AUP Reflection

When I started this week and read the assignment details I was quickly overwhelmed. The concept of writing my own AUP was a bit labor intensive and grew my concerns of being able to handle grad school, teaching full time, student council and FCCLA. Although I am still concerned, I was surprised how quickly this assignment came together for me.  I read over both the current districts AUP and my first districts AUP, to compare. I also reflected on how my previous district handled technology, which in essence to ignore it.

Both of the AUP’s I referred to lacked all the 6 traits that NEA outlines. This left me confused and blocked as to why my AUP would follow these 6 essential elements. I felt that once I wrote my Preamble and geared my document, setting its tone and audience, the document became much easier to write.

After reading over several of my classmates, I do want to add a few definitions, and the word “internet” or “technology” to my Preamble. I geared my document more towards my current classroom because it is for further (aka THIS YEAR) use. I think I will want to go back a revisit it as a get closer to my goal of becoming an administrator. I also will want to revisit my current document with a few colleagues to firm up some of the language. As with the internet, this document must be living to change with the technology we are using the classroom and the tools we have available to us.

Because both the documents I used as resources were good examples, I had a difficult time not just copying it into my own. I think this assignment forced me to think about my won class, what issues we might run into and how I can guide students to appropriate content. The topics I teach range from pregnancy cells (yes that’s right! The birds and the bees talk), to culinary arts and leadership. My classroom AUP had to be specific enough to allow research of sperm and ovum, but keep students in my culinary classes focused.

Overall, at the end fo this week, I am finding news ideas to compliment my classroom. I am wondering how I will be received by my new colleagues with my deep interest in technology in the classroom. I have so much I want to share, but I am sure they feel the same way about different topics.