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Module Four: Benefits & Challenges (and bears? Oh my!) What did I learn? "Research has indicated that teachers are most likely to be satisfied when they are provided with flexibility in what, how, when, and where they teach" (Borup). Seems like student-centered learning should also apply to teacher-centered teaching? One of the best parts of my teaching at my school is that I have never felt pressured into teaching anything. Other than making sure my English 11 students were prepared for their SOL Reading and Writing exams, I have been free to pick (within approved texts, obviously!) what I want to use in my curriculum. Every department chair, Assistant Principal, and Principal at Westfield has allowed the English department in general to teach as it sees fit. I think if I have to go lock-step with other English teachers and plow through The Scarlet Letter I would lose my very few remaining marbles! (I taught it once- NEVER AGAIN!) Oh Hollywood, you make everything j...

 Module Three:  Who's teaching online?  I thought he was on first base!  What did I learn? To make sure you can check all my boxes, here is my Padlet. And if that doesn't work, here is my Padlet- https://padlet.com/wvalexanderg1/xy4lzk4b7x23m0ka Quick thought on that- SO much easier for me to use, process, and access (if that makes sense) than the popplet!  I hope it is ok that I switched tools.  I've never used Padlet before, so good to learn new tools! On to the deep thoughts... Well,  I am teaching online!  That's me!   But how is this even happening?  How do I know what I am doing?  That is were Davis lets me know what I am doing.   "Virtual Schooling," as it is referred to in the article (a phrase I HATE- makes it sound like it is #fakeschool) is another magical place where,  "students ... get access to advance placement options, flexible time and place benefits inherent in many VS courses make possible cr...

 Module Two:  What is the Online Learning Movement?  Or,  Can't I Just Go Back to My Books and My White Board, Please? (Spoiler Alert- That's a Hard No, Super Chief) Online, blended, and digital learning encompass practices that may be implemented well or poorly. Therefore, the theoretical question “does online/blended/digital learning work” is nonsensical in the same way as asking “do traditional schools work?”  The technology used in online, blended, and digital learning always supports teachers and other professional adults who work with students in a variety of ways. There are no examples of successful, scalable educational programs in the United States that operate without teachers. DLC Core Principles, Snapshot 2019 Before getting into the three key analytical questions for the module, I wanted to start with something that felt very refreshing to me.  These two Core Principles from the Digital Learning Collaborative felt almost revolutionary to see wr...