ILP #2 "Design": Edmodo

For my second ILP I created an Edmodo classroom. Since I want to teach high school English, I created an online classroom for a fictitious 11th grade English class. Some of the assignments I posted were a vocabulary quiz, grammar practice worksheet, and essay prompt. I also included links to online resources such as a video recap of Macbeth and a guide on MLA formatting for essays.

I particularly liked how easy  it was to create quizzes on Edmodo and how clean the format looks. I think that I will use Edmodo for my classroom in the future.

My group join code is: ucwq3a

Pizza Survey

Please take my survey!

Post #10

A paragraph about how you think you will use Data Collection tools as a teacher. Be specific about your subject matter area and the grade level. · A paragraph on topics you found most interesting from reviewing your classmates’ blogs. · A paragraph on what technology-related skill you would most like to learn next, and why. · A paragraph on ways in which you might achieve your future educational technology-related goals

Data Collection Tools

I think that data collection tools can be useful for any subject or grade level because surveys let you as the educator know what your students think about the way that you teach. They can be a good way to get feedback on your lessons and help you plan for the future. Surveys can also be a fun way to determine how well your students understand a topic or just gather their opinion on an issue. I think that as a high school English teacher I could definitely use surveys to ask my students if they feel that they understand the chapter of a book we just read. 

Blogs

The thing I found the most interesting about reading everyone else's blogs was seeing how they plan to use technology for their specific age group and subject. There was a diverse mix of majors in our class, and I enjoyed hearing about the ways that my peers going into completely different subjects would use the same technology that I talked about in my blog. 

New Skills

 I think that I would like to learn more about HTML next. Learning a little more about basic coding would be useful for making web pages and blog posts look cool on almost any website. There are lots of websites with courses on the subject, such as Codecademy.

Tech Goals

I think that my biggest challenge with continuing to learn about education technology will be keeping up with all the new things that are constantly coming out. I think that this class gave me some good resources to start with, but being a teacher means that we will constantly have to learn new technology to keep up with the times. Maybe keeping the Twitter I made for this class can help me stay up to date. 

Post #9: Flipped Classrooms, Professional Development, PowerPoint Interaction

Flipped Classrooms

A flipped classroom is a way of teaching in which students learn material at home through video lectures and then do activities and participate in discussions in class. This method of learning reverses the traditional teaching method of lecturing in class and doing assignments at home. This allows teachers to spend more time answering questions in the classroom instead of teaching material the whole class. It also allows students to learn at their own pace and utilizes technology to make learning more self-driven and interactive. Khan Academy is an online source for educational videos that I have used myself throughout high school and college. There are hundreds of videos on almost any subject. I was only familiar with their YouTube channels, so I was excited to find out that they have their own website where you can sign up for free to view all of their content in one place.

Professional Development

Edutopia is a website that compiles all kinds of professional development resources for teachers. Most of the content is blog posts created by other teachers, so it is a great way for educators to connect and share resources. I particularly liked the video section, it is cool to see what innovative things teachers are doing in their classrooms.

PowerPoint Interaction

Honestly, I did not enjoy doing this assignment at all. It took me a long time to find a game template that I liked, and then once I found one it was very time consuming to put in all of my information. I am very thankful that we could use templates, though, because I am not sure that I could have made a functional game myself. While this type of study game is something I might make for my actual classroom in the future, it was just frustrating to try and come up with enough questions to make a game for a hypothetical class for a subject I am not interested in teaching. I still learned a little more about PowerPoint from this assignment. I learned how to set up a presentation to browse at kiosk, which is the setting that allows the Jeopardy game to work. I also learned about action buttons, which can be used to navigate to different slides or links within your presentation by clicking on them.

Post #8: Future Technology, Digital Divide, & PowerPoint

Future Technology

I think that the Personal Learning Environment is the most promising new technology for education because it can be used for almost any subject or age level. I think that creating online content through programs such as Moodle to is a good way for students to express their creativity and process information in the way that they learn best.

Digital Divide

The digital divide is the lack of access that some people have to technology such as computers and Internet access at home. I have always had access to technology such as computers and the Internet at home because my family is middle class and we lived in an urban area where having technology was the norm. However, as a teacher I cannot expect all of my students to have the same access to technology that I did growing up. I need to be aware that some of my students may not have a computer at home and make accommodations for those students, such as giving them time on the media center to work on research projects.

