Digital Resources Reflection
Impact On My Life
Technology has always been a large part of my life, in fact I only remember a few years where my family did not have a computer in the home. For me technology was always a means to learn, my 
parents were sure to instill that in my mind and heart. I spent hours playing educational games on the computer for additional homework (yes, I was one of those students)! As technology such as laptops and Wi-fi became more readily available I was able to enhance my learn
ing in school through completing research on my own. I take the words “Google it” very seriously. Although Google didn’t exist at that point in time. I was among the first generation of teenagers to acquire cell phones rather than pagers. I was also the among the generation that thought nothing could get better than the AOL “You’ve Got Mail” notice. .
Staying Current In An Ever Changing Technological World
When I began teaching, instructional technology as a profession did not exist. Within five short years instructional technology had become one of the most sought after fields in education. There was a time when using technology in the classroom had overrun the content I was supposed to be teaching. The true key to successful digital learning and leading is finding balance between technology and teaching. When I started integrating technology into my lessons I was overrun by different apps and sites that were incredibly cool. However, many of them were not purposeful for what my students truly needed to be 21st century learners. Students need a way to communicate and collaborate about the content they are required to learn. Thankfully, Learning Management Systems such as Google Classroom, Edmodo, and Canvas have been developed with just that in mind. As I make the switch from classroom teacher to administrator I am going to have to make more of an effort to stay up-to-date on the new technology being produced for the classroom. I know that by being actively involved in PLCs with the department I am over will encourage and allow me to remain vigilant of changes in educational technology.
Consumer vs. Contributor
Throughout my Educational Technology Leadership program I have definitely began to contribute more to my Professional Learning Network. We do not have an instructional technologist in my district and so a few of the teachers on my campus have become somewhat of the instructional technology gurus for the other teachers. This has allowed me to move into a contributor role rather than just a consumer. This blog has become a large part of what and how I contribute to others. I’ve started housing all of my presentations through my ePortfolio which allows me to continue to grow my own knowledge and share information in an easily accessible way with others. As I move into an administrative role I will continue to use my ePortoflio as a way to communicate technological advances to the teachers and campuses I work with.
21st Century Technology
As an educational technology leader it is my job to help my teachers and my students work and conquer 21st century skills. This requires digital information, digital collaboration, and digital problem-solving. With access to technology in everyone’s hands through phones and tablets it is necessary to teach students to harness this remarkable technology in order to further their own way of thinking. As a leader I will look to other leaders who are interested in doing the same things I am in order to help my students and teachers be 21st century thinkers and doers.
References
“21st Century Technology”. Austrialian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA1Aqp0sPQo
“AOL: Got Mail”. The Wave Site. Retrieved from http://www.thewavsite.com/AOL/gotmail.wav
Marcinek, A. (March 2014). Technology and teaching: Finding a balance. Edutopia. Retrieved from https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/
“Samsung Phone”. Google Images. Retrieved on 4/16/2017
“Treasure Math Storm”. Google Images. Retrieved on 4/16/2017
Reflection – Applying Educational Technology: Portfolio
The openness of this course has allowed me to truly dig deeper and create an eportfolio that is very much a reflection of myself as a digital learner and leader. I have been able to make connections and actually see my progression in instructional technology throughout the last several years. This class has not only required me to create an ePortfolio but also to complete a number of reflections and assignments regarding my learning. The following is a compiled list with links to that learning throughout this ePortoflio.
Assignment One: Digital Learning and Leading: Self-Assessment Of Your Past, Present, And Future Leadership
Assignment Two: Demonstrate Your Engagement In Learning Communities
Assignment Three: Publish Your Learning Manifesto
Blog Posts: Why Use An ePortoflio?, Who Owns the ePortfolio?, Learning From Others
As I continue to grow as an educational leader I plan to focus my learning on how to incorporate digital technology into professional developments and decision making for my student-base as a whole campus.
Learning From Others
A great benefit to working in groups is learning from one another. In my cohort at Lamar University we take the time to share information with one another. I’ve also found that everyone is very opening to sharing ideas with one another. When it came to beginning my ePortfolio I began to look to others for guidance on where to get started. This is so often the case in any type of creative endeavor. While we may have an idea in our head, it is hard to visualize that idea without seeing some sort of comparison or example first.
Observing others ePortfolio’s allowed me to find my likes and dislikes in style and organization. When observing others work it gives everyone a chance to gain and share ideas. This use of collaboration is imperative for educators and students alike. Working together to create new products or solve problems is a great indicator of success in schools.
Formative Assessments: What & Who Are They For?
Who Owns The ePortoflio?
I’ve found through creating my own ePortfolio that an ePortfolio is an extension of one’s own knowledge and creativity. It ultimately represents the COVA approach to learning. I chose my own platform to use, I own everything I place into it, I am able to share my own voice through my site, and my ePortfolio is completely authentic.
On the other hand, because I make my knowledge and creativity public others can learn from it. This too gives them part ownership of my ePortfolio. Readers are investing their time and forming their own ideas about what I have shared. Therefore, they too own the information that is garnered from the site.
I believe an ePortoflio is a wonderful tool in the education world. Student’s can create an ePortoflio show their learning over time. It is an easy way to share information and collaborate with others. An ePortfolio allows students to work for an entire year, or possibly years, in order to grow and show their learning.
Why Use An E-Portfolio?
