My Sandbox for Professional Growth

In the beginning of CEP 813, I was confused about how assessments and blog posts would relate to each other through out this program. When it comes to thinking about assessment, my mind is so wired to the way of standardized testing. I am so use to talking about NWEA data that we use at school, and how the students are scoring on that, that I forget that assessment can include different assignments and stages of learning. When it comes to thinking about blog posts, I always think of people who have a lot of free time that can explain life details or give advice daily. Never did I see them both connecting together to gain a new perspective to keep track of learning.

Through reading of my blog, I can see my growth not only as a teacher, but also as a student. In the beginning, I could not tell you what a precis was or even how to write it. Even when it came to linking a site with a word, I did not fully understand. I was very confused as to how and why we submitted our assignments the way we do. But now at the end of our class,  I see that it was so that we could reflect on how we can use a variety of things to assess our students in their learning.  It was a way to teach adults who may have grown up in technology just some new ways to do things that your students may know more than you about.

Throughout my blogs, you can see the growth I had as a teacher, along with how I understood the assignments. Some weeks, the work was tough and confusing to me, while other times I understood ideas. I also can reflect on that I need to explain myself more in blog posts, rather than just writing a quit blurb and turning it in. I was able to explain frustration on some, like the Minecraft assignment, while also seeing how truly beneficial that program would be to my students throughout the year. Setting up a digital portfolio allows for me to look back on these assignments and see where I need to work on things, and where I can see some of my passions in the program. I never thought that I would learn that creating a blog, would lead to my very own start to an educators portfolio.