Thursday, June 16, 2016
Monday, August 5, 2013
Final Reflection
Obviously, I love using technology in my classroom. I find that my students learn more and are more engaged with the material. Starting new on something technology related can be challenging, and when it does not go right the first time, disheartening. Taking this course really helped me be able to see other people's views on technology, especially those who are just starting out or struggle with technology. It can be difficult understanding my fellow teachers views on technology because using technology has become second nature for me. This course allowed me to not only see where others are coming from in their use of technology, but also allowed me to help them learn as well.
Technology is something that will not go away in education, yet, just like thousands of other tools, technology is a tool nothing more. It cannot replace effective classroom management and proper pedagogy in the classroom. I think often people see technology as a replacement for the above and become frustrated when it is challenging to use in the classroom. This culminates with them just ignoring technology or using it improperly in the classroom. The advice I always have for people is find one or two things you like and go with that. Make your students understand it really well. So, for instance if you really love Prezi, then use it a lot in your classroom. Try to avoid the "one and done" aspect of technology. Because if you do, then students never really attempt to master a form of technology for their learning because they think it will never come back again in the classroom. In order to not overwhelm yourself and your students start small and stay there until you are comfortable.
This class allowed me to try a number of new things. Some I may use, others I may not. Overall, it was nice interacting with my fellow teachers on the subject of technology and I found blogger to be a great blogging platform that I plan on using in the future.
Technology is something that will not go away in education, yet, just like thousands of other tools, technology is a tool nothing more. It cannot replace effective classroom management and proper pedagogy in the classroom. I think often people see technology as a replacement for the above and become frustrated when it is challenging to use in the classroom. This culminates with them just ignoring technology or using it improperly in the classroom. The advice I always have for people is find one or two things you like and go with that. Make your students understand it really well. So, for instance if you really love Prezi, then use it a lot in your classroom. Try to avoid the "one and done" aspect of technology. Because if you do, then students never really attempt to master a form of technology for their learning because they think it will never come back again in the classroom. In order to not overwhelm yourself and your students start small and stay there until you are comfortable.
This class allowed me to try a number of new things. Some I may use, others I may not. Overall, it was nice interacting with my fellow teachers on the subject of technology and I found blogger to be a great blogging platform that I plan on using in the future.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
BONUS POST!!!
I did not see this 2.0 site anywhere in our activities but I thought it would be great to share.
Scoop it is a great site (click here to visit) that basically is a live bookmarking site that allows you to make comments on site and tag them. Check out the video below for more information. You can visit my scoop it for sociology by clicking here.
I can envision using this site in class as a way to enrich the material and to give real world examples. Particularly, I think for those students who are always completing the work quickly and mastering it, the site could serve as a source of enrichment material.
Scoop it is a great site (click here to visit) that basically is a live bookmarking site that allows you to make comments on site and tag them. Check out the video below for more information. You can visit my scoop it for sociology by clicking here.
I can envision using this site in class as a way to enrich the material and to give real world examples. Particularly, I think for those students who are always completing the work quickly and mastering it, the site could serve as a source of enrichment material.
Activity #10
I have been using schoology now for about 2 years and I love it! The people who created and support schoology are probably the best people in the world. They created an amazing site, update it regularly with user requested changes, and are great about following up with personal responses to questions. The best part of schoology is how familiar it looks to facebook. Students really like it and actually want to go to the site unlike other sites *cough* moodle *cough*. I would post a link to my courses but, like moodle, only students and teachers of the course are allowed to be part of the course.
I use schoology to post videos for my flipped classrooms, as well as retake quizzes for students who do not do well on their initial quizzes. I also use the remind101 app to send out text messages to students. Schoology allows you to integrate your school calendar into the site, allows for unlimited uploading, allows for easy to use interface, allows for integration of state standards into activities, and the list goes on. I can't really say enough about schoology.
I plan on using the site more, and in regards to my flipped instruction, creating more flipped mastery courses.
Activity #9
Scenario 4: Age Restrictions
Ms. Applegate, a Spanish teacher, heard about an interactive poster tool called Glogster. She played around with it and made some really cool electronic posters about different Spanish-speaking countries to use as visuals with her students. Her students liked the posters so much that she decided to have students make some of their own outlining some key features of different Latino holidays. Ms. Applegate discovered in the computer lab while her 8th grade students were creating accounts that Glogster asked students to verify that they were at least 13 years of age or older. This didn’t pose a problem for her 8th graders but Ms. Applegate panicked because the following period she planned to do the same activity with her 6th graders.
Ms. Applegate, a Spanish teacher, heard about an interactive poster tool called Glogster. She played around with it and made some really cool electronic posters about different Spanish-speaking countries to use as visuals with her students. Her students liked the posters so much that she decided to have students make some of their own outlining some key features of different Latino holidays. Ms. Applegate discovered in the computer lab while her 8th grade students were creating accounts that Glogster asked students to verify that they were at least 13 years of age or older. This didn’t pose a problem for her 8th graders but Ms. Applegate panicked because the following period she planned to do the same activity with her 6th graders.
