Monday, May 25, 2015
Final Thing: Reflection
I LOVE COOL TOOLS! I learned so much this time around with Cool Tools, including sites and apps like Quozio for quotes, Flipagram for mini movies, coding for developing critical thinking, Smore.com for personal quazi-websites, and a multitude of lessons on digital citizenship. Unfortunately I did not expand my professional network through the program, but overall, the workshop works very well for me! I enjoy learning at my own pace, and choosing the tasks that I feel are most relevant to my practice and application. Given my personal work style, I need to continue to work on pacing myself more effectively, because ideally I would have done 10 tasks instead of just five. I hope to share the information I've learned through a series of tech PD's or a collegial circle in my building next year. I also plan to enroll again so that I can continue to learn! These tasks have opened me up to learning and exploring that would otherwise not occur! Thank you!
Thing 15: Digital Tattoo & Digital Citizenship
As a parent and teacher, I'm so glad to have completed this task! I'm anxious to get started with the lessons and resources I've found because my own pre-teen (here at home) is already requesting her own Instagram account, and I really don't think there is strong digital leadership within her school. At school, my students are exploring Google+ accounts which I think is great, but there are lots of teachable moments I'm seeing pop up everywhere that tell me they are in desperate need of learning about digital citizenship!
Since EVERYTHING you do and say online can inevitably be traced back to you, being a good digital citizen means realizing and being responsible for your entire online presence. There really is no clear divide between what's personal and what's public when it comes to your digital presence, and so anything you do or say can (and may) be used against you.
The research I've done related to this task has taught me various ways to teach students how to be responsible digital citizens, including paper and pencil blogs and digital passports. I'd like to educate my own kids in earning a passport that will help them understand the significance of passwords, privacy, personal information, photos and privacy on the internet. The NYC Department of Education offers numerous sample lesson plans on digital citizenship for all grade levels, which I can definitely see myself referencing in the future.
All students should understand their rights when it comes to their online privacy and the extent of freedom of speech:
Since EVERYTHING you do and say online can inevitably be traced back to you, being a good digital citizen means realizing and being responsible for your entire online presence. There really is no clear divide between what's personal and what's public when it comes to your digital presence, and so anything you do or say can (and may) be used against you.
The research I've done related to this task has taught me various ways to teach students how to be responsible digital citizens, including paper and pencil blogs and digital passports. I'd like to educate my own kids in earning a passport that will help them understand the significance of passwords, privacy, personal information, photos and privacy on the internet. The NYC Department of Education offers numerous sample lesson plans on digital citizenship for all grade levels, which I can definitely see myself referencing in the future.
All students should understand their rights when it comes to their online privacy and the extent of freedom of speech:
- While the US Constitution does allow for freedom of speech, that freedom can be restricted in/at school
- Controversial expression can be limited if it causes disruption at school
- School equipment or school sponsored equipment can be restricted as per school policy
- Cyber bullying, no matter when or where it occurs, with or without the application of school equipment is intolerable; schools have an obligation to investigate and seek resolution
- Consequences may insure for those who fail to respect others' rights with regard to posting photos/videos/audio recordings online
Friday, May 22, 2015
Thing 14: App-palooza
Mobile Learning Futures is an article that discusses how the use of technology in classrooms might impact the social and economic divide between whites and Hispanics/blacks. Due to a lack of vision with regard technology integration, many school districts, especially high poverty ones, that have rushed to equip classrooms with the latest and greatest are not seeing the transformative results they had hoped for. Instead of projects that require higher order thinking, mobile technology is proving for most to be another means for students to engage in traditional learning experiences.
All K-2 classrooms in our district have been provided approximately 5-6 iPads, with access to programs that enhance literacy and mathematical skills. As a former technology resource teacher, I saw that teachers utilized the pre-loaded, district purchased apps most frequently. Most were not aware of the extensive features that these apps offered, including those intended for differentiation and reporting. There were even some teachers who didn't make use of the technology at all, because they didn't feel confident in managing students with the devices.
With the technology available, primary teachers in our district have a leg up on providing students with opportunities to inquire, explore, design and do. As the article suggests, I think it's a matter of these individuals learning how to make the iPads an integral part of the learning process, and learning themselves how to adopt and use them. Aside from the willingness and motivation to do so, this requires time and flexibility. Our students especially, need the exposure to technology and the opportunity to apply it to learning.
As a fourth grade teacher now, I live the challenges that exist in getting students "onto" technology. Nonworking machines, wireless issues, and limited schedules make it difficult to get a whole class, or even part of a class, consistently online. This impacts my ability to introduce and instruct students on programs that aren't intuitive or user friendly. I do what I can though, and have had some small successes with having my students complete webquests for research, iMovies, Movie Maker projects and Smore sites. If I should continue to work in the school I am currently placed, I might consider offering a series of tech related PD. I'd need to make a plan for the year of what I might cover, and then solicit some feedback from the staff. It would be so great to spur some motivation and excitement, and at the same time, give staff the opportunity to share ideas and collaborate on projects!
