The first project I was tasked with was helping to update courses and quizzes to changes in a law. A bill was passed that would change certain parts of how assisted living facilities were to be run, and Idaho Health Care Association (IHCA) needed their course to be updated by when the changes went into place on July 1st. Like how I do for my quizzes and tests, I had to read through the questions and flag the ones that needed to be changed. By the time the project was finished, I reviewed and checked over a 1,000 questions against the law. This project reminded me of how important (and how much work!) it is to stay up to date on information, something I do as a science teacher.

The second big project was to help out at their big annual summer convention (picture is by a sign at the Boise Centre). There are many goals with the convention. Administrators and nurses attend to stay current with regulations, earn continuing education units/hours (something similar to what we as teachers need), and to network with other assisted living facilities and companies. Vendors from companies show off their services and products that would help with caring for the residents in the hopes of getting business from facilities. IHCA works to raise money for scholarships for those working to become nurses and such and to raise money to allow them to travel and help out at different facilities or to lobby for facilities. I was given several different tasks, from directing people to helping out at the fundraising activities. I really enjoyed getting to know the people who have devoted their careers to helping their residents or facilities become better. I was struck by how many principles that were taught or shown at the convention can be applied to teaching middle schoolers in the classroom.

My last project consisted of helping update documents used by IHCA. This involved training how to use Canva to make graphics and brochures and updating documents to be more user friendly. A skill I am growing as a middle school teacher is how to create documents to efficiently relay information or how to make assignments less obtuse. So I was able to both use and grow that skill when working on unfamiliar documents and topics.

I am really grateful for the chance I had to work with IHCA. I learned more about health care and all the work that goes on in the background and in the law to run facilities. And I got to know some amazing people who are dedicated to helping others!

Grade Level and Subject Taught: 8th Grade Earth Science