All about Me

Hello and welcome! My name is Sheena Keyes, and I am from Collins, Mississippi. I am a proud mother of three wonderful children: Haley (18), Hayden (16), and Hannah (10), who inspire me daily. Together, we navigate life with love, faith, and a shared sense of adventure.

In addition to my role as a mother, I currently work as a Social Worker for Child Protection Services. This job allows me to make a positive difference in the lives of children and families who are going through some of their most challenging times. My work has been incredibly rewarding, and I am grateful to be able to support and advocate for those in need.

Before joining Child Protection Services, I spent six years working as a teacher in a private school and as an assistant in a public school. Education has always been my passion, and through these roles, I learned so much about both teaching and the broader needs of students and families. My experiences have shaped the way I approach my career today.

I am pursuing a Master’s degree in Education at Liberty University, and I am thrilled to say that I will be graduating this May! It has been a challenging yet fulfilling journey, and I truly believe that with the help of God, I have finally made it to the finish line. This achievement means the world to me, and I look forward to applying everything I have learned to help others grow and succeed.

My Technology and Learning Interests

As an educator, I have always found joy in integrating technology into the classroom. Whether it is using educational apps, interactive whiteboards, or online learning platforms, I am a big fan of tools that engage students and enhance their learning experience. Technology can break down barriers to education and create exciting opportunities for students to explore new ideas. Personally, I enjoy exploring new tech trends that can make learning more fun and accessible for everyone.

A Little More About Me

Outside of my professional life, I am a passionate learner and a firm believer in personal growth. I have faced many challenges along the way, but with faith, perseverance, and the support of my family, I have been able to overcome them. I love sharing my journey with others, as I believe our stories can inspire and encourage each other.

Thank you for joining me on this journey! I am excited to share my experiences, insights, and lessons learned along the way. Please feel free to reach out, share your thoughts, and let’s connect!

Personal Philosophy

Technology has a major influence on students learning. According to studies, adding technology in the classroom improves student motivation, interest and information retention. Multimedia content, gamified learning activities, and the use of virtual reality simulations immerse students in the learning process while increasing student engagement and active learning. Moreover, technology allows teachers to tailor their instruction to students’ varying needs and learning styles. This ensures all students understand and make appropriate applications of concepts. Technology is an integral part of modern education with a variety of tasks aimed at improving the educational process and preparing schoolchildren for the future. There are several powerful reasons for it being introduced into the education system. Technology has opened access to a highly abundant quantity of knowledge and educational materials, removing the distance barriers and increasing learning opportunities. By providing immediate access to content such as multimedia resources, interactive simulations, and online courses, it also helps facilitate self-paced learning and personalized education. Technology also encourages essential 21st-century skills, including digital literacy, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking. Educational software, Internet platforms, and communication tools enable students to work on group projects, share different perspectives, and hone their problem-solving skills. In addition, with technology, teachers can customize lessons based on the needs of individual students, track progress, and provide real-time feedback, which enables personalized learning experiences. Technology is used for multiple purposes in education.

A biblical defense

Ecclesiastes 7:12 (NIV) “Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.” Such wisdom and understanding is so valuable, this verse shows. When applied correctly, technology can be a powerful tool for cultivating wisdom and wisdom. Technology is likely to be a big help in this effort for educators, who have a responsibility to provide students with access to useful and relevant information.

“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it”, Proverbs 22:6 (KJV). In this stanza, the role of instructors in shaping and impacting the education of the students. By integrating technology into the curriculum, teachers can help their students to familiarize themselves with the tools and skills that they will need in the real-world. It provides teachers with all the resources to equip learners with the skills and knowledge that they need to survive and thrive in a technology-driven society.

Matthew 5:16 (NIV): “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” This text urges people to be an example for others. Using technology in the classroom can help educators to be more flexible and relevant, which will show their commitment to providing their students with the best possible education. Using technology in an appropriate way is a good way to practice ethical behavior and digital citizenship for students and can show students how to use technology without dishonoring others and glorifying God.

These are foundational as a means of contemplating technology’s role in education from a biblical paradigm. They support the idea that adopting technology can enhance learning, prepare students for the future, and positively influence others. This latest development in the tech landscape provides yet another opportunity for educators to decide how they will utilize tech in their curricula to create a suitable and productive experience for their students, always keeping their own beliefs and the overarching values, they choose to instill in their students in mind.

How I teach my students or approach technology

Motivation is defined as “the extent to which one plans to engage in an activity” (Jones, 2018). This definition includes “the extent” of the motivation (the strength or energizing feature of motivation) and “an activity” (the end of the motivation) (Jones, 2020). The learning experience in my classroom, I would teach them, and I would inspire them to love. I attempt to assist them to see that yes. It can be difficult to learn at times but together with patience and a good mindset we can overcome it. For some lessons, I take a different approach to technology and use differentiation activities in my classroom. For instance, if I were lecturing about a new topic in class, I would use slides from my board to aid note takers and sometimes I will post my slides in our google classroom for those who do not like to write but still want to study the content for themselves. Other times I would use technology to differentiate is when we have class performance task/projects. I would give the students a choice in how they want to present their project by providing a rubric for each option. They may range from a slide presentation, typing an essay, a video presentation, and at times, building a 3D model through graphic design or a physical model.