Final Reflection - Summer 2015
Looking back at this past summer, I am amazed of how much was jam-packed within ten days. When asked about how the class was by my fellow teachers, I found it difficult to explain in short detail all the things we have accomplished as a group in such a short amount of time. As I reflect back on my first day, I was thoroughly excited to open my mind and my teaching. It had been five years since I was last in a formal educational setting. Although, I have been learning every day on my own since then, it helps to have another perspective to look at my learning and teaching. I learned this summer to continually “wonder” about the world around us. It reminded me to look at things we often take for granted with “child-like” eyes. Even though, I see my perspective of things through an analytical and technological mind, I need to push myself to keep striving for different angles. #olloclip
In terms of technology, I have always had a website, a twitter handle, and social media presence. Although I had these Internet tools, I never truly utilized it to it’s fullest potential. My website for years was nothing but a holding space. I used Twitter in the past to express savings in apps and to follow a bunch of feeds, but I was never really the producer of tweets. Reflecting back on this summer, I can now say I have a strong website filled with authentic work. I have a personal learning network that I communicate through Twitter. But most of all, I believe I’ve gotten over my issues with blogging and actually putting work out on the Internet. I always hated blogging or writing about your work in the public space. I always felt it was egocentric and borderline narcissistic. I’ve come to realize it’s more about sharing your thoughts and opening yourself to others than it is at the “look-at-me-attitude.” There are times I still cringe with my work being out in the public, as it seems so definite. I also believe that my mindset changes as I grow personally and professionally. Lee Shulman wrote, “Learning is least useful when it is private and hidden; it is most powerful when it becomes public and communal.” This quote really resonated with me about the power of sharing to the public and challenging oneself.
The mantra in MSU-WiPro was “get ready to be uncomfortable.” Jumping from topic to topic and not going into deep play had taken me out of my comfort zone. I like to research, analyze, and have time to play with the tools and take a systematic approach to developing ideas. I felt it really hard to digest what was going on that day as we encountered different tools and subject areas. The other issues is that I am comfortable in an Apple environment. I find that everything that I do on the Surface Pro was taking me twice as long. In our first QuickFire video, I could easily edit a video on my iPad or Apple computer, but on the Surface Pro, I had to think what tools could I use. Are they web-based or are software programs? I’m also realizing that there are very limited apps on the Surface Pro that are free. The library store is pretty weak and it’s really made me think about web tools for editing (aka Chromebook Store). In the end, the Quickfires taught me to think quickly and not be a perfectionist when it comes to the technology. I also opened myself to using the Surface Pro has my laptop and my iPad as my tool for editing.
I felt this program really pushed me in my technology skills, which I’m very grateful. I remember talking with Candace about my i-Image and she was telling me how she was just nitpicking on design, but things that would make my image look better. I really appreciated that feedback, because I felt to average technology person, I can fake it through like I know what I am doing and people would praise the work. Even though, I know a lot about technology, I needed to be challenged to do better. I’ve created videos before, but I felt the instructors did a great job in guiding me to strive for a better product.
This entire summer experience has re-energized me as an educator. I feel I am more reflective of my teaching practice and excited to teach this year rather than just coordinate technology around the school. I’ve always felt as a teacher you have to be a risk-taker and that you have to be able to fail to succeed. In Creative Teachers by Henriksen and Mishra, “it simply means that teaching practice can only be creative when it’s always evolving.” This program has empowered me to be innovative and to try new things in my classroom and school, and willing to document the entire process for all to see.
Besides the teaching, learning, and skills I have gained, the most important thing that I value is the people I have met. Seeing teachers that share the same interest, in effectively integrating STEAM into the classroom has given me a new perspective in my teaching practice. I, now have another strong PLN that I can bounce ideas around, gather insight, and just vent about the challenges we face as educators. I have learned so many new ideas and perspectives, and even technology tips that I didn’t even know existed. It was nice to pick the brains of like-minded teachers who are only here to become better at their craft. It was a fresh change and encouraging that other teachers are trying to make a difference no matter where they teach in the city. This cohort has a lot of knowledge and a lot of life’s experience. I look forward to a year of failures and successes and hopefully inspire my students to have the same growth mindset.
