Web sites/Online Tools

In this class, Learning through Technology, we covered a long list of different online tools and Web sites that teachers can implement into their classroom.

For teachers Web sites include K12 Online Conference, EdTech Talk and Rubistar. While for students, sites like Glogster and Wordle could be beneficial. But regardless of the sites used, teachers need to be aware of making sure these sites, and sites students use to search, are appropriate for the classroom.

In class, we discussed things to check on a Web site to make sure it contains accurate and appropriate content. Some of those things include:

-Who made the Web site (check credentials at the bottom of the site... or on one of the pages)

-Based off of WHO made the Web site: Is that person/company/organization biased toward one point instead of showing both sides and all accurate points regarding the topic?

-When was the site last updated?

-What is the authors credentials/background?

You can also use Kathy Schrock's Guide to Web site Evaluations for students to evaluate the different Web sites. What I've learned through in-class observations and in this class, is most districts/schools block unnecessary content-based Web sites. One of the biggest blocked sites is YouTube. If a teacher can access YouTube, they should use "SilentTube" to can make sure no inappropriate advertisements are displayed.

"Digital Nation"

I think the biggest lesson I took away from PBS FrontLine's "Digital Nation" was the fact that students multitask more now than they ever have before.

One student in the video made the comment that he'll be eating dinner with a friend and when his Blackberry goes off, it's not a big deal that he answers it. I think as a person (not even inside the classroom) this is something that bothers me. When I'm trying to have a conversation with a friend but their not fully listening because their busy text messaging someone else, it's very annoying.

One teacher from MIT did make this comment, however: "(students) need to be stimulated in ways they didn't need to be stimulated before." I do believe that statement to be true in terms of the need to integrate technology into the classroom. When I was in elementary school we didn't have computers and were fine learning with a book, a piece of paper and a pencil. Today's students, however, use a computers daily, along with other forms of technology. They need to be stimulated in ways they understand: via technology.

Although I don't enjoy people text messaging while I'm trying to have a conversation with them, I would have to agree that students are better at multitasking in today's world than ever before. For example, if a student is in a class and thinks of a question they need to ask a coworker at work, they can send an instant e-mail. Although I understand multitasking in a college setting, I'm not sure how this would work in a middle school classroom (which is where I would want to teach).

Last few weeks of class...

In the last few weeks of class, I hope to learn about resources that can help me as a new teacher. I'm not currently working in the field so the things we've learned about what a GLE is and where to find them on the Department of Education Web site have helped tremendously.

I hope to learn about different resources such as where jobs are posted online and how to apply for them. Also any do's and don'ts when it comes to applications, like we briefly discussed in class last week.

Other ideas on things I hope to learn over the next three weeks include:

- Thoughts on being social networking "friends" with your students or kids you are coaching in a sport.

- Thoughts on how to communicate with students best such as having a classroom Web site or a site similar to blackboard.

- What to put in a printed/paper portfolio and what to bring to an interview

- How to get certified in other states like Massachusetts and where to find this information online

Overall, I've learned a bunch of great resources to use in different lesson plans. I hope to find a way to keep all the information together, so I can use it in the future. Any thoughts on how to keep these sites and information together, would be great.

The Half-Point Experience

We're about half way done with this term and I feel I've learned a lot of helpful information to use both inside and outside of the classroom. I wasn't sure what to expect on the first day of class. But along with learning ways to turn everyday pencil-and-paper assignments into technology-based classwork, I've also learned about lesson plans and other helpful tools: things I didn't know before since I'm not currently working in the educational field.

Before this class, I had no idea what a GLE was or how to interpret the oh-so-confusing NECAP scores. But at this point in the term, I already have a much better understanding of the "teaching language" and how to develop things like a rubric and a GLE tool list.

Tools I plan to use inside my classroom include Quizlet and Wordle. As a future middle school language arts teacher, Wordle can show my students what the true meaning is behind their essays and Quizlet can prepare them for a variety of tests and quizzes.

There are a few tools we learned that I have already used outside of this graduate class and outside of the educational field. Those would include: Google Doc's and iGoogle (which is currently my homepage on my computer). With my home computer being a Mac and my work computer being a PC, it's easy to create documents on Google Doc's so they are compatible with each other no matter what computer I'm on. There have been times I've thought I've saved documents correct, ending in .doc, but it won't open on a different computer. Google Doc's saves me the stress and worries, as I know it will open regardless of the program or computer I'm using.

The one thing I hope we can go over (or I can try to figure out) would be finding a way to keep the links and online handouts together so I can use them in my classroom one day. With this being my first term at SNHU, and graduation not happening until 2011, I don't want all the valuable tools, information and "goodie bag items" to just disappear.

Educational Technology Tool

Out of the three virtual tools we learned about in class, in regards to teaching a math-based lesson, I found MathPlayground.com to be the most user friendly.

I used MathPlayground.com when I created my GLE for my group document this week. I focused on Geometry and Measurement GLE M(G&M)2-9, which was asked that students "demonstrate an understanding of spatial relationships using location and position." On MathPlayground.com I found a virtual tool called a Geometry Board. In this hands-on activity, students explore geometric concepts of area and perimeter, while trying to find out how many shapes can you make with a perimeter of 16 units. The students drag a virtual rubber elastic around an online board filled with nails, to create different shapes.

