My Personal Learning Network Journal #7

NETS-V Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
Educators need to continuously grow, explore new ideas and model lifelong learning. One way to seek new information is through a Personal Learning Network which is a customized group of resources gathered from different technological tools.

 A Personal Learning Network (PLN) is a customized group of resources gathered from different technological tools such as Twitter, Delicious or Wikis.  A PLN allows the educational community to collaboratively share information, knowledge, lesson plans, or new pedagogy locally or globally.  I started my Personal Learning Network by subscribing to Classroom 2.0; adding and following education related forums and chats on Twitter; using Delicious Bookmarking website.  My Personal Learning Network is designed to assemble many different educational resources in one place that can be easily accessed and expanded based on my personal interests.  As a future educator I will continue to grow my PLN and participate in my network community.  I will seek opportunities implement the information and knowledge gathered from my PLN to directly improve student learning.   

My twitter account consists mostly of Educational Websites.  The Websites include the National Endowment for Humanities, US Department of Education, National Association of Elementary Schools, NEA media, and The National Middle School Association.  I am also following our edchat422 and will add teachers as I grow my twitter network.  I originally chose to add the website to stay current in the educational community. 

My delicious bookmarks follow the same format as my twitter account.  I have tagged websites such as the Websites for students: 10 Learning Tools, Google for Educators, Smithsonian Education Website, NEA achievement gaps, and multiple intelligences.  I didn’t search for anything specific because I wanted to explore broad ideas.  In the future I will narrow the searches as I become more familiar with the networking tools. 

 I joined the digital forum Classroom 2.0.  Within the website I followed the blog link Most Popular Blog Posts By John Costilla.  On his post he had 100 best youtube videos for teachers list provided by SmartTeaching.org.  This list included videos for History, Science, Language, Art, Inspiration, Classroom Management, How To’s and Guides, Technology and Humor.  I watched a video made by Steve Spangler, How to be an amazing teacher.  He demonstrated different activities that would amaze and engage elementary students.  I look forward to exploring other videos on this blog page.  When I incorporate technology into my classroom I will use some of the videos in my lesson plans.   

iMovie CSUSM PSA

NETS-IV Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
Using digital video editing software is a great way to make a movie which advocates, models and teaches safe, legal, and ethical uses of digital information.

Journal #10

Journal #10 “10 Great Ways to use Digital Video Cameras in the Classroom” NETS-I, II, IV

Ullman, Ellen. (2010).10 great ways to use digital video cameras in the classroom. Tech and Learning, 31(4), Retrieved from http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newbay/tl_201011/#/

This article highlights 10 different ways to use digital video cameras in the classroom. The ideas to utilize video include public service announcements, creative slide shows, immerse classrooms in another culture, record student’s journals or responses, learning to read and improve school to home communication. Teachers are experimenting with different creative options incorporating technology.

Q1: Wouldn’t using digital video be expensive?

A1: Not necessarily, any type of camera could be used to create videos, including phones, flips or standard video cameras.  Many people already own video cameras, a teacher could use their own camera, or a parent could lend a camera to the classroom for use.  A retail store could be petitioned to donate a camera to the school.  A school would only need one camera to share with all the classrooms, where as other equipment would need to be provided in multiples. 

Q1: Should teachers utilize this media more in their classrooms?  

A1: There are many options and ideas available about how to use cameras for academic improvement. Teachers have an incredible opportunity to utilize technology to reach and inspire students in non traditional ways. Using video also gives teachers the option of reviewing their students performance and can focus on areas that need improvement.  

Journal #9

Ed 422 Journal #9  “I Can See Me: Webcams in the Classroom”  NETS 1,2 & 5

Frey, Timothy J., Houlton, Abby L., & Gruis, Elizabeth D. (2010). I can see me: webcams in the classroom. Learning & Leading with Technology, 38(3), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-november.aspx

Webcams are put to use in the classroom to help struggling readers.  Students watch and record themselves as they read.  As they see themselves they begin to recognize errors and begin to self correct and self monitor.  Students who used webcams showed a decrease in errors and an increase in reading fluency.  