In terms of technology, I have always had a website, a twitter handle, and social media presence. Although I had these Internet tools, I never truly utilized it to it’s fullest potential. My website for years was nothing but a holding space. I used Twitter in the past to express savings in apps and to follow a bunch of feeds, but I was never really the producer of tweets. Reflecting back on this summer, I can now say I have a strong website filled with authentic work. I have a personal learning network that I communicate through Twitter. But most of all, I believe I’ve gotten over my issues with blogging and actually putting work out on the Internet. I always hated blogging or writing about your work in the public space. I always felt it was egocentric and borderline narcissistic. I’ve come to realize it’s more about sharing your thoughts and opening yourself to others than it is at the “look-at-me-attitude.” There are times I still cringe with my work being out in the public, as it seems so definite. I also believe that my mindset changes as I grow personally and professionally. Lee Shulman wrote, “Learning is least useful when it is private and hidden; it is most powerful when it becomes public and communal.” This quote really resonated with me about the power of sharing to the public and challenging oneself.
The mantra in MSU-WiPro was “get ready to be uncomfortable.” Jumping from topic to topic and not going into deep play had taken me out of my comfort zone. I like to research, analyze, and have time to play with the tools and take a systematic approach to developing ideas. I felt it really hard to digest what was going on that day as we encountered different tools and subject areas. The other issues is that I am comfortable in an Apple environment. I find that everything that I do on the Surface Pro was taking me twice as long. In our first QuickFire video, I could easily edit a video on my iPad or Apple computer, but on the Surface Pro, I had to think what tools could I use. Are they web-based or are software programs? I’m also realizing that there are very limited apps on the Surface Pro that are free. The library store is pretty weak and it’s really made me think about web tools for editing (aka Chromebook Store). In the end, the Quickfires taught me to think quickly and not be a perfectionist when it comes to the technology. I also opened myself to using the Surface Pro has my laptop and my iPad as my tool for editing.
I felt this program really pushed me in my technology skills, which I’m very grateful. I remember talking with Candace about my i-Image and she was telling me how she was just nitpicking on design, but things that would make my image look better. I really appreciated that feedback, because I felt to average technology person, I can fake it through like I know what I am doing and people would praise the work. Even though, I know a lot about technology, I needed to be challenged to do better. I’ve created videos before, but I felt the instructors did a great job in guiding me to strive for a better product.
This entire summer experience has re-energized me as an educator. I feel I am more reflective of my teaching practice and excited to teach this year rather than just coordinate technology around the school. I’ve always felt as a teacher you have to be a risk-taker and that you have to be able to fail to succeed. In Creative Teachers by Henriksen and Mishra, “it simply means that teaching practice can only be creative when it’s always evolving.” This program has empowered me to be innovative and to try new things in my classroom and school, and willing to document the entire process for all to see.
Besides the teaching, learning, and skills I have gained, the most important thing that I value is the people I have met. Seeing teachers that share the same interest, in effectively integrating STEAM into the classroom has given me a new perspective in my teaching practice. I, now have another strong PLN that I can bounce ideas around, gather insight, and just vent about the challenges we face as educators. I have learned so many new ideas and perspectives, and even technology tips that I didn’t even know existed. It was nice to pick the brains of like-minded teachers who are only here to become better at their craft. It was a fresh change and encouraging that other teachers are trying to make a difference no matter where they teach in the city. This cohort has a lot of knowledge and a lot of life’s experience. I look forward to a year of failures and successes and hopefully inspire my students to have the same growth mindset.
References
Henriksen, D. & Mishra, P. (2013). Learning from Creative Teachers. Educational Leadership. 70(5).
Shulman, L.S. (1999, edited by instructors). What is learning and what does it look like when it doesn’t go well? Change, (31)4, 10-17
Henriksen, D. & Mishra, P. (2013). Learning from Creative Teachers. Educational Leadership. 70(5).
Shulman, L.S. (1999, edited by instructors). What is learning and what does it look like when it doesn’t go well? Change, (31)4, 10-17