Professional Development Presentation

---

Hello and welcome to the importance of professional development, by myself Sarah Morgenthaler on behalf of Liberty University Educ 630.

As educators we should consider joining a professional organization for many reasons, as it can be highly beneficial to our careers and personal development. Here are some compelling reasons why teachers should consider becoming members of professional organizations in education.

Networking: Being part of a professional organization allows teachers to connect with colleagues in their field. Networking can lead to valuable collaborations, the sharing of ideas and resources, most importantly mentorship opportunities. It can also help teachers build a support system among peers who understand the challenges and relationships needed in this profession.

Access to Resources: Many professional organizations, the ISTE offer access to a wealth of educational resources, including research publications, lesson plans, assessment tools, and teaching materials. These resources can save teachers time and help enhance their instructional quality.

And finally, Personal Growth: Membership to a professional organization can contribute to personal growth and self-improvement. It encourages teachers to set and achieve professional goals, engage in reflective practices, and stay passionate about their work.

Joining a professional organization can be a valuable investment for teachers, offering opportunities for growth, support, advocacy, and access to resources that can enhance their effectiveness in the classroom and contribute to their overall career satisfaction. It can also help teachers stay connected to the broader educational community and make a positive impact on the field of education.

ISTE, or the International Society for Technology in Education, is a leading professional organization dedicated to promoting the use of technology in education. They provide a wide range of resources and tools to support educators in integrating technology effectively into their teaching practices.

Books and Publications: ISTE publishes a variety of books, journals, and research papers on topics related to educational technology. These publications provide insights, research findings, and practical guidance for educators seeking to integrate technology into their classrooms.

The student population that I see benefitting from this resource the most is our middle school and high school learners. This tool assists teachers in specific means of educational technology and many publications dive into assistive technology for our learners needed additional support.

ISTE Blog: The official ISTE blog covers a wide array of topics related to educational technology, including classroom strategies, edtech trends, and insights from educators who are successfully integrating technology into their teaching. It's a great resource for staying informed about the latest developments in the field. I personally cannot narrow down a student demographic that wouldn’t benefit from this resource. An educator that is staying in the know with trends and up to date stratigies cover the gamut of grades.

ISTE "The EdSurge Podcast" is known for covering a wide range of topics related to education, including educational technology, innovations in teaching and learning. Interview, insights, policy’s and trends are just a small scratch as to what is discussed on this informational podcast. In my personal opinion the Edsurge Podcast is the most crucial in easily digested informational tool within ISTE’s website. This podcast and similar youtube links are shared for easy access. One particular episode, “The Power of Storytelling for Youth” hosted by Ed Young dives deep into The Moth a storytelling podcast that shares impactful stories of growth and life change where storytelling is part of their curriculum.

One additional resource that I found extremely unique was the posters and classroom additives with some of the ISTE standards that a teacher could implement into the classroom. Here I have given an example of my favorite poster on the Digital age learner. It states the standard that resonates most with me. "Students leverage technology to take an active role in choosing, achieving and demonstrating competency in their learning goals, informed by the learning sciences". I love that we are able to empower students while guiding them in competency through technology.

This clip from Alicia Disepola, creating a culturally responsive classroom is just a taste of one of the digital resources available for teachers in their development of their classroom as inclusive communities.

In these next few slides I will create my own itinerary for this past ISTElive conference as if I was in attendance. I will explore breakouts and attend general sessions geared towards my own professional development goals.

Panels, breakouts and conversations discussing how to redesign learning greatly consume the week! “This designated time is where education leaders from around the world will connect to focus on challenges unique to school system administrators” (ISTE, 2023). “From accelerating transformational practices to tackling current challenges in education, this focused event provides leader-centric PD” (ISTE, 2023). I would also make sure to not miss the opportunity to network following this session as many leaders in our field will be in attendance.

From there, I would stay for the concurrent sessions with my main focus at this time being on the creation labs. The mainstage general session from keynote speakers such as Joyce Abbott, Richard Culatta and Dr. Crystal Edwards. Joyce Abbot from the namesake ABC sitcom “Abbott Elementary,” will be discussing the current climate of public education and how we create the atmosphere. The closing ceremony on Wednesday will be hosted by a fantastic panel of ISTE guests including Kevin Roose of the New York Times. Kevin Roose is known for his examination on the impact of AI technologies like ChatGPT in the classroom setting. This speaker will be my personal highlight of the conference. A quote from the ISTElive website states, “Let’s imagine education to its potential. Here to send you back to school with knowledge to help you with the importance and impact of AI and the future of work for today and future” (ISTE, 2023).

Attending the conference would be an enriching and educational experience, offering a wide range of opportunities to learn and grow in the field of educational technology. What I would learn from the conference truly depends on my own specific interests, the sessions I attend, and the networking opportunities I pursue. From what I have been able to see, the conference is dynamic and diverse while catering to educators at all levels and roles, making it a valuable resource for professional growth and development in the field of educational technology.

Overall I have learned a great deal about the importance of professional development within the field of education. Learners create learners and push each other towards the bettering of education itself.