Final Blog Post

Throughout this course, I got the opportunity to learn an entirely different aspect of teaching. We learned more than just teaching with technology. We learned about the difficulty of teaching students with learning disabilities and language barriers. We learned about different ethical and political issues. But more than all these difficult challenges, the most valuable lessons were those that taught us how to handle all of these things. We got a chance to explore different ideas and scenarios on how to best deal with these different challenges. Challenges that we will definitely face in our future careers.  This was actually one of my more challenging courses. I had to think outside the box. I had to come up with ideas and solutions that had never crossed my mind. But more than that, I had to adjust and learn new styles of teaching that had never been brought to my attention. What I learned through all of this, is that when I am challenged, once I come out on the other side, I am proud of myself. I am proud of my hard work and what it creates and the end result. I learned new technological skills that will not only help me in school, but in my career as well. Thank you for that Professor Coleman!

My favorite assignment by far were the Wiki and the WebPage. These are two forms of assignments I think I will definitely use in my future classroom. Setting up the Wiki and the Webpage were projects that I was very intimidated by going into. I had never heard of either one of them and creating something so far out of my element was scary. But once I completed them and received feedback on how I could improve and what I excelled in, I realized how much fun they could be and how I could use them to my advantage. They also helped me learn how to create a lesson plan. How to structure an assignment and the importance in a rubric and grading policy.

An example of how this class helped me was evident in another class I was taking this semester. I was also taking and Oceanography class in which we had to create a blog and a YouTube video to go along with a field trip we went on. Because I had already created numerous blogs within this course and had worked within YouTube within my own blogs, I knew that it was nothing I couldn’t handle. More than that, I had never actually created my own YouTube video before and at first I was a little scared on how I was going to complete something so foreign to me. But once I had thought about all of the different things I had already accomplished in this class and how many obstacles I found out I could accomplish, my anxiety was relieved and I went into the assignment with confidence that I could complete it.

 

There were numerous sites that I had visited throughout this course. A lot were just for research that I skimmed through but didn’t utilize. Others were more pertinent. They helped me in understanding that Chapter that we were in or a concept that I was trying to understand. One of those websites was through Education World. This site really helped me a lot during the concepts of the difficulties that teachers face throughout day to day work. The website also went in depth with tips that teachers share amongst each other on how to relieve some of those challenges and ways to cope with them. It was my favorite website and one that I will refer back to in the future.

The textbook was phenomenal. I have never utilized a textbook as much as I used this one and I plan on keeping it with me for the future. There were so many key concepts in there and it was written in a way that was compatible with anyone’s reading level. Chapter 8 “Communicating and Collaborating with Social Media” was my favorite chapter. It was a new concept to me because throughout my entire academic career, it has always been frowned upon to bring social media or any kind of electronic devices into the classroom. This chapter was a completely different opinion. It was a refreshing new way of teaching and learning and I cannot wait to see it in action in the classroom.

All in all I am a little sad this class is coming to an end. I never thought I would learn so much in a single semester. Maybe because this is a subject that I am insanely interested in, or maybe because this class had so many new concepts, I cannot believe how much I loved taking this class and how much fun I had completing the assignments. Thank you so much Professor Coleman for making this class so intriguing and beneficial. I have never been so compelled by a class and I thank you for showing me the pros and cons to my future career. It was both eye opening and inspiring to see my future and I was blessed to learn so many resources that I can use in the future. Thank you again. I hope you don’t mind hearing from me in the future because I think there is so much more I can learn from you and I plan to pick you brain while facing future endeavors!

Resources:

Maloy, R. (2011). Transforming learning with new technologies. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

 

Mote Marine Visit Oct 2015. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLV44FngnNw

Teacher Diary: Reflections on Teaching and Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2015, from http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev033.shtml


 

Blog # L Ch 12

            Chapter 12 was a fun chapter to summarize the reading material. It helped show us as future teachers the steps and stages it takes to incorporate technology into the classroom and some of the obstacles we may face along the way. We have learned so much about the importance of technology in the classroom throughout the semester and chapter 12 was a great finalization that glued it all together.

            Something I found interesting was the difference between incorporating technology in the classroom and really utilizing it. Assuming that any technology involvement was all the same was a mistake on my part. Inclusion and Infusion of technology are two entirely different things. Inclusion of technology is to have some technology available, but it is mainly used to the basics and it utilized minimally as an extracurricular or simply as an intro to computers. Infusion is to really maximize a student’s participation with technology. Computers and other forms of electronics are a constant within the classroom and curriculum. Students not only use them for information transfer and skill practice, they are integrated throughout the entire day with the daily lesson. Anything from researching to educational games are performed by the students and it is a common practice to use these technological tools as ways to help get students involved and participating. There is difficult however, with some schools funding and or internet accessibility. According to an article written in support of the infusion method, “Without reliable and accessible broadband internet, for example, you and your students cannot harness the power of the internet for communicating and collaborating. Likewise, without devices to access the internet, you and your students will be hamstrung as well” (Spurring Change as Teacher Leaders)

            I think a major reason people are skeptical of integrating technology is the lack of funding towards the tools. Technology isn’t always cheap and many schools are tight budgeted and don’t have the excess funds to put towards technologically infused classrooms. The section on digital inequalities and the participation gap was very enlightening. While the divide may have changed dramatically over the past decade, it is still abundant and true to form that there are many that have and many without. It is important for up and coming teachers to be aware of this divide and be prepared with possible solutions if they intend to integrate technology into their lesson plan. There are many that believe that students who don’t have the same digital experiences as their peers, may find themselves at a disadvantage in their future. “Digital inequality should not be only the preserve of specialists but should make its way into the work of social scientists concerned with a broad range of outcomes connected to life chances and life trajectories.” (Digital Inequalities and Why They Matter) As an educator, it is important to recognize these challenges among your students. If technology is going to be integrated into the curriculum, it is important to find access for those who would not have it on their own or at home. Options must be available to every student on just a select few.

