This week at NCCAT has been packed full of growth and highlights.. As a beginning teacher in a rural and disconnected region of NC, I haven’t had a lot of contact with other STEM teachers. It has been incredible to learn from and collaborate with a group of inspired STEM leaders, coming from all over the states. As a young and inexperienced science teacher, especially as a Teach for America teacher with no science or education classes in college, I came feeling somewhat intimated by this amazing group of experienced and accomplished Kenan Fellows. But mostly, I came ready to question, observe, listen and learn and to soak up everything I possibly could from this amazing new team I am blessed to be a part of. So, I did just this. Apart from the awesome sessions, I spent my meal times, break times, evenings, etc. reaching out to everybody I could to learn about their experiences and ideas in the classroom and in life.
The week was a nerdy science teachers dream come true.. I got to learn about exciting new research going on all over the state, creative STEM education and real-life application happening in classrooms all over the state, and exciting new ways to make STEM better at my school. I even got to spend my off time nerding out about education and science these with passionate people.
The professional development at NCCAT has been the best professional development I’ve ever experienced. It has been rich with knowledge and awesome tools that I can bring back to my classroom and share with my school as a whole. Here are some of my favorite tools I learned about and plan on implementing in my teaching and at school: Kahoot, Trello, Pintrest, Discovery Ed, Educreation, Citizen Science, Evernote, Kahoot, Answer Garden, Sketch Up, Poll Everywhere, Wing Clips and Teachingtolerance.
I am leaving the conference feeling inspired and motivated. I will utilize the knowledge and resources I will build through my Kenan Fellows experience to make important transformations in my classroom, school and community. And, I am leaving feeling like I am part of a supportive team to collaborate with in this endeavor.
My experience at NCCAT is one of amazement. Every teacher should have this experience; it rejuvenates your soul and provides the fuel needed to tackle the upcoming school year. It also afforded me the opportunity to hear success stories of implementation of a wide array of interdisciplinary activities that is getting students excited about learning. Most importantly, I left feeling empowered to embark on the upcoming school years with level of confidence and a different perspective on teaching and learning; these two components are critical for a successful classroom.
The resources are invaluable; you can not attach a price tag on this wealth of
information. Unforgettable moments, especially the rafting experience. I have never felt this appreciated as an educator.