Taking OwnershipI was so grateful for the third class that I took that allowed for redesign of our website. I changed everything over to a Weebly site since I had time to research and figure out what platform would work best with what was needed in the DLL program. I was very appreciative of the time that was given to be able to research and decide where to house my ePortfolio. This is also where I really started to appreciate the COVA design because I was able to tap in to my creativity and design infographics, short videos and other non-traditional forms of showcasing my knowledge. I did struggle with not really having a bunch of parameters but soon learned to love having more freedom. THIS was my drive for this past year....giving my students more freedom in their school work. Giving more choice and allowing for creativity was my mantra. I can understand where my students come from, when they had reservations about assignments, because I too have been through the same thing. I learned that it's too much for my students to give them a COVA model all at once. I have to roll it out in phases because they're used to regurgitating information and haven't had many opportunities to use and showcase their creativity! I believe that it was important in the DLL program to roll out the COVA + CSLE all at once because of the short time frame and because we've been doing the 'regurgitating information' longer. It's like ripping off the bandaid....you just have to do it quickly! As uncomfortable as I was with the beginning of COVA and realizing it continued throughout the program, I really grew to love it. I know that I always grow when I'm really uncomfortable. There was one course (I believe it was the Digital Citizenship class but not totally sure) where I felt like all I was doing was 'busy work'. In addition to the discussions, I had to answer questions from the readings. I had no choice on how to show what I learned, I just had to write out answers to the questions from the readings. Looking back now, I'm realizing that this was an opportunity to appreciate the COVA + CSLE learning even more! ![]() Designing my Innovation Plan was difficult because I didn't choose an easy one. I knew it was going to be difficult to research but it's something I'm passionate about.....blending professional development. I am a huge advocate of the blended learning model and know that it's amazing to see the growth that comes from students that truly embrace it. I also know that it's hard and takes a lot of time up front but understand its value. With that conviction of how blended learning works and my loathing of professional development, I knew I needed to make my Innovation Plan about making professional development (PD) for educators more flexible. This past year our district finally started offering some digital PD's online. They also had a day where teachers could sign up for sessions to attend that they were interested in. I was able to present at that PD. Also, during the pandemic when everything went virtual, I was able to host some sessions about different platforms that teachers could use to engage their students (Edpuzzle & Pear Deck). Not only has the Digital Learning and Leading program been eye opening with the creating opportunities for choice, ownership, voice and authenticity but it's given me hope as a public school teacher. Although I know that I can't change the whole school system at once, I can change the students that come into my classroom. This past year I started creating opportunities for choice through allowing students to manage their time. I did this by creating playlists and allowing the students to go through the playlists and decide if they needed a little extra help in small groups. Sometimes I called students into small group and other times I would ask for students to volunteer to come if they needed a little extra help. I want to go even further by allowing some creativity in their assignments and not just having them do the same thing over and over. This becomes difficult because I have to be able to assess that they're learning what they need to but I also need to stand back and see what they can come up with. I have learned that giving too much flexibility and freedom is overwhelming for students so I still need to be structured let allow for authenticity from the students. This can be done by giving options for assignments and allowing students to choose from a list of options. Although creating choice for students can be done slowly, it may happen slower when talking about educators. All I can do is continue to demonstrate choice, ownership, voice and authenticity through my own classroom and through opportunities I have with leading PD. As long as I continue with change in my own classroom and when I lead PD's, others will see it and it can spread. You don't change a system all at once, it's little by little. Along with this crazy pandemic that has flipped education upside down, NOW is the time to change!
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AuthorI am a believer, wife, mother, teacher, student, life long learner and a huge believer in positivity! Archives
July 2020
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