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About Me

me and R2D2

I have been teaching students to learn how to problem-solve for over 20 years through courses in mathematics, physics, and computer science.  I am passionate about teaching people to learn to code, utilizing technology, design thinking, and STEM/STEAM.  I am a strong advocate for interdisciplinary learning and team teaching. I encourage students to take risks in their learning and celebrate their failures along the way to gaining real skills and knowledge.  I have been working with teachers to infuse technology into their classrooms as well, teaching various workshops.

I am active with Makerspaces and Digital Fabrication.  I believe all educators and students are makers! They learn by creating and doing.  Every class can incorporate Makerspace into the curriculum.  I have consulted with various schools on building their MakerSpaces and incorporating design thinking.   In 2020, I was recognized by NCWIT NJ with the Aspirations in Computing Education award. 

Outside of school, I enjoy spending time in the garden with my daughter and cooking up a storm in the kitchen.  My current projects in the kitchen are learning how to make bread and making pasta from scratch. 

This site was created for a graduate class. Yes, after 20 years I am getting my Master of Education! It will continue to evolve as I reflect on the classes and my continued learning of Instructional Media.  I hope you enjoy learning with me. 

My previous blog is located here.

Follow me on Twitter: @MsATesta. Instagram:  @techgoddess07 


Popular posts from this blog

Computer Science Week

  It's   CSED Week !!!!! The week is to call teachers to inspire students to learn computer science.  Notice it says INSPIRE.  You don't need to be a computer science teacher or know coding in order to inspire students to learn about computer science there are so many ways: Research how technology is being used in a field today  Look at a Large Data set related to the field of study you know, let students narrow down the data  Have students read about Computer Scientists particularly ones they might not have heard about.  Such as people who invented the Internet, GPS, game consoles, smart devices, etc..  Use Twitter to connect with current Computer Scientists to ask them questions. Let students devise the questions to ask.  If you want to code there are great ways to have students start coding in the classroom.  Just search hour of code and for one hour you can do a simple project.  There are tons of places out there.  If you don't know how to code, don't worry most are
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Project Based Learning: Gold Standards

  PBLWorks  is the gold standard for Project Based Learning(PBL).  They provide many resources for teachers wishing to adopt PBL into their curriculum.  PBL is different from just completing a project; the goal of the PBL is to provide a rigorous learning environment where the student learning goals are centered but and students learn to solve problems by answering complex questions and creating high-quality work (Larmer, 2020). PBL the learning goals are surrounded into the project.  According to PBLWorks and Larmer (2020) there are six essential elements of project design: Challenge Problem or Question Sustained Inquiry Authenticity Student Voice and Choice Reflection Critique and Revision Public Product Not all projects meet these standards, the following three videos from Edutopia show an array of projects that all engage the students in some manner.  The projects demonstrated clearly showed sustain inquiry, student choice, and authenticity. The role of the teacher was as the guide
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SMAR Model

In this day and age, thanks to the pandemic, teachers are using technology tools more than ever.  The use of technology is a great way of enhancing our classrooms and having a 21-century approach to learning.  Over the past two years, as I and my colleagues shift our teaching, I begin to wonder where each of the technologies lands on the SAMR model.  Have I moved my technology integration in a way that is productive?  Am I using this time to blow up my teaching to give less content and focus on what students need to learn? The SAMR model of technology integration was designed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura. The idea of the teachers looking at using common terminology when using technology.  The key is to always ask two questions as an educator:  How do you want to use technology and what is the purpose (Ruben, n.d).  Students shouldn't be using technology just to do technology but it should enhance the learning (Reben, n.d).  Below is an image of the levels of the SAMR Model.  Lefflerd, C
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