Visionary Leadership Artifact and Annotation (1) Title: Virtual African Animal Habitat Design Description: This project was designed To help students better understand the basic needs of plants and animals. We (group project) decided to innovate a plant and animal unit. Students will design a solution to ensure that a plant or animal has all of its basic needs met by utilizing the makerspace (in conjunction with digital devices) and Minecraft within the school. Course Info: MEDT 8461 Diffusion of Innovations Relevant Conceptual Framework Descriptors: 1. Commitment to Field-based Inquiry Adaptive: We believe that candidates should be able to demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to attempt promising new approaches for effective educational improvement. 2. Commitment to Professional Excellence Knowledgeable: We believe that candidates should be able to demonstrate general knowledge inherent in a liberal arts curriculum, advanced knowledge in content areas, proficiency in technology and specific knowledge in professional education. 3. Commitment to the Betterment of Society Collaborative: We believe that candidates should be able to develop skills to work effectively with various stakeholders involved in the educational process. Reflection: This is a group project I participated in (I will be completing this assignment spring 2019). We were given instruction to come up with a Technology Integration Project. Because two of us were art teachers we really felt like makerspace and the use of Minecraft was a great project for us. We all have worked very well together on this project and are all team players. I have learned a lot about Minecraft and how it can be used for education. Makerspace is also something I have always been interested in and have future plans to incorporate into my classroom. This project work well with implementing many standards and different content areas and can also be used by core curriculum teachers, really at any level. This project supports digital education for all students.
Visionary Leadership Artifact and Annotation (2) Title: School Leadership Discussion Description: For this assignment, we had to discuss different management systems and leadership in our own school. Course Info: MEDT 8462 Leading and Managing Instructional Technology Relevant Conceptual Framework Descriptors 1.Commitment to Professional Excellence: Leading: We believe that candidates should be able to demonstrate effective leadership skills to initiate and facilitate educational improvement. Knowledgeable: We believe that candidates should be able to demonstrate general knowledge inherent in a liberal arts curriculum, advanced knowledge in content areas, proficiency in technology and specific knowledge in professional education. Reflection: When looking at the three different types of management, and how those look in our school, I immediately thought of a program I am currently involved in. Hall County promotes a program called "Growing Teacher Leaders" that is meant to provide an environment that cultivates leaders in school systems and at the district level. As mentioned in the paper, I plan to use my knowledge from my Eds. and masters to complete and capstone for the leadership program where I compile an online bank of fine arts lessons, organized by content and standard. This to me, really goes along with visionary leadership and provides a platform for technology infused plans that will impact at the district and school levels. I have big plans to head this up, and this paper really gave me a jumping start as to how to combine the three management styles to complete this idea and bring it to life.
Teaching, Learning, and Assessments Artifact and Annotation (1) Title: 2nd Grade Life Cycles Description: For this assignment, we had to work with a homeroom teacher to plan a technology based assessment (the lesson could also use technology). I chose to create a Nearpod lesson. In this lesson students will walk through life cycles with the teacher. At the end of the lesson, students will be given a quiz and have to label and draw a life cycle. Nearpod generates reports, which will be used to grade using a rubric. Course Info: MEDT 7476 - Assessing Learning with Technology-Enhanced Instruction Relevant Conceptual Framework Descriptors 1. Commitment to Field-based Inquiry Inquisitive: We believe that candidates should understand education research and the implications for practice, have the ability to assess achievement and growth, and to question practices and investigate alternative solutions in educational settings. 2. Commitment to the Betterment of Society Collaborative: We believe that candidates should be able to develop skills to work effectively with various stakeholders involved in the educational process. Reflection: I really enjoyed this project. It is not often that I get to be involved with core curriculum, so working with a second grade teacher was a great experience and allowed for collaboration from an art and core subject perspective. Assessing is something I struggle with in the art room because, it is so subjective. Being able to work with a homeroom teacher on assessment was very beneficial for me, but it allowed me an opportunity to show her how use technology to assist her in the assessment process.
Teaching, Learning, and Assessments Artifact and Annotation (2) Title: Comprehensive Instructional Design Plan Description: For this assignment I worked with a Kindergarten teacher at my school to collaborate on enhancing a lesson (homophones) using technology. The lesson starts with a Prezi. I also created visuals to go with the Prezi, that can be printed and displayed in the classroom. Course Info: MEDT 7490 Visual Media Literacy Relevant Conceptual Framework Descriptors 1. Commitment to Field-based Inquiry Inquisitive: We believe that candidates should understand education research and the implications for practice, have the ability to assess achievement and growth, and to question practices and investigate alternative solutions in educational settings. 2. Commitment to the Betterment of Society Collaborative: We believe that candidates should be able to develop skills to work effectively with various stakeholders involved in the educational process. Reflection: I enjoyed working with this Kindergarten teacher. She was in the process of completing a capstone project for a leadership group she is apart of for the county. We were able to collaborate and plan and infuse both our backgrounds (art and ELA) into this project. I think adding the element of the Prezi will really hook the students in, and engage them in the lesson. Creating the visuals will help to reinforce what they just learned.
