5389 - Contributions to My Learning & the Learning Community

EDLD5389 - 85/100

In EDLD5389 I was able to take what I ideas that I started in my innovation plan and start planning out actual professional learning training for teachers to implement ePortfolios for all 3 through 12 grade students. This is a crucial step to be able to make my innovation plan a reality.

Getting Started...

Reading Teaching the Teachers Effective Professional Development in an Era of High Stakes Accountability by Gulamhussein gave me the framework I needed to create effective professional learning that gives the time, the engagement to inspire, experience to be familiar with, the support, content-specific application of incorporating ePortfolios a reality in 3th through 12th grade classrooms. This started with creating a "call to action" to define why creating ePortfolios is important. Next, I had to define what ePortfolios are and why ePortfolios would be an effective tool for all 3rd through 12th student regardless of the content area. Then, I had to come up with a plan for teachers to learn why it is important, what the plan is, the support they will have, and the implementation process to be able to successful incorporate creating ePortfolios in their classes. Finally, as I learned in Duarte's video on the common structure of greatest communicators (Duarte, 2010) that all ideas must be communicated effectively before they can make an impact. You can have the greatest idea in the world but if you can't effectively communicate it to others it will never make a difference.

During the the planning stage, I was able to plan utilized my Big Harry Adudacious Goal (BHAG) and my 3 column table to create the course outline of how the individual projects fit together, like puzzle pieces, using ePortfolios in education can transform education.

EDLD5389

In EDLD5389, Developing Effective Professional Leadership, the course's foundation is built around creating a Call to Action to propose a more effective alternative to current professional development. After that, I created a Profession Learning Plan to outline the specific course timeline and the resources needed. Finally, I created a page design for Connecting and Communicating Ideas. This brings all the elements together to create a more complete picture of the Professional Development "reimagined". The proposed professional learning plan will take place during the week of teacher training before school starts to introduce the idea and let the teachers develop their own ePortfolio to become more familiar with the process and become more confident to be able to incorporate ePortfolios into their instruction.

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Reflection

Reflecting on these past eight weeks, I was trying to juggle completing the assignments and discussions while be able to take care of my mother after her recent back surgery. I was open and receptive to feedback, was comfortable with making mistakes, and made revisions according to Dr. Harapnick and Mr. Lynch's feedback. In correcting and resubmitting my Call to Action and my Professional Learning Plan I was able to see first hand how the growth mindset must always be kept in mind when creating an ePortfolio becuase you are never finished. This is a concept that I must make sure I stress in communicating the idea that all teachers should have their students build their ow ePortfolio. The revisions made me aware of the mentality I must have throughout this program and use any setbacks as a learning experience. There were many classes discussion that were very beneficial to developing and refining my professional learning plan for this class. In the blackboard discussion along with a GroupMe I collaborated with Angela Speck, Stephanie Scaletta, Monica Guerrero, and Katharina Claxton. I particularly like the Tedx video of Nancy Duarte explaining how important effective communication is to having your ideas make a difference. As I finish my last few classes in this program, I will strive to communicate my ideas effectively to be able to impact other and make the change you want to see.

References

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