The Learning Teacher

My blog of my summer internship experience with Redbird Advanced Learning!!!!

[rjustilien]

Week Four... Different Perspectives!!! (July 21-July 25, 2014)

So this week I began to finalize my blog post from my interview with Peter Fletcher, the Mandell School Director of Technology, from the previous week. I spent over six hours working on this assignment before I emailed it to Jasen to review. Looks like I have a little bit of work to do than I expected. When I received my email from Jasen, my paper was flooded with red correction marks. Now I know how my students feel when I do the same thing to their writing assignments, lol. But Jasen provided me with really good feedback.  Going forward, I now know what to do differently when I start to write my second piece later on this week. On Tuesday, I interviewed Tiffany Della Ve Dova, who is the Head of the Middle School Division at the Mandell School to get her perspective on how technology is integrated with the upper grades. It was very interesting to see how both Peter and Tiffany have different perspectives when it comes to integrating technology in the classroom.  Speaking of perspective, which was one thing that Jasen stressed to me during our conversation while we were reviewing his edits from my first piece. He said for me to write it in the form as Rosie, the intern for Redbird Advanced Learning and not Rosie, the middle school teacher. I agree.

Page 1 of 6 of corrections to revise and edit, lol.

On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of meeting Matt Haggman with the Knight Foundation and with all of the other summer interns and hear their perspective on their internship experience. I was also able to hear from some of the founders of these start-up tech companies on their perspective on why they started their company and recommendations for anyone who wish to pursue a career in this field.  In addition, Wilfredo Fernandaz, founder of LAB Miami and Teach for America Alumni shared his perspective of the importance of being a partner in this initiative and how this experience will be invaluable for all of the interns.  I was enlighten and inspired from all of the presenters that night!

TFA Interns, Kiesha Moodie, Wilfredo Fernandez-Co Founder of Lab Miami, and Matt Haggman from the Knight Foundation at the Summer Startup Mixer in Midtown!!!

Pictured with Matt Haggman from the Knight Foundation!!! Thanks Matt for this incredible opportunity!!!

Great hearing your perspective, Wilfredo Fernandez, Co-founder of the Lab Miami...from classroom teacher to tech entrepreneur!!! Amazing!!!

[rjustilien]

A Look Inside Redbird Advanced Learning Aventura Corporate Office!!!!

Come visit us in Suite # 201!!!

Our superb waiting area!!!

My comfy workspace!!!

Jason, Executive Director of Blended Learning and Professional Development aka my internship supervisor always hard at work!!!

Isabel, Human Resource Analyst

Marifel, Account Analyst

Maria, Human Resource Manager takes a break and from work and is all smiles for the camera!!

[rjustilien]

Week 3… Introducing the Dream Team!!! (July 14-July 18, 2014)

So much has been going on in the RedBird office this week as Jason and his team are preparing for a Program Manager Training that will take place in in our corporate headquarters in San Mateo, California next week!  When you walk in the office, you will see productivity and a positive working atmosphere.  The staff here at Redbird put the “P” in the word “phenomenal” as everyday they  work diligently to meet the goals of the company! Practically, everyday Jason introduces me to amazing team members and/or Red Bird partners in various states in the U.S. through our virtual meetings.  I definitely learned the importance of collaboration by participating in these meetings.  In addition, I can always rely on Marifel, Isabel, and Maria if I need assistance around the office. Isabel and Marifel are sisters!!! How awesome is it to work in the same place as your sibling!!

 On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of interviewing Technology Director from the Mandell School, Peter Fletcher. The Mandell School is another division of RedBird. It is located in New York City and has made great strides in the field of technology within their curriculum. Through my conversation with Peter, he made me realize how critical it is to support classroom teachers when it comes to technology implementation. I am going to write a blog post about my interview with Peter in addition to my experience with tech support as a classroom teacher.  And guess what?!!! My documented interview will be published on the Redbird Advanced Learning website!!! So I won’t reveal too much about the interview now!!!

Everyone on staff is driven to the mission of this organization!  Redbird Advanced Learning mission is to transform lives by harnessing the power of research, technology, and innovation.  I am sure this company will be on the next Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work for List!!

We have fun at the office!!! I see you Jason as you got me with the bunny ears, lol!!!

[rjustilien]

My Trip to Baby Stars!!! (7/3/14)

Wonderful early childhood learning center in the Aventura community!!!

Thank you for the tour, Edith Peisach, Founder of Baby Stars!!!

Independence Day Student Projects!! How cute!!!

The kids have lots of fun here at the Art & Sensory Room!!!

Thanks Jose for taking time out your busy schedule to give me the tour!!! 

Watching a presentation in the theater room!!!

One of my favorite room in the facility...love the World Cup Display!!!

The Gym

(Mommy and Me Program Participants)

(Jason Green, my internship supervisor and Executive Director for Blended Learning and Professional Development for RedBird Advanced Learning and Jose Biton, President of Baby Stars)

[rjustilien]

Week 2 (July 7th-July 11th. )…I’m Lovin It!!!

On Tuesday, I finally completed my first project for my internship, My Apps Framework & Research Project.  I devoted so much time learning about the various apps that can be used in classroom to make sure my work met the expectations of my team members. I’m ecstatic as my research project will be used the following week for a presentation in one of our partner school districts in South Carolina.

