Ella Christensen

       In order to be prepared to present during Week 7, I have started to focus on collecting video and images that I can use in my story. I would really like to make it feel like at-home videos with a film/vintage look in order to create a more nostalgic feeling. I don't think I need assistance with anything at this point in time, I just need to find time to dedicate to putting all of my content together. After looking through some of the resources and reminding myself of what examples I loved and connected with, I decided to use WIX to create an interactive website. My website will include images, videos, audio (both music and narration) to tell my story of growing up in Lincoln, Nebraska. The audience of my story is people of all ages - I actually showed my 4th graders what I have completed so far on WIX, and they enjoyed it a lot. They love seeing photos of me from my childhood and hearing stories about my life. I would hope that my digital story impacts anyone ...

Ella Christensen Week 4 Blog      While thinking about my own building Technology Integration Plan, it's very clear to me that the people and leaders supporting it, is the most influential piece in making sure it succeeds. Within the STARSS-LS framework, Professional Development is at the center. In Lincoln Public Schools, we already have access to several technology resources, but what's important is how we are able to incorporate those resources in purposeful ways.       As I think about the structure of this specific part of my plan, I would like to make sure professional development is not a one and done kind of thing. I want it to be continuous, collaborative, and engaging. Research has shown that professional development is most effective when it includes active learning, reflection, and sustained support (Siyam et al., 2025). Meaning, educators need more than one day of training. Teachers and support staff need time to try things out, reflect on...

     A strong technology integration plan requires research-based practices and leadership support in order to achieve intentional and purposeful student learning. After reading through the research of both Crompton (2023) and Gonzales (2019), and reviewing the ISTE standards, it's clear that educators can develop a Technology Vision in order to better their school's effectiveness in technology use in education.      Crompton (2023) states key practices that lead to student growth while also aligning the ISTE Educator Standards. One of my biggest takeaways after reading, is how important continuous professional development opportunities are. Research showed that teachers who participate in technology-focused professional development will have better outcomes in the classroom with their students. This connects to ISTE Educator Standard 2.1: Learner, that explains the importance of professional growth. Another important practice described by Crompton is stude...

Week 3 Blog      As I started to think about the different stories I could explore, I thought about important places, people, and moments throughout my life. They all came back to growing up in Lincoln, Nebraska. My family, friends, school experiences, and teaching career all come back to Lincoln, Nebraska. I would like my story to capture "Nebraska : The Good Life", specifically, Lincoln. I think some of the different elements I could include are my own memories of growing up, important areas of Lincoln, such as the downtown Haymarket, the determination and loyalty of Husker fans, teaching at the elementary school I attended, and so on. All of these things that make Lincoln, Nebraska my home.      The type of story I would like to tell is a personal narrative memoir. The main purpose of my digital story would be to highlight how Nebraska has shaped my identity throughout my life. I would hope that the impact of my story would be that the audience feels an ...

After reading through this week’s materials, I wanted to focus on the Triple E Framework developed by Liz Kolb as a model for digital leadership. This framework focuses on how well technology engages, enhances, and extends student learning, rather than using technology for distraction. I believe this is an effective model for schools, and my own school, as it encourages student engagement, learning and achievement, and being purposeful with technology. When developing a technology integration plan, there are several people I would want to get in touch with and involve. I would first reach out to teachers and staff across all grade levels, not just my 4th grade team, because they are the ones implementing technology daily and can provide insight into what works and what challenges they face in the classroom. In addition, I would involve school administrators, instructional coaches, and district staff to make sure that any integration aligns with curriculum, building, and district stan...

    The digital story that stuck with me the most, and that i'm going to be discussing in this blog post, is Pinepoint by the National Film Board in Canada. This digital story immediately engaged me with its first line being "imagine your hometown never changed.." This really resonated with me, as someone who has lived in Lincoln, Nebraska her whole life (GBR). I could probably drive around Lincoln with my eyes closed I know it so well. I even teach at the same elementary school that I went to as a kid, and nothing about the school has changed one bit. I also loved that the story was interactive. Right away I wanted to learn more and click "Play".  Throughout the interactive story, I was able to explore different photos, videos, articles, interviews, and so much more. There was information on history of the town, major events, specific locations/stores in the town, people born there, and so on. I found it extremely engaging - mainly because of the music, visuals...