Setting up Twitter as an Personal Learning Network

Until this afternoon I did not have a Twitter account. Yes, I know its 2017 and I can hear the GASPS and "Say Whats" from afar...I had always considered social media accounts to be purely for social interactions and not so much for a professional learning experience.  After reviewing several articles and videos on how educators use Twitter to connect with other educators and their students I signed up...

See here I am (and my husband)...Come follow me!

I followed the extremely simple process of signing up for an account and in less than 5 minutes I was ready to start following people. I searched several topics and people including, Science, Education, Science Education, NCVPS, fellow colleagues, etc. In a short period of I was able to follow 37 twitter accounts that are relevant to my professional field. As I become more familiar with Twitter this number will certainly expand as I continue to grow this particular PLN.

Above you see a few examples of organizations and people that I chose to follow right from the start. I am an Online Science Educator so following such organizations like National Geographic, Smithsonian Science Ed and Bill Nye are beneficial to my instruction in the various courses I teach, including Earth Science.

I also chose to follow a few other educators, some I know and some I don't. I was excited to follow the various NCVPS twitter pages since this is the amazing organization I work for. Ask me about NCVPS and I will tell you about all the wonderful things we are doing for North Carolina students and teachers.  

Below you will see that NCVPS has its owns Professional Learning page. What could better than to  follow this to help with my own Professional Learning that I know will be 100% relevant to my profession and my particular job. 

I believe this PLN will be easy to sustain especially since I work for a school that is solely online. This professional Twitter account will be a great way for me to continue to connect with educators and discover ideas on how to improve my online instruction. I will also be able to learn new techniques to help the teachers I train who are completing Continuing Education Credits to teach online. 

In addition to setting up my Twitter account, I did some further research and saw several articles on how teachers are using Twitter in the classroom and how it has allowed them to connect better with their students and get amazing ideas from other educators all over the world. Check them out! 

50 Ways to use Twitter in the classroom

The Teacher's Guide to Twitter

60 Inspiring Examples of Twitter in the classroom

So while I have not made my first tweet yet I am excited to begin this PLN journey. :)

TPACK and SAMR Models Critique

The TPACK and SAMR models are two techniques for implementing technology into a course. While taking different approaches these models are a basis for how teachers whether in the traditional classroom or online arena can integrate technology to aid in student understanding. 
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So what exactly are the TPACK and SAMR models and what are some advantages and disadvantages of each?

SAMR by Coston Daugherty Both Infographics created on 1/23/2017 by Coston Daugherty
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I believe both models are excellent ways to help with technology implementation. Both the TPACK and SAMR models have positives and negatives and require an instructor to rethink how they teach concepts to students using technology. The TPACK model uses three foundations of teaching: technology, pedagogy and content knowledge and demonstrates how to overlap them. While the SAMR model often takes the form of a swimming pool from shallow to deep with each area at a different depth for technological integration.

Whether technology is being integrated into a traditional brick and mortar classroom or a student is completely immersed in an online class, an instructor must pay close attention to how the technology is being used for student understanding. Simply adding technology to a course for the sake of using technology does not benefit the student if it is not used properly and in a way to enhance student learning.

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I identify most with the SAMR Model. In the video below the Professional Learning Team at NCVPS has broken down this model with examples of how technology can be integrated into the online classroom. 

Created by Lydia Richmond, Used for NCVPS Professional Learning. Published 6.22.2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPrGaqnpVAY .  CCO Public Domain. 

I believe the SAMR model gives teachers ample opportunity to use technology in different ways in their content areas. From the various readings I have been able to understand that one does not always have to stay in the "Redefinition" area of the model. This is not possible 100% of the time. Sometimes simple Substitution or Modification can bring about the same student success and understanding. I have also discovered that there are numerous examples available showing how to use each step of the SAMR model to integrate technology in the classroom. I have seen the many advantages that this model brings to teachers when trying to add technology in their course. This is a model that can be used by a technology newbie or someone that is already teach savvy in their courses. 

The main take away with using either the TPACK or SAMR Model is...You are doing students an injustice if you do not know how to implement the appropriate technology at the proper time.

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References: 

• Koehler , M. (2011, May 13). What is TPACK? Retrieved from http://www.matt-koehler.com/tpack/
• Anderson, B. (n.d.). Helping Teachers with Technology. Retrieved from http://helpingteacherswithtechnology.com/tpack/
• Pappas, C. (2014, March 13). Rethinking SAMR, TPACK and using technology well. Retrieved from http://ditchthattextbook.com/2014/03/13/rethinking-samr-tpack-and-using-technology-well/
• Pappas, C. (2016, March 3). Applying The SAMR Model To Create An Effective Blended Learning Strategy. Retrieved from https://elearningindustry.com/applying-samr-model-create-effective-blended-learning-strategy
• Hooker. (2014, August 1). SAMR Swimming Lessons. Retrieved from https://hookedoninnovation.com/2014/08/01/samr-swimming-lessons/?utm_content=buffer57016&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
• Schrock, K. (2013, November 21). SAMR Model Musings. Retrieved from http://blog.kathyschrock.net/2013/11/sarm-model-musings.html

Who I am...

Hello all!

My name is Coston Daugherty and I am currently an online Science Instructor and Instructional Leader for North Carolina Virtual Public Schools. I taught in the classroom for 4 years before I moved into the online arena and have been teaching online for the last 6 years. I absolutely love being an online instructor and the opportunities online learning affords our students. I had the honor of serving as the 2018 NCVPS Teacher of the year.

I am an ECU graduate and have been married for over 10 years. My husband is in the military and after we graduated college we have moved 8 times in 10 years. We have 3 little girls, Leighton, Aislinn and Elsie.