Final Technology Project

http://www.k12lessonplans.com/ktatro

Final Reflection

            This semester I have learned about a lot of different programs (glogster, prezi, storybird) that I never knew existed before.  The program I am most impressed with was prezi.  After learning about it, PowerPoint presentations are just so boring.  This one enables the common day user to create engaging and professional presentations.  I also learned we have to be careful with how we integrate our technology.  Through my own reflective blogs and reading my cohorts I have gleaned a healthy respect for technology.  It is not a silver bullet to be used every chance we get but with purpose and meaningful intent. 

            I feel I have reached a better understanding of how to get students involved in collaborative online work.  The student NET’s I focused on were “Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students”.  My technology project offered the best opportunity for learning how to integrate this concept into my teaching.  Also, as mentioned earlier, the storybird program was a great collaborative program that taught me a lot about the online collaborative process the student goes through.  The final technology project also helped with my teacher NET’s I was focused on.  My goal was to design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments.  The online classroom website I created to house my project was a great way to achieve this.  

Technology Project

http://www.k12lessonplans.com/ktatro

Reflection responses #2

Peter
Drew
Cassie
Beth

Reflection responses #2

Jodie
JoDee
stephanie
Angela
Drew
Beth

Reflection #12

What: http://www.ted.com/talks/joe_sabia_the_technology_of_storytelling.html
So What: I thought this was a creative and great presentation.  Not one program is used but many features of the Ipad are used to tell a story.
Now What:  How does this change the way we look at presentations or story telling?

Reflection #11

What: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/08/social-media-in-classroom_n_1137359.html?ref=education

This article, via Huffpost.com, from CEO Jason Falls of Social Media Explorer makes the argument that by not teaching social networking skills to students ultimately puts them at a disadvantage in the future.  The article also sites the social networking ban in Missouri that limits, completely, the contact between teacher and student.

So What: Although I am hesitant to have social networking play a totally active role in the classroom, it is something that needs to be talked about in school.  By doing what Missouri had attempted to do, the ban was later repealed, you are allowing students to explore the dangerous online world for themselves.

Now What: The online relationship between teacher and student is a difficult situation that is prime for individuals of lesser morality to take advantage of.  But that is all the more reason for use as educator to be active in that world.  Do not take those of integrity and high moral fiber out of the equation. Just the opposite, the positive presence is needed.  We can not fear our duty to effectively teach.

Week 13

Word: spell check, dictionary, thesaurus, editing features.
Excel: Goal seek, Freeze panes,
Powerpoint: sound effects, movie clips, images, graphs, text art.

Word: Students can write a paper and exchange a digital copy with a cohort. After using the edit feature students send the new copy back with editing notes made using the edit features.  Students then correct their paper and look to enhance by using thesaurus and dictionary feature.
Excel: using the goal seek and freeze panes feature student can create a work out plan including dieting goals of calorie intake and expenditure. This way student can alter different inputs and see how it effects the caloric percentage.
Powerpoint: students can use powerpoint to share their findings with the class from the previous assignment.  By using powerpoint students learn, or enhance, their ability to communicate information with technology.

Week 12 three questions for the NU Ed. Panel

1. What does technology mean to you?
2. How big of a role does technology play in the classroom of the future?
3. What advice to you have for a soon to be teacher?

Reflection #10

  What: I don't commonly think of it as technology, since I have been using it for so long, but excel is a product that can easily be integrated into the physical education class very easily.  Student and can learn, or reinforce learned skills, of excel.
So What:  I think excel is one of the most powerful tools on the computer for the everyday user.  It's multitude of functions lends it self to an ever expansive realm of uses.  Being able to manipulate excel will undoubtably have a profound effect on individuals years down the road.
Now What:  That being said I believe it was a tool not taken advantage of enough.  Their is the obvious uses in math but excel can so much more then organize a data set and graph.  It is something that I think would have made for some truly enriching high school experience.  It is not an over the top use of technology but an important one.

