Takeaways and Action: Applied Digital Learning Sets the Stage

Completing the Applied Digital Learning program has been a transformative experience, equipping me with new skills and frameworks to empower educators in our district to leverage technology for impactful learning.

Looking Back: What Worked

The program's foundation of collaboration groups in creating significant learning environments focused on the learner’s authentic voice and choice provided invaluable exposure to a variety of challenges and successful digital learning implementations across different districts. Working with peers from diverse backgrounds fostered a learning environment rich with unique perspectives. Additionally, the video lectures, synchronous learning discussions, and break-out rooms offered valuable insights into leadership approaches for promoting technology integration at the district level, while also exploring the emerging influences of digital tools on learning.

On a personal level, my focus on going “all in” in this program through actively participating online and through video conferencing proved successful. By contributing my expertise, listening to others, actively seeking out new strategies, asking questions, and helping facilitating discussions within the program, I maximized my learning potential and contributed to fostering a collaborative learning environment.

Areas for Improvement

There's always room for growth. I would have benefited from more direct instruction of academic writing (APA 7) as well as exploration of strategies for mitigating the potential negative influences of screen time and social media on student learning. Additionally, I could have been more proactive in learning and asking about those topics in my collaboration groups and discussion posts.

Key Takeaways and Growth

One of the most significant lessons I learned is the importance of building a shared vision for digital learning that considers the needs of both education and the evolving business world. The program emphasized the need for ongoing professional learning to ensure educators are equipped to leverage digital tools effectively while addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by current learning environments. Personally, I've noticed a significant improvement in my ability to critically evaluate different digital learning solutions and choose the ones that best align with our district's curriculum, learning goals, and responsible digital citizenship practices.

Looking Ahead

The increasing emphasis on digital equity coupled with the growing influence of social media and AI are areas where I anticipate significant change. As an instructional technology coach, I want to ensure all students have access to the technology and the skills needed to thrive in a digital world, while also preparing them to navigate the complexities of social media and leverage AI for learning effectively.

Currently, my professional network leans heavily towards educators within our district, and some social media groups. To diversify my perspective, I will actively seek to connect with instructional technology coaches from other districts, as well as leaders in the business world who are integrating social media and AI-powered learning tools. This will allow me to stay informed about cutting-edge practices in both education and the business sector.

Embracing new technologies requires fostering a culture of disruptive innovation within the district. We have to follow the education law as required by the state.  However, we are feeling the negative effects of trying to reform a system that no longer serves our current needs and desperately needs transformation.  While I've always advocated for technology integration that supports learning goals, this program has encouraged me to be more courageous in reimagining best practices and exploring new digital tools, including AI, even if they initially seem unfamiliar, provided they are grounded in research and hold the potential to enhance student learning and prepare them for success in the digital world.

Next Steps

Based on this reflection, I wrote a prompt and used a digital AI tool to help me set a goal for my next steps as an instructional technology coach. 

What AI came up with are as follows:

• Goal: Develop a district-wide plan for promoting digital equity among students, while also integrating a blended learning framework that supports responsible social media practices and explores the potential of AI in learning.
  

• Resource: Collaborate with district leaders, technology specialists, and educators to identify funding opportunities and best practices for ensuring equitable access to technology, blended learning models, creating social media literacy programs, and exploring responsible AI integration in teaching and learning.
  

• Action: Facilitate professional development workshops for educators, focusing on integrating technology to address the needs of diverse learners, how to switch to a blended learning model, navigating social media responsibly, and exploring the potential applications of AI in the classroom.
  

By proactively taking these steps, I can continue to grow as a leader in digital learning and effectively support educators in our district as they integrate technology to create impactful learning experiences that prepare all students for a rapidly evolving future.

Reference: 

Torres, R. [Rosalinde Torres]. (2019, April 16). What it takes to be a great leader | Roselinde Torres [Video]. TED Talks. https://www.ted.com/speakers/roselinde_torres