As an educator in an international school, I would like to improve my teaching in a globally, ever-changing world. To stay current and adapt to the modern society we are living in, I would like to develop global competence in teaching and have an in-depth understanding on how students learning can be improved through the effective use of technology. To meet these, the following are action plans that I would like to undertake in the next two years in the field of education:
- Obtain my master degree in Education in Advanced Teaching through the University of the People. This program aims to produce “globally-minded educators with an in-depth knowledge of curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment to support student-directed inquiry, interdisciplinary learning, intercultural competence, and critical thinking” (University of the People, n.d.). Through this graduate studies, I will be able to understand the needs and challenges of modern teaching and the barriers to learning in the present and future.
- Continue professional development through ISTE U, Microsoft Educator Community and National Geographic. ISTE U provides flexible online courses for educators like me that emphasizes pedagogy in developing skills and accelerating innovation in education. Microsoft Educator Community also provides trainings and resources to get teachers ready to embark in the journey of teaching with technology and upskill to further develop how they can integrate innovative ideas in the classroom. Furthermore, as a National Geographic Educator, I would like to pursue other courses to equip me with tools that can transform my classroom and build my skills and knowledge to foster an explorer mindset among my students.
- Learn effective use augmented and virtual reality through Apple Edu, CoSpaces and Merge Edu. As a design teacher, I would like to further my knowledge about AR and VR in the classroom. I use the #ARVRinEdu to look for amazing resources of how augmented reality and virtual reality can be taught and utilized in the classroom. I started using CoSpaces Edu and Merge Edu in my classroom, such as storytelling and learning tool projects using AR and VR. I will be exploring further on how these two technologies can provide a meaningful learning experience for my middle school students.
- Pursue in supporting effective use of technology in the classroom through ambassadorship of various EdTech tools, such as Quizlet, Seesaw, Edmodo, Microsoft and Flipgrid. Ambassadorship program of various technology tools makes me more aware of the updates and advancements of how the technology or digital tool can be used in the classroom. It allows me to be more creative and innovative in my teaching that is grounded in pedagogy that allows authentic learning for students. When looking for digital tools and joining the ambassador program, I ensure that I have profound understanding of the tool and that it can be safely and effectively be used with my students. I employ the SAMR and TPACK model to evaluate how the digital can be used in the classroom and check privacy methods to ensure that student’s and my data are safe. Through these programs of commercial digital tools, I am able to share to my colleagues ways on how they can improve their teaching in this digital modern age. I am looking forward to conduct more webinars and training workshops for teachers in our school, in our community and beyond to allow every educator to gain skills and competencies in technology use in the classroom.
- Connect with like-minded professionals in social media, such as Twitter and Instagram. Social media is a powerful tool for connections and networking. Since I started my journey in EdTech, I have gained numerous connections with passionate, goal-driven, and determined educations, school leaders, and education professionals. In the next two years of teaching and learning with technology, I will continue to grow these connections by being more active in joining conferences, trainings, twitter chats, and online workshops.
- Promote Sustainable Development through educating young people about sustainability and taking action towards its achievement. As a Teach SDG ambassador, I will continue to foster global competency among my students by engaging with purposeful projects that is related to sustainability and help them to develop initiative in taking action to authentic needs and design or create possible solutions to real-world problems. I will help students and teachers on how to effectively integrate the SDG or the concept of sustainability in the classroom and how technology can leverage the development of these innovative sustainable solutions.
Reference:
University of the People. (n.d.). Master of Education in Advanced Teaching Degree. https://www.uopeople.edu/programs/ed/degrees/master-of-education-med/
MITCHEL AFRICA 