Getting Started with Adobe in the Classroom

I decided to work on my own professional development with Adobe products in November and finally finished the Getting Started with Adobe in the Classroom badge/certificate on Dec 20, 2018. 

Certified Microsoft Innovative Educator/ Office 365 Teacher Academy

I am now a Microsoft Innovative Educator and passed off Office 365 Teacher Academy. Here are the badges:
 

Common Sense Citizenship Curriculum Training

I completed the Common Sense Citizenship Curriculum Training. I am working on being certified as as Common Sense Educator. This was the first step. There are so many resources on this site to help everyone (educators, parents, students) become better digital citizens. One of the things I liked best is that even though there was a lot of information and resources, it didn't feel overwhelming, in fact, the opposite is true, it felt empowering. After reviewing the material I realize I need to start at my own home. There are things we do well, but overall, everyone needs to spend time and review what digital citizenship really is. I would encourage anyone to go through the curriculum material and make a determination to share the resources. Here is a link to the training materials for educators.

All Canvas courses ADA compliance updated

My time in the IDET program helped me come to a realization that I needed to make sure that all student's needs are met. Being able to provide help for those that need help assistance is important for many reasons, probably first and foremost is equity. My goal for the past few months has been to update all of the images in Canvas courses I am the lead instructor to be ADA compliant. It took quite a bit of time to go through each course and make sure that there was a text description to go with each image. I am proud to say that as of today all of my Master courses have updated text descriptions to go with all of the images.

Nearpod Certified Teacher

Nearpod is one of the best blended learning programs that is available to students and teachers. I like to describe by saying, "Experiencing Nearpod is what students wish PowerPoint was really like" I decided that I wanted to become a Nearpod Certified Teacher, especially with the focus on Blended Learning.  The certification requires submitting a lesson that uses the Nearpod formula for creating lessons and a reflection on using Nearpod.

I submitted my application and received my certification. I am excited to have this certification and use Nearpod with my students.
Here is the badge

Productivity Summation

Vlog

Saturday Feb 24th

Productivity update

I mentioned in the last post that weekly reviews were new and it would take some getting used to doing each and every week. I got a bit behind yesterday and did about half and today I finished. I decided that making sure I have enough time is key to being successful with weekly reviews. I made a list in my one note notebook that has the 43 folders, about everything that should be covered in weekly reviews. I have been able to keep up with inbox zero and really like the feeling of clean inbox and either immediately responding if it's short or spending some set time to take care of all email related items. I think weekly reviews will really help me stay on top of everything but making sure I have ample time and that they actually take place are key to ensuring success.

As far as the other items: hipster PDA and 43 folders. I am doing quite well. After 2 weeks I feel like I have to have my notecards with me at all times to jot down anything and everything as it comes to me. I set aside time at the end of each day when I review my items in the 43 folders to make sure all the notecards are in line with what else I am doing each day. I love being able to move items to another day when I get bogged down and not feel the weight of trying to remember everything I need to get done. I have found this particular aspect the most liberating of all the productivity items

Today I spent time cleaning out files on my Google Drive. I have two more major tasks with this: organizing each folder with sub folders and getting rid of stuff I don't need anymore and cleaning out the shared with me stuff. It is intimidating with how much is in there. I have decided to tackle a piece each week as part of my weekly review when I clean up digital items and scan my computer. One thing at a time. But I already feel so much more on top of things.

Productivity changes

So this week I am begininng a few new productivity tasks. To begin with I cleaned my inbox for the three emails I use to zero. This took a while and made me consider what I really needed to keep and could be deleted. It was an exhiliarating exercise and I am glad I did it. It's been almost a week and I feel so much better about emails. I really like the thought that if it will take you less than 2 minutes than answer immediately. I am much more decisive with how I handle emails now.

Next item was 43 folders. This took me a bit to consider how to make this happen. I didn't really want to carry 43 folders around with me so I used One Note and created a folder for each month and a page for each day. Before I did this, I had a daily list that I would work on and for the most part it was ok, but somethings I would never get to and then list would get longer and longer.  I like being able to move items I am not going to get to this day to another day. I chose OneNote cause I want to get better at using it and I can access it on any device

I also created a hipster PDA. It is just 3 x 5 cards with a fastener. I like the idea of always being able to take notes and write things down as they pop in my head. I have added a gas mileage page and grocery list, I imagine a lot of ideas will come as I use this more.

Last thing I am going to do is the weekly review. I have done lots of different productivity methods, but this is definitely an area that I have not done well. I am good at setting goals and writing lists, but reviewing them on weekly basis and having a standard procdure are things I don't do as well. These are the items I am going to focus on each week:

Make sure all items on list are completed or moved forward 

Clean out emails 

Clean out temporary folder 

Update hipster PDA: add notes where they need to go, consider new items, get rid of full pages 

Clean off desktop  

File digitally and physically 

Run spyware/virus programs 

Need to figure out what to do about notes 

Blog about experience 

Review goals 

Week one was great, now onto week two, more peace and calm.