Blogfolio

1.Introduction video

Our first assignment in IT 365 was to get into groups and make introduction videos. We took turns recording each other and uploaded our videos to our blogs. This assignment taught me how to introduce myself in a more professional way, as I would on the first day of class as a teacher. However, I did find that it was much more difficult to talk about myself rather than write about myself. Prior to this assignment, I had never made a video introducing myself, and I had no clue what to say. I have written numerous introductions in my lifetime, but when I was required to give a vocal introduction while being recorded, I had difficulty finding the right words to say. Since we only had a short amount of time to complete this in-class assignment, I only had one chance for my introduction to be recorded. Although I was far from pleased with it, I posted it to my blog and moved on to the next assignment. To make up for the awkwardness of my video, I wrote much more in the written part of my introduction to make up for it. If I could do this assignment over, I would make my introduction video for my future elementary students focusing on what they would want to know about me; this is how I would use this assignment for my future teaching. The NETS-T standard that this assignment met was standard 2: design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments. This standard was met because we used our own cell phones, which allowed us to “incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.”

 2.TED Video

The TED videos that we watched in this class gave me so much inspiration as a future educator. My favorite one was about John Hunter and the World Peace Game. John Hunter is an extraordinary educator, dedicated to helping children reach their full potential. This video taught me how big of a role teachers truly have in the lives of students. The TED videos taught me that I should be more open-minded to other opinions even if I don’t fully agree with them. The only problem I encountered with the TED videos was that I initially had no interest in sitting through a video in class. I prefer to being doing something with my hands rather than sitting and watching someone talk. I overcame this by actually listening to what the speakers had to say. I found that there was a lot to be taken away from each of the videos, and they certainly left me feeling inspired. One way that I plan to use these videos for my future teaching is to share them with other future educators who may need some inspiration. I also plan to stay up to date with any other TED videos that relate to education. These videos met NETS-T standard 5: engage in professional growth and leadership. Each teacher that spoke in the TED videos offered advice that will help other teachers to grow and become better leaders. The speakers in the TED videos met standard 5 by “participating in local and global learning communities”, “developing the leadership and technology skills of others”, and “contributing to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community”.

 3.Concept Map

My concept map was my very first lesson plan experience. I learned how to use the Inspiration tool and discovered that lesson plans require a lot of work. This assignment taught me how to base lessons off of the Common Core Standards, and I had no clue how I was going to do this at first. I changed my mind about which standards I was going to use several times, but I finally decided to go with two Literacy standards for first graders. The big problem I had with this assignment was that I was not pleased at all with my concept map once I had finished. When others began presenting theirs, I realized that I wanted to completely start over. Luckily, I did not get the chance to present on the first day. I fixed this problem by downloading Inspiration on my laptop and completely starting over. I used the same standards, but I came up with different activities for each day and made my concept map more visually appealing. I found this assignment to be the most useful for my future teaching since I learned how to use the Common Core to create a weeklong lesson plan. There are two NETS-T standards that this assignment met. The first is standard 1: facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity. This standard was met by using “technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation”. The second standard met is standard 2: design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments. This standard was met by “developing learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context”.

 4.Do Not Track Me

Our class was assigned to download DoNotTrackMe onto our personal computers for homework. The purpose of the DoNotTrackMe download is to block websites that track what you search for on the Internet. After downloading this onto my laptop, I surfed the net as usual and was surprised to discover that I had at least one or more tracker on each of my daily visited websites. I wasn’t expecting to have any trackers, and I was a little freaked out by how many I had on Facebook and Vine. DoNotTrackMe blocked these trackers from following me, and I still have it installed on my laptop. Every time I search the web, it shows me in the top left-hand corner how many trackers have been blocked. This assignment taught me that there truly is no privacy on the Internet. I had no clue that my activity was being tracked, and this was a huge eye opener for me. I have actually had zero problems with this download, and I plan to keep it installed on my laptop. DoNotTrackMe will help me in my future teaching of Internet safety. It is extremely important that children learn about Internet safety at a young age so that they can be aware of the many dangers. This download would also be helpful to have on classroom computers to block trackers. This assignment met NETS-T standard 4: promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility. This standard is met because the DoNotTrackMe assignment teaches “safe, ethical use of digital information and technology”.

