5318/5320– 96/100

Key Contributions

What worked for me during these two courses is the collaboration group I have built throughout this program. Stacie and Lola are more than just classmates or collaborators in this program; we have become friends. We were a strong collaboration group because we respected our time, opinions, and choices. Primarily we used Stacie’s personal zoom link; we set dates and times, remembering each other’s schedules and activities. For example, Wednesday is a day that our zoom meeting starts much later in the evening, like 8:30 p.m. central time, because Lola goes to church, Stacie stays after school with her students, and I go to the gym to work out. The other semesters we would remain on zoom past 10:00 p.m., but we have ended all our meetings by 10:00 p.m. central time this semester. I do not know if it is because we are getting older and need rest or we were setting boundaries. Maybe it was a combination of both because if I am not working on school assignments, I am in bed by 9:30 p.m.

As we learned in this course, we are not perfect, and there is always room for improvement, so what can we do better? We can do many things better; for me, that is organization, time management, and finding quality family time. If I am organized, my time management will improve, and the quality of family time will increase. Now that I am older, I have realized that family time is valuable and should not be taken for granted. I have learned to treasure every day and make the most of it. 

I always knew I would do great on an assignment if I felt good turning it in and checking the page on my e-portfolio. I would go back and look at the page with a sense of pride. I did not feel accomplished in 5318 after turning in the second assignment, the implementation video, because the video had to be between eight and ten minutes, and I kept going over the time limit. I spent two days trying to cut down the time, but I wanted to keep all the good qualities in my course. I did a script, and with a script, I was at fifteen minutes. This assignment was the assignment that I had the most points taken off, and the feedback was that I needed to address all the questions listed on the assignment. I used a checklist to ensure everything that was required was in my course and that I mentioned in my implementation video. I am part of a chat on GroupMe, which has over 50 students who said they were given similar feedforward; not all questions from the assignment were addressed. Although I received feedforward from my collaboration group and made the necessary adjustments like always, my score was lower than usual. While I notice that some questions are worded differently but are asking the same question, I answer all the questions and then move the sentences around so that there is a flow in my writing. I was feeling down but decided to move on to the following assignments.

I also completed all my assignments and turned them in on time. I do not remember if I did all the discussions before class, but I did complete all my discussions with ample time to allow classmates to respond to me. One of my goals from the previous semesters was to do class discussions before class and reply to anyone responding to my discussion posts. I did go back and reply to anyone that replied to me. Someone mentioned using Quizlet, which I did, and I found it a great resource to add to my digital toolbox. Although I have my go-to technological applications, I like to use different ones to keep student engagement.

Supporting Contrubutions

If we had to pick a leader for our collaboration group, I would choose Stacie. She reads the emails, class announcements, and GroupMe messages before Lola and me. She will text us immediately if it is something urgent like grades are in. Since there are 50 other people in GroupMe, many messages can arrive at a time, and I am only sometimes available to view them. I participated in class discussions, not as much as other students, attended all the meetings, and took notes. I would make it a point to comment in every class meeting.

It is a bittersweet moment, I am overjoyed the program is ending and using all the tools I have learned in the ADL program but I am saddened that I will no longer meet with the ladies every day as I have for the past year. We are planning on meeting next Tuesday, March 7, to celebrate our conferred date of graduation.

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Score: 5315/5317- 99/100

Introduction

We encourage and uplift each other in our grad school work and lives. As I progress through the program, I continue to work with Stacie, Lola, and Lorena. Previously Lorena completed 5317 the semester before but took the time out of her busy schedule to answer any questions we had about the assignments. 

Key Contributions

Last semester we said that we would be better at completing our class assignments sooner than the due date. At the beginning of the semester, we did struggle with the first assignment to finish before the due date. After that, we accomplished finishing the projects before the due date. We may not have turned them in early, but they were completed. Our second goal was to promptly complete discussions or videos to allow our classmates time to respond to us. I met that goal because I posted my discussions promptly for my classmates and group members. We also set a goal to watch the before class and have an outline of what our post could be. Unfortunately, I could only watch some of the videos before class, but I did manage to post early so that my classmates could reply to my post.  The fourth goal was to improve APA citations; this is an ongoing goal because different professors request specific APA citations. There are many rules and guidelines for APA citations that we always double-check with each other and even doubt ourselves. Here is the link to our previous contribution to our learning to see the goals we set. 