            “Automation subscribes to refinement and rationalization; achieving better performance by conducting current work practices the best possible way. Informating, on the other hand refers to the process of increasing effectiveness through the acquisition of information by the use of information technology and the distilling of that information into new knowledge.” (Digital Eyes: Automate and Informate) These two concepts, though similar, carry different meanings. They can however, be used together. It is up to the teacher to determine which technologies are best suited for their classrooms and how they will affect their lesson plans. It is also the teacher’s responsibility to determine if the technology being used it going to better the students learning experience, is it going to change the learning experience but not improve it, or is it going to diminish the learning capability of the lesson all together? It is important to recognize signs within the students and ask their opinion on the technology being used. Does this help you, or make the assignment more challenging? While every student is different and may learn on different variations, technological experiences as a whole can be a learning experience not only for the students, but for the teacher as well.

            This chapter was a great learning tool for future teachers. It really hit home on some of the key experiences and learning tools that I will need to bring into my future career. It also introduced me to some new vocabulary that I had never heard before. I know I will look back on this chapter in the future and recognize whether my classroom is including technology or in infused with it. Overall this chapter was extremely enlightening and rewarding as the book comes to a close.

References:

Digital Eyes. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2015, from http://digitaleyeshs.blogspot.com/2011/04/automate-and-informate.html

Digital inequalities and why they matter. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2015, from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1369118X.2015.1012532

Maloy, R. (2011). Transforming learning with new technologies. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

Technology Inclusion vs. Technology Infusion. (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2015, from http://online.tarleton.edu/Home_files/EDTC_538/Week_5/Week_53.html 

Digital Blog Post # K

Chapter 6 was a fun extension to this week’s assignment of creating a WebQuest. Reading through, it made clear the positives of what a WebQuest can bring to the classroom, as well as the benefits of virtual field trips and the benefits and drawbacks of using educational websites. All of these concepts are great advantages to those who want to become educators and should be used as tools to help them in their classrooms.

This week’s main assignment was one of the best so far. To read more about WebQuests in a more in depth manor throughout chapter 6 gave me a better understanding of their benefits, not just for students but for teachers as well. One of the merits I like about the WebQuests is that it uses less disposable resources. Teachers don’t have to print out 130 copies of the assignment to pass out to all of her classes. Even just 25 copies of a 5 page packet is 125 pages being used along with the ink required, the staples not to mention the time all to be used only one time before having to be thrown out. A WebQuest can be used hundreds of times without ever having to be thrown away or recycled. Another benefit is the simplicity it creates for students. It can be used as an electronic map or to take an online tour, moving from one web resource to the next to gather information and learn about a particular topic. (Transforming Learning With New Technologies) WebQuests also offer a variety of techniques all in one assignment. One task can be split into a single student endeavor, or a group activity by assigning different responsibilities to different students throughout a group. I think these WebQuests have an abundant amount of benefits and should be used in this technology revolved day in age.

Something that could go hand in hand with WebQuests would be virtual field trips. This was something I have seen firsthand in a classroom I was volunteering in. At first I was skeptical of the benefit (if any) of what watching a screen could to compared to actually being there. I was completely wrong. I was in a kindergarten classroom and the students were going on a field trip of the Mall of America. I didn’t understand how a broadcast could even compare to being there in real life. It far surpassed my expectations. The students were able to see every square inch of the mall in 30 minutes or less, compared to only being able to see a quarter of the mall had they really been there. They were able to hear facts and construction details (though I doubt at the kindergarten level that was something of interest). But the point being made is that virtual field trips enable students to go to places all over the world without ever leaving their classroom or school computer lab. (Transforming Learning With New Technologies)

When you google any topic, whether it be the Civil War or the periodic table, there will be thousands of websites that come up, a good majority of them claiming to be educational. The key to utilizing educational websites and resources is finding reputable sites that are of high quality (Transforming Learning With New Technologies) The information needs to be accurate and depending on the audience its directed towards, needs to be understandable and engaging. I think a big key to knowing which sites are worthy of an educational status is for the teacher to do a “test run” first. Go through the site and see firsthand what your children will be learning and the techniques being used. If it is an informational website, see if the site is reliable. There are also sites that will compile a list of educational sites that they recommend for teachers and parents to expose their children to. Great!Schools has a great arrangement of helpful links that help get students organized and engaged. It also helps give support and guidance to parents, teachers and students who may be struggling with some aspect of the educational system or its requirements. 
Chapter 6 was a great learning experience and a great expansion to the WebQuest assignment. Learning the different ideas behind interactive technology for students is such an amazing opportunity to see what benefits students within the classroom. Learning how to differentiate between a good and bad educational resource and understanding the benefits behind utilizing virtual field trip tours are all concepts that can be used everyday within a classroom. This week was a great stepping stone in putting what we've learned so far this semester into affect and enlarging the picture of what technology can do for a classroom. 

Digital Blog Post # J Chapter 11

Chapter 11 had an interesting turn of topics as it discussed what teachers can do to better themselves as individuals and as professionals. So much about teaching is aimed towards the students and bettering them as academic successors. While that will always be the main priority, it is important to remember that teachers are indispensable aspects to the student’s success. It is important for the teacher to learn and grow along with the students. This chapter gave different ideas on how teachers can grow as educators and how they can continuously be a better educational professional. It also showed the different situations some schools are using that allows the students to be placed on equal playing ground as the teachers as far as making decisions and casting a vote.

