and art in my room so they know they belong, only positive comments are allowed, and they are taught how to perform turn taking conversations. Listening to each other shows you care and accept.  

 I teach students who raise and ride horses and students who do not eat dinner regularly. I bring them together to find commonalities and form friendships that cross social and economic lines. My job is to reach all my students and have them grow stronger, more trusting, more accepting, tolerant, confident leaders, encouragers, and positive role models.

Notes on Ted Talk and Podcast

Stephen Bezruchka Universithy of Washington

on "The Effects of Health and Poverty on Education"


individual behavior change can effect life span, compared to whether or not you spent the 1st life in poverty, mother wellfare when pregnant, experiences of grandparnets

health is intergenerationally

instit of medicine shorter lives and poorer health report

die younger than other rich countries cigarette smoking in japan ih higher but their death rate is lower Japan has the best life expectancy

educational outcome has a lot to do with chance, parent support for example,

elisabeth Warren Massachusetts senator researched-

1970 2 parent 2 child home had more disposible income wiht 1 parent working than today with 2 parents working

since both parents are working, we have no time to parent,

john bolks studied orphans after wwII

kids need the same 2 people in front of their eyes for the first 2 years, if theres more they are insecure

90 percent of moms breast feed in Sri Lanka, but in our country we are less than 10% a 15 year old girl has a higher chance of reaching age 60 here than in US

Jack SHarkoff of harvard said if you are exposed to poverty in 1st year in life it's like you have a neurotoxin in you brain that affects your whole life.

stess of feeling behind,

profiles of

biomarkers

cortasol

blood pressure

hemoglobiin a1c

stratisfy by socio ecoonomic stattus

poorer people have more of these stressors

this starts very early life

poorer recipients of heart transplants reject the new heart more often and richer recipients

our country has the most poor for any of the rich countries- being poor is bad for your health and all of our countries overall health

US spends a lot of money on Health care (1/2 of all world money)

so much inequality in US that is harms us all,- inequality hinders economic growth- world bank- inequality = poorer health

2009 harvard study

If we had less inequality = to the inequality in other rich countries we would reduce deaths by 1/3

Japah had a 20 year finicial recession and while we layed of 1000's their bosses, managers,and ceos took pay cuts to allow workers to keep jobs, take care of each other, decrease inequality,

how much do we care for others, teller gosher ucberkely

Rich have little empathy, sharing is decreasing,

income gap related to education gap=inequlity

the spirit level by richard wilkinson and kate pickett

inequality destroys societies

1 in 9 black men in prison

we house 1/4 of all prisoners in world

we have some of the worlds highest rates in life expectency, math, literacy, homicides, prisonment, trust,drugs, social mobiltiy AND The highest income inequality

I got mine, you get yours, is killing our country

we got to: tell the people that we are dying off faster than other countries: learn from other countries Swaziland, Liberia, NewGuinea, and US (all no paid maternity leave, lack of parenting time)

Sweden= Full year of maternity leave at full pay, father gets 30 months, 2nd year is optional at 80% pay, 3rd year child gets inroled in Swedish operated daycare, where workers must have an advanced degree in PLAY- experts in socialization, US=no sex abuse and minimum wage,

The measure of a Nation by Howard Friedman

US has the most schooling 12.5 years, We spend the most $12,000 per student annually and have very low outcomes,

we pay teachers .94 % of GDP, general teachers were bottom 3rd of graduating class,

Sweden =teacher and surgeon get paid similarly



classroom activities

-ask students to graph top 25 countries in HEALTH OLYMPICS with events = various life expectencies issues

US is not in top 25

go to institute of Health matrix and evalutation web site

see maps on county maps, life expectency of women going down in 1/3 of us counties, students could rank states or counties for men, women, people of color, immagrents - figure out reasons for discrepencies

-show on a map

international students succeed here because of their very nurturing environments growing up in their first 1000 days of life.

　

Geoffrey Canada

Our Schools failing: Enough is Enough
TED Talks

banks, technology have all grown and changed, why haven't schools. banks decided to open up after people get home from work, opened up on Saturdays.

Why can't schools do this, have summer time classes since science says poor kids fall behind in the summer

first 3 years of brain development in infants so critical.

all kids need preschool, but not all places offer it.

state tests, give great data, but don't get scores back in time to do anything. all great data is null and void since it's too late to use it.

year round schooling would help us be more reactive and helpful

it's high stakes, today, all these kids we are loosing.

have to innovate

yes you will have failure, but keep on creating. charter schools are good grounds to be creative, not all will work,

we cannot wait another 50 years to get this right,

we have to spend money now as if our lives and safety and liberty is at stake. We spend trillions on war, but merely millions on education.

bill gates said simply 5 billion on education could make huge impact on leveling the playing field in education. Help schools be teachers, parents, and mentors, coaches.

you have to let kids know you refuse to let them fail.

support systems in place, and encouragement from many different sources.