Five Star kindly allowed me to experience a course free of charge. Initially, I was hesitant but as the course progressed I was met with a wealth of knowledge and vast array of tools!
My concept of blended learning is much clearer and my mission as a technology integration specialist has changed. No longer am I just trying to convince teachers to use the iPads! I am showing them how to transform their classroom. Devices are not substitutionary items...... they are little transformers! (More than meets the eye!)
I now have incredible tools to share with my teachers! Symbaloo was by far one of my favorite items to share from the beginning. http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/web20teachertools
Gliffy stole my heart as well! I love to draw and create - this tool made that activity even more addicting! Students are now using it for projects and state that it is simple and ideal.
Google Apps, Prezi, SlideShare, Lino, Popplet, Padlet, Bundlr, Blogger, Curate.us, etc
The list goes on and on! While I knew the internet was full of resources, the challenge was finding ways to integrate said tools into the classroom. I feel that this course has provided the vision I need to step forward with confidence. I look forward to my next course with Five Star!
Maria Sellers Technology Integration
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Facebook & Twitter - What about My Big Campus or Edmodo?
I was posed with the following question:
"What is your opinion of using social media such as Facebook and Twitter for educational purposes with older students?"
This is a tough topic for me to tackle as I can see the value in using Facebook or Twitter. However, how does a school control bulling or cyber violence? How can I ensure that student A does not wonder off to another person's profile on Facebook while I help student E. The lack of monitoring is still bothersome to me.
It would be beneficial to discuss good digital citizenship through real life situations (role play or observation of others). Once students have completed the expected course or skill sets, it would be beneficial to have them sign a digital citizenship agreement. If they do not meet those good citizenship expectations, then I presume a loss of Facebook or Twitter use woud occur. However, then the teacher needs to find an alternative for that one student who did not demonstrate proper behavior.
For K-12, I would encourage the use of My Big Campus, which is an educational alternative for Facebook, or Edmodo for younger students. They are still immersed in the digital/social learning environment however they can still be monitored and guided as they develop their citizenship.
"What is your opinion of using social media such as Facebook and Twitter for educational purposes with older students?"
This is a tough topic for me to tackle as I can see the value in using Facebook or Twitter. However, how does a school control bulling or cyber violence? How can I ensure that student A does not wonder off to another person's profile on Facebook while I help student E. The lack of monitoring is still bothersome to me.
It would be beneficial to discuss good digital citizenship through real life situations (role play or observation of others). Once students have completed the expected course or skill sets, it would be beneficial to have them sign a digital citizenship agreement. If they do not meet those good citizenship expectations, then I presume a loss of Facebook or Twitter use woud occur. However, then the teacher needs to find an alternative for that one student who did not demonstrate proper behavior.
For K-12, I would encourage the use of My Big Campus, which is an educational alternative for Facebook, or Edmodo for younger students. They are still immersed in the digital/social learning environment however they can still be monitored and guided as they develop their citizenship.
Friday, May 10, 2013
This week I have explored a variety of curation tools for education. Such tools are:
MBC
Bundlenut
Google Sites
Wikispaces
Glogster
Popplet Bundlr
Learnist
Among this list are two that I would very much like to explore further. I already utilize Bundles in My Big Campus but I find that it could be helpful to create smaller bundles for students outside of MBC. Thus far, I am noticing that there are limits to the items I can place in the bundles on the above mentioned sites. It seems that I can only add sites which would create a collection of websites for learning. While this is disappointing to me, as I compare them to MBC, I am excited to find the uses and possibilites for Bundlenut and Bundlr.
While brainstorming, I have considered the following uses:
- Content Review
- Content for Group Discussion
- Content overviews
- Easy Multimedia Unit (schooltube, teachertube, etc)
- Student created bundles for assessment purposes (are they truly researching good sites)
MBC
Bundlenut
Google Sites
Wikispaces
Glogster
Popplet Bundlr
Learnist
Among this list are two that I would very much like to explore further. I already utilize Bundles in My Big Campus but I find that it could be helpful to create smaller bundles for students outside of MBC. Thus far, I am noticing that there are limits to the items I can place in the bundles on the above mentioned sites. It seems that I can only add sites which would create a collection of websites for learning. While this is disappointing to me, as I compare them to MBC, I am excited to find the uses and possibilites for Bundlenut and Bundlr.
