The Finale
Capstone Course 5320
Welcome to the last course for the ADL Program here at Lamar. This has been a wonderful journey that and so glad I got the chance to take advantage of during my educational career.
Here you will find how I survived the ADL Program here at Lamar University
COVA Reflection & Application
Where or when did you first realize that you genuinely had choice, ownership, and voice through authentic assignments?
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Before enrolling into the ADL program here at Lamar I had no idea about COVA and couldn’t tell you what it meant but all along it was something I had been practicing with not only myself but the students I have come in contact with since working in the school district. Once I realized what COVA was, I became more interested in learning more.
What was your initial reaction when given the freedom and responsibility to choose to take ownership of your learning through an authentic project? Were you ready for this? If not or if so…what did you do?
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When given the freedom and responsibility to be able to take ownership over how I learn and or teach through authentic learning my first initial reaction was WOW this is amazing that I have the ability to take my learning ability into my own hands without being judged. Yes, indeed I was ready because it was something new that I could learn at my own pace because it’s my freedom to be able to learn on my own at my own pace.
What did you do to adjust to this style of learning? Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?
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When the pandemic hit no one was ready for what was about to happen, students nor teachers. Honestly my school district wasn’t equipped with the correct materials needed to help the students continue their education. It took about 2 months to get all students with the correct materials, but another problem arose and that was actually getting the students to stay on the devices in order for them to learn. Knowing what I know now, I feel it is necessary for all students to be able to know how to properly use a computer that has online learning courses. From cutting it on and off to being able to login to class and complete assignments. This should be embedded in all schools’ learning curriculum.
How difficult was it to take control of your own voice and focus on your organization as the audience for your work?
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It was not difficult for me at all to be able to take control of my own voice because I really didn’t have a voice or choice to begin with. I was basically thrown into a position neither the students nor other teachers were ready for but, by being thrown into that position I quickly realized that I had to put my best foot forward and help where my help was needed. I put my pride to the side and did what needed to be done.
Some students had mixed feelings toward promoting change in their organizations—how has your attitude toward leading change grown throughout the program?
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With the program being new and knowing that the schools needed any kind of help they could get when it came to promoting change within the organization my feelings were straight forward already kind of knowing what the targeted problem was and coming up with ways to resolve the issue.
How authentic is your innovation plan; did you just create it to get through the course work or did you really hope to change your organization.
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If I do have to say so myself my innovation plan is authentic and was built from course work provided throughout the ADL program here at Lamar created by Dr. H. The passion that Dr. H has put out in the atmosphere has allowed me to be able to take this opportunity and developing my own innovation plan in order to help my organization become better when it comes to teaching and presenting information and educational resources that will not only make the educational system as a whole better but helping the students through out their educational experience called school.
Applying what I Know
Knowing what you know now about the COVA approach how will you plan to use the COVA approach to create significant learning environments in your organization?
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Knowing what I now know about COVA I have already started implementing blended learning within station rotation into every classroom that I have the opportunity to sub in and the students love it. I have been able to create something within my organization that only have been taught in trainings within the district but never brought into the classroom until now due to the fact that the district is low on supplies but just enough to start something worth while to the students, parents, and teachers.
How will you give your learners choice ownership and voice through authentic assignments?
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Since I am only a substitute teacher for the district I don’t have my own classroom as of yet but, with me being able to go in and out of classrooms I am able to create learning environments where the students are learning together and for the ones that need help I group them with their peers so they can learn from one another in a significant learning environment (The Classroom).
My ADL JOURNEY
Innovation Plan Update Part II
So far in my innovation plan/project I’m at the point of no return meaning I have to keep pushing my way to the top so that my voice can be heard to defend the children. It takes a very passionate person who loves what they do, not letting anyone stop them from going up and I believe I am the person for that job. Upon entering the ADL program it was said that you will have to come up with a plan that will push forth your innovation of implementing whatever goal it was that you wanted to accomplish for your organization.
