POST #1: Introductions and Sharing Your Past Experience

 I have been an educator for 36 years. I was a K-12 school librarian for 25 years before going to the classroom. I have taught sixth grade language arts, fifth grade reading and now for the last four years I have taught third grade. For one year I not only taught third grade full time, but also was the school librarian for Spirit-Lake, K-12. Interesting year!
I am taking this online course to renew my license. I decided on this online course because it is a self paced set up and the topic interested me.
I have used AEA Online many times over the years as both a librarian and as a teacher. I have found it very helpful with various research planning and other uses. My third grade students really enjoy using BookFlix and TrueFlix. They find it very engaging and keeps them interested in reading. Over the past years I have also used Culture Grams, Britannica and iClipArt. In fact I use iClipart quite often not only for school projects but for personal use as well. I have already learned many new things about the AEA Online resources that I did not know before. It has allowed me to take a much deeper look into several of these resources.

I have been teaching middle school choir for the past 8 years and started teaching 3-6th general music this year in a new district. I have had no experience with the Iowa AEA Online resources but was reminded of some of the things offered by AEA at the beginning of the school year. This course interested me because I have always been curious about what might be available for the fine arts but had never taken time to explore my resources. I do teach a lot of music history in my class, show many video clips and share music recordings daily. It is nice to see there are some uses resources I will be able to use in my classroom. The copyright section was always very helpful as it always nice to have a refresher in that area when you are a music teacher.

I am currently an elementary substitute teacher in the Norwalk School District.  When I use to be a classroom teacher, 16 years ago, I would use the AEA to get books on specific topics for my classroom and I took the required classes through the AEA online, but I didn't know they had other resources.  I have also used the AEA online program to take other classes to keep my teaching license current.  I just finished a long term subbing position and as I was planning another teacher suggested that I look at the AEA's resources to see what I could use. As a substitute teacher you don't have as many files as you would have if you were a regular classroom teacher and have taught the grade in the past.  The AEA has so many resources to use but I didn't know what was available or how to use them.  This is what made me interested in taking this course.  I wanted to see what resources were available to me if I get another long term position or get a full time job in the future.

I am the vocal and general music teacher at Washington Middle School, in Dubuque, IA. Before I took this AEA Online course, I was using mostly lesson plans I had inherited from the teacher before me, and reworking them to fit my style of teaching, etc.  These plans had very little in the way of incorporating technology into the music classroom, and since I don't have devices in my room anyway, I wasn't too worried about it.  Part of my professional goal, however, was to start integrating more technology into my curriculum and classroom environment.  I was playing around with the resources on AEA put really just scratching the surface of what was available.  
What interested me in this AEA Online Course, was that once I started really looking into the Online Resources, I became a little overwhelmed with where to start.  This course seemed like an excellent place to start, and I was right.  There is so much available through these Online Resources and I want to take advantage of it. Not all of it will work in the music classroom, but I'm excited to get started.

        I am a fourth grade teacher at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School in Davenport.  This is my fourth year at St. Paul’s.  I remember being shown several of these sights the year I began teaching here.  It was during an AEA class on teaching math.  I checked out a few of them, but rarely used them.

        I wanted to take this course in order to learn more.  The school has been increasing the purchase of iPads and laptops over the past few years and I wanted to find new ways to integrate technology into the classroom.  My students have done many of the ‘usual’ things, such as word processing and Power Points.  Those are great for sharing what they’ve learned, but I wanted more ways for students to research and find information.  Google is too broad, and even with filters, I worry about something inappropriate popping up.

    I am a retired elementary teacher from the Council Bluffs School District. I taught for 34 years, with 32 of them in CB. I am now a substitute teacher for the district, as well as Tri-Center School District.
    I have used some resources offered by our local AEA for many years, with the resources growing throughout the years. In the last 10 years, the technology available to teachers through the AEA has grown. Teaching K through 4th grade, I used Bookflix, Brittanica Digital Learning, iClipart, and Trueflix the most.
    I always felt I did not have enough time to thoroughly go through the online resources, so when I found this online class, I wanted to take the course. I hope that with more education in all the available resources, I will be able to utilize the lessons that classroom teachers have planned when I am substituting in their classrooms.