While brainstorming, I have considered the following uses:
- Content Review
- Content for Group Discussion
- Content overviews
- Easy Multimedia Unit (schooltube, teachertube, etc)
- Student created bundles for assessment purposes (are they truly researching good sites)
- Research Sources Collection
Friday, May 3, 2013
Thoughts About Gathering Tools and Concepts for Technology Integration
Thus far in my journey I have encountered some new concepts and content as well as previously known content that has been setting idle in my mind. I am thrilled to state that I have found some resources that have initiated a redefinition of my approach to lesson planning with technology:
SAMR
Digital Native vs Digital Immigrants
Padlet (Oh how I adore you now!)
Gliffy
VoiceThread
Authentic Assessment (A New Outlook)
My educational setting is quite unique as I spend half of the week in a music classroom and the other half with teachers integrating technology into content curriculum. As a teacher, SAMR is absolutely redefining how I plan each and every lesson. While I knew before that substitution was not the end-all solution, I still used it at a crutch. I now find myself using substitution as a starting point for planning but not an end point for implementing. Padlet has become quite useful as I work with other teachers in my content field. Collaboration is much more convenient as we can contribute on our own time! Authentic Assessment and Feedback also redefined how I provided checkpoint assessments as well as the final RISE assessment in my classroom. The students were baffled but thrilled when I announced that our test would be in two parts similar to I-STEP +. Writing and online!!! I found that the students worked hard to completed the writing portion correctly with the goal of getting the iPad in their hands. While the online assessment excitement may wear off, the students are motivated now. The benefit for me as a teacher - I was able to spend more time on the writing portion which produced feedback for the students rather than a circled grade at the top of the page.
As a technology integration specialist all tools in the list above have become an integral part of my planning. With only a few weeks left, my ideas have little way to go for this school year. But in looking ahead VoiceThread is going to change the way students collaborate outside of the classroom. What a great way to allow for peer assessment and feedback! Gliffy will allow students to organize their thoughts and ideas almost instantly as will Padlet. I see so many opportunities for teachers to provide Feedback in small and large ways!
The biggest challenge will be pacing myself to allow teachers to take the steps which with they are comfortable as well as finding those tools that best apply to their classroom needs.
SAMR
Digital Native vs Digital Immigrants
Padlet (Oh how I adore you now!)
Gliffy
VoiceThread
Authentic Assessment (A New Outlook)
My educational setting is quite unique as I spend half of the week in a music classroom and the other half with teachers integrating technology into content curriculum. As a teacher, SAMR is absolutely redefining how I plan each and every lesson. While I knew before that substitution was not the end-all solution, I still used it at a crutch. I now find myself using substitution as a starting point for planning but not an end point for implementing. Padlet has become quite useful as I work with other teachers in my content field. Collaboration is much more convenient as we can contribute on our own time! Authentic Assessment and Feedback also redefined how I provided checkpoint assessments as well as the final RISE assessment in my classroom. The students were baffled but thrilled when I announced that our test would be in two parts similar to I-STEP +. Writing and online!!! I found that the students worked hard to completed the writing portion correctly with the goal of getting the iPad in their hands. While the online assessment excitement may wear off, the students are motivated now. The benefit for me as a teacher - I was able to spend more time on the writing portion which produced feedback for the students rather than a circled grade at the top of the page.
As a technology integration specialist all tools in the list above have become an integral part of my planning. With only a few weeks left, my ideas have little way to go for this school year. But in looking ahead VoiceThread is going to change the way students collaborate outside of the classroom. What a great way to allow for peer assessment and feedback! Gliffy will allow students to organize their thoughts and ideas almost instantly as will Padlet. I see so many opportunities for teachers to provide Feedback in small and large ways!
The biggest challenge will be pacing myself to allow teachers to take the steps which with they are comfortable as well as finding those tools that best apply to their classroom needs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)