POST #1: Introductions and Sharing Your Past Experience

I have been a substitute teacher in the Spencer schools and other area schools in northwest Iowa for the past five years.  I had used the AEA online before to take abuse training.  I felt that taking this course would give me a better way to help the students if they needed to find some information for a project or a paper they are writing.  I feel it will also help me with my own research into a subject it will prepare me for furthering my career.  I can also help my niece in finding information for her college papers if she needs it.

This year is by 7th year working as a substitute teacher in the Mason City Schools. The middle and high school classrooms is where I have spent most of my time.  Last year I did work with in the elementary and intermediate classrooms some to get out of my comfort zone so to speak.  Prior to taking this course on the Iowa AEA online resources I did not know much about the online resources.  At school I saw the book marks with the information, but had not explored for myself.  As our classrooms are becoming more digital based, I think it is important that I learn all I can about the resources we are using in the classroom so that I am better able to assist kids in their learning. After I started this course, I was in a Reading and Language classroom and students had to use Gale in doing their research for the assigned project. This affirmed why this course was important for me.  My school district had listed on the pd training site that they recommended this course.  If that was reason enough, I need class credit to renew my substitute authorization license.

I have been the Director and lead teacher of a small preschool for the past 12 years.  I have not utilized the resources available on this site like I would like to.  I have used the Keystone AEA resources for several years, but have only used this site for the purpose of recertification courses. I had glimpsed over the resources a few years ago as I was trying to enhance some of our home-school lessons for our then middle-school son.  I was really amazed at what I found available.  When I saw that this course was offered for recertification, I saw it as an opportunity to really see what is all on this site for teachers and students.  I had no idea that there was so much that I could also use for the preschool classroom. I am excited for the opportunity to use some of the video lessons and booktalk lessons to enhance our preschool program.

I am currently teaching half time as a special education teacher and a half time art teacher at Chariton Middle School.  I have art three periods of the day for each grade level 6-8, co-teach for three periods, then teach skills to special needs students. In the past, when I only taught pull out classes I used AEA resources to help my students gain a deeper understanding of the material we were covering.  With each delivery of the AEA materials the students were as eager as I was to see what new adventure they were going to be part of.  Sadly it has been several years since I have used AEA resources within my classroom.  Now that I am co-teaching I find myself remembering different materials that would greatly benefit both the general education teachers and the students.  When I read about the class i knew I had to take it not only to help myself, but also to do my part for my co-teachers and students.

I am into my ninth year as a science teacher at Don Bosco in Gilbertville.  I began teaching in 1978 after graduating from UNI, at a middle school in Waterloo. I didn't last long. I took the path of least resistance and returned to the safety of our family business; as a truck driver and milk grader, picking up and delivering milk from dairy farms to processing plants in various towns in northeastern Iowa. I had the privilege and great good fortune to work with and for some of the finest people one could hope to be associated with; my two brothers, my Dad, and the dairy farmers who became some of my very best friends.
Nine years ago a science position opened up at Don Bosco and I decided to give teaching another try.
It has been a wonderful mid-life crises event; I look forward to going to school each morning and I find that being around high school and junior high students is challenging and immensely rewarding.  I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing at this stage of my life.
I most enjoy staying up-to-date on all that is going on in the sciences-it is a great time to be a teacher.    

I have been working in companies, organization and schools in abroad and U.S. before. I　used to use hotmail and yahoo email and recent years I would like to use Gmail instead, I used some of the features like filter ,regroup, label and chat, the chat even allow you to make free call to land phone and cell phone for a period of time. Now it still comparatively cheaper than others. Now I learned that gmail has lot more to explore, calendar events ,share ,do undo, share limit , circle etc. I will gradually introduce all of tools to my friends by giving them emails with tutorial link and make my own google class and environment.

My name is Julie Buerman and I have been a high school science teacher for the last 19 years.  I currently teach Chemistry and AP Chemistry and use a blended classroom with a class set of tablets for students to use during each class period of the day.  
I have not had much experience at all with the Iowa AEA Online resources.  I knew that they existed and that our librarian handed out the passwords to the kids and teachers each year.  I used to use the AEA for videos, but since everything has been online, I stopped using the videos.  
I was interested in taking the course to learn some better resources for my students to use as they do research online.  We are looking to incorporate more Project Based Learning in our classes this year and students will be doing more research on their own.  I wanted more reputable sites for them to use rather than just Googling all the answers.  

    In the past, I taught third and fifth grades, and for a number of years I was an ABE/GED/ESL instructor. I am retired now, but I still tutor my granddaughter who was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD.
    Five years ago, I took an excellent combined classroom and online course Web Literacy for Educators with Leslie Roberts through the Burlington AEA. I learned how to search, to validate online information, and to create my own blog. While taking Microsoft Word and Microsoft Publisher with Linda Stratton, I was briefly introduced to some of the AEA databases. She showed us how to insert iCLIPART pictures into our projects, too.
    This class interested me because I wanted to see what video resources the AEA had in science and history. My learning disabled granddaughter prefers videos to textbooks. Also, I wanted to learn more about Atomic Learning since Linda Stratton had talked so much about it. I thought maybe I could learn to use Adobe Photoshop if it was available through Atomic Learning.    