PowerPoint

I learned some useful skills from the PowerPoint for Information Dissemination assignment. One of the biggest new things I learned about PowerPoint was the master slide editor, which allows you to make your own custom templates to use throughout your presentation. This is really useful to make all the slides look more uniform, especially if there's a lot of elements like shapes and text boxes on each slide. I also didn't know that you could record your voice on PowerPoint. This is a cool feature because it would allow a teacher to upload a complete lecture with voice explanation instead of just the slides. I think it would be really cool if more online classes utilized this feature. 

I also stepped outside my comfort zone for this project. I want to be a high school English teacher, but after looking over many standards I decided to do my presentation on a fifth grade science standard. The English standards for high school seemed way too broad or complicated for this project, but the elementary science standards seemed narrow enough to be thoroughly explained in about ten slides. 

In my actual subject and age level, I could see myself using PowerPoint presentations to show discussion questions on the books my class is reading. Many of my English teachers in the past also used PowerPoint for quiz questions and grammar lessons, which I can see myself doing. 

ILP #1 “Participation” – Lynda

I chose to complete a Lynda course called Up and Running with Edmodo by Oliver Schinkten. This course covered everything a teacher would need to know about setting up an online classroom with Edmodo, and even provided videos to show parents and students on how to set up their accounts.


I think that this course provided a convincing argument about why Edmodo can be a powerful tool for teachers. It is similar to social media sites and it can be a fun and engaging way for students to interact in a safe and private educational environment.  This online classroom can also teach students how to communicate online in a respectful way, which is a very important skill in the digital age.




The course also provided lots of helpful tips about how to use Edmodo effectively in the classroom.
I learned that you can link your Google Drive and Edmodo library, which allows for easy transfer of files from your computer to your students. The following screenshot is just some of the many uses of this program in the classroom discussed in the tutorial.


I had never used Lynda before this project, and I am sad about that fact now because I have been missing out on a lot of free resources. I thought the Notebook feature was great; I love how it marks where on the video the note is from. Here are my notes from the course.

PowerPoint Tips: Banning the Bullet

SlideShare

Today in class we talked about ways to avoid using bullet points in presentations. I enjoyed this SlideShare presentation on the topic. I really liked the idea on slide 2, I think that it is easy to read and a good alternative to the bullet point.

13 Alternatives to Using Bullet Points in Presentations from Melissa Milloway, MSIT

Post #7

PowerPoint

PowerPoint is a useful tool for student's learning at each level of Bloom's Taxonomy. The first two stages, Knowledge and Comprehension, can be taught through the teacher's presentation of important key concepts and terms. Teachers can also incorporate discussion questions into their slides, which can help teach students Application if the questions connect the subject matter to other real-life scenarios. Discussion questions could also ask students to break down main ideas into parts or compare and contrast two concepts, which are parts of the Analysis level. A good project to teach the Synthesis level would be to ask students to make their own PowerPoint presentation about the topic since making a presentation requires creativity and incorporating many elements into a cohesive project. Teachers could also ask students to grade their presentations based on a set of criteria to teach them Evaluation.  

Adaptive Technologies

Adaptive technology is any device that assists people with physical or learning disabilities to use technology. The podcast talks about alternative input devices for people with physical disabilities, such as a joystick instead of a mouse. There are also many adaptive technologies for students with learning disabilities, such as text-to-speech software for people with dyslexia and productivity software to help students with learning disabilities organize tasks. I do not personally know anyone who uses these technologies because of a disability. However, it is good to know that this technology is out there in case I have a student in the future that will need them. 

Web Page Design

I really enjoyed using Weebly for the web page design project. I thought that the site was pretty easy to use, and the templates that it gave me helped a lot with creating a web page fast. I also appreciate the fact that when inserting photos Weebly lets you search for images under the Creative Commons license, and it even cites the photos for you on your webpage. That feature saved me so much time on this project. My one struggle with this project was figuring out what to write for the articles, but I'm sure that part will become much easier once my class is not fictional. I will definitely consider using Weebly in the future when I need to make a real class website. Even if I don't use that site, this project taught me valuable lessons about how to set up my own web page, such as Robin William's principle of C.R.A.P. (Contrast, Repetition, Alignment and Proximity).

