Final Project- Blogfolio

ASSIGNMENT REFLECTIONS

Intro video

            The introduction video was the very first assignment completed in this class. I had a few issues figuring out how to post a video I took on a phone to the blog. I eventually figured out that I could e-mail it to myself and then upload it to my blog after downloading it from my e-mail. This assignment served as a way to get us used to the blogging site. I learned how to create and publish a post and how to upload media all from one post. I think that I can integrate this knowledge in my future teaching because I will be able to upload things that I have created to our class website, or make new posts about the created things. The NETS-T standard that this assignment met is standard 1d: model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments, because this assignment involved engaging in learning in a virtual environment. This assignment was the starting point of us being able to post things about ourselves and technology in classrooms to share with others both in our class and around the world.

TED Talks

            My favorite TED talk video was John Hunter and the World Peace Games. Through this video I was able to see an educator believing that children CAN solve complex world problems if given the materials and opportunities to do so. John Hunter inspired me to give students a chance to show their creativity and knowledge. I think that adults should listen to children more and take their suggestions to heart instead of just dismissing them and thinking that they are silly. I can use this knowledge in my future teaching to find out what students think about current events and allow them to write different proposals and ways they would solve problems. This assignment met the NETS-T standard 5a: participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning, because TED talks include educators from all over the world that get together and discuss their teaching strategies and creative ways to engage students in learning.

Concept Map

             In this assignment, we used the Inspiration 8 software to create a concept map of a lesson we might teach. I had quite a few issues with this one because it was new software to me, and I did not know too much about technology coming into this class. I was able to sort out all my issues eventually and create a concept map that looks pretty good in my opinion. This would be something that I could use in my future teaching if I had the software. If not, I would probably be able to find some kind of website that would help me make a concept map. This assignment met the NETS-T standard 1a: promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness. It meets this standard because in creating this concept map and showing it to students, it would encourage them to be creative in their creations and designs, especially if having them make a concept map, too.  

Do Not Track

            In the Do Not Track Plus assignment, we downloaded the software Do Not Track Me and monitored the results after visiting a few sites. I learned that sites are tracking everything you do while on their site and everything you click on. I did not know this before. I did not have any problems installing this software. The only problem I had was after installing, I was not able to order pizza online. I have not yet figured out why so I do not really have a solution to this problem. I think that in the future, I could have my students install it on the school computers or on their personal ones so that they can be aware that everything they do on the Internet is being monitored. It is important to know that in the Terms and Conditions that every site has, yet no one tends to read, allowances are made for sites to track individuals that use their services. This is part of what makes them free. This assignment met standard 2a: design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity. It met this standard because it provided a relevant learning experience using software that shows the tracking habits of different frequently visited websites.

Voki

            For the Voki assignment, we created our own personal avatars that we would use on our class websites. This was a good thing to learn how to do because when I have my own classroom, it would be nice to have a website and use one of these. The only issue I encountered is in the free version you can only have the avatar say a certain amount of characters and I had more I wanted to say. Also, some of the voices are quite creepy. I would definitely use this in my future classroom website. The standard that this assignment met is standard 3c: communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats. It met this standard because I was able to communicate ideas to parents and students on my website by using this avatar which is a digital age media.

Web 2.0 Sites

             In the Web 2.0 assignment, we were given a list of technologies that may or may not be helpful for educators. We were all given two websites to learn and teach the class what they are and how to use them. Some of the sites no longer exist and some were pretty bad or weird, but some looked like they would be pretty useful. I would use some of the sites (like the ones that have an * beside them) in my future classroom. I would also suggest some of them to my students and even to their parents. The standard this assignments is standard 4b: address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources, because it provided us with a variety of sites to use to facilitate learning.

Augmented Reality

                     For this assignment, we read and reacted to article about augmented reality and its applications in a classroom. Mostly, it was talking about using it in art classrooms to give students a view of things they may not have access to in the classroom. One teacher used it by having students holding their tablets up to an augmented reality trigger which led them to a site with more information on the certain work of art. This would be good to use when teaching my elementary students about certain works of art or certain parts of the world that they are unfamiliar with and will probably not get an opportunity to visit. The NETS-T standard this meets is standard 1b: engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources. It meets this standard because it is encouraging students to use technology to find out more information about the world around them and giving them an opportunity to learn about the real-world on their own.

