5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

    Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers:

    a. participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning.

During my coursework, I completed a project for Technology Leadership in Schools, which allowed me to work with colleagues to determine ways to use technology to support learners with disabilities in the areas of reading and writing. We created a wiki to share our research. Using this wiki allowed each of us to participate in group work, without having to combine the research at the conclusion of the assignment. This was a great learning opportunity.

In addition, my coursework through the University of Missouri is clear evidence of my participation in global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology. Learning in this way has provided me with opportunities to try new and exciting ways to instruct my students. Through this type of learning community, I have "met" other people from places across the globe. We collaborated and learned together what works for our students. The experiences that I have had through this program are invaluable.

    b. exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others.

When thinking about technology use in our community, I worked at creating a professional development opportunity, Using Wikispaces to Enhance Instruction. In order to create this, I began with a Needs Assessment. Using the Needs Assessment gave me the information and knowledge that was needed to begin this plan. I began with the technology skills of the participants. This allowed me to make a plan based on their skills. I could use their desires for learning to build a plan that I know will be successful in developing their technology skills.

    c. evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning.

During this program, I completed the course, Technology Action Research. Through this course, I completed an Action Research Plan (ARP). This plan relied on current research about the effect of technology on student achievement. During the writing of this plan, I had to reflect continuously on current research and appropriate instructional practices.

In addition to my Action Research Project, other graduate students and I collaborated on creating a wiki. This wiki highlighted research regarding technology and students with learning disabilities. We compiled our research on this public site so that we could share the research colleagues.

    d. contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community.

Being involved in this program has given me the confidence to become more and more involved in my school community. This year, my fourth grade colleagues applied for a grant, and were honored with a Best Buy Teach Award. The grant allowed us to purchase 3 laptops for our grade level work. In addition, I volunteered and became one of two pilot teachers, using new SMART Boards in our school. Once the year is over, I will be called upon to share my knowledge of this innovation with the staff at my school.

Throughout this program, I created a professional devlopment opportunity for teachers in third through fifth grade in my school. The workshop was entitled Using Wikis to Enhance Teaching. I plan on presenting this opportunity to the administration in my school district for a 2009-2010 option for teachers.