I had never considered creating a digital teaching portfolio before, but the notion is really quiet intriguing. A teacher can collaborate all of their lessons and experiences throughout their career in a single area. Here they can record how successful it was and whether or not they would change or adjust anything about the lesson or situation. As the years go on and a teacher’s portfolio starts growing, they can then go through and start purging things they didn’t think worked so well. A digital portfolio serves as an organized collection of materials that shows a teachers growth and development over time. (Transforming Teaching With New Technologies) There are numerous different manifolds of technology that can be used to help create a portfolio. Many use blogs as a way to document all of their experiences. Some use PowerPoint because it enables them to document more easily using pictures and animations. The basic concept behind all of these ideas is to record observations through experience and to show the accomplishments that the teacher may have succeeded in along the way.

Reflection is a major part of a digital teaching portfolio and may be the key factor in its benefits to teachers and students. The vital conviction behind reflection is that a teacher must be completely and brutally honest with one’s self. If an assignment or project did not go according to plan, it is important to list what and why. This allows the educator to look back in the future and possibly fix the reasons behind the original failure. Reflection stands for the process of self-assessment in which a learner examines past actions to identify what to maintain or change. (Transforming Learning With New Technologies) In an article written on Education World, author Linda Starr writes, “One of the most difficult aspects of teaching is the isolation it imposes on its practitioners. Teachers spend most of their days alone in their own classrooms, with their own students. Few opportunities are available to casually observe -- and easily learn from -- other teachers.” (Teacher Diary: Reflections on Teaching and Learning) This is where accurate reflection plays such a vital role. If an educator can record accurately the cause and effect, or pros and cons of an activity, it will eventually help a fellow educator who may be trying to teach the same concepts to their students. It is a wonderful enterprise that teachers can use to bond as a single unit and to encourage one another with new and creative ideas.

One of the most interesting concepts to me in this chapter was the section on Democratic Schools and Classrooms. It was nothing along the lines of what I was anticipating. Naturally, I associated it with democratic, republican parties and while there may be some similarities, they are not associated in the least. Democratic schools are places where students and teachers together make substantive decisions about important aspects of educational operations. (Transforming Learning With New Technologies) The practice of a democratic style classroom is starting to catch on worldwide and it gaining many people’s attention. On a website called Education Revolution, TedX actually has a video link you can follow as he discussed the importance of democratic style learning. This website office an extensive list of schools all over the world that follow the democratic style of learning and provide links parents can follow to learn where they are and if that school is the correct place for their children.  The critics of this learning style say if you give the opportunity, students will make immature decisions such as less homework and more social time. (Transforming Learning With New Technologies) The dispute to this argument is that teacher’s superiority is not in question within the classroom. Students still act with respect and are not given the opportunity to change the curriculum, only given the opportunity to vote on how it is taught and assessed.

By DaniLynne13 | View this Toon at ToonDoo | Create your own Toon

Chapter 11 was by far one of my favorites in terms of new information and thinking outside the box. I have never heard of doing some of the attributes discussed throughout this chapter. I love the concept of creating a teaching portfolio and have already started collaborating ideas to create my own. The reflections section really brought home the real meaning behind the portfolio and the importance of being honest within it. You will not learn your mistakes and know how to fix them if you don’t acknowledge your mistakes. And of course, the democratic schools system was what really blew my mind. I cannot believe I have never heard of something that gives students such a voice. I think if used in the right way it can really change the world of education for the better. 

References: 

 Democratic Schools. (2014). Retrieved November 7, 2015, from http://www.educationrevolution.org/store/findaschool/democraticschools/

Maloy, R. (2011). Transforming learning with new technologies. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

The Power of Democratic Process in Schools: Jerry Mintz at TEDxYouth@BFS. (2012, October 16). Retrieved November 7, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lrHG8y_9C4

Saidi, A. (2011, January 13). Bringing Democratic Education to Your Classroom and School (Lesson Plan). Retrieved November 7, 2015, from http://democraticeducation.org/index.php/library/resource/bringing_democratic_education_to_your_classroom_and_school/

Starr, L. (2003, January 7). Teacher Diary: Reflections on Teaching and Learning. Retrieved November 7, 2015, from http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev033.shtml 

Digital Blog Post #I

Chapter 4 was a great insight on steps that teachers are mandated to take. Teaching is not just about bettering the students. It is a job. What comes with a job are goals, expectations and demands. Teaching is no different in that aspect. For some people, thinking about the stipulations that come along with an education career is intimidating. I find it challenging and exciting.

Understanding by Design is an approach to curricular development set forth in a series of book by educators Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe (Transforming Learning with New Technologies) There are three steps or “stages” involved with UBD and they include: Identifying desired results, determining acceptable evidence and planning learning experiences and instruction. This is a great guideline for teachers who may just be starting out and are looking for a little more structure to go off of. UBD is designed for a standards based curriculum. It is a process that helps avoid the common problems of treating the textbook as the curriculum rather than a resource, and activity-oriented teaching in which no clear priorities and purposes are apparent. (Understanding By Design ASCD) This is something I would want to do a little more research on especially when I get my own classroom. As much as I love creativity and the ability to test your own theories, this is exactly the kind of guidance I would love to have as a first time educator.

