Personal Learning Goals

This week I began taking the Leading Edge Online and Blended Teacher Certification Course through the Alameda County Office of Education. I earned my Masters degree through Walden University, so online learning is familiar to me. Not surprisingly, when I took the online student readiness quiz linked to the Leading Edge curriculum, I scored as being prepared for online coursework. I really enjoy learning from text where I can take my time reading and sometimes rereading. When I listen to a lecture, I don't have time to pause and think or imagine how the topic relates to my experiences. I also feel that online coursework is often richer because everyone in class is contributing and sharing their experiences.

I decided to jump in and take this course for a number of reasons. First, I think that online and blended learning are educational trends that are going to continue to grow and I'd like to be prepared to make that leap in the way I teach. The alternative K-8 school that I worked for part time this year is trying to develop some blended courses, and I hope that the Leading Edge training will allow me to help our staff make that transition. Also, I work part time as a curriculum consultant for Curriculum Leadership Institute and that organization is also interested in the possibility of training teachers and administrators in our model through online classes. Finally, I'm the mother of three children between the ages of six and eleven and I feel that having the skills to teach online might open up job opportunities that would make me available to be with my children more.

In looking at the objectives for Leading Edge Certification, I see a lot of concepts that are familiar to me. For instance, I use Bloom's Taxonomy frequently during my consultant work and I've become familiar with a number of Web 2.0 tools through my PLN. I think I will be learning the most in the module about building a community online. That, in addition to better understanding the pedagogy particular to online learning, are priority learning goals for me in this course. I'm really looking forward to spending the summer learning new things and connecting with a community of other educators with the same interests.