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Transcript:
Hello, I chose option 2 for this week’s discussion board. In teaching and learning, there is always growing, whether it be growing your students to being able to read on level or growing yourself in understanding how to implement technology effectively within your classroom. Professional growth is critical and extremely valuable. Education is a constant revolving door of new trends, strategies, implementations, and technologies, so in order to attend to the needs of all students, establishing a professional growth plan is central.
At my school, we are required to prepare a professional growth plan based on the 6 standards we are evaluated on by the state of North Carolina. Teachers demonstrate leadership, teachers establish a respectful environment for a diverse population of students, teachers know the content they teach, teachers facilitate learning for their students, teachers reflect on their practice, and teachers contribute to the academic success of their students. I made one of my three goals this year to facilitate learning for my students with a technological approach. I am making it my obligation this year to well engage students with instruction through the use of technology. This goal takes planning, and practice, because so many use technology, in my experience, as a substitute, a buffer, and as classroom management tool when it could be utilized for so much more. We live in a digital age, where our phones, tablets, and computers are practically apart of us, so in order to successfully prepare my students for the digital world that awaits them, teaching and using technology appropriately is absolutely necessary. I plan on growing professionally by attending professional developments and workshops that are innovative and explicit in their approaches in including and using technology. It is not enough just do personal research, I must immerse myself in these events in order to truly learn what I am capable of providing in terms of education on a digital scale. Sheninger (2014) describes digital leadership as a mindset and a call to transform. So in order for me to grow my students, I must first grow as a professional in areas that will enhance my students’ educational experience.
This digital age, in my professional opinion, will continue to grow and advance for years to come. Technology has settled into the roots of our daily lives, yielding many new job opportunities. I want my students to feel prepared and successful, so in order to transform my students into digital citizens, I need to continue to educate myself on the latest technology and trends to best serve them because these skills will benefit them greatly for the future.
References
Sheninger, E. C. (2014). Digital leadership: Changing paradigms for changing times. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
samanthapersinger/ee6 
Hi Samantha! I loved reading your post and I chose to write about my professional growth plan as well. I completely agree that as teachers, we must always be learning. We do not want our students to become complacent and we must model this in how we continually innovate and adapt in this ever-changing world. I teach in Georgia and we must set professional growth goals that are aligned to our evaluation standards as well. I love that you chose to make one of your goals to facilitate learning using educational technology. Implementing instructional technology is time consuming but I believe the rewards are far greater than the costs. Students love using technology, and I have seen firsthand how it increases student engagement and achievement. I always remember that teaching the same way we always have, we will not be preparing students to enter the technological, collaborative workplace one day. I love how you understand this as well by mentioning how technology has created many new job opportunities. I want my students to feel well prepared and almost feel like they have an edge because of the tools they learned and cultivated in my class. I wish you the best this school year, and I know you will continue to reach your goals as you do whatever it takes to meet the needs of your students!
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