REFLECTION ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (1.6.4)

DEFINITIONS

1. Technology integration is the infusion of technology resources into classroom instruction, where the teacher effectively focuses learners on what needs to be learnt.
2. Professional development is a process of improving and increasing the capabilities of staff through access to education and training opportunities in the work place. Its purpose is to build and maintain staff morale. It may also be used to attract high quality staff to organizations.

Having done a technology integration professional development needs assessment for my colleagues; I can summarize them here below:

1. Need to use subject specific software for integration into lectures.
2. Need to use social media to interact and share with learners beyond the classroom. 
3. Skills to electronically communicate with their students. 
4. Need to use information accessed through CD/DVD ROMS as source materials during lecturing. 
5. Need to acquire communication and presentation software for lecturing. 
6. Need to use internet or web as a source of information during lecturing. 
7. Need to use computer to process collected data. 
8. Need to use different media to create appropriate products. 
9. Need to use computer to communicate with others (locally or globally). 
10. Skill or ability to gather information from electronic databases. 
11. Work with the computer to orientate themselves to a new subject. 
12. Need to use Word processing for production of documents

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO MEET THE ABOVE NEEDS

1.  They need to have a positive Attitude
2. They need to desire professional growth and development 
3. They need to set up personal learning goals 
4. They must collaborate with peers (participants with CCTI online course) 
5. They should seek technical and leadership support from the college and MoES
6. They must undertake ICT training to better their skills 
7. They should acquire technology devices 
8. They need to sign up to social media to expand their personal learning networks. 
9. At some point, they should record their lectures for replay and use in teaching and learning.
10. They must understand and do technology integration  in teaching-learning process. 
11. They should have faith in themselves (Self-belief). 
12. They need to get committed to training opportunities – find time to practice their skills. 
13. Finally, they should share their experiences with others.

MY STAFF DEVELOPMENT GROWTH JOURNEY

Before the commencement of this course (CCTI ONLINE), my rating with the UNESCO ICT COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK FOR TEACHERS was low within technology literacy. I was only using technology in classroom instruction but not integrating it. 

• I could use MS Word to produce documents.
• I could use MS PowerPoint to create simple presentations.
• I could use a projector to display content o my students.
• I could use information on CD/DVD ROMs as source materials during lectures. 
• I could use a computer to process collected data e.g. drawing graphs and charts.
• I could use a computer to communicate with others locally and globally, but only through email services.  

BUT AS A RESULT OF THIS TRAINING; 

• My technical skills have improved greatly.
• I can use subject specific software from sites like YouTube for integration into lectures. I can also record and upload videos to YouTube. 
• I can use social media to interact and share with learners and friends beyond the classroom.
• I can now electronically communicate with my students using Google docs and educational blogs. 
• I can use the internet as a source of information during lecturing.
• I can use a computer to communicate with others locally and globally through many social media networks.
• I can now gather information from electronic databases anywhere.
• I can now work with the computer to orientate myself to a new subject.
• I can make more complex and interactive (multimedia) presentations that engage more of the learners’ senses resulting in active teaching and learning. 
• I can now evaluate websites, blogs and wikis for content validity and reliability.
• I have a content curation site where I’ve accumulate non-video resources for use and for sharing with my personal learning network.

SPECIFIC ACTIONS I NEED TO TAKE TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF MY COLLEAGUES 

1. Allow them to sit in my class to witness firsthand the integration of technology in the teaching-learning process. 
2. Guide them through the sign up processes to different social media sites. 
3. Teach them how to evaluate sites, blogs and wikis for valid and reliable content 
4. Share resources in my YouTube playlists and content curation site with them. 
5. Train them in how to make interactive multimedia presentations for more learner engagement.

REFLECTION ON LESSON 1.5.4

Still feeling lost as an individual seeking professional development? 