During a case study assignment that was previously completed in another class, expressed my feelings and opinions on standardized testing. This chapter fit right into the genre of my expression. New approaches to assessment is an imperative action in my opinion that should be addressed sooner rather than later. Within this section it gave examples on how different forms of assessment for further students understanding on information and skills students are required to possess. It also went on to express how we have taken “No Child Left Behind”, which was supposed to be a positive change in our academic integrity, and manipulated it into being a negative disciplinary strategy. “Tests are driving the curriculum instead of the curriculum driving the tests. (Transforming Learning with New Technologies) Reading through some articles that are pushing towards a new direction of standardized tests, there is a lot of discussion on revising the infrastructure on how schools are administering their curriculum. “Trend 10” from Core Education mentioned some things along the line of “schools planning ahead to ensure there is the proper infrastructure in place and access provided to the appropriate devices for all students.” (Trend 10: New Approaches to Assessment) This website was also very pro technology. According to the author, technology in education is the future. Schools need to prepare for this education curve or will be left behind and not keep up with the demands of educational requirements. Students need to be able to access their data in school management systems at all times and teachers need to be able to be insured that students are who they say they are. Identity authenticity is a major concern but schools need to be prepared with the correct technological equipment in order to move forward in today’s direction. We have miscalculated the direction in which standardized testing has taken up and we need to take control of the reigns and steer it towards a more productive and less damaging path.

Student performance rubrics are created to give students a concise visual as to what is expected out of them in an assignment. They are also a guidelines for teachers to utilize while grading multiple assignments from different groups/students. While some may be accustomed to creating these rubrics with a pencil and paper, technology has allowed these criteria demonstrations to be created and stored in a much simpler manner. Using Excel or Word through Microsoft, teachers can access different rubrics to different assignments, update, adjust and consult whenever they need. Rubrics are imperative to a curriculum. They provide guidance and structure and allow a teacher to enable students to work more independently. Grading according to an explicit and descriptive set of criteria that is designed to reflect the weighted importance of the objectives of the assignment helps ensure that the instructor’s grading standards don’t change over time. (Grading and Performance Rubrics) This form of written communication assures both students and the teachers that their performance grading is equal in standards.

This chapter was imperative to a young professional looking towards a career in education. It was directed more to the actuality of teaching and not just towards the emotional standpoints. Keeping on top of assignments, staying in the scope of the curriculum and learning about new and improved methods of assessment and standardized testing are all major aspects of a teacher’s career.

Resources:

Maloy, R. (2011). Transforming learning with new technologies. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

Membership. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2015.

Rubrics - Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation - Carnegie Mellon University. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2015.

Trend 10: New approaches to assessment. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2015. 

Blog Ch 9

     Chapter Nine was a good source of information for teachers and students trying to learn new ideas to use for learning in the classroom. There were a lot of examples and explanations for those looking to incorporate new and refreshing lesson plans into their curriculum while allowing children to express their creative and unique individuality. Using multimedia throughout a lesson plans opens the learning experience to new light. Allowing children to find themselves within different learning strategies not only helps them as students, but allows the educator to learn more about their pupils and their learning styles.

     Media Synergy refers to video, digital and print materials that are combined with face-to-face instruction to build powerful learning environments for students. (Transforming Learning With New Technologies) This includes many different forms of media from social to print, to broadcast all of which could be beneficial in a learning environment. Using media synergy in a classroom has benefits that allow students to keep up to date on recent events while also learning the different concepts behind publishing and exporting the information. According to Professor Don E. Schultz, “Synergy-thinking was driven by two approaches.. A) The added value of simultaneous media exposure and B) The extended impact of sequential media messages delivered by multiple media forms. (Media Synergy – The Missing Ingredient) I had heard of social media and the expansive impact it has on young people because of its immediate effect and exposure. I never thought about using these Medias together to create a media monster in a sense, allowing and interpreting information through the interaction of more than one agents. Students and teachers are participating in this new synergy era by participating and interacting in these different agents and using them as one educational cooperative interaction.

      With so many different sources and resources available some of the most basic initiatives can still be used to make a huge impact in a classroom setting. Using video in the classroom (or an online classroom) is a major source of individuality for students expressing themselves and their learning techniques. It is a source of creativity and peaks student interest in projects and assignments. These unique learning experiences exposes students to thousands of resources available at their fingertips and introduces them to an entirely new idea of expression and learning. One example of using videos within the classroom would be YouTube. YouTube has received a bad rap in some aspects because of its accessibility to anyone and whatever content they want to post. While it is regulated and most inappropriate content is removed, there is still some that is unsuitable for a classroom. The creators of YouTube have created an answer to this however. Youtube.edu is classroom friendly and suitable for students of all ages. Using resources such as YouTube and other video related sites is a great support system for students learning new concepts. It gives students and teacher so many different capabilities like pausing and rewinding if something isn’t clear. Or, the ability to turn off the sound or take away the picture depending on what angle your trying to teach the class.

     Watching videos is an amazing resource for students to learn in a new and unique refuge. If you wanted to take it a step farther however, why not give the students the ability to create the picture or video being analyzed. This is an engaging active learning resource that involves students in creating information and education tools. It also introduces new computer programs and editing software to students who may have never utilized them before. Creating movies and photos enables students to think outside the box of a typical assignment. They will have to use their creativity and brainstorming skills. According to an article published by PBS “The major difference between books and film is that visual images stimulate our perceptions directly” (Adaptation: From Novel to Film) Teachers enabling their students to participate in movie photography assignments can incorporate them into their curriculum throughout the year. While participating in these assignments students will also be working on their grammar, editing and publishing skills as well as learning new concepts introduced to them through the editing software’s or document learning.

Students in this day in age have such a wide variety of opportunities to learn new concepts and ideas. It is no longer about the pen and paper. Incorporating their technology skills with their academic skills gives them a wider range of opportunities for their futures. This was a great chapter on skill sets and curriculum activities that are available for teachers and students.

References:

Maloy, R. (2011). Transforming learning with new technologies. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

 Adaptation: From Novel to Film. (n.d.). Retrieved October 22, 2015. 

