Hi everyone. I am excited to join EDDL 5101. This will be the second course I take as part of my Masters of Education. I began teaching in 2001 and through the years I have taught primarily Grade 1 and Grade 9 Math and Science. Throughout those years I also wore a variety of hats over and above that of classroom teacher. I have acted as a divisional leader and technology lead and I have also developed and delivered multiple PD sessions within my community. This school year is a year of big change for me as I have left the classroom, moved to a new school board, and taken on the role of Secondary Numeracy and Adaptive Education Technology coordinator.
I have never been formally trained as a tech person, instead, my love of integrating technology into the curriculum developed as innovative technological resources became available. Whether it be desktop computers, iPads, interactive whiteboards, cell phones, or Chromebooks, I have always found technology to be a tool to engage students in their learning if it is used in a pedagogically sound manner. Now that being said, if you ask me anything about the technical sides of technology I’m at a loss. When you start talking RAM, networking, processor speeds, coding, I’m at a loss.
Over the years I have created various online tools for students, parents, and teachers to access resources. A couple examples are:
In this course, I would like to continue to learn how to evaluate technological tools to ensure that they are pedagogically sound. As my role as Adaptive Technology Coordinator, I will be looking for a variety of tech tools to use with students who need interventions to support their learning. I really want to ensure that the resources I present to teachers and students meet their diverse needs. This year I will also be responsible for delivering content to teachers across the district. In order to assist me in this role, I would like to investigate ways to use social media feeds, synchronous communication tools, and resource sharing platforms to deliver information and resources to colleagues.
I look forward to learning with everyone and can’t wait to get started!
Abbi Easton