1. Discuss the possible ethical issues involved.
The primary ethical issue here is the material is age restricted by the website. If Ms. Applegate has her 6th grade students make accounts she is going to have to have them lie about their age. Asking students to lie is probably frowned upon, yet more importantly, if there is a restriction for the site it may not be suitable for students under a certain age.
2. Determine if the safety or well-being of anyone is in jeopardy.
2. Determine if the safety or well-being of anyone is in jeopardy.
Well, assuming that material on the site may not be appropriate for children under 13 (in the case of gloster the only issue I can see is students under 13 may not be developed enough to use some of the comment sections of the site.
3. What advice, strategy, or policy would you recommend to individuals or schools based on this scenario?
3. What advice, strategy, or policy would you recommend to individuals or schools based on this scenario?
This is a tough one. Obviously Ms. Applegate has reviewed the site and feels it is appropriate for her 6th grade students. Now, should she let, what may be an arbitrary limitation get in the way of authentic learning, or should she abide by the limits of the site? By making blanket school based decisions about this, and not allowing individual teachers decision making ability in this regard, you risk having arbitrary restrictions that build distrust among teachers. I would advise that the school create some kind of system that allows for approval of sites that are age restricted. Who would make up the review board for this is another question.
4. Share any real-life incidents or personal connections related to the scenario.
4. Share any real-life incidents or personal connections related to the scenario.
Mmm...so I have actually done this before on sites. For instance in my AP US Government course I have students participate in research done by Columbia University. About 1/3 of the students in the class are above 18, yet the research site does restrict participation to 18+. Like Ms. Applegate I reviewed the study and found it appropriate for younger students. I suspect that the age limit was created by the researchers to ensure they could pass an internal ethics review.
Scenario 6: Course Management Overload
Ms. Carlson is excited to use Edmodo, a course management system similar to Moodle with her students. Although Edmodo isn’t officially supported by the tech department like Moodle is, she is excited to use it because she finds it much more intuitive to use and she likes the interface better than Moodle. Ms. Carlson is vigilant about the privacy settings, has informed her principal and parents of her instructional goals and objectives. Her students jump on board and post to the discussion at record numbers. Ms. Carlson is pleased to see such motivated dialogue on a novel that had previously felt like pulling teeth. Two weeks into the unit, she receives a parent complaint. The complaint is as follows:
Dear Ms. Carlson, Mr. Miller, Mr. Hamilton and Ms. McIntyre,
Although my son is a motivated and active participant in all of your classes, I am concerned that the school does not seem to have a unified course management system. He is using Moodle in Math, Edmodo in English, Schoology in Science, and Kidblog in Social Studies. Furthermore, all of these sites require different logins and passwords. As a parent, I am having a difficult time keeping this all straight and am requesting that the school discuss this issue and figure out a more streamlined approach.
Thank you for your consideration,
A supportive but confused parent
1. Discuss the possible ethical issues involved.
There does not seem to be any major ethical issue with this scenario. The ethical issue here is the teacher is using a site not approved by the tech department...an ethical violation that honestly is on par with telling a telemarketer you don't speak English. It is unethical but the means to an end may be justified.
2. Determine if the safety or well-being of anyone is in jeopardy.
Assuming that the other sites have security concerns, students personal information and privacy my be up for grabs here.
3. What advice, strategy, or policy would you recommend to individuals or schools based on this scenario?
I would recommend that schools allow teachers to use the devices and sites they feel are best for their classes. I think some small review system should be created but teachers should be allowed freedom when it comes to incorporating technology into a course.
4. Share any real-life incidents or personal connections related to the scenario.
Again this scenario is all too familiar. I stopped using Moodle about 2 years ago because I could not stand to use something that was surpassed by America Online about 10 years ago. I currently use schoology and find it to be far better than moodle or any other social networking service. Students like it and I have yet to confront the issue above. I think this is because so many students enjoy the format that they don't complain about using it to their parents. Although...never say never when using technology and students.
Scenario 6: Course Management Overload
Ms. Carlson is excited to use Edmodo, a course management system similar to Moodle with her students. Although Edmodo isn’t officially supported by the tech department like Moodle is, she is excited to use it because she finds it much more intuitive to use and she likes the interface better than Moodle. Ms. Carlson is vigilant about the privacy settings, has informed her principal and parents of her instructional goals and objectives. Her students jump on board and post to the discussion at record numbers. Ms. Carlson is pleased to see such motivated dialogue on a novel that had previously felt like pulling teeth. Two weeks into the unit, she receives a parent complaint. The complaint is as follows:
Dear Ms. Carlson, Mr. Miller, Mr. Hamilton and Ms. McIntyre,
Although my son is a motivated and active participant in all of your classes, I am concerned that the school does not seem to have a unified course management system. He is using Moodle in Math, Edmodo in English, Schoology in Science, and Kidblog in Social Studies. Furthermore, all of these sites require different logins and passwords. As a parent, I am having a difficult time keeping this all straight and am requesting that the school discuss this issue and figure out a more streamlined approach.