 5.Augmented Reality

I had never heard of augmented reality prior to reading Laura Devaney’s article “Augmented Reality Snags a Coveted Spot in Classrooms” for homework, so I learned what augmented reality is and how it is being used to enhance student learning. Augmented reality takes learning to a whole new level as it allows you to find information about anything by simply scanning whatever item you wish to find information on. A problem that I encountered was with the augmented reality iPhone app. I downloaded the free version, but I was unable to find much information about the items I was searching for. This free version could definitely use some improvements. However, advanced and working augmented reality apps can certainly be beneficial for student learning. Students are able to use hands-on learning and are allowed to be as creative as they’d like. I plan to use the knowledge I obtained about augmented reality in my future classroom by allowing my students to experiment with it for projects. Hopefully, by that time, the free app will be improved and can be easily used in the classroom. The NETS-T standard that this particular assignment met was standard 1: facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity. This standard was met by advancing “student learning in virtual environments”. Augmented reality also “promotes student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes”.

 6.Voki

For this assignment, we created an account on the Voki website and made our own avatar. We were told to address our students and their parents as if we were the teacher. I learned how to introduce myself in a way that appeals to both students and parents. I had never thought of having a place online for parents to stay on top of what their child is doing each week, and I think that this is a great idea for my future teaching! The only problem I encountered was getting my Voki avatar to speak. With the help of my classmate, I was able to figure out what I was doing wrong and fix this problem. This activity got me excited for my future classroom since we were able to pretend that we were already teachers through an avatar. I plan to use what I have learned through this assignment to create an online environment for parents and students in the future. This is a great way for parents to get involved in their child’s academic success and stay informed on what their child is learning. This assignment meets two of the NETS-T standards. First, it meets standard 1: facilitate and inspire students. This standard is met by “advancing student learning in both face-to-face and virtual environments”. The second standard met is standard 5: model digital-age work and learning. Standard 5 is met by “collaborating with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation”.

7.Web 2.0 Sites

We were each assigned one or two websites to explore and think about how we could use them in our future classrooms. Out of the list of websites, I had only heard of a few of them, but I still didn’t know much about them. I learned what each website was created for, and discovered that some of them could be pretty useful to me in the future. I was assigned to explore Vimeo and Wordpress. The only problem I encountered was getting Vimeo to work, but I overcame this obstacle by being patient with the website and focusing on the positive aspects of it. I didn’t have any trouble with Wordpress, and if I ever become interested in blogging, this is the website I will use. Some of my peers had problems getting their websites to work at all, but this was only because these websites were ineffective. However, there were several websites that I was impressed with and plan to use for my future teaching career. The websites that impressed me were Instagrok, Glogster, Wordpress, Edmodo, and Socrative. This assignment met NETS-T standard 3: model digital-age work and learning. This standard was met by “demonstrating fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations”, “collaborating with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation”, communicating relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats”, and “modeling and facilitating effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning”.

8.Website

I created my website on cyber bullying and learned so much more about this topic that I wasn’t aware of. Through my research, I discovered that I have witnessed cyber bullying several times and never even realized it until this assignment. My website discussed the effects, frequency, and different ways to prevent cyber bullying. I learned that there are many ways that cyber bullying can be prevented before it occurs. Some problems I had while creating my website were with getting the layout, font, and images to look right. Nothing looked put together and my website looked sloppy. I was able to fix this problem by inserting tables and changing the form of the layout on each page. The knowledge I obtained from this assignment can be used in my future teaching career to teach my future students about cyber bullying. It is important that students understand exactly what this is and know what signs to look for. I also learned how to create a website through Google and how to use the different tools offered. The NETS-T standard that this assignment met was standard 4: promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility. Not everyone’s website was on cyber bullying, but everyone was required to make theirs about something relating to digital citizenship. Through this assignment, we were able to “advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources”. We also promoted and modeled “digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology information”.

