ILP "Participation"- Lynda Tutorial

     For my second independent learning project, I did a Lynda tutorial on how to embed contact forms on a website. I chose to do this specific tutorial because I wanted to make a contact form for a website I have that contains some of the poetry I have written. During the tutorial, I learned primarily how to use WordPress contact forms and how to select certain ones based on their purpose. I also learned that contact forms are rarely filled out if they are long and contain many prompts for information, but this can sometimes be helpful to weed out certain people who may respond.

      The learning experience through the Lynda tutorial was very thorough. There were many links inside the videos so I could choose which areas I wanted to focus on, and I really enjoyed that. The only thing I did not like was that it was geared toward WordPress, and I am more accustomed to using Wix. Besides that, there was still lots of helpful information that made choosing a contact form much easier.

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     As a teacher, I believe data collection could become important. It could help me to survey students and gauge their needs as well as get a general feel for where the class is struggling and needs more instruction. This would be useful for classes of all ages. Excel would be another tool I could use for all classes. It could help me organize students' grades, personal information, and it would allow me to inform students of what kind of grades they would need to keep getting in order to pass the class.
     When reviewing classmates' blogs, I found it interesting how they were set up. Some of my classmates spent a great deal of time organizing the look of their blogs and these blogs are very appealing to the eye. Others focused more on the writing and it was interesting to see how they interpreted the prompts and answered the questions.
     Next, I would like to learn how to type in a book formatting, with page numbers and chapters and the like. To do this I hope to do an online course of sorts that will help me to set up an aesthetically pleasing book. I want to do this because I would really like to become an author at some point, and by seeing how my writing would look in actual book form, I feel that it would motivate me to keep working toward the final product.

blog post 9

     The flipped classroom is a new, but controversial way of teaching students. Rather than taking time in class to teach student's a topic, teachers using a flipped classroom model will instead send kids home with material to learn, and then use classroom time for more hands on instruction and answering any questions that students may have. While this might be helpful for students who do better in an active classroom environment, it puts a lot of weight on the students to teach themselves and use their free time solely for school, rather than for other valuable extra-curricular activities. khan academy

     Open content is content that is available for student use without worry of infringing on copyright. This is a useful tool for students because it allows them to take certain resources and manipulate and modify them in order to create something unique to them. This way, students can make the source fit their specific needs, which they know better than anyone else. Windows 10 is an example of open source software that students can use. open source software

     For the first PowerPoint assignment, I definitely learned a lot. I learned how to manipulate the slide master in order to customize the slides to fit my needs. I also learned how to voice over a slide and then save it as a sort of video. I feel that this may be helpful in the even of sharing lectures with students online. I did not like how long it took to create the PowerPoint. Formatting everything took quite a bit, but I think it turned out well. I also learned a lot from the second assignment. I had never thought much about using PowerPoint to create a game until this assignment. It is not as hard as I thought it would be.

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     Adaptive technologies allow students to learn at their own pace and in their own way, which can greatly reduce stress and a feeling of general "behindness". Concept mapping is one way that students are able to make sense of things their way. By using concept mapping tools, students can organize their thoughts in a way that makes sense for them personally, which can improve their comprehension. Technology can also be used to help students who speak other languages. Through the providing of comprehensible input, technology can help students overcome the language barriers they face.
     I am not personally familiar with the use of adaptive learning technologies. I feel that it may be difficult to ensure that students are all getting where they need to be. It is great that students can work at their own pace, but at some point they should all be at a certain level, and guaranteeing that happens may be difficult.
     Using powerpoint could be a great way to help students learn at each level of Bloom's taxonomy. For the remember level the powerpoint could show students simple facts, such as definitions. For the understand level the powerpoint could include visual graphs that help further explain what the facts shown previously actually mean. For the apply level the powerpoint could offer up real life examples of the concepts that are offered early in the powerpoint. For the analyze level the powerpoint could include graphs to show how the information can be categorized and grouped together. For the evaluate level the powerpoint could include different persuasive arguments about the theories being discussed to offer students different points of views. For the create level the powerpoint could include rewritten definitions in different terms based on the students level of understanding.
     
forbes

     Forbes is a good way to stay up to date on the latest trends, even in technology. It provides rankings for different categories of technology and descriptions on what these types of technologies do.

