ePortfolio Wrap up Compilation Blog 5303
All of the following components helped me to build and reflect on creating my ePortfolio to display my innovation plan. As education continues to grow and evolve, as educators we should do the same. Applying relevant education technology to content will help prepare our students for real-world learning. Fostering their passions, and interest in combination with the technology that is available to them will help elevate them in their learning. Helping students foster a growth mindset to allow them to know that progress can be obtained is a skill that can help transform our students into optimistic learners.
Blog Reflections
One of my favorite components of this course has been the ability to blog about our journey in the ADL program thus far. I am a Millennial who knew about what can be done with technology but never stopped to think about the professional blogging aspect of it. There is so much that can be shared, learned, and taught through blog posts. Through my blog posts, I can reflect and solicit feedback from others in a collaborative setting that allows me to tie in the information that I have digested and solicit more information to learn. The most freeing aspect of blogging is the autonomy to be myself. When I create a post, I don't feel like I have to give a right or wrong answer. It is a great space to provide reflections and even ask questions. Through creating blog posts, I have been inspired to add an aspect of it to my Tech-ing TEKS: Blended Learning Initiative innovation plan for my students and teachers to share their experiences.
Growth Mindset
Having a growth mindset helps promote hard work as well as see obtainable goals as accomplishments and continue to do so. Adopting a growth mindset will allow me to be more open to learning tasks that may have once seemed unattainable or difficult. The power of “ yet”, reminds me that I can, and takes impossible tasks off the table. By properly providing feedback using a growth mindset, one can help to pivot feedback in a way that can encourage someone to continue to enhance their skills to reach a goal or task they may not have completed well previously. I believe that having a growth mindset can limit one’s preoccupation with grades. Oftentimes grades for parents and students, signify accomplishment achievement, when in fact learning and growth can be happening, even if the grades do not correspond.
A growth mindset alone is not a solution to success. Having grit in addition can help to elevate a person's will to succeed. Grit is passion and perseverance for long-term goals regardless of the trials and tribulations that come your way. I love that students with Grit were projected to achieve more. This translates to the fact that students who are goal-oriented are more likely to put in the work to achieve goals no matter what has to be done. A growth mindset is a good start but we must also show and require students how to follow through with their ideas to move our students in the right direction.
Engaging in my Learning Communities
Before embarking on my journey in the ADL program, I never took into consideration the different groups of people who would aid me in being successful along the way. I was fortunate enough to begin this ADL on the accelerated program with an awesome group of amazing people who have helped me along the way. My cohort of peers has helped to encourage me, give me feedback, and even assist with clarification of information. Because of all of our busy schedules including balancing careers, family, and the rigorous requirements of graduate assignments, GroupMe has been the best platform for communication as a cohort. During 5303 we were tasked with creating a collaborative group of 3-5 individuals to discuss assigned topics with. Because of these assignments, I was able to gain insight and perspective from women outside of my grade level and content area. My professional learning comminutes have helped to shape my outlook in ways I never thought they would. The relationships I have created help me to be a better leader, educator, and student.
Learning Manifesto
As an educator, I believe that we must provide students with high-quality education for all in a supportive environment despite their home life. It is important to make sure that we foster students' passions and guide them in healthy relationships with learning in all places and spaces. My learning manifesto addresses the holistic development of students—mentally, physically, and emotionally through collaboration with families and the community, and discusses how can help to inspire students to fall in love with learning in the classroom and beyond. Although every educator's reason for being an educator differs, the one common goal we should have is to provide a safe space for students where they can feel comfortable to develop and learn. The ways we empower our learners should be reflective of their environment and society. We face many challenges as educators in contemporary education, particularly the need for ongoing professional development in digital learning, and the necessity of effectively integrating technology into the curriculum to enhance student engagement and promote independent learning. As we continue to uplift and foster learning, it is important to serve as advocates for culturally relevant teaching practices that acknowledge and include diverse backgrounds, emphasizing the importance of preparing students for real-life situations rather than solely focusing on standardized assessments.