I did take some time to review the 10 Apps to Make Reading in Class More Fun..and was most impressed with the Storia app. It's similar to Accelerated Reader in many ways, but I liked that students could make notes and highlight text for themselves while reading, and then save those notes in alternate locations (like DropBox). With my newly acquired skills in Google Classroom, I'm considering something like this for next year, where they can read and respond to books they've completed online, and submit digital assignments.
All K-2 classrooms in our district have been provided approximately 5-6 iPads, with access to programs that enhance literacy and mathematical skills. As a former technology resource teacher, I saw that teachers utilized the pre-loaded, district purchased apps most frequently. Most were not aware of the extensive features that these apps offered, including those intended for differentiation and reporting. There were even some teachers who didn't make use of the technology at all, because they didn't feel confident in managing students with the devices.
With the technology available, primary teachers in our district have a leg up on providing students with opportunities to inquire, explore, design and do. As the article suggests, I think it's a matter of these individuals learning how to make the iPads an integral part of the learning process, and learning themselves how to adopt and use them. Aside from the willingness and motivation to do so, this requires time and flexibility. Our students especially, need the exposure to technology and the opportunity to apply it to learning.
As a fourth grade teacher now, I live the challenges that exist in getting students "onto" technology. Nonworking machines, wireless issues, and limited schedules make it difficult to get a whole class, or even part of a class, consistently online. This impacts my ability to introduce and instruct students on programs that aren't intuitive or user friendly. I do what I can though, and have had some small successes with having my students complete webquests for research, iMovies, Movie Maker projects and Smore sites. If I should continue to work in the school I am currently placed, I might consider offering a series of tech related PD. I'd need to make a plan for the year of what I might cover, and then solicit some feedback from the staff. It would be so great to spur some motivation and excitement, and at the same time, give staff the opportunity to share ideas and collaborate on projects!
I did take some time to review the 10 Apps to Make Reading in Class More Fun..and was most impressed with the Storia app. It's similar to Accelerated Reader in many ways, but I liked that students could make notes and highlight text for themselves while reading, and then save those notes in alternate locations (like DropBox). With my newly acquired skills in Google Classroom, I'm considering something like this for next year, where they can read and respond to books they've completed online, and submit digital assignments.
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Thing 13: School Library Web Presence
For this task, I chose to explore smore.com. I found the site to be extremely easy to use as sort of an "incognito" version of a website, or mini-website. It couldn't be any easier to add information/text, photos and links, and circulate it to as wide of an audience as you desire. The site even offers analytics to assess and improve the effectiveness of your page or "flyer".
There are lots of different ways I could see utilizing Smore...for example basic book & research reports, a communication tool as a teacher or librarian with students, parents, staff, and a method for announcing events, school news or PTO/volunteer information.
Having a web presence as a teacher is important for many reasons that all center on one thing: communication. At the elementary level, teachers can provide access for parents to useful links, forms and procedures. Students can retrieve and submit work, and reference the links that are recommended for use at home. Other staff can view and share curriculum information, and use their sites to archive & document important information.
As an urban teacher, I'm wondering how I can increase the traffic my website to improve my school to home connection. Unfortunately, not all of my students have consistent access to the internet once they are off school grounds. This in turn puts my students at a disadvantage when it comes to getting the extra online practice they need with the skills and sites we use at school, and makes it harder for me to communicate school related information.
See my sample site on Oprah Winfrey that I created using smore.com, and let me know your thoughts! https://www.smore.com/ypap4-oprah-winfrey#promoter
There are lots of different ways I could see utilizing Smore...for example basic book & research reports, a communication tool as a teacher or librarian with students, parents, staff, and a method for announcing events, school news or PTO/volunteer information.
Having a web presence as a teacher is important for many reasons that all center on one thing: communication. At the elementary level, teachers can provide access for parents to useful links, forms and procedures. Students can retrieve and submit work, and reference the links that are recommended for use at home. Other staff can view and share curriculum information, and use their sites to archive & document important information.
As an urban teacher, I'm wondering how I can increase the traffic my website to improve my school to home connection. Unfortunately, not all of my students have consistent access to the internet once they are off school grounds. This in turn puts my students at a disadvantage when it comes to getting the extra online practice they need with the skills and sites we use at school, and makes it harder for me to communicate school related information.
See my sample site on Oprah Winfrey that I created using smore.com, and let me know your thoughts! https://www.smore.com/ypap4-oprah-winfrey#promoter
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