No! I no longer feel lost because: 

• I know how to navigate the web to source for information and other resources using different search engines.  
• I have a personal learning network comprising of my CCTI online course-mates, several other people and organizations and their resource sites. 
• I know online sites where I can go for immediate help at the time of difficulties in my professional journey.

Progress of my participation personal learning network 

• I am currently following quite a number of people and communities especially in Google plus. I am also sharing my work with friends on face-book and challenging them to use social media for professional development instead of just social issues. 
• Having opened up my a YouTube channel, I have some people who are following me, viewing my videos and making comments, asking questions etc. it is interesting answering some of their questions. It is reassuring that to see myself helping someone online. 
• My curation site is also attracting attention right now. I’ve already received an email from Gina Tucker, sales department manager at Scoop.it, asking if she could offer help to make my brand recognized on social media, to increase my search engine ranking, and to demonstrate thought leadership online.

Some of the professional development sites I researched e.g. TES in Teachers TV, required me to subscribe to or join them first before accessing and curating their resources. This did not only allow me to complete the tasks in this lesson but increased my personal learning network.

Collaboration is very powerful. With it, many sites were researched, implying that by visiting our general wiki, one has access to a good number of professional development resources and insights. However, it is not possible to know who contributed what in the wiki. That is a big pitfall. 

SITES THAT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR INNOVATIVE TEACHING

WEBSITES 

 Educational Technology and Mobile Learning (http://www.educatorstechnology.com/)

Educational Technology and Mobile Learning is a website whose aim is to provide the education community (both teachers and students) with a platform where they can have access to the best curated educational technology content. Most of their posts are reviews of educational web tools and mobile apps, app suggestions, educational info-graphics, posters, guides, video tutorials, and tips on integrating technology into education.

It is connected to many other websites that greatly contribute to professional development such as: 

• “Tips on close reading and research paper writing (http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/12/10-important-tips-for-successful-close.html).  
• Success features of the 21^st Century teachers (http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/12/new-visual-25-success-features.html). 
•  Integrating technology Vs using technology in class (http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/04/using-technology-vs-technology.html). 

The 13 MUST Know Professional Development Websites for Teachers

Professional Development is a life-long learning process that involves different activities including individual progress, continuing education, in-service education, peer collaboration, study groups, and peer coaching or mentoring. The importance of professional development lays in the fact that it is closely related to the overall quality of education and students achievements.

Link: http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/07/the-13-must-know-professional.html.

Edutopia: What works in Education

The website shares evidence- and practitioner-based learning strategies that empower users to improve K-12 education. It explains tech integration, why we need to integrate tech in classroom, different types of integration and how they can be done.

In Edutopia, you find resources to help you implement project-based learning, social and emotional learning, comprehensive assessment, teacher development, integrated studies, and technology integration.

Edutopia is dedicated to transforming the learning process by helping educators implement the strategies below: empowering students to think critically, access and analyze information, creatively problem solve, work collaboratively, and communicate with clarity and impact.

Link: http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-description

Technology Integration for Teachers

The purpose of this site is to take an extensive list of websites that are considered high quality, reliable, and valuable and organize them in  a way that even "non-techy" teachers can utilize them. The information and resources in this site includes lists of apps for various learning objectives, blogs and wikis created and maintained by experts in using mobile technology, and lists of tips and tricks. 

It’s connected to many other websites such as: 

• What is Successful Technology Integration? Edutopia: (www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-description), 
• Technology Integration Ideas that Work - Education World (www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech176.shtml) 
• Technology Integration Strategies, Teaching Today… (www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/subject/tech_integration.phtml).  

BLOGS 

6 SMART Tips for Effective Professional Development

The author, Lisa Nielsen found school boring and irrelevant. She wrote this blog to share ideas to help change that for others. She has formed a group that is interested in taking action to ensure innovative learning options exist in their communities.

This group is a place for parents, students, and teachers frustrated with traditional schooling to come together to discuss the more effective options they are pursuing.

