Francys Machado
Embrace change; It's a path to growth and new opportunities!
Lamar University, Med. Digital Learning.
EDLD. 5302 Concepts of Educational Tech.
Dr. Bedard Susan
February 2024
By
Francys Machado
In a world undergoing constant transformation, my commitment to a new way of teaching and learning stems from my preference for distance education, especially in making it more accessible and effective through technology. This journey toward an online master's degree, born out of the need to balance family responsibilities and the thirst for knowledge, represents the realization of a dream of finding a unique and affordable opportunity in online education.
My experience as an immigrant in the United States, learning a new language, opened the door to a new cultural experience and was a life opportunity to see the world differently. It led me to actively integrate into the community and work in a school. Observing the diverse ways of learning with unlimited access to technology and digital tools, I realized that the challenge lies in guiding behavior and fueling my desire to become an agent of change. Highlighting education as a powerful catalyst to overcome obstacles, it reflects the belief of Simón Bolívar: "Moral and Lights are our first necessities."
The current educator is immersed in an ever-evolving environment. This engagement necessitates planning with a project-based focus, incorporating a broader and more personalized context through Internet resources. The presence in the classroom with captivating tools is essential, as is the ability to use assessments that allow for personalized learning and the strengthening of competencies and skills.
They go beyond the confines of the classroom with the vision of shaping learners capable of thriving locally and globally, fostering competition through various global learning methods, and inspiring communities of practice.
Furthermore, they must be in constant professional development, ready to tackle problems and risks in the digital environment. My manifesto embraces the importance of leadership, pedagogy, positive psychology, and proficiency in multiple languages, among other essential skills. Education is a constantly changing process, and it is crucial to face it with resilience and adaptability.
My manifesto clearly calls for embracing education from a broad and flexible perspective. Implementing concepts like the COVA approach and a Growth mindset aligns with the vision of education that offers limitless opportunities, confronts social challenges, and ensures access to quality education for all. My classroom, whether physical or virtual, will remain a haven for my students, implementing inclusive and respectful policies and fostering open dialogue to ensure each student feels heard.
I will continue learning new ways to engage my students online, exploring and implementing educational technological tools effectively. I commit to creating meaningful educational experiences and turning my classroom into an example of resilience where students learn to move forward. I will continue advancing in my education, completing additional professional development courses and facilitating workshops on best practices in online education. I will promote values such as effort, excellence, perseverance, and critical thinking, seeking students to demonstrate these competencies.
It highlights generational differences, especially the new generation's preference for instant rewards and the tendency to abandon long-term goals if they don't see quick results. I propose to address this challenge through an educational approach based on the blended learning methodology and a digital algorithm that generates dopamine and serotonin to keep students engaged and motivated. I also suggest creating a stimulating environment that encourages replicative action, inspiring others to join this motivational atmosphere. The key is to ensure that students invest time and acquire knowledge naturally, leveraging the digital stimuli and rewards that appeal to them.
I aim to be adaptable, a community and content creator, collaborative, innovative, and a leader; I will continue to drive my innovation proposal and my vision of blended learning in this digital era. Because everyone deserves access to more personalized education, my commitment translates into concrete actions to contribute to transformative learning.
Doerr, J. (2020). Measure What Matters.
Duckworth, A. (2016). GRIT, The Power of Passion and Perseverance.
Horn, M. B., & Staker, H. (2015). Blended: using disruptive innovation to improve schools.
BBC Ideas. Black Lab Films. (2023, October 12) Why being bilingual is good for your brain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzHY-muy2Mw .
Bjork, R. & Bjork, E. TED-Ed. Lessons worth sharing. 3 Tips on How to Study Effectively.
Harapnuik, D. COVA Approach. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ft__0LE3qQ&t=1s.
Blended Learning - Disrupting Class. Part 4: https://youtu.be/-TGmqeWprqM.