I would like to express my appreciation to you and that you made up such great course. I like how well structured and organized it is and how clear instructions you provide us with. There was no one place where I got lost or didn't know what I am supposed to do. I like the format of pdf document reading first with all the options how this particular mean of technology can be used in the classroom. The format of short videos following one another keeps my attention and motivates me to continue. Everything is clearly said and showed on the screen. It is also encouraging to see you talking at the very beginning of every new lesson.

So far, I have learned how to start a blog, use Padlet platform, make a hyperdoc document and do screencasting. I have been using all of these with my students since I mastered them. Yesterday I made my very first hyperdoc and I am very excited about it.

The course has definitely upgraded my teaching skills and my students and I benefit from its advantage. The best thing, in my opinion, is that not only now when practising distance learning, but also when we are back in the classroom I will have more ways to individualize and deliver the content to my kiddos. Finally, I found an option of classroom instruction that may untie my hands for students who need one-on-one help.

Jana Zajícová
6th Grade English, Czech, History and Geography Teacher
Prague, Czech Republic

I have never been afraid of technology, but as both a mom and a teacher it is hard to carve out time to learn new technology skills. I intentionally took this course because the quality of your work is amazing and I knew it would force me to find the time to learn. I’m so glad that I did because the tools I have learned have already been put to use in my classroom this year! I want to learn even more, and that, perhaps, is the biggest takeaway–a renewed passion for learning!

Sarah Tuttle
6th Grade Science Teacher
Greenville County, SC

The modules helped me visualize actual assignments or uses for the tools. Going through each module and actually designing a lesson or activity got my brain spinning – in a good way! – about all the other things I could do with technology. Another great part for me was genuinely using the tech tools; I didn’t feel that I was curating links just to curate links; I wasn’t inserting QR codes just to say I did. I found an instant, valid use for each tech tool and it got me excited about getting back into the classroom.

Hailey Q. Levin
Chemistry Teacher, Anacortes, WA

I recommend the JumpStart course to other educators because the focus of the course is not solely on tools, rather it enforces that good teaching is what creates effective results in the classroom. The course is appropriately named JumpStart because the integration of the strategies helps the instruction enhance and transform the learning that is taking place. Teachers can use these strategies with any number of tools and take their teaching, classroom environment and student achievement to the next level.

Avis Canty-Duck
Title I Instructional Technology Facilitator
Greenville County School District

Can’t shout out thanks enough to Jennifer Gonzalez at Cult of Pedagogy for her Jumpstart Course — this course strengthened what I knew and introduced me to SO MUCH MORE! I highly recommend you consider taking this and also consider her Teacher’s Guide to Tech.

John Diesel
35+ Years in Teaching, Fayetteveille, AR

I feel more confident implementing technology after taking this course. I was pretty savvy in some apps and programs, but this course gave me different skills that I wanted to obtain but never sought out on my own.

Emily Bourque
Business and Journalism Teacher, Lafayette, LA

My most important takeaway from this course is that technology not only helps students be more engaged, but it also allows me to more effectively differentiate my instruction. Technology should be used for a reason. Purposefully integrating technology allows me to reach more students and provide students more choice in the mode that they learn and interact with a concept. I think this course has helped me recommit to raising the level of my purposefully designed instruction overall.

Sonja Everson
4th Grade Teacher, WA

I have generally approached technology on a “need to know” basis. In other words, if I identify a need in my own teaching, I seek out appropriate technological solutions and learn them. Since taking this course, I think my mindset has shifted a bit in that I have renewed enthusiasm for digging more deeply into the pedagogy behind the use of tools.

The course design was excellent – there are many things built into this course that I would like to apply to my own teaching. I’d recommend taking this course in the cohort model – I loved viewing the work of my colleagues and found their work inspiring as well as helpful. I also appreciated the feedback from the moderators. I don’t think I would have pushed myself nearly as hard had I done this on my own.

Elizabeth Pauly
Campus-Wide eLearning Consultant, Center for Teaching and Learning
Minneapolis, MN

I have always been intrigued by the novelty for students; however, I didn't want them lost in the tools disregarding the content or intent. This course keeps the perspective that we first focus on what we want students to do and then think about the most effective engaging way to do that without losing sight of original intent.

Tiffany Trevenen
4th Grade Teacher, Craig, CO