EDC 665--Blog 1

Melissa Anderson writes:

Think back to a successful learning experience you have designed. What made it successful? What was your role in creating that success?

Considered a technological-savvy teacher by many of my colleagues, I have been called upon by many of my co-workers to assist them in the use of many computer related items in their classrooms, especially using it to make their lives easier. Last year I made the change from second grade to fourth grade. Knowing that I would need to have specific calculated percentage grades (A, B, C, N, U) as an upper grade teacher, I knew that a traditional handwritten grade book would be more burdensome. My principal purchased a site license for Easy Grade Pro (EGP) so that teachers could keep track of their grades on a computer, which would give me easily accessible, and more detailed information about specific graded assignments.

While we have a large staff that could easily utilize this grade book, I was the only teacher that really learned how to use Easy Grade Pro. I found that the grade book to be very helpful and it gave me one less thing to worry about (calculating grades ) at the end of a grading period.

Many people began to see the success that I had with the grading program, and had asked me to teach them how to use the program. During one of our staff development my principal asked me to run a session explaining how to use the grading program. I gladly accepted, as this is one of my outside passions--teaching adults technology. I had about ten people attend my session. At this session I gave the teachers a step by step instruction packet with screenshots--no use of giving them a manual that they would not use. In this packet, I only included the most important information.

I EGP loaded on all of the computers prior to the session. I used a projector to so that the group could have a hands on learning experience while I taught the program. I believe that technology is one of those things that needs to be taught in one of two ways (exploratory or hands-on learning) and that is why I wanted the teachers to utilize this experience using computers. I answered questions throughout the process and also gave time for each of the teachers to practice using the concepts I taught--creating a gradebook, entering student names, entering grades, printing out progress and grade reports.

I then proceeded to load all of program onto all interested teachers' computers. Many teachers set up their grade books after the session. As time went on, they used the program and had questions ---they were ready for another training for the next step in the EGP process. At the time I could not provide the needed instruction due to time constraints, so many of the teachers attended a district in-service. Upon completion of the inservice, many teachers complemented me and told me my session was much more helpful and that they did not understand this other person's approach to teaching the program. I received many compliments and that made me realize that the learning experience that I provided for my colleagues was utilized effectively and was beneficial to them. (Recently, I attended the same inservice (only so I could get a copy of the latest version) and I completely agree with my colleagues.

So why was my teaching so successful and what was my role in creating that success? I think it was super successful because of the approach that I took to teaching my colleagues. I created an easy how to guide, provided a hands-on and guided instruction experience, and gave practice time for each of the trainees. I also gave individual instruction time to teacher's that needed it. I believe that because I was the initial person to tryout this program, I was able to project where people might have difficulties and questions. I believe this was a great learning experience that I provided for others.