Professional Development 2023-2024

  By Sarah Harmon Day 1: Video & Audio Books Digital libraries allow students to read books using audio and/or visual input. Sharma (2023) suggests that allowing students to listen or watch books in pairs or small groups creates a group activity around technology that supports interactive learning. Since the lesson’s focus is on story elements rather than reading fluency, differentiation includes allowing students to hear the story or see the story. Also, this method would allow students to pause or stop and discuss with one another, which engages them. Digital libraries and listening platforms such as Youtube, Vooks, Epic, PBS Kids, Harper Kids or LibriVox can bring in more varieties of books that are culturally diverse. Dwyer (2016) says that students must first have access to knowledge to open their minds and awareness which digital literacy supports. Being present and observing the room can help ensure the technology is being used appropriately, as well as a short exit t...

  By Sarah Harmon Instructional Strategies to Differentiate & Engage Leaners An integral part of teaching is differentiation because not all learners learn the same or encounter content at the same level of experience. “Teachers need to create a variety of entry points to ensure that students' differing abilities, strengths, and needs are all taken into consideration.” (Watson, 2020) Learners experience content differently and teachers teach content differently. It would make sense that the focus should be learner centered rather than content centered. Anyone can present information but educators guide and facilitate learning of content through the process of constant feedback and adjusting. Learning is an active process and the teacher must adapt to the present situation rather than make teaching static. A major part of planning the ELA lesson came from the learning style inventory, conversations, observations, and data on students that helped me understand their readiness to ...

  By Sarah Harmon Interconnectedness of Learning Styles According to Jenson & McConchie (2020), neuroscience today tells us that each person’s brain structure is unique and has neuroplasticity to change. All people learn from various inputs, or what Jenson and McConchie (2020) refer to as the 5 big players in learning: context, triggers, processes, systems, and structures. However, we also all learn differently because we have various learning styles and preferences that impact how we receive and perceive information. Learning includes multiple categories, such as the affective, cognitive, and psychomotor domain. These domains aren’t isolated and disconnected from one another. Learning is connected to every part of a person’s being. “Most every process runs through multiple systems and engages not one, but multiple structures in the brain and body.” (Jenson & McConchie, 2020) The interconnectedness of learning is how we know that social, emotional, cognitive, and physic...

  By Sarah Harmon Google Suites  Google suites (G suites) including documents, slides, forms, sheets, drawings, jamboard and Google classroom are an excellent technology resource for students. Students can work on shared documents in real-time collaboratively to complete assignments. Google classroom works well for storing lesson assignments, postings, materials, resources, rubrics, grades, etc. Use, Practicality, Cost, Ease, and Cross-Curricular Ability Having shareable documents in a school setting where collaboration and group assignments are common makes communication easier and more feasible in a variety of settings. The variety and sharing ability allows for suites to be used in any subject and also for interdisciplinary units or projects. Readiness for the use of technology is important for educators to intentionally integrate into the curriculum. Before training students, teachers need to be given professional development and training on the features and appl...