Link: http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2014/10/6-smart-tips-for-effective-professional.html.

Scaling up innovative professional learning systems for teachers | CTQ

This is a community blog whose mission is to provide high-quality education system for all students, driven by the bold ideas and expert practices of teachers. They do this, by connecting, readying and mobilizing teacher leaders to transform schools.

Link: http://www.teachingquality.org/content/blogs/barnett-berry/scaling-innovative-professional-... 

5 myths about teachers that are distracting policymakers

Teaching in the 21st century is complex, challenging work and the fiction that “anyone can be a teacher” threatens our future. We have entered an era of rapid and inexorable change, where the real “high stakes” must be measured at a global level. Our students deserve nothing less than result-oriented teachers, and myths cannot be entertained.

Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/5-myths-about-teachers-that-are-distracting-policymakers/2011/03/24/ABNuyBMB_blog.html.

Friends! 
They say "knowledge is power". I feel confident right now. Content curation and sites evaluation have been extra-ordinarily relevant to me and a worthwhile experience. Thank you all. 

CONTENT CURATION

THE VALUE OF BEING A CONTENT CURATOR

Since I began this CCTI online course, my greatest desire and need has been, finding needed resources and information without opening so many sites. Today, I realize that all I needed was well thought out and curated sites.

Therefore, content curation serves the following purposes:

·        Many of us go online to find help from others, just to consume knowledge. Content curation gives us an opportunity to give back to the online community.

·        It helps one to develop and expand one’s personal learning network. One’s friends, connections and followers don’t have to plough through large volumes of searches to find quality content when one has already done that for them.

·        Value is added to a resource. By organizing and annotating content, it improves the quality of the resource.

·        A curator stores resources in the clouds. S/he has no more worries of losing them in case of a computer crash.

·        A content curator takes time to think about what to include in the resource and how. This helps him to be a better planner, better communicator, and amore organized teacher or student.

·        Sharing curated content online markets one as an outstanding researcher, scholar and/or entrepreneur and be sought after for his service.

·        It helps one to grow professionally (in achieving one’s professional growth goal).

·        It helps one to be more organized and efficient in his work.

·        It helps one stay informed and up-to-date with info in his or her field because it involves wide searches.

·        It increases confidence knowing that one is sharing well researched out and organized work with others.  

I am ready and confident about the role of a content curator. It takes a decision (which I have made), commitment, and time; all of which I am ready to offer.

THE VALUE TO ME OF ORGANIZING AND SHARING RESOURCES

·        It helps me to remain focused in my subject (chemistry).

·        It keeps my teaching simple but systematic

·        It enables me to integrate technology during lesson instruction.

·      I am able to direct my colleagues and students to more relevant and reliable sites for reference.

·    I am able to help my students and colleagues to develop in their academic and professional growth.

I have personally signed up with Scoop.it for content curation in chemistry. It is beneficial for my professional development. I am satisfied with its services and I recommend it for all teachers interested in professional development and in systematizing their class work.

My scoop.it link is: http://www.scoop.it/t/ict-use-in-teaching-chemistry.

My blog address is: http://jamesmuhwezi.blogspot.com

My YouTube address is: https://www.youtube.com/user/JamesMuhwezi/playlists?

RESOURCES IN YOU-TUBE

Hi CCTI course-mates! Videos are important teaching-learning materials. They engage at least two of the learners’ senses, capture and maintain learners’ interest, develop process skills and help to create imaginations. Having only used power-point presentations in my teaching, my experience with You-tube has been mine blowing. 

Part of my professional learning goal is to accumulate and share academic and professional resources. You-tube is one such a site where I can collect video resources to share and integrate in the teaching-learning process. I can only imagine what will happen when I've assembled the videos in my class playlist, and I can’t wait to do that, because my students’ engagement is going to improve tremendously.

Thank you ladies and gentlemen.  