Reflection #9 Online testing

What: Last year I had a class with all its test online.  I though this was great because then i could not only get help from other students but take my time with it.  Ultimately though I found it to be a very cumbersome and unrewarding experience. First, it was a timed thing and so I was constantly worried time would end and I would not have submitted my test and therefore receive a zero for the test.  Second, I relied heavily on my cohorts for answer and so it was a not a genuine reflection of my understanding of the material.
So What:  Do you thing there is a place in education when an online test is appropriate?
Now What:  Have any of you had similar experience with the online testing method? Would you do online testing? How would you do it?

Reflection #8 Discovery

What: Discovery, the online Classroom for NU

So What:  So What? Does anyone every use it consistently.  I'm amazed as to how many teachers have no clue how to, or are unwilling to learn the system.  The best feature is the grade reporting feature.  An up to date grade is highly motivating and yet hardly any of my teachers use it.  It's frustrating knowing that the school spends so much of my money to create this tool and yet hardly any teachers use it.

Now What: This is one of the those teaching moments, unknown to the teacher, why I say "I know how I will not teach."  It just reminds me that learning new technology and staying up on the culture of education is important and I should do my best not to be left behind.

Reflection #7 Micro Blogging

What: the control a government agency, in this case China, has over the internet and the spread of information.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15383756

So What: I found that this article, written by Michael Bristow for BBC news, brings up and interesting point to the control one would have over an information sharing resource such as microblogging (the likes of twitter) in juxtaposed to the ever increasing popularity and growth of the medium.  China knowing the power of twitter has blocked its use in China, but that hasn't stopped people from creating their own blogging pages.

Now What: As educators, I think we should take from this article the importance of educating our students not just the tremendous power that comes with personal media outlets (such as twitter or blogging) but also the negative impact, and social responsibility one undertakes when they decided to post something for all to see.

Week 14 blog Free speech and the future of technology in education

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/27/emma-sullivan-sam-brownback-kansas-tweet_n_1115006.html?ref=education

We have learned of many different ways to incorporate technology into our classroom, and that is great, but how do we prepare for such incidences.  This could have been a class assignment (I don't think it was, but for sake of argument let's say it is) asking students to tweet about their experience on the field trip.  I think this situation brings up many great questions about the future of technology in the classroom.  It's limitations, how we implement it, and the students right to free speech.  Where does the school's power end and the students home life begin.  Does this cause a disruption in your class, or just a great teaching opportunity?

week 11

http://www.flickr.com/photos/57634636@N00/6314711841/

For my post I found a teachers blog in Canada.  She had a fun and dynamic blog.  It appeared that she utilized many different types of technology in her class.  I learned from the blog it can both be a tool for help students but it also looked like a great place to brag about your students and also for grading purposes.  It seemed as though Mrs. Cassidy spent a great deal of time on her post.  Some videos looked really slick.  I'm not sure my comment added much, I just commented that the project looked like fun and thanks for sharing.

Week 10 Bloom's Taxonomy

For the week 10 blog we were to look for an article on Bloom's Taxonomy.  I decided to use Wikipedia, the collaborative online encyclopedia website.  I felt this an appropriate article because it requires the use of the cognitive domain.  To post something one must go through the different levels of knowledge outlined in the cognitive domain.  From simple knowledge of terms and concepts to synthesis to evaluation of statements made by others.  This collaborative learning style, writing on blogs or podcast, requires the full use of Bloom's Taxonomy.  That is why technology projects of this kind are vital to the learning process because they ensure the cognitive domain is fully engaged.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloom%27s_Taxonomy

Comments on reflection blog.

http://angelarunte.blogspot.com/2011/10/reflection-5.html#comments Mine is on the top about dennis Ritchie.

http://stephaniesneezes.blogspot.com/2011/10/reflection-3.html#comments

http://cassietheduke.blogspot.com/2011/10/reflection-on-tech-3.html#comments Mine is the second post.

http://teacherjodee.blogspot.com/2011/10/reflection-2-classroom-technology-wish.html#comments

http://jodiecastleberrythoughts.blogspot.com/2011/09/week-2-reflective-or-informative.html#comments

http://drewjensen08-drew.blogspot.com/2011/10/reflection-2.html#comments Mine is the first comment.

http://bethhascalltech.blogspot.com/2011/10/reflection-3.html#comments Mine is the last comment.

