Today's class

I had never heard about the Google Cultural Institute and am really thankful that I can now add this to my list of resources. It's a great tool for both under-resourced schools, as well as, schools at the other end of the spectrum, who have lots of resources and tend to be overbooked with activities. This resources is a great time saver, which provides the students with a rich experience and access to art, travel and history. It's the next best thing to actually visiting a museum or any other field trip. After I have had more time to peruse this site, I hope that I can include it as a resource in my WebQuest. My take-away from tonight is that I am really enjoying this class. It's helping me hone my tech skills, which will be very helpful in the classroom.

Reflection 10/8/14

I was really impressed with all of the presentations this evening. I think our future students are very fortunate to have teachers who will have taken this class so that they can effectively integrate technology into their lesson planning. Given my technical limitations (i.e. working with an old Mac), it really made me realize that you really need the most up to date technology in order to make a high quality product.

Keeping Myself Organized & Accountable

I was really excited and relieved after I finished this week’s reading. While I have many strengths and skills, “organized” is not in my top five. I know organizational skills are critical for success in the classroom, so this is something that I know I have to work on before I enter a classroom. I taught social studies this past summer to kindergarteners and first graders at an enrichment camp and I quickly learned how things can quickly get out of hand, when you lack organizational skills. Where are my handouts? What was the address for that website I wanted to show the class today? Where’s my seating chart? Attendance sheet? Where’s my lesson plan for today? These were just some of the questions I was asking myself during my first week of teaching. Although I had made a “plan” the night before, for some reason when I would get to class things would just fall apart. However, after reading chapter 4, I was thrilled to learn about some of the apps, which can help me get organized and stay accountable in the classroom. I was aware of some of the web-based resources available for enhancing teaching but was less familiar with the ones for lesson planning and assessment. I did some desk research and found additional sites, which offer lesson plans, templates for lesson plans and lesson plan trackers. For example, Planbookedu.com is a free online lesson planbook software for teachers. Per the website: Never struggle with lesson planning again. Your plans are available anywhere and are simple to create. I also found ThinkWave, a free online gradebook with student and parent access. It automates grading calculations and generates detailed reports and it’s all saved in the cloud. I like the idea of any tool, which can help me get organized. It’s important because at any moment an administrator can walk into my classroom and ask how my lesson plan meets common core standards or the progress of a particular child or how it fits into the unit. I also appreciate the tools, which provide access to the parents. This way parents can view the progress of his or her child in real time; no surprises during parent-teacher conferences or on the report card. I also came across a lot of resources for homeschools. According to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in 2013, the number of homeschool students has grown by almost 300,000 since the last report in 2007 where 1.5 million students were homeschooled. I wonder if the growth of homeschools drove the need for more web-based lesson planning and tracking systems that are widely available today. Were you homeschooled? Do you know anyone who was or is currently being homeschooled? If so, what types of web-based resources and other technologies do they use for lesson planning and staying on track?

Tonight's Take-away

The class this evening was very informative. In many ways, I feel excited about all of the different apps and tools that are available but on the other hand it felt a little overwhelming. How will I be able to keep up with all of them? I'm the type of person who likes to be in the "know". Am I going to be that teacher who will be relying on my students to help me download the latest app? I think it's going to be a challenge but the only thing I can do is try!

The New "Green Card"

The term GreenCard can trigger a lot of emotion for some people. It's an admission ticket. It means, I'm legit. I have permission to be here. As the world becomes smaller in terms of more people crossing borders and having international exchanges and dialogues, which have been expedited because of increased access to technology (e.g., airplanes, email, Skype, social media). That being said, the tools needed to navigate in such a world becomes less and less of a convenience or perk and more of a survival tactic. In addition to passports, green cards, visas and other permits and government-approved identification, we also need to be card-carrying members of a digital world.

The reading, for this week, discussed digital citizenship. The concept resonated with me because I work for an organization that focuses on facilitating the development of young students into global citizens. So anything about "citizenship" catches my attention. Global citizenship calls for equipping students with the knowledge, tools and experiences, which not only helps that be present in their own communities, but also helps them see the broader world and their place in the world. Think of the children's geography book, Me on a Map. 