 

Digital Blog Post #F

      This chapter went more in depth with the strategies teachers can use to incorporate more communication among themselves and their students. I found it intriguing that we use many of these resources through out our course but I had never thought about using them in a younger class setting. I also witnessed some of the newer forms of communication and convenience for students through one of the resent observation days at a local high school. I really enjoyed Chapter 8 because of its relevance to my everyday life and the insight it gave me to when I become a teacher on my own. .
     There are so many forms of communication that are easily accessible in today's world. For some it is more convenient to pick up the phone and make a direct call. For others, email or texting are the preferred choice in communication. When I was growing up it was considered inappropriate or out of the norm to have communication with your teachers anytime after the school day. Thinking back on it, this could make things inconvenient when you had a question about an assignment because you had to wait until the following day to consult with them. Even then sometimes it still wasn't clear or you would need more time for explanation. With the availability today on the internet, communication between teachers, students and parents are not only considered normal, they are also extremely helpful and insightful. I hadn't realized how important our Canvas page was to me until reading this chapter, but I would be utterly lost without its structure and communication resources. These sources also allow teachers to further reach out to students by opening up the school day to longer hours, engaging students, sharing information with families, building learning communities, publishing student work and energizing student writing. (Transforming Learning With New Technologies) The Wiki sight we have been working on as a class is a perfect example of communication, building a community as a class, engaging students and extending school hours. That assignment has given me insight on the amount of opportunities I have using technology whether it be academic or professionally related. I think if younger students are introduced to different strategies and learning tools earlier in life, they will generate a better structure on problem solving and thinking outside the box. "Newer technologies such as computers and video conferencing are not necessarily better (or worse) for teaching or learning than older technologies...they are just different...The choice of technology should be driven by the needs of the learners and the context in which we are working, not by its novelty." (Technology, open learning and distance education)

Picture provided by:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1125774/

     Teachers today have different set of circumstances in which they can be creative within their teaching. Years ago, there was a lot of printed paper worksheets, workbooks and #2 pencils. Today, they are trying to cut back on the amount of paper used and increase the amount of student participation. Many teachers are looking towards creating blogs or websites in which they can fabricate their own e-classroom and decorate or design in the way they please. A lot of these websites have a list of educational links, the class syllabus and some personal information about the teacher if they wish to share. I think this is a fun way to get kids involved within the class. I have seen instances when students may be too shy to connect with a teacher and ask questions regarding assignments or due dates. With a website or blog, I think it would be undemanding for a student to touch base with the class and it set of standards, while also connecting with the teacher and feeling them out as a person. I think it is important for students to feel comfortable with their teacher. Comfort between a pupil and educator is a great way to open the lines of communication and understanding. Teaching Today gave a multitude of risks that can be associated with student blogging but followed it up with ways to prevent any unnecessary conduct. "Policies regarding the displaying of any student work must be adhered to strictly. Take the necessary steps to secure parental permission before using the blog in a participatory manner." (Teaching Today) 
     I found it amazing that Wiki's were such a huge contributor and benefactor in student creativity and participation. Having been participating in a group Wiki I find that it can be intriguing to try and create something well written and well fabricated. This chapter really opened my eyes to the affirmation of a Wiki's benefits for student learning. A standard Wiki is described in our book as "a collection of academic information and class notes related to specific curriculum frameworks." (Transforming Learning With New Technologies) An example of what a Wiki could be used for as a teacher would be creating a student study guide. Instead of using the regular PowerPoint presentation, a teacher could create a Wiki in which students could all interact with. They could edit their own answers and study based off what the teacher provides them with. This would eliminate the use of paper copies and enable students to access their study guides anywhere with internet access. It is also a great lesson on teaching the ways to avoid plagiarism and the correct forms of citation. This is a lesson that is taught through out a students career but I think it is helpful to see it done in a collaborative setting where adjustments and changes can be made need be. Also with a Wiki, students may be graded on their class participation and the amount of work and effort they put in to their own Wiki page. Not only do students participate with on another on group assignments, but they also participate with their teachers and educators on editing and making sure their assignments are factual and written in the correct format requested. 
     Chapter 8 gave up an insight on helpful communication strategies in which we can all use as educators to help engage students and their family members. It also went in depth on helping teachers reach out to their students in less quintessential ways by stepping out of the box and engaging in more creative and personal activities. I thought this was a great chapter and I learned concepts that I hope to use in my future profession. I also learned to never fear the unknown of the future. This class was intimidating at first because of its expectations. I had never done any of the assignments required and learning them was scary. I am now confident in a whole new set of skills I have acquired and am grateful for the time I have taken to learn them. 



     
Resources:

McKimm, J., Jollie, C., & Cantillon, P. (n.d.). Web based learning. Retrieved October 7, 2015.

Maloy, R. (2011). Transforming learning with new technologies. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

Using Blogs to Integrate Technology in the Classroom, Education Up Close, Teaching Today, Glencoe Online. (n.d.). Retrieved October 7, 2015. 

