Final Reflection

As we conclude this class, I am excited to have a few more

technology tools to throw into my toolbox!

 

 

 

 

I think the most challenging thing for me with this course was the time it took to take large concepts into concise presentations using the best technology resource for the activity.  I am a very organized person, but I see the pressures of working multi-dimensionally and the need for scoring guides and rubrics to shape the process as well as help with spending time wisely.  It can be very easy to get caught up in getting the just the right graphic, audio, video, etc., when the focus needs to be on the whole project, what is expected, and what resources are available.

 

As a planner, I would have felt better having the assignment descriptions prior to the week that we worked on them.  Sometimes I need extra time to research and read about new resources to feel comfortable with them.  While I think that in each of my courses so far it would have been great to explore these new tools over more time, I understand the concept of the online courses.  The best part of these classes is the process of learning alongside peers.  I look forward to sharing even more and learning new concepts with my students.

Infographic... Spending Time

 

After looking through several generators, I chose to try Piktochart to create my infographic.  I did have to create an account, but it only required a username and password.  It was very easy to use and had enough themes and options to make it as personalized as you wanted within the theme.

This week I polled my classes (6th, 7th, & 8th graders) to see how they spent their time.  They had options between art, excercise, reading, faith development, watching television, playing video games, doing chores, exercising or playing sports, spending time with family, homework & school activities, and spending time with friends.  Although, I am not surprised by the numbers leading the way in television, video games and exercise/sports, I found it interesting that television watching was the only category in which every participant had 1 or more hours.  I guess "everyone is doing it."

This was a fun project!  I love being able to weave creativity and analysis together!

 

 

I can definitely see how creating an infographic could be used as a summative or assessment tool.  In order to complete the graphic above, I had to decide a topic, survey, graph, interpret, calculate, organize, research, cite resources, and be creative, which shows so much more than a typical test.  This sure does beat having to do a poster, because I can store, review, share, edit and reuse without the worries of storing and ruining a poster board.

Automated Infographic

So, I was so intrigued by the infographic project that I jumped on the search engine and surfed around for inspiration.  I found links to several generators.  This one in particular has 5 infographic generators:  http://www.pricenfees.com/top-5-infographic-generation-websites.html.  I also discovered Intel's What About Me? A Picture of My Digital Life, which allows  you to "explore your passions and learn what makes you tick.  Create an infographic of your digital life and become inspired by the people you know, the things you see, and the experiences you have online.
You never know what you might discover."  Like I really need to capture how I waste my time in social media... but I did!

 

 

I plan on generating my own information by taking a poll at school.  I look forward to the creative process of actually making my own infographic!

My digital story is a look into my family as we pass on the love of reading and storytelling throughout the generations.  The most challenging part of storytelling is being given a time limit... but it was possible!

 

 

 

I created my story in Photostory 3.  I think that if I were to work with digital storytelling in the classroom, I would use this software.  Having worked with a program like Roxio, Photostory 3 was a wonderful program that I think uses just the right amount of personalizing for a classroom setting, and doesn't take up too much memory.  It is limited with the amount of ways you can add to your story.  For example, I would have prefered to have a collage or different ways of transitioning, but you had to choose from what was provided.  For an introductory project, having these boundaries or limitations as part of the software would really help students focus on the storytelling rather than adding too many extras to distract from its purpose.

Learn More About Plagiarism!

 

Fair Use?

What's fair?  As teachers, we may try to instill in our students what is fair isn't always equal, but what is needed to make each person successful.   I think we can stretch this to fair use for copyrighted materials... what we think as educators is fair, may not be appropriate use of copyrighted information.  In fact, I think that educators are the worst offenders of copyright infringement and plagiarism under the guise of using resources for educational purposes.

We may know that we need to educate and lead by example, but modeling ethical behaviors with handouts and online resources isn't always easy.  In order for our students to better understand citing resources and respecting others' work, we must always include it in our own teaching!  When using Internet resources in lessons, it is always important to verbalize the source and provide written documentation of the source as a visualization.  This can also be a part of using PowerPoint, videos, and other documents.  Students have to see it in action to understand it needs to be a part of their own writing and reporting.