The link to my You-tube channel and playlists is: https://www.youtube.com/user/JamesMuhwezi/playlists? Then you can click Teaching videos. Thank you once again!  

SOCIAL LEARNING

Hello CCTI course-mates!

Ideas that influence learning in a traditional work place are frustrating to the present-day student:

·        Performance problems cannot be solved by training solutions alone.

·  “Qualified trainers” do not hold a monopoly to knowledge. Simple people with specific experiences may also offer valid solutions to problems.

·     Trainers’ ban on access to social media comes out of fear of losing influence. In the words of Geeta Bose “Adult or traditional learners are becoming frustrated at how they are being treated as idiots in how they are expected to use of online courses.”

·      Just as an icon is a window into a program, a shortcut may be an opening into a comprehensive solution to a problem. Therefore, courses are not the only way out.

No matter how experienced in one’s area of specialization, one will always need help. In the traditional workplace, this help does not always come that easily. With social learning, there are a lot of people who have had difficulties and are willing to share experiences and to offer help. We can use social media to follow such people, read their ideas, engage in discussions with them, ask their help and collaborate continuously to improve personal performance.

I therefore consider social media networks to be important in:  

·      Widening learners’ exposure.

·      Offering users opportunities for continuous learning.

·      Developing and expanding personal professional learning network.

·      Sharing a lot of resources (through social groups and communities) that are useful in professional development

·      Offering learners opportunities to keep up-to-date with the most recent developments – both professional and social.

I feel I am making great strides into my personal goal for professional growth and also getting closer to the level of a smart worker. This is because: 

• I have subscribed to social networks – Face-book and Google plus. 
• These social networks are giving me an opportunity to share information, offering me collaborative learning, getting resources to improve my professional development and getting updated on what is happening in the teaching profession. 
• I am constantly learning as I work and striving to improve my performance and productivity. 

However, I need to take the following steps to achieve my professional learning goal:

·      Consolidate and expand my personal professional learning network on both Face-book and Google plus.

·      Explore more social networks to see what they've got to offer me towards my personal goal for professional growth.

·      Read and internalize the ideas and resources I have encountered and put them into practice.

·      Sharing resources I find on the social networks with my students and colleagues. 

Thanks and God bless! 

PERSONAL GOAL FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

MY FIRST REFLECTION (What I have learned about my status of professional growth) 

It is possible for one to spend a good part of one's life working but never once enjoying what one does for a living. One may be in it only for money but lose out on other benefits. There are many reasons for this. Some of them could be: 

• One doesn't take time to collaborate or share one's experience with someone else. 
• One doesn't use his or her time at work to help someone  else improve his or her skills. 
• One chooses to compete and appear better trained and a better performer to one's superiors in order to gain cheap popularity and favor. 
• One decides to take the social aspect out of one's work. 
• One doesn't reflect on what one does, how he or she does it or doesn't do it, and the legacy one lives behind. 

But why would one live and work like that? Because, he/she most probably doesn't know any better. That best describes my professional development journey. 

In this course, I have learnt that, when we come together, many things happen - we learn a lot, we work more, we work better and appreciate ourselves and others much more because we never really see our weaknesses but each one's strength. We can enjoy what we do when we do it with and for others. Indeed the rewards of learning together as we work and working together as we learn are better than pay cheques we receive at the end of a miserable 30 days in a hostile professional cage.

I have also learnt that tools only increase the collaboration and fun, but they are not an end in themselves. My approach to and competence in teaching was within the "technology literacy" level of human capacity development. I am determined to increase it to the "knowledge creation" level of human capacity development. 

THE PERSONAL GOAL FOR MY PROFESSIONAL GROWTH - Is to be a role model in using technology to enhance teaching and manage learning by developing teaching-learning platforms and sites for accumulating and sharing academic and professional development resources and ideas with my students and fellow teachers. 

Thank You. Be blessed. 

James.google.com/+JamesMuhwezi-jet