When first given the assignment of an ePortfolio I assumed it was something I would create and never use again. Giving an assignment or an assessment followed by a grade then moving on is very common in education today. What is the real purpose of those assignments? if educators grade the assignments then move on then the grade is all that mattered. An ePortoflio is a living document, and in allowing students to continue to work on something like an eportfolio all year or even throughout their education allows the student to visually see their thinking over time and how they have progressed and learned.
Using an ePortoflio allows for a diverse way to share information. Through creating my own ePortoflio I have been able to not only use it for my classroom, but I’ve also been able to use it for Professional Developments, networking, and search for administrative positions.
Concepts of Educational Technology
In working towards my Masters in Educational Technology Leadership I was able to participate in a course entitled Concepts of Educational Technology. This course was an eye-opening experience that focused my mind on my own growth as an educational leader. I was able to develop my own Growth Mindset Plan which I use on a daily basis to guide what I spend my time learning and how I spend my time teaching.
Through this course I also able to reflect and create my own Learning Manifesto. This project allowed me to rekindle what I was passionate about in education. I was able to practice the COVA Model of learning as a student and therefore was allowed to see the benefits of this approach. I was truly able to work within my own Choice, Ownership, Voice, and Authenticity.
In continuing my use of the COVA Model I worked on creating this ePortfolio. I did this not only to display my works in the hopes that they are could help other educators but also to provide a way for my continual growth as an educational leader.
Multimedia Video Technology
EDLD 5363: Week Five Reflections
Conference Information: EVERYTHING needs to be turned in this week. Must put a copy of everything in Tk20 in order to receive credit.
Reflection: This assignment was really enlightening. I enjoyed being able to work with people I’d never met, but still successfully collaborate with one another. I learned a few new tools that I had never heard of. I plan on using these in my career from time to time. Great assignment and I’m really proud of the video my group created.
EDLD 5363: Action Research Report Update
I am currently still in the process of collecting Data, this will continue until June of 2017. Once Data is received it is placed into the report and will be compiled in June. The current data is showing a positive effect between the use of Restorative Discipline and the amount of discipline actions resulting in time out of the classroom. The data has also showed an increase in academic scores after the implementation of Restorative Discipline.
Practicum Update
I am continuing to work on my practicum hours and have gained almost 30 additional hours since my mid-way point in EDLD 5397. I am currently trying to complete the rest of my required activities as soon as I can because I know State Testing will take up a lot of my time next semester. I currently have 22 activities and around 225 hours completed.
EDLD 5363: Week Two Reflections
Week #2 Conference Reflection
This week we will be creating either a podcast or vodcast for either Audacity or a video editing program of our choice. The script for the podcast/vodcast needs to be uploaded to the discussion board in order to gain feedback from other students. Remember that we need to add the Creative Commons license that we want. We need to also upload the podcast/vodcast to a free site such as YouTube. Week #3’s assignments will begin working with our group. We will be completing the pre-production for our collaborative video due in Week 5. Podomatic or Podbean are good sites to use to upload your podcast.
Dr. Fong reminded us that we must be very professional in our Leading Video. Be the educational leader now that we are practicing to be. There are three different options for the Leading Video. Choices 1 & 3 require a group of at least 4 other people. Choice 2 requires the majority of faculty for the meeting. This video needs to show that we are beginning to think like a principal and not just like a teacher. The video must be uploaded to Blackboard and Tk20.Week #2 Assignment Reflection
Dr. Fong reminded us that we must be very professional in our Leading Video. Be the educational leader now that we are practicing to be. There are three different options for the Leading Video. Choices 1 & 3 require a group of at least 4 other people. Choice 2 requires the majority of faculty for the meeting. This video needs to show that we are beginning to think like a principal and not just like a teacher. The video must be uploaded to Blackboard and Tk20.Week #2 Assignment Reflection
This assignment was really great for me to complete. I’ve used Audacity before but stopped using it for some reason a little over a year ago. I had honestly completely forgotten about it, so it’s been great to be reintroduced. I was able to refresh my skills using Audcaity, and this assignment allowed me to think about some new ways to use the program in my classroom in the coming semester. This was my first official podcast, aside from giving instructions for my students to use in class. It was a good experience and something I plan on using again.
EDLD 5363: Week One Reflections
Week #1 Web Conference Reflection
We must create a blog and an eportfolio site even though we haven’t done that before, it is needed for this class. All of our assignments and our reflections to the weekly conferences will be posted onto these sites. The team video project is a large part of this course and we need to secure groups now. All of week 5’s assignments will be submitted to Tk20. The Leading Video needs to be submitted into Tk20 by Week 4. Our personal video this week needs to be no more than 2 minutes long and less than 150 words. The visual’s tell your story, much more so than the words. Credits will need to move very slowly. We must also watch a PowerPoint on the leading video and take a short quiz on it. We also need to reflect on this week’s assignment on the blog.
Week #1 Assignment Reflection
This has been the most stressful class so far. Not because of the content or the assignments but because the lack of thorough instruction. This class feels to be very disorganized and not up to date. I’m hoping that as it goes on this class and the assignments will become clearer; however, as of right now it is quite frustrating. The distinction between the storyboard and the script was never made clear in the conference even though it was asked. On a positive note the personal digital story was really fun to make. I never really thought about how unique my Husband’s and my story is, so that was really great to work on and discover. I create videos for my classroom quite often so the actual production of the video was not an issue but I did use techniques and software I had never used before.
Emily K Garcia 