Nelyda Rodriguez
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ALL MY
COURSE WORK
My name is Nelyda Rodriguez, and I am proud to be from Mexico. I am a teacher by profession, as well as a mother. If you want to learn more about me, please check my About Me section. My main interest is contributing to society, which needs education, values, and affection. We are making great strides with technology but often need to learn how to use these tools to succeed. One of my priorities is to provide my students with authentic learning environments COVA: for these reasons, I decided to explore digital learning. During my master's degree program, I encountered unique challenges that provided opportunities for growth and learning from my Learning Community. Without their support, my journey would have been drastically different. The sheer volume of coursework initially overwhelmed me, but I quickly learned to manage my time effectively and prioritize tasks. This experience, a significant part of my professional development, has prepared me to drive positive change in educational settings.
My journey began with a disruptive innovation plan, where I identified the need to introduce blended learning in mathematics education within my school community. Through meticulous preparation and the completion of essential tasks such as creating a compelling proposal letter and video, implementation online, and conducting a thorough literature review, I am confident in the success of this initiative. I have witnessed a significant increase in student engagement and understanding, which will revolutionize mathematics education in our school.
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While working on my e-portfolio design, I encountered initial challenges with unfamiliar digital tools like WIX. The complexity of the platform initially intimidated me, but I was determined to overcome this hurdle. I embarked on a journey of research and learning, seeking help from online tutorials and my peers. Gradually, I became more comfortable with the tool. This experience has enhanced my digital literacy and ability to adapt to new technologies, a crucial skill in today's educational landscape.
Understanding educational technology taught me the importance of maintaining a growth mindset for myself and my students. Creating a growth mindset plan and a learning manifesto helped me solidify my beliefs and find strength in my weaknesses. Additionally, developing learning networks reinforced the idea that I am not alone in my journey, having both a team and technological tools to support my projects.
Leading organizational change was a central theme throughout my studies. Analyzing theories such as Sinek's Golden Circle helped me find my WHY and set clear objectives for my educational initiatives. The 4 execution disciplines provided a framework for achieving these goals, while assignments on self-differentiation and leadership enhanced my ability to lead constructive conversations and manage emotions effectively.
Creating a significant learning environment involved aligning learning outcomes with assessments and activities, prioritizing student understanding using frameworks like UbD, and fostering a growth mindset among students. On the other hand, professional learning emphasizes the importance of continuous development and provides practical tasks and principles for teachers to enhance their practice and advance their careers.
Assessing digital learning instruction introduced me to action research, a method for systematically improving teaching practice. Teachers can iteratively enhance their digital learning environments by planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. Meanwhile, the resources for digital environments course equipped me with the skills to create and publish compelling articles, sharing professional insights with a broader audience.
Instructional design for online learning delved into creating practical online courses aligned with the latest trends in e-learning. Through modules covering research methods, instructional design principles, and best practices, I gained the necessary skills to develop engaging online learning experiences.
Finally, the Synthesis Digital Learning Leader capstone course integrates theoretical knowledge with practical experience to empower teachers as change agents. I am better prepared to lead organizational change and positively impact educational communities by synthesizing my learning from various courses and applying it to real-world scenarios.
My master's degree journey has equipped me with many skills, knowledge, and values essential for driving innovation and leading change in educational settings. I am ready and eager to apply this wealth of knowledge to create a meaningful impact and inspire positive organizational transformation.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
for this Reflection
What stage are you at in your innovation project?
I am in the process of implementing this instructional method with my students, giving them the opportunity to take ownership and voice in their learning journey. They started working on their daily schedule according to a playlist customized to their specific educational needs focused on improving their reading fluency.
I have been implementing and sharing the ideas developed in my professional learning scheme with my coworkers. However, you already know that the most important point of this innovation plan is to encourage our students to reflect, connect, and learn while taking ownership of their learning process. Also, some phases of my professional learning scheme, is where we build and create background knowledge.
What could I do better?
In my organization, I emphasize designing more effective professional learning instead of attending those extensive and numerous trainings where teachers do not learn what is expected of them. There is no way to be successful in implementing professional development if quality professional development is not provided to teachers. Furthermore, by practicing teacher-led collaboration, teachers are able to explore creativity through choice, ownership, voice, and authenticity (COVA models), allowing participants a first-hand experience where they can relate to students and provide them with very meaningful opportunities.​
What lesson have you learned?
This is a great question, especially since I am not the same teacher since I started this rewarding adventure called ADL. From this program I have learned how to be a growth mindset person and how I can use it to implement it with my students. Furthermore, I have learned the need for meaningful change in my organization and in general across the board. I strongly believe that I will continue to address the challenges of implementing the elements of the learning environment such as passion, imagination, and creativity. Also, I remind my students that instead of saying they don’t know how to do it, they can say they don’t know yet (the power of yet). Additionally, I will continue to implement COVA models such as choice, ownership, voice, and authentic learning.
