Friday, May 31, 2013

Online Doctorates: Fact or Fiction



Uploaded on May 31, 2013
This is a discussion about online doctorates and the personal stories of two individuals who chose that option.

Becky Naughton, a high school teacher, and Leah Macvie, an instructional designer at the college level, join me to talk about why they chose an online doctorate and their plans for the future.

Check out Leah here: http://about.me/leahmacvie and connect with Becky here: https://twitter.com/NaughtonBecky

Thursday, May 30, 2013

My Journey to Becoming a Certified Family Life Educator


By Jessica Estrella


















My name is Jessica Estrella, and I am a Master’s student majoring in Child Development at TWU. I began my graduate school studies in the fall of 2011 and I have one more year to complete my coursework. My personal goal for after the conclusion of this degree is to become a CertifiedFamily Life Educator. I decided to pursue my graduate degree in Child Development and pursue my CFLE for a variety of reasons. I have grown up in a tight-knit family and have always viewed my family as an extremely important aspect in my life. The classes that I have taken have further shown me how family dynamics change and adapt over time. I have also known that somehow during my career I have wanted to help others.                                          

During my time so far in graduate school, I have found several areas to be helpful to me regarding my degree and learning more about family life education. I have found that being involved in student organizations to be highly helpful. These organizations have provided me a way to network, as well as hearing presentations from various individuals in the field of family sciences. I have also learned that collaborating with others is an extremely helpful aspect in school and I can see myself collaborating a great deal as a family life educator. In addition to student organizations, being a member of national organizations in the field of family sciences has been highly beneficial to me as well. I have been a member of the National Council on Family Relations since the fall of 2011. This has been a wonderful organization to be involved in and I have especially liked reading the quarterly newsletters regarding the field of family sciences.  

I started using Twitter in January of this year. One of my goals for joining Twitter was to be able to connect with other CFLE’s and finding new ways to connect with others. In the few short months that I have been using Twitter, I have grown to love it and have found it to be very useful in my daily life. I hope to continue to use Twitter to connect with others as I continue on in my journey to becoming a CFLE.   

About the author: Jessica Estrella is a graduate student at Texas Woman’s University where she is majoring in Child Development. Jessica is originally from Friendswood Texas, and has been going to school and living in the north Texas area for the past seven years. She graduated high school in 2004 and spent her first two years of college at San Jacinto Community College where she was a music student. In the fall of 2006, Jessica transferred to Texas Woman’s University. In May of 2010, she received her Bachelor’s degree from Texas Woman’s University in Music Therapy.           
 

Monday, May 27, 2013

Google Apps for Education Webinar



Published on May 27, 2013
Google Apps for Education Webinar

In this discussion, I spoke with Al Elliot and Rachelle Wooten about GAFE and how they are using them in their practice.

Learn more about Al here: http://about.me/aaelliott

Connect with Al here: https://twitter.com/ellication

Learn more about Rachelle here: http://about.me/rachellewooten

Connect with Rachelle here: https://twitter.com/rwootenits

Friday, May 24, 2013

Shilo Shiv Suleman: Using tech to enable dreaming


Uploaded on Feb 22, 2012
http://www.ted.com Has our technology -- our cell phones and iPods and cameras -- stopped us from dreaming? Young artist Shilo Shiv Suleman says no, as she demos "Khoya," her new storybook for iPad, which floats us through a magical world in 7 minutes of pure creativity.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Angela Lee Duckworth: The key to success? Grit


Published on May 9, 2013
Leaving a high-flying job in consulting, Angela Lee Duckworth took a job teaching math to seventh graders in a New York public school. She quickly realized that IQ wasn't the only thing separating the successful students from those who struggled. Here, she explains her theory of "grit" as a predictor of success.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more.
Find closed captions and translated subtitles in many languages athttp://www.ted.com/translate

Follow TED news on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tednews
Like TED on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TED

Monday, May 20, 2013

Blogging Webinar



Published on May 20, 2013 
This Google+ Hangout was a discussion featuring Jessica Johnston, Lisa Dabbs,and Paula Naugle. The conversation focused on how teachers can use blogging to improve student writing, develop engaging learning experiences, and become a more self-reflective educator.

Please check out the following blogs of Jessica, Lisa, and Paula: 

Jessica Johnston - http://www.edtechchic.blogspot.com/ You can find Jessica on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/edtechchic 

Lisa Dabbs - http://www.teachingwithsoul.com/ You can find Lisa on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/teachingwthsoul 

Paula Naugle - http://pnaugle.blogspot.com/ You can find Paula on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/plnaugle

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Google Hangout Webinar

Dr. Will Deyamport, III, Ed.D.




Published on May 16, 2013
Google Hangouts Webinar: This webinar is a discussion on how teachers can use Google+ for teaching and learning and for professional development. Brent Catlett, Denise Wright, and Danielle Tisdale were the featured educators in the webinar.

