Describe your inquiry 

In my inquiry I began my quest of becoming a Certified Google Educator. This process will take longer than this class. I field many questions from teachers and staff in my school regarding how to use technology in their classrooms. The Media Specialist in my school is very knowledgable but I would like to be able to help when she's not available. 

 

What course essential question are you investigating? Please include the question you are focusing on and describe the connection. 

 S5 How do librarians (who are effective teachers) enable members of the learning community to become effective users and creators of ideas and information? 

Librarians (who are effective teachers) are a source for information for the learning community in a school. Understanding how the many aspects of Google tools will enable me to support staff and students in their work. The tools can help streamline their classrooms, organize their communications, and help create content for projects. 

 What two course outcomes are you demonstrating proficiency with? For each please explain how you see you work as demonstrating master of the outcome.

 Demonstrate fluency with new educational tools and articulate the affordances and constraints of such tools to support educational practice in any learning environment.

 Passing the tests throughout the Google training demonstrates fluency. Using the tools in my teaching helps understand the issues that may arise and how to solve those issues. 

 Develop both physical and virtual learner-centered environments that are engaging and equitable, encourage positive social interaction and the curation and creation of knowledge 

Creating workshops for teachers to introduce them to a new tool could be done in various ways. Hosting PD during the day or creating videos to share are ways to make sure everyone has a chance to learn. There are tools to use in Google that would help with interaction. We could create a Google Group, make a Google Chat, use Google Meet, set up a Google Classroom, or a blog.

 Scholarly Articles:

Training And Mentoring Google Apps For Education (GAFE) To Support Teacher Performance In Online Learning

This article followed a school in Indonesia when online schooling was implemented. The students found the tools on GAFE easy to use but the teachers did not. After training and support of the tools through groups and trainings, the teachers had success. From 41% of teachers using the tools to 94% of teachers. This article helped me understand that proper training and support is needed when implementing new tools.

• Lutfiana, R. F., & Dintarini, M. (2022). Training and mentoring google apps for education (GAFE) to support teacher performance in online learning. Kaibon Abhinaya, 4(2), 143-147. https://doi.org/10.30656/ka.v4i2.4103

Teaching Teachers to Use Technology

Although this article was written in 1991 and our use of technology has greatly changed since then, I still found it useful. Making sure you have small groups to teach, have training that will be relevant, and to not go to deep as to overwhelm. 

Anderson, M. (1991). Teaching teachers to use technology. Book Report, 10(2), 37.

How can a teacher become Google for Education certified?

This article helped me understand the process of becoming certified. It highlighted the steps needed to take and the prices for certification.

Translated by Content Engine, L. L. C. (2021, Nov 07). How can a teacher become Google for Education certified? CE Noticias Financieras https://library.umaine.edu/auth/EZproxy/test/authej.asp?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fwire-feeds%2Fhow-can-teacher-become-google-education-certified%2Fdocview%2F2595004177%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D14583

 How did your inquiry question support your professional growth? How do you know that your work advanced your learning? 

My inquiry question supported my professional growth by helping me to focus on what is important for my learning community. Learning Google tools at a deeper understanding helps me share aspects of the tools with others and how I can use them in my teaching and keeping on task. I have been able to use tools in my lessons with classes. For example helping class use slides for a research project.

.Provide evidence of your work, this can be photos, screenshots, videos, certificates, links, badges earned etc. 

                                                      

Resources:

Google for Educators - Take trainings for using Google apps for classroom

Google for IT Admins  Trainings for IT Admins

Helping k-12 Educators make a greater impact in the classroom  Research areas where Google can help in your classroom

Workshopper How to run an effective workshop

My next steps are to continue with my Google training and use what I learn to share with teachers. After I feel confident with my knowledge I will register for Level 1 Certification.

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 "About Me"

Remind everyone about your role, learner age(s), technology environment, and technology stance. My name is Helen Wright. I work in a rural public PreK - 8th grade school. While I understand the importance of technology in the 21st century, I don't use it with my classes a lot. The all have their own chrome books. If we do do something technological with younger students, we will use the ipads. My currant class has inspired me to use more technology during library time.