Citations and plagiarism and 'character' go hand in hand... in hand.  With the Internet I can understand how "students tend to believe the information available on the Internet is freely available for any use." (Pearson, P. 136)  When it comes down to it, students need to learn how to respect information that is not their own, just as we teach them character values about respecting people and property.  Fair use may have shifting guidelines with changing technology, but we have to continue modeling and teaching appropriate uses of resources.

 

 

A great collection of resources for anti-plagiarism can be found at http://www.djusd.k12.ca.us/harper/jboston/PlagiarismResources.htm

Digital Storytelling Process

Wow, digital storytelling has many more options that I originally thought!  I have used presentation tools such as Power Point and Roxio, yet I haven't thought of the process as digital storytelling.

I have really been challenged by this process because it has more than two dimensions.  Story telling traditionally has words and pictures with a reader/storyteller.  But, when you add in the many digital resources available it becomes a multi-dimensional presentation that can include text, music, voice/audio, pictures, and video that can deeply influence the mood and setting.

With the larger amount of options I have felt overwhelmed with how to focus and narrow down the ideas I have to share.  With a brain that wants to see and do everything at one time, I have found that working backwards in my head has helped, even though eventually I have to follow the steps for storytelling/writing presented.

The best part is that I have been able to learn another aspect of how to teach a big concept by breaking it down into parts and processes.  As a math teacher, I teach in sequences and steps and processes with rules to follow, and creating this story has helped me see even more how math and reading/writing/literacy are connected.

Technology Opportunities

After reading through chapter 4 & 5, there was one concept that really stood out to me... TIME.  Whether it be teaching writing using technology, implementing Big6 problem solving, ensuring internet safety, or incorporating copyright & fair use instruction, it takes more time initially than traditionally teaching.  Using digital resources to enhance learning brings with it more opportunities to learn and be challenged, both as a teacher and student.  The time spent including and educating about digital resources is an all encompassing learning opportunity... new ways of learning and strategizing are utilized, while students are becoming "college and career ready" as we push toward meeting Common Core goals.


What opportunities for sharing through technology are being used among teachers in your district?
In the district I am currently working for, Moodle is used for teacher websites, professional development, assessment collaboration and technology education.  I don't think it is being utilized by staff to its fullest potential.  I am not sure if this is because of the need for training or willingness to make it a priority.  Teachers have the ability to create their own website and include all the bells and whistles we have been working on, like web 2.0's.  We also have Facebook for announcements and community participation.

 
In your favorite professional organizations?
I am sure the most appropriate answer for this would be BlackBoard.  I love that MoBap has an online program that I can access from anywhere yet still have some connection to virtual conversation and collaboration with peers through its sharing technology.  But I have to say, as a sports mom, I have been thrilled with a program called GameChanger.  I guess you can call it an online professional organization.  I use this program to keep stats for baseball and it has a great feature that allows families to follow the feed, connect to and comment on Facebook or Twitter, embed widgets into the team website, and more.

How are they being used among students?
Students and families are able to view so much information regarding schools, policies, lunch info and more on the website and through Moodle.  Students can log in to Moodle to view teacher webpages, look for daily assignments and connect to approved and recommended links.  It is a wonderful opportunity for students to stay connected in a safe environment.  My own children have utilized this resource to find links for educational 'fun' and technology homework on sites like Kerpoof and Club Penguin.

Digital Storyboarding Resource

As I have been researching ways for organizing my digital story, I have come across some resources that I found helpful.  I thought I would share...

DigiTales:  The Art of Telling Digital Stories

Story Board Template: Multi Media Story Board

Happy story telling!

Literacy Integration or Immersion?

Having a math background, it may seem as though including literacy is the extra worksheet or the challenge question at the end of a section.  When truly, everything we teach, whether intended or not, has an aspect of literacy.