Website

        For this assignment we created our own website. My website was on online safety. It was geared towards children. This assignment taught me how to make and manage a website. I had a few issues when trying to post certain things but after playing with it for a little while I was able to figure it out. I would definitely use this knowledge to make a website for my future classroom so that I can keep parents and students up to date and let them post questions or comments that I can see and respond to. This assignment meets standard 3a: demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations. It met this standard because creating a website requires fluency in technology systems. Also, it allowed me to transfer some of my knowledge of online safety to the site to share with others.

Movie

                     This assignment required uploading pictures that we downloaded onto the computer into Movie Maker and making a movie. I learned a lot with this assignment. I learned how to make a movie, how to download and upload pictures, and how to make mp3 files and import them into Movie Maker. I had a problem with some of the pictures being sideways, but I finally found the rotate option with the help of some of my peers. I would use this in my future teaching to make movies of projects and assignments (with permission, of course) for my students and their parents. It would be a great way to keep parents informed of what we are doing in class. This assignment meets standard 4c: promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information. It meets this standard because it promoted social interactions using technology. Movies help others discover something about us, and if they are going to be posted online, or even shown to others at all, digital etiquette should be followed. Anything posted online, or created digitally, is there forever.

OVERALL COURSE REFLECTION

I learned a lot of things about technology over this past semester. Coming into this class, I was a little nervous because I had not had much experience with technology, because I like to do things the old school way. I prefer to write using paper and pencils. I do not use calculators for math. I still like regular mail and letters. I even like paper books better than digital ones (and the thought of libraries turning into digital libraries pains me). Conformity to the digital world scares me. This course has taught me to not be so afraid of technology. I learned how to make a movie and a website and an avatar for a website. I learned about TED Talks and other resources that are useful to teachers. I also learned about some websites that aren’t too bad and help make a good technology learning experience.

I feel that my strong points are my creativity and ability to figure things out eventually. After I figure out how to do something or get somewhere once, I can do it from then on without having to think too hard. These things are strong points because they help make my technology experiences less painful. It is like riding a bike. Once you learn you don’t forget. My weaknesses are my fear and dislike of technologies, as well as my lack of experience with certain technologies. These weaknesses prevent me from fully utilizing technologies that could make my life easier. I plan to improve upon my weaknesses by giving technology a chance and not being so afraid that technology is going to take over everything we do. I plan to discover and explore new technologies. I can even get my dad to help (he is an IT Tech that disagrees with my views of technology).

I plan to integrate technology into my classroom in small ways because an elementary classroom should not be fully centered around technology. If my school allows tablets, I would allow the students to use certain apps that review the things learned in class. I would have them type some of their things on the computer and teach them how to use things like spell check, and the thesaurus that is on Word. I would also let them use educational websites to play games that review the material learned in class as well as to do research on order to present certain facts to the class.

I think that e-Portfolios or blogs would be useful in education in that they provide students with a way to have all of their thoughts and assignments in one place. Also, people from all over the world can see them and they could serve as a good collaboration tool. Other students can review someone’s blog and give them helpful comments or suggestions on how to make their assignment better, or share their own personal ideas on a topic.

 After taking this class, I have found that technology can be useful if I keep an open mind. I have decided that I will give new technologies a chance and learn how to do certain things that involve technology. I will also try to send more e-mails and type more.   

26- Response to "A Conversation With a 'Bad' Teacher"

After reading the book, Confessions of a Bad Teacher by John Owens, Hana Maruyama decided to do an interview with Owens. She titled the interview, "A Conversation With a 'Bad' Teacher". John Owens was a journalist for about 30 years and then he decided to get a graduate degree and become a teacher. He became a writing teacher at a high school in the South Bronx of New York. His teaching experience was not a very good one. Owens says that the school he taught at was basically just run by data. Everything students did were to be recorded, right down to their attitudes about things. This data would then be used to prove that the students were passing. Some of the data was even falsified. John Owens did all that he knew to do to be a good teacher and it still was not good enough for the school's administration. He refused to go to a writing conference in order to establish some kind of consistency for his students (something that their lives were lacking) and then accrued the  wrath of the principal. From that moment on she did not like him and spent her days trying to prove that he was a failure as a teacher. He says that society tends to dislike teachers or label it as a "soft" profession, but it was the hardest job he ever had. He gained a new found respect for teachers and what they go through on a daily basis.  He wanted to take a stand and make things better, both for teachers and students. That is why he wrote his book. He gets letters from teachers all the time saying that this is basically their life, and these are their experiences. He hopes that people will read his book and help take a stand to improve our education system.