Week 9 Blog

For this week's assignment we were to look at a fellow educators blog, Bob Sprankle an elementary teacher, about "video assessment".   Bob suggests that the use of instant video devices, such as the flip video, be used to document progress and accomplishments of students.  This is a great idea!  The best scenario Bob presented was one of a student recording their own questions before a unit and then going back at the end of the unit to reflect on what is learned based on previous, or new, questions.  

When Bob gets into the scenario about a girl having the successful completion of a math concept for life, one that she could share with her own daughter one day, I am lost.  My first thought is of data storage and the is it feasible to store that much data for each individual.  Next I think of the safety issues that go along with having such information so readily on the internet.  And my final thought is why?  I have trophies from when I was ten years old that all they do is collect dust.  My child is not going to be impressed by it, and I sure don't want to hang on to it to show off.  

<iframe src="http://edu.glogster.com/glog.php?glog_id=24291158&scale=100" width="960" height="1300" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" style="overflow: hidden;"></iframe>

<iframe src="http://edu.glogster.com/glog.php?glog_id=24291158&scale=100" width="960" height="1300" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" style="overflow: hidden;"></iframe>

Week 8 Professional blog

I found an article about Tim Rylands, an elementary teacher, he is using myst three to help teach students how to write creatively.  The unique and rich environment gives the students various ways to creatively describe the world they are seeing.  This was a great way to use video games as a teaching method for writing.  Here is the article:

http://www.odemagazine.com/doc/36/reading_writing_and_playing_the_sims/

I also found this website that has developed lesson plans to help students with reading comprehension.  The program will help students with phonemic awareness, phonics, reading comprehension, vocabulary and reading fluency.  The website claims that work on "remedial reading programs, personalized tutoring, reading workbooks, educational games, and structured computer reading programs can help teach or reinforce these skills." This interactive approach would be very helpful in getting digital natives to a higher level of reading comprehension because it will capture their attention better. 


Here is the website: http://www.time4learning.com/reading-programs.shtml

Reflection #6 video announcments

I was visiting my cooperating teacher yesterday and talking with him about his media class.  It is a class made up of various ages and is dedicated to producing video announcements for the entire school, called I vision.  They have a filming room, computers for editing, production managers, the whole bit.  It is a really cool class that looks like it would be a great fun to teach and even better way to get students engaged with technology.  Next time I see him I'm going to ask if they every do anything within the community, or connect to other students on a national or global level.  Have you heard of this before, did your school have this? Do you have any ideas on how to expand the program?  Any questions you would like for me to relay to the teacher?

Reflection #5- The "New New" Tech

Scanning through different educational articles I found this one titled, Inflating the software report car, warns of education technology companies over selling their products. promising increased scores on tests.  First, let me say I understand the need and importance to integrate technology.  But I think this article does well to point out that technology is not the magic bullet that is going to cure our educational dilemmas.  The focus should not be to raise testing scores but to better equip our students for the hard work of problem solving.  Anyway, I thought this was a sobering article about technology.  

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/technology/a-classroom-software-boom-but-mixed-results-despite-the-hype.html?_r=1

Reflection #4 RIP Steve Jobs you influenced us all

In honor of Steve Jobs passing away.  The article is about what inspired him. Hope you enjoy it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/11/steve-jobs-secrets-of-the-little-blue-box_n_1004807.html

Reflection #3

I saw this and thought it was a pretty cool project for science.  What are great way to get kids involved in science.  The chance to compete with thousands of students and possible watch their experiment performed in space would be awesome.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/10/youtube-space-lab-students-google_n_1001558.html?ir=Education

Week 6 Generation IM Reflection

This article was very similar to the one we read about digital natives. In fact it references digital natives, those born and raised in the digital age.  These kids have learned from the beginning the digital language and are fluent.  I learned from the article that a great majority of students are in this category of digital natives and this number is only going to grow.  I did not realize how many students were making their own music, wikis, and other web materials.
Exploiting this information for a science class would mean research projects and student lessons on subjects covered in the science class.  Having student create wiki sites about a class research, or interact with other students around the world through blogs about their findings.  There are no limits to what technology can do for a science class.  You could attempt to follow a major study, and duplicate it, that is happening right now.

