Considering the significant curriculum changes taking place as a result of the Common Core, do you think that the Common Core is more likely to positively influence the use of technology for learning or is it another impediment to implementing digital tools?

I think Common Core has a lot of great features, and I think it truly will increase the rigor in the classroom. In that regard, I think that it can be a very positive influence in the use of technology in the classroom. My experience with Common Core is that it places a lot of responsibility for learning on the students (which I LOVE), and responsibility on the teachers to find the means for students to take the reins on their learning. Technology is a great resource with which to do this.

On the other hand, my understanding of Common Core also places a huge emphasis on the use of technology, which makes me concerned that in some cases, random and ineffective technology will be used simply for the sake of using technology in all aspects of learning in the classroom. I am of the mindset that technology can be great when it is truly needed, but often as educators, we throw in technology we may not necessarily need for the sake of using technology.

I think if technology is used when needed, and not simply because Common Core calls for it, then Common core could be a very positive influence in using technology to assist students in taking responsibility for their learning in the classroom.

Describe at least one way you can connect your summer externship experience to your classroom curriculum. Also, share and respond to at least three posts.

My summer externship will have a major impact on my classroom. For my Kenan Fellowship lesson, I am creating a unit that will lead students through the engineering design process to create a presentation. My intent in my classroom, however, is to incorporate the process in many other aspects of my classroom.

We will be using the engineering design process extremely deliberately this year; this is something I have never done in the past. Because I work at a STEM school, we have this process posted in every classroom; however, very few of us as teachers outside of stem actually referred to it in our teaching last year. It is my intent to truly base PBL on this process this year, and to incorporate this into our classroom vocabulary.

Through my externship I have gained a much better understanding of the process, which will allow me to teach the steps to my students this year. I have seen it in use during engineering camp with the middle school students, I have discussed this manner of thinking with my mentors, former Kenan Fellows, and with engineers I have worked with over the summer. The time I spent in my externship will greatly benefit the paradigm shift I and my students will partake in this upcoming year!

Based on your experiences, what are the greatest challenges for leveraging technology to empower learning in your classroom and school?

For me, the greatest challenge in using technology in my classroom is to not use the technology for the sake of using technology. I want to work toward using technology in my classroom to enhance learning and for growth, not just to say I am doing it.

There are a few programs I use to do this, but I want to become better versed with technology that truly promotes and adds to the learning in the classroom, and does not take away from it.

The week we all spent in Cullowee was very memorable. A lot will stand out to me from the professional development and the time we spent as a group.

The event that I think I grew from the most was the white water rafting. Not because it was fun and exciting (although it was), but because I was truly scared to do it, and I did something that was totally out of my comfort zone. The fellowship that I am a part of is also putting me out of my comfort zone, as I am definitely not an engineer!

I think having the opportunities to get out of my comfort zone will help me becoming better in my profession, because I am allowing myself to grow by doing these things.