Entry #14 - My classroom in the future

It's exciting to think that I will have a classroom in not just five years, maybe even next year! I don't think my teaching style will change drastically, but I do know I will be incorporating technology a whole lot more. Depending on the school district I teach in, I would love to have several computers in my classroom, an interactive board, document camera, and more. I would love to keep a class blog, create visual presentations (both me and the students), use gradebook software, do online research, use online resources in lessons, create our own class video projects, and the list could go on and on. So much has changed in the past 10 years since I have been teaching. I would actually suggest to my principal to have technology training every year to familiarize teachers with what resources are available. Technology scares me, but with what I have learned in this class, it does not seem so impossible to learn. I think my role as a teacher will be less of an informational output, and more of a facilitator of learning. I want to expose students to tools that will help them be lifelong learners for their own enjoyment and not for any classroom test or teacher.

Assignment #4 - technology project

Whew! I never thought I would be able to accomplish so much and with relative ease as well. I created a wiki for my "class" that detailed instructions for creating a video book report. I also created and attached a sample book report that I did with my son. Both wikis and video making were new for me and a stretch to accomplish, but the demonstrations in class and the directions online were enough to guide me. At times my son wished I would quit bugging him to get it done, but he loved being able to participate in what I am learning in school. Though not a professional video by any means, I was so proud of the work that he did on this video and he was just as proud of me for the finished product. Maybe someday, he will want to create one of his own for a school project! (At least now I'll know how to help)
Here is a link to my wiki. The video is on the page labeled "sample video."

To create the wiki I used wikispaces for teachers. Their intro gives a great tutorial for how to set up the page, add items, and edit as you go. I was very appreciative of this since I had never done anything like that and now that I have my "feet wet" I will probably be more willing to try more new technology ideas. I created 4 pages on my wiki: one for the instructions, one for camera sign up, one for the sample video, and one for the students to upload their finished videos. I added a word document imbedded in the text, clip art to my home page, changed fonts and colors of text, and uploaded a video.
To create the video I used the flip camera and the flipshare software to edit the length of the clips and then uploaded the video to my computer. I then transferred footage to windows movie maker where I added transitions and background music. I did get a little frustrated with not knowing how to push the music more into the background, so hopefully you can hear the talking over the music.
This project was loaded with NETS for students:
1. Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. In making the video, students are using the camera to capture ideas in creative ways.
2b. Students communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats. Since the video would be published on our wiki, there would be other classrooms viewing their finished project. I would only allow invited classes to have access to the wiki.
4b. Students plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project. The students had to use the book report form and create a story board to plan each clip in the video.
6. Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. Once the video was taken, the students would be using editing software and then uploading the video to the wiki. This would be evidence of a sound understanding of each of those aspects of technology.
Nets for teachers:
1. Teachers will facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity. Creating the wiki and giving the students opportunities to express creativity in the video would inspire student learning and creativity.
2. Design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments. The wiki was the design and development and the students' videos would be the assessments. I would make it relevent by allowing them to choose a favorite age-appropriate book.
3. Model digital-age work and learning. I created my own sample video to show them an idea of what could be done.

Entry #13 - Word, Excel, and powerpoint

I use word just about every day to write papers. I change fonts and sizes, edit spacing and margins, add bullets, spell check, import text from other papers and images from online sources, etc. I feel very competent in Word and can use it to make my life easier. I use Excel to keep track of my husband's business expenses and income. We keep all of his monthly records in excel and then print a large spread sheet at the end of the year to bring to our tax preparer. I know how to create basic formulas and reformat cells, but my knowledge is very basic. I have done some powerpoint presentations that are also very basic. I know how to import images, format slides, include transitions and set the time for them. I am sure there are many more techniques to the program that I am unaware of and have never used.

As far as what can be done with students, I could show students basic features of Word before they compose a document and then set specific formatting requirements to see if they understand how to use the program. For excel, the students can use it in math to gather data and create graphs and charts to display their research. Power point can be used in many different ways to present knowledge in any academic subject. The students could present group projects on events or famous people in history, describe scientific processes, give book reports, or even teach a mini-review lesson in math class.

Entry #12 - k12 online conference

Wow! I approached this assignment like many others as one more thing on my "to do" list. Just a few minutes into it and I was scribbling down notes and trying to soak up all the information possible. I watched 2 different presentations from the conference. The first one was titled "if all my classes did this." Click here for the link. This presenter gave several tools that can be used in the classroom. One was called Toon Doo. This is a way for students to publish cartoons that they create in any academic subject. The teacher gave an example of her students creating cartoons about a unit they had just finished in government and they were to show one of the main points in their cartoon. Another tool was Gliffy. This is similar to inspiration in that it helps students create flow charts, but it went a step beyond and allows for creation of floor plans and design of anything with geometric shapes. Zoho was another technology discussed and the presenter demonstrated how to use this in the classroom to create presentations and link it to blogs and wikis. Gcast was the last technology that she demonstrated for us. This one was fascinating because you could create a podcast from your phone and share it on a blog or wiki as well. So many ideas - I want to use them all for my technology project!
The other presentation I viewed was called "Design Matters." I am constantly reminded that my paradigms need to shift and this was another one of those moments. I am not creative at all, but this man inspired me to push my students to explore their creativity. He gave great pointers when assigning a video project or powerpoint presentation to students and discussing the importance of design and planning in these projects. I will need to revise my wiki for my tech project because I need to incorporate some of these planning ideas. I highly recommend these presentations to anyone who will be teaching in middle of high school level classrooms!

Reflection 9 - my classroom

I have been assigned to a classroom temporarily until graduation so I can be assessed twice. When I found this out, I was a little stressed since it added to a heavy workload for me, but after meeting the teacher and students, I am completely at ease and excited about working there for the remainder of the school year. My school is Discovery Elementary in the Issaquah school district. I will be working in the fifth grade with some wonderful students and with their teacher Mrs. Buhler. I was happy to learn that every classroom has an interactive whiteboard, computer, projector and document camera that are all interconnected. I am excited to try out all the new possibilities with these technologies. They are on spring break this week and have WASL next week, but after that, I will be taking on some of the teaching responsibilities. I am very thankful to Mrs. Buhler and her understanding of my situation. She has been more than helpful!

Reflection 8 - blogging to connect to world

I was recently listening to an interview on the radio with a man who was promoting the Emerald City Comic Con April 4-5. He made an interesting point that I have been pondering in its relation to the world of education. When he was growing up (basically the same time I was) he had interests that put him in the "geek" category and was often criticized for his love of technology, particularly the gaming industry (arcade games). He tended to be a loner through school because there weren't too many people like him. Now, he keeps a well-known blog and is able to connect with "geeks" all over the world. He said people used to criticize blogging by saying how impersonal it was and that it could not be truly relational. He has found just the opposite to be true in that now he has friends all over the world that he never would have connected to without blogging. He also found it to be funny that the "geeks" are the ones that have made technology the way it is today and now they tend to be popular for being a "geek." In education, by having our students blog, they may be able to find people like them with similar interests and not feel so alone in their world. I can show them the world beyond the walls of the classroom that they can connect to.