ED630 Course Reflection

The first lesson I would like to take away from the course is the importance of joining a professional development organization. Professional development plays a significant role in teacher performance. When it comes to joining a professional organization, look for organizations that offer resources and programs to help you develop your skills, stay current with trends and research, and advance in your career. This could include workshops, webinars, publications, and certification programs. According to Sheniger (2019), as technological or digital leaders, “We are tasked with preparing students for success in a world that is becoming more dependent on technology, a world that is also in need of a workforce that can think critically, solve real-world problems, and function entrepreneurially” (p.19). Joining a professional organization such as the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is a powerful way to do just that.

For the professional development presentation assignment, I learned about the ISTE. After the assignment, I went ahead and joined the organization. It is a great investment. You must invest in yourself. According to the ISTE website, “ISTE's mission is to empower educators to reimagine and redesign learning through impactful pedagogy and meaningful technology use. We achieve this by offering transformative professional learning, fostering vibrant communities, and ensuring that digital tools and experiences are accessible and effective” (iste, n.d.). It also states that ISTE “inspires the creation of solutions and connections that improve opportunities for all learners by delivering: practical guidance, evidence-based professional learning, virtual networks, thought-provoking events, and the ISTE Standards”. The assignment challenged me to find ways to make an impact in my organization. Having many tools at my disposal with ISTE helps me to do just that. To drive meaningful change in my organization, ISTE can help with curriculum design technology integration and how to apply ISTE standards into the curriculum.

The second takeaway from this course is the importance of conducting research-based assessments. Incorporating a data-driven study in your classroom is important. I can conduct a research-based assessment in the school next year which will help educators make wise choices on which technology tool to incorporate for a particular lesson. This is a practical tool to help educators select appropriate technology for a particular lesson or curriculum. The assignment challenged me to think of my role as an educational leader. According to Sheniger (2019), “Digital leadership is about establishing a vision and implementing a strategic process that creates a teaching and learning culture that provides students with essential competencies: creativity, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, entrepreneurship, technological proficiency, and global awareness” (p25).   As an educational coach next school year, I would like to lead other educators toward data-driven criteria for technology integration.

Reference

About ISTE. International Society for Technology in Education. (n.d.). https://iste.org/aboutLinks to an external site.  

Sheninger, E. C. (2019). Digital leadership: changing paradigms for changing times. A joint publication of Corwin ICLE.