{"id":6207,"date":"2020-02-28T10:48:54","date_gmt":"2020-02-28T19:48:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/communications.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us\/?p=6207"},"modified":"2020-02-28T10:48:54","modified_gmt":"2020-02-28T19:48:54","slug":"2020-aste-teacher-of-the-year-is-ms-carlyn-nichols","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/comm-test\/2020\/02\/28\/2020-aste-teacher-of-the-year-is-ms-carlyn-nichols\/","title":{"rendered":"2020 ASTE Technology Teacher of the Year is Ms. Carlyn Nichols"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

2020 ASTE Technology Teacher of the Year is Ms. Carlyn Nichols<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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2020 ASTE Teacher of the Year Carlyn Nichols, Seward Middle School (left), with Amanda Adams (KPBSD, and ASTE president)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Soldotna,\nFebruary 28, 2020\u2014Ms. Carlyn Nichols [Seward Middle School] is recognized as\nthe 2020 Alaska Society for Technology in Education (ASTE) Teacher of the Year\nfor her exceptional and intentional integration of technology to redefine the\nlearning experiences of students!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cThis award has special meaning to me because it came from a group of people who have served as my mentors and inspiration for using technology to improve student learning and engagement. Technology is a powerful tool to improve the equity and impact of learning, but it should be used in moderation and with intention. Technology can\u2019t substitute for hands-on, experiential and collaborative student experiences, and when they are available, these activities are powerful and important.\u201d<\/p>–Carlyn Nichols, 2020 ASTE Technology Teacher of the Year<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

Seward\nMiddle School teacher Ms. Carlyn Nichols is continually on the forefront of\ninnovation and strategic in her application of technology. The drive to\npersonalize the education that her students receive from her is paramount in\nall aspects of her practice. She is consistently applies new strategies to\naddress the needs of her students, streamline her practice, and the learning\nexperience. Her utilization of the learning management system to offer\nflexibility in learning paths, content options, and pacing is exceptional.\nAbove all else, her continual design, prototype and iteration process values\nempathizing with the perspectives of her students. She continually incorporates\nnew technologies into her classroom not for technology\u2019s sake, but instead for\nthe expansion of learning into realms previously not possible. On a continual\nbasis, she uses the technology to reach kids and offer them access to their\nlearning journey. Her teaching practice is truly exceptional, balancing\nintentional and purposeful technology integration.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cCarlyn is the instigator and creator of the Makerspace Lab at Seward Middle School. So, not only is she all the things described in the award, she is also a purveyor of the balancing act of hand-on creation in tandem with digital creation!\u201d <\/p> \u2013Amanda Adams, KPBSD Personalized Learning and Student Success Specialist, ASTE President <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

\u201cMy favorite thing about Ms. Nichols\u2019 use of technology is that it exists behind her effective teaching practices and philosophy for meeting the needs of every student she serves. Specifically, she knows that it\u2019s her responsibility to help every child learn and grow\u2014regardless of the challenges they bring through her door. She is also a master teacher with a vast array of skills and strategies that she can leverage in her planning and in her instruction. It is at this point, in her craft, that she considers how technology will best help her students meet their instructional outcomes. This is what makes her technology integration in instruction seamless and effective.\u201d <\/p> \u2013Trevan Walker, Seward Middle School principal <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

\u201cEvery time that I have the privilege of visiting Carlyn Nichol\u2019s classroom, I am amazed with the level of engagement of her students. Carlyn brings learning alive for her students in a truly personalized way. She is so very deserving of this honor.\u201d <\/p> \u2013Superintendent John O\u2019Brien <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

Links<\/p>\n\n\n