Post #6: Web Sites and Wikis

Class Websites

Most teachers are required to maintain some sort of website for their class. This class website is a good way to inform students and parents about important upcoming events and deadlines.These websites also create a place for teachers to upload resources and students to upload their work for grades. I found a high school English teacher's website from Stadium High School in Tacoma, Washington. I chose this site  because high school English is the subject area and grade level that I want to teach. This website included a syllabus, class discussion board, calendars, and class assignments. 

Technology

As a teacher, I hope to use technology in any way I can to make my life easier. I like the podcast's idea about using Diigo or Evernote to keep track of sources while creating lesson plans. I agree with the podcast's point that keeping electronic notes and sharing them is a great way to keep better records and share your ideas with other teachers. 

Wiki Project

The wiki class assignment helped me learn how to create my own wiki online with others. This semester I also had to edit a class wiki on Blackboard, and I liked PBworks better because it is public and easier to edit. I think that creating a wiki on a topic is a great way to learn more about something while teaching other people, so it is definitely a tool I would want to use in my classroom in the future. This assignment was also focused on making our own criteria to evaluate web resources, which is a very important topic. Making sure that students only receive the highest quality information is important, and it is also a good idea to teach students to evaluate sources for themselves. 

Post #5: Web 2.0 and Concept Maps

Web 2.0 in the Classroom

The ELA standards create the need for teachers to incorporate Web 2.0 technologies such as wikis, blog sites, social networks, and video sharing sites into their classrooms. I think that almost any form of Web 2.0 technology could be applicable in the classroom setting. The challenge for teachers with Web 2.0 tools is making sure that the technology they choose to use with their students is closely tied to their lesson plans and appropriate for the age of the students. While social networking can be a valuable tool to connect with students and parents, it would probably not be appropriate to encourage elementary school students to get Twitter accounts. 

I really like the idea of blogging sites such as Kidblog or Blogger in the classroom because it allows students to express themselves and be creative while discussing what they learned in school. As a prospective English teacher, I would like to incorporate a class blog into my teaching to encourage my students to practice their creative writing. However, all of my students would need access to a computer with internet access in order to create a class blog. Chapter 5 of the textbook described the different types of devices that can be used in the classroom. The input devices in this example would be the mouse and keyboard, the output device is the monitor, and the important peripherals would be the system unit and hard drive. This project would also require network technology such as wifi.

Web 2.0 Tools

The Web 2.0 tool that I found is a free web tool that lets kids create their own comic strips called Make Beliefs Comics. The website includes free lesson plans and printables. I like that students can type in any language, which is helpful for ESOL students. I chose a comic creator because I was looking for more ways that my students could express their creativity in the classroom.

Make Beliefs also has a mobile app (though the app is paid), so students could create comics on tablets or other mobile devices. I thought that the site was fun and easy to use, and I created a quick comic with it.

Concept Map

I like making concept maps and diagrams, looking at information visually (especially when it's history!) has always helped me learn. However, I really did not enjoy working with Webspiration. I think that this tool is not user friendly at all, and it runs really slowly on every computer I've tried it on. Since it was so frustrating to use for me, I do not think I would want my students to use it. I think this assignment taught me that there are many tools out there to make concept maps, and this one was not for me. That being said, I like what me and Kelty have made, and here's a sneak peak at our concept map:

Post #4: Web Scavenger Hunting

CPALMS Standard

The standard that I chose to examine was SS.912.A.2.1, which is a Social Studies standard that states: "Review causes and consequences of the Civil War." I found a webpage that outlines five main causes of the Civil War, and it includes a short video that summarizes the main points of the article. The textbook would probably classify this type of resource as reference software, because it provides an interactive overview of historical events. I liked this site because it also included audio and visuals in the short video, as well as links to other articles on the same subject embedded in the text of the post.

Internet-Based Resources

I have used web-based resources throughout my career as a student for research projects. I have to admit, I am very used to Google searching anything I need, which does not always provide high quality sources. I also do not often consider whether or not my software is open source when I am using something for personal use, but I will have to be more aware of content licensing as a teacher. Open-source software intrigues me because it is open for anyone to use and improve, though I doubt I will ever be good enough at programming to try and change the software myself. 

