I have been teaching for three years in elementary education. My first contract placed me in a split class of grade five and six students. My next contract was in a class of grade two’s. Currently I am in a continuing contract of teaching grade three and I am thrilled. In my first year of teaching, I discovered how technology can support diverse learners and help personalize learning. I had a few students with Individualized Education Plans, who had previously relied on Educational Assistants and the classroom teacher for scribing, writing, and reading. The iPad provided these students with assistive apps that enabled them to take images of what they needed read, and the device would read it to them. They were able to speak their ideas audibly, and the device would transform it into text. It provided these students with the independence they wanted, and transformed their learning experience.

After this experience, I researched how to effectively use technology to revamp my classroom into a technology-rich, innovative learning environment. I adopted digital portfolios in my classroom to replace traditional report cards. Students were using iPads to document and share evidence of their learning, creating iMovies for final projects, and blogging for their literature circles. I was passionate about finding ways to incorporate technology with purpose, moving the focus beyond the devices themselves, to how technology enables teaching and learning (“Teaching in a digital age,” 2016). This year I presented a ‘power share’ to Surrey School teachers at a communicating student learning event, on how I am using ePortfolios to make learning visible as we learn to use design thinking. I also presented two workshops at the STA (Surrey Teachers Association) conference in 2017 with my colleague on implementing Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies big ideas and curricular competencies through STEM challenges and coding.

Looking at my career through a technological lens, at my school level I joined the technology team, supported classroom teachers, presented an Ignite with my students at the Surrey School Districts Digital Learner series, and presented how I am using technology to transform learning to my colleagues. I had experienced how students could take charge of their learning in a technology-supported environment, and I was excited to share. Last year I joined the district’s coding team and became one of the coding teachers. Once a week I visit different elementary schools in the district and teach grade six and seven students how to use computational thinking to code and learn how to program through game-like activities. I support the classroom teacher with the Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies curriculum and how to continue coding after the workshops. I have been using the Launch Cycle (Spencer and Juliani, 2016) to support design thinking in my primary classroom. We use design thinking, combined with technology, to create iMovies, program video games, and code Sphero’s. Since becoming a coding teacher, my grade two and three students are passionate about robotics, 3D printing, coding, and using design and creative thinking while working with the Makey Makey.

My learning goals for this course include developing computational thinking skills and design thinking to experiment with Word Press as I design my eFolio. I also plan to find more ways to integrate digital technology and platforms for instruction within my classroom. Each semester I thoroughly enjoy working with new people who challenge and educate me through collaboration. My personal goal each week is to reflect on the readings and consider how I can implement ideas or research into my practice and learning environment. I also aim to learn new coding languages. The Surrey School District recently presented a set of core foundational skills called the Core Competencies, which include communication, thinking, and personal and social. I look forward to learn how technology can better support these core competencies in our learners. I am a life-long learner and enjoy using twitter as a professional development platform.

References:

Spencer, J., and Juliani, A. J. (2016). LAUNCH: using design thinking to boost creativity and bring out the maker in every student. San Diego, CA: Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc.

Teaching in a digital age: How educators use technology to improve studentlearning.(2016). Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 48(3), 194-211.