     From Twitter I have been able to learn a lot about social networking as a tool for knowledge dissemination. Not only have I found interesting and informational articles, but I have also found discussions about these articles from various users. These discussions allow me to view multiple opinions and views about the same problem or solution. Altogether it helps me to be a more well rounded individual, evaluating something based on many different angles. So far I have had no issues using twitter, though I do wish that searches for certain people or posts could be made easier.
     The web page design assignment allowed me to use creativity, which I really enjoyed. It helped me to really think in terms of the viewer and try to make everything included in the page as clear and easy to understand as possible. One thing I did not like about the website design was the editing tools from the creation site. They were a bit confusing to follow and made some things, such as changing the font of a text, way more difficult than they had to be.

website 

     With Diigo, I have learned about how to edit articles in order to make them more clear for educational purposes. By being able to highlight and add notes, I am able to pick out key points of a website and make the clearer for students. The sharing tool also makes Diigo helpful when trying to collaborate with others. If you share a page with people of a certain group you can get their feedback and opinions on articles instantly. For my own personal usage, I think Diigo would be helpful to pick out important pieces of information and make sure that I understand them, perhaps by cross-referencing them with other articles.


     

ILP "Design"- Prezi

I have also been interested in educating people on the history of modern Irish dance. I tried to make a Prezi on it a few months ago but did not find the time to get very far with it. As part of this ILP I decided to complete my Prezi and make it in a format that would be easy to understand for people who are not familiar with the topic. In order to do this I included many visual examples, from pictures to videos so that people would better be able to visualize what I am discussing.

Prezi

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     The school web page that I chose to look up is that of my old high school (http://www.fairbanks.k12.oh.us). Though I only attended Fairbanks for high school, the school is for children K-12. On the school's site you have access to the newsletters, staff and their contact info, academic and athletic calendars, and board of education information. All of the information that is public is helpful to keep the parents and children engaged in the school's most recent activities and plans.

     In order to accomplish my professional goals as a teacher, I envision myself using technology such as database management software. This software will enable me to keep track of my students and their information. It could potentially help me to keep track of student grades as well. In order to do that I could also use portfolio assessment software which would enable me to track student progress and cross-check it with standards. In this way, I could make sure my students were on track.

     In the sandbox, I found many of the technologies fascinating. In particular, I think the virtual reality could be very useful in the classroom for visual learners. For instance, if I wanted to take my students on a field trip to a place that is too far away, I could use the VR to take them there. Then, with the help of the VR, I could show the students different aspects of the place that they would not be able to experience from a simple slideshow on a computer screen. With the VR I could also help my students to visualize shape and dimensions, particularly in math. As a kid it was very difficult for me to understand 3D objects in math, but with VR in the classroom, I believe I could better explain to students why the math actually works. 

     

Blog Post 5

     I think in the classroom, youtube can be a valuable web 2.0 resource. It allows teachers to create playlists of videos and share those playlists with students which adds and element of interaction with the students. Not only can the students then watch the videos at their own leisure, but they can also comment and watch other videos that are related to the topic. I feel that, while twitter is useful, the points that the podcasts made are not all that realistic. If students are trying to ask a famous writer a question, it is highly unlikely that they will receive a response on twitter. While in theory, it is nice, in reality it is not likely to occur.
     An education tool that I would use while teaching would be https://www.scribd.com . This site allows users to pay around $9 a month to have access to 3 books and 1 audio book a month. This membership fee would greatly decrease the costs of reading for students because books on their own can get expensive. It would also motivate students to read quickly, as they must get the best bang for their buck so to speak.
     I believe the ability to video conference holds a large promise for education in the future. Through video conferencing, students would be able to meet with their teachers from the comfort of their own homes and ask questions about the homework they are doing or the paper they are writing all in real time. I also think video conferences will allow students to connect with a larger circle, including some well known people that they may not have had the chance to meet otherwise. A FaceTime with Bill Nye would mean so much more to students than simply watching his videos, and I believe that is where the classroom may be heading.

