Closing the Gaps for
CTE Educators

My innovation plan focuses on how ePortfolios foster authentic learning, community, networking, and student voice. Although this subject matter is still very important to me, I have decided to create an online course that will address a current need in my department and district. I am a second-year CTE non-certified educator. My district is identified as a district of innovation (DOI) which allows them to hire CTE teachers with five or more years of experience in their content area to be teachers of record. The DOI program not only provides CTE students with teachers of practice but allows the district to fill hard-to-fill positions. As subject matter experts, were are qualified to teach the skills and trades of our content area. Still, most of us need to familiarize ourselves with the software, applications, and programs we are expected to use daily. I was hired as the graphic design teacher to a campus with a significantly low turnover, so my training and onboarding experience was lacking. Not due to the carelessness of my administration but because they were accustomed to everyone knowing what to do and how to do it. 

 

In one of our DOI meetings, a few teachers shared similar issues with the applications and programs teachers use for grading, attendance, etc. After listening to the needs of the DOI teachers, I knew that we could all benefit from a crash course in teacher programs and applications. I developed a classroom on my district’s LMS to share information and other helpful resources, but it wasn’t enough. The course I have decided to develop in EDLD 5318 will help CTE teachers and even rookie teachers learn and navigate the most used websites and applications in Classlink. It will provide step-by-step instructions, reflection opportunities, and assessments. I am very excited to create this course as I know it will only improve and outlive my time in my current district well after transitioning to my new career path.