 

In the initial video in the course, I so enjoyed the idea that literacy can be defined in different ways and in different contexts.  I often hear about being "computer" or "technology" literate.  Or back in the day, my mother was "keypunch literate."  (I love dating myself and my wisdom, and I don't really feel that old ;0)  The word takes on more meaning and has much depth beyond just reading and writing.  How many ways can you think of yourself being literate?

For example, just today I was tutoring a student in pre-algebra and we were covering math properties.  Whenever we look at words that we are supposed to translate into math, I take them through the process of understanding the word first.  For the word 'commutative,' we first had to talk about the pronunciation.  We then looked at the root word and discussed what 'commute' meant.  When she didn't know, I directed her to a resource that would help her find its meaning.  Then I had her give me an example of the word commute by using it in a sentence.  We then drew pictures around numbers to associate the numbers with the word and its meaning - they can move and still give the same answer.  We took the example and translated it one more time... to variables.  So, we went from words, to pictures, to numbers, to letters - full circle!  And then, we went through the same process to connect to the word 'associative!'

And to add to that, we explored the online resources that support her textook (something I think too many teachers overlook).  I showed her how to search for her book, and she was able to save the link to her homepage on her ipad.  We highlighted some of the tools I wanted her to be aware of, including the video tutorials and section quizzes for extra practice.  I also showed her mother so that she was aware of the tool and could be a resource in promoting extra practice throughout the week.  I am a big fan of video tutorials because it is one more way that students can seek out knowledge if they are struggling or need reinforcement or reminders.  So, we also explored technology literacy to support her math instruction and learning!

 

I can't say that there's one right activity or way of ensuring literacy in the classroom, because a classroom needs to be immersed in literacy regardless of content area.  All classrooms can include strategies such as organizers, text marking, pictures, peer review, paired reading, note-taking strategies, audio & visual cues, and more!  As educators, we all need to provide depth to the language we use, whether in letters or symbols.

Chapter 2

There are so many type of tools to choose from when it comes to enhancing literacy, and learning in general, when it comes to online resources.  There are several sources for educational activities that I have used myself, with students, and my own children.  I have found that incorporating technology gets us closer to reaching the top of Bloom's mountain!

 

Although, I really like the newer looks of Bloom's Taxonomy on the free teacher resources page at www.learningtoday.com...

 

 

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In reading Chapter 2, I realized that much of what I use as an educator falls into the educational or visualization & multimedia...


EDUCATIONAL:  Currently, our students use the Read 180 program in our classroom that is adaptive to each user.  It has several different modules that we use.  SRI (to determine reading level), Read180 (for instruction and to practice reading skills with adaptive software), and Reading Counts (assessment program for level appropriate books).  You can check out more at http://www.scholastic.com/home/.  The disadvantage to this program is that there is not a free version - it costs!

The following sites are wonderful tools to enhance literacy across content areas...

VISUALIZATION & MULTIMEDIA:  Make Belief Comix was a fun exploration in connecting literacy and numeracy!  I experimented with making math word problems to see how this might work in a math classroom.  I have not been able to implement such an idea yet, but what a wonderful way to take knowledge and display what you have learned!  It is very easy to set up, but can be challenging if you want to save it to use for different purposes.

EDUCATIONAL:  Khan Academy is a fascinating tool where you can "learn almost anything for free."  It's subject matter covers math, science, finance & economics, computer science, humanities and test prep.  The site provides tutorials, practice, adaptive instruction and practice, as well as providing a format in which students can earn points for their skills.  A school I have subbed long term with is using this as a supplement to regular instruction.  It is great when your school is already using Google for education to connect with this site.  Teachers can track a students progress and see EVERYTHING a student does, including the time it takes to solve problems, concepts mastered and those still in progress, how much time is spent practicing, and more.  The only drawback to this program is that it does not yet encompass all content areas.


EDUCATIONAL:  TVO Kids is fun tool that includes a homework page in which students can play instructional games.  This site is not adaptive to the learner, so it is limited as to the activities and ages.  TVO is intended for children ages 2-11.  This site seems a bit chaotic, and isn't just for educational value.  The pages that are educational offer some fun ways to explore different concepts.


