Middle School Innovation Support Specialist. It’s a long title for a simple role. Essentially, I work with teachers to grow student learning through the use of technology and innovative practices. It is also a future-forward role. The idea that there is the "old" way of teaching and now we have a "new" way of teaching is a binary I don't subscribe to. Innovation doesn't look any one way, though new technologies often become a part of it.

One significant project we’ve implemented is a computer science collaboration with the science team that utilizes blended learning. This is a teaching style that asks the question, “What if we tried to meet each student where they are?”

Blended learning utilizes ed-tech tools like Edpuzzle to replace traditional lectures, allowing students to focus on 1:1 interaction as well as group and partner activities to support learning. Students consume information in bite-sized videos and can re-watch materials or information they don't understand. This prepares them for hands-on activities that utilize the Design Thinking Process, which is a way to build with a user, or users, in mind.

Students are asked to program a Micro:bit, microchip sized computer, to help lower the stress and anxiety levels of actual staff and faculty members. This approach allows them to see coding concepts come to life through physical computing, creating tangible solutions to real problems. Students are asked to analyze and make inferences about data provided by actual people. Finally, they bring their knowledge of coding together with their self-created data to build a product for an actual user that interacts with their product.

Seeing students engage at a pace that's comfortable for them is refreshing. Teacher focus on small group discussions and interventions has led to stronger student-teacher rapport. These personalized interactions create learning moments that might be missed in a traditional lecture format.

Mixing "new" teaching tools like Edpuzzle and Padlet to collect and display learning, while employing what may be categorized as "old" teaching strategies like reciprocal learning and class discussions, creates something greater than the sum of its parts. A mix that balances the traditions of our school with innovative new practices.

This approach adds to Mayfield's rich tapestry of teaching methodologies, providing additional pathways for students to engage with science and technology. By offering diverse learning experiences, we can reach more students in ways that resonate with their individual learning styles.