Technology Training with the NETS in Mind

As I began to plan training sessions for the New Year I wanted to connect learning to the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) for Teachers.  I always find it helpful to have a framework to work with and the standards seemed to be a natural fit for what I was doing.  I want our teachers to become familiar with the NETS for teachers and by connecting them to specific training sessions the teachers can begin to make connections and see that the technology is only a tool in the learning process. 

In this planning I also knew that I had to learn how to use Glogster.  Many teachers had been asking about it and up until now I hadn’t found a purpose for using it so I didn’t know much about it.  After looking at some examples and brainstorming I finally found a purpose for this multimedia tool.  Once I had a reason to use it and tried it out I began to see how teachers could use it in their classrooms.  I created a visual poster to advertise my upcoming training sessions and this was a perfect way to learn how to use the tool.




This is a perfect example of authentic learning.  Our kids need to have a purpose for their learning just like we do.  I’m excited to offer some new training sessions that will encourage our teachers to find a purpose for their professional development and to give their students opportunities for authentic learning.

Trip of a Lifetime

In the summer of 2009 I was fortunate to win  a scholarship to attend the ISTE Conference in Washington DC.  In addition to the conference I joined hundreds of educators in a March to Capital Hill to meet with Legislators about the importance of Educational Technology funding.  It was one of my first experiences with advocacy and I learned a lot about the process. I also spent time touring the historical city and the impressive monuments.  

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