Supporting Contributions

Stacie starts with the collaboration page, where we add information that we will constantly use throughout our courses. Information like zoom links to our classes, our group zoom link that Stacie provides us, links to our e-portfolios, and links to exemplar e-portfolios. I added the dates and times to our classes next to the zoom link. One’s mind can slip and mess up dates and times with our busy schedules and the holidays. All group members can easily access this document and view and confirm dates and times. I remind Stacie and Lola to post their discussion on Blackboard frequently so they won’t miss the deadline. 

My collaboration group with my assignments is Stacie at A sweet transformation with Mrs. Stacie, Lorena at https://lorenaga2005.wixsite.com/adljourney, and Lola at https://msgatlinsdigitaljourney.org/category/home/. 

For the discussion collaboration posts, I collaborated with Anna at https://annadigital.org/ and Michael at https://mcockroft6.wixsite.com/my-site. I posted all my discussions on time for my group members and replied to them in a reasonable time. At first, I did not enjoy looking forward to this because it was something new that still needed to be done in other courses and seemed like an additional to-do list. I enjoyed learning about their innovation projects, even if they were unrelated to mine. Anna and Michael have great ideas that will bring change to their organization. 

Although I did meet many goals, I give myself a 99/100 because there is always room for improvement. We never stop learning; we know something new every day, especially with technology, because it is ever-evolving. 

Conclusion

I have accomplished many things in the courses. I know my strengths and weakness and will continue to grow both. APA citations are continuous work that changes, and I must ensure I keep up with the changes and the various formats to cite different citations. Lorena is graduating in less than two weeks, and I want to congratulate her and let her know that we are proud of her and can not wait to see the results in her classroom with blending learning in the reading classroom. Lola, Stacie, and I have two more classes to go, and I know we will get there because we have good communication between ourselves and our professors. We are willing to learn, take on new challenges, and embrace the experiences. 

Feedforward provided by peers on my publication rough draft.

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Introduction

For the Fall semester in 5313 and 5389, I worked with Lola, Stacie, and Lorena. I collaborated with these ladies the semester before and continued to this semester. All four of us have busy schedules as teachers and additional responsibilities. We work together to complete assignments on time. I am blessed to work with these energetic, positive, and determined ladies. 

Key Contributions

We all uniquely contribute to the group. Stacie is like the leader of the group; she takes the initiative. She is the first one to check blackboard for updates and notify the group. Lola is our writer. She takes our writings and makes them better by adding words or phrases to them. Lorena is energetic; she brings lots of joy to our learning. Then there is me; I like to stay ahead and remind everyone of the assignments and discussions. I took the lead in making infographics for our e-portfolios. 

Last semester we set a goal not to finish assignments on the last day. We have improved our timeline for completing projects a day earlier. We did not start with finishing assignments ahead of time, but we kept reminding each other. This is still an area that I need to improve on so that we have more time in other areas. Another area I can improve on is by participating more in class discussions and asking for clarifications on assignments. Someone else may be thinking or wanting to ask the same thing as me. I completed all class discussions on time, so my classmates could see my posts and comment on my reflections. Reflecting on my Creating Significant Learning Environment coursework, I translated the Growth Mindset and Power of YET into Spanish. I did this because I am a bilingual teacher, and to foster an appropriate CSLE, students must feel comfortable in my class. During Developing Effective Professional Learning for teachers, I reflected and started participating actively in my district’s PLs. By doing this, I learned new teaching techniques from other teachers and shared my success stories with them. 

 My most significant growth this semester is sharing my ideas with my colleagues. Before, I would not have shared my ideas due to a lack of confidence. I shared a digital student data tracker. My views are received positively by my campus.  

Supporting Contributions

Stacie starts the collaboration page, and I contribute to organizing the class information into tables with the class. I arranged another table with our names and e-portfolios links. I added links to our collaboration document to other e-portfolios that we look at as examples.

While working on assignments and looking through examples, I placed links to the e-portfolios on our collaboration page, along with notes of what was intriguing to us and specific notes from class that the professors specified for us to do or not to do. This was helpful because we could refer back to it anytime while working on the assignments; it kept us organized. I noticed last semester that we had difficulty finding documents from previous projects, so I linked them to our collaboration page for easy access. 

I am also part of Dawn’s Group Me collaboration group. In Group Me, classmates post questions, clarifications, and e-portfolios. I take the time to read the messages and respond to the questions I know the answers to or refer my classmates to where they could find the answer. I also posted my discussions on blackboard, replied to classmates on time, and posted in APA format.  I would change in the future to go back to the discussions, check if anyone responded to my post, and do a follow-up. 

Although Lorena is not in 5313 with Stacie, Lola, and me, she was available for questions and any clarifications we had on the assignments. Lorena took the time to show us her work and other exemplary e-portfolios. 

