Some projects that support my mission to move Ed Tech Forward...
Shift Keys
As a Google for Education Certified Innovator, I set out to design a solution to "inspire the mindset and scaffold the shift for reluctant teachers to transition to more student-centered, blended learning." Shift Keys is the solution I am working on. Shift Keys are a playful way to challenge and equip teachers to try new instructional strategies in their classrooms. They are a great way to promote safe risk-taking and quick wins for teachers wanting to try something new!
Project Update: Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, development of the Shift Keys project is currently on hold. Once things become a little bit more "normal-ish" again, the creation and curation of content for this project will resume.
Job-Specific Projects
When I accepted my position as my district's (very first) Education Technology Specialist in the Spring of 2016, I truly signed on as a pioneer in uncharted territory for our little piece of New Mexico, blazing brand new trails for what ed tech could look like in the classrooms of the Moriarty-Edgewood School District. With a huge desire to support teachers but just a shoestring budget for professional development, I have been able to to design some programs for my district that have played a major role in contributing to a shared vision for transforming learning outcomes and equipping our students with 21st Century Skills. These are some projects that I am especially proud of:
MESD 66: A blended learning ed tech PD "game" that provides MESD educators with personalized professional learning paths
Ed Tech U: A 2-day ed tech conference for educators throughout New Mexico
MESD Digital Learning & Innovation Academy: A comprehensive professional learning program for MESD teachers
Grow Summit: A 2-day virtual conference featuring speakers, presenters, and attendees from around the world, cultivating best practices for teaching and learning
The App Smash Challenge
In January 2019, I had the opportunity to go back into the classroom and teach a math unit. It was 5th Grade, Adding & Subtracting Fractions and it was A-W-E-S-O-M-E! I wanted to design a unit project that would cover the math content as well as address the ISTE Standards for Students. I wanted this to be an ongoing, self-paced project that students could work on daily at one of our learning stations. The App Smash Challenge was born. This project generated a buzz on campus with other teachers, so I wanted to share it on a broader scale. Please visit the website to learn more and download templates to create your own challenges!
