Celebrate Your Story

Adrienne Rothermel

Looking to Improve

Leadership Pathways-Technology Transformation was an integral part in improving my skills as a teacher. My goal as a science teacher has been to increase my student’s critical thinking skills. My hope was that this pathway would provide me with the tools to impact my classroom. Feedback, Choice and Goal Setting have been my focus in the Pathways program. I felt I had a strong BLEND foundation and TEK knowledge but I could do more to prepare my students for high school and life. When I started, I wasn’t aware of how big the effect would be for my students and in my teaching. My hope is that you will be able to visualize the growth as well.

Feedback

This practice is key to Blended learning because students have immediate correction and direction to aid the progress of their learning. Meaningful feedback is timely, accurate and specific to the needs of the student. Students need to have feedback for a positive progression in their studies. Without it, students can become discouraged when they continually are unsuccessful. Misunderstandings can be corrected. As the year progressed, students learned to look for the feedback either in the classroom or in BLEND to help them judge whether they should proceed or ask for additional assistance. Feedback through email, BLEND and in person as well allows students to control the pace of their learning and how quickly to proceed through the activities. This happens both in the classroom and outside of the classroom.

Feedback Examples and Videos

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“Understanind what I need to learn more on and work on” by OE

“What I need to improve on and think about in a different way” by RH

“shows me my weaknesses and what I can improve on” by tZ

Choice

Choice for my students gives them many opportunities in their learning. It empowers their identities and interests. It creates an engaging and authentic learning experience. Students have the options in methods - digital or hands-on/paper, and actions - stations or tasks - and differentiated - reading, writing, video, research, illustration, and presentation - drawing, writing, video, and quiz assessments. Choices allow for a shift in the cognitive load from teacher to student. Students have so much more control over their learning. This connects to the critical thinking that is necessary in our everyday lives while being assisted by goal setting and feedback. The autonomy of students who have access to choice in the learning will only increase engagement, which will grow understanding leading to a student who is more prepared for the next level academically and in necessary skills that result from controlling the school experience.

Choice Examples and Videos

“You can go at your own pace and it is not dictation” by MB

“To make my own choice and do what I want to do” by MP

“Sense of freedom in my learning” by KS

Goal Setting

Feedback with its priority practices of goal setting and reflection can be seen throughout the implementation. Students begin the unit with reviewing the essential skills rating their understanding then reflecting on the methods they will use to achieve a growth in the rating. Students will reflect back on their progress at the first quiz and then prior to a unit assessment. Feedback helps in this process because as students work through notes and early activities and stations, mini-lessons/reminders can be given and misconceptions can be clarified early in the unit. When misconceptions are clarified early in the unit, students will have a stronger foundation to build upon and there is less concern in their previous learning whether it was originally correct or incorrect. Feedback can also help to set students on an equal level as they progress through the unit, because at each step everyone should have the correct information and misconceptions are eliminated. As students reflect upon the feedback, they are beginning to meet the goals that were previously set at the beginning of the unit. Students feel better about the concept and feel better about themselves as learners. Students continue to see feedback in their quizzes and work to make corrections or if the learning platform enables students to interact with a mini-lesson video then answer questions to bring their learning to mastery. These three process of goals, feedback and reflection continue to work together to enable the student to reach a successful mastery level

Goal Setting Examples and Videos

“Knew what I needed to do and how to do that” by EW

“Made me know what I wanted to accomplish” by PS

“helped me accomplish thingsn, keeps you on track” by BB

Instructional Growth

I am excited about the growth I have seen in myself the last two years. I am more impressed by the acceptance of the “challenge” of something new that my students walked with me the last two years. I have watched them grow and think about their learning, watch them look for provided feedback, and have more choices than before. As I look to the future, I plan to sharpen my technology tools to develop the next generation of leaders “who engage in high levels of learning to ensure all students thrive in college, career, and life” (taken from Covington MS mission statement)