Digital-Age Learning Environments Artifact and Annotation (1) Title: DESTIN Description: This project consisted of discovering a performance gap in our school and using technology to enhance instruction and help to close the performance gap. Our group chose to use the ADDIE model for our design to complete the assignment. Course Info: MEDT 7464 Designing Technology Enhanced Instruction Relevant Conceptual Framework Descriptors 1.Commitment to Professional Excellence Knowledgeable: We believe that candidates should be able to demonstrate general knowledge inherent in a liberal arts curriculum, advanced knowledge in content areas, proficiency in technology and specific knowledge in professional education. Decisive: We believe that candidates should use data to make informed decisions that will drive educational improvement. Reflection: This was a group project. I had a great team for this project, we all worked really well together. For our project we chose to work on closing the gap of effective note taking with graphic organizers. One of our team members taught third grade and discovered how little students knew about note taking and where to even begin. This was a great project to take a standard lesson every elementary student should be learning, and incorporate technology into it so that students are motivated to learn and engaged in the lesson. Our hope was that students through the use of technology would find an easy and effective way to take notes that are easily accessible and organized.
Digital-Age Learning Environments Artifact and Annotation (2) Title: Process for Creating Art Infographic Description: For this assignment we had to create an infographic that would be useful in our classrooms and visually pleasing. Course Info: MEDT 7490 Visual Media Literacy Relevant Conceptual Framework Descriptors 1. Commitment to Field-based Inquiry Inquisitive: We believe that candidates should understand education research and the implications for practice, have the ability to assess achievement and growth, and to question practices and investigate alternative solutions in educational settings. Reflection: While I think that this project originated as more of a visual and less of a technology piece, I mentioned in the reflection how I would use it in my graphic design class. I teach a ten-week class on graphic design and using a computer and drawing pad to create art. After working on this infographic I was inspired to use this idea in my graphic design class where my students would have to research and create their own infographic about a famous artist. In this class we normally just use an app such as Sketchbook to create different drawings, but this project would encompass also the use of the computer for research and presentation all online. Feedback would also be conducted online. Students would communicate with their peers through the infographic that would be turned in on canvas for peer review, this could also be shared with parents through the same canvas platform. This was my first infographic for my Eds. and one that really inspired me to create a digital lesson with my students and provide them an online learning experience.
Professional Development and Program Evaluation Artifact and Annotation (1) Title: Needs Assessment Description:For this assignment, I was asked to create a needs assessment report for technology in my school. I analyzed data from Survey Monkey, and interviews that helped guide me in deciding what technology to work on getting at my school. A full report was created to share data and findings along with an action plan. Course Info:MEDT 8462 Leading and Managing Instructional Technology Programs Relevant Conceptual Framework Descriptors 1. Commitment to Field-based Inquiry: Inquisitive: We believe that candidates should understand education research and the implications for practice, have the ability to assess achievement and growth, and to question practices and investigate alternative solutions in educational settings. 2. Commitment to Professional Excellence: Decisive: We believe that candidates should use data to make informed decisions that will drive educational improvement. Reflection:This assignment was a very good for reflection for me. It made me really dig in deep to our school and see what we had to offer where technology was concerned. In doing research I learned so much I didn’t know about what we offer to teachers and students. Our county is big on technology and using it in lessons, so our school has a lot interesting things to offer. Through this assignment I was able to work closely with the Media Specialist and discover some very innovative, trail blazing technology that would be great for our school. I think this project lends itself well to professional development in the future with peers.
Professional Development and Program Evaluation Artifact and Annotation (2) Title: Sunshine Committee Evaluation Description: For this assignment we were asked to evaluate a program at our school. Since I am the committee chair for Sunshine Committee, I chose to evaluate this program. Surveys were conducted via Survey Monkey. Course Info: MEDT 8480 Program Evaluation Relevant Conceptual Framework Descriptors: 1. Commitment to Field-based Inquiry: Inquisitive: We believe that candidates should understand education research and the implications for practice, have the ability to assess achievement and growth, and to question practices and investigate alternative solutions in educational settings. Adaptive: We believe that candidates should be able to demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to attempt promising new approaches for effective educational improvement. 2.Commitment to Professional Excellence: Leading: We believe that candidates should be able to demonstrate effective leadership skills to initiate and facilitate educational improvement. Reflection: This project taught me a lot about taking evaluation of programs with in an educational setting. Many times, in education I think we forget to be reflective in our programs and reevaluate them. Educators often get set in their ways because it is what they know and are comfortable with. I have done Sunshine for years, and thought it was great, but after this evaluation I was really able to step back and see changes that needed to be made. I think impacting teacher’s morale, in turn, impacts their classroom environment and their students. This was a great starting point for evaluation for me and gave me real insight as to how to set up an evaluation and make it meaningful.
