Where Am I Now?

Rocking The Boat

aTask Zero-Review ​

The book Rocking the Boat: How to Effect Change Without Making Trouble, by Debra Meyerson was written for those who want to be agents of change within an organization.  This individual is described as a "Tempered Racial".  Tempered Radicals are classified 3 ways: Different social identities from the majority (self-imposed exile), social identities that does not oppose the majority differences seen as cultural differences, and those whom possess philosophical differences that oppose the majority.  The author identified 5 main ways that the Tempered Radical could affect change and these descriptions were followed by stories that served as examples that at times were very relate-able to many of my experiences in the past.  Reading through these experiences were thought provoking and validated my own feeling about my past of being an agent of change.  The tools and strategies provided additional support to my mission and goals as an educator that I will use in the years to come.       

Task One-How am I different?  

As I read I identified more with the Tempered Radical classified by his/her philosophical differences. I oppose how students are evaluated here in the United States.  Statistics show that our nation falls far behind other nations that are global leaders that have lead innovative breakthroughs in science and technology.  In my own experience I feel that educators are pressured to chase test scores instead of promoting students to be innovative problem-solvers (maker education)  and use technology as a tool for creating projects to demonstrate their knowledge of content (education technology).  Integration of each content area is an ideal approach to a revised education model that aligns more with real-world challenges and creating real solutions.  Allowing my students to tinker is not aligned to my curriculum, yet I allow my class to be a free space for students to explore their ideas to make something cool during math time.  I have also challenged other classrooms to join our small maker movement and was happy to have some of my colleagues participate. This is just a small step in the in the flow of the global trends that I will continue to foster.    

Task Two-Becoming a Tempered Radical 

According to Meyers, Tempered Radicals leave their mark on the world by using resistance, encounters as opportunities to promote learning and change, learning to transform problems into negotiations, using small victories as purposeful ways to progress change and through organized bargaining.  I can identify more with quietly resisting while staying true to myself. I feel that allowing students to freely design I am promoting real world problem solving which can align to math standards.  I have used students to promote the challenge building-wide by showcasing work to siblings and parents, which in turn students are questioning their own teachers to participate in challenges.  Although these challenges are introduced in the Science and Technology PLC, many ELA or Elective teachers may not attend due to an abundance of other after school meeting.  As I move forward I will focus on learning how to use the power of negotiation to support my vision.   

Task Three-Facing Challenges

Meyerson described 4 pathways Tempered Radicals may take as they attempt to balance navigating against the majority.  I can identify more with "Frustration and Burnout".  At one point of time, teachers were given a curriculum to follow with a rigorous scope and sequence.  Many teachers became frustrated with the new curriculum and new Common Core Standards because of limited professional development and consideration of day to day changes in the schedule.  I felt as if I was always behind and students were struggling to grasp some of the concepts.  To overcome this challenge I used digital resources (videos-vimeo, games-Kahoot, and fluency practice-Reflex Math) as  sources to provide students with practice of concepts.  Student engagement increased just by including more digital resources that they preferred over traditional paper pencil practice.  Moving forward I will use students to give me feedback on how two increase engagement.  

​Setting Goals: Instrumental and Missional Thinking

Missional Thinking Short Term Goal
As I read through the article I can see how my administrator's approach to technology integration within my own school building aligns more with instrumental thinking.  Prior to my training with Michigan State University I also exhibited that type of thinking.  Over this last year of training with Michigan State University's Urban STEM initiative I have been exposed to more creative ways to use technology  as a tool for showcasing knowledge not just researching knowledge.  For example, I now use powtoons daily in my instructions to introduce challenges as well as Voki.  These same tools are used for students to create projects or have them to respond or summarize by creating a Voki that summarizes their understanding in 5 sentences or less.  Instead of the dreaded long report or written summary.  Using technology integration for students to showcase understanding increase student engagement and familiarity with using computers as creative tools.  This all falls in line with my 6 month short term goal to have students add all of their small projects to their websites for all subjects so they can be proud to start their positive digital footprint.  
Missional Thinking Long Term Goal
Being an educator over 15 years I have witnessed how technology has changed education within my own practice.  I believe that being a WIPRO Fellow was a  unique opportunity to gain valuable resources and teacher best practice.  However there are not many opportunities like this. We have learned by doing.  This is what education should be.  Many decision makers have overlooked technology integration in education for too long.  It is so unfortunate because students are highly technologically savvy. Approaching education from a different lense (technology integration) would be beneficial to increase student engagement which in turn would increase student achievement if missional thinking is applied to goal setting from education stakeholders. Over six years ago, I made a decision to join a team at one of Chicago's lowest achieving schools and was part of the team that transformed it to a school that had one of the highest double digit gains in the city. I learned how to be forward thinking while working in a turnaround model as well as how it feels to be a part of a winning team. Now that our students are performing on grade level, how do we take them to the next level?  Well, I believe we can do that by adopting to become the first STEM school in our network.  Using innovative practice and our partnerships that were gained within my professional network,this goal could become a reality sooner than I ever imagined.   

Presentation of Self

After searching for myself on 3 of the top search engines here is what I found out about me:  
BING SEARCH 
During my Bing search the first thing I noticed was my gmail profile picture and my facebook profile picture popped up under images, as well as my Linkedin profile.
Google 
During my Google search there were 7 images of me and links to all of my social media outlets, however this search listed my website.
AOL 
Under AOL I noticed that my old Myspace page surfaced as well as links to some of my PREZI's that I use for instructions.  I also found me listed under Find the DATA which posted my salary as well as years I have taught at Morton, degrees earned as well as comparable salaries of other teachers within the school.

After looking at my digital presence I would like to have more of my teaching accolades and accomplishments pop-up. The benefit of having my own website gives me the option to use my Twitter feed to show what I am doing in the present and highlight and showcase my accomplishments.