Blogfolio

Blogfolio:

1. Intro Video- Upon entering IT 365 the first day, we were able to take part in an activity that met NETS-T standard II, which is to “design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments.” By filming each other on phones and uploading them to our new blogs, we were “incorporating contemporary tools.” This, in turn, promoted “student learning and creativity.” The entire exercise jumpstarted the class into the mass of new technologies it would soon become, and it automatically taught us, students, new ways to express ourselves online. This assignment taught me the effect a video can have. It is much more convincing and entertaining to watch a video of one physically saying the things he/she could just as easily have typed. The main problem I encountered with this introduction video was what exactly should be said to introduce myself. I found myself running out of things to say towards the end of the video, and this made me deeply consider what sorts of things people would be interested to know about me. I solved the problem by picturing my future class of second graders on their first day of school. What do they need to know about me? I will integrate the knowledge of the introduction video by answering this very question. It is important to give your class just enough information about yourself while not boring them, which is what this assignment ultimately taught me.
2. TED Videos- The TED videos watched in class could not better be summed up than by NETS-T standard V, which is to “engage in professional growth and leadership.” Every teacher we watched speak through TED offered nothing but advice and constructive criticisms to help out the modern teaching community. Not only does this assist in the “professional growth” of current and aspiring teachers, but it also exemplifies the “professional leadership” of those strong teachers that speak on TED. Every sub-standard listed in standard V compliments the extraordinary speakers we witnessed in class through TED (“participate in local and global learning communities,” “exhibit leadership,” “evaluate and reflect on current research,” and “contribute to the teaching profession”). Embarrassingly, the thing I learned from this assignment was simply that TED offered so much for teachers. I had briefly heard of the program, but had no idea that teacher speakers were featured on the talks as well. The only problem I encountered with TED is the speakers’ content. These speakers are entitled to their opinion, but that does not necessarily have to be accepted. That is not to say that I disagreed with any of the speakers we watched in class, simply that every speakers’ views are not going to align perfectly with mine. I simply solved this problem by considering whether or not the matters they spoke on should/would be implemented in my own classroom. If the answer was no, I respected their opinion the same but did not plan to use the knowledge in my classroom. I will integrate the knowledge of TED in my classroom as a teacher through regularly watching the teachers speak. So many different opinions are offered through this program that can be used to enrich the classroom and provide teachers with many dimensions to learn from.
3. Concept Map- The production of the concept map through Inspiration reflected the principles aligned in the NETS-T standard II. This standard seeks to “devlop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals.” This assignment forced us, students, to do just this. We were free to choose our own lesson plan (as long as it aligned with the Common Core principles) in order to explore our “individual curiosities.” By setting up this lesson plan through Inspiration, we developed “digital-age learning experiences” that ultimately produced our own educational goals for our future classrooms. The assignment was extremely beneficial in shaping our minds as teachers while simultaneously giving us the freedom to do so in our own way. This assignment taught me a lot about the physical implementation of the Common Core. Though I had heard of the initiative, I had never thought of how I planned to incorporate it into lesson plans. The concept map assignment threw me into the process and resulted in my learning exactly how to align lessons to the Common Core. The problem I encountered was the one that was expected: how to create a lesson plan for a second grade classroom that held up to the high aspirations of the Common Core. I solved this problem through dissecting the Common Core Standards and simplifying them in order for them to fit a second grade assignment. This knowledge will be integrated into my future teaching in the most obvious of ways, seeing as Common Core is something I will be working with nonstop. However, I will also utilize the Inspiration tool (or some other form of concept map) in order to organize my thoughts and lessons both visually and contextually.
