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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

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 lev...
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Problem Based Learning

When I first thought of problem-based learning(PrBL) students need to solve a real-world problem. I thought about the innovation challenges where students are designing items to solve a need for a community or person. I thought about design thinking workshops where students engineered a plan to fix the cafeteria seating. I think about the Anatomy and Physiology class where students are solving case studies (Punahou, 2011). I thought about my own class Design of Emerging Technology (DET) where some students design a project to solve an issue they see (mail sensor, sensors for low stock items, light that changes based on heart rate). These are all real-world problems and fall under the umbrella of Project-based learning in my mind. In fact, some of my students in DET would create art installations and be more project-based. Then I read Krall’s (2012b) statement “we need to define what is an “authentic mathematical experience”. A mathematical experience to me is something that promotes ma...
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Update on Inquiry Based learning

 For the past three weeks, I have emerged in STEM and inquiry-based thinking for both courses I am taking this half of the Spring semester.  This has been an intense three weeks of reading various discussions, articles, and videos on what is STEM and Inquiry Based Learning and how are these used in the classroom.  The material has been thought-provoking.  I have spent the last three weeks writing about the material to develop my own knowledge. I have been involved in inquiry-based learning myself as I develop my own knowledge of the topic. In an inquiry based classroom, the focus is on investigations and answering questions based upon evidence.  Students are learning by doing. STEM naturally leads educators to be inquiry-based. Although this can be done in all classes, the Learning Channel(n.d) has a great video from Urban Academy demonstrating an inquiry-based classroom in both English and History. (Note: Learning Channel is not free but you can watch one video...
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