Hello!

My name is Sonya Brown.  I am a K-12 educator.  More specifically, a secondary (high school) Family & Consumer Science educator.  What does that mean you ask?  I am someone lucky enough to teach courses that help prepare students for life after high school, whether that is heading on to post-secondary schooling or a career. These courses include topics like meal preparation and planning, financially responsibility, interpersonal skills and independent living.

I also have a B.S. in Hospitality & Tourism Management where I worked in various management capacities before going back to school to earn my education degree.  My goal is to somehow marry my love of education, the hospitality field and technology.  I am taking this course to to gain a better understanding of the technology available and how to create authentic learning experiences for today’s learner.

I love technology and the possibilities it brings to education as well your everyday life.  Professionally and personally, my internet usage is a daily occurrence.  In the classroom, we are 1:1 so I am able to utilize technology daily with my students.  I use sites such as google suites for collaboration, YouTube for various reasons, but mainly to show clips of how-to’s or supplement information. I use Schoology, which is a LMS similar to Canvas. I like to use apps in the classroom such as Poll Everywhere, Kahoot.it, and Mentimeter for more formative assessments.  In my personal life, I use the internet for a number reasons. I bank online, shop online, read and watch movies and online.  I use Facebook and Twitter to socialize online as well.

On a personal note, some things about me.  I enjoy spending time with my family especially my daughters, Irelyn (4) and Elise (2).  They keep me very busy, which doesn’t allow much free time, but when I am able I enjoy biking trips, being outdoors and cooking.   Actually, I LOVE cooking.  I love reading about food, learning new preparation techniques, looking for recipes and of course EATING my final product!  I am very luck to be able to share my passion of food with students in my culinary arts courses.

I am very excited to be in this course and learn more about current technology and how to become better at integrating it into the classroom with purpose.