Looking back on my Learning Through Technology Journey

One thing that I want to say is WOW. I have gained so many resources and so much knowledge over the past 2 months. To start I now understand that I am a digital immigrant and that my kids and the children I teach are digital natives.

Image by Meer via Flickr

It will always be a bit more difficult for me to learn and use technology the way they do. But this is a challenge I embrace.

Having developed my PLN (see prior post), I now have the ability to keep up with and learn new resources. Just today I read about online binders posted on the Free Technology for Teachers Blog. So not only have a learned new tools, but I have learned how to learn on my own. That is the most vital thing we can teach our students; to teach themselves. Check out the 100 Best Blogs for Teachers.

One of the most important things I have learned in this course (this is one of my first courses towards a Masters of Education) is how to find and read the GLEs online. Obviously it is critical to know what you are expected to teach in order to be an effective certified teacher. In addition, I love the wiki on Bloom’s Taxonomy that Professor Chamberlain showed us. This has really helped me get my hands around the concept of higher order thinking. I plan to use these websites continuously until the information gets embedded in my brain.

In the classroom, I plan to use the following tools and more:

Image via Wikipedia

Voicethread for digit story telling. I think that digit story telling is a valuable tool for all ages. It is so simple, yet opens a world of creativity.

Podcasting using Audacity and maybe using music from Garageband. I will remember to have students create fictional characters to protect their identities. I think this is a fun way to study weather and numerous other subjects by asking students to be reporters.

Video Conferencing using Skype or possibly Flash Meeting. This is a fantastic way to invite guest speakers that would not ordinarily be able to travel to the classroom.

Webquests using goggle sites. I love being able to define the way the students will use the Internet throughout their study or project. By defining the links the students can use we can make sure we have looked at the 5 w’s of website evaluation. This alleviates our fears of students navigating to inappropriate sites while researching. Perfect.

Some of the other instructional resources we have learned about that I plan to use are Wordle, Custom Guide, Study Island, Quizlet, Quiettube, Edu Glogster, Diigo and our homemade Smoothboards. It’s all so exciting!! I have used Excel for years, but Professor Chamberlain’s demonstration of analyzing test data and interventions is a use I never would have thought of on my own.

The time management tool I am using as a result of this class is iGoogle homepage.

Image by Matrixizationized via Flickr

Here I have my weather, news (I am still trying to determine which news is the best to read), my calendar on google (linked to my outlook calendar – the google calendar will allow me to incorporate other people’s/activities schedules if necessary), my tasks (I need to write everything down – in fact this blog is going to be a great resource for me to go back to!), Facebook, Twitter, Google Reader (this gives a quick blurb and link to all the blogs and RSS feeds – honestly I can’t possibly read all of it, I have 258 unread blogs right now – but I can scroll through and read the ones that grab my attention and star the ones I know I want to be able to find again). And I have added a vocabulary gadget. I see a new word with definition and picture on every refresh. That has been interesting and fun, but I haven't remembered all the words! The best part of this is I can use any computer to get my stuff! Before I had to use my own laptop to check my calendar and tasks. I have not yet entered the iphone/blackberry stage..although it seems about time...

Like I said in the beginning, WOW. It makes me need to take a deep breath! I guess I have just dived in.

Thank you Professor Chamberlain and Classmates. I have enjoyed learning with all of you and look forward to keeping in touch through our PLN!

Personal Learning Network (PLN)

Image by cobannon via Flickr

The acronym PLN was introduced to me during our course Learning through Technology. Prior to taking this class I had never heard the term. I had heard of Twitter, but really had no experience or knowledge about it. In addition, I had heard of Blogs, but never really "followed" a blog and certainly never posted one!!

I am amazed at the vast resources for information available to us today. In the beginning stages of developing a PLN, I now have human resources available too. I feel following my classmates on Twitter has built a greater sense of connectedness. Having a network of people who share similar professional interests a click away is a valuable asset. Information sharing can be as simple as one exchange I saw this week, "help does anyone know how to unlock a cell phone" to as complex as introducing new technologies or at least new to some of us. I like Professor Chamberlain's suggestion to assume something is new to others too.

I realize at the early stage of being a PLN participant, I don't have a vast amount of experience to share. Another classmate discusses this in her blog as well. I think over time I will become a more valuable piece of the puzzle. For now, I am trying to share things I have discovered. After seeing others posts, I have learned its not such a great idea to post..ordinary/mundane details of life. I have decided to "unfollow" some already.

