Capturing the Next Image: Life After the MET Program

As a photographer you are always looking for inspiration and capturing the next photograph.   Whether it is an attempt to duplicate a photograph you had seen by another photographer, challenging yourself in new lighting conditions, or shooting a new subject you are driven to shoot.  

This section outlines how I intend to continue to learn and grow as an educator.

Student-Centered & BLended Learning

Technology Committee
As I entered into the MET program I was immediately inspired to improve the learning environment I had created for my students.  I recognized that it was a predominantly teacher-centered environment.  I was determined to follow my philosophy that education should be student-centered; clearly I had been ignoring this belief of mine.  I began to create lessons that were meaningful to the students and that allowed them to engage in the learning process instead of being a passive participant.  This was THE area of focus throughout the past two years.  It is my goal to continue developing lessons that incorporate technology in a blended learning model.  Where students in a regular classroom environment with four walls, are able to use technology (mobile or online) to enhance their learning.  I am eager to use the countless new possibilities with my own courses, to continue to challenge myself and my students within our shared learning-environment.

FIPPA

During my first year of the MET program the Freedom of Information and Protection Privacy Act (FIPPA) was discussed.  As an educator, I saw this as a barrier to the unlimited possibilities of integrating student use of technology into my classes.  Until then, I was given permission to use only tools with the understanding that I was being responsible and teaching my students how to be respectful and to be responsible online.  Respectively after the conversations with my peers, I decided I would create a FIPPA permission form for my school.  Although it is quite basic, I wish to take the time to develop the permission form in further detail with the hopes of creating a form that could be used throughout the district.  It is also my hope to hold discussions with other educators who are not aware of FIPPA, to educate them as they begin to use more online technology to enhance their lessons.

Mini Pro-D Session

While many colleagues in the MET program have already been presenting pro-d sessions at conferences, I have not.  I am quite comfortable sharing my thoughts and my experiences in an informal setting; but the thought of presenting in a formal setting is nerve-racking.  This November I will be holding a session for my colleagues at school where I will present a small sample of theory and concepts I have learned throughout the MET program and have implemented in my classes.
This past June I was asked by my district union if I wished to be an executive member at large.  A new committee was being struck, a Technology Committee.  The focus of the committee will be to evaluate educational technology before purchase and to support district educators on the implementation of technology into their classes.  Knowing I was working on a master’s degree based in technology they had specifically asked if I was interested in joining the technology committee.  While I am nervous not knowing what to expect (especially given this is a new concept for my district), I am excited to see progress and am looking forward to the challenge.

READING

Currently I have a small stack of books I intend to read for further professional-development.

Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller.  Previous to the MET program I was often reliant on textbooks to guide my lesson planning. It was over the past two years that I was inspired to put them down and develop lessons that are more meaningful and are student-centered.  On a quick glance of the book, the author provides a variety of digital resources and technology for educators to use in the classroom.  With an emphasis on hands-on learning for the students.

Mindset by Carol Dweck.  I was introduced to Dweck’s theories on the success of students in education being related to the mindset we present in the class during ETEC 533.  For the past several months I have wanted to pick up this book to read, I look forward to starting it later this month.

Twitter

Twitter has been an invaluable resource to my professional-development as an educator.  Making connections with educators from all corners of the world has challenged me to reflect on my own practice.  It is a platform that has no barriers.  I will continue to follow the peers I have met throughout the MET program; many of them have pushed me to try more and to do more.  Moreover, I will continue to co-moderate #bcedchat, where we hold weekly chats discussion a variety of topics that are related to education in BC.