Reflection #2- "Converting Classics Into Comics"

I read an interesting article today on the Huffpost.com website about turning classic novels into comic books.  It seems as though we are getting closer and closer to doing away with the printed word.  What effect will this have on your teaching I wonder.  Now that the entire wealth of information will be available in the palm of your hand how will this adjust your teaching.  Does this help solve or only further our budget problems?  Do you think this is a good thing, or bad thing?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tim-chen/converting-classics-into-_b_988121.html?ir=Technology

Salman Khan: Let's use video to reinvent education | Video on TED.com

I found this video on the Ted website and found it very interesting. What I found most interesting was Mr. Khan's idea to flip the school model upside down. Meaning that instead of lectures in the classroom and homework at home, students will now watch these videos at home and then do their work in class. I like this because, as Mr. Khan says, it humanizes the learning process. Now students and teachers are free to interact with each other and the material. I am really curious to hear what everyone else has to say about this idea. I hope you enjoy the video.

Salman Khan: Let's use video to reinvent education | Video on TED.com

Week 5 exploration of the Promethean ActivBoard

While exploring the Promethean website I found an overview of their latest Activboard.  The ActivBoard 500 (By the time I start teaching it will probably be the ActivBoard 2000).  One key upgrade/feature is the multi user pen and touch interface.  This allows multiple users to interact with the board at one time to collaborate on a single project.  Another feature of interest was the touch function allowed for the smooth, manipulation of objects on an x,y, and z axis.  Also, the slate and devices (sold separately), which allow a third party to interact with the board, or take individual answers to questions (numbers or written).  This is a pretty cool feature that would keep every student involved in classroom lectures and discussions.  This assignment has answered some of my major questions about the whiteboard from my previous post.  I guess all I really want to know is what are the limits of the Activboard in terms of size.  I have only seen one size, why is there not one that is 50" or more even.

This is the video I watched on the Activboard 500.
http://www.prometheanworld.com/server.php?show=nav.21130

Assignment 2

         For our second assignment, creating and presenting a SMART board lesson, I decided on a food pyramid project from the exchange website.  I picked the project because of the interactive potential I felt the presentation offered.  Such features, some added by myself, are the use of the magic pen (for making connections between different ideas), the manipulation of various objects (sorting different objects by category), and also the animation of different objects (this will inform the participants if their choice is correct or incorrect). 

         The NETS achieved in this activity are as follows.  Student NETS goal 6.a. is a foreseen outcome from the presentation.  Students will explore the food pyramid and the SMART board technology and its basic functions and tools.  Teacher NETS goal 1.c. are achieved by helping students explore the nutritional benefits of a balanced meal through interactive, collaborative discussion sparked by the SMART board lesson.  The SMART board sparks learning in the classroom because it begs to get the students involved and engaged in the lesson its self.  My only critique is that the graphics lag behind (potentially) anything they have at home.  So although most will jump at the opportunity the novelty will wear off and the graphics will fail to capture their attention.  If students had their own controllers they could engage the presentation from their seat, like the Wii, or Playstation.   So the SMART board of the future has some catching up to do.  The graphics (it still operates in the 2D) and its interactive capabilities are still far many years behind what where technology is at now.  

Week 4- Smartboard reflection

After exploring the different tools in the smartboard I learned how to make an object fly in and out of the screen. I also discovered that you can make you own recording. I am not sure how to use this function but it is an intriguing feature that I plan to explore more in the coming days.  

Using the smartboard I am still not sure how it will work, or more importantly how it will function, once I have finished my presentation.  I look forward to working with the software and interacting with the board in the coming days leading up to our presentation of our lesson.  