I found that several virtual tools, like the Geometry Board, were similar to what I used when I doing hands-on math activities in grade school. The only difference is the rubber bands and the board with nails in it were real back then. They weren't on a computer screen. I think the biggest thing I've learned from exploring different online activities for the classroom, is that not only are you helping a student to learn through the way they know (virtual) but you are also saving your school district money but having them use computers (not buy nail boards and rubber bands) to show how many shapes can fit.

Students accessing the digital world

"Can teachers provide equal access to the digital world to all students. If so, what does it mean to do it and what might it look like.If not, why not and what would it take."

Teachers providing access to students in the digital world depends on the school district where they're working and the resources that are available. If there is limited computer access, it would be difficult for a teacher to assign technology-based assignments. Opening a student's eyes to the digital world would also depend on the resources available to the students outside of the classroom. If there was no computer lab, or if most student's didn't have a computer at home, it would be hard to assign technology-based homework.

It would take having the correct resources available for teachers to provide access to students in the digital world. It would also take the experience of the teacher to gain more knowledge about the updated technology that is always changing and improving. For example, attending conferences and going back to school would be two different means of learning about the updated technology in order to successfully teach students the required material.

21st Century Leader

After watching the K12 Online Conference from 2009 called "You Might be a 21st Century Leader if..." I learned what it takes to be a teacher in this era of technology. This show took place on Dec. 9, 2009 at 12 p.m. and can be found at http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=439.

When people think about the word "modern", they think about the physical appearance of something, but according to the video modern learning isn't about the physical appearance of a school building, but it has to do with the way students learn and the way teachers teach.

Planned technology should be part of a teacher's curriculum and structure to create new standards. With technology being everywhere, and it being the way the world works today, technology should be integrated into learning, according to the online conference. Some examples include a good student-to-computer ratio, training for teachers to teach with digital age tools, etc.

Although I agree with what David Wells said in the conference, I feel as though the show wasn't very interesting. There wasn't any specific information I took away from the program that I could implement in the classroom. It was more of him proving his point on why people should use technology in education and was almost 15 minutes of repetitive information, in my own opinion.

Collaboration

What can we gain through collaboration? After going through last week's readings of "The World is Open," I learned that collaboration allows students to gain perspectives from outside of the classroom walls.

For instance, if a classroom in the United States collaborates through iEARN or ePals, they can work with students in classrooms across the world. Collaboration allows the students to learn from not just reading a textbook about the Philippines, but it allows them to learn about the country through speaking to Filipino students and teachers. This gives them the first-hand learning experience; as close as they can get to actually visiting the country.

Collaboration can also be used inside the classroom by pairing students up in groups. Although this isn't as different a perspective as speaking to someone on the Internet in a different country, it still gives the students a different perspective/opinion from another student in their class.

Other things we can gain through collaboration, can be learned by using social networking sites like Facebook.com and Twitter.com. These sites allow people to share their ideas in a fast, simple way.

There is nothing you can't gain through collaboration. It just expands everyone's knowledge.

K12 Online Conference: IPod Touch

I went onto the K12 Online Conference in the 2009 archive and found a session titled "Just a touch of leadership-- Using the iPod Touch/iPhone in administration." This session interested me because even though I graduated from high school only five years ago, I would have never been allowed to use an iPod in the class. It's still strange to me to see that administrators at different school districts depend on technology, like an iPod Touch, to enhance education.

Through the session I learned that administrators use iPod touch/iPhones for several different things. One thing is to take notes when observing teachers in their classroom. The session named two applications on the iPhone that assist administrators including eWalk and iObserve. This always them to see the standards and then take notes. One specific thing I learned in the video was how an administrator used her iPhone to take a photo of graffiti. She then downloaded the photo on her laptop and e-mailed it to the sheriff's department.

In the video, it stated how much time time the iPod Touch saves administrators. "It has really helped me with my management," one person interviewed in the video session said. People compared the iPod Touch to a laptop, but because of the number of applications, size, ability as a phone, the video showed how an iPod Touch is more beneficial than a laptop.

I have never been onto K12 Online Conference or EdTechTalk, since I haven't been in the education field more than this one class, but I have already found it to be a beneficial tool. Things like realizing how an iPod can be used as an administrator (and even a teacher) I would have never thought about had I not found the video conference on K12 Online Conference.

Essential Question: Integrating Technology

Integrating technology into lessons is important because, as discussed in class on Jan. 4, teachers need to focus on what the student is learning not on what is being taught. Students in today's world learn through being hands on. They use different forms of technology to communicate such as texting on a cell phone, updating their Twitter or Facebook page and sending e-mails. Creating a hand written letter is something that is rarely seen into today's world. With resources available, like computers and calculators, which are used in everyday life it makes no sense as to why a teacher wouldn't incorporate them into the classroom. Teaching is about engaging the student and helping them to learn through the way they learn best.

The purpose of integrating technology into learning is not only to help the student learn in the way they know best, but also because it ties into everyday life. As discussed in class, it isn't often that we are presented with a long division math problem and don't have access to a calculator. Integrating technology into learning also helps keep the students engaged and can make lessons more fun. For example using Wordle to show students what the focus of their essay really is. By bringing technology into the classroom, it not only engages the student but it prepares them for real world situations with technology after they graduate.

A little about me...

My name is Kelly and I'm in my first week as a graduate student at Southern New Hampshire University. I graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University in December 2008 and landed my first journalism job in Tacoma, Wash. with The News Tribune. I relocated back east and currently work for The Nashua Telegraph.
After substitute teaching during college breaks, I quickly learned I wanted to become a middle school language arts teacher. With the direction the journalism field is currently heading, I figured there was no time like the present to head back to school for my Master's Degree.