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Teaching and Learning Purpose Plan

ED8009: Education: Purpose, Theory, and Practice

Dr. Laura Trujillo-Jenks

Lavern Stubbs

Capella University

October 31, 2013

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Purpose Plan

It is my purpose to provide the best learning environment by finding the best

instructional practices and planning accordingly in order to meet the needs of individual

students that enter my classroom. According to Parsons, Dodman, and Cohen, Planning

instruction that is based on individual student needs, interests, and learning profiles is crucial in

differentiating instruction. Manipulating the content, process, and product of instruction

facilitates differentiation (Parsons, 2013, p. 42). Because I am fascinated with how students

learn, I realize that I must find effective teaching strategies. Differentiated Instruction and

inclusion to name a few provide learning opportunities to meet the different learning styles.

I plan to utilize my teaching experiences and the knowledge of others experiences to

help me gain insight on what goes in to curriculum and instruction and or teaching (objectives)

and learning in order to add integrity as well as diversity. It is my purpose to treat students as

individuals and find the most appropriate ways of planning, implementing, and instructing

every student from birth to adult.

Purpose

Since Kindergarten, I have always wanted to be a teacher and this makes my

professional background interesting. In 1997, I graduated from Georgia College & State

University with a BS in Early Childhood Education and then I taught 1st Grade for four years,

and later taught 2nd Grade (3 years) and 4th Grade (4 years). After teaching Kindergarten for 1

year, I really empathize with kindergarten teachers. I opened a learning center in 2008, where I

served students from birth to age twelve. I graduated from Grand Canyon University with a
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MBA with Emphasis in Leadership in March of 2012. I started volunteering at Central Georgia

Technical College with the Adult Education Department. Last October, I became a part of the

team and now serve as an Adjunct Instructor.

I aspire to become a better teacher. Ive accomplished my main career vision and

that was to become an educator. My primary area of focus and purpose in education is finding

ways to improve learning across the board from infants to adults. As students complete tasks,

there will be moments where an immediate change will need to occur because addressing

needs are according to the student. Parson, Dodman, et al. (2013) wrote, Therefore, teachers

who effectively differentiate their instruction not only carefully plan instruction to differentiate

for the variety of learners in their classrooms, but also provide moment-by-moment

adaptations to meet specific c needs that become clear during instruction needs that were not

or could not be anticipated(p.40).

Professional Development

Different approaches to learning will be the means to finding what works for individual

students. It is important that I continue to go to trainings (including webinars) that will help me

become more knowledgeable in the field of differentiated instructions and learn how to pick a

meaningful curriculum that includes all students.

Students benefit in more than one way when they know their learning style and this

allows for students to communicate what they need (Mestre, 2010). Not all children learn the

same way. It is important to treat students as individuals. In order for this to be true, we must

evaluate what individualism means. Children often come with problems and issues as do
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adults. Finding the right tools and resources to help students and parents is more critical than

ever.

Because of my professional development training, I allow students to express their

individuality through play and various activities and assignments. I like having parents and

students work together on projects. According to Schimmack and other researchers,

Individualism stresses independence and self-reliance. One aspect of self-reliance is to take

ones own internal experiences as an important source of information when making judgments

and decisions (Ulrich Schimmack, 2005, p. 25).

Currently, I volunteer at my childrens school as an office personnel and I also teach

Writers Workshop in Kindergarten and First Grade in order to maintain my background in Early

Childhood Education. Central Georgia Technical College offers a framework for professional

development. Knowledge-based Online File Exchange (KOFE), Teacher Education Academy

(TEA), Managing Information & Learning Computing (MILC), and Session Not About College

Knowledge (SNACK) are all part of improving the success of providing service to students. One

of the sessions that I want to attend by June of 2014 is Surviving Advanced Degrees

Roundtable where I am able to speak to other faculty and staff members who are pursuing or

considering an advanced degree.

On October 2, 2014, I attended an Adult Education Conference in Atlanta, Georgia for 3

days. The theme of the conference was The New Normal. It reinforced many practices such

as, using technology to differentiate instruction, math game activities, and provided many ways

to implement evidence-based writing instruction. I am still trying to digest all of the information

so that I can implement some of the strategies into what I am already doing.
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Based on what I have learned in this unit of studies, I plan to attend the teachers

academy in 2014 and take advantage of the different sessions like Active Learning and Learning

Styles and Teaching that will allow me to grow in the classroom and in my graduate studies

here at Capella University. I am overwhelmed with all of the new ideas and the fact that

Capella is a change in how online instruction can be effective. Owens and Velesky (2011)

describe change as innovation. Increasingly, schools are being offered relatively complete

instructional delivery systems that seek to provide comprehensive packages for instruction

that, in turn, are based on demonstrably effective concepts and are complete enough to meet a

significant need of the school. (Owens, 2011, p. 176). I have a lead teacher and a principal

mentor that I am able to ask for advice as I pursue my goal of becoming an instructional coach.

Purpose Completion

In order to maintain licensure, I will have to renew in 2017. I will be able to add on my

Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction, which will fulfill my requirements for renewal. I will

need to remain in good faith a professional of integrity. The Georgia Professional Standards

Commission stresses ethical conduct and standards that addresses professionalism. Educators,

directors, principals, and superintendents are required to meet at least 6 semester hours or 10

PLUs (Professional Learning Units) or 10 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) in order to renew

certification every 5 years.

Currently I teach at a technical college and plan to help find ways to help adults learn

and obtain their GED. I hope to supplement different curriculums in order to address the needs

of the different learners and the various learning styles. The New GED will take effect on
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January 1, 2014 and this will mean that students will have to have an in depth knowledge on

the use of technology and content areas such as Reading, Language, Math, Social Studies and

Science.

Conclusion

In conclusion, learning styles are evident to finding the most appropriate resources to

help students gain a meaningful learning journey. Through my learning experiences as a

teacher, I hope to gain knowledge about what drives the curriculum in order to meet the needs

of all students which includes babies and adults. Through my professional development, I will

be able to plan, implement, and provide individual instruction.

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References

Mestre, L. (2010). Matching Up Learning Styles with Learning Objects: What's Effective? Journal

Of Library Aministration, 50(7/8),808-829.

Owens, R. G. (2011). Organizational Behavior In Education: Leadership and School Reform,

10thED. New Jersey: Pearson Education , Inc.

Parsons, S. D. (2013). Broadening the view of differentiated instruction. Phi Delta Kappan,

94(9), 38-42.

Ulrich Schimmack, S. O. (2005). Individualism: a Valid and Important Dimension of Cultural

Differences Between Nations. Personality and Social Psychology Review, pp. 25.

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