Brent Catlett http://eduhangout.org/

Denise Wright http://www.youtube.com/user/Wright493...

Danielle Tisdale https://plus.google.com/u/0/105827345...

About the author: Dr. Will Deyamport, III, Ed.D. is a connected educator who specializes in digital media learning and development. His research is in using web tools and social technologies for professional development, teaching and learning, and social good. 

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

PhD Isn’t the Only Game in Town

By Dr. Will Deyamport, III

















On April 30, 2013, I officially graduated from Capella University with a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Management. The thing is, so many people have congratulated me on earning my Ph.D., and while I appreciate every congratulations and best wishes, I want people to know that not every doctorate is a Doctor of Philosophy or Ph.D. The following is the four most well known non-Ph.D. doctoral degrees.

Psy.D. – Doctor of Clinical Psychology

The Psy.D. is a professional doctorate in psychology. It is known for its emphasis on being practiced-based, and focusing on the real world skills needed to make a difference in the lives of individuals. Sometimes referred to as a scholar-practitioner doctorate, the Psy.D. concentration is the on applied methods of clinical psychology as opposed to the theoretical or research methods of the Ph.D. in clinical psychology.

Individuals who seek this doctorate are not general looking for a career in academia. The Psy.D. usually attracts individuals who drawn to the hands-on work of counseling and mental health care.

Check out Baylor University for an example of this doctoral degree program.  

Dr.P.H. – Doctor of Public Health

The Dr.P.H is an interdisciplinary professional degree program with a focus on training individuals to be leaders, policymakers, and practitioners with the field of public health.

Individuals who seek this doctorate are those interested in obtaining leadership positions in their chosen area of practice. Those positions can be found in government, think tanks, and other institutions where they can have influence over public health policies, development of programs, and the direction over decision-making.

Check out Tulane University for an example of this doctoral degree program.

D.S.W. – Doctor of Social Work

The D.S.W. is a professional doctorate aimed at individuals who want to advance their knowledge and professional skill set in clinical social work. It is also designed to develop leaders in clinical practice. The DSW is different from the Ph.D. in social work in that it is a practice-based degree and not a research-based degree. As such, it is a degree for experienced social workers who want to advance in their careers.

Individuals who seek out this degree program are often interested in pursuing leadership positions in human services or governmental agencies.  

See George Williams College of Aurora University for an example of this doctoral program.

Ed.D. – Doctor of Education

The Ed.D is an education-focused, practiced-based degree program and is usually pursued by individuals seeking leadership positions in K-12 leadership or who have interests in teaching, consulting or executive leadership in government, non-profits, or higher education. Ed.D. programs are primarily designed to take existing research and apply it to a specific issue, problem or setting. 

Individuals who choose an Ed.D are people who want to take a more hands-on role within an organization. Though it may not be known, Ed.D candidates do conduct scholarly research. And it is important to note that being education-focused doesn’t mean that all Ed.D programs are designed with K-12 or higher education in mind. University of San Francisco, for example, offers an Ed.D. in Learning and Instruction, which focuses on teaching, learning, and instructional design. It is a great option if you are a corporate or teacher trainer or have an interest in instructional design or consulting.

If you are interested in a tenure-track teaching position and interested in pursuing an Ed.D., be sure to choose an Ed.D. that requires a dissertation. Not all Ed.D.’s require one; some opt for a field project

Check out California State University, Fullerton for an example of this doctoral degree program.

I hope this is helpful to anyone who is considering a doctoral degree. Please feel free to leave your comments.


About the authorDr. Will Deyamport, III, Ed.D. is an eLeader who specializes in digital learning and development. His research is in technology leadership and using web tools and social technologies for professional development, teaching and learning, and social good. 