Our students learn about geography and culture by means of active learning as referenced in the text. Little do they realize that they are working through the application process for what I'm calling the new green card. Now this application or learning process is not through your traditional social studies books. The students are connecting to travel correspondents - college students who are studying abroad and have agreed to share their experiences with a classroom in the United States. The curriculum and resources involve hands on project, inquiry based lessons and group discussion to hone critical thinking skills. The "meat" of the program is our website, www.reachtheworld.org. On this website, educators access the journals, field notes and logbooks produced by the travelers. The content and posts allow the students to take a virtual tour of another country. They use all of their senses: Reading the posts and looking at the pictures posted by the traveler (seeing); listening to different types of music (hearing); trying different dishes referenced by the traveler in his/her notes (tasting/smelling); touching different materials suggested by the traveler (touch). All of this is facilitated through technology in a very creative and thoughtful way. The content is there but the teacher makes the decision to use what is relevant to meet the needs of his/her students and the lesson plan. 

Relating this back to the digital world, both teachers and students need to know how to use multi-media and other technologies effectively. Teachers need to cherry pick what makes sense and the students need to have a range of skills. From knowing the lingo to how to navigate a website to know where to go to complete homework. 

So do you think we should replace or tweak the whole system of final exams and standardized tests like SATs with an assessment that focuses on proficiency in another language, cultural competency and technology-related skills? So instead of a 8th grade or high school diploma, students receive a "green card", which would be proof that they are on their way to becoming global and digital citizens. 

Have you seen any programs in schools that come close to this idea? Please share! 

I am “Obsessive”

After reading chapter one and two, I wanted to take the Pewinternet.org’s “What Type of Tech User are You?” quiz referenced in the reading. This question seems relevant given the focus of this course and I wanted a pseudo-professional diagnosis, so I could plan accordingly to be a more effective and strategic user of technology in the classroom. Unfortunately, it appears that the research center took down the quiz. But I didn’t let this stop me. I decided to take another quiz by the same name offered on www.uquiz.com. Based on my responses to eight questions regarding my cell phone type, etiquette and preferences and social media presence, I’m apparently “Obsessive”. To clarify, according to this website:

My phone is constantly in my hand and I see screens more than I do the real world. I panic more than just a little on the inside when I can't find my phone and I’m known for being a constant presence on all types of social media.

While I do constantly check my phone to check text messages, email and twitter, some of the other characterizations of my affliction were off. I do not “panic” when I can’t find my iPhone and while I do have accounts with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr, none of my friends would vouch for me as someone with a constant or active presence on any of these sites.

Despite the mischaracterization, I was pleased that I was tech savvy enough, in the eyes of the quiz makers, to be considered “Obsessive”. As a “digital immigrant”, meaning that I wasn’t honing my fine motor skills on my parents’ iPad as a toddler, it’s reassuring to know that I am not out of touch with the technology that is so popular these days with millennials and my seven year old.

As an enrichment teacher, this past summer, I recognized the value of technology in the classroom and used it often actually. However, whether I was incorporating videos from Brainpop Jr. or National Geographic Kids, I always knew that these resources supported my lesson and they were not the standalone lesson. In other words, although I’m an “obsessive” user of technology, as a prospective educator, I don’t want to rely solely on technology when teaching but rather use it to enhance my lessons. While some edutech companies may oversell technology in the classroom, I think the focus should be on filling each teacher’s “toolbox” of resources with the caveat that these are optional tools not mandatory tools. Given the various learning styles of my future students, I think it is important to create lively classroom experiences where all the students are engaged in the learning process. I think using technology can facilitate that learning and I look forward to using my “obsessive” nature to strategically make that happen in my classroom.

So what type of user are you? 

Personal Learning Goals

As a prospective special educator, I'm really excited about this course.  I see technology as a tool, which can help me become a stronger educator. I hope to learn new techniques and resources, which will help me create a dynamic environment that engages all different learning types in an effective manner.