Meet Digital Learning Leader Alison Walker

Alison Walker

NWMS Sixth Grade Science Teacher

This is Alison's 10th year with Noblesville Schools.

Share a technology memory from when you were PreK-12 school age
Getting my first iPod shuffle and listening to it on the bus when traveling to and from away games for cheerleading.

eBooks or printed books
Printed

Favorite app for listening to music

Spotify

Favorite streaming service
How can you choose between Hulu, Netflix, HBOgo, Peacock, etc?!

Advice for new teachers or teachers wanting to gain confidence teaching with technology
JUST TRY!! Take it slow....grant yourself grace...grant your students grace…ask for grace from families...allow mistakes...begin by experimenting with technology tools that further students' understanding of concepts from class as opposed to a first time introduction of material. Knowing the first few times of a new technology strategy may present obstacles and headaches, it is important that the content being taught with the strategy is not crucial to the learning of content standards so that if errors occur, students don't miss learning the content knowledge required.

Advice for teachers making eLearning Day plans
KEEP IT SIMPLE! Remember that you are making a lesson aimed at all learning levels in your room and what might take one child 20 minutes to complete may take another 2 hours. In addition, the support available at home is greatly different from child to child. Remember that not all kiddos will have an adult to answer questions or guide them. Try to make eLearning day activities either a preview to content you will cover in person in class or an application/review activity over content you have already covered with students in person. Finally, as much as we wish it weren’t the case, not all students will complete their eLearning activities. Thus, I try to avoid planning something for the day(s) following eLearning that is contingent on the completion of the eLearning.

Favorite Canvas feature or tip or trick
I try to use fun colors and images to keep things interesting. I love including Bitmojis and using fun buttons or images as submission links for work. I also utilize Canvas messenger if I want to make an announcement to all students.

More recently - I love that Canvas allows us to add individuals as different roles to our courses (observer, TA, student, instructor, etc.) This wacky, upside down world we currently live oftentimes results in unplanned absences or the necessity of last minute changes. Having my teammates being able to view/change/project/print my Canvas pages (as well as me theirs) is a wonderful safety net and ensures students are still getting valuable lessons each day.