I am in my ninth year of teaching high school science courses at Don Bosco High School.  I first taught in 1978 after graduating from UNI but didn't last long in my first assignment.  I went back to my family's business, working with my brothers and my dad for 30 years.  Nine years ago, a teaching position became available at DB and I decided to give it another try.  The biggest challenge was in the area of the use of computers; in 1978, UNI had, if memory serves, one very large main-frame on campus that was programmed using punch cards. I had avoided computer literacy in my job as a truck driver, although I was somewhat aware of the technology tide because my wife was teaching in high schools during this 30-year time frame.  I have learned much about these machines but have only scratched the surface, I am sure.  

 

I currently work at a small, private school.  I teach a Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten combination class.  My past experience with the Iowa AEA Online is limited.  I was familiar with Bookflix and used it frequently in my classroom.  My students really enjoy Bookflix and I can usually find a great book to introduce a new theme or to go along with what I am teaching.  I used LEARN360 a little last year when a fellow teacher told me about it, but haven't used it recently.  As a staff, our school has taken the Mandatory Reporter session and we just recently completed the ELP Standards Modules 1-3.
I took the course because I was interested in learning more about the resources offered through the AEA and I wanted to learn how to use these free resources that are available.  I also liked the idea of taking a self-paced class.

1) I previously taught Social Studies at Clarion HS and earned tenure at Cedar Rapids Prairie HS teaching Journalism and English Writing. I left my career as high school teacher to earn my PhD, write and publish, and teach international field study classes accredited by Eastern Washington University and Kalinan Tver Russia. I also taught graduate Communication at University of Dubuque and undergraduate Social Studies at Kirkwood CC. I halted most of my career efforts to serve as family caregiver and now seek to return to teaching. I am renewing my license with hope to return to my original roots as high school teacher. 2) In renewing my teaching license, I remembered the previous wonderful courses I had taken through Grant Wood AEA -- all traditional classroom settings offered either in Cedar Rapids or at Iowa City locations -- and so although I considered course opportunities available from colleges, I searched AEA’s offerings and I’ve been Very Happy to discover AEA’s Self-Paced Courses. These are ideal for me. I recently completed the Digital Citizenship course which was also wonderful. I’m so impressed with the content and format of that course and this current Resources course. Thank You AEA PD! 3) I’m very pleased to have discovered this current Resources course. I know AEA has an excellent reputation, and consider AEA as being an educational resource in terms of office and staff. But I did not know of the many educational (online) resources AEA offers. It’s amazing, all these information opportunities. Wow. Again, thank you AEA PD! These Self-Paced courses are perfect.

I've read through many of these posts and find them so interesting. When I began this course, I was probably thinking that most other educator students were fulltime teachers. But I discovered many people like myself, who are not fulltime teachers. It's interesting to learn the perspective of the others who are writers, publishers, college teachers, high school teachers, elementary teachers, substitute teachers, and from different locations.

Hello! My name is Jen and I am a full-time lecturer at Iowa State University in the School of Education. My courses at ISU focus on literacy methods for the future elementary and early childhood teachers. I've taught at ISU for the past 7 years.

Prior to this course, I've had very little experience working with the online resources the Iowa AEA provides. The only experiences I have had revolved around other courses taken towards relicensure (ex. CORE literacy instruction for all).

The reason I was interested in taking this course is because I spend a large amount of time sharing online resources with my students. I wanted to be sure I knew of ALL that was available to me for the most updated resources to share with my future educators. I was also hopeful that this course would train ME, to then train THEM on what they might be able to efficiently and accurately implement in their own future classrooms. This course was extremely helpful; thank you for all the great resources!

As another teacher commented, I also failed retirement. I didn't think i would ever want to teach anything but piano lesson until I started subbing at a middle and high school in my small town area. I really fell in love with teaching again and have been at it another five years now. I have enjoyed discovering some of the myriad of sites and information that is part of the AEA website. I really feel that now I can include more technology and learning in the choral arena. Being able to access Soundzabound is a huge help that could allow me to extend my budget beyond what I ever imagined.

I have been a kindergarten teacher for the past eight years.  I cannot believe how much kindergarten has changed in that amount of time.  The expectations of both the students and the teacher has increased  tremendously, with a huge push for increased technology in the classroom.  Eight years ago, there was minimal computer time or software options.   I had two desktop computers in my room.  There was a computer lab that we went to a couple of times a week.  Now I have ten laptops and five tablets in my classroom with many activity options.