Digital Citizenship Artifact and Annotation (1) Title: Global Learning and Collaboration Plan Description:This was a group project where we were assigned the task of creating a lesson that would be a collaboration with someone globally. We created an art lesson about the Festival of Elephants that students in India could collaborate on with our students. Course Info: MEDT 7485 Global Learning Relevant Conceptual Framework Descriptors: 1. Commitment to the Betterment of Society: Culturally Sensitive: We believe that candidates should understand diversity among individuals and groups, be committed to equity and the belief that all children can learn, and have the tools to prepare their students and clients for the global world they will face as adults. Empathetic: We believe that candidates should be sensitive to the cultural, religious, gender, sexuality, and socio-economic differences that are reflected in their communities and ensure that these differences do no impede their educational purposes. Reflection:This project was one of my first big group projects. Because I teach art, I was worried that I would not find a group that I could relate to, however, I was pleasantly surprised to find fine arts teachers in my class. I think we worked well on this project and really stretched our imaginations to create this framework for a global learning lesson. None of us had ever done a global learning project so this was a learning curve for every team mate. We worked really well together and I think created a really interesting lesson that incorporates technology and collaborating with peers across the globe.
Digital Citizenship Artifact and Annotation (2) Title: Redesign of Instructional Materials Description: This assignment was all about recreating a lesson that involved technology and using visual images to enhance our lesson. This lesson is based on art from India and connects kid globally through the Prezi and video. Course Info: MEDT 7490 Visual Media Literacy Relevant Conceptual Framework Descriptors 1. Commitment to Field-based Inquiry: Inquisitive: We believe that candidates should understand education research and the implications for practice, have the ability to assess achievement and growth, and to question practices and investigate alternative solutions in educational settings. 2. Commitment to the Betterment of Society: Empathetic: We believe that candidates should be sensitive to the cultural, religious, gender, sexuality, and socio-economic differences that are reflected in their communities and ensure that these differences do no impede their educational purposes. Reflection: Revamping this project for me was very important. I love teaching a ten-week session of Art Around the World. I think this gives students a chance to see places they may not get a chance to visit, and allows them a better understanding of art globally. I think that this project help me grow in how I can use technology to really engage my students through how it is presented and videos where they can see someone in India creating the art. Technology can reach so much further than reading on a page or listening to a story. With this being one of my first classes in the program, I learned a lot about technology and how easy it is to incorporate into my lessons. I think this project also deals with digital citizenship and how we must be knowledgeable and considerate of people across the globe and how to present them to our students.
Content and Knowledge and Professional Growth Artifact and Annotation (1) Title: SWOT Analysis Description: This assignment was intended to point out (S)trengths, (W)eaknesses, (O)pportunities and (T)hreats that we found in ourselves where technology was concerned. We had to discuss each heading and provide a reflection at the end. Course Info: MEDT 8463 Issues in Instructional Technology Relevant Conceptual Framework Descriptors: 1. Commitment to Field-based Inquiry Adaptive: We believe that candidates should be able to demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to attempt promising new approaches for effective educational improvement. 2. Commitment to Professional Excellence Reflective: We believe that the candidates should be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills and the ability to recognize their own internal strengths and weaknesses. Reflection: This was a great place for growth for me. Even looking back now at ideas and thoughts that I would have changed knowing what I know now, I am still very happy with this assignment and it's starting point for me. This assignment allowed me to dive in deep and figure out what I needed to work on and how to improve my teaching with technology. It is always humbling to have to point out your own flaws and see where you need to grow. However, for me, this assignment was very reflective and allowed me the opportunity to see where I can grow and what I can learn. Technology is relatively new to the educational setting (at least at my school, at the elementary level). I think we as teachers have to be able to grow with the times and continue as a life long learner, especially with technology.
Content and Knowledge and Professional Growth Artifact and Annotation (2) Title: Student-Centric Art in a Digital Age Description: This was a research assignment where I had to propose specific methodologies to be used carrying out the research that I have performed. I chose to research a technology rich, student-centric learning environment with an emphasis on TAB (Teaching for Artistic Behavior). Course Info: MEDT 8484 Research in Media and Instructional Technology Relevant Conceptual Framework Descriptors: 1.Commitment to Professional Excellence Knowledgeable: We believe that candidates should be able to demonstrate general knowledge inherent in a liberal arts curriculum, advanced knowledge in content areas, proficiency in technology and specific knowledge in professional education. 2. Commitment to Professional Excellence Reflective: We believe that the candidates should be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills and the ability to recognize their own internal strengths and weaknesses. Reflection: This class was one of the first classes I took at West Georgia. I had just completed my masters in Art Education and was very focused on TAB (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) and what that could look like in my classroom. After doing research, I realized how beneficial technology could be in this type of classroom where students could conduct their own research for projects. This assignment taught me how to utilize technology as more than just surface level, attendance, PPT etc. Computers open up students to a whole new world of learning and different ways to engage in a lesson. Creating an environment where students are leading the project, gives them more ownership and allows them the chance to be creative. This was the beginning of my professional growth in relation to technology, and I think this kick started new innovative ideas of how to combine the two (art and technology).