The Educator's Guide to Developing a Professional Online Presence

By Dr. Will Deyamport, III


I meet educators all the time who want very little to do with the internet. Outside of email or Facebook to keep up with friends and family, they see the internet as just something else they need to learn and occupy time they don’t have. But the reality is the internet and web tools and social technologies aren’t going away. Whether you make a conscious effort or not, people and future employers are still going to Google you. So why not put in a little work towards shaping what people will see when they do Google you?
This post is a quick 3 step guideline for pre-service or veteran educators for beginning the process of developing a professional online presence, which is and will be more marketable for you than any business card or binder or portfolio.
Standard Photo
This means using the same photo across multiple platforms. What you want is a consistent, professional online identity. When people Google you, you want them to see the same professional on Twitter as they see on Linkedin. This is not to say that you can’t post any other photos of yourself. By all means share photos of you at conferences, giving guest lectures, facilitating workshops, or even interesting photos of you on vacation. But make sure that your profile photo on different social networks is the same, and never post pictures can compromise your reputation. What you are trying to avoid is sending a mixed message about who you are, what you are, and what you bring to the table.
Contribute to the Discussion
Starting a blog, becoming a guest blogger, vlogging, or creating videos for Youtube or Vimeo are excellent examples of you contributing to the discussion. What you want to do is produce online content that presents your experience and skill-set in your area(s) of expertise. For example, you can write a bi-weekly or monthly post about what you are doing in your classroom. You can also vlog about issues you are passionate about. You can even create tutorials or post videos of your conference presentations. The point is to position yourself as an expert in your field.
Find “Your” Social Network(s)
Don’t join a network because you hear it is the hotness. Finding “your” social network is about you discovering the social network that is the right fit for you – a network that matches your social and informational needs. Do your research and get a feel for the educators on the site as well as the time commitment needed to cultivate the type of networking and relationship-building you want to do. Not every social networking site was created equal. Do you and don’t feel pressured to be on everything.
About the author: Dr. Will Deyamport, III, Ed.D. is an eLeader who specializes in digital learning and development. His research is in technology leadership and using web tools and social technologies for professional development, teaching and learning, and social good. 

4 Alternative Education Career Paths to Explore

By Dr. Will Deyamport, III


I have been an educator for 11 years, and whenever I meet people, it never fails that they look confused when I tell them that I do not work in either K-12 or higher education.  Even a number of colleges and universities seem to not understand that the field of education is much more expansive. Yet, there are plenty of educators, like myself, who go about the work of leading, designing, and delivering programming aimed at improving the lives of millions of youngsters and adults. (You’ve already heard of many of these organizations, such as The Girl Scouts or The American Diabetes Association.) So if you’re looking for alternate career paths, the following is a list of the 4 most common careers in education outside of K-12 or higher education.
Family Life Education
Family life education is an informative, educational approach to assisting individuals in living authentic and productive lives. Utilizing a family systems perspective, most family life educational programming takes place in a classroom-style kind of setting and can even be provided through educational materials, such as books, DVD’s, CD’s, social networking, Podcasts, and blogs. The goal of family life education is to teach (research-based content) skills that aid individuals in making the best informed decisions about their lives. Topics can include: goal-setting, parenting, career development, dating and romantic relationships, health and wellness, and/or debt-management and home ownership.
If you are interested in becoming a Family Life Educator, you can either contact the Child and Family department at your local college or university or contact The National Council of Family Relations.
Youth Development
Youth Development supports the growth and development of young people.  Leaders, individuals, and organizations in the field, such as The Boys and Girls Club of America or Reel Grrls, offer programs and various learning experiences that engage, encourage, and empower young people to successfully transition into adulthood.  Some organizations partner with other non and for-profit organizations, others partner with schools, religious institutions, and colleges and universities, and others, such as summer camps, for the most part, do not partner with other organizations, but are offered by state, city, and privately owned entities.
If you are interested in a career in youth development, look into degree programs in Child and Family Studies or Human Development, as well as Youth Development or Social Work. If none exist at the schools you are interested in attending or do not quite fit your interests, you could major in Interdisciplinary Studies or a degree program that will allow you develop your own course of study. Also, contact a local youth development organization to conduct an informational interview.
Adult and Continuing Education
Adult education, often referred to as continuing education, is the umbrella term for the practice of teaching and lifelong learning for adults. Adult or continuing education offers an array of learning experiences. From vocational training to personal enrichment to workplace development as well as GED or adult literacy classes, adult education is focused on adult growth and development.  Many continuing education courses are offered by colleges and universities via their Continuing Education or Extension Departments, as well as via many community-based, non-profit organizations.
If you are interested in a career in adult education, you can contact The American Association for Adult and Continuing Education or The University Professional & Continuing Education Association or the Adult Education department at your local university.
Community Education
Community education is the development of individuals, groups, institutions, and communities. Leaders, individuals, and organizations in the field deliver educational programming aimed at inspiring, educating, and connecting with individuals in the community to live their best lives. The purpose of community education is to positively influence the behavior of individuals and communities. Where a youth development organization will serve the youth, and an adult or continuing education organization will serve adults, community education-focused organizations serves all ages of the community.
If you are interested in pursuing a career in community education, look at local organizations or causes that you are most passionate about. Intern and conduct informational interviews with those organizations. Discover where you can make your mark and look for a degree program that will support you in doing so.
Remember the field of education offers several careers outside of K-12 and higher education. Not only do they allow for more freedom, they are diverse and allow for more opportunities for people to follow their passions. I am looking forward to the possibilities of the future.
About the author: Dr. Will Deyamport, III, Ed.D. is an eLeader who specializes in digital learning and development. His research is in technology leadership and using web tools and social technologies for professional development, teaching and learning, and social good.