I am in my nineteenth year of teaching.  I have worked with At-Risk students (6-12),  counseling and more recently as a 7th and 8th Grade ELA teacher. I used to use the AEA site quite a bit when working with at-risk youth.  We used it to research articles for papers and to find background information and materials related to various projects across the various subject areas.  While as a counselor I accessed materials within the teen health and wellness materials for work with various teen issues.  Now, as an ELA teacher, I am always looking for ways to introduce my students to options for looking for new reading materials, for them to have access to research materials, clip art for projects and options in audio and digital materials that can also be used in presentations and projects.  There is so much to use and to be made aware of for my students to use as they progress through their educational lives.

I am currently at Lone Tree Community School and this is my 4th here, but 9th year of teaching overall. I teach general and vocal music, so my position is a K-12 teaching position. I also have a Lead Teacher position for our PLC Program and work with teacher leader group for middle school/high school.

My previous experience of the Iowa AEA Online was the use of one resource. EBSCO was a resource I used in college, so I only knew of that one and used it sparingly. I was afraid of what all the other resources out there were and had been told by other music colleagues that most resources don't have current music information on them, just the basics about famous composers or their musical works.

I've been trying to find some new resources to use especially with my elementary students. I had created a web quest for my 3rd grade music students to learn about the instruments in an orchestra and thought this training may be able to help. I also needed a couple more credits for my re-certification.

I am a Para-educator in a K-6 elementary,  I work with 5 students who are in combined 3rd and 4th grade.  This is the first year that I have actually checked out the AEA Online Resources. I have taken the required Mandatory Reporter for abuse, and the Blood borne online, but I really enjoy doing the self-paced courses to get credits for my renewal Para-educator license. I could not believe all the resources that were available through the AEA. I think it will be fun to learn this with the students.  I loved how you can chose the level of the reading material and how it explains it to there learning ability.

Currently I am the middle school Math teacher at Van Buren Middle/Senior High School in Keosauqua, Iowa where I teach 7th grade Math, 8th grade Math, and 8th grade Algebra I.  I taught middle school and high school Math for 24 years in Michigan and spent the last 6 years as a K – 12 Mathematics Consultant for our county’s Intermediate School District (similar to the AEA).  The available curriculum at Van Buren was 14 years old and not linked to the Iowa Common Core.  I went to the resource I was most familiar with, which was EngageNY (Eureka Math).  As a free resource my building principal was very excited about a standards linked, free curriculum.  About nine weeks in, I realized this was not a viable curriculum based on my students’ prior knowledge and the limited resources connected to EngageNY.  Connected Mathematics was a curriculum our Lead Teacher had researched and one I was a part of in Michigan.  Van Buren decided to purchase Connected Mathematics and implement it at the beginning of second semester.

I have had no experience with the Iowa AEA Online resources since I am from another state.  We had no such similar resource that is so in depth available to Michigan teachers.  

I am interested in the Iowa AEA Online resources because I knew nothing about them, they are free, and I am always interested in additional resources that can aid my students’ understanding and broaden their perspectives.

I am currently a Pre-K teacher in Dubuque. I teach part time under the Statewide Free Preschool Grant. I have been teaching in the current school and grade level for 3 years. Prior to that, I was a stay home mom for 15 years and prior to that, I was a kindergarten teacher for 3 years in a different district. I currently have 19 students ages 4 and 5.
In the past, I have used Keystone online to order kits and books for classroom use as well as use online media such as movie downloads for my classroom.  I have used BookFlix in the classroom, though apparently not all of the features it offers! Other than BookFlix, I have not used any of the other programs offered on the Keystone AEA website.
I am taking the course for Continuing Education hours. I was interested because I have the resource of Keystone online right at my disposal and never have taken the time to get to know all of the free resources available to me and my students. I thought this would be a great way to get to know what is available and how to use it.