Now before this plan could be fulfilled, I created a proposal which was to inform my current organization of the importance of how beneficial it would be to have enough computers in the classroom while implementing blended learning into the teachers curriculum. I began to realize after being in the classroom after the COVID-19 pandemic there needed to be a change in how we as educators are getting our students to be able to learn and understand what they are learning. Not having computers within the classroom was such a huge hindrance to our children/students. The 2020 pandemic showed us that in more ways than one. Not only did Coronavirus shut down corporate America, but it also shut down our school system and forced all students to go to school online since face to face was out of the question. During this time, we as teachers had to jump in to help those in need, most of our students didn’t own a computer let alone know how to turn one on. It was not a good look on the district and especially not a good look for our students because they are the ones who are suffering.
There had to be a way to get our students back to the levels that they once were on and even though it would take time, I had to put a move on it and create a literature review which gave extended information on why its so important that any student within the school district should be introduced to blended learning and how having and or adding blended learning into the classroom will not only benefit the students but the teachers as well. The Lit review I created gave great insight and benefits that would arise if the organization was to go through with the plan which would of course once again be more beneficial to the students as well as their teachers. This plan will take such a heavy load off the teachers so that the teachers can actually start teaching again in a learning environment that the students can feel comfortable in. I found out why putting actions into place that implementing a station rotation with blended learning in the classroom was the best approach for my classroom since I’m with pre-k through 2nd grade. Getting the children to first learn how to be social was the first step in fulfilling the ultimate goal of adding blended learning into the classroom. Once all the pieces and components were put in place, I began to see how having blended learning had changed the classroom and allowed each student to be able to have Choice, Ownership, Voice, through Authentic learning better known as COVA. Being able to allow each and every child to have a choice on how they choose to learn has been more beneficial especially since I am a sub. Being a sub-teacher has allowed me to give the students a little more freedom when it comes to learning and they love it. They love seeing Ms. King and I love giving them their freedom to be themselves and listen to what it is they want and would think help them learn better.
Knowing what I know now I was then able to create an implementation outline that gives detailed information on why Implementing Blended Learning with Small Group Rotation will help promote the students' learning abilities in not only their school learning environment but also their home learning environment.. I actually was given a chance to implement blended learning with station rotation in a classroom that I was considered to be the student's teacher until the school was able to find them one. During station rotation I had stations available for the students, each station had a group of either 4 or 5 students were they would work together and solve group problems once they have solved station 1 issue they would then move to station 2 and so on until all groups have solved problems and have come up with some sort or solution.
I was also able to create a Call to Action video which is exactly what it sounds like, which is a call to make some action happen and what all it will take to make the action become a reality. As my plan started to unfold, I got more and more excited because I was finally able to reach and teach the students on a level that they would understand and that made me happy which caused me to realize I had to keep going because the students needed me and honestly, I needed them. My next step was to create a learning Professional Development module that would assist other educators within my organization in how this new plan should be implemented into their current curriculum, how it will work and resources that will be needed to make sure this road is easy for teachers and students which is included in Overview Of Professional Learning Strategy This overview gave professional learners different strategies they can implement into their own classrooms sort of like a guided guideline. Next, it had come to the point where everything was ready, and the final step was to make the plan become reality which caused an action of research plan to take place with this plan I was able to have a plan for the plan where I created surveys that would help determine how and and why implementing blended learning will help not only the teachers but the students as well.
The Final Results
Come to think of it, I've realized I had created a way out for students in low income school districts. Don't get me wrong I know it will take time to fix the ongoing issues when it comes to blended learning. But, right now we can work on the little things just to get and have the student involved.
Overall, I’m excited to be able to call out the problem that our schools are currently facing and take action or put other solutions in place so that students can be fully equipped with what they need in order to be successful while learning in an educational setting and not be ashamed if they don’t know. This plan is to allow kids to once again just be kids, and has also allowed teachers to actually teach again which has been the ultimate goal from the start.
Links
And it continues
ADL JOURNEY2
Contribution to My Learning
This is the finale….Wow I can say I made it to the position where I am really done with my Master’s Degree. This has truly been an amazing experience and journey that I was able to accomplish through dedication and hard work. Don’t get it twisted I wanted to give up, I even wanted to quit but I have a daughter who looks up to me and students that look at me as an example that they can do better if they dedicate themselves to it.
