I am an Educator and aspiring Instructional Designer in South Florida
My name is Valeria Astor, and I am a second year Masters' Degree student. I am a double gator and earned my Bachelors' Degree in Education Sciences with a specialization in Educational Technology. Initially, my ultimate goal was to become a third grade teacher; however, I have spent the last three years serving with the National Service Organization Florida Early Learning Corps. This organization stations tutors in preschool classrooms to assist with intervention strategies. After working in this program for many years, I decided to become a preschool instructor.
I started my educational journey in 2018 when I earned my GED. After earning my GED, I enrolled at Miami Dade College and pursued an Associates of Art Degree in Early Childhood Education. After graduating with my Associates of Arts in Early Childhood Education in 2020, the COVID 19 pandemic happened which changed the trajectory of my educational career. I became insterested in using technology to educate students in the modern world, especially in terms of equipping teachers to become more technologically savvy as the needs of young learners expand and grow. That led me to enrolling with UF Online with a specialization in Educational Technology. As an educator, my degree has been incredibly helpful to me in the classroom. I have been able to create my own course content, learn about different technological innovations and apps, and use my experience with technology to heighten my student's experiences in the classroom. Last year, I utilized technology to create my own curriculum with my students. I was able to embed Powerpoint lessons, as well as interactive games and lessons for my students. In this course, I hope to learn even more about how Educational Technology can be expanded to assist our youngest learners.