Q1: What would be the difficulty to implementing a webcam reader program in the classroom?

A1: One of the problems would be, not all schools have the equipment necessary to implement a webcam program.  Also, it  is incredibly time consuming.  If a teacher had 32 students and if even a third needed the support of a webcam program, that would be 10 students trying to read, re-read, record and review on a consistent basis to gain the benefits from the program.  Unless a teacher had an aide that could be assigned just to help those reading students it would be extremely hard to utilize the program. 

Q1: How else could a webcam be used in the classroom?

A1: The ability to use a webcam in the classroom can connect students with other students across the United States and the World.  Students could also collaborate in groups to record a project.  A webcam could be used as a testing tool.  Instead of just the standard paper based test, students could be asked a series of questions and recorded.  The recording could then be analyzed for understanding of concepts.  Technology needs to be reevaluated and utilized for its value to improve education.

Journal #8

Journal #8  “Teach you students to share using iCyte” NETS 2, 3, 4 & 5

Huston, David. (2010). Teach your students to share using icyte. Learning & Leading with Technology, 38(3), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-november.aspx

The tool iCyte is a bookmarking tool that allows students to capture, save, share information and collaborate on research projects.  It acts like a personal learning network.  Students are able to bookmark certain sites they found relevant to their research, and access sites that other students have found relevant to the topic.  This tool could take the place of scanning  several sites trying to find relevant sources.  

Q1: What are the benefits of using iCyte?

A1:  There are many benefits to using iCyte.  One benefit is students can share their information.  After finding relevant sources, students are able to save it in one location for easy access which saves time.  Another benefit is the abundance of relevant information in one location.  It is an easy tool to learn and can be utilized during a regular computer lab session. 

Q2: Are there any drawbacks to using iCyte?

A1: There would be very few drawbacks to using iCyte.  It would be the responsibility of the teacher to research the site and learn how to use it effectively then teach it to the students.  Some students may have difficulty with learning a new technology tool.  Some students may not find it necessary to look for new information to add.  

Journal #6

ED 422   Arlynn Cook   November 11, 2010

Journal #6 “Change Agent” NETS-T  3, 4 & 5

Rebora, A. (2010, October 11). Change agent. Education Week Teacher pd Sourcebook, 4(1), Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/tsb/articles/2010/10/12/01richardson.h04.html?cmp=clp-edweek&intc=bs&sms_ss=delicious&at_xt=4cb7dc75d0303b73

Educational Weekly conducted on interview with Will Richardson, who is a high school teacher and has written a book “Integrating Web 2.0 technology in classrooms K-12” and advocates integrating Web 2.0 tools in the classroom.  He believes students need to learn how to navigate the web and share information using current technologies, moving away from a “what not to do” attitude toward a “what to do”.  He says the environment of education and learning is changing and teachers must embrace the new culture and learn to utilize web 2.0 tools to build a network of other educators to share and gather ideas.  The second component is to teach the students how to use the web and build their own network for accessing and learning.  Learning and education needs to be moved from the traditional platform to a technology based one.  He agrees that children today are considered tech savvy, however, in more of a social and interest based arena than a learning one.

Q1.  Who is responsible for implementing a technology based learning program in the schools?

A1.  According to Richardson he believes the responsibility lies with the teachers who should model, provide technology understanding and implement a technology based structure into the curriculum.  That would be totally unrealistic, the only way the platform of education could change would be for a complete overhaul of the education system, starting with the legislators at the top who have already implemented a system of high stakes testing.  In addition, some schools are provided more technology resources than others, it is already a proven fact the resources are not evenly distributed across school districts.

Q1.  Would teaching technology to students limit their attention span or learning ability ?

A1.  Teaching students how to research and gather information effectively enhances literacy and comprehension and exercises analytical thinking and problem solving.  In addition it would provide the opportunity for students to participate and network with other students in an appropriate learning community.  

PLN

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