Blog Post 4

     With Twitter, I have found myself interacting with the education technology community. It is an easy hashtag to look up, and there are many great articles and discussions that occur within it. I feel that this interaction has helped me to foster new ideas on how technology can be used in an educational setting. In my future career, Twitter might be helpful in allowing me to connect with other peers and have discussions with others whom I might not have had the chance to meet otherwise.
     The digital divide could either work to a students advantage or disadvantage. If students have had extensive experience with technology, they could be well off and find no trouble working with technology in the classroom, if they do not, however, they might find even some of the simplest tasks difficult and frustrating. For this reason, I believe it is important to have a comprehensive check to see if students know what they are doing and to gauge where they are at technologically so they do not fall behind.
     In a classroom setting of 8th graders, I would probably use tutorial software which allows each individual student to move at their own pace. This takes pressure off of the students to keep up with others because they can control how fast they move through the tutorial and if they understand the lesson clearly.

Blog Post 3

     There are many ELA technology standards that exist, and while I'm sure it would be helpful to learn more about each of them, I am fairly confident I would be able to teach a few with the knowledge I already have. Among those standards are "Multimedia" Literature, "Multimedia" Informational Text, "Multimedia" History/Social studies, "Multimedia"Science/Technical Studies, "Text Structure" Informational Text, "Use Multiple Sources", and "Evaluate Speakers Point of View". I feel confident in my ability to teach these because I have encountered them many times throughout my school career. The standard that I feel I would need to focus most on learning more about is "Use Digital Media". I have close to no experience creating graphs using technology so I am not confident that I could teach others to do it.

     If I had students of high school age I would definitely implement the use of email in the classroom for assignments. In college it is vital to know how to use email, from writing a proper one to being able to send out mass emails, it is a tool that a student cannot survive college without. It is for that reason that I would teach the students how to use it before they head off to college. As for digital citizenship, I will make sure my students understand the importance of their online identity, including what they make their email name. Things like that do not simply disappear and I will stress that.

     Some of the skills I acquired from the newsletter assignment were how to create a banner and how to format a document with columns. One thing I did not like was the requirement of a cut-off piece of page. I could not figure out how to insert a dotted line and it was quite frustrating. I also did not like how, by inserting a picture, it could mess up your whole spacing. It was hard to make sure it was just right.

Blog Post 2

     My experience with Microsoft Word has been that of a typical student. I have used the program to write thousands of essays, create advertisements, and to write letters. Most teachers, I have witnessed, use Microsoft Word to create syllabi, tests, quizzes, and worksheets. While these are relatively basic uses of Microsoft Word, I believe that they are crucial in helping students to be successful in the classroom.
     My experience with copyright and the fair use of educational materials has been extremely limited because I was simply not aware that it was going on. As a student in high school I simply followed my teacher's instruction and used the materials that were provided for me. Now, however, after reading the Center for Social Media's, "Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Media Literacy Education", I have a better understanding of how I can use copyrighted materials in my classroom for educational purposes. To avoid any kind of violations I would educate my students on the principles of fair use and how copyright violations are more of an obscure concept and judgement has to be used in all cases.
     Using videos in the classroom can enhance a student's learning experience if it is done with careful consideration and planning. If it is not, students can become distracted, uninterested, or even restless if the video is long. In order to try to prevent this from happening I would make sure that I did three specific things before incorporating a video into the classroom experience:
                    1. I would test the video beforehand to ensure all students had a good view and were able      to hear the audio properly. Though this seems like a small action, it can drastically change a student's experience. Nothing is worse than not being able to see or hear a video and being too shy to speak up about it.
                    2. I would give the students a small synopsis of the video beforehand and ask them to discuss what they think the main ideas, importance, and purpose of the video are before they have viewed it. This way students will be more invested in the video because they know some of the background and have talked about their thoughts on it.
                    3. I would pause the video at certain spots and ask the students their simple opinions on events or storylines of the video. This way, if students missed certain symbolisms or important events, they would have a chance to hear their classmates discuss the video and hopefully gain more knowledge that they did not necessarily pick up.

