Final Reflection

1. Final Reflection Post:

Reflect on the Web 2.0 tools that you've experimented with, the process of learning these tools 

Learning how to use the Web 2.0 tools was an eye opener for  me.  I was introduced to many tools I will be able to incorporate into my instruction. Implementing the tools wasn't always smooth for me, however: I love how easy Popplet was to use.  This will be a tool I will use to introduce and review concepts with students.  The visuals are kid friendly and the layout is easy to read. Another tool I liked using was screencasting.  What a great way to reach out to families and students. Having information posted with a visual hopefully will be effective communication.  Quizlet offered many options for enhancing students' learning.  I will continue to explore the options of that tool so I get the most out of that site. I used Zooburst to write and illustrate my story.  The illustrations weren't very motivating.  I will use that tool again but will import clipart from other sites. The technology knowledge I learned from this class is an awesome springboard for me to continue exploring the multiple options on the web I can use to supplement my lessons and classroom experiences with the students.

What implications you see in your classroom and in your curriculum.  You might also be interested in commenting on how the interactive blog format worked for you personally in terms of collaboration.  Be specific about challenges/obstacles as well as rewards/successes. 

There are many positive implications I see happening in my classroom and with the curriculum.  Using these tools in my instruction will add the technology piece I'm currently missing.  Any additional quality materials and information I can add to the curriculum will improve my instruction and highlight the students' learning experience. I'm realizing that I need to continue experimenting with the tools so I'm using all the resources that  are available to me. Because many of my team members are taking this course, we have learned how to use the Google drive as a resource when planning and collaborating.  It will be convenient for each member to have access to our documents.  I think the rewards will far out weigh the obstacles.  As with most tools in education, the more I use them, the easier it gets.  I need to continue using the tools and trying new features.  I realize I will continue to make mistakes, but that's part of the learning process.  I hope by the end of the year, I'll have a collection of teaching aids to use in my classroom and share with other educators.

Activity #10

I thought it would beneficial for my families and me if I could compile websites that are used in school in one location.  I chose to use Delicious.com as my site to store the information.  I think it will be easy to update the site, especially if I have the delicious site on my tool bar.  I can actually add the site as I'm teaching.  I did notice a few sites were not able to be added to the Delicious site.  I'm assuming it is related to copyrights or other legal issues.  Visit my delicious account to see what I have added to this point.


https://delicious.com/tschidatm

Activity #9 Fitness Assessment

Responses to scenarios


Scenario 1: Collaboration = Harassment?
A student is using Google Drive as a writing and collaborative tool for peer reviewing. Juan and Jeremy have used the platform instead to exchange comments that involve name-calling and racial slurs. Jeremy’s parents object when his account is suspended claiming it will negatively impact his academic progress.

My Response
It is obvious that the Juan and Jeremy are violating the District Technology Regulations Policy.  According to the policy, name calling and racial discrimination is not permitted on any district site. The students violating the  district policy need to meet with building administration. The well being of the students who are being negatively affected is an issue.  Students need to feel safe accessing and using district technology. Any advice to help address the issue would be to make it a priority to review the district technology policy with students and families prior to accessing the technology so there are not misunderstandings.  Also, the policy needs to be posted in the classroom. Finally, students need to control who as access to commenting on their posts.

When I taught fifth grade, this could have been an issue.  Students at that age don't always believe that the policies are "for real".  The reality of the consequences doesn't always register with students.  As a first grade teacher, this wouldn't be an issue.


Scenario 7: Chernobyl Meltdown… 
Ms. Jansen, a special ed. teacher, has been using screencasting in her class to post review screencasts of her lessons and study materials. These screencasts have been heavily used by students and she has received glowing emails from parents thanking her for going this extra distance. Ms. Jansen decides it’s time to have her students create their own screencasts. She struggles with how best to post and share their screencasts and decides to use a class YouTube account/channel. Because some students want to do screencasting from home, she provides students with the class YouTube username and password so they can upload their videos from home. Two disasters ensue: 1.) Students post more than just their screencasts including inappropriate random YouTube videos as well as change the privacy settings of the account. 2.) Students post video content of themselves and their peers and the teacher discovers that some of these students have “no photo” stipulations on file in the office. Before Ms. Jansen can even blink, these videos have been shared/linked to Facebook pages and have an assortment of inappropriate comments posted from outside users.

My Response

Ms. Jansen's first mistake was giving out the password to the students. She has no control over what will be posted on the You Tube channel.  The students who posted inappropriate videos always violated the district technology policy.  They will need to be reprimanded.  Depending what was in the inappropriate posted videos, would determine if the students safety and well-being were jeopardized.  My advice to the teacher would be don't share passwords with students! Also, when setting up her YouTube account, she should have set up contacts and have the students send the screencasts directly to her YouTube account. Plus when choosing her settings, she should have checked all four boxes limiting the accessibility to the YouTube account.

Activity #8 Poll and Data Gathering

Activity #8 Poll and Data Gathering

Here is the link for my poll to my team members:

http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/B1Q40fhQGl04jqc

This application would be a great tool to use in a high school classroom to keep the students involved in the lecture or activity.  Just think, the students would have permission to use their cellphones in class!
As a first grade teacher, it might be helpful if I wanted families input about when to schedule office hours or time for meetings.
I could use it in class if each student was in front of a computer and able to respond to the questions.

Activity #7 Cloud Computing

 Activity #7  Cloud Computing

I started out with something the first grade level uses throughout the year.
The link below will bring you to the reading calendar for October 2013.


https://docs.google.com/a/moundsviewschools.org/file/d/0B8-r9_uLxMkZZFVLUEJ1S1Fjckk/edit?usp=sharing

Using the cloud feature with this document would be helpful for families who need a new reading calendar for their child.  I could also download worksheets or other activities we have completed in class so families can do additional practice or use as a springboard for discussing what's going on in class.

As a way for students to practice writing sentences and keyboarding, I could create a document where each student needs to type a sentence using words of the week or vocabulary words.  I could also have the students comment or give a reaction to something that happen at school.  For example, share what they liked about the story of the week or a specific field trip.

Acitvity #6 Quizlet

Using Quizlet was easy to follow. I made antonym flashcards with simple definitions. I think this would be a great tool for reviewing antonyms. My biggest obstacle was embedding my Quizlet flashcards into my blog.

Activity #6 Tagxedo

Using Tagxedo was easy after watching the You Tube video. I wanted a shape of a butterfly, but there wasn't one.  If I find one on the internet, I'll redo this Tagxedo The hardest part was saving it to share on my blog. After advice from a friend, I saved the image as a thumbnail and was able to put on my blog.  This would be a fun way to review vocabulary words in Unit Studies or display classmates' names outside of the classroom.

 

 

 

 

Activity #5 You Tube Account

Activity #5

I set up my account and republished my video from Activity #4. 
In school, I could add educational videos that I use in class for families to watch and review at home.
If I get more comfortable with the recording idea, I could post  lessons for families to use for review at
home.  It would beneficial for students, especially ELL students,  to review vocabulary words and words of the week.

Activity #4 Screencasting

Activity #4 Screencasting

This was quite the experience!  I used the recording tool from SMART.  It was easier than I anticipated. 
This would be a great tool to use when giving the same directions numerous times.  Also, this would be an easy way to introduce new vocabulary words and high frequency words.  The students would be able to see each word and hear how to pronounce it.