Personal Online Case Study

What elements of your teaching practice would be effective in an online learning environment, and what would need to be adjusted, or modified to allow you to successfully work with students within an online learning environment?  

I began looking into the IT&DML program in October 2013 because I was interested in being a technology “coach” in my school district and my Superintendent said I needed more experience.  I thought I had a lot of technology experience.  I was always the first in the building to volunteer for the latest technology pilot program.   I was the technology troubleshooter in the K-2 wing of my building as I thought I knew technology but thinking back to July 2014 when I had my first class I had no idea what I was going to learn and how I would gain about things that I thought were for “real technology” people.

My first blog post says it all!  I would love to read others blogs but I never once thought about starting my own.  As I looked back at my blog posts I “rediscovered” all of the ways I have integrated technology into my life first as a student and then as a teacher into my classroom.  I am first able to proudly show off my blog as well as my learning hub to other educators as well as the world.  I have used my YouTube page to share with various “How To” videos that I have created.  My YouTube page started with me struggling as I cooked with TPACK and then I began creating videos to share with other educators.  Using Geocaching and Easy Blogger Jr. allowed me to give step-by-step guides for people to incorporate into their everyday lives and classrooms.  I can tell you that the Anne Marie Lanning that began this program in July 2014 would have said there was no way I would learn how to do all of those things.  I’m still getting used it to creating videos but I’m learning how to be a confident learner which creates a confident teacher.

As a Kindergarten teacher in an urban school district I am lucky enough to receive a lot of technology support.  I was lucky enough to be chosen to pilot using an iPad in Kindergarten classroom two years ago.  I downloaded a few applications for my students to use but I didn’t realize what my students could really do with that piece of technology.  This past school year I was given a grade level set of ten iPads and because of what I learning in IT&DML program I able to give my students the chance to really use this amazing technology!  We began the year using the Easy Blogger Jr. application and my students have enjoyed this yearlong project!  It has given them the chance to be independent learners.  The application allows them to think and reflect on what they are learning and reading about. 

This past semester I became comfortable using Storify.  I was able provide a quick synopsis of what I had read and learned about each week as a story of sorts.  I have been thinking of incorporating a Storify for Kindergarten celebration this year.  It will be a fun way for students to show their families and friends what they have learned this year.  Luckily students have done a great job documenting the year themselves by using the iPads.   I am happy to have been given the chance to learn to use Storify because it has allowed me to become comfortable using it as a learner and now introducing it to my students as a teacher.

To be a better educator there needs to be constant adjustment and modification to allow for growth to happen.  By becoming a student again I have been constantly adjusting and modifying myself to successfully work with students within an online learning environment.  The IT&DML program has given me numerous resources that I have been lucky enough to share with my students.  Two weeks ago my school district rolled out Google Drive and Edmodo thanks to my experiences at UNH I have been able to help my colleagues discover the advantages of using these amazing resources.  This past semester I was able to work with Coursesites.  Thanks to my wonderful partners Tina and Lisa I was able to see the advantages of using this medium to present information to students. Tina created an amazing unit and Coursesites was a great way to highlight it. I wouldn’t be using it with my Kindergarten students but I would be able to use it for myself to keep assignments and share with their parents. 

As I am now half way completed with my IT&DML journey I am continuing to learn something new each day.  I would like to gain more confidence in using technology with students as well as myself being a learner.   Looking back to July 2014 when I officially started I have gained so much knowledge.  I certainly have learned more than I could have imagined and look forward to what is to come and I have to say my blog and Learning Hub have come a long way in what a positive way!  Who would have thought I would go from just reading blogs to now having a blog AND Learning Hub AND posting over 80 times!