As far as who to follow; I am following a few blogs. I have discovered a lot of great resources there. And I am following a few more individuals on Twitter. My strategy is so far to take it slow. I can easily be overwhelmed with all the information coming at me instantaneously!! As I gain experience, I think adding more individuals to follow will come naturally over the course of normal exploration and learning.

Thoughts on providing equal digital access

The New Hampshire Department of Education standards & rules require that: Teachers will demonstrate: (e) In the area of technology :…( 3) Knowledge of how to provide equal access to the digital world.

Educators have a responsibility to use all tools available to assist students with various learning styles. The use of technology in education is critical. In order to survive in the real world students need to be digitally literate. In today’s technological society, there is no excuse for school systems to lack computers or internet connections in classrooms and labs. These tools are as vital as all other text books and supplies.

James Bosco Author of “Participatory Culture and Schools: Can we get there from here?” asks the question:

Isn’t it reasonable to expect that schools

should be compatible with the world

of information, knowledge,

communications, and collaboration?

http://www.ciconline.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=125&name=THSpring09ParticipatoryCultureandSchools.pdf (Spring 2009). This article discusses the integration of Web 2.0 in the classroom environment. This is a bit different from the question of equal access. However, this supports my viewpoint that there is no excuse to not have the technology in classrooms and schools. How we use that technology is a greater question which our whole class is about.

So how can educators be sure that everyone is given equal access to technology? This question seems to fit nicely with Professor Terri Demaine’s discussion of “equity vs. equality” (from Monday July 13, 2009). Teachers need to implement equitable solutions. School districts will not be able to solve socioeconomic factors that prohibit all students’ home access to technology. This means teachers need to be certain to make technology available to students that lack technology at home. First, teachers need to be aware of students’ digital access. An informal survey should take place at the beginning of the year. Once digital access needs are identified, teachers can work with the students to provide extra time. Time can be allotted during classroom hours, before school and after school depending on the individual situation.

In some instances a student’s special needs will require the use of a laptop or other media in the classroom. This tool can be a critical piece of a student’s development. A student who has difficulty handwriting can use a program like dragonspeak to “write” their thoughts. Is this providing equal access? Maybe not, but it is creating an equitable learning environment. We may never be able to make all things “equal” but we can create equitable environments or situations.

youtube link top ten tips for using technology in the classroom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiisteObuhk&feature=related

What is Technology Integration?

Today?s world is rapidly changing in every way. We are an instant society, we are in constant communication and we have world wide information at our fingertips. Today?s youth are practically born with technology. Because technology is such an integral part of society, over the years we have been moving technology into our classrooms. Now I realize just because there are computers in the rooms and building does not mean we are integrating technology into our education the way we have in our lives.
Integrating technology into our classroom curriculum is more challenging than it seems. Technology integration first of all requires teachers to be current. Educating the teachers on the variety of means available is going to be the only way integration can occur.
Teachers need to learn ways to incorporate using different programs into the everyday lessons. The interactive white board is one means of using technology as part of the lesson. I am learning there are numerous programs available to educators to engage students and speak their language. The students understand and connect with technology. It is something they use regularly (in a majority of cases).

Why is it important for a teacher to evaluate a website?

There are many facets to this question and really the answer applies to just about all research on the internet. As we all know anyone can create a website. So if we are using a website for research or information we need to know who our source is. In many instances there is a financial reason for the research information presented on websites. So make sure you have a valid source.
Once you know you have a valid source, what are they saying? Is the content appropriate for you audience? Is the language appropriate for the age? Is the information presented in a visually pleasing manner? We certainly don?t want to send students to a website full of advertisements or that will not be appealing and useful in their learning process.
So now you know you have a valid source and the information is presented appropriately. So is the information current? We need to make sure we aren?t teaching students something that isn?t the most current information available.
These are just some of the facets of this question. The reasons to evaluate websites are extensive. Using the internet is a powerful tool, but needs to be used with caution.

Technology and Time

Image by scubadive67 via Flickr

I find myself spending a lot of time on my laptop. There are so many ways to gain information using technology. It seems one thing leads to another. For example, today I started this blog. I ran across an issue with cookies. The next thing I know I am researching good and bad cookies. From that research I discovered I probably should use Firefox instead Internet Explorer. Another turn. So I have successfully implemented Firefox. So far so good.

Back to the blog. I haven't followed any blogs to date, but looked at a few. I am not sure what the goal of blogging is. But here I am writing (somewhat random) thoughts, seemingly just like the others. While looking at others blogs I stumbled upon Zemanta. Is this a good thing or not, I don't know. But now I have some images popping up that I can attach. Is that more interesting?