What are your strengths? I would say my strengths are connection to my students, a love of books, and experience in special education. I only see the classes once a week so it is important for them to trust me.Creating relationships with them helps with classroom management. I love sharing books with the kids, whether during read aloud or suggesting a title for them to read. I notice the more excited I am, the more they are interested.  My training in special ed has helped me with my adaptive classes as well as mainstream. Being clear with expectations and patient while waiting can help different situations.

Where would you like to see some improvement whether for you or for your learners? I would like to be more focused on how I use technology. I find myself getting into too much information while researching for my personnel classes as well as ones I teach.

List 5 topics, ideas, areas or specific readings that you have wanted to explore. 

I would like to learn more about storytelling. I enjoy read aloud but I think I could make them more engaging to my students.

PBIS - we use this in my school and I believe there is more for me to learn.

Creating games like kahoot for my classes to help teach library skills.

Time Management. Teaching classes while running a library (plus getting pulled to sub) can get overwhelming. I would like to focus on managing my time effectively in order to get my tasks accomplished.

Google tools. I know there is more I can be using Google for in my library. I could also be an assistant to other teachers. There is the opportunity to become a google educator by taking tests on your knowledge.

Explain why or how any or all of these impact your learning environment or personal growth?  I touched on this above.

Do you know what direction you already would like to go? I think becoming a Google Educator.

Do you see alignment with the course central questions or outcomes?

This would align with course outcomes in Teaching and Learning #2 : Demonstrate fluency with new educational tools, and articulate the affordances and constraints of such tools to support educational practice.

Inquiry Project

The Learner Inquiry Project I designed is for Fourth Grade. Our school's Garden Committee is working on an outside garden space to be butterfly friendly. This project would help the committee come up with ideas to create the space while also involving the students in the plans. Involving students in planning will create a partnership with the Garden Committee as well as help the students use their research skills to learn about local habitats.

How Might We.. Create an outside environment that is welcoming to butterflies?

Resources for Educators:

Bulletin #7151, Landscaping for Butterflies in Maine

This is a detailed bulletin by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Articles from this link can be shared with the students. I believe sharing it all may feel overwhelming to 4th graders.

GARDEN LESSON PLAN: HABITAT AND POLLINATORS

 This lesson is geared towards older students but it is filled with lesson ideas on creating a garden for habitat and pollinators.

Education Grants Program

Planning and creating a garden cost money. Maine Agriculture in the Classroom offers grants that can help. You will need to apply the year before implementing the program.

Passionate about Pollinators  In this youtube video, you will get excited to plan a garden for pollinators.

Resources for Students:

Selecting Plants for pollinators  research here for different plants to encourage pollinators to visit your garden.

The Wild Seed Project Another site to help choose plants to attract pollinators. This link goes directly to list of Favorite Plants for Schoolyards

Maine Native Plants This site is part of the Maine Audubon Site and focuses on plants that are indigenous to Maine. The link will help you chose plant based on critera including butterflies and woldlife.

Technology:

Canva  This can be used to create a poster explaining what would be in your garden and why.

Paint tool for Chrome This can be used to draw outline of garden.

Standard

4-LS1-1.	Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.

 

Digital Citizenship in your classroom/work environment

Share your thoughts on the teaching or training of digital citizenship / etiquette / rules in your classroom/work environment.   I do think we should teach digital citizenship in our schools. We live in a digital world and helping students understand what this means is important. I grew up before the world went online so I have always been particular with what I share electronically.

Is it embedded in the curriculum, its own unit, or something that you do not formally teach/train/manage? Explain why you follow this path. The middle school teachers cover this in their classrooms so we don't teach digital citizenship in the library/maker space room. We do, however, touch on etiquette and rules.We may have kids do a lesson from Common Sense Media if it seems relevant. 

Should digital citizenship be a part of the school-wide (work environment) curriculum?  Who should teach it or train learners/employees? How? I believe digital citizenship should be taught. The students in schools now have always had internet in their world. This is both good and bad. They are more comfortable with being online but also they are too comfortable. Not having a fear can set them up for trouble. I also believe staff should have some training as well. I have seen teachers post things on social media that probably shouldn't be out there for the world to see. I think with the advancements in AI being responsible online is even more important.