I am Margaret Caldwell, a retired Art teacher who has taught Art, Gifted and Talented, Homeschooled, and Keyboarding students. I am taking the class now for license renewal credit but am interested in the content and hope to learn more about keeping students and data safe while using digital media successfully. I am a reluctant Facebook user and, since it took me quite awhile to post the first three questions, I also hope to learn skills that will make me a more effective and savvy user of technology!

I have limited experience with working with students online. Before retirement three years ago, I ask students to find articles online and view online sites that were of interest (Google Maps, webcams, databases, and Blogspot and other blogging sites). As a current teacher of a DMACC Art Appreciation class, I ask students to research an art work. I would like to be more effective in helping them find suitable material online and credit it appropriately.

Hello.  My name is Dale D. Gillet DVM and I am currently performing substitute teaching in the Council Bluffs and Glenwood School Districts in southwest Iowa.  I have been working since fall of 2016 intermittently and sometimes on a regular basis as needed.  As you may guess, I am also a Veterinarian who works in the Glenwood area and occasionally performs clinics at Pet-Co in Council Bluffs.  I have also worked for the Loess Hills Humane Society and work intermittently for Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for the Avian Influenza outbreak.  I really enjoy the Sciences, Agricultural courses and History, but have covered a diverse set of assignments, including but not limited to PE, special education, Preschool, and most high school course.
 
I am familiar with some of the topics taught in this course but usually do not have access to most of the resources available.  In many of the work assignments, the classroom computer is taken by the teacher for use by them at training or with them at home. In addition, I do not have access to school passwords and logins since I am a substitute.

I took this course because of interest in providing resources for the students.  I know the younger students have access to Lexia and different learning zone activities, but didn't know 80% of the resources discussed in this course. I want to be somewhat knowledgeable in helping the students learn the best way each individual so they can learn in the way that suits them.  

I am currently a teacher at Schleswig Middle School. I teach math to one class of 5th graders and one class of 6th graders, science to both classes, and I also teach 6th grade social studies. I have used a few of the Iowa AEA Online resources here and there. Before the change in our science curriculum, I had used a couple of the Learn360 videos to enhance my science lessons. I have also taught students how to use CultureGrams and Britannica Online as a resource to research and find information for papers, projects, and presentations. I have also taught them how to use iClipart for Schools in my classroom so that they have appropriate pictures for projects and presentations. I am interested in taking this course to see if there are any other resources that I can use that I haven’t been introduced to. I am also looking for ideas about other ways to use the resources I have already been using.

I am currently teaching a Fourth Grade class in Albia, Iowa. I am responsible for teaching math, reading, science and social studies. I began my teaching career as an Early Childhood educator, then moved and was asked to teach High School Special Education, and have currently been at 4th grade for last 10 years.  When thinking about how I have used AEA's in the past, I think about the coursework I have completed with them and until this class did not use the Media resources as much.  

After completion of the modules, I have many ideas about how I can incorporate all the online resources in my classroom.  I especially liked the Khan Academy video and Britannica online.  In the past, I have only used Iowa AEA Online for an occasional video and Culture Grams for Social Studies.  

My reason for taking the online course was not only to gain recertification credit, but to better educate myself on what the AEA has to offer teachers.  As our classrooms become more complex, differentiation is key to meeting the needs of all students, and some of the AEA resources can help me do that.

I am currently teaching a Fourth Grade class in Albia, Iowa. I am responsible for teaching math, reading, science and social studies. I began my teaching career as an Early Childhood educator, then moved and was asked to teach High School Special Education, and have currently been at 4th grade for last 10 years.  When thinking about how I have used AEA's in the past, I think about the coursework I have completed with them and until this class did not use the Media resources as much.  

