In this episode of the Cultivating Connection podcast, you’ll hear from educator Jana Gerard. Jana works as the coordinator of the EDvolution Center at Southeast Missouri State University. In this role, she supports pre-service teachers and faculty with developing digital competencies. She’s passionate about the intentional and purposeful use of technology in education. Listen to this episode for some inspiration on how we can use technology effectively in education.
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About Jana
What book are you currently reading for enjoyment or for professional learning?
Grit by Angela Duckworth
For fun – JD Robb books
For an upcoming book study- The Wildcard: 7 Steps to An Educator’s Creative Breakthrough by Hope and Wade King
Who has influenced or inspired you as an educator?
My older sister and my former colleague Dr. Amy Peach
What tech tool(s) are your daily essentials?
the Google Workspace for Education tools
Connect with Jana
Find Jana on Twitter @JanaGerard
Learn more about the EDvolution Center at semo.edu/edvolution
The EDvolution Center
According to Jana, the EDvolution Center is an innovation and technology space all about helping people solve problems. Jana works with pre-service teachers, health studies students and nursing students. There are many tools available in the space. The center includes collaboration spaces, a makerspace, a virtual reality room, a green screen recording room, a coding lab and a lightboard studio. The center offers 3D printing and large format printing. There is equipment available to check out for K-12 educators from schools in the area.
The big goal of the EDvolution Center is to promote digital competence, which includes digital fluency, digital literacy and digital citizenship. An important mission for this program is for educators to be career-ready, which includes being prepared to integrate technology effectively and appropriately from their first day of teaching.
“I want [my students] to have that growth mindset about technology.”
– Jana Gerard
Jana’s goal is to help pre-service teachers become tech-leaders when they enter the profession. This means being a good role model for students, families and peers when it comes to using technology effectively, appropriately and safely.
She connects with fellow educators through the local regional professional development center, conference presentations, workshops at local schools and by hosting field trips for classes at the EDvolution Center.
Technology Integration
Jana suggests that teachers start with backwards design when thinking about technology in their classroom. “Where do you want to be at the end? What is your learning standard? What is it that you want your students to know?”
Develop a digital toolbox of tools you’re familiar with. Then you can pick the tool that works best for the learning activity you’re planning. Deliberately plan how technology is integrated in your lesson or activity.
Technology does not fix bad teaching. Technology can enhance good teaching.
Tips for New Teachers
Jana’s biggest advice for new teachers is about setting boundaries.
You need to set boundaries for yourself.
Jana Gerard
How late will you stay at school? How often will you check emails?
Consider small changes, like setting an email signature that sets boundaries. For example, Jana’s signature includes “If this arrives outside your working hours, it is because that is when I was able to send it, not because that is when I expect you to reply!”
Find your kindred spirits and surround yourself with positive colleagues. Spend your time with someone positive and avoid negativity.
Take care of your custodian, school secretary and IT person because those are 3 people who will take care of you if you take care of them.
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