Blog Post #E

     I have always believed in the benefits of integrating technology into education. I was aware that with everything in life there are pros and cons but I have always been excited about the pros of technology in the classroom. This chapter gave me an opportunity to view some of the cons that can be associated with technological learning. Though it did not persuade me to jump ship on the thought of more technology in the curriculum, it did give me an understanding of some possible negatives, and some ideas on ways that teachers and educators could address and avoid them.
     The cardinal reason I was so intrigued by using technology as a learning source, was because of problem solving incorporated in the learning.  Problem solving was always a difficult concept for me. Sometimes I could look at a simple problem, and if it was segmented into different pieces, I could never get the pieces to fit together to finally get to the end result. Pencil and paper were my worst nightmare when it came to understanding math or statistical problems. It was almost as if the math problems were taunting me, laughing at the amount of times I had erased and rewritten the same problem and answer over and over. But problem solving with computers, opens an entire new world to creativity, solving strategies and the ability to change the direction of thinking when the problem or situation changes. Another positive aspect of computer problem solving is the immediate feedback and instruction provided when the student answers incorrectly. When completing math problems, a lot of times the student doesn't know if they are correct or incorrect until the following day when it is reviewed in class. And even then, they may not completely understand why they were incorrect. When completing problem solving activities online, there are activities that won't allow the student to progress until they master the skills at hand. Once they have accurately answered the questions provided, they can then move onto the next section. If the student is having difficulty and is answering incorrectly, the computer will automatically know how and why the student is incorrect. This information is immediately relayed to the student so they can correct the mistake, and continue with the problem correctly. Also, when completing these simulations online, they have an opportunity to see a wide variety of situations and scenarios. This gives them the opportunity to use quick thought changes and allows them an opportunity to be "quick on their feet" in terms of changing strategies and mind sets.

     Learning the difference in learners and the separate ways that they obtain knowledge was a very interesting chapter to me. What this chapter taught me however, was that there are separate sequences of learning, within those learning techniques.  Higher- order and lower-order thinking processes of thinking that are both significantly important in a child's education. Lower-order thinking is the very basic of interpretation and recollection of memorization. This kind of learning is done when a teacher gives their student's vocabulary words to memorize. Or when students are learning their times tables. These kinds of problems are stable, their answer will never change or alter. Higher-order thinking is instigated when students are exposed to a higher level of perspective learning. They will use more evaluation and comparison using higher-order thinking. An example of this would be writing literature or dialogue. Blooms taxonomy depicts the higher and lower orders of thinking into a pyramid structure. The two bottoms tiers of the pyramid consist of comprehension and knowledge. These two are on the bottom because they only require a lower-order of thinking. There is no evaluation or comparison involved in these processes. The top four tiers consist of application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. All four of these skills will help in preparing the student for real life situations. While lower-order skills are extremely important for memorization and cognitive ability, it is the higher-order skills that will allow the students to find multiple solutions to a problem instead of just one. (Blooms Taxonomy)
     There are many ways in which educators could integrate technology into education. I think the biggest controversy parents have with this is when teachers integrate computer games as resources for learning. This is where I have some mixed feelings towards the subject. Computer games have some amazing results as far as allowing students to initialize those higher-order learning skills. Everything from simple multiplication, to highly interactive creativity can be utilized with these "games". Gramification is a term I had never heard before, but is described in our text as "application of game elements to non-gaming situations, often to motivate or influence behavior". (Transforming Learning With New Technologies)  This means that students are using lessons learned through these educational computer games, and putting them to use in actual scenarios. A big advantage to using the games as an educational tool is that there is instantaneous feedback to the students answers/actions. The computer doesn't have to wait to grade or observe the student. They are rewarded when correct and encouraged when incorrect. A downfall to using games as a learning tool is that effects it may have other than learning. Students sometimes get consumed in the games. Their competitive natures come out, they get excited about their scores and they loose the reasoning behind the game to begin with, to learn. There was a quote in out book that stated, "Playing the game can override the importance of academic material when students become more concerned with winning and loosing rather than learning." (Transforming Learning With New Technologies) I think this can be monitored however by being active within the child's game play. Keeping updated in their experiences and accomplishments can help in centering the student around the importance of the game and understanding its purpose.
      There were so many new concepts in this chapter that really caught my attention. I still stand behind the idea of technology in the classroom. I think it is an experience that children should be exposed to because of the importance it will have in their adult lives. Understanding the concepts of learning, how children learn, the type of learning they are experiencing and making sure they aren't getting carried away with the wrong concepts are all boundaries that educators can have in preventing students from using technology incorrectly. Overall I learned a tremendous amount from this chapter and I think it was a great insider on some of the cons that can be associated with technology. This allowed me to open my mind to the other side of things and prepared me with solutions for the situations. Much like computer games might do for a child in the classroom!

References:

 Maloy, R. (2011). Transforming learning with new technologies. Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. 

 Lower Order Thinking - Bloom's Taxonomy. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2015. 

   

Digital Blog Post #D

     This chapter gave me an opportunity to look at technology in a different sense. I have known that the internet has extensive advantages that students and teachers can access, but to learn different ways to use these advantages and the statistics behind student participation was a mind blowing experience. Technology today is a different language in and of itself. To be able to use and understand technology, one must know the different rules and phrases to be able to correctly utilize the internet and become fluent in its domains. But in order for students to learn and become comfortable with the language of technology, they must be taught. If the teacher isn't up to date on these concepts, the student will miss out on an incredibly important lesson of utilizing the internet to benefit them and their education.

     When I was a student in high school, cell phones were a constant battle between teachers and students. If ever caught with a cell phones, they were either taken away and held until the students parent could come pick it up, or the student was assigned in school suspension for a day. There is something about the identity students have with their cell phones that draws them to constantly accessing and utilizing them. Once I was in college, we as students were allowed a little more freedom with our cell phones. One teacher let us use them during a math test proving the different tools available to us via internet. But the struggle between teachers and cell phones rages on. But what if this didn't have to be a struggle any longer? I think the main problem teachers have with cell phones is the withdrawal of student attention. They are focused on their phones instead of the lesson. But there has been studies proving that when technology is utilized within the lesson, students prove to have higher levels of engagement and academic performance (Transforming Learning with New Technologies) According to our text book, 40% OF 1,200 e-reader buyers were spending more time reading now than they had before with print books. (Transforming Learning with New Technologies) If children are more captivated by using e-books are apposed to paper prints, I don't think there is a reason why we shouldn't allow them to utilize that resource. For years we have struggled with trying to get our children to be more enamored and excited about reading. We want them to WANT to participate in reading for fun. With new e-books available, we are enabling reading to be fun and intriguing for children. Another argument would be that when children get into the older grade levels such as high school and college, they are excited to know and understand the general basics of using technology as a learning resource. How to search for information and using that information to write an informative paper is a major assignment in almost every high school and college level class. If we could teach our children how to not only search for information, but how to do it in a more quick and effective manner, I think it will significantly help them in succeeding through out their academic careers.