9.Movie

The last project we did for this class was to create a movie using the Movie Maker application. I had never done anything like this before, so I learned how to do several different things. I learned how to import pictures from my phone to the computer through email, download and save mp3 songs, and how to put these things together to create a movie. I came across several problems for this assignment, and these problems caused me a great deal of frustration. When I was choosing my pictures for the assignment, I didn’t think about how I would use them to tell a story. Luckily, I came up with an idea I could use to tell a story through my ten random pictures. After I had posted my finished movie to my blog, I discovered that my song wasn’t working. My movie hadn’t saved properly, so I had to start over. This didn’t take too long, and I was able to finish and repost before time for my presentation. I could use the knowledge I gained from this assignment to make short slideshow presentations for my future students. Movie Maker is a great presentation tool, and I certainly think that it will come in handy someday. The NETS-T standard that this assignment met is standard 1: facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity. Through creating our own movies, we were able to “promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness”. This assignment advanced our “student learning, creativity, and innovation”.

 Course Reflection

This class has taught me that there are both positive and negative aspects to the increasing use of technology in the classroom. At first, I was extremely close-minded about ideas such as the Tech Common Core. Most students at the high school I attended abused technology in the classroom by using it for all of the wrong reasons. They would rarely stay on task and didn’t use any of it to advance their learning. In one of my high school technology classes, more than half of the class was constantly on social media sites instead of focusing on the lesson being taught. This teacher didn’t care, so the class continued to abuse the Internet rights. This experience was all I thought about when we started reading articles in this class about technology in the classroom. The more articles and opinions I was exposed to, the more open minded I became. I came to realize that there are so many positive aspects to integrating technology in the classroom that they might outweigh the negative. Technology wasn’t the problem in my high school class; the teacher was the problem. I was allowed several opportunities to use the iPad in this IT 365 class, and I have truly been able to see what a great teaching device this is. Through each assignment we have completed this semester, I have learned something new and useful that will benefit my future teaching career. I would say that my strongest point in this class has been listening to other opinions and allowing myself to be more open minded. The class discussions we have had taught me how to be a much better listener. I am also strong in my organizational skills because I always make sure to keep my assignments organized and always write down everything in my planner. My weakest point would have to be vocalizing my thoughts and opinions. Although I didn’t speak up much in this class, I have learned much more by simply sitting back and listening to the thoughts and opinions of my peers. I think that I have a difficult time vocalizing my thoughts because I am more of a writer than a speaker. A future learning goal of mine is to vocalize thoughts aloud that I would normally write and keep to myself. This will force me to step out of my comfort zone and speak up. Another future learning goal of mine is to allow my creativity to flow. I claim that I am not a creative person, but I believe that everyone has a creative side. As a future educator, it is important that I tap into my creative side and use my ideas to their fullest potential. This class has taught me numerous ways to integrate technology into the classroom. Two devices that I definitely plan on using everyday in my future classroom are an iPad and a Smartboard. The Blogspot website we used for this class was great for posting all of our work in one place. Blogs are great educational tools for older students, but younger students should stick to regular paper for assignments. Overall, this class has definitely benefited my future teaching career, and I have gained knowledge that will stay with me forever.

My Movie

A Conversation With a "Bad" Teacher

This article interviews John Owens, an educator whose career didn't turn out the way he had hoped. Owens taught at the Latinate Institute and failed to participate in a workshop for writing teachers because he didn't want to take time away from his students. The principle was not pleased with this, and his teaching career ended in less than a year. However, his experience at Latinate stuck with him, and inspired him to write an article about it for Salon. Thousands of people reached out to Owens, and MSNBC asked to interview him. He has now published a book called "Confessions of a Bad Teacher: The Shocking Truth From the Front Lines of American Public Education". In the interview, Owens is asked why he calls himself a "bad" teacher. He responds, "Because I was constantly told that if I were a good teacher, the kids who had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder would sit still and learn...the kids who didn't speak English would speak English...all the problems that these kids faced would be solved in my 46 minutes a day with them...and good teachers could solve these problems." The entire interview really shows how schools will do anything to make them look like they are doing a good job. It is extremely frustrating when teachers get in trouble with the principle when they are trying to do everything they can to help a student. When Owens was a teacher, the school's main priority was showing data and proving that the students were passing. With the implementation of the Common Core, I worry that more schools will become like this. Owens believes that teachers should be teaching good behavior and character to students along with subject matter. I certainly agree with this because these traits will carry you far in life and should be enforced at a young age. All of the answers that Owens gives in the interview are very real, and educators should consider reading his book. I am certainly interested in reading his book since it provides real insight from a former teacher who went against the grain and was punished by the school.