Web Hunt

For the Web Hunt, I found myself falling on old habits and using Google for almost everything, In the future, I hope to become more comfortable using other search engines and databases in addition to Google. Here are my search challenges for everyone:

• Find an online interactive model of the water cycle.
• Find a video that summarizes the causes of the American Revolution.

Review causes and consequences of the Civil War

Post #3: ELA Standards, Technology in the Classroom, and Newsletter Design

ELA Standards

The ELA standard that I feel most prepared to teach is EL.7, the standard on multimedia literature. I am excited about the idea of incorporating visual and audio into my lesson plans, and I feel comfortable doing this through YouTube videos. The standard that makes me the most nervous is the standard RI.7, because I feel that I need more practice before I will be comfortable creating engaging multimedia text for my students to use.

Technology in the Classroom

I hope to teach high school English. I hope to incorporate multimedia projects to make my lessons more engaging. I will need to teach my students digital citizenship by making sure that I follow fair use policies in my own presentations. Since I will be teaching older students, I can also teach them how to responsibly use copyrighted material in their class projects. 

Newsletter Design

The newsletter design project taught me how to do a few new things with Microsoft Word, such as how to create two columns on a page. I have to admit that I struggled with this project because I had a hard time making everything align on the page the way that I wanted. This project showed me that I still have more to learn about a program I thought I was very familiar with, 

Post #2: MS Word, Fair Use and Twitter

Word

I have used Microsoft Word constantly as a student. I use it almost daily to take notes in class and to write papers at home. I expect to use Word as a teacher to make the assignments, tests and handouts for my students.

Fair Use

I have to admit, as a student I often do not think about where the material that my teachers use comes from. I find myself assuming that everything they use comes from a credible source and is used in a way that respects copyright and fair use policies. As a teacher I need to be more mindful of this issue and make sure that I follow fair use policies when making my own instructional materials for my students. I can do this by making sure that I do not use anything that is not my own without giving proper credit by citing my sources.

Twitter

I had never used Twitter before last week, and I still have a lot to learn before I can be comfortable using it. I think that social media is a good way for prospective teachers to connect with each other and also learn from current educators. I am a little concerned about using Twitter in my own career because I want to teach high school and I worry about the potential risks of interacting with my students online. 

Post #1: ITSE Standards and Digital Natives

Computers 

Computers are a very important part of the educational experience today. The internet gives students and teachers the opportunity to research practically anything with the click of a mouse. As technology continues to improve, teachers must also learn how to effectively utilize this technology in the classroom. While computers and the Internet can be very helpful resources for learning and research, there is also the risk of technology being a distraction in the classroom as students can easily use this technology for entertainment and social media.

ITSE Standards

The standard that gladdened my heart was the first standard, which was: "Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity." I think that technology can be such an good tool to spark student's imaginations, and the generation after mine is even more native to technology than I am. Since my future students will likely be even more tech-savvy than I am, I am concerned about the standard on designing digital-age learning experiences and assessments.

Digital Natives

I would agree with the term digital native for today's youth. A digital native is someone who grew up with technology such as personal computers, cellphones, and the internet. I have definitely noticed throughout my education that my teachers have often been uncomfortable using technology. Many of my teachers avoided technology entirely, or had trouble using technology and often asked students for help. I feel that as technology continues to evolve today's digital natives will have to continue to learn new things as we will eventually become digital immigrants.

(clip art  photos from clipartpanda.com)

Post #0

#0 Welcome! Technology and Learning Styles

About Me

I have some experience with Word, Excel and Powerpoint from assignments I had to do in high school and college. I feel the most comfortable with Word because it is something I use almost every day. I feel the least comfortable with Excel because I have not had to use it often.
Last year, I started learning HTML for fun, though I still only know how to do some very basic web design. While I enjoy working with computers, I would not consider myself very tech savvy and often find myself asking friends (or Google) for help.

What I Hope To Learn

In this course, I hope to become more proficient in the programs I already know, as well as learn some new skills and programs. I am a prospective education major, so I am excited to take what I learn here into the classroom with me in the future.

Learning Styles

These learning style test results show that I am more of a reflective learner than an active learner, which I would agree with. I definitely need time to think about and process new information, and I prefer studying and working individually.
I also have a strong preference towards intuitive learning, which means that I like to look at the bigger picture and try to understand concepts instead of memorizing facts.