Moving Mountains in Ms. Morrison's Class

The Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge or TPACK is a model instructional designers can use to organize their different knowledge domains. This helps them to ensure they are continuously developing and integrating aspects of all of these domains into their educational design. It also allows teachers to self-evaluate their own levels of knowledge for each domain in order to better choose professional development opportunities. As shown in the diagram from matt-koehler.com, the TPACK model has seven major components: Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK), Technological Knowledge (TK), Technological Content Knowledge (TCK), Content Knowledge (CK), Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK), and Pedagogical Knowledge (PK), and Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK). Along with aiding teachers' understanding of their areas for needed development, the TPACK model aides educational designers in planning and integrating effective, engaging, and efficient technology usa...

I used to think that the term "21st Century Teaching and Learning" meant using technology. It meant that my students were somehow using a computer or tablet to do something. That something could have simply been using the calculator app instead of the actual calculator that was sitting, abandoned, in a closet. I thought that because that's what many teachers thought it was when I was in school. The "21st Century skills" movement came about when I was in middle/high school and I can honestly remember teachers being heavily praised for making us take tests on the computer or using an app instead of a calculator. I am not saying that to disrespect any of my teachers because they were just doing what they were taught. It was only later that this trend in education developed into something truly beneficial for students, teachers, and our society. In my opinion, 21st Century Teaching and Learning is the process of teaching students life skills they will need in our...

So December was... Okay, let's start at the beginning. December 2018 was one of the biggest happenings in my entire 21 years of living. I FINALLY graduated college with my undergraduate degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and yes, I could hear the choir of angels singing as I walked across the stage in the Pete Matthews Coliseum in my intentionally, light blue Converse. Mom, me, Dad, & Aunt 'Neta Not only does this mean that I will never have to take another Western Civilizations class again but it also means that the Jacksonville State University Teacher Education Services sent off my official recommendation for a Class B Teaching Certificate to the Alabama State Board of Education. YES. During December I also received an offer for a long-term substitute position in the third grade at Saks Elementary School from January through May. I have worked in and around SES for the past two years and taking this job felt like coming home. Unfortunately, a thi...

Hello! My name is Taylor Morrison and I graduated in December with my undergraduate degree in early childhood and elementary education (*insert heavenly choir singing*). I am currently pursuing a graduate degree to become a reading specialist. Outside of these classes, I am working as a long-term substitute for a third-grade class at Saks Elementary School as well as frantically chasing around my two-year-old son Jack who thinks he is invincible and my three-year-old nephew Braxton who is afraid of his own shadow (I know what you're thinking and yes, that does make for a fantastic pair of hooligans). With my graduation, December 2018 also brought my engagement to my high school sweetheart Ryan and after almost seven years and a kid together later, I couldn't be more excited. Last summer my closest friend in the world got married and we're both ready to dive into all the work, reservation making, and good-anxiety for my wedding. For my collage, I chose two different app...