Gregory Gilmore

Professional Portfolio

ISTE NETS and Performance Indicators

 

Standard 5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

 

Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers:

 

a. participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning

Within my buildings, I have participated in the Fire Prairie Technology Vision Committee and the Indian Trails Leadership Team.  Both committees provided learning opportunities through interaction with other team members, book studies, research of future initiatives, and professional development.  I also participate in professional organizations such as the Missouri Choral Directors Association, ISTE, Missouri Association of School Librarians, and the Greater Kansas City Association of School Librarians.  Membership in these organizations provides me with information and support from a network of practicing educators.  Beyond the contacts in these professional organizations, I have cultivated a Personal Learning Network that draws information from various sources such as Twitter, Google Reader, Diigo Groups, the Web 2.0 NING, Library 2.0 NING, and Technology Integration in Education NING.  Assignments that I have completed during the course of my specialist degree include an Online K12 Conference Video Reflection and a Collaborative VoiceThread Project.  The video I reviewed is one of many available online from the K12 online conference; this resource provides information when needed rather than once a year in a traditional conference setting.  I created the VoiceThread assignment with a collaborative team; the project focuses on a collaborative technology that can be used to build online communities of learners. As the only librarian in my building, it is necessary to communicate with colleagues outside of my building and district for professional development; these online tools keep me in contact with librarians from a variety of geographical locations and educational levels.

b. exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others

At the building level, I have exhibited leadership as a member of the Fire Prairie Technology Vision Committee and the Indian Trails Leadership Team.  Both committees allowed me the opportunity to participate in decision making and implementation of technology and professional development within my building.  In my role as library media specialist, I serve as a technology leader and resource for classroom technology and the district website.  Assignments that I have completed to prepare me for future leadership roles in educational technology include a Staff Development Plan focusing on my district's website, a Technology Plan Assessment of my district's technology plan, an Initial Technology Budget Spreadsheet, a model Technology Staffing Plan, and a Technology Facilities Survey that focuses on the technology within my building. This degree has given me the knowledge and skills necessary to support the faculty of my building in their use of classroom technology.

c. evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning

The Action Research Plan I created focuses on the use of a mobile Netbook Lab at Fire Prairie Middle School.  This research project gathers information from teachers about how the lab has been used in the past, what plans they have for the lab in the future, and what support they need to reach these goals.  I have also reflected on technology use in a Technology Use Assessment and a Technology Use Self-Assessment.  Both assignments rate technology integration using a rubric and demonstrate my ability to reflect on the use of technology.  I also have access to current research and professional practice through educational blogs, Twitter, NINGS, and professional organizations.

d. contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community

I have participated in decision making and the planning of professional development opportunities at the building level while participating in the Technology Vision Committee at Fire Prairie Middle School and the Leadership Team at Indian Trails Elementary.  Before I moved to the library, I edited the state newsletter for the Missouri Choral Directors Association.  The newsletter contained organizational news, events, and professional development articles that were sent to the organization's membership throughout the state as well as national leaders in the American Choral Directors Association.  The teacher resource website I developed during my web development course contains teacher resources such as SMART Board tools, English Language Arts and Math activities, digital citizenship references, and tools for building a personal learning network.  The Action Research Plan I created seeks to improve future instruction with a mobile Netbook Lab by gaining knowledge into the historical use of the lab and the needs expressed by faculty members when using the lab in the future. This degree offered me a variety of opportunities to improve my leadership skills as a librarian and building-level technology leader.