This week, I had the pleasure of working from the comfort of my own home as my internship supervisor; Jason Green flew out to California to the headquarters of Redbird Advanced Learning, located in Silicon Valley. I may possibly get an opportunity to visit my internship headquarters!!!  Jason is absolutely the best as he is doing whatever he can to ensure I have a great internship experience. I participated in many conference calls this week with my team members Mary Milton Kelley, Cassondra Thaddies, and Jason than I can be on top of my assignments.

Thanks to Jason, I had a little fieldtrip outside of the office just before the July 4th Holiday Weekend. I received a tour of Baby Stars, an early learning facility located in Aventura, FL which is a subsidiary of Redbird Advanced Learning.  Jose Biton, President of Baby Stars gave me the guided tour and introduced me to Edith Peisach, Founder of the organization. One of my favorite programs in Baby Stars is called “Mommy and Me” where mothers participate with their child in activities that help develop important skills for their baby. Baby Stars is definitely a premier early childhood learning center and I highly recommend it for parents. So appreciative to Jose and Edith for taking time out their busy schedule to give me a personal tour of the facility!!! (Check out the pics on my blog!!!)

On another note, are you familiar with the term B.Y.O.D.? If not, it is the acronym for Bring Your Own Device. This new phenomenon is when students are able to bring their mobile smartphones, laptops, tablets, and chrome books into the classroom to increase their access to the internet and digital content, and to maximize their learning. I just recently heard about this term this summer at a professional development workshop a week prior to the start of my internship. Now I can dive deep into it as I am working on researching case studies that supports B.Y.O.D. My Redbird Advanced Learning team is assisting school districts implement this concept in their schools. This project is really important to me as I do work in a technology magnet middle school. Therefore, I hope to learn as much as possible about B.Y.O.D. than I can effectively implement it in my classroom this upcoming school year. In the words of McDonalds theme song, I’m lovin it sums up my internship experience so far.

[rjustilien]

Wyncode...The Art of Code Pitch Day 2014 (7/2/14)

Thanks to Jessica Peralta, tfa intern for reminding me to attend this amazing event last week!!! Congrats to all the participants as I loved the projects!!! The purpose of this event was for students that completed the WynCode Coding Bootcamp to showcase one of their projects!!! One student from the cohort was selected for a job opportunity with a major tech company in South Florida!!! My favorite project  was Meme Menu where this app would give you an image of the food on the menu of a restaurant!! Shout out to Diego, also a TFA/Wyncode Intern for a great job with the event. Check out www.wyncode.co for additional information about this startup!!

[rjustilien]

Redbird Advanced Learning selected by Stanford University to continue the work started by Professor Patrick Suppes.

[rjustilien]

Week 1 (Jun.30-July 4)…..Apps R Us!!!!

Last week Wednesday (6/25/14), I had the pleasure of meeting my internship supervisor, Jason T. Green who serves as the Executive Director of Blended Learning and Professional Development for Redbird Advanced Learning.  We had a very productive two hour meeting. Jason gave me an overview of the company and discussed his work with the organization. I learned that this organization is the engine behind adaptive learning, in addition to Professor Patrick Suppes research. Jason presented me with 5 project ideas to get me started. The topic that fascinated me the most that I wanted to work on first was Apps Framework and Research.  This project consists of researching apps that can serve as instructional tools in the classroom. I would prepare my findings on an excel document with the description of the app, the price, grade level,  effectiveness of the app in the classroom, and where it would fall on the Webb’s Depth of Knowledge Chart (pictured above, no more Bloom’s Taxonomy)! We concluded the meeting by reviewing logistics and my work schedule. I left with a feeling of excitement like a kid in Toys R Us!!! I will create materials that I can actually use and share with my colleagues when I return in the classroom in the fall. In addition, my research will be shared with Redbird Learning partner school districts.  

My first day of work was Tuesday, July 1, 2014. As soon as I walked in the office, I wasted no time getting my research done on the different apps. As a veteran teacher, I reviewed each app with a critical eye reflecting how this app best would benefit young learners. I was amazed about how many good apps are out there to supplement a school curriculum. The feeling of a kid in Toys R Us overcame me again!!! I was fascinated with the information I was learning. Thus far, my favorite apps are Infuse Learning, Brainpop, and Dogo News especially since it provides nonfiction text and requires students to use their critical thinking skills to complete written responses!!! This will definitely prepare our students for Common Core!!!  Since I am in the beginning phase of my research, I am sure I will have more favorites. I enjoyed being treated to lunch on my first day and talking to all the members on the Miami Redbird Learning Team, as well as participating in the company nationwide conference call. Guess who got a shout out as intern extraordinaire on the conference call?!?!  I get all of this special treatment and it’s only the first day!! Jason, my internship supervisor has made me feel so welcome to be part of his team!!! Most importantly, thank-you to Teach for America Miami-Dade, Kiesha Moodie, the Knight Foundation, and all of the partner organizations because without you all I would not have this amazing opportunity!!!  I absolutely love every aspect of my internship and it is just the first week; can’t wait to see what’s in store for me in the next 5 weeks!!!