I have used Book-Flix in my room for several years.  At the beginning of the year it is mostly whole class use, modeling how to watch, use and interact with it.  Kindergarteners come in with varying degrees of computer use and letter knowledge.  One of the biggest challenges is teaching them to log in, due to some lack of letter knowledge and ability to use a mouse or touch pad.  Once they are able to use it they love to interact with the books.

I have also used Learn 360 to find and show videos that go with our science and social studies content.  I don't think that I have fully taken advantage of all that it has to offer.  I look forward to exploring in depth all of the options that the AEA online has to offer for my students and as a resource for me as a teacher.

I am currently a high school teacher in the Davenport Community School District.  I have been teaching for thirteen years.  In the past I taught mostly freshmen courses, but now I am starting to teach sophomore classes.  As an All Science Education Major what I teach may vary, so I want to arm myself with an arsenal of resources.

I have no past experience with AEA Resources other than seeing the information on a bookmark in the library. Other content areas, like English, use it.  Students that had extra time in my class used it do research for another class.   Otherwise, my experience with AEA Resources is very limited.  

In my course, if students do research of any kind, we use Google.  This is often time consuming because oftentimes searches lead to student distractions on the computers.  Pop-up ads, commercials, and games take away student focus.  What interested me about the topic of this course was the opportunity to find additional resources and online media I could use in my class.  I know this database is a resourceful tool that has a lot of merit.  

I am currently a special education teacher in the Mason City Community School District.  I mostly teach students with the most significant disabilities, mostly level 3 students.  However, this year, I have some level 2 students and a student with only behavior goals.  Because of the wide range of abilities in my class, lesson planning is challenging.  The school district provided professional development at the beginning of the year regarding technology, and I attended a breakout session about what the AEA has to offer.  The session was simply an overview and did not go into the depth that this class did regarding what is available.  I was interested in learning more about the AEA’s resources in order to facilitate differentiation in my classroom due to the wide range of abilities.  I have already started using some of these resources in my classroom and am excited to have so many resources readily available.

       Greetings!   I am currently a mom staying at home with my three young children, however, I plan on returning back to the classroom very soon.  I have ten years of teaching experience under my belt in various states, and am now back in Iowa.  I have really enjoyed getting to know about ALL of the new and wonderful resources available through the AEA.  
        Ten years ago, during my first early childhood teaching position, I used the AEA to check out Boardmaker, borrowed manipulatives from various story units, as well as to reserved various thematic “book boxes.”  I used these resources frequently and enjoyed having them available to check out.  Now, upon learning more about iowaaeaonline.org, I feel more excited and equipped to use  many supplemental activities to reach our state’s youngest learners.  Most importantly, I am able to filter if I can or cannot use the materials I find on-line.
        Upon browsing iowaaeaonline.org when I initially started this class, I was curious as to what would be applicable for preschool/kindergarten aged students…. and the answer is A LOT!  I appreciated how even a higher-leveled resource, like the Britannica Learning Zone, had a section for youngsters titled Kids Info Bits.  There are a lot of great resources I’ll be able to use in my future classroom and will be sure to save my notes so I can remember some of my favorites.

I am a math teacher at Muscatine High School.  I am in my second year of teaching in our new 9th grade academy.  The academy was designed to accommodate incoming freshmen that were considered 'at-risk', due to their attendance, grades, and/or social anxiety.  

I have not had much experience with the Iowa AEA Online resources prior to this course.  The only time I have used this site is to take other online courses.

I chose to take this course hoping to find other ways to help my students become successful.  I was amazed at the overwhelming amount of resources available to the students.  I also liked how this site would allow them to get more educational results while doing research.  My goal is to provide these students with as many tools as possible to become successful in their education.  Your site has managed to bottle them all up, and place them in an easy to navigate site.

I work at Target Distribution Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  I operate forklifts, load semi-trailors, perform many repetitive jobs involving a lot of bending and lifting.  I enjoy it and it aids in my fitness levels since I am constantly moving around. My job requires safety as the number one priority, but also speed and accuracy.  
I am also employed at the YMCA in Waterloo, Iowa where I periodically do orientations for newer members.  I instruct them on how to perform exercises properly in order to help to avoid injury and achieve optimal results.  
This is my first time taking any online course at all.  I have a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from the University of Northern Iowa and I completed all the coursework toward becoming a PE Teacher.  I did not pass my Student Teaching several years ago.  I always have the option of going back to re-take that, but I decided to not do that.  I received a Substitute Authorization 3 years ago in order to get more teaching experience and to help earn a living.  I am signed up with the Waterloo and Cedar Falls School Districts.  I enjoy the subbing a lot and look forward to getting back into it.  I enjoy building relationships with the kids most of all.  I have improved a lot, especially in my classroom management skills.  I took these online courses in order to fulfill my requirements and to learn more technology along the way.