TASK: Reflect on the process (of creating curriculum) and describe how you’d like to see your lessons used both locally and at a larger scale.

Our ‘curriculum’ was not like everyone else’s. We don’t have lesson plans that we created that will be linked to the Kenan webpage for others to access. (http://kenanfellows.org/curriculum-project-list). Instead we have resources that are tagged, aligned to NC standards and sortable by keywords and stored in Home Base. Well, few daily users call it ‘Home Base’. Some say ‘Power Teacher. Others say ‘Power School’.  A few even call it ‘Grade Book’.

Our Home Base task last summer was to work on the computer and find free, online resources that meet the criteria of the NC Summary Rubric and tag them. Once tagged for publisher, grade level, duration, type of resource and other key words, the online resources we found were entered into Home Base. We talked resources, sought resources, read resources, rejected and accepted resources.

We looked forward to being the ambassadors for this new online platform. Sadly, my November goals of going from school to school to show teachers how to access Schoolnet’s Instructional Materials had to be postponed. My goal had been to explain the search feature and to begin the process of recommending resources to a school bank and subsequently to a county bank. The thought of working across the county to designate particular online resources to support world language instruction was invigorating but would have to wait..

We Home Base fellows were anxious to see our “resources in Home Base” and to share them with our fellow teachers, schools and districts. That said, teachers I work with never talked about ‘Home Base’. They all referred to ‘Power School’ or ‘Power Teacher’. By the time I made my first formal presentation about these tagged resources at the Foreign Language Association of North Carolina fall ‘state conference in October 2014, the mention of ‘Power School’ brought painful memories to most. The initial difficulties with getting in to ‘Power School’, entering grades and printing report cards were the focus of the day.

Little known to most was that by clicking on the ‘Schoolnet’ link to the left of where you take your daily attendance, one could search for and view the resources that had been tagged by so many.

From the Home Base webinars in fall and spring, the number of ‘Instructional Materials’, as I learned to correctly say, kept rising and rising.

Our district must have experienced more difficulties than most. Through March, the Schoolnet link kept disappearing from district account users. Tickets would be placed and the link would return to disappear again. Come April, I was able to go to the various high schools and meet with world language teachers to show them how to find Schoolnet and how to search for resources, save them, upload your own resources or link, etc.

NC state superintendent Dr. June Atkinson told the conference attendees at the NCTIES conference in March that like past transitions to new grading systems, people complained about the old one until the new one came along. Then, they wanted to return to the comfort of the old one they knew. She assured us that this learning curve will also soon pass.

Long story short, the Home Base platform has great potential. It comes at an appropriate time in our technological evolution. It has the potential to support many valuable cross-platform uses. Like the TESLA electric car or the SpaceX rocket, they too had some issues leaving the design studio. Let’s hope the stock in Home Base also rises and that the few bugs with the system are worked out swiftly.

One can see that the number of Instructional Materials in Schoolnet is increasing regularly. With the plans for the Governor’s Teachers’ Network to add instructional units with lesson plans and professional development modules, there is a serious opportunity for North Carolina educators to bond together to impact education in the state. I look forward to many people accessing Schoolnet AND contributing more instructional materials. This has been an opportunity to be involved with the launch of a massive, multi-faceted technology tool. Let’s hope it serves as a firm foundation, or base, from which to create a strong statewide digital bank with many useful resources and powerful digital tools,

Did I grow as I had hoped? Sitting at the computer more and more each day I am expanding. Each day I seem to cover more and more of the seat cushion. I doubt you are referring to that type of growth but my computer and I have certainly created a more sedentary lifestyle together.

Professional and personal growth is impossible. Is it not? Or am I just optimistic that all people are continually growing and improving with age?

I didn’t have a clear idea of how this internship would impact me. That said, as time goes on, the experiences and learnings gleaned stand out more and more. It is like a nice luster that has begun to shine with use and time. It is hard to appreciate the value of many things at first. When I hear myself tell others on more than one occasion about the awesome classroom activities some of my Kenan peers have shared, I see how the internship has impacted me. How many people have I told about the amazing Christie Wilson who teaches engineering to her kindergartners!  Then she teaches them writing and reading based on these shared experiences. I was so impressed with Kalyani Tawade’s insightful comments on what it takes to create the best competitive team for Odyssey of the Mind-type competitions. In the long run, it is the people who make the difference, that you remember.

When I remember or use a tech tool that was taught in that overwhelming barrage of incredible tech PD at Cullowhee, I am reminded of the importance of what I have been exposed to.  When I can use Socrative with ease, I remember Joni. When I spout the importance of coding skills for young children, I remember…. ??? I think of Paul Cansellari when I think of Evernote. He even helped me out months later when I had a question. I can’t forget Jason Lineberger who taught us Aris, etc. Gaming in Education is certainly a new avenue under exploration. His ‘office hours’ gave me the change to ask questions that only I was interested in. Very nice to be so spoiled. Nate Vance taught us about infograms and then I began seeing them everywhere. 

At the July PD in Raleigh we were inspired to apply for grants and more grants. Best of all, we heard from Kenan alum Amy Bradley who admitted she didn’t make all the deadlines (and she was invited back to speak to us!). My hero. I think of her as each month’s deadlines come near. Maybe you don’t have to be perfect to grow, improve and prosper.

The October PD in Raleigh was so impressive. The Hunt Library! It is a new buzz word and we got to experience it personally and more than once. I saw 3-D printing there for the first time. Kelly Hines told us all about Discovery Ed. It was so cool to run into her at NCTIES because she is so active in DEN that she knows all sorts of peeps in my county. Meeting with Eric Guckian from the governor’s office, with Einstein fellows, with a writer of what has become the NCEES put us in contact with people who have and will shape education and public policy. Was that amazing! And René Herrick was chosen to join the governor’s teacher advisory group. Bravo. How impressive is that!

Of course, I will never take another rafting trip without smiling. It was great having the nerve to jump off the rock in the river with Sue DePerno. When Kimberly Forbes, Lisa and a the literal ‘boatload’ of people feel from their rafts it gave us all something to talk about. That said, there must be something profound to be said about coming up soaking wet from a river dipping, drying off and moving on.

How did the fellowship impact me? It was the shot in the arm I needed. It was the repositioning on the career GPS. It was the back brace to stand taller and aim higher. I am glad that last May we heard the history of the Kenan family’s charitable works and belief in education. In the current political situation in North Carolina, it is inspiring to know that an organization exists to improve teaching and to retain teachers. We fellows are fortunate to have the current Kenan Fellows Program staff working to improve educators and education.

I give a special shout out to my Home Base buddies who unequivocally supported and inspired me in this journey. The world is a large, impersonal place. It was good to feel welcome at Home Base.

Thank you Kenan supporters. Thank you Kenan staff. Thank you Kenan fellows.  Thank you DPI mentors. Thank you Home Base buddies. You have all inspired me. You have been great role models. Thank you for walking with me, for leading me, for pushing me and for sharing many new experiences together.

Kimberly Sanderling wrote in her blog, “The best way a mentor can prepare another leader is to expose him or her to other great people.” John  C. Maxwell You have all been my mentors.