Kids Can't Compute

This article discusses how far technology has come since back in the day. When computers first came out, so much had to be done in order to simply save a file. Apps were never used to help with papers; they were simply written out then typed. Programs had to be memorized in order to find saved files, and many steps had to be completed in order to accomplish anything on a computer. Children today do not have to worry about any of this because they already have it done for them. With today's advanced computer systems, all you have to do it click save and you are done. Computer skills are no longer necessary to operate programs. The article suggests that with a decrease in knowledge, kids are less likely to comprehend how anything on the internet will remain there forever even if you delete it. The article also suggests that students should be able to build their own computer by the time they graduate high school. The high school I attended did focus much on computer skills, and I barely knew how to type when I graduated. I had to teach myself how to do these things because my computer teachers simply did not care to teach. I think that computer skills are vital to have before students enter college. I struggled my Freshman year of college because I had to type papers like crazy and had no idea what I was doing. However, my friends that attended different high schools had been taught these things and had to teach me. Children today need to know how to use computer programs in order to be prepared for college. All of this starts with teachers, and teachers who care about their students' success, are the only ones who should be allowed to teach.

From Advisees

There are several different things that advisees believe are beneficial for teachers to utilize. First, there is the ability to operate an LMS. Doctorate students think that anyone who aspires to be an educator should know how to create a class from this in order to benefit their students' future. Second, they believe you should have an extended understanding of Smartboards. Future educators also need to be educated about the new BYOD concept and how to handle this new idea in the classroom. Lastly, you should be familiar with the SAMR model. This is simply a model to illustrate the progression of technological learning that offers framework for teachers to follow as they integrate technology in the classroom. There are four aspects of the model which include the following: substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition. Prior to reading this article, the only term I was familiar with was BYOD which stands for Bring Your Own Device. I had to research LMS and found that it stands for Learning Management System. This is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting and delivery of e-learning education courses or training programs. The advisees suggest that teachers learn how to use tools that align with the age level of their students and learning content. I can certainly agree with this because not all tools are suitable for every grade. For example, BYOD would not work in a first grade classroom because first graders are much too young to own a cell phone or iPad. However, in a 7th grade classroom, this idea may work because most students at least have a cell phone by the time they reach junior high.

EDUCAUSE Sprint 2013: Beyond MOOC's

The transition that most higher educational facilities are making to MOOC's is explained in this article. This transition is basically massive online classrooms that offer more room for change than traditional lecture style classrooms that we see on college campuses. MOOC's allow professors to work on the class at any hour. These classes also benefit the student because they are able to work at the rate which they are most comfortable. For example, an advanced student may finish in three weeks, whereas a slower student may finish in twenty weeks. We have made an obvious shift from the informational age to the connected age. While there are numerous benefits of the MOOC's, there are also negative aspects that seem to be swept under the rug. I have taken several online courses here at USM over the past few years, and I haven't had many problems. The biggest problem that I've had with an online course is getting in contact with one of the professors. It was difficult to communicate with him since he didn't have office hours on campus, and email was the only form of contact. Also, I have found that I learn much more in an actual classroom interacting with other students than I do taking an online class. Online classes are becoming more popular among students, and this makes me a little worried. I think that interaction between teachers and students is so vital for learning, and online learning simply cannot compare to the interaction that actual classrooms provide. It is great that online classes are becoming more advanced, but it is important that we do not lose sight of interactive learning.

My Website

https://sites.google.com/site/cyberbullying102/