Spring Semester Professional Development

Lindsey Rae Atkins

Wes Moore Lecture & Diversity Luncheon

This was by far one of my favorite learning experiences this semester. I loved
the book The Other Wes Moore when we read it last year, and to be able to hear Wes
Moore speak was incredible. It was both encouraging and challenging to hear his
passion for education and the way it impacts the lives of children. One of the most
profound things that I took away from his lecture is that you are never going to do
anybody a favor by lowering their expectations. As a part of my professional
development I also attended the diversity luncheon that was held the next day. This
was very interesting because my table was a mixed group of majors, and therefore
the conversation was itself diverse in the prespectives that were shared. I felt that I
grew a lot from these two experiences and my teaching practices will be very much
impacted for the better.


EdCamp

Edcamp was a unique experience that was quite different that what I had
originally expected. The idea of an unconference was new to me, but I thouroughly
enjoyed hearing from colleagues and having the choice of which seminars to attend.
My two favorite sessions that I attended were 20 apps in 30 minutes and an
impromptu one where a graduate student from Georgia asked us Samford students
to join her for a discussion about ways to receive professional development (face to
face vs. google hang out etc). I am very thankful to have attended this event and will
use what I have taken away in my future classroom.