     Many teachers are encouraged to use technology because of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). This act states that when students complete the 8th grade, they should be knowledgeable about technology and how to properly use it. Because of this, teachers are encouraged to use technology in the classroom order to help their students through a more hands on approach. Teachers also are influenced by their respective state requirements and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Each state, while different in its requirements, typically requires teachers to be knowledgeable in at least some aspect of technology. The NBPTS, which technically has no official requirement for technology literacy, requires diversity of teaching methodology, which can be met but the use of technology in the classroom. NETS is also a major project that has had influence on students as well as teachers. While it sets requirements for teachers and their use of technology, it also creates guidelines for students and measures their technological abilities. Because of this, NETS creates an incentive for both students and teachers to broaden their use of technology in the classroom. The way a student learns is also a major influence on their use of technology in the classroom. Technology can help different types of learners because it is versatile and can adapt for their needs, instead of simply catering to one.
     The ISTE skill standards are set in place to help teachers effectively use technology to better their teaching techniques in the classroom. One skill standard that I feel is particularly out of my skill set is the requirement to "Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments". I feel that I lack in this requirement because I am not a very technologically aware person. The scope of technology is mind-boggling to me and I am not even close to knowing what kinds of tools and programs are out there to help assist students. After this class, however, I hope I will have widened my view and have gained insight in to what all is available to use. One requirement, however, that is particularly meaningful to me is, "Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity". This requirement means a lot to me because I believe that every person should have the freedom to express themselves and be creative. All too often in education, people focus on the correct answers rather than the thought process that leads to them. With this requirement, I believe it shows teachers that it is okay and beneficial for students to think outside of the box and use different mediums to learn and grow.
     I believe the term "digital native" is too broad and that it places many into a category in which they do not belong. While yes, I am a digital native, I do not consider myself to have the skills that many assume natives to have. For that reason I think that native needs to be a term that is more loosely used because many children who are considered natives, did not grow up with the technology that was expected of them, and this is largely because their parents, digital immigrants, where not familiar with how to approach the increasingly technological world.
     One thing I have noticed is that most of my teachers are not keen on embracing technology completely. Instead of using useful programs to combat plagiarism they still require hard copies of papers, instead of allow students to use their computers in the classroom, they ban them completely. While some of this may be due to the mindset of, "Back in my day this is how things were done", much of it, I believe is because many teachers are not aware what is available to them or do not trust the technology they could potentially use. Though I understand this, I feel that the impact on my learning has set me back a little. Instead of learning how to operate different programs, I have been forced to use techniques of the past. While this does not necessarily hurt me now, it could in the future when I am required to use a relatively well known program that I have no experience with whatsoever.
     I hope that with my future students I will be able to stay up-to-date on the latest and greatest technology and equip them with the skills they will need to use it successfully. I know that technology is constantly changing, and with my students I hope that I will continue to listen to them to find out what the newest trends are, and hopefully incorporate that into the classroom.

Prior Experiences and Hopes

    Growing up, my parents did not believe in allowing me to use technology on a regular basis. They preferred that I play outside, read books, or take care of the animals on our farm. Because of this, I have a lower technology competency than many in my generation. For example, I got an iPhone my senior year of high school, which is many years later than most of my friends. Despite this fact, I have been able to learn about technology on a very basic level through school, and my peers. I have learned how to use basic functions of Microsoft Word, I can share and create using Google Drive, and I can even set up a Wii with minimal assistance.

      Even though I have not had the same experience as many, I hope that through this class I am able to learn about some of the useful tools that technology has to offer. I also hope that I learn a way in which I can share these tools with others. Technology is huge in society today and it would be to someones disadvantage if they did not have the basic skills to use it. For that reason, I hope that this class equips me to better serve students and give them the skills they need to navigate in this increasingly technological world.