DB #3

When I think of education, communication first comes to mind.  As educators, we are constantly communicating—whether it be with students, administration, parents, etc. As I read this week, a comment on communication in particular stood out.   Sheninger, 2014, stated, “Using social media tools that compliment one another is extremely important, but to get to this point, it is important to understand the major social media tools available to school leaders and how they can be used to enhance communications.  I personally think there is a negative connotation when it comes to the idea of social media in education.  While most people are under the impression that social media wastes time; on the other hand, it opens to doors for communication to a mass audience, in which schools can continuously grow support throughout the community. 

 According to Sheninger, 2014, the six elements of change are: connectedness matters, vision, value, support, professional development, and embracement. 

Connectedness doesn’t just mean to be on the social media platform, but to truly understand how to use it for the benefit of a classroom and/or school in order to enhance to learning opportunities of students. 

Vision means that as educators, we hold a clear technology goal and objective that we would like to implement into our classrooms, lessons, and schools.  With no plan, it would be difficult to be proactive. 

Value is a trait that we actively pursue if we want our students to be 21^st century learners.  If we don’t place value on the importance of understanding and utilizing technology, it will be ignored, and our students will not be prepared for the real world.

Of course, in order to have technological value within a classroom/school, one must have support.  Support can come from the school’s administration, or the school district itself.  Nonetheless, if one doesn’t have support in the technology plan or goal, it is likely that students will not receive the resources they need to be successful. 

Professional development is an important aspect to educational technology.  I will admit, that without this class, I would not know much about technology that could be incorporated in my classroom.  Furthermore, having practice with the technology that is planned will make you much more valuable during implementation. 

Lastly, as educators, we should embrace the opportunities we have to be 21^st century teachers.  There are so many valuable resources out there that can increase engagement and student learning, that we would be doing our students a disservice if we ignored technological opportunities. 

In order to apply this into our districts, one must not shy away from standing up for your beliefs.  Change comes from action from educators in the district, and with data.  Keeping track of data that can potentially increase the technology budget has the abilities to get school districts, and their students more opportunities.  Such data support is what teachers and administrators need to display the importance of educational learning incorporating technology. 

Reference

Sheninger, E. C., & Zhao, Y. (2014). Digital leadership: changing paradigms for changing times. Thousand Oaks (CA): Corwin.

Discussion Board 2

Change is never possible without somebody taking the first step.  Joshua 1:9 states, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (English Standard Version).  Sometimes taking the first step means we need to step out of our comfort zone, and take a risk.  Success has never been possible for anyone without taking a risk, this is why it can be scary, and often times requires us to have a growth mindset. 

In our reading, Dr. Spike states, “We must be the change we wish to see in our schools” (pg. 53).  He goes on to explain that there are two types of leader.  One leader will tell people what they want to hear, while the other type of leader will take them where they need to be.  According to our textbook, Digital leadership, the secrets to change are as follows:

1.     Love your employees

This teaches us to focus on building a school community, and taking pride in the work and learning that is happening in the school.

2.     Connect peers with purpose

Have goals and objectives associated with the change a person wishes to see in their school.

3.     Capacity building prevails

Have a school improvement plan, and build upon the resources that will help you meet the essential goal.  We must all be leaders in this endeavor.

4.     Learning is the work

Participate in professional development, and try implementing what you are learning in your school community.

5.     Transparency rules

Pay attention to the data that is given to the school.  This can be testing data, to school climate survey.  Take the data, and talk about what it means for the school, teachers, and students.

6.     Systems learn

Everyone can be a leader, and contribute to ideas that can be implemented in the school to better the school community. 

In my experience as an educator, I have come to realize that nothing changes in a classroom or school unless someone notices and discusses change that needs to happen.  For example, if we want to better our classroom management, there are opportunities for professional development, observations, collaboration, etc., with our leaders or colleagues to help us achieve our goals.  The secret to change is being open-minded, and following the six ideas that can help us reach our educational goals. 

Reference

Sheninger, E. C., & Zhao, Y. (2014). Digital leadership: changing paradigms for changing times. Thousand Oaks (CA): Corwin.

Discussion Board 1

My name is Alexandra Martinez; coming to you from Nevada.  I completed my student teaching in Northern Virginia, and absolutely loved my experience there.  I am in the last eight weeks of my masters program in Teaching and Learning: Leadership.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to continue my education, and implement that which I have learned in this program, into my classroom and school.  I would like to continue to stay in the classroom, and possibly teach entry level education courses at a community college.  I would be open to a role in administration down the line, but for now, I love being in the classroom with my students.  

This is my fourth year teaching; I am a Freshman and Junior English teacher at our school districts largest high school (we serve just under 2,400 students).  Teaching can, at times, be a daunting occupation.  Teachers and administrators wear so many hats, and are responsible for the well-being of students, that sometimes I feel overwhelmed.  Once scripture that applies to my life now is Joshua 1:9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go (New International Version).”  I love this scripture because i believe if we put in all of our effort, and be faithful, the Lord will take care of the rest.  

In my free time, I love to sing and listen to music.  I have a personal preference for Broadway, and singing.  I also participate in gymnastics about three times a week.  It is my stress relief, so I often prioritize time for it.  Without having kids yet, I am able to do that.  One thing that I failed to mention while filming my discussion is what I hope to get out of this class.  I am not a technological savvy person.  I hope to learn about various resources that can make the learning process easier for my students, and the teaching process more productive for me.  I hope to be able to have the means to face any technological barrier I may face without having the knowledge that I am excited to gain from this course.