April C
http://april-carpenter.blogspot.com/
Roger W
http://rogeronblog-roger.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Module 6: Learning in a Digital World
Technology has become part of most learning environments whether it be with the teacher using the SmartBoard to present PowerPoints or more extensive where the students are using IPads to access their text book. As an educator, I try to utilize technology on a daily basis, allowing my students to use the technology they already know while introducing them to new technology. This makes the learning environment interactive for the learners and in my opinion, makes my job easier because the learners are so much more involved in the lessons.
In an online environment I am able to work at my own pace and when the times are convenient for me and my schedule. If I were part of a face-to-face learning environment I would have to work around the scheduled times the class meets. This makes it difficult when I have a full time job, a four-year old son that is active. Online learning allows me to comment, voice my opinions and feel more freely to "speak" where as if I was in a face-to-face learning environment, I am typically the student that sits back and takes in what every one else says without ever voicing my opinion or sharing my knowledge.
With all of this said, I believe online learning isn't for everyone due to the discipline it takes to get the work completed and turned in by the due dates. I have seen a lot of learners that aren't successful with this type of environment because of the freedom it allows.
As a student of online learning, I believe this is the best setting for me. Sure I miss the face-to-face interaction of my instructor but I love the freedom I am allowed more than anything else. As a middle school teacher, I don't think online learning would work for many of my students. In my opinion, they aren't mature enough to take on the responsibility of that freedom. However, I do manage my classroom using a lot of technology--my students don't raise their hands when they have a question, they instead send me a IM message asking me the question. If it is one I am able to address from my IPad while walking around the classroom, then that's how that student receives their answer. If I need to address it by going to their work station then I do that. This helps eliminate a lot of "hand popping" as I call it........this has made my teaching experience so much easier and less demanding. Plus it allows my students to utilize a tool they all love!!
Brandy
In an online environment I am able to work at my own pace and when the times are convenient for me and my schedule. If I were part of a face-to-face learning environment I would have to work around the scheduled times the class meets. This makes it difficult when I have a full time job, a four-year old son that is active. Online learning allows me to comment, voice my opinions and feel more freely to "speak" where as if I was in a face-to-face learning environment, I am typically the student that sits back and takes in what every one else says without ever voicing my opinion or sharing my knowledge.
With all of this said, I believe online learning isn't for everyone due to the discipline it takes to get the work completed and turned in by the due dates. I have seen a lot of learners that aren't successful with this type of environment because of the freedom it allows.
As a student of online learning, I believe this is the best setting for me. Sure I miss the face-to-face interaction of my instructor but I love the freedom I am allowed more than anything else. As a middle school teacher, I don't think online learning would work for many of my students. In my opinion, they aren't mature enough to take on the responsibility of that freedom. However, I do manage my classroom using a lot of technology--my students don't raise their hands when they have a question, they instead send me a IM message asking me the question. If it is one I am able to address from my IPad while walking around the classroom, then that's how that student receives their answer. If I need to address it by going to their work station then I do that. This helps eliminate a lot of "hand popping" as I call it........this has made my teaching experience so much easier and less demanding. Plus it allows my students to utilize a tool they all love!!
Brandy
Monday, November 7, 2011
Module 5 Blog Comments:
Here are the blogs I commented on for this module:
April Carpenter
http://april-carpenter.blogspot.com/
Roger
http://rogeronblog-roger.blogspot.com/
April Carpenter
http://april-carpenter.blogspot.com/
Roger
http://rogeronblog-roger.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Module 5: New Technologies
When it comes to introducing new technologies in the workplace--you will experience one of two outcomes. The first outcome would be the one you would hope for which is a positive, everyone is on board and eager to integrate this new technology. The next outcome, is not so favorable, the majority of people are resisting this change and are not on board nor supportive of this new technology. There are times when the negativeness comes from the individuals not wanting change nor wanting to try new things--especially when it comes to technology.
As a business teacher and the technology coordinator of my school, I am often trained with the latest technology that the district is wanting to integrate into the classrooms. More times than not, I am faced with, "Not more work!" or "This isn't going to work in my classroom with X amount of students!" As you can see these comments are not very welcoming and typically start the in-service out on a bad foot. As a firm believer in technology, I always try to start my training off on a positive note, showing the teachers how easy it is to integrate the new technology, how it can make their work load less and how much the students will enjoy and benefit from the integration process. My teachers all know that I am only an email or phone call away if they ever encounter a problem or need help coming up with an effective integration project.
One particular piece of technology that I was to asked to train my teachers on was the use of gaggle. It is a website that allows our students to have a safe, secure, monitored email account, blog site, and social networking page. After I attended the in-service, I was hooked and I knew all of our students would be too. It was going to be the challenge of convincing our teachers to utilize this new tool. When I introduced this tool to our teachers, many of them saw it as too much work and taking away from their curriculum. Once I showed them how they could integrate the blogging into their daily curriculum instead of having the students use the traditional paper/pencil method--many of them loved the idea. I also went on to explain to them how much more work they should get from their students when the students know they are going to be able to use technology to complete the typical paper/pencil assignments. After a month of the students having access to their gaggle account and the teachers coming back together, I questioned how many of them were using this learning tool and to my surprise the majority of them are using it in some form within their classroom!