VISUALIZATION & MULTIMEDIA:  When I was in Applications of Technology, I learned about Prezi.  It was quite ironic that as I was learning about it in class, my 5th grade son was able to show me his own project he completed for computer class at school.  It is every bit of a powerpoint to the nth degree!  The one complaint I have about this site is that I have had difficulties sharing the file.

Wikis

It's challenging for me to only focus on literacy in the reading and writing arena.  As a math teacher, I also think 'numeracy' when connecting to literacy.  Now that we are diving into Common Core Standards, it is imperative to include literacy in all content areas.  As we ready our students for "college and career," how we teach with and use technology is integral to our future.

Wikis are tools where students and professionals are able to collaborate and edit online content.  They are an interactive place for videos, lessons, images, web 2.0's, links, and more.  Users can contribute and edit from any place they are able access the site online.

There are two types of wikis that I have seen most often.  One for classroom collaboration and one for professional collaboration...

I found a classroom wiki that I found to be very interesting (http://jabernethy.wikispaces.com/Classroom+Pets).  Mrs. Abernethy includes blogs for students to give reviews (movie vs. books), share summaries and commentary using Storybird, Animoto, Voki's and more!  This 21st century classroom shows how students collaborate and connect in very creative ways.  I can see the work that the students have put into their responses in more than just linear writing, which allows students to connect to their reading, writing, understanding and communicating more richly.  I found their collaboration and sharing of information inspiring.  The site is chock full of blogs, student pages, wikis, etc.

The professional development wiki, http://yukon-education-mathematics.wikispaces.com/Literacy, is a connection between literacy and numeracy, with a focus on balanced literacy across content areas.

 

I appreciate the opportunity to be able to share resources related to literacy in so many areas.  This wiki provides collaboration with events, learning objectives, differentiated instruction, and professional development.  There are workshops, attachments, assessments, coaching, podcasts, seminars,etc.  The professional site seems much more of a resource than it is a collaboration as compared to the classroom site above.  They are both valuable to the users in different ways. One is a conglomerate of resources that can be edited by the community and the other a community of shared projects and activities.


Good sites to visit for wiki inclusion ideas...
50 Ways to Use Wikis in the Classroom
Using Wikis in the Math Classroom

Chapter 1

Collaboration!  That's what it's all about!  Technology takes collaboration, and collaboration means there is a balance of power.  I think the best part of digital resources is learning right along with your students.  The reading this week reinforced the idea that no matter how limited or plentiful your resources are, there is tremendous appeal to using technology in instruction.  In the classroom snapshot, there was an increase in motivation and collaboration when Kim Buie chose to introduce a new way of writing stories by partnering with older students and computers.

I certainly wasn't thinking 'literacy' when I was creating a blog, but the idea of learning something new technologically was motivating.  After reading further about Student and Teacher Blogging that Succeeds  and Learning about Blogs FOR Your Students, I was blown away at the connections made between writing and reading, as well as the motivation to become a better reader and writer because of the global environment.  Even after posting this, I continue to go back and evaluate what I have written so that it makes sense and uses correct grammar and spelling because I know that classmates, and maybe even strangers in the web world, will be viewing and critiquing what I put here.

In the world of constructivism, I learned that blogging is a wonderful way to reflect on your learning and better understand your own thinking.  Blogs allow us to interact with each other in ways that can help us improve our literacy.  It makes sense that teachers have made so many provisions to 'teach' using differentiation, but what an amazing opportunity to differentiate your own learning.  Blogs allow us to include graphics, links, videos, and audio that connect our thoughts and provide student-centered learning opportunities that engage each author to utilize varied forms of communication.

I absolutely love the graphic created by Dean Shareski about this connective literacy:

Welcome to my blog!

What a wonderful thing technology has become, and will be!  I have loved becoming part of MoBap and learned so much in Applications of Technology.  One of my favorite tools that I use on a daily basis is Symbaloo.  If you are looking for a math or professional development page, come visit me at http://www.symbaloo.com/profile/mrsa.