This was probably one of my favorite articles that we have read for class this semester. This is not the first time I have heard of negative teaching experiences, but it is the first time I was able to hear it directly from a teacher. I think that it is good for teachers to know that there is someone out there that knows what they are going through and trying to make it better. Not all teachers have this kind of negative experience, though. I would like to thank John Owens for taking a stand in order to help improve the American education system and the lives of teachers and students alike.

25- Response to "Kids Can't Compute..."

In his article, "Kids Can't Compute- And That's a Problem", Mike Elgan writes that just because a young child can use an iPad or iPhone this does not make them a computer genius. Elgan goes on to talk about all the many computers he had growing up and the fact that you had to know how the software worked to be able to properly use it. He claims that computers and phones and tablets these days don't require users to ask questions, or even try to find a solution to a problem they are facing, because they believe that there is always another app or software update that will fix it. In the end, they know nothing about the inner workings of a computer, or how to build a computer. This is why he claims that in order to graduate high school a student must be able to manage a complex website, build a PC and troubleshoot networking issues.

I found this article to be enlightening. I realize that I am one of those people that has no clue about the inner workings of a computer. I would prefer to do things using paper and pencil, or physical books, and I am not very tech savvy at all. However, we live in a technological age and maybe I would not shy away from technology so much if I actually knew what was happening and how to fix it on my own. I think that students should be taught to use technology and to understand it.

24- SAMR and LMS

An SAMR (Substitution Augmentation Modification Redefinition) Model is used to see how computer technology might impact teaching and learning. Teachers of primary and secondary education should be educated in ways to use different forms of technology in the classroom. In order to this, we (I say we because I am a future educator, myself) must first be educated in the different technologies available. Then, when we feel comfortable with them, we should then use them in the classroom to add a technological component. Children are going to use technology anyway, so we might as well teach them good ways to use it, and ways that will foster learning and creativity. That is not to say, however, that a classroom should become fully digitized, either. SAMRs are a good way to find out if certain technologies will be useful in the classroom.
A Learning Management System (LMS) should also be implemented in high schools. These are systems that allow for the tracking and documentation and reporting/delivering of electronic materials that are to be submitted online. Most colleges use some form of LMS so high schools should start implementing them so that the students are more prepared to use them. I had never used one before I came to college and I had a hard time trying to figure out how to navigate it. If there had been some kind of course at my high school that used one, I would not have so many problems because I would be used to it.

23- Response to "Beyond MOOCS..."

The article, "Beyond MOOCs: Is IT Creating a New, Connected Age?" is from a 2013 Educase Sprint Conference. This article talks about the growing availability of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Classrooms) and what types of technological higher education advances can be created beyond them. It includes quotes from different people and describes why MOOCs won't cut it for very long. The concept of a massive online classroom that is open to anyone has appealed to many people in the last few years. Students are able to receive feedback quickly from automated messages and are able to go through the curriculum at their own pace, whether it takes 2 weeks or 20. However, many universities are trying to improve MOOCs and come up with new technological classrooms because many problems have started to arise, whether it be the lack of income from the classrooms or figuring out what information should be licensed and what part of the classroom should be outsourced.

I found this article interesting because I had never heard of MOOCs before. I think it is cool that they are creating classrooms for the more tech-savvy students, or the ones that do not want to sit down for a lecture. However, I have some reservations about it. With these things, there is no kind of personal quality. Also, they eliminate the need for a teacher because everything is automated. What will happen to the teaching profession if all universities switch to this type of technology? If the universities switch, who's to say the high schools, middle schools and elementary schools won't switch also?

