All children, despite circumstances, should be afforded an educational opportunity, where they can create, explore and evolve their knowledge in a safe, welcoming atmosphere. As an educator, my duty is to inspire students to fall in love with learning, while facilitating the growth and development of the whole student, mentally, physically, and emotionally. I believe that teaching is a collaborative effort involving not only students and educators of the classroom, but other faculty, staff, family members, and community members. My job as an educator is to assist students in developing knowledge to be well-rounded, functioning citizens of this world. By providing students with different learning styles and techniques, I can incorporate real-world experiences into the classroom curriculum, and foster high-order thinking skills, for students to develop as problem solvers. 

 

My passion for education and learning comes from a spark that was fueled by educators who saw a gift in me and helped to ignite that fire. Growing up in a single-parent household with two sisters, was financially difficult and money for extracurricular activities was often scarce. The time and devotion that my teachers used to pour into me inspired me to become an educator who could help do the same for other students. 

 

The lack of training and knowledge surrounding digital learning are emerging issues at local, state, and national levels. Students have access to the internet and technology like never before, but many educators do not have the proper training to facilitate the learning students are receiving using technology. Educators need to receive ongoing professional development to make the most out of technology as an instructional tool and for students to use independently. In order to provide the best, it is important to remember that we as educators must use technology to enhance the curriculum in ways that educators see fit (Ottenbreit-Leftwich a et al., 2010).

 

Education is always striving for change and innovation in the classroom and finding new ways to stay relevant with time. More districts across the nation are including more culturally relevant curriculum and resources for their students to help get them motivated to take ownership of learning independently. According to (Banda & Mpolomoka, 2018), culturally relevant education (CRE), is inclusive of diverse backgrounds of learners in the teaching and learning process.

 

The public education system continues to educate students based on standardized assessments, instead of preparing students for life. If the focus of educating students were geared towards nurturing the whole child, including life lessons such as how to problem solve, manage and regulate their emotions, the intricacies of finance, and the importance of being aware of what is going on around you, students would be better prepared for their futures.

 

I believe digital learning is a great resource that can elevate education for students and allow them to take ownership of their learning like never before. I believe that access to quality education should be available and accessible for all. As an educator, I hope to show students and other educators how to intertwine technology and curriculum to seamlessly assist with the customization and differentiation of learning for students. Not only do students need to know how to adequately navigate technology, but educators should be able to provide sufficient modeling and guidance to assist students in the classroom. By providing professional development, receiving feedback from colleagues, students, and parents, and being allowed to implement an innovation plan that specifically implements the use of technology with the state standards, I can move a step closer to helping to create a generation of technologically savvy independent and self-motivated learners.