     According to Wikipedia, language fluency is the degree to which one is fluent in a language. (Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia) This being said I think it is important to consider technology and the internet to have a language all of their own. In order to understand the concepts of the internet, you must understand its language. How to search, upload and post are all processes that add up to make a technological language. These processes are like sentences in a paragraph if you will. It is important for teachers to be fluent in the language of technology for they are going to be the educators to the students and to one another. The internet has its own set of rules and guidelines in order to be successful. With today's advancements, it couldn't be more easy to learn and adapt to the new learning concepts. But there are still many who look at a computer with a touch of distaste. They like the old fashioned pencil and paper. They don't think it necessary to learn this new day in age way of learning, through technology. But the truth of it is, this is the way the world is moving. In the direction of technology, simplicity and electronics. It is important for our students to be well attuned with these tools because it is their entire future. All through school, their careers and even their personal lives, everything is going to be connected through the internet and technology. I think it is important to give the children of today the opportunity to get a head start on their future and be equipped with the tools to succeed in tomorrow. According to our textbook, "Students develop fluency not by doing exercises in books, worksheets, or multiple choice tests, but by performing important-to-the-learner, technology based activities in real world settings, in which their actions and choices have meaningful consequences." (Transforming Learning With New Technologies) What better way to teach them the language of technology, then to interact them with it?
Observation Hours on PhotoPeach    
The internet provides hundreds of apps and websites that make students and teachers lives more simple and organized. Microsoft offers a variety of options that allow students to create and organize their own set of notes, guidelines, schedules and much more. Teachers can utilize the same tools to create rubrics, curriculum, timelines and itineraries. What is better than the convenience of these tools is that they are absolutely free. There is no need to go to the store and spend money on planners and agendas, notebooks and loose leaf paper. While those things will still be necessary, the total amount needed will be significantly reduced.   These pros are all fantastic, if utilized.This was an amazing concept to me. For years I wrote hundreds of thousands of words on paper and in notebooks, taking down notes, word after word, to help me study and understand the chapter being reviewed. To think that students never have to have another miserable hand cramp from pressing down on your pencil too hard for too long! And while some of these new concepts were around and being developed when I was in high school, I never learned or even heard about all the different options it provided for studying. I think it so amazing that students can help themselves to the endless amount of options provided to them through something they can't seem to get enough of...technology.
     This week was a great read. I enjoyed learning some new things like the different note taking options and the concepts of technology being it's own "language". I couldn't agree more with the text that teachers need to be equipped with the knowledge of these new up to date technology based learning strategies and I think this chapter had a lot of great points about the benefits it would behold for children in the future.


References:

 Fluency. (2015, September 7). Retrieved September 24, 2015.

Maloy, R. (2011). Teaching Information Literacy and Digital Citizenship. In Transforming learning with new technologies. Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. 

   
   
   

Digital Blog Post # C

     I find it amazing how many different opinions and theories there are regarding learning and the concepts of communication. I had touched base on all of these different theories in a Sociology class that I had taken and was always fascinated with how they all seemed to interlace among one another. Kinesthetic learning is in touch with active learning and active learning is in touch with Cognitivism. In all of these theories and opinions, technology can be used to better educate and help in the learning processes.
     Two concepts that caught my attention were the teacher-centered and student-centered learning approached. I myself tend to lean more towards the student-centered learning approach. It is important for me to be involved and active within a lesson in order for me to obtain any knowledge or concept of the information being taught. As a student, I learn more easily if I can collate situations within the lesson to actual events within my life. This system helps me to remember and asses a situation more accurately. However, in the teacher- centered approach, it says "The goal of the teacher is to "instruct" in the most efficient and effective ways possible so that the students will learn the information." (Transforming Learning with New Technologies.) In the student centered approach, the "goal of the teacher is to "create" situations in which students participate in minds-on problem solving and thoughtful reflection and academic experiences." (Transforming Learning with New Technologies.) What if teachers created these situations while also instructing efficiently and effectively? Which approach would this be considered? And in which theory would this be instilled? 

     The second concept that stood out to me was the online problem-solving section. Now that I work full time and it is primarily up to me to run a front office, I see how the early building blocks of problem solving are so important. Being able to take on a problem head on a think through what the solution will be is a skill some don't have, but is imperative to being successful in a surplus of careers. The concept of technology ruling our everyday lives is a very real reality and is not going to change anytime in the near future. Having our children today, learn how to us technology in their futures, is an advantage for them that is immense. There is a superabundance of "games" online that allow children to utilize the fun of interactive activities while challenging their logical thinking and reasoning abilities. In a journal written by Joseph McCade, "Technology education changes problem solving from simply a means to an end into the end itself. Rather than use problem solving to produce a product, the product becomes one of many ways to teach problem solving."(Problem Solving: Much More Than Just Design) I think this is a brilliant way of saying that problem solving is a revolving door to the future. There are always going to be barriers and building blocks to succeeding. If you overcome one of those barriers, use it as a reinforcement to overcome the other obstacles standing in your way.  Tackk Poster
     A concept that I was not familiar with was the different literacies that are required within some career choices. There are multiple literacies judged and analyzed within job applicant to see if they have what it takes to perform professionally. Digital literacy, media literacy, internet literacy, information literacy and visual literacy are all aspects that people should be trained on in order to be successful. They all are different in that they all have different skills associated with them. Media literacy is different than digital literacy because students learn how to think critically about their experiences in media while digital is a multidimensional concept. A good example of visual literacy would be creating a cork board on Lino!
     I genuinely enjoyed reading this section. There were so many concepts that I had never taken into consideration before. I had know idea that there were so many different pieces towards technological literacy or that there were even different theories on learning such as teacher-centered or student-centered. I have always thought critical thinking was an important skill. But to learn all the unique ways to practice and sharpen those skills is a real game changer!

