Joanne Jeffries's Blog

Memorable moment:  A memorable moment for me was when I signed up for Twitter and started using Twitter.  I was so against it. I found that I didn’t want to take the time to learn about the app.  We’ll I’m not the best Twitter person but I gotten some information and ideas off of Twitter.

Would I recommend this program to someone else? Yes, I would recommend others to this program. I know that I have grown the most through my Kenan Fellows experience. Kenan Fellows has opened up more opportunities for me. Kenan gave me the confidence to conquer new opportunities .  Kenan invested in me and now I feel confident to invest into others. I will always be grateful for that!

I feel my school year was better this year because I was able to apply new knowledge/projects for students and they really seemed enjoyed that. I was also able to have my Mentor come into my class and my students enjoyed that too.

Describe a moment when your students experienced an “Ah-Ha” or “light bulb” moment because of something you taught them. My students ah-ha moment was when I showed them a plastic elephant and placed it by my window. As the sun hit it, it started to move his ears.  My students realized it was solar energy moving his ears and how how cool and powerful this was. Their faces lit up and each wanted an elephant of their own.   Did that moment grow from your experience as a Kenan Fellow? If so, how? Yes, this moment grew from my Kenan Fellow experience because I was able to introduce this knowledge to them from my summer intern experience and present a solar energy lesson. Students were able to create a solar energy product as a result of the knowledge obtained from my fellowship.

Describe ways your fellowship has changed you. Consider how you collaborate with peers, discover new talents and learn about STEM careers.

My fellowship has changed my whole mindset. Prior to this, I would have never incorporated a STEM activity or project. Now, I feel very comfortable and in fact my students have made another STEM connection from their science class.  This bridges the science teacher’s content gap, allows an opportunity to align our curriculum and learn about new and emerging STEM careers.

 

• Did you work with a single mentor or multiple professionals?

I worked closely with one Mentor but at times I worked with other Professionals at FREEDM. I also had the opportunity to visit and collaborate with other Mentors.

• Describe a time when your mentor helped you understand something or helped you have an “ah-ha” moment.

My ah-ha moment was when my Mentor helped me understand what her company (FREEDM) does and how important the work they do is. This left a lasting impression on me because I learned how FREEDM impacts our lives, our State, our Country and Beyond.

• Discuss the working relationship between you and your mentor. Did you work side-by-side? Did he/she allow you to work on your own?

My working relationship with my Mentor is very special. I loved working besides my Mentor because I found her to be awesome….she is knowledgeable, friendly, positive and hard working.  She opened my eyes to a lot of great resources and networking. She also taught me about hard work which I closely observed. Despite any obstacles she faced; she always triumphs and gets the job done.

• What do you consider to be the lasting impact of this relationship?

My Mentor is Dr. Pam Carpenter.  My lasting impact of this relationship is the respect I have for her, she is brilliant. She is so knowledgeable and she has an infectious love for learning.  I really think it is her love of learning that connects us.  I love learning too because learning leads to higher horizons.

• Do you plan to work together after the fellowship ends?

Yes, I plan to work with her again. She is an asset and I plan to involve her in my future career endeavors.

 

Having completed all three Professional Advancement Institutes, what does this experience mean to you? How do the three institutes compare to other PD that you have had in the past?

My Kenan Fellowship experience has been life changing.  I received an invaluable summer internship experience at the FREEDM System Center. The FREEDM Center taught me so much about the solar energy industry as well as about the people the in the industry, their work ethic, and the importance of good communication.  I use the Kenan Fellows’ professional development every day in my classroom, whether it be networking, technology websites and resources, or lesson planning.  The Kenan Fellows professional workshops changed my mind set on many issues from legislation, politics, teacher advocacy, personal awareness, classroom science practices and application…the list goes on and on.

The Kenan Fellows program  is more than professional training –  it is a mindset of a family.  A place where fellows want what is  best for each other and help to build one another up.  If I need anything, I know my co-fellows are a phone call, text or email away. To me that’s leadership empowerment!

• Of the three institutes which one did you find the most valuable and why?

I think the first PA was the most valuable because it set the stage of what a NC Kenan Fellow is and isn’t.  It also gave our co-hart time to get to know one another and bond.

You are six weeks into the school year.   Describe one new tool or strategy you have implemented.

One new tool that I have implemented into the school year is Padlet.   I was introduced to Padlet shortly before our first Summer Institute (Thanks Craig).

How and why you are using it? I have been using Padlet for feedback from students and checking for understanding about new curriculum content learned.  I use Padlet because it’s quick and easy to use and students enjoy using technology.  Padlet is also a great hands -on tool because students can input their own thoughts, knowledge and opinions.

• What impact is it having on you and your students? The impact that Padlet is having on me is I am able to see what each of my students know and don’t know. I am able to go back and reinforce curriculum content for students as needed.  I am also able to get a pulse on student’s opinions and thoughts.

The impact Padlet is having on my students is their ability to review daily course content thus making them more prepared for their assessment.  Students also now have an avenue to present their thoughts and any misunderstanding or misconceptions they may have too.

 As you prepare for the 2015-16 school year, describe how you envision your summer experience impacting your students.

This year I plan on incorporating several things into my classroom.  I plan on visiting  the centennial campus with my students and the AVID teacher at the end of September.  We are planning to visit some of the awesome places we toured this summer while participating in my internship. I also plan on incorporating a solar energy project and a binary code project in my classes that I learned from my internship this summer.

My goal is to continue to incorporate more authentic experiences from my Kenan Fellowship into my classroom.

 

 

 

 

A couple of ways I can connect my summer internship experience to my classroom curriculum are as follows:

Binary Code:  I learned an activity using Binary numbers. My students will create a  necklace, key chain, or bracelet using color beads representing Binary numbers.

My students will also create a Solar Energy business they will own and then present the company to their peers.

 

 

 

• Describe something that you’ve learned as a result of your fellowship that will change how you teach this year. Something that I learned this year as a result of my fellowship was Renewable Energy; what it is and how important it is. As a result of my experience learning about Renewable Energy, I have incorporated a lesson on Solar Energy.  This is a new lesson obtained from my fellowship experience that I will teach to my Exploring Business classes next year.
• How did this experience change your outlook as an educator?The experience changed my outlook because it exposed me to a whole new field of Renewable Energy and how important it is to teach our students about all the possibilities out there for our world and future. I realized how important it is to find other viable solutions for Energy, whether it be solar, wind, etc..
• Did it open you up to new possibilities? Please list some of those possibilities.    

 Possibilities include:

• that we don’t only have to relay on electricity, to light our homes and businesses any longer.
• that we no longer have to use gasoline to run our automobiles, other alternatives can be more cost efficient plus reduce carbon dioxide
• how carbon dioxide effects the ozone/global warming
• how powerful and critical wind is for producing wind energy

• What will you do differently as an educator? What I will do differently going forward is incorporate more information and resources about Renewable Energy into my lesson plans.  I will also invite more outside speakers to talk to my students about Renewable Energy.
• Did it affirm any ideals that you may have already had? If so, how so? Yes, it did affirm the ideal I had about Solar Energy and how it’s becoming more and more popular in households and businesses.  Solar Energy is the way of the future and it makes more sense from a cost effective point of view to utilize it. I now see on a  broader spectrum Renewable Energy makes a lot of sense.