4. DoNotTrackMe- Downloading the DoNotTrackMe download was a perfect reinforcement of NETS-T standard IV, which seeks to “promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility.” This assignment caused all of the students of IT 365 to become aware of how closely our Internet usage is monitored on certain websites. Prior of downloading the software, we were just informed that Google monitors our searches in order to better market us. In the same way, websites monitor what we do on their sites in order to better market us with the ads that are displayed on the pages. The activity clearly brought light to the fact that we need to partake in safe internet searching and research practices. The DoNotTrackMe download does just this by monitoring and blocking websites that are tracking your searching. It even offers the capability of seeing how many and which specific websites are being blocked. From this exercise I learned that nothing online is private. I was clueless to the fact that my Google searches are being monitored so the Google can better sell me off to other online companies. I am pleased to say that I encountered no problems with DoNotTrackMe and continue to use it. I have enjoyed seeing that some sites are being blocked and that I am doing something to prevent getting tracked. This experience is extremely beneficial to the world of teaching, where hundreds of young students will now be exposed to trackers. As a teacher, I would ask permission to get all of the students’ technological devices synced with the DoNotTrackMe so that they will not be marketed while in the learning setting.
5. Augmented Reality- The augmented reality app experience was one that exemplified NETS-T standard I perfectly. This standard is to “facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity” with a heavy emphasis on “virtual environments.” The beauty of the augmented reality apps is that they provide a virtual environment that allows anyone to obtain information about objects that are directly in front of them. The article we read even stated how you are able to scan objects that sit in front of you and learn information about them by clicking on tabs located on the app. In the version I downloaded, I was able to scan labels and take pictures of objects in order to learn their origin, price, scientific name, etc. The augmented reality apps do enhance students’ creativity because they give the kids the opportunity to learn independently. They also offer a great way to broaden technological skills by offering the virtual environment. This assignment spurred my thinking on the importance of a student’s independent learning. Kids are more likely to learn when they are allowed creative freedom and a hands-on interaction. The app itself, however, caused minor problems. It seems that the free version of the augmented reality app that I downloaded was not totally perfected. It was very difficult to focus in on an object and get the app to pick up its description. I solved this problem by downloading other augmented reality applications, but found similar glitches in each of these. The knowledge I obtained from this assignment, however, will be integrated into my teaching through the iPads. If students can master this application in the classroom, it will spur their curiosity to learn at home. They will be able to utilize the augmented reality app towards broadening their learning tools.
6. Voki- The creation of the Voki avatar directly depicted the NETS-T standard I, which is to “facilitate and inspire learning and creativity.” This standard focuses on both “face-to-face and virtual environments.” The Voki website allows for a virtual teacher to speak to the parent and student at the home environment. Not only does this provide the virtual environment that is so desired, it also “promotes student reflection using collaborative tools.” The student and parent alike are able to reflect on all that the student is doing in the classroom; they can also collaborate with the teacher by communicating via Voki. From Voki, I learned that the classroom experience does not have to end with the sound of the dismissal bell. Teachers can create a virtual environment that allows parents and students to connect with them. The Voki process ran very smoothly, the only encountered problem being the upload to the blog. This, however, was easily solved by inputting a link from the Voki website to the blog, rather than simply pasting the URL into the blog post. From this assignment, I take away the knowledge that it is vital to include parents in teaching. This website tangibly showed me a way to integrate parents into the classroom virtually. Especially with the implementation of the Common Core, this is such a resourceful tool to provide parents with the option of viewing all that their child completes in the classroom. It is an extremely objective source to offer.
7. Web 2.0 Sites- By exploring the web 2.0 sites as a class, we met standard III of the NETS-T in several ways. The first of these was by “collaborating with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support students success and innovation.” As classmates, we were able to collaborate and discuss different modern technologies that could be beneficial for teaching. We were also able to learn ways to “communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats.” We did this by discovering countless digital websites by which we could learn from and teach. And finally, we got to “model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools.” We modeled them by presenting each to the class, and we taught effective use by stating ways in which the sites could be used in a teacher’s setting. Exploring the web 2.0 sites has taught me that child friendly websites need to be explored in great detail before being presented to a class of second graders. A main problem that I (and the class) encountered was the efficiency of the websites. Some websites would not work at all, others were not compatible with the iPad. Regardless, I will integrate this knowledge into my further teaching by always having a backup plan. There are no guarantees that technologies will hold up in your time of need, so you must always come to your classroom equipped with backup plans.
