Learner

2.1.a. Set professional learning goals to explore and apply pedagogical approaches made possible by technology and reflect on their effectiveness.

When I was tasked with leading computer science and literacy education at the elementary level, I was at first daunted by what I might need to know to be an effective educator. I quickly set goals for my professional learning. First, I wanted to learn evidence-based pedagogical practices for teaching computational thinking and computer science concepts to young children. Second, I wanted to obtain some form of credential in the ICT field.

Even before my first year of teaching had begun, I traveled to Kansas City to attend a Code.org Professional Learning Workshop. At this event, which was specifically intended to provide evidence-based teaching methods for elementary-level computer science education, I met several other educators who were new to teaching computer science. We discussed the growing importance of this field of study and collaborated on lesson preparation and delivery techniques that were engaging and compatible with our individual teaching styles.

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Later that school year, I was accepted into Code.org's Professional Learning Program for the new 6th-8th grade Computer Science Discoveries curriculum. This intensive program consisted of a 40-hour training experience in Atlanta and four 8-hour follow-up trainings in Nebraska throughout the following school year. In Atlanta, I joined a cohort of other  computer science educators from Nebraska, and together we learned directly from Code.org's curriculum developers how to implement their teaching methods in ways that increased equity and encouraged creativity. At the follow-up workshops, we shared the progress we had achieved in our own classrooms, collaborated on project ideas, modeled lessons, and dived deeper into the complexities of the curriculum units.

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My second goal was to achieve some sort of ICT credential, and the following school year, I began work on a graduate certificate in Computer Science Education at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. In this program, I learned more about computational thinking, was trained to teach high school computer science courses (including AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science A), and as a capstone project, researched and designed a Kindergarten through 9th grade computer science and literacy scope and sequence for my school.

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Each of these experiences has directly translated to successful learning outcomes for my students and bolstered my efficacy and self-confidence as a computer science educator. Click below to see my program certificates.

2.1.b. Pursue professional interests by creating and actively participating in local and global learning networks.

Throughout my career, I have been a member of the following professional development organizations:

• Computer Science Teachers Association (2017-present)

• Nebraska Educational Technology Association (2017-present)

• Nebraska State Education Association/National Education Association (2017-present)

• Nebraska State Bandmasters Association (2016-present)

• Nebraska Music Education Association/National Association for Music Education (2013-present)

• Texas Music Educators Association (2014-2015)

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I am also a contributing member to the following informal professional learning networks on Facebook:

• The Band Directors Group

• Band Directors of Nebraska

• Music Teachers

• Middle School Band Directors

• NMEA Music Teachers Discussion Group

• Music Educators Creating Online Learning

• Teachers Using Google Workspace for Education

• Nebraska Young Music Educators

• Wonder Workshop Global Educator Community

• Beginning Band Engagement

• Decolonizing the Music Room

• Common Sense Educators

• E-Learning in Music Education

• Anti-Racist Educators of Greater Nebraska

2.1.c. Stay current with research that supports improved student learning outcomes, including findings from the learning sciences.

In order to stay current with research and scholarship in my field, I am subscribed to publications from the National Association for Music Education, Nebraska Music Education Association, and the National Education Association. I am also a subscriber to the following eJournals published by the Social Science Research Network:

• Computer Science Educator: Courses, Cases & Teaching eJournal

• Information Systems eJournal

• International Conference on Best Innovative Teaching Strategies

• International Conference on Responsive Education & Socio-Economic Transformation

• International Conference on Digital Transformations

• Educational Psychology & Cognition eJournal

• Technology & Resources in Education eJournal

• Compositions for Wind Ensemble eJournal

• Music & the Mind eJournal

• Music Education eJournal