Additionally, I learned how to incorporate the concept of “play” into my classroom, which is the key to making activities or lessons more engaging while learning. Creating a meaningful learning environment through blended learning increases student engagement, collaboration, and creativity. This teaching method integrates new technology with traditional instructor-led classroom activities, giving students more flexibility (making this more enjoyable) to personalize their learning experiences.
What worked?
Implementing blended learning models in my classroom has worked well. They began working on a daily schedule with activities focused on their academic goals. Additionally, other teachers are looking forward to hearing how this project is working to begin implementing it in their own classroom. Students are given the ability to take ownership of their activities creating a true reflection of their learning journey. Putting the concepts learned in this ADL program into practice. Using the language of growth mindset, reflecting and sharing the COVA+CSLE to be more effective in the classroom through a real learning environment.
Highlight links that may be of interest to you
EDLD 5302 Concepts of Educational Technology
EDLD 5303 Applying Educational Technology (ePortfolio)
EDLD 5305 Disruptive Innovation in Technology.
EDLD 5304 Leading Organizational Change.
EDLD 5313 Create Significant Learning Environment
EDLD 5317 Resources Digital Environments
EDLD 5389 Developing Effective Professional Learning
EDLD 5318 Instructional Design in Online Learning
EDLD 5315 Digital Learning Assessment Instructional
Readind list book
Mindset: The new psychology of success.
Carol S. Dweck's Mindset explores mindset and how it affects achievements. The book provides practical strategies for cultivating a growth mindset and encourages readers to view failure as an opportunity for learning and growth.
Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools.
"Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools" is a resource that guides educators on integrating blended learning models into traditional education. It inspires innovative approaches to improve student outcomes while addressing everyday challenges.
Blended Learning through Google Classroom.
"Blended Learning through Google Classroom" is a guide for educators to incorporate Google Classroom into blended learning environments. It offers step-by-step instructions, real-world examples, and insights into overcoming challenges.
How to 10X Your Influence.
"How to 10X Your Influence" is an excellent resource for individuals who want to expand their influence and drive significant change. The guide is authored by Grenny and Maxfield, experts in this field. Their extensive knowledge is evident throughout the guide, making it a must-read for aspiring new leaders and seasoned professionals.
A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change.
" A New Culture of Learning" is a book that challenges traditional education and encourages a culture of lifelong learning. Promoting play, collaboration, and collective intelligence offers a bold vision for the future of education in the digital age.
Teaching the Teachers Effective Professional Development in an Era of High Stakes Accountability.
Gulamhussein's analysis of professional development practices provides crucial insights for effectively dealing with the challenges of high-stakes accountability and fast-paced changes. He asserts that prioritizing customized learning experiences, fostering supportive leadership, and adopting a balanced approach towards accountability are essential for creating a profession that is resilient, adaptable, and dedicated to consistent growth.
Action Research: Improving Schools and Empowering Educators.
"Action Research: Improving Schools and Empowering Educators" is a valuable resource for educators and school leaders committed to fostering a culture of inquiry, collaboration, and continuous improvement. By embracing action research as a powerful tool for professional growth and school improvement, educators can empower themselves and their colleagues to create positive and lasting change in their schools and communities.
References
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Duarte, N. [Stanford Graduate School of Business]. (2013a, March 21). Nancy Duarte:
How to tell a story [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9
Dudley, D. (2012, February 11). Líderes cotidianos. Www.ted.com.
https://www.ted.com/talks/drew_dudley_everyday_leadership? subtitle=es&language=es
Dweck Revisits the "Growth Mindset": http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2015/09/23/carol-dweck-revisits-
the- growth-mindset.html
Fink, L.D. (2003) A self-directed guide to designing courses for significant learning.
San Francisco: Jossey- Bass. https://www.deefinkandassociates.com/Guideto
CourseDesignAug05.pdf ​​
Gulamhussein, A. (2013). Teaching the Teachers Effective Professional
Development in an Era of High Stakes Accountability. Center for
Public Education. Retrieved from http://www.centerforpubliceducation.
org/system/files/2013- 176_ProfessionalDevelopment.pdf​
Harapnuik, D. K., Thibodeaux, T. N., & Cummings, C. D. (2018). Choice, Ownership, and
Voice through Authentic Learning Opportunities. Retrieved from http://www.harapnu
ik.org/? page_id=7291
Harapnuik Dwayne. April 1, 2020. It's About Learning. Creating Significant Learning
Environments. Retrieved from:http://www.harapnuik.org/?p=3627
Horn, M. B., & Staker, H. (2014). Blended: Using disruptive innovation to
improve schools. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 1118955153
Kotter, J. (2011, March 23). The heart of change. [Video File]. Retrieved
from https://youtu.be/1NKti9MyAAw
Kotter, J. (2013, August 15). Leading change: Establish a sense of urgency. [Video File].
Retrieved from https://youtu.be/2Yfrj2Y9IlI
McChesney, C., Covey, S., & Huling, J. (2012). The 4 disciplines of execution:
Achieving your wildly important goals. New York, NY: Free Press.
Patterson, K., Grenny, J., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2012). Crucial conversations:
Tools for talking when stakes are high. Columbus, OH: McGraw Hill.