Transforming Education through Technology and Innovation
This category focuses on how I have integrated technology to enhance student learning, engagement, and accessibility. It explores how digital tools, online learning strategies, and emerging innovations are reshaping the educational experience. The first artifact in this section features the course that had the most significant impact on my understanding of educational technology, providing a foundation for my belief in meaningful tech integration.
Adapting Innovative Technology to Education
- Teaching and Learning Online
– In the Teaching and Learning Online course, completed a variety of skills relating to curating an effective online course for my emergent learners. My Online Teaching Manifesto was the end result of my learnings.
My Online Teaching Manifesto is a declaration of my beliefs about learning-at-large, online learning, and the intersections where they align and diverge. It represents my understanding of education as a continuous, evolving process, unrestricted by traditional classroom boundaries. I recognize that online learning extends access and flexibility but also presents challenges in maintaining engagement, assessment integrity, and meaningful student interaction.
Creating this audio artifact (along with an optional transcript) allowed me to crystallize my direction toward excellence in my teaching career. Through this process, I reflected deeply on my beliefs about assessment, my personal theory of learning, and how these inform my instructional strategies. I realized that assessments should be tools for growth rather than barriers, and my pedagogical philosophy must be intentionally integrated into my teaching practices—whether online or in person. One of my biggest takeaways from this course is the validation of my educational stance.
In the audio artifact for this course, I illustrate my understanding that by acknowledging my concerns and convictions, I have developed a clearer professional identity and a stronger foundation for my role in the evolving educational landscape. I now feel confident in positioning myself within both personal and professional contexts, ensuring that my voice and perspectives contribute meaningfully to the larger discourse on education.
This manifesto serves as a guide, reinforcing my commitment to innovation, inclusion, and reflective practice in my teaching journey.
- Teaching School Subject Matter with Technology
-This course provided valuable insights into integrating technology into lesson planning and instruction. A particularly informative section explored Marc Prensky’s concepts of Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants, which helped me recognize that, as a digital immigrant, I approach technology differently than my kindergarten students, who are digital natives. Through my research on Prensky’s work, I became more confident in designing assignments that leverage digital tools like this recorded video assignment.
This understanding allowed me to embrace the use of Chromebooks, internet resources, and QR codes in my classroom, enhancing accessibility and engagement for my young learners.
- Applying Educational Technology to Practice
-In the Applying Educational Technology to Practice course, I gained valuable skills in leveraging technology to enhance teaching and learning. A key focus of my research was the concept of a Wicked Problem—a complex issue with no clear solution. Through this exploration, I applied educational technology to investigate a challenge within the teaching profession: Why don’t teachers ask questions, even when those questions are essential to their success?
To examine this issue, I designed an online survey to gather insights from educators. By collecting and analyzing the responses, I identified multiple factors contributing to this hesitation. While no single answer proved definitive, the data shed light on various barriers teachers face when it comes to asking questions and opened the door for further discussion on how to address them.
The artifact I present from this course highlights my ability to:
✔️ Design an engaging and effective questionnaire
✔️ Collect and analyze meaningful data
✔️ Synthesize findings into actionable insights
The Questionnaire (click on the image)
This experience reinforced the power of educational technology in tackling real-world challenges, allowing me to refine my approach to problem-solving and decision-making in the classroom.