Instructional Delivery
My instructional delivery has been my greatest point of evolution during my fifteen-year career, especially during the last twelve years at Crawford Central. I attribute this to taking advantage of the many resources available to me beginning in the spring of 2009 when Crawford Central School District began participation in the Classrooms for the Future program.
I have continually attempted to move the students towards project and inquiry based learning in recent years, relying on the library, as well as the new technologies. Even after the Classrooms for the Future grant expired in Pennsylvania, I took the lead whenever possible to employ and develop new technology-based initiatives and strategies at Meadville Area Senior High to help the students succeed in the 21st century classroom. I have used a classroom set of laptops when they were available, and have taken advantage of our 1-1 program since it was implemented in the 2018-2019 school year. Students have had online discussions on current events, created slide shows and podcasts, PowerPoints which they have presented, and more.
I have continually attempted to move the students towards project and inquiry based learning in recent years, relying on the library, as well as the new technologies. Even after the Classrooms for the Future grant expired in Pennsylvania, I took the lead whenever possible to employ and develop new technology-based initiatives and strategies at Meadville Area Senior High to help the students succeed in the 21st century classroom. I have used a classroom set of laptops when they were available, and have taken advantage of our 1-1 program since it was implemented in the 2018-2019 school year. Students have had online discussions on current events, created slide shows and podcasts, PowerPoints which they have presented, and more.
"I have continually attempted to move the students towards project and inquiry based learning..."
In addition to using computers in my classroom, I have taken advantage of training opportunities when they have been available. In 2013-2014 I participated in the flipped classroom pilot program my district established. This program opened my eyes to new ways to promote student-centered learning in the classroom, blending higher level thinking with the use of technology to drive learning in a 21st century model. While I have not always continued the last few years with the flipped classroom model, this is due to functionality and technology capability in the classroom, not disinterest in the style of teaching. In addition to my experience in flipping the classroom, I have participated in PETE & C (Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo and Conference), as well as AP Summer Workshops and Conferences. Furthermore, I was chosen by my administrator to travel to Orlando, Florida to participate in the Model Schools Conference in June of 2018. This conference was amazing, and taught me new approaches to teaching that I plan to employ in the years to come. I was also nominated in 2018 as a Keystone Technology Innovator by my administration, a title I wear proudly. Lastly, in the spring of 2018, I was selected to help implement a new LMS throughout my district called Canvas. As part of the Canvas "Train the Trainers" program, I have and will continue to train my colleagues in using this system to modernize their classroom, digitize their resources, and more effectively communicate with students and parents.
I would like to continue down this path in the future, providing the students with a more broad and diverse catalog of assignments and projects to further their interest and success in social studies, and continually adapt my classroom to more effectively reach my students needs.
I would like to continue down this path in the future, providing the students with a more broad and diverse catalog of assignments and projects to further their interest and success in social studies, and continually adapt my classroom to more effectively reach my students needs.