Conclusion

My collaboration group with Stacie, Lola, and Lorena is very motivating and diligent about their work. I have learned so much, and I look forward to the Fall second semester in a few days. However, I am nervous about participating more during class discussions.

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Introduction

For the Fall semester 1 in 5313 and 5389, I worked with Lola, Stacie, and Lorena. I collaborated with these ladies the semester before and continued to this semester. All four of us have busy schedules as teachers and additional responsibilities with our families. We work together to complete assignments accurately and submit them on time.  I am blessed to work with such energetic, positive, and determined ladies. 

Key Contributions

We all uniquely contribute to the group. Stacie is like the leader of the group; she takes the initiative. She is the first one to check blackboard for updates and notify the group. Lola is our writer. She takes our writings and makes them better by adding words or phrases to them. Lorena is energetic; she brings lots of joy to our learning. Then there is me; I like to stay ahead and remind everyone of the assignments and discussions. I took the lead in making infographics for our e-portfolios. 

Last semester we set a goal not to finish assignments on the last day. We have improved our timeline for completing projects a day earlier. We did not start with finishing assignments ahead of time, but we kept reminding each other. This is still an area that I need to improve on so that we have more time in other areas. Another area I can improve on is by participating more in class discussions and asking for clarifications on assignments. Someone else may be thinking or wanting to ask the same thing as me. I completed all class discussions on time, so my classmates could see my posts and comment on my reflections. Reflecting on my Creating Significant Learning Environment coursework, I translated the Growth Mindset and Power of YET into Spanish. I did this because I am a bilingual teacher, and to foster an appropriate CSLE, students must feel comfortable in my class. During Developing Effective Professional Learning for teachers, I reflected and started participating actively in my district’s PLs. By doings this, I learned new teaching techniques from other teachers and shared my success stories with them. 

Supporting Contributions

Stacie starts the collaboration page, and I contribute to organizing the class information into tables with the class. I arranged another table with our names and e-portfolios links. I added links to our collaboration document to other e-portfolios that we look at as examples. 

While working on assignments and looking through examples, I placed links to the e-portfolios on our collaboration page, along with notes of what was intriguing to us and specific notes from class that the professors specified for us to do or not to do. This was helpful because we could refer back to it anytime while working on the assignments; it kept us organized. I noticed last semester that we had difficulty finding documents from previous projects, so I linked them to our collaboration page for easy access. 

I am also part of Dawn’s Group Me collaboration group. In Group Me, classmates post questions, clarifications, and e-portfolios. I take the time to read the messages and respond to the questions I know the answers to or refer my classmates to where they could find the answer. I also posted my discussions on blackboard, replied to classmates on time, and posted in APA format.  I would change in the future to go back to the discussions, check if anyone responded to my post, and do a follow-up. 

Although Lorena is not in 5313 with Stacie, Lola, and me, she was available for questions and any clarifications we had on the assignments. Lorena took the time to show us her work and other exemplary e-portfolios.

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I decided to join the ADL program because my school had been underperforming for years. The school had seen many principals come in and out of the school. One may say that maybe I should have just left for another school, a high-performance school, but it is my school, my community, and I will not turn my back on them. Through the learning process, I have learned that I have a few things set in place to Create a Significant Learning Environment, which I need to expand on to make the most of the student’s learning. I currently do Social Emotional Learning, I give students opportunities, and we have the technology. I am learning how to use these things properly to increase student engagement. I can learn to use more technological applications my school district provides and train my students to use them. Students benefit most from these applications when I show them how to use them. I have created a digital table where students keep track of their progress and learning goals.

The district has a variety of reading applications students can use to learn reading skills and improve fluency, grammar, speaking, and listening. We have established cooperating groups, where students are responsible for contributing to their learning. They can discuss concepts, new knowledge, and new ideas. All students are responsible for turning in a product to show mastery. Students use applications like Flip to record answers and feedforward to other students. Recording helps students that struggle with writing, spelling, or language learners. My bilingual students also use Summit K12, which allows them to grow their English in reading, speaking, listening, and writing. 

A growth mindset is one thing that I want to incorporate more in my lessons and goal-setting meetings with students. I believe students can learn and take away so much with a growth mindset. They can achieve it with hard work, determination, and sweat. 

I am an independent and dependent learner. When learning a new idea, it had to come from someone else. As I connect ideas, my thinking process starts evolving. I seek understanding or more information from others. If we were all independent learners, we would not be able to innovate. Innovation comes when there is a need for change. 

I want my students to be independent and dependent learners as well. Dependent on the part of the collaboration to discuss ideas, take what they learned and discussed, and show mastery of what they have learned by creating something unique.