Demographics Write-up

Student Class Enrollment	Males:    11                                                  Females:11
Grade Level(s) in Your Class	9th
Subject(s) Taught	Health
Demographics:
School Socio-Economic Status	_15___% of free and reduced lunch
School Location	___Urban     __X__Suburban     ___Rural
Describe relevant aspects of your School & Community that influence and/or impact teaching & learning. (Examples: curriculum, reform models, school focus, community partnerships, community support level)	Issaquah High School is located in the heart of Issaquah, a community of middle to upper socioeconomic status. The school is classified as a 4A, the largest classification in the state. 1,320 students attended the school last year.  The school offers support services for special needs students and others.  Homework help is offered after school from teachers in homework labs. The teaching staff although coming from many different schools of thought, the mojoratiy come from the same background.  The recent remodel of the school has changed the education envirnment emensely.  Having an impact on many different areas of the education process.  First, student and teacher moral is soaring, second, the advancement and use of technology is beyond what many were ready for and thus has created an eager scramble to learn.  Teachers are offered encentives to keep pace with the changing technology (i.e. smartboards, document cameras).    Classroom demographics are split even between the races. However, a mojarity are white and from a high socioeconomic status.  This creates an ease in classroom management.   Students are generally well motivated to learn.  Problems arise most commonly in the males with ADD or ADHD.  Also, because of the strong SES students posses great aptitude with technology. Parent support is not seen in class, being a high school, however, parent interest is apparent.  Parents are generally concerned with how their son or daughter is doing and usually willing to work with them at home.  The classroom has about 1 computer for every 4 students.  Being that we are in an affluent community levies are easily passed and thus the rapid improvement in technology in recent years.
Classroom  Mobility *your classroom	__2__% of student turnover within the school year
Race/Ethnicity *your classroom	___1.5_% Black                                                __2__% Hispanic         __79.7__% White                                               ___0.4_% American Indian  ___16.3_% Asian/Pacific Islander                         ___4_% Multiracial
Spoken Languages *your classroom	__75__% English as a first language  __4__% Fluent in English as a second language  __2__% English-language learner
Identified Special Student Needs (List any types of specific learning disabilities and/or gifted/talented students and the number of identified students ) *Your classroom	·       3 IEP students ·       2 ELL students ·       6 ESL students ·       1 student with physical impairments ·       3 students with vision impairments ·       1 gifted and talented student
Academic Profile
Assessment Data:	Standardized or teacher designed test(s) administered to your students (include year given) ·       Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELs reading fluency test) (Fall 2009) ·       Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) (Spring 2009) ·       Qualitative Reading Inventory (QRI), comprehension assessment (Fall 2009)  __15__% Above     __55__% At Standard     __30__% Below Standard

Marc Prensky Article: Digital Natives, Digital Immagrants

Marc Prensky article was an interesting read.  His thoughts on revolutionizing the educational system is very unique and bold.  Prensky says that "today's students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach" and this is true.   I recall my years in school and learning to type with the program paws.  It was a dull, painful "game" to learn how to type that was only moderately successful.  It wasn't until I started using instant messaging services that my typing really started to improve.  That is because to communicate effectively you have to be able to type, and fast.  It helped that I had learned some basic knowledge of typing but I was only really tested when I had to compete with my peers.  
Also, I really liked Prensky's idea that students should only be able to use a computer in school if the build it themselves.  This might not be fully applicable but is a very interesting idea.  He also raises good questions about calculators.  How do you use them in teaching math and what kinds of math are taught.  Prensky offers several times, in his future learning, that more advanced topics should be taught.

-Tatro

NETS

Student NETS:  Communication and Collaboration. Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students
Teacher NETS:  Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments.  Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:

Scenarios

Middle School: 4, 1 hour blocks each day, between 25-35 students in each class, 6 sped, 4 IEPs for behavior, 4 computers in the classroom, computer lab available with reservation.

Fall 2011 Class Blogs

Jodie Castleberry
JoDee Wilch
Stephanie Kroschel
Cassie LaDuke
Angela Runte
Drew "Zach Morris" Jensen 
Beth Hascall
Peter Ruiz
Camille Gasparini

My First Blog

Hello Tech class,
After a frustrating start I have successfully created my blog account!  I am looking forward to learning the many ways I can weave technology into the classroom and also in to my coaching.  I have some ideas for how this can be done.  Nike+ technology can be used in aerobic fitness drills so students can then log into an account and compare their times and distance not just with friends in class but also around the world.  Also the use of an ipad, to track student information about various drills or activities could ease the paper work between and after classes.