ISTE Standards for Coaches

  • ISTE Standards for Coaches

    Service-Learning IGNITE Talk

    Combatting Apathy With Empathy: A Focus on Technology and Service-Learning Two years ago I sat down with the fourth-grade teachers at our school to co-write a persuasive writing unit for ELA. We wanted to use project-based learning (PBL) to give our students an authentic challenge or task to motivate them and at the same time refining their skills in persuasive writing. We also were interested in trying out service-learning, a form of experiential learning, where students partner with community groups to make a difference. We met weekly to design the curriculum and after several months of work, we emerged with our Community Helpers Unit.  We have taught the unit for several…

  • ISTE Standards for Coaches

    A Roadmap for Choosing New Technology

    A long long time ago in a galaxy far far away…. wait, wrong story.  A long long time ago in a classroom far far away there were students dreaming of one to one devices and teachers advocating for interactive whiteboards and student-adaptive technologies. Now, fast forward to 2020 and we have it all! From kid-friendly robots you can code, to platforms that connect you with classrooms around the world, and digital learning tools on every subject imaginable. The problem now is that teachers are inundated with various forms of educational technology and teachers, principals, and district leaders need to have a clear protocol for choosing which ones to adopt.  Let’s…

  • ISTE Standards for Coaches

    Shaking Up PD

    Redesigning your professional development to be effective, meaningful, and powerful. What is the problem with PD?  Imagine plopping down into a seat at 3:30 pm. You look up at the clock and pray that this professional development session goes by quickly. You pull a snack out of your bag or perhaps you begin to sip your second cup of coffee as your brain shifts to thinking about the stack of papers you have to grade and the lesson you need to finish preparing for tomorrow. Your principal emailed details about today’s training, but it didn’t spark your interest and you’re not sure how it will relate to your teaching.  Ever…

  • ISTE Standards for Coaches

    Culturally Responsive Classrooms: Where to Start

    As people have taken to the streets lately to demand equality, I have watched, reflected, and dialogued with loved ones asking the question, “How am I advocating for equity in my own spheres of influence?” Educators are in such a special and powerful position to impact the next generation. I am eager to examine, reflect, and change how I teach so that I can create a culturally inclusive classroom. I invite you to be part of the process.  What is Culturally Responsive Teaching?  Twenty-five years ago Gloria Ladson-Billings developed the theory of culturally relevant pedagogy. Her theory was built on the cornerstone that schools should be places where meaningful relationships…

  • ISTE Standards for Coaches

    Redesigning Math Courses for Distance Learning

    Nearpod  Nearpod is an ingenious platform that allows teachers to create tech-infused lessons. I believe Nearpod can help teachers deliver quality instruction during distance learning that is also fun and engaging for students. You can find Nearpod online or by downloading the free app. There are synchronous and asynchronous options for teaching. On their website, Nearpod advertises: “Easily synchronize and control live lessons across all student devices. Seamlessly use your favorite web conferencing platform for distance learning settings.” However, there is also the option for asynchronous lessons that can be assigned to students so that they can access them anytime and anywhere. Perhaps you’ve also been trying to figure out…

  • ISTE Standards for Coaches

    The Ultimate STEM Challenge

    The Plan Last year my school decided to adopt the Code.org curriculum K-5 to help equip our students with basic coding skills. This year, our technology teacher has teamed up with classroom teachers to teach the plugged and unplugged lessons in this awesome and free curriculum. To support them in this endeavor as the digital learning coach on campus, I worked with staff to develop curriculum that incorporates more Computer Science (CS) skills. Therefore, I had the fun idea to plan and lead a school-wide STEM challenge that focused on coding. I thought it would provide support to staff as they learn more about CS themselves, and give the students…

  • Digital Citizenship,  ISTE Standards for Coaches

    My Mission and Core Principles

    My mission is to inspire and educate others on how to use technology responsibly to learn, collaborate, communicate, and create content. Through these four areas, my goal is to empower people to be change-makers in their communities. Guiding Principles: Equitable Learning Experience Digital Citizenship Change-Makers Diving in Deeper… I had to really think about it when asked to come up with a personal mission statement for my role as a Technology Coach. When I was a classroom teacher my goal was to build a personal relationship with each child, teach to their diverse needs, and help them fall in love with learning. Although I don’t have my own classroom of…

  • Digital Citizenship,  ISTE Standards for Coaches

    Digital Readiness

    For my Digital Readiness Project, I interviewed our the K-8 principal on our campus. I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about our school and be part of the discussion of how we can move forward. In the interview, I asked a range of questions that covered topics such as digital citizenship, technology policy, and how technology is being used on campus. Questions were derived from ISTE’s Standard for Coaches #7, and Mark Ribble’s nine attributes for digital citizens. I walked away with a good feel for how digitally prepared we are as a school to meet our student’s needs and help equip them for an undefined future. I have…

  • ISTE Standards for Coaches

    Intro to SPU

    When I was in high school I dreamed about going to Seattle Pacific University (SPU). However, my parents and I had a practical conversation that we couldn’t afford it at that time. Who knew that 11 years later, I’d be part of SPU’s graduate program in Digital Education Leadership. Being a nerd at heart, I couldn’t wait to get started with my studies. What I didn’t know was that we would begin by taking the time to get to know Seattle Pacific University better before we ever cracked open a textbook or started learning about the cutting edge of educational technology. Here are some items I took away while reading…

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