E-Learning Experience

My e-learning experiencing really challenged me, but was one of the most inspiring courses I’ve taken in my graduate studies. I’ve been teaching for four years and each year I have an internal conflict about whether or not I should return to the classroom. The education industry is my passion, but I feel I have more to offer to education than just classroom instruction. I think classroom instruction is essential, however there are so many organizational challenges within education that has trickled into the classroom and making it quite difficult for teachers to be effective.

I think e-learning is the new trend and opportunity for K-12 education. It has already been wildly successful in postsecondary education. I have one more course left in my certification for Organization and Decision Making until I complete my internship. I am already planning what I would like to do for my internship. I wanted to work on writing curriculum for blended learning. This course has given me the foundational understanding of online platform and various tools available to start planning curriculum for online and face to face instruction. At this point I think there are disadvantages with sole virtual classes and sole face to face classes for k-12 education. I think some monumental changes could be make with public education if curriculum was created, of course aligned to Common Core, that includes the appropriate time to supplement with e-learning and the appropriate tool. I also, would be interested in revising the format of professional development for teachers and administrators. There is such as disconnect between educators and students with technology. For example, I am a digital native, however I struggle using technology for direct instruction and assessment. In my personal life I am savvy, but I have not effectively mastered how to incorporate it in my teaching. Our instructional coaches and instructional leaders are not providing opportunities for teachers to learn it either. It’s one of those scenarios where it has to be a hobby. So, you always have the quintessential tech person in the building while everyone else is obsolete.

My perception of e-learning has always been positive and open minded. However, now I am excited about the career opportunities I can use to help classroom teachers be more successful at their jobs. I am truly grateful for this experience.

E-Learning Initiative

Although I am a k-12 educator, I am really interested in creating an e-learning initiative for professional development. Since I've been a teacher I have been so frustrated with all the professional development attempts. The professional developments are so disconnected from the expectations of teachers and students. One way to improve professional development for my content area is to develop content based professional learning communities. I am lucky enough to work with a group of people who genuinely like each other. My topic will be on curriculum development for 9th and 10th grade ELA courses. I want to focus on these courses specifically because these course impact teachers' evaluation by 35 percent and also impacts AYP. Knowledge and skills I bring to the initiative is my experience in the classroom, experience writing curriculum based on Common Core initiatives, a natural technological user (digital native), and my experience from taking online courses at Johns Hopkins and Old Dominion University.