https://padlet.com/mccormm21/IOCTP2 Action Plan: The following Padlet is a reflection of my own personal journey taking the IOCTP2 Course through OECTA. en-us 2017-12-11 15:25:29 UTC 2017-12-14 02:04:42 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Pictureland.png mccormm21 https://padlet.com/mccormm21/IOCTP2/wish/215787514 2017-12-13 14:04:55 UTC https://padlet.com/mccormm21/IOCTP2/wish/215787514 mccormm21 https://padlet.com/mccormm21/IOCTP2/wish/215804115 @mcc_mack
Throughout my journey over the past few months, I have discovered the power of using Twitter as a Professional Learning Community. When I began with Twitter several years ago, I did not really understand what the big deal was. People from all facets of the world posted and shared information in short statements with others everywhere. I originally began using Twitter as a way to share what my school was doing with ECO. However, this has changed completely for me. Once I began using G-Suite Tools and Applications, I discovered that many others were too. I found that out of curiosity, my need to follow others grew exponentially.  I began taking ideas from others and applying them to my own teaching practice.  
Using Twitter has become one of the best ways for me to learn with others and to share my own experiences and questions to a larger community of professionals. ]]> 2017-12-13 14:36:17 UTC https://padlet.com/mccormm21/IOCTP2/wish/215804115 mccormm21 https://padlet.com/mccormm21/IOCTP2/wish/215831673 Throughout the entire course, I found that reading about Microsoft, Apple and Google's impacting the education market was the most engaging for me. A few years ago, when I was first introduced to G-Suite (formally known as Google Apps for Education), I immediately bought into using it. I couldn't wait to have my students work, share and collaborate together on Google Docs and Slides. I wanted nothing more than to set up my own Google Classroom.  
For me, using the iPads was something that I found frustrating. Often these devices were given to the primary classrooms. When given the opportunity to use them, there were so few apps available to use. We could not download anything and every night the information that was saved was deleted. If we wanted our students to use a specific app, we are required to complete an application and this would take time to be approved.  
The Microsoft Laptops often had connection issues and my students would often lose their work because they could not save their work properly.  In order to work with other classmates, they had to share one computer and work less efficiently.  All written work needed to be printed in order to share with others or with the teacher.  With the implementation of G-Suite, I could them get my students to log into their Google Accounts and complete assignments. However, reminding my students to continuously log out of their account when the period was over was complicated. Most times, students would log into their computers and already have another student logged into Google. 

I remember when I first received a Chromebook and wondered how I would use it. Perhaps I thought it was too good to be true, but having my students use them saved time and effort.

Throughout this course, attending Google Summits, my own personal research and exploring Twitter, I am always searching for ideas that allow my students to have a greater role in their own learning.   

What I found to most interesting in this course, was the ability to have discussions with other teachers, as well as , to share resources and ideas with others who are experiencing the same things that I am.  

Using technology in our own classrooms need to have a purpose. This purpose must be meaningful and relevant. Teaching to me has always been about making sure that my students are successful no matter where they are in their journey. ]]> 2017-12-13 15:26:25 UTC https://padlet.com/mccormm21/IOCTP2/wish/215831673 mccormm21 https://padlet.com/mccormm21/IOCTP2/wish/216011303 As I think about all of the information that I have learned over the past few months, I am thankful for all of the opportunities that I have had to discuss ideas and share resources with other teachers in Ontario.  

I have found that having a few other teachers from my own school board to be a great way to connect with the staff in my community.  It was a pleasure being able to discuss course content and resources with others, apart from online discussions.  

When reviewing course content, resources and my own experiences throughout the course, I believe that I have grown in my own professional understanding of policies and current research.  


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