8. Website- The website assignment met NETS-T standard IV, which is to
“promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility.” The first reason this standard applies to the given assignment is because the majority of the class created their website on the premises of online responsibility and digital citizenship. Secondly, we were taught throughout the creation process how to avoid copyright violations and illegal use of online information. Citing was necessary for every picture, paraphrase, and video in order to model proper use of how to safely use online information. Personally, I learned much about digital citizenship through this assignment. Prior to creating my own website, I was not aware that pictures demanded the same sort of citation that text does. Problems I encountered while creating the website were mainly graphic issues and the process of learning how to use the Google sites application. I solved the problems through exploration of the tool and asking peers how they solved such problems. Solving this simple problem broadened my knowledge of the organization of Google sites and can be applied to later projects. The age I end up teaching will influence how I integrate the information I learned from this website into my teaching. If teaching an older age group, I would absolutely create an assignment around each student making their own website. This would provide a hands-on way to walk students through the different aspects of digital citizenship and how to respect others’ information. If teaching a younger group of students, I would simply take teach the concept of digital responsibility on a more basic scale.
9. Movie- The Movie Maker project directly aligned with the NETS-T standard number I, which is to “facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity.” We were taught new concepts by creating a movie while still having free reign to expand creativity. In this way, the project sought to “promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.” From this assignment, I learned the difficulties in technology as I experienced technical problems. Saving and uploading is a process that can always go wrong, even if the two tasks are well practiced.  For a temporary fix, I e-mailed the file to myself, but was not able to get it uploaded to my blog. To avoid this problem in the future, I will save a file in several different forms and on several different devices. I will also remember the importance of carrying a USB drive with me at all times to avoid not having a place to save something.

This class has taught me countless ways to incorporate technology into the classroom. Prior to taking this course, I knew very little about what was to be expected of me as teacher technologically, and I was not the biggest supporter of using technology in class. I can now confidently say that I can incorporate the use of technology with the Common Core, use a SmartBoard, teach from the screen of an iPad (while spanning the room), and list several websites that can be used by second graders to interactively learn. I can also confidently say that I support the use of technology in the classroom. Reading countless articles on the pros and cons of technological classrooms has shown me that technology is absolutely beneficial in moderation, and I look forward to adjusting to this new age of technological learning.
My strong points of teaching lie in organization, presentation, order, and explanation. I am strong in these because I have witnessed my mom exemplify these teaching qualities throughout my lifetime, and these traits have inevitably been passed down. I think these qualities will be useful with technology when technology is used together, as a class. My weak points of teaching are relinquishing control of the classroom and allowing independent, hands-on learning. This will be tested as students have control of their own device, as classroom volume begins to escalate, and as small groups begin to form. I know this component is absolutely vital to a child’s learning, so I will minimize unruly student independence by implementing rules. I will need to indicate to students what is considered appropriate device behavior, but I will also need to adjust to my weaknesses by allowing students their set time to complete assignments on their devices independently.
I plan to integrate technology in the classroom in as many ways possible without it overshadowing the students’ ability to learn. What I mean by that is that I will use technology wherever it is applicable as long as time restraints, grading procedures, or inability to access a device do not inhibit students from learning.
I absolutely think that a SmartBoard will be vital, as well as at least one technological lesson a day. Students need to become exposed and familiar with the concept of diverse technologies. In regards to my thoughts on blogs, I think that they are an ideal tool for some classroom settings. As for this college course, the blog is the perfect medium from students to teacher. It allows for a quick transfer of information and one that is permanent once published. For younger age groups, however, I do not support the idea of a blog because of how it exposes a child. Some would say that children need their opinion heard online from a young age. Contrastingly, I still believe the Internet is a dangerous place for young students, because once they publish something it can follow them for a lifetime.