My TPACK Journey The framework that we are investing ourselves in - TPACK, is something that I have been engaged in for many years, but without the realization of its title. TPACK is a model that by design engages the learner in a deep way. We as instructors should combine technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge in order to teach effectively. My content knowledge has always been strong. My pedagogical is intertwined with everything I do, each day that I teach. My technological prowess is...improving! Thank you - and I mean this - to Touro University and NapaLearns. Teaching during Covid has changed my life and the entire foundation on which I stand. I can not imagine plodding through the thick, muddy landscape that is distance learning without all the professional development, the offerings of camaraderie and kinship from my colleagues, and the education I am harnessing from Touro University. My personal TPACK journey is continuing and strengthening, which should help my students - of all abilities - become true 21st century learners.
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“CREATE YOUR OWN VISUAL STYLE… LET IT BE UNIQUE FOR YOURSELF AND YET IDENTIFIABLE TO OTHERS.”- Orson Welles “IF IT’S A GOOD MOVIE, THE SOUND COULD GO OFF AND THE AUDIENCE WOULD STILL HAVE A PRETTY CLEAR IDEA OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.”- Alfred Hitchcock “WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME IF I WENT TO FILM SCHOOL I TELL THEM, ‘NO, I WENT TO FILMS’.” - Quentin Tarantino “ALL GOOD IDEAS START OUT AS BAD IDEAS, THAT’S WHY IT TAKES SO LONG.”- Steven Spielberg I have never - honestly NEVER created a short film. Not my comfort level or even my interest. This has been difficult for me and has created anxiety. Ah, but for the greater good! I shall dive deep, learn much, make mistakes, and persevere! I wonder about the rest of my cohort but I have some kick-butt ideas in my head - all set to music and everything, but making it happen is a challenge. This journey has let me to the dreaded You-Tube video mosh pit. I have watched several of them. Sometimes I need that level of help with something techy that I have never encountered before. This guy, Justin Brown, has been GREAT! Briefly, I had started with a storyboard and had intended to follow it, but when I was in Tahoe this weekend, I ended up filming myself as I was climbing down a steep snowy hill. Totally impromptu! It just came to me. I like it and it is off the cuff and kind of...me. It needs more and I do not pretend that this is all I will be offering up, but it is a start. I liked the process. Filming myself as I was walking - making things up to say. I told my husband to get lost please while I did this. Next, I will be filming my sweet little children, ages 17 and 20. Just another layer. Onward!! I am very fond of our new NVUSD logo by the way. It is a large improvement on the old grapes/vineyard thing. Everything in Napa is grape related. This new logo at least represents learning! But when studying the Mission Statement of NVUSD, I would LIKE to say that it seems genuine, well-founded, and based on data. Further, it is FORWARD thinking. Really and truly, I barely have time to study the efficacy of their Statement but they certainly have a well thought-out website. When we see this:
Transforming lives by instilling and inspiring lifelong learning in every student...I feel it is a rather lofty statement but who can blame this team of thinkers and planners? Our district is really TRYING - especially with our new Superintendent. She is very forward thinking. The Statement above seems to fit her and her passion. What I do not really understand is how this is happening - across all domains within our district? It is my hope to transform lives but I am not sure sometimes, if I am even getting them to fix their video on Zoom or how to explain why they can not seem to share a Google Doc, or worse yet, understand why they "were in my waiting room for 12 minutes but I did not let them in." Time will tell if NVUSD has transformed lives. Right now, we are just trying to keep our sanity while teaching to worried, masked participants in the back of the room, and digital children in the front of the room. |
Kathy FlynnAlways hoping, learning, and wondering...how am I making a difference in my student's lives? Archives
April 2021
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