27- My movie project

22- Web 2.0 sites

Padlet * -A blank wall where you can type anything you want and students can log in and comment. This would be helpful to get student input on certain topics. Stormboard -You can have questions and the students can vote on if they like the comment or not. They can also answer the questions. You have to get a code and log in first. This seems like it could be useful, but you may have a problem with everyone getting the codes. Kidtopia -Contains different libraries for different subjects and provides you with resources to help with each one. This would be helpful to gather information about certain topics and to allow the students to explore the topics themselves. instagrok * -Combination of a concept map and a search engine. Gives you a concept map with key facts and reference websites it also has quizzes on the various topics. This would be helpful to give the students to use for a research project. slimekids -a directory for a bunch of different search engines for kids. Gives academic information on topics that you choose. Contains an authors page where you can go to certain authors' websites and learn more about them. This would be helpful when teaching how to search for appropriate information on the internet. wikisummarizer * -Provides summaries to articles on Wikipedia. Gives a concept map that can also be viewed in tree view. You can edit the maps. This would be good to use to help students navigate Wikipedia since they're going to use it anyway. pearltrees * -A combination of Pinterest and a concept map. Combining your thoughts into a "pearl tree". This seems very interesting. You could have the students compile a pearl tree on an educational subject. netvibes -Kinda like pearl trees, a combination of Pinterest and a Google search. You can sign up for free, but there are limits. This would be good to use for the same stuff as pearltree. Glogster * -A place to make online poster boards. You can also make timelines. This would be helpful for students trying to get all of their information in one place. It also provides them with templates for different things. Audacity - You can record speeches, videos, audio, etc. It is difficult to use because you have to have certain download capabilities. You could record your classes and give it to students that have trouble paying attention in class. Vimeo -Create and share videos, almost like Youtube. Maybe you could use it to create videos of your class and let the parents see them (with permission, of course), or let the students create their own videos of a certain project. wordpress.com -It is a blog site. You can create blogs, share blogs, follow friends, explore topics, etc. This would maybe be a good idea to use to have students create their own blogs and do projects, as well as follow some educational blogs. evernote * -You can take notes on it while in class and search any document that you already have. It would be easy to organize and keep up with notes. This would be good to use in a school where students all have electronics if they prefer to take notes on their computers. compfight -Almost like Google Images, used for locating images, research, etc. It seems to give a better selection. This might be good to use to find certain things that you may not want students to search on Google. diigo -Build a library and build a cloud of links, ideas, notes, etc.This would be good to use to share things with other teachers. blabberize -insert images and construct a mouth that says the words you give it to say. You could use it for your classroom to grab students' attention, or assign it as a project and have the students teach a lesson to the class using it. easel.ly * -make charts or concept maps or diagrams. Students can use them to make charts or teachers can use them to present ideas. animoto -upload pictures and audio and make your own videos or add backgrounds to pictures. The free version only allows for up to like 30 seconds. This is kind of like Vine, it seems. This would be an interesting way to get children to learn to use technology, and a small project that could be used at the beginning of the year to get students interested in technology. bookbuilder -read books, create and share books, etc. You can filter books by grade level and change the languages. This would be good to use to make a book for your students or to have them make their own books. weebly * -a website that helps you make your own websites. They come with cool backgrounds and templates, and you can use audio and video, easy to use. This would be a good site to use to make a webpage for your class or to have students make their own websites. storyboard generator (acmi) - gives a lot of educational videos that you can use in your classroom, you can also create your own... maybe. It seems like a slide show type thing. tagul * -This is like Wordle but not as restricted. You can use different designs and things. This would be fun to use for a class project or to find the students' overall feelings on a certain topic. edmodo * -This is like Facebook for teachers. You can ask other educators questions and get resources on different topics. This would be good to use to stay connected to other teachers.You can create a classroom and have your students make student profiles and keep them updated on stuff. socrative * -teachers can use it to make quizzes and games for students. This site is free and easy for the class to join. This would be a good way to involve the students in technology in the classroom. podbean -like iTunes Podcast. You could post your lessons or lectures for your students to have access to, but only a certain amount is free. pixton -make your own comic strips. You could use this to make comics for your students or have students make their own. iCloud * -You can look through and create documents and spreadsheets that can be used as grade books. This could help keep all of your class items organized and in one place.