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Connecting & Communicating Ideas

Effective Learning Enviorment

My "Call to Action" I created develops the ideas behind the need for the current professional development to be "reimagined". The Overarching Course Goal/ePortfolio Goal and the 3-column table I created was consistently referenced when making any of the elements essential to the implementation for all 3rd through 12th-grade students.  This Table is necessary for understanding any of the elements required for implementation.

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Elements for Implementation

Professional Learning Outline:  I created a ePortfolio Goal / 3-Column Table to refer to in designing this course outline. The 1st week of this course outline is focused on training before school, with weeks 2 through 6 (first grading period), incorporating ongoing and as-needed support and coaching during weekly PLC meetings.

 

Audience and Their Needs: The audience consists of 3rd- to 12th-grade educators from any content area who want to incorporate student ePortfolios into their classrooms.

 

Who is Leading: The Leader of this professional learning will be an administrator or campus leader who facilitates the incorporation of ePortfolios into student education, showcasing learning, ensuring continuity throughout the school year, and facilitating the transition from one grade level to another.

 

Leadership Roles: The leader and support team will be the administration of the campus where the "ePortfolio Revolution" will be implemented.  During the first week of training, there will be extensive discovery and collaboration, with technical knowledge and support in having all educators create their own ePortfolio (to familiarize teachers with the technical skills and reasons behind elements of the age-appropriate platform).

 

Content-Specific / PLC Collaboration: To make this "ePortfolio Revolution" effective in all area, it is essential during all phases of training, coaching, and support to allow for content-specific teams / PLC collaboration for educators in that area to determine how to apply the lessons and content that is required to build an ePortfolio reflective of that content area.  There are also weekly PLC meetings where teachers can share and help each other in the implementation of all the areas of creating an effective ePortfolio.

Beyond Professional Learning: As shown in the professional learning outline above, there will be as-needed support and coaching during PLC meetings throughout the remainder of the school year.  Also, I would like to draw special attention to a teacher who has senior-level classes.  To promote the continued use of their ePortfolio in college and job search, all seniors must transfer their Wix ePortfolio to a personal Gmail email account for use after graduation.​​

To view a more detailed version of the ideas behind the 5 requirement and elements that plan out this profession learning plan click on the button below.

Learner Expectations

1 - The purpose of this course is for our professional learning community to grow as educators while supporting each other. We will utilize the knowledge and expertise of our facilitators while also being able to collaborate with our peers. 

2 - Our individual classrooms not only present unique challenges, but we also experience similar obstacles to overcome. With collaboration and support of our peers, we can learn from each other and work together to find solutions to shared frustrations. 

3 - Keeping a growth mindset will be important as we navigate implementing new skills and experiencing setbacks as we navigate our way to success.

4 - Whether you are experiencing frustrations or celebrations, we will come together as one community to support each other. Having teachers from various levels of experience, there will be someone nearby we can learn from or support.

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Support for Teacher Learning

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This Overarching Course Goal/ePortfolio Goal and the 3-column table were always referred to when creating any of the elements essential to the implementation for all 3rd through 12th-grade students.  This Table is necessary for understanding any of the elements required for implementation.

Session Resources

Connection to Innovation Plan

This professional development (reimagined) presentation is an essential part to the implementation of my innovation plan.  My innovation plan requires each teacher to create their own ePortfolio, enabling them to gain technical functionality and apply it to implement ePortfolios for all students in their respective classrooms. Through Connecting and Communicating Ideas," I am bringing all the pieces together to create an engaging, empowering, and supportive professional learning training environment where ePortfolios can be incorporated into a teacher's instruction, no matter what content area they teach.

References

Bates, A.W. (2019). Teaching in a Digital Age: Guidelines for designing teaching and learning.

https://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/ 

Donaldson, J. (2012, October 31). Digital Portfolios in the Age of the Read/Write Web. Educause.

https://er.educause.edu/articles/2012/11/digital-portfolios-in-the-age-of-the-readwrite-web

​​

​Duarte, N. (2010). Resonate: Present visual stories that transform audiences. John Wiley & Sons.

https://www.duarte.com/resources/books/resonate/

Duarte, N. (2010, December 10). Nancy Duarte uncovers the common structure of the greatest

communicators  [Video]. TEDxEast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nYFpuc2Umk

Gulamhussein, A. (2013). Teaching the Teachers: Effective Professional Development in an Era of

            High Stakes Accountability. Center for Public Education. Retrieved

            from http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/system/files/2013

            176_ProfessionalDevelopment.pdf

Instruction Partners. (2022, October 4). Seven conditions for effective professional

            learning. https://instructionpartners.org/2022/10/04/seven-conditions-for-effective

            professional-learning/

​​

​Texas Education Agency. (2025). Continuing professional education (CPE).

            https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/preparation-and-continuing-education/continuing

            professional-education cpe#:~:text=Continuing%20Professional%20Education

            %20(CPE)%20is, must%20complete%20150%20CPE%20hours​

© Copyright 2025 | Thaddeus Ryan Komorowski  |  All rights reserved  | 
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