After completion of the modules, I have many ideas about how I can incorporate all the online resources in my classroom.  I especially liked the Khan Academy video and Britannica online.  In the past, I have only used Iowa AEA Online for an occasional video and Culture Grams for Social Studies.  

My reason for taking the online course was not only to gain recertification credit, but to better educate myself on what the AEA has to offer teachers.  As our classrooms become more complex, differentiation is key to meeting the needs of all students, and some of the AEA resources can help me do that.

In a moderate post (150-300 words) 1) give us a brief introduction of where you currently work and what your role is in your current occupation.  2) Share with us what past experience you have had with the Iowa AEA Online resources prior to taking the self-paced course.  3) Explain what interested you about the topic to take the course.

1. I currently work at Harlan Community High School in Harlan, IA. I teach US History, World History and Current World Issues and coach boy's tennis.

2. The only resource that I have used and also have had my students use is Soundzabound. I have students create videos that require music and Soundzabound makes it so we know copyright laws are being followed.

3. Honestly, I needed a final credit to get recertified. I have taken many other AEA classes for recertification and have enjoyed them and appreciate the fact that they are offered. I enjoy technology and this one was right up my alley.

Hello all, my name is David VanGroll and currently I worked at Lawther Academy in Dubuque.  There I am a half time special education teacher and half-time teacher leader.  The mornings when I am teaching I am working with students on the spectrum and that are working on functional life skills as well as reading, math and writing.  We are working on skills that match up to the post-secondary expectations in their IEP’s.    In the afternoon I am working with new teachers to the Academy and assisting my administrator in any other duties that needs to be done. I am working on teachers with enhancing lesson plans, helping with behaviors and trying to help them become better teachers.  These online resources will be of great assistance because our students struggle with mental health issues, and as much technology as I can have for them to use will benefit them.      My experience with the Iowa AEA is very limited and I have used during my master’s classes due to needed SIRS researcher.  I also used the resources during AEA trainings and work time in my classroom.  The reason that I wanted to take this training was because I wanted to get a more detailed knowledge to use in my classroom as well educate the teachers that I help.    I think there is a vast knowledge base in these resources that could help all teachers and this training has helped me know more about them.

1) give us a brief introduction of where you currently work and what your role is in your current occupation.  2) Share with us what past experience you have had with the Iowa AEA Online resources prior to taking the self-paced course.  3) Explain what interested you about the topic to take the course.

I am an elementary classroom teacher in the DSM area and have taught for 18 years.  I've taught upper elementary grades 3-5.

This is my first experience taking an AEA online course and am really enjoying the convenience of it.

I took this course to see what other online resources I can use to enhance the learning in my classroom.  There are many that I hadn't even heard about that I need to look at.

I am currently a substitute teacher for Des Moines Public Schools. I often take long-term jobs and am currently teaching AP Calculus and PreCalculus at North High.  However, I have been a long-term sub in English Literacy, World Cultures, Business Education, Computer Education and many math and science classes. From 2010-2015, I was a 6th grade science teacher, a 7th grade science teacher and a behavior disorder teacher for DMPS, and back in the 90's I was a Physics and Computer Programming teacher as well as the Computer Coordinator for Storm Lake Community School District. My certifications are in 5-12 Math, 5-12 Physical Science and 5-12 Physics. I am considering returning to a contract position, but am being picky about what I apply for.

Even though I am a "computer person" I have rarely used the AEA's resources. In the past, I have felt like there wasn't enough time in the day just to do my job, let alone spend time exploring resources that may or may not help me or the students. While I have taught alot, I have never made it to a third year in any one subject. I feel like if I could just get to that point, I would have things under control enough to branch out and explore things like those discussed in this course.

Which is why this seemed like a good choice for my license renewal credits. Whether I again sign a teaching contract or continue to be a long-term sub, I want to cut down on my time "exploring" and go right to what would be helpful. If I know how to do that, I might actually use these resources.