References:

Joseph McCade. Problem Solving: Much More Than Just Design. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/v2n1/pdf/mccade.pdf

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.


"PLTW Launch: Engaging Students' Natural Curiosity Through Problem-Based Learning and Technology." YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Sept. 2015.

Digital Blog Post #B - Chapter 2

This was an interesting chapter for me because it addressed many of the questions I was starting to ponder. For example, what about those teachers that don't have easy access to technology to be used in the classroom? What if technology cannot fit into the curriculum that teachers are required to teach? Chapter two helped me peace together some of my own answers and clarified others that I wasn't one hundred percent certain on. There were also many concepts that caught my attention while I was reading through. Having graduated in 2010 I was starting to see an integration into technology in the classroom but it wasn't something that was school wide or wasn't frequently used. I love that the very beginning of this chapter states that a career in teaching is a career that will always be appreciated and that "it is a career that matters to everyone.." (Transforming Learning With New Technologies)

The first concept that jumped out at me was that students tend to teach as they were taught. That statement struck me as such an oxymoron. We live our lives as educators teaching students so they can grow up to succeed. Yet going into the education field, we are now being told that it is not necessarily correct to teach, as you were once taught. What a concept to wrap your head around! What I took away from this was not just to teach students a specific concept or process, but to teach them multiple. If you teach them multiple ways of doing things, you are also teaching them to adapt to different situations. If they are taught to adapt to different situations, than as their lives go on, and things begin to advance (as technology always will) they will have the skill and mind set to grow and change with it. This is what a lot of educators today lack in their teaching methods. They were brought up in a time where everything was taught in the same monochromatic manner. For example, the desks are arranged in nice neat rows with the professor up front giving a lecture or presentation. Therefore, when they completed their own education and became an educator themselves, that was the only way they knew how to teach. Students today need to be taught to be flexible with learning new skills and strategies. If we have learned anything from the past, it is that the future is not set in stone. So why have a teaching method that is?

The second concept that stuck in my brain were the statistics used regarding student drop out rates.Our book states that "Nationwide, about 75% of entering first-year students, graduate high school four years later." (Transforming Learning With New Technologies) That means that 25% of first-year students do NOT graduate high school four years later. 25% is a huge number in my opinion. A number that should be significantly lower. According to an article written by the Huffington Post "the national drop out rate was 7% in 2011". This is still lower than is was in 1990 when the drop out rate was averaged at 12%. When asked why the students were dropping out, a large portion of them blamed being bored and not being engaged or stimulated. I know from self experience that high school was torture for kids that are kinesthetic learners. Being one myself, it is hard to sit through an hour long class while staring at a teacher giving a lecture. I walked away from those classes none the wiser on the subject at hand and I was exhausted from sitting in that classroom listening to a monotone voice drone on about a subject I couldn't care less about. The image below is a perfect example of how I, and many other kinesthetic learners feel towards understanding new concepts. As sad as it is to say, I can see why these kids are dropping out from being under stimulated. They want to do things that make them feel accomplished and proud of themselves. Listening to lectures and taking notes does not give most students those feelings.  This chapter showed a spectacular reason behind using technology in class. Technology is such a huge part of our youths everyday life. They not only use it for school, but for personal interaction. This is something that engages them. If you can take something that students are using less for academics and more for personal reasons and incorporate it into their curriculum, they are going to be more interested in the task they are performing. Students enjoy using technology. Take that enjoyment and put it towards teaching them something. Engage them in a way that they understand and appreciate. I think this is a great start to lowering that 7% drop out rate. 

The third concept that I found interesting kind of tied everything together for me. The  digital disconnect today has left students frustrated and uninterested. While teachers are accustomed to reading through a text book, students are more interested in searching the internet for the answer. Teachers are associated with meeting a study group face to face while students are happier doing so virtually. While many fight the issue of whether face to face contact is more essential than online, the fact is most students today are doing so. They feel comfortable with it and the end result is that it is the way the world is moving. I think the real issue, is that the teachers aren't as educated as the students when it comes to virtual learning. While many students take advantage of things such as social networks, teachers are still considering those things "distractions". But what if we as educators could use those "distractions" to our advantage. Students could use social media sites as means of communication for group projects with classmates. With all of the capability a smart phone has, why use is for just talking and texting? Teachers could utilize a smartphone to do so much more such as having students download learning games or e-texts. Our book uses the statistic that 94% of students use technology to work on assignments at home, even though less than half of their teachers (46%) give homework that requires the use of computers, the Internet or other technologies. (Transforming Learning With New Technologies) If more teachers utilized the information that their students were giving them, I think they would get a better feedback as far as interaction and participation. 

This chapter was a lot of fun to read through. Emotionally, I could relate to a lot of the issues it described and I think that is important in understanding the topics discussed. Being from a younger generation, I can understand the wants and needs of a technologically advanced student. 

Bibliography: 

     Lynch, Ed.D. Matthew. "Is the U.S. Dropout Rate Really a Crisis?" The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2015.

    Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.