Bryan Funk E-folio

I have become part of the group that is “leading the charge” in creating a 21st century learning and teaching environment in our school district.  After reading through the NETS 2008 criteria I can honestly say that it has caused me to reflect on how well I am meeting these criteria and on the things I will need to do become proficient in all areas.  Perhaps as a team we are meeting all of the objectives but individually I’m not there yet.  The five criteria below are taken from National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers: 
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Teachers and students are encouraged to be creative and innovative in the teaching and in demonstrating learning.  I get excited when I see teachers promoting collaboration in their classrooms and when they allow students to explore beyond the context of the classroom and the textbook.  When these things happen it is important to spread the word to other teachers and to allow them to see firsthand how it is done in the classroom.

I have supported teachers in providing virtual learning environments.   Teachers are also constantly seeing new things being done by myself and other colleagues and part of my role is to give them the necessary time to learn and prepare these new tools for the classroom or to provide time and opportunity where I can help to teach them how to do similar things. 

2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

This is as area in my teaching that I have experienced the most growth in since beginning my Masters in Educational Technology.  My increasing proficiency and experience in digital technology has afforded me the chance to make better use of the technology that existed in my school.  I have made great strides in the area of assessment for learning (formative assessment) and my summative assessments have become much more flexible and effective for assessing the learning of all types of learners in my classroom.  In order for more students to benefit from what I have learned it is important that I continue modeling, sharing, and providing time for other teachers to try the things I have learned not only from formal professional development  but also from what I have been learning by watching and communicating with other teaching professionals.

To involve students to the degree that they are setting their own learning goals, then managing and assessing their own progress is the next step for me as a teacher and I think it is the step that is necessary for students.  There is a presentation on the science of motivation on TED.com (http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/dan_pink_on_motivation.html) by Daniel Pink which I think speaks volumes as to what could be done in education

3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

As a Vice Principal and instructional leader this is one of the areas where I can have the biggest influence of student learning.  Not only is it important to model my competency in this area to the students that I teach directly, it is also important that my administration colleagues, teachers, parents and community members see me as a leader in this area.  I think the work that my principal and I have done in this area  is evident in what parents and students see happening in the majority of the classrooms in our school on a daily basis.  By providing the teachers with the tools, access to the professional development and most importantly an environment where they are not only safe but feel compelled to explore emerging digital technology and use it in the classroom it is the students that stand to benefit the most.

4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

In my own teaching I take great care to model digital citizenship and responsibility. Any notes, web sites, photos and activities that are a part of my teaching are always given reference and every opportunity that the students have to use the internet and other people’s resources are used as a valuable teaching point in this area. 

Our school has made social and emotional intelligence an area of focus for our students and we have time built into our day where we discuss issues of self-awareness,  conflict resolution, empathy, social responsibility and ethical use of cyberspace both in a face-to-face group setting as well as on a Blog.  This provides opportunity not only to discuss these topics but also a learner centered opportunity to demonstrate understanding by doing.

5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

I am part of a group of principals and teachers that continue to co-ordinate, provide and take part in all of the relevant digital technology professional development that we can find.  This includes following the leading researchers and participating in global discussion groups related to educational technology to help make research based decisions on using digital tools and resources as they become available.The energy and passion that I have in this area is something that my colleagues and students understand and it has influenced their willingness to try new things and to strive to improve their teaching.