Hamilton third-grade teacher Katie Jacobsen has been named a PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovator, an honor presented to just 52 highly-qualified educators in the nation each year.
The Digital Innovators program recognizes educators who are effectively incorporating digital media and technology into the classroom and serving as leaders in integrating educational technology in the curriculum.
One applicant from each U.S. state and territory were selected as Lead Digital Innovators through the nationwide initiative.
The award includes a three-day, all-expense trip to Denver for a national conference, a tablet, access to PBS LearningMedia digital content for use in her classroom and many opportunities to share her work, experiences and best practices with colleagues around the country.
“I’m just blown away by the honor of receiving an award like this so early in my teaching career. I’m really excited about it,” Jacobsen said. “For me, it’s rewarding to find technology tools that really enhance student learning. My mission is to use technology effectively, not just to make the classroom more flashy.”
Hamilton Superintendent Dr. Anael Alston said Jacobsen is a leader in the district in effectively using technology in the classroom and she is always willing to share her skills, knowledge and ideas with her colleagues.
“In this era of highly-prescribed teacher evaluations, it is refreshing to see that innovation, a passionate pursuit of quality teaching, and student engagement are being recognized at the national level,” Alston said. “Ms. Jacobsen’s efforts in her classroom represent what so many of her colleagues at HCS, and across the country, do every day.”
As part of her application, Jacobsen had to make a video about her digitally-focused classroom. Her video, available on YouTube, features two key projects students worked on in the past year that integrated book learning, research, writing and technology tools to produce interdisciplinary and collaborative works about the rainforest and Monarch butterflies. Jacobsen created and narrated the video.
She said having technology tools available to her through the district allows her to be flexible with her projects and teaching methods. She tries to show her students that it’s OK to take risks and experiment.
“Part of using new technology tools is not being afraid to try new things,” she said. “I’m open with the kids that sometimes things go well and sometimes technology doesn’t work the way you wanted it too, and so you try something else. But that willingness to think different and try new things is important.”
For as much technology as Jacobsen uses in the classroom, she maintains that those tools are just one strategy.
“Technology is a balance. It has to be integrated well. I still want them to read paper books and use pencils,” she said. “Technology is an important tool, but not only one.”
To see the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEiKGdLL52o