Dr. John Keller presents the "Motivational ARCS Design Process" which stands for: Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction. After reading his website, I was able to come to an understanding that everyone is motivated but in different ways. Everyone can be motivated, I just have to find the means that motivates each individual. I was able to motivate my fellow teachers by showing them how easy and how rewarding it would be for them to integrate gaggle into their daily lessons. Once the staff came together again, I had some of the fellow teachers that were having success with the learning tool to share some of the positive things they had experienced. Once some of the "resisting" teachers were able to hear more success stories than just mine, I found that more came aboard on the integration of this tool.
Resources:
www.arcsmodel.com
As a business teacher and the technology coordinator of my school, I am often trained with the latest technology that the district is wanting to integrate into the classrooms. More times than not, I am faced with, "Not more work!" or "This isn't going to work in my classroom with X amount of students!" As you can see these comments are not very welcoming and typically start the in-service out on a bad foot. As a firm believer in technology, I always try to start my training off on a positive note, showing the teachers how easy it is to integrate the new technology, how it can make their work load less and how much the students will enjoy and benefit from the integration process. My teachers all know that I am only an email or phone call away if they ever encounter a problem or need help coming up with an effective integration project.
One particular piece of technology that I was to asked to train my teachers on was the use of gaggle. It is a website that allows our students to have a safe, secure, monitored email account, blog site, and social networking page. After I attended the in-service, I was hooked and I knew all of our students would be too. It was going to be the challenge of convincing our teachers to utilize this new tool. When I introduced this tool to our teachers, many of them saw it as too much work and taking away from their curriculum. Once I showed them how they could integrate the blogging into their daily curriculum instead of having the students use the traditional paper/pencil method--many of them loved the idea. I also went on to explain to them how much more work they should get from their students when the students know they are going to be able to use technology to complete the typical paper/pencil assignments. After a month of the students having access to their gaggle account and the teachers coming back together, I questioned how many of them were using this learning tool and to my surprise the majority of them are using it in some form within their classroom!
Dr. John Keller presents the "Motivational ARCS Design Process" which stands for: Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction. After reading his website, I was able to come to an understanding that everyone is motivated but in different ways. Everyone can be motivated, I just have to find the means that motivates each individual. I was able to motivate my fellow teachers by showing them how easy and how rewarding it would be for them to integrate gaggle into their daily lessons. Once the staff came together again, I had some of the fellow teachers that were having success with the learning tool to share some of the positive things they had experienced. Once some of the "resisting" teachers were able to hear more success stories than just mine, I found that more came aboard on the integration of this tool.
Resources:
www.arcsmodel.com
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Module 4 Blog Comments
I posted to the following blogs:
Cynthia Harris
http://everythingeducational.blogspot.com/
April Carpenter
http://april-carpenter.blogspot.com/
Brandy
Cynthia Harris
http://everythingeducational.blogspot.com/
April Carpenter
http://april-carpenter.blogspot.com/
Brandy
Monday, October 24, 2011
Module 4: Commectivism
Connectivism
When I was a student in the public school system, the traditional classroom was the only form of teaching/learning one could be a part of. The learner was expected to sit in the classroom, listen to the expert-which was the teacher-and was not to question what he/she was saying. After the information was given, the learner would take the traditional paper/pencil assessment then move on to the next standard. Sixteen years later, that type of learning environment isn't as common. The learner is expected to explore their learning, forming their own way of thinking and assessed in various ways to show their understanding of the standard.
Learners within my classroom are given the standard and the project I want completed; it is up to them to work on finding the solution and presenting it in a manner that shows me they comprehend the standard. As educators we all know there are a number of ways to present your understanding of the same standard--by allowing my students to take control of their learning, I am allowing others to see that just one way of solving the problem isn't the only way. It also allows the students to learn using the learning style/method that is best for them.
The digital tools that best facilitate learning within my classroom are definitely computers. My students do utilize the SmartBoard a lot to demonstrate their learning to their fellow classmates as well as myself. We also use "Clickers" within the classroom when working on informal assessments. My students also work with their Gaggle account on a daily basis--updating their social networking page, their blog and simply communicating with fellow classmates and teachers.
When a question about new technology arises, I need to know where to look for the answers. I no longer need to be an expert on every piece of technology in my classroom/school. If I know where to find the answers then I can point my fellow colleagues and students in the right direction. This is part of connectivism--being connected to all of the right resources and being able to utilize those resources when needed.
Kop, R., & Hill, A. (2008). Connectivism: Learning theory of the future or vestige of the past? International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 9 (3), 1-13.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Module 3 Blog Comments
I posted a comment on the following blogs:
April Carpenter
http://april-carpenter.blogspot.com/
Jan Lopez
http://jancutforth.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/module-3-cooperation-collaboration/
April Carpenter
http://april-carpenter.blogspot.com/
Jan Lopez
http://jancutforth.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/module-3-cooperation-collaboration/
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