Thank you for your consideration,
A supportive but confused parent
1. Discuss the possible ethical issues involved.
There does not seem to be any major ethical issue with this scenario. The ethical issue here is the teacher is using a site not approved by the tech department...an ethical violation that honestly is on par with telling a telemarketer you don't speak English. It is unethical but the means to an end may be justified.
2. Determine if the safety or well-being of anyone is in jeopardy.
Assuming that the other sites have security concerns, students personal information and privacy my be up for grabs here.
3. What advice, strategy, or policy would you recommend to individuals or schools based on this scenario?
I would recommend that schools allow teachers to use the devices and sites they feel are best for their classes. I think some small review system should be created but teachers should be allowed freedom when it comes to incorporating technology into a course.
4. Share any real-life incidents or personal connections related to the scenario.
Again this scenario is all too familiar. I stopped using Moodle about 2 years ago because I could not stand to use something that was surpassed by America Online about 10 years ago. I currently use schoology and find it to be far better than moodle or any other social networking service. Students like it and I have yet to confront the issue above. I think this is because so many students enjoy the format that they don't complain about using it to their parents. Although...never say never when using technology and students.
Activity #8
Google Form: Introduction to Deviance Quiz
I have used both poll everywhere and google forms extensively in my courses. Poll everywhere is great in both polling but also something I really enjoy "Live Tweeting or blogging" of videos in class. I bring in another projector to my class when watching videos and what I do is project students comments about the film next to the film. All you have to do for this to work is create an open ended question in polleverywhere like "Write your comments on the film Urbanized" and then make sure you moderate the poll--this way only the things you want students to see appears on the screen. Obviously the limitations of this is having devices for students to make comments. Luckily, polleverwhere is really "bring your own device" friendly. Students can simply use their cell phones to make comments--now keeping them from texting may be difficult. If you are lucky enough to have iPods or iPads this is a lot easier. I use google forms everyday for quick quizzes on the videos students are to watch for homework. They work great and after all students have taken the quiz in class I immediately pull up the results and analyze students answers. This allows for immediate follow-up to the questions and a class discussion of the questions and answers.
Activity #7
Google Form: Information Form
The particular example of cloud computing that I shared above illustrates what I think maybe one of the greatest benefits of cloud computing, taking something that was once done with paper and pen and in class and doing it digitally and possibly outside of class.
I use cloud computing extensively in my courses. Almost everyday students take quizzes using google forms. Additionally, I have students submit most of their class work on google forms. It makes organizing the material incredibly easy for me and it allows me to save a ton of paper.
Some of the pros of cloud computing is probably the most simple for me, I have terrible handwriting that even students cannot read. When I have students submit material digitally I can make comments that students understand and I can even provide links and videos for further instruction. Another pro, is I can easily provide the instructions for students who miss class, or wish to do material over again, by simply sharing a link with them.
Some of the cons are obvious, such as availability of the material--especially when the wifi is on the frits, while others are more complicated like training students in the use of such things as google docs. I devote at least one day to training students on google docs/presentations/forms/etc. and then try to incorporate it as much as possible. Otherwise students either forget how to use the service, or fein ignorance. The easiest way to avoid this is again to use the material as much as possible to not overload students with dozens of cloud options (like evernote) and just stick to one service.
The particular example of cloud computing that I shared above illustrates what I think maybe one of the greatest benefits of cloud computing, taking something that was once done with paper and pen and in class and doing it digitally and possibly outside of class.
I use cloud computing extensively in my courses. Almost everyday students take quizzes using google forms. Additionally, I have students submit most of their class work on google forms. It makes organizing the material incredibly easy for me and it allows me to save a ton of paper.
Some of the pros of cloud computing is probably the most simple for me, I have terrible handwriting that even students cannot read. When I have students submit material digitally I can make comments that students understand and I can even provide links and videos for further instruction. Another pro, is I can easily provide the instructions for students who miss class, or wish to do material over again, by simply sharing a link with them.
Some of the cons are obvious, such as availability of the material--especially when the wifi is on the frits, while others are more complicated like training students in the use of such things as google docs. I devote at least one day to training students on google docs/presentations/forms/etc. and then try to incorporate it as much as possible. Otherwise students either forget how to use the service, or fein ignorance. The easiest way to avoid this is again to use the material as much as possible to not overload students with dozens of cloud options (like evernote) and just stick to one service.
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