Reference

Harapnuik, D. D. (2021, January 18). Collecting dots vs connecting dots. Retrieved September 12, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7o3Jh1KZLw 

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The question is, will you join the educational revolution to make students’ dreams into reality?

Reference

Bring on the learning revolution! | Sir Ken Robinson. (2010, May 24). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9LelXa3U_I&t=988s

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My story is that I want to know and grow and show others so that they can grow to achieve their goals. Realizing that my story needs more details is a good start for my audience at the moment. Developing my story is hard for me because I do not know where to start or how to start. I know that it must be my story and it must hit softly in people’s hearts. You can have the greatest idea in the world, but if the presentation execution is not on point, people will not join your cause. Mediocre ideas with a great story and presentation that hits you right in the heart and just keeps throbbing all throughout are the ones that people remember and take with them. Those ideas are the ones that are supported. This takes me back to something that I learned a few years ago, it is not the programs that make people successful it is the people in the programs that make people successful. Nancy Duarte gives us Five Simple rules for Creating World Changing Presentations:

1. Treat your audience like royalty

2. Spread ideas and Move People

3. Help them see what you are saying by providing visuals and limiting the text 4. Practice design not a decoration in your presentation and

5. Cultivate healthy relationships by making good eye contact with your audience.

You must practice your story before you give it out and over time your speech will become greater and you will be able to pull on those heartstrings. 

References

Stanford Graduate School of Business. (2013, February 19). Nancy Duarte: How to Create Better Visual Presentations [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so9EJoQJc-0&feature=youtu.be 

TEDxEast – Nancy Duarte uncovers common structure of greatest communicators 11/11/2010. (2010, December 10). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nYFpuc2Umk

Simon Sinek – How to present properly(Part 5). (2018, January 10). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msvmLlAkOno&t=336s 

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The teacher I identify the most with is Mark because I know how to use technology and am not afraid to use it, but I need more information. The school and district I work for also want things to be uniform, so if not everybody is doing it, no one should do it. 

I believe my district is not open to making changes, and if they do make changes, it is a slow transition into things that, by the time changes are complete, it is time to make changes again. Changes will need to happen faster and effectively because the district is suffering due to the teacher shortage and not having vacancies in all areas. 

According to the Mirage report, school districts spend an average of $18,000 per teacher yearly on Professional Learning. This is a significantly high number that is spent on teachers when the PL is ineffective.

References

Daniels, K (Nov 6, 2013). Empowering the teacher technophobe. TEDxBurnsvilleED. https://youtu.be/puiNcIFJTCU.

Killion, J. (2008). Assessing impact: Evaluating staff development (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Learning Forward (2022). Professional Learning Plan. Retrieved on August 24, 2022, from https://learningforward.org/

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Students want a better environment, and I try to incorporate collaboration to increase student engagement. Options are limited to two and are not offered often due to time and planning. I see students lose the desire for creativity and imagination. As the district wants us to keep moving through the curriculum, I believe creativity and imagination take time. 

I am not sure what my next educational step will be, but I know it will involve student choice and creativity. 

According to Douglas Thomas in A New Culture of Learning TedTalk, learning is something we do from the day we are born until we die, and learning is easy, except in school. Students struggle to learn in school, which should be the easiest and safest place to learn. 

References

Dwayne Harapnuik. (2021, April 16). EDLD 5313 Module 1 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4RIBNgK6xI

TEDx Talks. (2012, September 13). A New Culture of Learning, Douglas Thomas at TEDxUFM [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM80GXlyX0U

Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011). A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change (1st edition). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.

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Understanding the Four Disciplines of Execution (4DX model) can be used in both settings, professionally and personally. 

We are constantly setting goals in our lives and aren’t always successful. Here is my explanation of the 4DX model. What I learned is that the LAG is the result. The lead is controlled by what you implement. For example, your lead can be the plan you implement. Examples of methods include blended learning in the classroom to increase student engagement or eating clean for six weeks to see body results. The results of those actions are considered the LAG. The whirlwind is the everyday hustle and bustle that comes with the job; it acts on you. An example of the whirlwind in blended learning is there might be a teacher shortage, so you have to accomate for more students in your classroom, or your meal prepped and your co-workers convenience you to go out for lunch. The Wildly Important Goal (WIG) is the goal that is important to you and wants to achieve. You may have more than one goal, but you should concentrate on only 1-2 goals simultaneously to be effective. Keeping a compelling scoreboard while working towards your WIG is vital to keeping track of your progress. The scoreboard should be simple, easy, show lead and lag measures, and show who is winning.

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